The Honest Working Stiff Catfished Online

Surprisingly, there were more Fragment in the small world that was recovered this time than expected.

However, according to 11, there are many abnormal characters and many Fragment.

That's perfectly reasonable.

As usual, after being recycled and exchanged for points, the Fragment ran back into the system space and wreaked havoc on 11's little nest.

It made 11 so angry that it went to upgrade!

[Host, wait for me! After this upgrade, you'll only have me as your dog! Because I've killed them all!]

"..." Xue Ci stared at its tiny wings, which were flapping back and forth, unable to even lift a knife, and still went along with it, "Okay."

The other system's Xiao Qiu were extremely envious.

To boost their performance, they're tied to either protagonists of endless flow fantasy novels or overpowered protagonists who dominate everything, becoming the kings of the hill. Instead of giving them a break, they complain that their level is too low and they're useless.

But they are all much higher than level 11!

Look at how 11's host treats it!

Their whispers were overheard by their respective hosts, who all went to the Quick Transmigration Bureau's forum to search for Song Xueci.

The forum of the Quick Transmigration Bureau will showcase the highlights of the employees' missions in the small worlds, such as solving puzzles or defeating the boss.

When it was Xue Ci's turn, the boy was always watering the flowers, sleeping, or looking with tears in his eyes.

It sounded boring, but the post became incredibly popular; everyone wanted to know Xue Ci. Then, overnight, all the posts about Xue Ci vanished into thin air.

I can't even send it.

It seems Xue Ci has a very jealous husband behind her.

Xue Ci herself knew nothing about this.

The system upgrade is scheduled to take place for a week, and a robot has been arranged to deliver food to his door. They've also left him with a game.

It's an older online game, Xue Ci used an account from version 11.

However, his skills weren't very good, and he was often verbally abused and mocked by his teammates.

Xue Ci pouted.

The Fragment were unhappy and deleted all the accounts of those foul-mouthed team members. However, Xue Ci felt that this was too much, so the Fragment returned their accounts and muted them.

[Baby, can I team up with you?]

Xue Ci hesitated for a moment.

If someone has such a powerful ability to infiltrate viruses, they must be really good at gaming too.

otherwise...

He was about to agree when he saw that he had been added to a group.

There are several team members.

Xue Ci glanced at their ID names.

--[Ci Bao's Only Husband]

--[Eating the baby's mouth and that]

--[Snowball Baby, I'm Your Dog]

--[Xue Ci's official husband (kissed)]

--[Hidden under the baby's table to help the baby]

Xue Ci: "..."

The heat gradually reached her ears, Xue Ci refused to team up with this group of Fragment.

For the next few days, he became completely addicted to the internet. It wasn't until 11 returned, excitedly saying that he could go to the next world, that he noticed a somewhat troubled expression on the host's face.

"Could we stay for two more days?" Xue Ci asked cautiously, "We haven't finished defeating the mini-boss in this level yet..."

11:...

How did he become an internet addict?

However, it was very considerate of its host and quickly selected a small world related to games within the system.

[Host found! This world is related to online dating and gaming! You can play games unlimited times in your spare time outside of work! It's even in full-immersion mode!]

[This is much better than this trashy online game!]

Xue Ci opened the documents.

This time, he's playing a straight male office worker.

I grew up in an orphanage. As a child, I often fought with my peers for food, but I was too weak to get any. Over time, I became mild-mannered and withdrawn.

The opportunity to learn is hard-won for an orphan, and he worked very hard to get into university. After graduating, he started working at an internet company.

Because of his social anxiety and social isolation, he had few friends and could only fill the emptiness in his heart by playing video games.

He had only been playing the game for a few days when he became infatuated with a female player. She was cute and knew how to flirt, and he quickly fell in love.

Although it was an online relationship, it was his first love, especially since he was a coward who couldn't even look a girl in the eye in real life. He took it very seriously, was very frugal with himself, and spent all the money he saved on gifts for her. When he ran out of money, he even took on a part-time job as a live streamer to earn extra cash.

