Is This Your Reason for Being Late?

"The quilt turned into a demon and sealed me away!"

Li Si looked at Gwen with a solemn expression.

"Is that your reason for being late?"

Gwen held a stack of forms against her chest, expressionless, a pen clutched in one hand.

Because he had foolishly pulled an all-nighter, it was no surprise that Li Si was late for work today.

Fortunately, interns who hadn't yet been entered into the system didn't need to clock in, and the intern lead responsible for the roster was Gwen. Thanks to his shameless nepotism, he had managed to escape disaster once again.

However, Max probably wouldn't be so lucky. The supervisor who already enjoyed bullying him had been confronted by Max yesterday after work, and today, he had handed the supervisor another excuse for tardiness... well, let us observe a moment of silence for Max.

Morning: Loafing around.

Noon: Loafing... er, you can't loaf at noon, you can only eat lunch, and then face a very serious-looking Gwen.

"Gwen, if you have something to say, just say it. Could you stop looking at me like that? You're scaring me a little..."

Sitting across from each other in the cafeteria, Li Si offered a sheepish smile after being glared at by Gwen for several minutes.

"Li, this is only your second day on the job and you're already late. If you want to become a permanent employee, you need to fix your attitude. Besides, you're too idle during work hours; many of our colleagues are gossiping about you..."

Gwen's expression softened slightly, yet the way she spoke made one unable to help but think of a mother lecturing her son.

Feeling the immense pressure, Li Si raised both hands in surrender. "OK, OK, I promise I won't be late again. I'll work hard to get that permanent position."

"It's mainly about the work. Even if your tasks are finished, you should try to keep yourself busy, otherwise, it's easy to leave a bad impression."

Gwen spoke seriously about her workplace experience, only adding after she finished, "Sorry, I..."

"No need to apologize, Gwen. I'm very happy to listen to you talk about these things."

Li Si reached out to interrupt her, grinning. "I know you're concerned about me and don't want to see me get fired by the company."

"Who said I care about you!"

Gwen shot Li Si a reproachful glare.

"A beautiful blonde woman, hehe."

Li Si wore a smile, staring straight at Gwen.

Only when Gwen's face began to flush did he speak with confidence: "Gwen, actually, there's no need to worry about these things. I think in a week or two at most, I'll be a permanent assistant just like you."

"A week or two? Why?" Gwen was stunned.

"How is Dr. Connors' experiment progressing lately?" Li Si put down his fork and picked up a napkin to wipe his lips.

Gwen shook her head. "Not much progress. The doctor gained some inspiration when he interviewed you and modified the experimental direction, but just like before, he's stuck on a key calculation formula."

"Then there's no problem."

Li Si laughed. "If the doctor's experiment hits a wall, he will naturally think of the person who gave him inspiration. If all goes as expected, after this experiment is over, he will transfer me in to assist him. Becoming a permanent employee will naturally follow as a matter of course."

"How can you be so sure the doctor will think you can help him solve the problem?"

Gwen continued to eat her meal in small, elegant bites. When she stopped, the expression on her face clearly showed her disbelief.

"It's just a small, common habit of human thought. Besides, there's no loss in making me a permanent employee. Betting on the probability is quite cost-effective, isn't it?"

Li Si shrugged and picked up the napkin from the side to hand it to her.

Seeing that Gwen still didn't believe him, he suggested with a grin, "How about we make a bet? The stakes will be accompanying me to see a movie."

"And if you lose?"

Gwen raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.

"If I lose, then I'll take the hit and sacrifice my looks to accompany you to a movie. Of course, if you have any additional requirements, I wouldn't mind those either."

Li Si wore an expression that suggested she was getting the better end of the deal, successfully earning another eye-roll and completing his Hyuga bloodline collection.

Lunch break ended.

The afternoon was spent loafing again, listlessly using work hours to write control programs for the Transformers.

It wasn't until the end of the workday that Li Si stretched and stood up. As if he had instantly downed five cans of Red Bull, he was suddenly full of energy. He grabbed a large black backpack, left Oscorp Tower, and headed straight for the nearby Osir Tower.

