The Honest Working Man Who Was Catfished (02)

Xue Ci picked up the scattered herbs on the ground and only received 5 gold coins in return.

He took off his large hat, which was obstructing his view, and looked into the distance to see if the Crow were still there.

Sure enough, the other person could no longer be seen.

Xue Ci dejectedly put away the gold coins: [Has another Virus Fragment followed us into this world?]

Otherwise, how could the plot have deviated from the path of the previous two worlds?

11: [Host, no suspicious or perverted Fragment have been found yet. The plot deviation is due to unforeseen circumstances, but it has been brought under control by 11 within 10%. The scammers will definitely come after you again!]

"Oh." Xue Ci touched her nose. [I misunderstood.]

Inside the space, the Fragment that had been restlessly gathering the energy crystal cores together were calmed down by a single sentence from the young man.

The mission has a three-day deadline, so we definitely won't see "Crow" today.

To meet the other party, herbs are essential. Xue Ci returned to the forest, intending to harvest a few more high-level herbs to lure the swindler out.

Little did they know, "Crow" had already donned an invisibility cloak, following the dark figure from a distance of a few meters.

My friends in the channel keep sending me messages.

[Cheng Yuqing:?]

[Cheng Yuqing: What happened to the test server? Where are all the people?]

[Cheng Yuqing: They were just in the main city a moment ago, and then they disappeared in the blink of an eye.]

[Cheng Yuqing: You're not secretly dating someone behind your brothers' backs, are you?]

[Cheng Yuqing: You're logged into a female account now, don't try to deceive straight men.]

Bai Wu glanced at the message, then closed the chat window without replying.

He simply didn't want to deceive a straight man, which is why he ignored the "Little Snowman" who kept following him.

He knew better than anyone else about his entanglement with the Little Snowman.

Because he is an awakened individual.

After a car accident, he regained consciousness. It turned out that the real young master of the Bai Family was the protagonist of this world, and he was just a villainous cannon fodder who opposed him.

Bai Wu was an adopted child of the Bai Family, but none of the Bai Family liked him. They adopted him only to fill the position of their own child and to find the shadow of the real young master in him.

He was grateful to the Bai Family for providing him with excellent material conditions, so he always gave them priority in everything.

But ever since the real young master returned, they have given him all their love and energy, while constantly belittling and trampling on his self-esteem. This has caused his personality to gradually become distorted and his values to become warped. In the game, he uses a female character to deceive men, making them love him and spend money on him to fill the void in his heart.

Song Xueci was the unlucky one who was deceived by him.

Of course, their fates were predictably tragic.

Bai Wu found it laughable; why hurt others and yourself for someone who wasn't worth it?

Moreover, the way this world is arranged is truly absurd. How could a straight man possibly have the skills to flirt with men, let alone stick together with them and have a romantic relationship?

Fortunately, he foresaw all of this and was able to cut it off at the source.

After being discharged from the hospital, he quickly severed ties with the Bai Family and started a company with several friends to develop the first holographic game on the entire internet.

I never expected to run into Song Xueci again.

Bai Wu felt he shouldn't have followed Song Xueci, but when he thought about how she had squatted on the ground picking things up earlier, he felt like he was bullying her.

I wonder if the other person will cry.

never mind.

The herbs were also stolen because of him.

He has a responsibility.

Bai Wu decided to leave after helping the other party collect the herbs.

Of course, he didn't want to have any interaction with Song Xueci, so he used an invisibility cloak.

The team's chat history kept flashing, and it was still Cheng Yuqing.

[Cheng Yuqing: Are you there? Have you checked the forum? I heard there's a new guy who's pretty good.]

This time, Bai Wu finally replied.

Just a few words.

[Bai Wu: I'm straight.]

Cheng Yuqing:?

He didn't say it was because they were good-looking, so why does it sound like he's trying to set them up?

However, according to the forum administrator, she is indeed quite good-looking.

Of course Cheng Yuqing had no interest.

I quickly sent the other person a message: [Who isn't?]

*

Bai Wu followed closely behind. As a game developer with maxed-out player skills, his walking speed was naturally much faster than that of the newcomer.

Especially that Little Snowman in front, he seems to do everything very slowly.

The two had crossed the main city streets and arrived at the nearby forest.