He worked two jobs while talking to the other party for a while, and finally cautiously suggested meeting in person.

The other person agreed, but stood him up on the day they met. They sent him a recording, mocked him for being scammed, and then quickly blocked him. He's a straight man and can't believe he's been in an online relationship with a man all this time.

After reporting the incident to the police, they said that there were many similar scams recently and told him to go home and wait for news.

As a wage slave who was deceived both emotionally and financially, he was doubly hurt and went to work in a daze, making serious mistakes and eventually being fired from the company, leaving the city he longed to stay in.

Xue Ci stared at the documents.

The protagonist this time is a real young master from a wealthy family, while the one pretending to be a girl and deceiving him into an online romance is a fake young master.

The fake young master is a villainous cannon fodder, while he is an even less significant cannon fodder character.

This is indeed an honest but unlucky character.

However, Xue Ci very satisfied.

He had no interaction with the protagonist.

You don't even need to meet this online dating scammer.

Xue Ci confidently embraced 11 and entered the small world.

He was certain that he wouldn't encounter any more perverts this time.

*

No. 7 Apartments.

On a rare sunny day, the tall, handsome young man drew back the curtains, deftly picked up a bass guitar from the corner, and prepared to pull out a sheet of music from a pile of miscellaneous items on the table.

The bass guitar's deep, resonant sound shone through the sunlight onto the boy's prominent nose.

He had a focused expression, a sharp jawline, and broad, straight shoulders. His youthful energy and mature aura were blended perfectly, giving him the kind of rebellious look that was very popular on university campuses.

"Bang"--

The sound of ceramic shattering came from next door, followed by the arguing of a man and a woman.

Chu Juesheng's aura quickly cooled down.

How many times has this happened?

Arguing like this every day is worse than breaking up sooner.

As Chu Juesheng placed the bass on the table, his phone rang. He opened it and saw messages being sent in the group chat.

[See you at the usual place at 2 PM.]

[OK.]

Where is Brother Sheng?

Chu Juesheng replied, "[Two points probably won't work.]"

[What's wrong? What happened?]

[Dating behind your brother's back?]

Chu Juesheng: [There's someone in the bathroom.]

[Damn! You still haven't moved out of that awful place?]

[It's been three days now, what's keeping you here?]

[Or you should go participate in a reality show like "Transformation"!]

"..."

Chu Juesheng turned off his phone.

Summer is just around the corner, and the air conditioner in the room is too old to provide much cooling. In addition, the argument next door is making him very upset, and he is already covered in sweat.

No wonder people in the group are making fun of him; he really shouldn't have come to this lousy place.

This place is called No. 7 Apartments, also known as the Beasts of Burden District.

The house I moved back to is old, has poor sound insulation, and the property management is nowhere to be found.

However, each floor was packed with people. Because such cheap rental housing could not be found in the entire Fog City. The crowded floors, with seven or eight rooms per floor, were filled with migrant workers, some poor students preparing for postgraduate entrance exams or civil service exams, and unemployed people.

Chu Juesheng thought he would never set foot in such a place in his life.

However, he had a conflict with his family some time ago. His family wanted him to go abroad directly, but his band had just become somewhat famous. He was unwilling to compromise, so his family cut off his source of income.

Logically, even if his source of income were cut off, he wouldn't need to live here just because he sold a watch. Strangely enough, the lead singer of the band he'd listened to since childhood had also had experience renting rooms, and he felt that this might inspire him, so he asked a friend to find this place for him.

He regretted moving in on his very first day: the soundproofing was poor, things were cluttered, and there was a diverse mix of people.

He's just putting on a brave face now.

Chu Juesheng went out the door; he was tall, so he had to bend down slightly to get past.

He then glanced towards the bathroom.

The sound of flowing water could still be heard; the person inside had not yet come out.

