“Young man, the terminal is here, and you are still asleep.”
Wen Jiaxuan opened his eyes in a daze, and found that the fast-moving train had stopped at some point, and the seats around him were empty. He thanked the conductor for waking him up, then put on his backpack and came to the unfamiliar platform.
This was the first time Wen Jiaxuan had come to City H, and it was also his first solo long-distance journey. Even though he felt a bit stiff from the six-hour train ride, the excitement in his heart outweighed any discomfort.
At that moment, the clock had already struck past six in the evening. Wen Jiaxuan had his dinner at a small restaurant near the train station afterward he began to inquire about the route to the office address of “Zeyou Travel.”
City H, like City P, was one of China’s top international metropolises, which meant that it would take at least an hour to get anywhere.
Wen Jiaxuan guessed that the staff at the magazine had likely left work by the time he arrived, but he wasn’t in a hurry. He planned to explore a bit, get familiar with the surroundings, and then head straight to the “Devil’s Den” the next morning.
However, there seemed to be something amiss with the address of this “Devil’s Den.”
Wen Jiaxuan checked Baidu Maps several times. No matter how many times he entered the address “No. 11, 11th Street, City H,” it kept leading him to a residential area.
Could this magazine’s office be in a residential building?
No wonder they resort to deceiving people online for manuscript fees. Maybe they can’t even afford to rent a proper office space.
Wen Jiaxuan buried his head in his mobile phone. In that moment, a sudden impact force diverted his attention away from the screen.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” A woman holding a little girl smiled apologetically at Wen Jiaxuan, “The child was in the way, and I couldn’t see where I was going.”
“It’s okay, just be careful,” Wen Jiaxuan replied, waving to the little girl, “Goodbye, little sister.”
“Goodbye, big brother!” the little girl obediently responded.
Watching the woman and the adorable little girl walk away, Wen Jiaxuan suddenly understood why so many people loved to travel.
Being in an unfamiliar environment, interacting with new people and things, it all felt fresh and exciting. This novelty brought joy and relaxation. Wen Jiaxuan was already beginning to think that if he received his manuscript fee, he might explore the city a bit before heading back.
No, no, this wasn’t the time to relax.
After taking the subway for an hour and a half and walking for another ten minutes, Wen Jiaxuan finally arrived at No. 11, 11th Street as he had been thinking.
But it wasn’t what he had imagined…
Why was this a villa area?
Strictly speaking, these residences weren’t exactly traditional villas but rather duplex villas. The buildings were not tall, only six floors, with each floor consisting of two separate households.
Wen Jiaxuan sneaked into the community following the residents entering and exiting, eventually arriving at his intended building.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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The warm yellow streetlight illuminated the man’s face, casting just the right shadows to accentuate his distinct features.
Wen Jiaxuan lingered in the shadows, a thought flashing through his mind—the person seemed to resemble Wu Zehao.
Wu Zehao was a well-known travel blogger who often included scenic photos in his travel notes. Occasionally, he appeared in his photos as well, although not too frequently.
Having seen Wu Zehao’s photos a couple of times, Wen Jiaxuan’s impression of him was limited to recognizing his handsome face.
The man who had just emerged from the neighboring yard was undeniably attractive, yet at first glance, Wen Jiaxuan couldn’t be certain if he was Wu Zehao.
Moreover, that man was remarkably tall. His long, straight legs seemed almost to reach his chest.
With a height of 1.73 meters, Wen Jiaxuan had managed to regain some confidence after arriving in the southern city of H. However, now, in the presence of the tall man who appeared to be around 1.9 meters, his confidence plummeted to the ground.
In any case, the address for “Zeyou Travel” had to be either in front of him or the neighboring unit. Wen Jiaxuan decided to trail the man, just in case he was indeed Wu Zehao.
While discreetly browsing Wu Zehao’s travel notes on his phone, Wen Jiaxuan followed the man from a distance. Soon, they exited the community and arrived at a bustling commercial street.
During this time, Wen Jiaxuan managed to confirm that the man did indeed resemble Wu Zehao. He already had a hunch that this was the person he was looking for.
Suddenly, an idea struck him—facing the deceitful editor-in-chief might be daunting, but he had to be brave and demand his rightful payment.
With his resolution firm, Wen Jiaxuan prepared to approach Wu Zehao for his wages. However, just as he was about to do so, Wu Zehao turned around and entered a door adorned with flashing neon lights. Stopping abruptly, Wen Jiaxuan inspected the place, realizing that it was a bar.
This was his predicament; Wen Jiaxuan had never set foot inside a bar in his life.
Gripping his backpack straps, he hesitated at a street corner for more than ten minutes, unsure whether to step inside.
Two burly men in black suits stood at the bar’s entrance, exuding an aura that discouraged any troublemaking.
Wen Jiaxuan observed for a while and deduced that one was likely in charge of collecting entry fees while the other stamped the wrists of patrons. They didn’t appear malicious.
Come to think of it, did he need to pay to enter a bar?
Wen Jiaxuan wasn’t sure, but he had a reliable ally called Baidu.
In no time, he got the answer. Not all bars charged an entry fee, though some did demand a fee of 30-50 yuan for male patrons.
It was cheaper than he expected.
Gaining confidence, Wen Jiaxuan straightened his posture and stood at the entrance of a bar named “Heartbeat.” “Excuse me, am I old enough to enter?”
A tinge of nervousness crept in, but he swiftly added, “I’m already twenty-two.”
One of the suited men responsible for collecting the fee responded, “Show me your ID card.”
His ID card was in his wallet, which he searched for in his pocket. However, to his bewilderment, his wallet wasn’t there.
“Hey, where’s my wallet?”