High-level herbs are hard to find, and there are traps all around, so Bai Wu kept a close eye on the "Little Snowman" in front of him.

But he didn't know if it was just his imagination, but the plant NPCs in the forest seemed to be intentionally guiding Song Xueci toward high-level herbs.

The vines that were originally meant to suck human flesh and blood have transformed their branches into road signs; the man-eating flower with its gaping maw has covered its mouth with leaves, unwilling to let others see its ugly appearance.

Plant NPCs are the lowest-ranking NPCs in "Lost Continent," yet they now seem to have developed self-awareness.

They seem to really like Song Xueci.

Is this... the treatment a princess receives?

Bai Wu quickly dismissed this thought. No matter what Song Xueci looked like, he was a real boy, and a straight one at that.

The footsteps ahead stopped.

He saw Song Xueci bend down and take out tools for collecting medicinal herbs.

The boy's wrists were very thin, so slender that you could easily wrap your hand around them and see tiny blue-purple veins.

Bai Wu became more vigilant, guarding against the appearance of monsters.

Just then, Song Xueci took off her hat, revealing half of her pale face to the air.

As if she had found something, a look of surprise appeared on her delicate face, and she then jogged towards him.

Her cheeks were pink and white.

Bai Wu was stunned.

They usually maintain social distance, but this time they didn't back down.

Song Xueci's face was now magnified in front of him.

Bai Wu used a female character template; Song Xueci was half a head taller than him, and he could see her curled eyelashes and pointed chin.

As a game developer, he could tell at a glance that Song Xueci's face had been altered.

Most people try to make things look good, and the other person is probably no exception.

If I were actually better looking than my current game avatar, I'd have tons of admirers in real life, and I wouldn't need to engage in online dating.

However, when it comes to actually being in a relationship, Bai Wu doesn't think looks are that important.

The most suitable is the best.

Of course, he's straight and wouldn't follow the whims of the world by tricking innocent young men into online romances.

Lost in thought, Bai Wu realized that Song Xueci's face was getting closer and closer to him.

The other person seemed to sense something was wrong, and kept looking in his direction, their nose twitching slightly as if sniffing like a small animal.

"..." They were almost kissing. Bai Wu stiffened his shoulders and finally stepped back.

Song Xueci had a sweet fragrance about her, distinct from plants, which drifted into his nostrils, as light and alluring as a feather.

He watched Song Xueci's actions closely until she distanced herself before he could catch his breath.

If he wasn't consciously aware of his surroundings, was he really deceiving the person in front of him?

They do seem... easily deceived.

And it seems like she really likes him.

From the moment he appeared, she stared at him with wide eyes and kept pestering him to chat.

She still speaks in that mushy, affectionate tone. If she were really in a relationship, she'd probably be the type who loves to be pampered and would fulfill even the most outrageous requests.

Bai Wu's indifferent brows furrowed slightly as he ground his back teeth.

His teeth started to itch, and he desperately wanted to bite something.

After glancing around, the man's gaze eventually returned to Xue Ci. His eyes lingered on her slender fingers, plump lips, and delicate cheeks.

Bai Wu's pupils contracted slightly, and his breathing became somewhat uneven.

His long-standing illness had relapsed.

*

Xue Ci quickly collected the herbs, and fearing they would be stolen, he carefully put them into his prop box.

Back in the main city, he searched along the streets but couldn't find any trace of "Crow," so he gave up and decided to focus on playing the game.

The good news is that the game's players are very friendly; more than ten people have already asked him to add them as friends and team up with them in just one afternoon.

Bad news: the "Crow" hasn't tried to lie to him yet.

The players who came to add him as a friend were all higher level than him. After defeating the mini-boss, he was left with only one drop of health, Xue Ci quickly leveled up twice.

Xue Ci was satisfied and thanked her teammates.

I'm logging off now!

His teammates were all tall, young men, and seeing that he was so early, they all urged him to stay and play a few more rounds.

Xue Ci in a difficult position.

I have to go to work tomorrow.

"And holographic glasses aren't very comfortable to wear for long periods of time."

One of my teammates, a fairly good-looking guy, said, "Are you still wearing glasses? How about we add each other on WeChat, and I'll buy you a holographic capsule?"

Xue Ci realized it.

"I've learned my lesson," he said to "Crow" next time.

Seeing his generosity, the other party should be reluctant to part with this big fish.

