Security Work

The phone was casually tossed onto the soft sofa cushion, making a faint, muffled thud.

Gu Yue turned around, and her tone abruptly shifted, becoming stern and sharp, like a scalpel precisely cutting through the facade of a beautiful life.

"What are you laughing at?" Gu Yue said irritably. "No matter how well you play games, can that put food on the table? Tang Wulin, tell me, how's the job hunt going?"

The air seemed to freeze for a second. Tang Wulin's smile stiffened as he rubbed his nose and chuckled. "Well... I'm actively looking for opportunities. You know, an outstanding graduate from Shrek Academy naturally has to set his sights a little higher. I can't just settle for any random place, right?"

"Cut the crap!" Gu Yue extended a slender finger and mercilessly poked his forehead. "An outstanding Shrek Academy graduate who can't even find a proper job, playing games at home every day, eating my food and living under my roof—aren't you ashamed? Are you planning to live on welfare for the rest of your life, or rely on your wife to support you forever?"

"How could I?" Tang Wulin immediately sat up straight, putting on a righteous expression, though his eyes drifted a little. "I'm carefully considering things, looking for the position best suited for me to shine and contribute. It's just... I haven't figured out which field my talents should be used in to benefit the Federation and the people to the greatest extent..."

"Benefit the Federation?" Gu Yue sneered and cut off his long-winded speech. "I think you only want to benefit yourself! All day long, you're figuring out how to swindle and cheat people in games, without doing a single proper thing!"

She stood up, walked over to the coffee table, picked up a recruitment flyer, and flung it at Tang Wulin with a swish. She threw it so hard that he nearly failed to catch it.

"Here, look for yourself! You're thick-skinned and well-built, so it's perfect! Our residential community's security division is openly recruiting contract security personnel! Requirements: excellent physical fitness, a sense of responsibility, with veterans or applicants with relevant qualifications preferred. A college diploma or above is enough. You graduated from Shrek Academy's inner court. Your major might not match, but your education is more than sufficient! You're overqualified! Starting monthly salary: 5,200 Federation Credits, with full insurance and housing fund contributions, meal allowances, and a uniform! Isn't that great?"

Tang Wulin lowered his head to look at the bold recruitment notice in the newspaper, then raised his head to look at Gu Yue's disdainful face, which practically said, "It would be a waste for all that lazy flesh not to become a security guard." He blinked, processing the information.

...Security personnel... minimum monthly salary of 5,200...

The first thought that flashed through his mind was not the salary, nor the nature of the job, but—

"Um... honey," Tang Wulin cautiously began, his voice filled with immense grievance and worry. "If I become a security guard, working rotating shifts every day, standing watch and patrolling, then wouldn't we... be unable to cuddle anymore?"

Gu Yue: "..."

She felt her temples start throbbing again, a complicated emotion mixing anger, helplessness, absurdity, and a faint sense of frustration at his refusal to live up to expectations.

"Tang! Wulin!" Gu Yue squeezed out his name through clenched teeth, each syllable like lava erupting from a volcano. "Is there anything in that head of yours besides cuddling and that stuff between men and women?! That's a job! It's a livelihood! It's where you go to shine and contribute, not a place for you to flirt and fall in love! 5,200 Federation Credits!"

The more she spoke, the angrier she became, her chest heaving violently. "Security work is a legitimate position! You won't be exposed to wind or rain, and even though it's contract work, you can work out too! With a build like yours, it would be a waste if you didn't become a security guard! Go apply right now! Tomorrow! Don't make me wake up tomorrow and have to nag you again!"

Seeing Gu Yue's flushed cheeks and eyes that seemed ready to spit fire, Tang Wulin knew he could not joke his way out of this one. He sheepishly dropped his playful expression, picked up the flyer, and studied it carefully before muttering, "It's not like I can't go... it's just that the name makes it sound like I really have to stand guard, keep watch, and catch thieves..."

"What else did you expect? Did you want to command an interstellar fleet?" Gu Yue rolled her eyes irritably, sat back down on the sofa, and picked up her phone as if she were about to play a game, though her mind was clearly no longer on it. "I've made myself clear. If you keep dragging your feet and wasting your days at home, do you believe I'll make you sleep on the sofa tomorrow and confiscate your gaming equipment?"

"No, no, no! Please calm down, honey! I'll go right now! I'll go apply!" Tang Wulin immediately raised his hands in surrender, his face once more piled with a flattering yet helpless smile. "I was just afraid that if we were apart for too long, you'd miss my peerless good looks... Fine, the security division, I'll remember it! Tomorrow, I'll go first thing tomorrow morning!"

As he spoke, he carefully folded the flyer and tucked it into his jacket pocket as though it were an imperial decree.

Seeing his cowardly look of "I don't want to, but I have no choice," Gu Yue's anger subsided somewhat, though her words remained merciless. "It'd better be. Don't forget, your current status is 'unemployed youth.' Getting you a proper job is a blessing you cultivated over eight lifetimes. Don't be picky. You're thick-skinned and well-built, so go do some physical work. It'll help temper that restless temperament of yours."

"Yes, yes, yes, my wife is right." Tang Wulin went along with her, scooting closer and lightly bumping Gu Yue with his shoulder. "Honey, if I really become a security guard and patrol around in uniform all imposing and majestic, do you think I'll look handsome?"

Gu Yue shot him a sidelong glance and replied irritably, "I don't know whether you'll look handsome, but I do know that if you dare slack off on the job, play tricks, do favors for people, or pull strings, I'll be the first to report you! Forget cuddling then. Even if you come home and kneel on a washboard, I'll find you an eyesore."

"I guarantee I won't! I'll faithfully perform my duties and become an outstanding security guard who puts the people at ease and reassures his wife!" Tang Wulin raised his right hand in an oath-taking gesture, his expression solemn—if one ignored the slightly foolish smile lingering at the corner of his mouth.

Gu Yue gave a soft snort, temporarily ending this "criticism meeting" about work. She put her headphones back on and opened her game again, but this time, she selected solo mode.

She needed some time to calm herself down and think things over.

As for Tang Wulin, he looked at Gu Yue's profile as she returned to her game, then touched the recruitment notice in his pocket. His emotions were mixed. On one hand, he felt a little reluctant to leave behind the comfortable sofa and game time that could begin whenever he wanted. On the other, seeing Gu Yue genuinely angry because he was "doing nothing," he also felt somewhat guilty.

"Fine, security work it is." Tang Wulin muttered softly, his gaze becoming a little more resolute. "As long as I can still see my wife after work, eat the food she makes, and play games with her, I can do anything. At worst... I'll secretly think about her during the night shift."

He looked up at Gu Yue's back as she focused on her game, and the corners of his mouth lifted unconsciously. Yes, if it meant he could keep cuddling with his wife openly and properly, then he would become a security guard!

As for whether he would be sleepy from waking up early to apply tomorrow... that was tomorrow's problem. For now, he would enjoy the calm before the storm, along with... the adorable frustrated sounds his wife occasionally made while playing games.