Osir Tower was an office building that rented out by the floor. It had complete facilities, but for some reason, it appeared very empty. Most of the floors inside were vacant, and the entire building was almost in a state of semi-idleness.

However, that had nothing to do with Li Si. He just wanted to use the deserted underground parking lot here to conduct a little business.

Walking down the stairs at a leisurely pace, the bright daylight gave way to dim, yellow lights. Just as Li Si was squinting to adjust, five figures who had been waiting impatiently rushed up to meet him.

Hao Bruce Player, Wang Ze Player, Jack Frank Player, Ye Lin Player, Ye Xi Player.

Five people, four men and one woman, all with bright green names hovering over their heads.

"Boss, why did you take so long? I thought you weren't coming!"

Li Hao took the lead, the anxious look on his face replaced by one of surprise. "Quick, quick, quick, I've gathered the money, give me the goods!"

"What's the rush? Wait until I set up the stall."

Li Si glanced at him, then calmly pulled a blue picnic blanket out of his backpack and spread it on the ground, before proceeding to take out items one by one.

Items were laid out one by one on the blue picnic blanket, exactly ten pieces of the crudely crafted Thunder King Set, no more and no less.

"So many?"

Li Hao beamed with joy, reaching out to grab a set from the ground.

Li Si yawned lazily, slapped his hand away, and lifted his eyelids to say, "Where is the money?"

"Got it, got it. This young master lacks everything except money."

Li Hao paid with great flair, tossing over three stacks of US dollars—two thick and one thin—before happily starting to pull the tattered clothes onto his body.

"Rat, you were in such a rush just to buy this pile of beggar rags?"

"Is this what you called super equipment?"

The three men and one woman who had come with Li Hao had remained silent until now, but seeing him put on the beggar-like outfit made of rags and wires, they all looked at him with suspicion.

The girl among them, in particular, sniffed the scent of the clothes before covering her nose and turning her head away.

"Tch, what do you know? Look at the stats yourselves."

Li Hao finished putting on the clothes and gloves, cast a self-satisfied glance at the group, and flicked his hand through the air to share the attribute panel.

"Holy crap!"

"What the hell!"

"This pile of junk actually has such powerful stats?"

The three men cursed in unison, and even the female player with the sharp, short haircut had a flash of brilliance in her eyes.

Especially after seeing Li Hao throw punches and kicks that whistled through the air, the three men exchanged looks and surrounded Li Hao with unfriendly expressions.

"Y-you guys, what are you doing?"

Seeing their faces, Li Hao retreated a few steps, feeling guilty.

"Pay us back!"

"Rat, you're not being a stand-up guy. We didn't hesitate to lend you money, but you kept this thing hidden from us."

The three men glared at him, grinding their teeth.

"Ahem, everyone only had so much starting capital. I was just afraid you wouldn't lend it to me."

Li Hao coughed dryly and laughed sheepishly, "Don't worry, I've already got people buying up game currency. I guarantee I'll get each of you a set in a few days, and Ye Xi will get one too!"

"Do you think we'll still need you to buy them for us in a few days?"

"Don't be like that. I did lead you all to find the hidden merchant, after all. This is the only one in the game right now..."

"Still trying to make excuses? Boys, beat him up!"

With a roar, the four of them immediately broke into a scuffle.

However, at this moment, an untimely, clear voice rang out: "Boss, how much? I want to buy a set. Also, can you change the appearance? I can pay a processing fee."

"Holy crap!"

"Ye Xi, where did you get that much money!"

Hearing this, the four of them froze instantly, their eyes wide as copper bells as they stared at the girl who had come with them.

"I saved it. My brother pays for my food and drinks usually."

The player Ye Xi blinked her eyes with an innocent expression.

"..."

"..."

The entire underground parking lot fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Li Si, however, didn't care about them. Hearing another deal had been made, he beamed with joy: "Two pieces of equipment make a set, twenty-six thousand total. The processing fee to change it into tight-fitting innerwear is two thousand. That will be twenty-eight thousand US dollars. Pay now, and I'll deliver next weekend."

"..."

"You profiteer..."

"So there was another trap waiting for us here..."