Having firmly remembered this, Xue Ci rejected the boy and then quit the game.

As soon as the handsome young wizard logged off, his teammates all looked disappointed.

Over here, Xue Ci took off her glasses, lay down on the bed to rest for a while, and began to think about how to complete the first task on schedule.

The information only briefly mentions that he was scammed online, and subsequent tasks need to be refreshed in real time to appear.

The cramped room made Xue Ci's head even more dizzy. He glanced at the time; it was already past eight o'clock in the evening.

He hadn't eaten dinner yet, so he opened his phone to order takeout, but after looking around, the prices made him hesitate.

Thinking of her empty wallet, Xue Ci immediately put down her phone and went to the kitchen.

11 told him that the eggs and noodles in the refrigerator were his.

Xue Ci could cook a simple dinner. He picked up the pot that was in the corner and quickly cooked the noodles.

I had just sat down when someone came into the kitchen.

Xue Ci glanced at the other person; it was the boy she had met in the bathroom at noon.

The other person had changed into a black T-shirt, casually tying a shirt jacket around their waist, exuding an air of rebelliousness. They wore two collarbone chains around their neck and a single gray-blue earring that shone brightly under the lights.

With a musical instrument slung over his back, he looked very young and trendy.

Xue Ci glanced at Bess and suddenly realized that the boy in front of her was Chu Juesheng, the villain who was constantly provoking the protagonist.

The information shows that Chu Juesheng is a rebellious and unreasonable scion of a noble family, but he has no manners whatsoever. He would be a hoodlum in society and a school bully in school.

is that so?

Xue Ci stared at that face.

His brows might have been casual yet sharp, but they didn't exude any malice. The slightly drooping corners of his eyes reminded him of the big dog he used to have as a child.

Hmm... especially those bright black pupils that were staring straight at me.

Exactly the same.

Over here, Chu Juesheng still had a cool, aloof, and lazy handsome look on his face, but in reality, his shoulders were already stiff.

The boy's well-developed physique, with its bulging muscles taut beneath his loose clothing, was clearly visible.

What... does the tenant in apartment 011 seem to really like him?

They've only met once, haven't they?

Chu Juesheng recalled their only interaction in the bathroom and suddenly realized—he was shirtless at the time.

My eyelid suddenly twitched.

Chu Juesheng's expression turned cold. He knew that people were open-minded these days, and there were plenty of people who would go to a hotel on the first day they met, but he was definitely not that kind of person.

He's never been in a relationship before. He'll wait until he meets someone he's attracted to, has a serious relationship for a few years, and is ready to get married before considering these things.

If this young man, 011, were to suggest being friends with benefits or something, he would definitely refuse firmly.

Chu Juesheng awkwardly withdrew his gaze, straightened his back, walked past Xue Ci, went to the refrigerator, and took out a bottle of water.

There were two boxes of strawberries in the refrigerator, given to him by his teammate; he doesn't like strawberries.

If we don't eat it soon, the tenants here will probably steal it.

Chu Juesheng turned around and glanced at the little boy who was eating noodles.

The other person sat upright on the stool, with a slender waist, their clothes stretched taut by the bones in their back. They ate their noodles in a very refined manner, with their fogged-up black-rimmed glasses placed to the side.

My lips were red from the hot soup.

But... this noodle soup is too bland. Eating so little, no wonder you're so thin.

There's a bit of flesh on my thighs, though.

Chu Juesheng quickly looked away. He wasn't a compassionate person; the strawberries were just about to spoil, and it would be a waste to throw them away.

There was a sudden noise beside her, Xue Ci, who was focused on eating noodles, turned to the side and raised her face.

Too suddenly, he had just taken a bite of noodles, his cheeks bulging.

Chu Juesheng seemed to be burned by Xue Ci's gaze, and took a step back, trying to cover his embarrassment. He didn't say anything, as if he and Xue Ci were already very familiar. "Do you want some of this?"

Long, slender, bony fingers tapped twice on the plastic box of strawberries.

Xue Ci quickly realized what was happening and mumbled, "... For me?"

"... Hmm." Chu Juesheng wanted to explain, but seeing the boy's round eyes, he swallowed his words. After hearing the other's "thank you," he didn't say anything more and quickly left the kitchen.

Xue Ci stared at the boy's tall back.