Chu Juesheng walked past the shelf by the room door with a blank expression, his indifferent demeanor revealing the air of a pampered young master.

On this floor lived a single mother and her child, a taxi driver, and a couple who were migrant workers; they had all met in the living room.

The person living in room 011 has never shown their face; they're acting all mysterious.

However, Chu Juesheng had accidentally glimpsed the other person's room; the walls were covered with anime posters, all featuring cute female characters with twin tails.

He's probably a reclusive guy who doesn't like to see people.

Chu Juesheng was too lazy to think about it, so he took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and went back to his room.

After waiting for ten minutes, he went out to take another look.

This time, the bathroom was empty.

Chu Juesheng took the toiletries and went inside.

The steam in the bathroom hadn't completely dissipated when he reached the door, and a faint scent mixed with moisture wafted onto his face.

Chu Juesheng is very sensitive to smells, especially perfumes, and he always buys unscented toiletries.

But this taste... he didn't dislike it.

It doesn't smell like artificial fragrance; it's more like a natural human scent.

Chu Juesheng's straight nose twitched as he sniffed the air deeply, quickly pinpointing the source of the scent.

A few pieces of clothing hanging on the shelf by the wall.

The tenant who just took a shower probably forgot to take it with them.

Chu Juesheng withdrew his gaze and went to the pool to wash up, but while brushing his teeth, the fragrance kept drawing his attention to those few pieces of clothing.

The topmost white garment has very little fabric.

It's clearly a men's size, but... why is it so small? It's several sizes smaller than his.

How narrow must the waist be?

A boy.

Perhaps it was because the bathroom was too stuffy, but Chu Juesheng quickly broke into a sweat. He turned on the tap, washed his face, and without drying it, pulled off his shirt by the corner of his clothes with one hand.

His muscles were well-defined but not exaggerated, with several clearly visible abdominal muscles and V-lines extending downwards on both sides.

Chu Juesheng threw the clothes into the basin and was about to turn around and close the door when he noticed a figure standing at the door.

The bathroom door was ajar, and he caught a glimpse of half of the other person's face through the crack.

After seeing it clearly, Chu Juesheng was stunned.

The boy was slender, with delicate and beautiful features, and an innocent expression.

She had probably just taken a shower; her chin was pointed, and her cheeks were flushed pink from the steam, like a piece of fine mutton fat jade.

He looks like a pampered young master from some wealthy family, not someone living in a low-rent apartment in the Beasts of Burden District.

He was looking down with some hesitation, seemingly considering whether or not to knock.

But... who is it?

The only unfamiliar face living on the same floor as him was that resident in apartment 011.

Chu Juesheng out of his daze and opened the bathroom door.

He moved so fast that the boy standing outside the door was clearly startled and shrank back.

"What's up?"

Chu Juesheng glanced at him casually, but inwardly he was thinking, "This guy's waist is really that thin."

"Oh..." Xue Ci quickly realized, "I forgot to take my clothes from inside, may I go in and get them?"

Such a soft voice... and so polite.

Having lived here for a few days, this was the first time Chu Juesheng had encountered such a polite person. He opened the door, stepped aside, and gestured for the other person to go and get it.

The boy stirred up a breeze as he passed by, and a faint scent drifted into his nostrils.

Turn around.

The other person had just finished showering; their hair was still damp, and their eyes and brows were filled with moisture.

She looked very slender, and the loose short-sleeved shirt made her waist look even slimmer. As she tiptoed, the shirt lifted up, revealing a small section of her slender, white waist.

The soft flesh on her calves sculpted a curve as she stood on tiptoe.

"Thanks."

After taking the clothes, the boy gave him a friendly look.

Chu Juesheng took a few seconds to come to his senses. "... Oh."

He stared at the figure's back and saw that the person quickly entered room 011.

So this is what it looks like.

It really is... an unexpected appearance.

Chu Juesheng closed the bathroom door.

