FOBTS CH27.1

Chapter 27 🙂

In the interview hall, Assistant Gong, who had no more questions in stock, was still racking his brains—

“If you have a colleague who insists on choosing a restaurant close to home, picks the easiest tasks, and leaves work an hour early every day before lunch, claiming it’s for ‘mental preparation before eating,’ what would you do with them?” Assistant Gong asked.

Ling Xing broke into a cold sweat.

Sure enough, getting into Xiaoshi Group was no easy feat. What kind of question was this?

Song Ruochen burst out laughing. “Of course, treat them like an ancestor, with utmost filial piety.”

Ding.

Song Ruochen said loudly, “Assistant Gong, could you ask questions related to the interview, please?”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

“Song… Assistant Gong,” Jian Yuheng spoke up, “Could you step outside and check the time? The wall clock might be… broken.”

Assistant Gong suddenly realized and went to the preparation room to retrieve everyone’s watches and phones.

Song Ruochen stopped joking around. He looked up, casting a gaze of admiration and gratitude toward Jian Yuheng, even offering a faint smile.

Jian Yuheng: “?”

He had seen Song Ruochen’s feigned indifference and his villainous laughter during chaotic times, but this perfectly measured, serene smile was a first.

It was… quite pleasant to look at.

“Second Young Master,” Assistant Gong cheerfully returned, “The clock was indeed broken. It’s past time; we can clock out now.”

Song Ruochen: “:D”

“Secretary Song, here’s your phone,” Gong Huo handed it over. “What an immature cat-ear phone case.”

“Thank you,” Song Ruochen said. “You’re quite human-like today.”

Assistant Gong: “?”

The cat-ear phone case was bought by Da Zao, and Song Ruochen quite liked it.

After all, with the case, he no longer had to rewind time every time he dropped his phone.

“Today’s interviews are over,” Assistant Gong announced. “Please wait for further notice.”

The interviewees stood up one after another, forming a circle around Ling Xing, who was still sitting.

“We haven’t found any evidence of a brain in this body,” someone remarked.

Ling Xing: “…”

In his past life, he must have committed heinous crimes; in this life, he had to face Gong Huo.

What kind of questions were these?

“Second Young Master,” Song Ruochen stood up, “I’m clocking out now. Please record my overtime pay.”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

This lousy secretary spent his days doing nothing but imaginary work, demanding the boss’s hard-earned money and squeezing every bit of surplus value out of him.

Little Grape, you just leave without lifting a finger.

Jian Yuheng rolled his eyes—though not too noticeably—and waved his hand. “Go on.”

Out of sight, out of… irritation.

Song Ruochen bought himself a grape-flavored yogurt and boarded the subway home. On the way, a message from Meng Yumian popped up—

[Meng Yumian]: Secretary Song, I just got a call from Gong Zuo. He said they’ve already finished setting up the venue.

[Meng Yumian]: College students are incredibly efficient!

[Song Ruochen]: Excellent. I’m off tomorrow, so I’ll join you at the art exhibit later.

[Meng Yumian]: You don’t have to join me; as long as Secretary Song is at ease, I am too.

“Oh my, system, I’m amazing,” Song Ruochen said. “Under my guidance, young master Meng has become independent enough to attend an art exhibit alone.”

[Splendid.]
[Grapes inspire perseverance.]

“That said, we still need to work hard for the next two days,” Song Ruochen added. “I remember there’s a plotline here, right?”

[Indeed!]
[There’s a reporter planning to splash paint at the exhibit venue late at night. Additionally, tomorrow at the exhibit, a few troublemakers will show up.]

[After the venue is ruined, Meng Yumian will be devastated and go crying to Jian Feng’s house. Da Zao will be so furious that he’ll drive a submarine 20,000 leagues under the sea.]

[Secretary Song pilots a submarine…]

Song Ruochen: “…”

Is there anything in this world that Secretary Song can’t pilot?

“This time, it’s sea jujube,” Song Ruochen said. “Da Zao has turned into seaweed.”

“Got it,” Song Ruochen continued. “Tonight, I’ll call Fuzzy Monster to keep an eye on things.”