This once again refutes the notion that Chu Juesheng is a villain.

Dinner became more lavish, Xue Ci set her alarm for seven o'clock, preparing to face the next day of her corporate life.

The early morning commute was just too painful. The next day, Xue Ci was completely dazed when he got out of bed. After a hurried wash and change into a white shirt, he finally caught the subway to the company.

His internet company is located in the city center, and his commute requires two subway transfers and takes an hour and a half.

Xue Ci at the company gate at nine o'clock, barely making it in time to clock in.

By the time he sat down at his workstation, before even starting work, he felt he had already used up all his energy for the day.

Being a corporate slave is so tough...

Even after all this, you still lied to him about an online romance.

Xue Ci listlessly picked up her cup, got up from her seat, walked to the tea room, and poured herself a cup of cattle and horse feed.

The slightly bitter aroma of coffee made him feel even more bitter inside.

How can I already be tired of work before I've even started?

11: [Host, keep it up! If we finish this mission quickly, we'll be fired! This company is reliable; we can get severance pay! That money will be enough for our expenses in this world.]

[Good!]

Xue Ci returned to her workstation with her cup, took a small sip, and her delicate brows immediately furrowed.

"Xiao Song, your monthly report—" The other person paused, just as their gaze met Song Xueci's misty eyes.

He was stunned for a moment. Usually, Xiao Song only knew how to write code with his head down. His hair was messy, and he wore black-rimmed glasses. He looked like an unkempt science and engineering guy.

So this is what a face really looks like?

"Brother Zhang, is something the matter?" After being reminded by 11, Xue Ci learned who the other party was.

An experienced, cunning employee, seeing that he was honest, pushed all the work onto him and then used his work to curry favor with the boss.

Sure enough, Brother Zhang continued, "Do you have some time? Fill out this form and hand it in to me at 5 PM today. Thanks for your help."

Xue Ci with an "Oh".

In short, cowardly and honest office workers will be bullied everywhere.

He pursed his lips and, true to his character, silently went to receive the documents.

The shirt tucked into her trousers accentuated her slender waist.

Both legs are straight.

The man who had been slumped over his desk since starting work saw this scene as soon as he opened his eyes.

"Didn't President Gu's assistant give you this report?" Cheng Yuqing casually looked up.

Upon hearing this young master speak, Brother Zhang's hand trembled slightly. Everyone knew that Cheng Yuqing was President Gu's nephew, a clear case of connections, and he even brought up President Gu specifically!

Fearing what the other party might say to President Gu, he immediately took back the document, chuckled awkwardly, and said, "I see that Xiao Song seems to have nothing to do. Since he has something to do, I'll handle it myself."

After saying that, he Xue Ci, "You should do your job well. If you don't understand anything, come to me."

Xue Ci looked confused, then slowly uttered an "Oh".

Cheng Yuqing scoffed, shifting his gaze to Song Xueci's face. "Didn't I tell you? In this situation, you should—"

He choked, because Song Xueci was staring at him with a bright, sparkling expression.

Staring straight ahead.

She seemed very grateful to him.

"Looks like he's not so stupid after all..." Cheng Yuqing regained his composure, said nothing more, and turned on his computer to start working. Of course, he was improving the program for "Lost Continent," not working for Fu Yan.

He wouldn't have been able to stay a single day if his family hadn't forced him to come.

The computer was booting up, Cheng Yuqing out of his mind. His gaze involuntarily drifted to his colleague next to him.

He had spoken up for the other party when the leader acted inappropriately before, but he had never really looked at him properly.

So this is what Song Xueci looks like.

So pitiful.

She really gets bullied.

He looked away and, without realizing it, had been working all morning.

Around noon, Bai Wu sent a message: [Have you resigned?]

Cheng Yuqing could reply, he sensed someone approaching him.

He looked up and saw Song Xueci staring at him expectantly, hesitant to speak.

"What's wrong?" Cheng Yuqing lazily.

Xue Ci asked softly, "Everyone has gone to eat. Are you hungry?"

Cheng Yuqing gestured, "You want me to go out to eat with you?"

She's a bit clingy.

He was just being flamboyant and outgoing; he mentioned it casually, and to his surprise, Song Xueci actually nodded. "I'd like to invite you to dinner, is that alright?"