He looked in the mirror; the person in the mirror had a cold, indifferent expression, while his own ears and neck were flushed red.

The weather is so hot and dry.

*

Xue Ci returned to her room with the clothes in her arms.

I breathed a sigh of relief after closing the door.

The people in this apartment all look really fierce...

That boy was so tall. I kept staring at him. If he had been any slower, I probably would have gotten yelled at.

Xue Ci put the clothes into the basin.

He arrived in this world on a Friday, only two days later, and hadn't even experienced the life of a corporate slave yet.

Even though he's made money... his living conditions are still so poor, not even as good as his house in the rural world.

Xue Ci checked her bank account balance, which was typical for a recent graduate entering the workforce.

--After paying the rent, I didn't even have four figures left.

11: [Host, you took out a loan to go to school and plan to pay it off within the next few years after graduation, so you're very frugal.]

Xue Ci thoughtfully.

[I see.]

11 actually thinks his host is very impressive.

Others thought he was spoiled, but the host himself never complained no matter what environment he was assigned to.

She even covered the doll on the bedside table with a blanket.

Waaaaah, it's willing to follow its host for life!

Xue Ci was suddenly nuzzled on the face by 11, and she instinctively patted it back.

He pushed the basin under the bed. The rented room was already small, and the game posters on the walls made it feel even more cramped.

Inside, there was only a bed, a wardrobe, and a computer desk.

Compared to the Fog City center, which already has robots, this low-rent apartment area feels like a primitive tribe.

According to the data, the timeline of this world is several decades ahead of the real world, with rapid technological development and the complete entry into the era of Internet of Things and smart homes.

The first holographic game was also developed recently, and it became a hit as soon as it was released, trending on social media.

Xue Ci, an employee of an internet company, also bought the game called "Lost Continent" because of the trend.

The game consists of seven maps, which can be unlocked after reaching a certain level.

Xue Ci is a new account. He logged in and played for a whole day yesterday, and so far he can only wander around in the "Misty Forest". This dungeon is a Western fantasy world, where he fights monsters and collects herbs.

If they find good medicinal herbs, they can set up a stall at a designated location to sell them.

In other words, they are what people call "lifestyle players".

Xue Ci had a good impression of the game, but felt a little dizzy after wearing the holographic glasses for a while.

However, the holographic items for entering the game are also divided into levels, and he plans to exchange for a more expensive holographic pod before he gets scammed.

[Host, you are now able to log in. Today is your first encounter with the scammer.]

[The other person uses many tricks, like acting cute and adding you as a friend. You're no match for them; after a couple of flirtatious exchanges, you end up giving them the herbs.]

Xue Ci a pang of heartache.

Scammers have too much money to make.

The room was very air-conditioned. He found a pair of pajamas in the closet. Although he had already entered the workforce, the pajamas were still quite cartoonish, with cat ears on the hood.

A pair of black-rimmed glasses sat on the table.

However, Xue Ci's data is based on her own body and she is not nearsighted. She almost fainted when she put on glasses after arriving in this world.

11 quickly adjusted it to a non-focal lens.

Xue Ci clipped the holographic lens onto her glasses frame and entered the game.

His game ID is [Little Snowman].

The game requires full real-name registration, and character appearance can only be adjusted based on one's original appearance. If you do not want to reveal your identity, you can choose from a few fixed templates in the game.

However, most players are drawn to the realistic character designs.

In Xue Ci's account data section, her appearance rating was adjusted by 11 to 70% of its original value.

[You'll definitely attract perverts with your face!!]

"..." Xue Ci was incredulous, thinking that it might be because her constitution made her prone to attracting abnormalities, so she lowered it by another 5%.

Even so, that face still attracted quite a few players.

The map of the Misty Forest is exceptionally detailed, making it feel like you've truly entered another world and encountered bizarre plants.

Xue Ci chose a protective wizard's robe, put on a hat, and covered herself completely.