Panic surged as Wen Jiaxuan rummaged through his backpack, finding nothing. The suited man chuckled, “Did you lose your wallet?”
In his bafflement, Wen Jiaxuan’s mind raced. An ID card was required for train travel, so he definitely brought his wallet. But now, despite his meticulous search, his wallet was nowhere to be found.
It couldn’t be…
Did that woman with the little girl…
A realization struck him like a bolt of lightning—how could they be thiefs? When did the world become so perilous?
He thought ruefully that at least there was only a small amount of money in his wallet, so the loss wasn’t substantial. However, losing his ID card would be troublesome; he’d have to report it missing.
“Hey, young man, do you have your ID card?” the collecting-suited man prompted.
“I’m an adult, really,” Wen Jiaxuan responded anxiously, “I came here to demand my wages. Please let me in.”
“Demand wages?” The collecting-suited man seemed taken aback. “You’re doing this kind of business at such a young age?”
“I’m not that young, I’m already an adult,” Wen Jiaxuan emphasized, “And I’m not ‘doing business’; I’m just supporting myself.”
The other suited man, responsible for stamping wrists, elbowed his companion and whispered, “Let him in. He doesn’t seem like he’s lying.”
His companion with the stamp nodded in agreement. “Alright, it’s not easy to make a living these days.”
Wen Jiaxuan let out a sigh of relief, opened WeChat Pay, and was about to pay. However, the collecting-suited man pushed his phone away, saying, “You don’t need to pay the entrance fee.”
Confusion settled over Wen Jiaxuan. Why wouldn’t he need to pay?
Nonetheless, not having to pay was a blessing, given his financial situation as he pursued his due salary. Without overthinking it, he walked past the two suited men and entered the bar.
Heartbeat Bar wasn’t particularly spacious, adorned in an industrial style that exuded chicness. Though he had seen it on TV, stepping inside truly brought forth a sense of novelty.
Perhaps due to the early hour, many seats remained unoccupied. After a brief search, Wen Jiaxuan spotted Wu Zehao at the bar.
Wu Zehao held a cigarette, engrossed in conversation with another man. It appeared they were close friends.
Wen Jiaxuan wasn’t fond of the smell of cigarettes, but he had to admit that Wu Zehao’s smoking appeared oddly alluring.
He gracefully flicked the ash with his thumb, lifted his chin slightly to take a drag, and then exhaled the smoke in a casual manner…
Unfortunately, their gazes intersected through the haze.
For a moment, Wen Jiaxuan felt flustered and quickly turned his attention to a booth on the opposite side. Yet, something seemed off. Why had he averted his gaze? He had come here to find Wu Zehao, hadn’t he?
With a deep breath, he reestablished eye contact. Now he noticed that Wu Zehao’s friend was also watching him with an amused grin, conversing with Wu Zehao.
When two people shared a gaze and discussed something while looking at him, it was safe to assume he was the subject of conversation.
Wen Jiaxuan couldn’t discern their conversation. He steeled himself, resolving to approach Wu Zehao and demand his wages. However, just as he was about to step forward, Wu Zehao turned around, and Wen Jiaxuan halted. As it happened, their eyes locked.
Wu Zehao appeared perplexed, seeming to mull over something he couldn’t recall. Meanwhile, his friend nudged him and spoke in surprise, “Do you know him?”
Wen Jiaxuan lifted his chin and asserted assertively, “You blocked me a few days ago. Don’t pretend you don’t know me!”
Wu Zehao wore a puzzled expression, as if trying to recollect who he had blocked recently. His friend patted his shoulder, amusedly remarking, “You’re quite a scoundrel. Finished your work and now you won’t pay up?”
“That’s right, he’s a scoundrel!” Emboldened by the support, Wen Jiaxuan chimed in, “For the past six months, every job I’ve done, I haven’t been paid properly. We agreed it would be settled this month, yet you’re trying to swindle me. What a jerk!”
“Every… time?” His friend laughed and banged the table. Even the bartender, engrossed in preparing drinks, shook his head in disbelief.
Wu Zehao’s expression darkened, and he questioned, “Did you mistake me for someone else?”
“It’s you! Wu Zehao!” Wen Jiaxuan spoke out, “Don’t bother denying it!”
Upon hearing this, Wu Zehao suddenly stood from his stool. Startled, Wen Jiaxuan took a step back, realizing that Wu Zehao’s imposing height overshadowed him.
Face tense, Wu Zehao seized Wen Jiaxuan’s wrist and led him outside. Freed from the grasp, Wen Jiaxuan distanced himself a meter away, apprehension gnawing at him.
“I—I must warn you, physical assault is a crime,” Wen Jiaxuan declared, retreating further.
Wu Zehao regarded him silently. Then, abruptly leaning forward, he pinched Wen Jiaxuan’s chin, studying his face for a moment.
“What are you doing?” Wen Jiaxuan furrowed his brow and withdrew his chin, displeased by Wu Zehao’s inexplicable touch.
“Are you saying I do things without paying?” Wu Zehao said slowly and stood up straight, crossing his arms in front of his chest with a neutral expression as he asked, “When did I ever solicit you?”
Upon hearing this, Wen Jiaxuan’s anger instantly dissipated. He looked at Wu Zehao with a puzzled expression, thinking, “What did this guy just say?”
LMAO misunderstanding from the get go 😂 hang in there little MC!
Pfft, just so wrong…. Thanks for the update ❤️🤣
I didn’t expect thim to be THIS oblivious. 🙈 I don’t mind it, I just feel damn sorry for him because imagine how many times he must have been swindled by people without knowing. Ignorance is bliss, maybe? 😭
Hahahahaha, the ending was quite funny hahaha, I stayed ¿?
Thanks for the chapter~💕