FOBTS CH40

Chapter 40: Quite a Beating  

[Sometimes.]  

[Being a system alone was quite helpless.]  

“Are you even a person? Why are you sighing?” Song Ruochen asked.  

[AI isn’t allowed to sigh now? You feed me so much information every single day.]  

[The villain was just walking down the road, and once again, he got treated like a big plush toy.]  

[Did you finish dealing with Dazao haters before creating more trouble?]  

“I’m balancing work and rest.” Song Ruochen said. “Finding a little fun to add some interesting experiences to an otherwise dull life.”  

[I think you’re looking for death.]  

After chatting for a bit, Song Ruochen turned to the two haters. “What’s wrong? You’ve been holding back for ages without saying anything. Are you buffering before cursing?”  

“…Yan Ci’s fans really have no class.” The in-person hater frowned.  

“Isn’t that great?” Song Ruochen said. “Insulting you is exactly my area of expertise.”  

Hater: “…”  

Jian Yuheng’s mouth twitched, and he turned his head aside.  

“Brother.” Jian Feng was surprised. “Why are you so joyfully angry?”  

Jian Yuheng: “^皿^”  

Is that so?  

“Young Master, is my face the stock market? Does it need analysis at all times?” Jian Yuheng asked.  

Jian Feng: “?”  

So weird.  

Was this sarcasm?  

The in-person hater opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word. Usually, when they trashed Yan Ci, they relied on numbers to win.  

Today, neither their quantity nor quality was enough.  

“A mere hater dares to slander the spouse of the Xiaoshi’s president’s?” Song Ruochen shouted at the top of his lungs. “Do you know who this is? With just a flick of our President Jian’s fingers, you wouldn’t be able to walk away unscathed!”  

Song Ruochen nudged Jian Feng with his elbow. “President Jian, flick your fingers.”  

Jian Feng wanted to crawl into a hole.  

Yan Ci: “…”  

Haters: “…”  

Everyone in the circle knew that professional commentator Yan Ci had a great temper—anyone could throw a couple of insults his way.  

Since when did Yan Ci have such… eccentric friends?  

“Secretary Song said,” Yan Ci explained in a small voice, blushing, “if you keep mindlessly hating on me, my husband will sue you. Xiaoshi’s legal team is very strong.”  

“Better go.” Fuzzy Monster told the haters. “Go home and do your winter homework. Copy fewer answers, use your brain more, and get into middle school soon.”  

The in-person hater lowered his head awkwardly and disappeared into the crowd.  

“Were you guys out shopping?” Jian Feng gradually cooled down from his flustered state.  

“I was accompanying Secretary Song to see the night view,” Yan Ci said.  

“I was accompanying Secretary Song to experience the New Year atmosphere,” Meng Yumian said. “My company was more meaningful.”  

“Whether it’s meaningful or not is up to Chenchen to decide.” Yan Ci kicked Meng Yumian’s wheelchair. “Stand up, then.”  

“Ridiculous.” Meng Yumian cheerfully chased after him. “You’re as absurd as knocking off a cobra’s glasses.”  

Song Ruochen: “…”  

“Brother, why do your eyes look so empty?” Jian Yuheng asked with a grin.  

Jian Feng: “.”  

It’s nothing. He just suddenly felt devalued.  

Song Ruochen’s gaze shifted and landed on Jian Yuheng’s hand.  

Song Ruochen: “:D”  

Candied fruit skewer.  

Holding it but not eating it, waving it around in front of him—what a waste.  

“Second Young Master.” Secretary Song raised his clear, beautiful eyes. “I have something I’d like to sell you.”  

Jian Yuheng: “?”  

Jian Yuheng: “What do you want me to buy?”  

The next second, the candied skewer in his hand was snatched away.  

Song Ruochen took a bite out of the topmost piece.  

“I’m making you pay for a lesson,” Song Ruochen said. “Next time, don’t just hold onto good things without eating them.”  

Jian Yuheng: “…”  

This grape—his excuses for snacking were getting more and more elaborate.  

Stealing food with such righteousness—he really deserved a beating.  

Jian Yuheng: “:”  

Yan Ci, who had just chased Fuzzy monster back: “0.0”  

Jian Yuheng (Secret Amusement 90%): “:]”  

Yan Ci grabbed Meng Yumian. “Mutter.”  

“?” Meng Yumian nodded repeatedly. “Mutter mutter.”  

Thr beta and, the omega exchanged a few words, then covered their mouths and started laughing in secret.  

—  

By the time they finished shopping, Song Ruochen received a notification: Dazao and Fuzzy Monster had dropped a 20-minute rewind coin together.

Tonight’s harvest was plentiful. He cheerfully bid farewell to a few people and carried several bags of snacks home.

As soon as he lay down, Jian Feng sent him a work request.

[Jian Feng]: [1000 yuan red envelope]

[Jian Feng]: Secretary Song, could you write the president’s New Year’s message? About 3,000 words, for the company website and public account.

[Song Ruochen]: Of course.

[Song Ruochen]: How far should the blessings go?

[Song Ruochen]: Wishing for lots of money, little work, unlimited cafeteria food, a brainless boss, and an easy life?