[I’ll set an alarm for you~]

As Song Ruochen exited the subway station, he bought a bag of marshmallows from a convenience store.

“That rewind earlier was terrible,” he muttered. “System, cough up some pocket money.”

[Shifty eyes.jpg]
[I’ll add a new feature for you, though not many people like using it.]

“What is it?” Song Ruochen asked.

[Previously, rewind would instantly return to a specific point in time. I’m upgrading it so you can rewind gradually to the rewind point.]

[But during the rewind, you can’t interfere—only watch.]

“Interesting. I can use it like a roller coaster, thrilling both ways,” Song Ruochen said. “Let’s try it.”

*

At Xiaoshi Group’s CEO office.

“The media department didn’t pick quality streamers this time; only two were kept,” Jian Yuheng placed a document on Jian Feng’s desk.

“What’s all this?” Jian Yuheng asked, pointing at the mountain of files on the desk.

“Work for Secretary Song,” Jian Feng replied. “Things have been busy lately.”

Jian Yuheng: “?”

This much?

“Reduce it,” Jian Yuheng said. “Otherwise, I’ll assign Secretary Song a pile of work too.”

His brother: “…Huh?”

Jian Feng, seated in his chair, looked utterly bewildered, question marks practically popping out of his head.

Though confused, Jian Feng shifted half the stack of files into his own pile.

“That’s more like it,” Jian Yuheng said.

The phone rang, and Jian Yuheng answered.

“If you’re coming home this weekend, could you swing by the boutique and pick up my new bag and shoes?” his mom asked.

“Sure, Mom,” Jian Yuheng replied.

“And bring me some pastries from that shop near your office,” his mom added.

“Of course, Mom,” Jian Yuheng said.

After hanging up, Jian Feng looked around. On the desk was a box of cookies and a basket of fruit, apparently brought over by Yan Ci for Secretary Song.

At this hour, Secretary Song had likely already left.

So, Jian Feng decided to use Secretary Song’s snacks to treat his younger brother.

“Brother,” Jian Feng asked, “Want an apple?”

The packaging made it clear that Yan Ci had bought these as treats for Song Ruochen. For some reason, Jian Yuheng suddenly felt a surge of mischief. He really wanted to eat Song Ruochen’s fruit.

That foodie would be furious to see a missing apple, wouldn’t he?

Jian Yuheng grew curious about what an enraged Song Ruochen might look like.

He raised his hand, ready to take the apple—

Ding.

Jian Yuheng: “?”

Ding?

Why were the alert sounds lately so odd, and without any explanation?

Before he knew it, the apple was gone. His brother grabbed it, placed it back in the basket, and resealed the packaging.

Jian Feng: “Want an apple, brother?”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

This rewind—why did it have a full playback this time?

His hand moved uncontrollably, returning to the moment he answered the phone. He heard himself say, “Sure, Mom.”

Jian Yuheng: “:)”

Something was definitely off.

*

That evening, Song Ruochen bought groceries and made himself a vegetable soup. He took a sip.

Song Ruochen: “…”

Ding.

The soup reverted to raw vegetables. None of the ingredients were wasted, so he stir-fried them instead.

[Little Grape, are you the legendary genius?]

“Flattered,” Song Ruochen replied.

Just as he sat down at the table, his phone rang with a notification from the app “Awooo~.”

He’d been idle for days and had forgotten to check in with his boss.

[Boss]: Godson, what are you up to?

Song Ruochen hesitated for a second before replying.

[Corporate Slave]: Cooking.

[Boss]: You can cook?

[Corporate Slave]: Father Emperor, which part of my avatar, ID, or bio makes you think I can’t cook?

[Boss]: …

[Boss]: Have you encountered any setbacks in work or life recently?

[Corporate Slave]: Wow, leader, you really talk like a leader.

[Corporate Slave]: Things have been pretty chill lately. Just now, I made a terrible-tasting soup.

[Corporate Slave]: But at least I don’t have to drink it anymore.

[Boss]: …

The messages stopped there, and Song Ruochen blinked in confusion.

