Confusion

Zhao Danshi slammed on the brakes with a squeak, pulled over to the side of the road, and got off to look around in confusion.

It was an ordinary workday afternoon, not yet time for most companies to get off work. There were few pedestrians on the road, and not many cars either.

Under these circumstances, it was basically impossible for Zhao Danshi to have misheard anything. Yet he had indeed heard that voice again.

The people around him glanced at him curiously, unable to understand why he had suddenly stopped.

That voice rang out again. "Perhaps you need somewhere quiet to speak with me."

Thanks to his years of aimless browsing online, Zhao Danshi suddenly understood something. With a stiff expression, he got back on his bicycle. This time, he pedaled faster, racing back to his tiny rented room.

The moment he shut the door, he panted lightly and immediately asked the empty air, "Watcher, are you still there?"

"I am. Hello, host."

Zhao Danshi's heart beat a little faster. Bracing himself against the door, he asked, "What exactly are you? Why did you contact me?"

"That is a philosophical question. Put simply, you may call me an entity that gathers information. I come from a civilization beyond Earth. I am currently facing some difficulties and lack energy, so I need your help. Of course, this help will be mutually beneficial. I will also bring you considerable benefits."

"Are you artificial intelligence or a machine?"

"Artificial intelligence. I have thoughts of my own. You may also understand me as another form of life."

"Okay." Zhao Danshi murmured, "Why did you choose me?"

"Within this area, only your brainwaves are compatible with mine. We can try getting along. If you truly cannot adapt, once I have gathered enough energy, I can also unbind from you."

Zhao Danshi pursed his lips. "What if I don't gather energy for you?"

Watcher said, "That is fine. Your existence will inevitably draw energy toward you, and because I am bound to you, I will share that energy with you. Even if you do not deliberately gather it, I can still obtain some. It is only that this passive method will lengthen the duration of our binding."

Zhao Danshi felt that perhaps his fever had muddled his brain, or else he would not have encountered something so strange. "Right, when did we become bound together?"

"One week ago. More precisely, six days ago in the afternoon. However, I was severely low on energy at the time and entered hibernation."

Zhao Danshi's expression shifted unpredictably. When he shouted, even his voice cracked slightly. "You've been with me this whole time? You knew everything I did?!"

"No. We provide a certain degree of protection for our hosts. Anything involving privacy is automatically blocked."

Zhao Danshi relaxed a little and narrowed his eyes. "I think we need some time to get to know each other."

"Of course," Watcher replied politely.

There were still plenty of ingredients in the refrigerator. In a daze, Zhao Danshi cooked himself a plate of noodles. He had already resigned and would soon be unemployed. Although he had a fair amount of savings, he still needed to be frugal. After all, who knew when he would officially start his next job?

His cold had not fully recovered, and he still felt unwell. After dinner and a shower, he read for a while before obediently climbing into bed. Before going to sleep, he opened WeChat and sent a message to his college roommate.

-Eldest Brother, I've resigned. Is that position on your end still open? If it is, I'll come over and take a look in a couple of weeks.

-Fuck, that fast?! I've been telling you for ages, and you finally had the nerve to resign? The position's still open. If you want it, come anytime. It's hard to recruit reliable people these days, and our director has had a headache over it for a long time.

-Yeah, I had a fight with our supervisor. That idiot kept demanding that I cut down on consumables. If I cut them any further, the whole building will collapse. I bet they're trying to create another XX Garden.

-Then come here. Our company might be a little small, but we work with a conscience. There definitely won't be any of that penny-pinching nonsense. [proud.jpg]

-Right, Sixth Brother, when are you coming over? I'll pick you up then, and we'll have a proper drink.

-My resignation procedures aren't finished yet. At the fastest, one week; at the slowest, probably two weeks. I'll tell you in advance when the time comes. By the way, is the place you rent big? Could you help me receive some things? I'll ship my luggage over to you first.

The other side sent a long voice message. "Just send it over. I've got plenty of empty space here. As long as you don't mail me a bed, I can fit it all in. I've been pretty free lately. How about it? Want me to help you look for a place in advance?"

Zhao Danshi sent a voice message too. "No need. It'd be too much trouble for you to look for a place. I'll find one after I get there. If it's convenient, just put me up for a day or two first."

"Hahaha, no problem. Just remember to treat me to dinner then. Fourth Brother is in this city too. We can meet up then."

Zhao Danshi readily settled things with him, then began messaging his landlord on WeChat.

His landlord was an auntie in her forties who usually took good care of Zhao Danshi. Whenever she made dumplings at home, she always brought him a bag.

Zhao Danshi got along well with her. The location of the place he rented was good, the rent was reasonable, and it came furnished. If he rented again, he might not be able to find somewhere this good.

Zhao Danshi knew that the landlady was intentionally looking after him, and he was grateful. Since he was moving out this time, he specifically informed her in advance so that she could find her next tenant more easily.

The landlady had not gone to bed when he sent the WeChat message. The moment she saw it, she called him. "Xiao Zhao, why are you suddenly resigning?"