[Jian Feng]: ……

[Jian Feng]: Shouldn’t there be a blessing for leadership too?

[Song Ruochen]: Understood.

Being a secretary was so hard—not only did he have to cater to Dazao and Fuzzy Monster, but he also had to cater to the boss and the employees.

[Song Ruochen]: After the New Year?

[Jian Feng]: Before the New Year…

[Song Ruochen]: Understood, President Jian.

Before the New Year it was, no big deal.

[Tired. Let’s sleep first. There’s an on-site visit tomorrow.]

[I’ll set an alarm for you~]

[I’ve upgraded again—I can customize your ringtone now.]

Song Ruochen: “Zzzz.”

—

The next morning—

“Secretary Song, do you want to get your salary docked?” A voice rang out.

Song Ruochen’s eyes flew open. He leaped up from the bed, looking around in a panic.

[It’s the alarm.]

[I recorded the villain’s voice.]

“Instead of learning the good, you’re learning the bad.” Song Ruochen said. “System, you’re getting more and more twisted!”

[Heh heh.]

Song Ruochen switched back to his secretary persona and went out on an errand.

He hadn’t paid attention for a few days, and Haochi Group’s short drama production team was already preparing to start filming. They had secured a spot in A City’s film studio and set up plenty of filming equipment.

By the time he arrived, the lead actor, Lu Yunye’s team, was already there.

Lu Yunye had just finished scolding his assistant. When he saw Song Ruochen, he rested his right hand against his chin, scanning him with interest for quite some time.

“System, was Lu Yunye in the original book?” Song Ruochen asked.

[Yes.]

“Why don’t I remember him at all?” Song Ruochen racked his brain but couldn’t recall.

[‘The sun was shining, the flowers were blooming, and Jian Feng had prepared flowers and a ring. He was ready to finish the big business negotiation and take Yan Ci to celebrate their anniversary.’]

[‘President Jian.’ Secretary Song appeared. ‘Madam has run away from home.’]

[‘Crash—the carefully wrapped bouquet fell to the ground.’]

[‘President Jian, the meeting is about to start.’ Secretary Song said. ‘President Jian…’]

[Jian Feng ran out.]

[That day, #Xiaoshi’s President Abandons Meeting to Chase His Wife# pushed aside countless trending topics and shot to the top of the hot search.]

“Wait a minute.” Song Ruochen couldn’t take it. “What does this have to do with Lu Yunye?”

[He was the one who got pushed off the trending list.]

Song Ruochen: “…”

When people were speechless, they sometimes wanted to laugh.

“What was his trending topic?” Song Ruochen asked.

[#Lu Yunye Quits the Industry#]

“So after working hard to improve his acting skills, he ended up quitting the industry.” Song Ruochen said. “Might as well not try and just enjoy a morally bankrupt life.”

[…That wouldn’t be a problem for you.]

The pretty little secretary sat there without saying a word for half the day, like a cold and indifferent snowman.

“Secretary Song.” Lu Yunye tentatively spoke. “Go to the entrance and grab my takeout.”

Song Ruochen: “0.o?”

“Regarding the actions ‘go’ and ‘grab,’ was there someone in your childhood who didn’t teach you manners at home?” Song Ruochen asked.

Lu Yunye: “.”

“Do you need to self-fund a re-enrollment in kindergarten for further education?”

“Apologies, Teacher Lu.” Song Ruochen said. “I only take orders from the young masters of the Jian family. Fetching your takeout is not within my job responsibilities.”

What a joke.

Even in his dormitory, they had to draw lots three times to decide who would go fetch takeout.

With his assistant absent and Secretary Song completely unmovable, Lu Yunye had no choice but to temporarily set aside his pride and go pick up his own takeout.

“Secretary Song, you’re here.” A representative from Haochi knocked on the door.

Song Ruochen: “Mm.”

“We wanted to ask for your opinion on something.” The person in charge of Haochi Group’s short drama project said. “The three actors playing the vicious cannon fodder characters went skiing together yesterday, all fell, and now they’re in casts. They look so pitiful that they don’t seem that vicious anymore.”

Person in charge: “If we try to find new actors last-minute, our production schedule will be delayed.”

“Do they have a lot of scenes?” Song Ruochen asked. “Let me see the script.”

These three didn’t have many scenes, but they were nasty—constantly suppressing the protagonist played by Lu Yunye, cursing him out with the filthiest insults from start to finish.

“Got it.” Song Ruochen said. “I’ll think of a solution.”

Lu Yunye came back from outside with a grim expression, carrying his takeout.

“What happened?” the Haochi representative asked.

“A few of Brother Lu’s career fans showed up,” his assistant explained. “They’re unhappy about him taking on this project and scolded him. Should I have security kick them out?”

Song Ruochen: “0.o?”

“Have security bring them here.” Song Ruochen said.

Lu Yunye: “Is that really necessary? It’s just a few insults, I can handle it. Let them go.”

“Bring them up to me.” Song Ruochen said.

Lu Yunye: “……”

A few veteran fans were grumbling as security escorted them in.