Was the boss trying to discuss work with him?

Since no more messages came from that side, Song Ruochen opened Yan Ci’s messages instead—

[Yan Ci]: When I went to the company today, I brought you a box of cookies and a fruit basket. They’re delicious. 0.0*

[Yan Ci]: I waited outside the interview room for a while, but you never came out, so I left them in Jian Feng’s office. They’re all yours; eat them tomorrow.

[Song Ruochen]: Got it.

Ah, Yan Ci was so sweet, taking care of all his snacks lately.

[Yan Ci]: Want to play a game?

[Song Ruochen]: Sure.

They played until one in the morning. Just as they were about to start another match, a sleepy voice came through the voice chat—

“Yan Ci, aren’t you going to sleep yet?” Jian Feng asked.

“Soon, soon,” Yan Ci replied.

“You said that two hours ago…” Jian Feng said.

“Madam, go to bed,” Song Ruochen said seriously. “Goodnight.”

Oops, how could he forget? He shouldn’t be monopolizing Yan Ci and Yi Mi’s precious nighttime hours.

“I’ll call you to play again tomorrow night,” Yan Ci said. “You should sleep too.”

Song Ruochen wasn’t planning to sleep—he had a night shift to work. Big things were happening tonight, and he needed to handle them.

*

In the city center, at the exhibition hall entrance.

A 2D shadowy figure appeared quietly, grinning under the moonlight as he revealed the spray paint in his hand.

He was an unemployed drifter, devoid of feelings or money.

As a proud member of the Anti-Wealth Alliance, he had been filled with burning hatred ever since he heard that the Meng family’s pampered young master was hosting an art exhibition. Tonight, he would preemptively vandalize the venue to give the young master a taste of failure.

The shadowy figure deftly climbed over the wall, sneaked into the eastern hall, which had already been set up, and with a dramatic flourish, splashed a large patch of white paint onto the wall.

The shadowy figure grinned evilly.

He turned on his phone screen to illuminate the decorative wall and admire his work—

Shadowy Figure: “What the heck!”

The entire wall was already covered in a chaotic mess of colorful spray paint. Amid the chaos, the clean white paint he had just thrown on stood out as pristine and spotless.

“Snap!” Someone snapped their fingers.

The lights in the exhibition hall suddenly came on.

“Young Master Meng, this way, please,” a pleasant voice rang out.

Song Ruochen wheeled Meng Yumian into the hall, followed by a line of Alpha security guards who surrounded the shadowy figure.

“Ahem… Secretary Song, you’re truly a prophet,” Meng Yumian said angrily. “Someone really came to sabotage the place. Look at what they’ve done to the exhibition walls!”

The shadowy figure: “…”

Song Ruochen: “…”

Oh no.

He checked his phone. University student Gong Zuo had sent him a photo earlier that afternoon.

[Gong Zuo]: Since there wasn’t a template, we took some creative liberties with the wall design. The final look matches Young Master Meng’s wildly popular “Hairy Monster” aesthetic.

[Gong Zuo]: This is our dreamy jungle wall. Hope it earns us extra internship credits.

Ah, university students—cheap but unreliable.

“Guards,” Meng Yumian said to the Alpha bodyguards, “seize him.”

“Wait a moment.” Song Ruochen grabbed the shadowy figure like he’d found a lifeline. “Stay put.”

This troublemaker had arrived just in time.

“To redeem yourself, repaint the entire wall white, and I’ll let you go,” Song Ruochen said fiercely.

Shadowy Figure: “But…”

Song Ruochen covered his mouth.

Shadowy Figure: “I just…”

Song Ruochen covered his mouth again and gestured toward the surrounding Alpha guards.

“I’ll paint, I’ll paint,” the shadowy figure said.

“Keep an eye on him,” Meng Yumian ordered. “If he doesn’t finish tonight, he’ll regret it.”

“Let’s go, Young Master Meng,” Song Ruochen said. “The culprit has been punished. We should rest now.”

The shadowy figure was left alone in the exhibition hall, silently fixing the mess caused by the university students and Secretary Song.