Why all of a sudden... Cheng Yuqing's eyelids twitched slightly, his tone far less relaxed than before. "Let's go."

Xue Ci was satisfied.

This colleague just helped him, and given his public persona, it's only right that he reciprocate.

The main reason was that I heard from 11 that the portions in the company cafeteria are very generous, so bringing along this tall colleague would ensure he wouldn't be full after just one dish.

Both of them stood up.

The corridor between workstations was narrow, Xue Ci walked ahead.

Soon, Cheng Yuqing smelled a sweet fragrance, and his gaze fell on Xue Ci's fair nape.

It seems to have come from there.

*

Working in an internet company, it's impossible not to work overtime. Six o'clock is the end of the workday, but no one in the office moves.

Xue Ci Cat was at her workstation when she noticed that her colleague next to her hadn't left either.

The other party is a relative of President Gu, why do they also have to work overtime?

He sighed silently, and after an hour of waiting, everyone started to get up. He pretended to go to the restroom and tiptoed away from his workstation.

Then came another hour or so of commuting.

Xue Ci didn't have much of an appetite, but 11 reminded her to eat dinner on time.

After buying bread from the convenience store, he returned to his cramped room.

The life of a corporate slave really makes it hard to quit internet addiction. Xue Ci back and lay on the bed, not even wanting to turn on the computer.

But the task still needs to be done.

Xue Ci listlessly turned on the computer, logged into the game, set up a herbal medicine shop on the side of the main city street, and waited for the swindler to come to him.

As soon as he logged on, he received greetings from his teammates.

Seeing that Xue Ci looked a little down, her teammates asked her what was wrong and showed their concern.

One of them stared at his pointed wizard hat and said, "Did you break up with your boyfriend? Otherwise, team up with me as a couple and you'll make your ex jealous!"

His words were clearly a test of Xue Ci's feelings, but before the little wizard could speak, a mechanical voice announced from the sky—

[The player "Crow" spawned the hidden boss "High Priest," becoming the first player on the entire server to defeat it.]

The broadcast was repeated three times in a row.

"A mage this powerful?"

"The eagle among eagles."

"Is he cheating?"

Of course, "Crow" is a member of "Wu City," the largest guild in the entire server, so there are very few dissenting voices.

Xue Ci immediately stood up and clicked on the link following the line of text in front of her.

The broadcast is real-time; once a hidden boss is defeated, the game will announce its exact location.

After clicking, Xue Ci found that the other person was very close to her.

He packed up his herbalist's shop and excitedly went to find the other person, but there were too many players rushing over there, and he was jostled to the side.

My shoulders were firmly supported by a pair of strong hands.

Then, a flash of light appeared before her eyes, and when she could see clearly again, Xue Ci realized that she had arrived at a forest cabin.

The other party quickly released her grip, Xue Ci turned around, exclaiming in surprise, "' Crow '?"

Why does your tone sound like you're being coquettish?

Bai Wu gave a faint "hmm": "Looking for me?"

Xue Ci remembered the mission and took the herbs out of the item box.

Faced with the persistent young wizard's insistence on selling him herbs, Bai Wu was speechless. "How much do you have left? I'll buy it all."

"No need, it's a gift for you." Xue Ci had just finished speaking when she heard the sound of the task being completed, but then another task appeared immediately afterward.

After reading it, he boldly and directly asked the other person, "I want to do a couple's quest with you, is that okay?"

Bai Wu was stunned.

Does Song Xueci know what she's saying?

Or... do you really like him as a person?

When Bai Wu realized he was using a female character, his expression stiffened slightly.

They're all straight men, why are they even doing couple tasks?

But when Song Xueci saw that he didn't reply, she moved closer to his face.

This time, his tone was a little urgent. "Please? I beg you."

Bai Wu unconsciously ground his teeth, his gaze falling on Xue Ci's pink and white earlobes.

The meat is soft and fluffy, and looks very easy to chew.

He took a deep breath, and when he spoke, his voice was a little low, unlike a typical female voice.

A cold refusal. "Marriage is not a game."

Even if they are both gay, once they get together, the other person will quickly discover his embarrassing medical conditions.

But... can Song Xueci handle him?

Author's Note:

The baby just wanted to team up for a quest, but what are you thinking? [heart emojis]

And all the slices (including those mentioned) have appeared!