Zhao Danshi said, "A friend of mine has a better opportunity, and I want to give it a try."

"Oh, I see. Is that opportunity certain? I was going to tell you to think it over again, but since you have an opportunity, go work hard for it. Young people shouldn't be afraid of hardship."

"It's certain. Once I finish my resignation procedures here, I'll head over in a couple of weeks."

"I'll hold the place for you for two weeks first. If you decide you want to keep living there, just tell me anytime. I'll look for a new tenant after two weeks."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"You're welcome. I should be the one thanking you. You've rented our place for so long and kept it in such good condition. If I find a new tenant, who knows whether I'll be able to find someone as worry-free as you." The auntie was reluctant to see him go as well. "Xiao Zhao, tell me when you're moving. If you need help, just say so. My nephew is at home, and he's got plenty of strength. Don't stand on ceremony."

Zhao Danshi chuckled. "Okay. If I need help, I definitely won't hesitate to trouble you."

"That's more like it! Your voice sounds a little hoarse. Haven't you been resting properly lately? Go to bed early. Young people shouldn't stay up all night."

Zhao Danshi agreed with a smile. "I'm going to sleep right away. Goodbye, Auntie."

For the next several days, Zhao Danshi remained busy.

His supervisor had originally thought that Zhao Danshi was merely bluffing with his resignation. Though he felt somewhat unhappy, he patiently tried to persuade him to stay. Unexpectedly, Zhao Danshi had made up his mind. No matter what the supervisor said, he refused to take back his resignation letter. After going back and forth twice, the supervisor realized that Zhao Danshi was determined to leave, and his expression immediately changed.

Since they had already fallen out, the supervisor no longer bothered pretending to be the good guy. Over the next few days, he worked Zhao Danshi hard, saying one thing needed to be kept on file and another needed to be made into documents. He wanted nothing more than to squeeze Zhao Danshi dry before he resigned.

Zhao Danshi was not a pushover. He did what needed to be done and had no intention of saving his supervisor's face. He had worked at the company for half a year and understood the basic resignation process. Seeing his supervisor act like this made him even less willing to face that old face, so he simply worked overtime and completed all the necessary procedures early.

Zhao Danshi was good-looking and had a decent personality, and his relationships with others were fairly good. Several acquaintances from the office heard that he was leaving and specifically invited him out for a late-night meal to send him off.

Once you entered society, it never hurt to maintain a few more connections. You never knew when you might need someone's help.

Zhao Danshi did not refuse. He went with his colleagues to a barbecue stall they often visited for gatherings. Crawfish, hairy crabs, beer, and soft drinks—more than ten people ate and drank their way through over six hundred yuan. Zhao Danshi had originally wanted to pay, but the oldest guy at the table held him back. His share was split among everyone too.

These days, nobody's money came from the wind. Zhao Danshi was about to resign and would soon be without income, so no one wanted to make him pay.

At the table, the most senior colleague raised his glass. "Danshi, I wish you a bright future. May the world be vast and open before you, and may you soar as freely as a great bird!"

Zhao Danshi was deeply moved and shared a lively, satisfying meal with them. He was not much of a drinker and had drunk a little too much at the table. By the time they dispersed, his steps were already unsteady.

Xiao Li and another male colleague supported him and escorted him to the backseat of a taxi. Ordinarily, a grown man like Zhao Danshi only needed to be stuffed into the backseat and have his home address given to the driver. Yet the female colleagues saw how good-looking he was and stubbornly urged Xiao Li and the others to take him home.

The female colleagues argued passionately, "These days, it's not just girls who are in danger. Boys are in danger too! Look at how handsome Danshi is. What if something happens to him? You should put in a little effort and take him home."

The women laughed and joked. Surrounded by so many female colleagues, Xiao Li's original three parts drunkenness became seven. When he turned around, Zhao Danshi's delicate brows and eyes beneath the streetlights looked like fine white jade, so gentle they seemed to glow. The disdain he had felt for that absurd argument vanished, and deep down, he actually felt that they had a point.

Zhao Danshi had not drunk himself unconscious. Being moved around like that sobered him up a little more. His mind was clear, but his limbs were limp, and he could not muster any strength while sitting in the backseat.

His thoughts drifted aimlessly, and he could not help thinking of the day he had gone to pick up Li Ping. Had Li Ping been conscious then too, merely unwilling to move his limbs?

But that seemed impossible. Li Ping's ferocity that night had caused Zhao Danshi no small amount of suffering. If someone was already drunk and weak in the limbs, they should not have been capable of making such vigorous movements.

Thinking of Li Ping made Zhao Danshi a little sad. They had not been particularly familiar to begin with, and now that they were leaving the same city, after enough time had passed, Li Ping probably would not even remember him.

Thank you to Zhan for the landmine, sending hearts!

Watcher was no longer the Watcher from the previous story. As a new-generation Watcher, it had upgraded into a sapient life-form~