He's been lucky; he hasn't encountered any aggressive plant NPCs like the man-eating flower yet.

Even after collecting three herbs, the health bar above my head was still full.

Using the "Return to Main City" skill, Xue Ci's view instantly changed to a wide street.

He found a corner, set up a small shop, and while looking at the Necronomicon for his next quest, he waited for the conman to come looking for him.

About ten minutes later, 11 alerted: [Host, the scammer is here!]

Xue Ci put the documents away and glanced at something not far away.

People came and went on the stone-paved streets, and horse-drawn carriages also passed by.

A girl with pigtails walked up to the carriage.

This is one of the game's fixed character designs; it has blond hair, clear blue eyes, and its expression changes depending on the player.

Xue Ci met several players with this twin-tailed avatar today, and this scammer didn't seem particularly special at the moment.

His game ID is pretty cool, it's called "Crow," and his health bar is full.

He sat on a small stool, waiting for the other person to come and ask him to buy fodder.

As the other person drew closer, Xue Ci's cheeks flushed with nervousness.

I've been scammed.

He thought.

However, the next moment, "Crow" crossed the street and walked away expressionlessly from right in front of his herbalist's shop.

She didn't even look at him.

Xue Ci: "?"

He was completely stunned, watching the other person's receding figure, their two ponytails swinging in the air as if mocking him.

What's going on...? Has the plot gone off track again?

Or do you think his herbs aren't clean enough?

But he had already washed it once.

[11?]

11 did not answer.

The other person was walking very fast and was about to disappear into the crowd. Xue Ci didn't care about anything else and got up to run over.

He was already panting softly when he caught up. He walked up to "Crow" and stood side by side with it, but was quickly left behind.

He had no choice but to stumble and fall as he caught up.

If the other person ignores him, he has no choice but to speak first.

Hello, do you need any herbs?

The Crow didn't even look at him, speaking in a very aloof tone, "No need."

Xue Ci pursed her lips, her voice becoming so anxious it sounded almost like she was pleading, "My herbs are very good, really won't you take a look?"

Xue Ci felt that he was the one who was more like a liar.

Sure enough, the "Crow" ignored him this time.

Seeing that she was falling behind, Xue Ci immediately reached out to grab the other person's clothes.

Pulled back by a small force, "Crow" stopped and glanced indifferently at Xue Ci.

The little wizard seemed frightened by him and unconsciously bit his lip.

Then, reluctantly, she let go of his hand.

My fingers were rubbed red by his armor-like, hard clothing.

Xue Ci stood there, somewhat at a loss.

Thankfully, the voice of 11 finally rang in his head: [Host, don't worry! There's a plot deviation; the mission duration has been extended to three days.]

Xue Ci just breathed a sigh of relief when—

Your herbal medicine shop has been robbed!

Xue Ci awake. "!"

He rushed back in a panic, but the herbs had already been taken, and even the small stool had been stolen, leaving only a lonely, makeshift stall.

He didn't encounter a scammer, but he did encounter a thief...

Xue Ci pouted, his eyes showing a mixture of pity and grievance. He squatted down and slowly picked up the few fallen leaves.

Not far away.

The Crow didn't hear the light footsteps behind it and turned around.

The little wizard who had been following him was squatting on the ground, his body covered by the large wizard's robe, his head pointed.

He used a telescope.

I saw the "Little Snowman's" expression.

Like a pitiful kitten whose food has been stolen.

Squatting there.

The paw pads stomp back and forth on the ground.

It looks like I'm about to burst into tears.

Author's Note:

Baby, you're a wizard kitten~~~

The game content is limited; it's mostly setup for the Phoenix arc.

The scammer does this because everyone is disgusted by his awakening consciousness and wouldn't do such a despicable thing as online fraud; he even claims to be a straight man.

Straight men – men who become completely straightforward when it comes to babies.

I'm too embarrassed to say I update every night at 9 PM, so I've quietly changed my update time to between 9 PM and 11 PM.