“You all think he’s useless, a coward, a terrible actor, socially inept, reckless—” Song Ruochen started questioning them, “a diva with a bad temper, poor judgment, and no culture?”

The veteran fans: “Uh… not all that.”

Lu Yunye: “???”

“Mm, it’s fine.” Song Ruochen said. “The project’s already signed. He can’t afford the breach of contract fee. If you’re unhappy, I’ll give you a chance to vent properly.”

Song Ruochen: “Interested in a vicious script?”

The veteran fans: “……?”

“Kill two birds with one stone.” Song Ruochen said. “You get to vent, and we can start filming.”

—

During the holiday, Xiaoshi’s employees were on break, but the leadership was still busy.

“Young Master.” Elder Chen pushed open the door and walked into Jian Feng’s office. “Has the Second Young Master been behaving recently?”

“He hasn’t done anything.” Jian Feng said.

“You’re too honest.” Elder Chen said. “Two tigers can’t share one mountain. I’ve told you many times—you need to pay more attention to Jian Yuheng’s movements. The staff just reported that Jian Yuheng added a new decision to the work plan for next year.”

Elder Chen: “I suggest you take a closer look and analyze his intentions.”

Jian Feng: “?”

Jian Feng opened the company’s internal documents and found the team’s finalized New Year work plan.

The last modification had just been made, and the added item was—

Buy two more ice cream machines for the cafeteria.

Jian Feng: “?”

Elder Chen: “?”

No way to analyze this at all.

—

Upstairs, in Jian Yuheng’s office.

“Second Young Master.” Assistant Gong reported, “Over at Haochi’s film crew, Secretary Song replaced the injured vicious cannon fodder actors with… angry career fans.”

Jian Yuheng was speechless for over ten seconds. “…How did it turn out?”

“They cursed like crazy, occasionally went off-script, but their emotions were spot on.” Gong Huo said. “The lead actor was berated into a mental breakdown, making the ‘Don’t Look Down on a Poor Youth’ theme even more convincing.”

Jian Yuheng: “……”

Gong Huo waited a few seconds for a response, then looked up—

Jian Yuheng (Secret Amusement 100%): “:]”

“Assistant Gong.” Jian Yuheng said. “Starting tomorrow, you can take a holiday. Happy New Year.”

Assistant Gong: “Happy New Year, Second Young Master.”

You already seem pretty happy, and it’s not even New Year’s yet.

Assistant Gong packed up his things and clocked out.

Jian Yuheng wrote a report and then received a message from his uncle—

[Jian Shi]: Who planned my birthday party?

[Jian Yuheng]: Why?

It wasn’t him. He hadn’t taken this outsourcing job.

Every outsourced task he accepted was done with care.

[Jian Shi]: They set up countless mini-games—you have to complete them to blow out the candles, make a wish, and even eat cake.

[Jian Yuheng]: They let you play games, and you’re not happy about it?

[Jian Shi]: Would you be happy if I made you do financial statements? And write a 3,000-word New Year’s speech?

[Jian Shi]: Also, some unknown actors in the crowd were heckling me, saying if I couldn’t handle it, I shouldn’t have a birthday party.

Jian Yuheng: “……”

Oh.

Uncle had turned into an outsourced coworker.

But why hadn’t this grape gone to his father emperor for help? HIS father was much better at handling work than their uncle.

Jian Yuheng: “?”

Why was he even thinking about this? Who wants to work?

Forget it, time to clock out.

The company felt strangely empty today—no little lunatic running around, no employee badges lying around to pick up.

Leaving his uncle on read, Jian Yuheng headed downstairs. Midway down, he ran into Jian Feng, who was also leaving work.

“Hey, little bro, golf?” Jian Feng asked.

“No.” Jian Yuheng replied. “I’m about to puke from playing too much.”

With the New Year approaching, he needed to go home for a visit.

He drove straight home, where his mother, Rong Xin, was busy making dumplings with the housekeeper. When she saw him walk in, she passed the task over to him.

“A housework-savvy alpha is more attractive to omegas.” Rong Xin said. “Learn more.”

Really? Jian Yuheng wondered.

He actually knew quite a bit.

Would the little lunatic like this? Wait, no—the little lunatic didn’t seem picky.

Jian Yuheng started shaping dumplings into gold ingots, rabbits, crescent moons, and little purses, arranging them in a circle to admire his work.

Ding.

Jian Yuheng watched himself peel off the dumpling skins and dump the filling back into the bowl.

Jian Yuheng: “:D”

What the hell was this guy up to now? Reverse time travel? That’s rare.

At this hour, Song Ruochen should be off work. Was he playing? Had he been saving up enough rewind points?

It had been a whole day since Song Ruochen last saw his 100% compatibility alpha.

Jian Yuheng glanced down at the table—his rabbit dumplings and crescent dumplings were gone. He had to reshape them.

There were no two identical dumplings in the world. If he reshaped them, they’d be completely new again.

Fortunately, he was at home. No one was around to compare the differences.

“Why are you staring at dumpling skins and smiling for so long?” His mother stood at the kitchen doorway, speaking in an eerie tone. “Are they funny?”

Jian Yuheng: “……”