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Chapter 697 - 694: The Sunshine in Life.

Chapter 697: Chapter 694: The Sunshine in Life.

[City of Measurement]

Core Area, nighttime, a dinner was in progress, and the diners were staff members of the Starfire Mechanics group, gathered for a team-building meal.

The drinking games among the staff were like a grand stage where everyone pushed and shoved, playing different roles, and even the target, the toaster, the timing, and the words to be spoken required careful consideration.

There were the bewildered, the resentful, the haughty elders, and the sycophants. A new employee, pushed onto the stage by his senior colleagues, offered drinks with a forced smile, as if it were an established tradition.

Today, the work dinner of the Starfire Mechanics group welcomed several new faces, all freshly employed and deemed suitable by the Dawn System.

Quietly, Xiao Mei watched the drinking party, her hand trembling as it clutched her cup.

"Xiao Mei, you’re new here, go and give a toast to Director Wang." Suddenly, a large hand patted Xiao Mei’s shoulder, belonging to a senior colleague.

Xiao Mei’s pupils shivered; she had already been forced to down five drinks amid the crowd’s coaxing, nausea and dizziness surging to her forehead, her cheeks flushed bright red.

On her shoulder, the hand from her senior pinched her skin deliberately. Meanwhile, the others looked away as if they saw nothing, continuing to chat and laugh.

...She had never imagined that her dream work environment would be like this.

The senior staff frequently shifted inexplicable tasks onto her, a newcomer, "to temper the youth," making her resubmit her quality-compliant work proposals for repeated revisions. The corpulent leader left his mobile number on a small piece of paper for her and groped her thigh as she passed by the water dispenser.

She had stayed late into the night several times, her well-regulated schedule turning into a mess, and even faced body-shaming from female colleagues who jealously labeled her a "green tea" and "white lotus," treating her work-related inquiries with cold violence. Some dug up her past life experiences, labeling her as someone from The Fringe who had been engaged in filthy work, asserting she was inherently unclean and here only to seduce someone.

All sorts of negative comments, immense work pressure, disrupted sleep patterns, criticism, and harassment from leaders... she was close to breaking down.

She had never thought that such a thriving area in the heart of the city would be like this. Did the Dawn System not carefully assess one’s character when determining job suitability?

Perhaps that was indeed the case... for achieving maximum work efficiency. In a character-irrelevant sector like manufacturing, as long as the employees were well-adapted, didn’t commit crimes, and didn’t disrupt social order, anything could be passed as long as it maximized output. The ones sacrificed were those without connections and of a gentle disposition like her.

It was a ridiculous and absurd standard of assessment, yet it was indeed being implemented, because it truly maximized benefits. The Dawn System only cared about results, not the process.

...She had already left behind that father who sold her, rescued by the Lord of Acto City, and she could have a self-sustaining job, bidding farewell to the darkness—

But as she looked up, she saw that even higher places were still engulfed in darkness.

Forced to stand by the cheering from her seniors, she appeared like a goose being grabbed by the neck, trembling as she toasted to the leader.

"I toast to you..." she tried to raise her voice.

That was the leader who harassed her daily, touched her thigh, and even now ogled her with greedy eyes.

Upon sensing her displeasure, Director Wang laughed, "What? Xiao Mei, you don’t like me, huh?"

The people around immediately laughed along, "Xiao Mei is our brilliant new talent, and a bit of arrogance is normal for such a genius, but she doesn’t dislike you. As the saying goes: better to have a hole in your stomach than a gap in your feelings. Xiao Mei, if you want to prove you’re not distant from Director Wang, you need to drink a few more."

...It felt like being pricked by a needle.

Ming’an stood still, her whole body felt as if pierced by gazes, her fingers icy cold.

"Everyone is happy today, what’s wrong with drinking a bit more? When among friends, even a thousand cups aren’t enough!"

"Now that men and women both hold up half the sky, even as a lady, Ming’an should show some boldness. Here, let me fill you up again..."

"Leader Wang, today the fish and meat dishes are all catered to you. You’re sitting in a spot of good Feng Shui. Ming’an serving you wine is just like offering Buddha flowers borrowed from another’s tree, wishing you to climb higher in your career and lead us all to make great achievements and earn a lot of money! You might even enter the Central Laboratory and become an assistant to the City Lord in the future!"

As soon as there was a chance to flatter Leader Wang, people became like carps leaping over the Dragon Gate, and no one would stand up for a female staff member who had just started working and had no relatives supporting her.

Another glass of wine was filled up; Ming’an’s stomach churned tumultuously. She was about to vomit, but nobody cared; amidst the laughter, no one cared about the tears of a new employee.

"...ugh."

The alcohol burnt her throat as it poured down. She knew she couldn’t back down; she had promised the Lord of Acto City... she wanted to be someone who earned money with her own hands.

She needed to get used to it... she couldn’t back down... even though her stomach felt as if it were being stabbed by a sharp knife...

By the eighth cup, Leader Wang finally relaxed his brow. "That’s enough, I see Ming’an’s sincerity. Let’s stop here; skills at the drinking table are not real skills. In the future, we will rely on our new employees to strive for real achievements."

Amidst the cheering crowd, Ming’an cracked a slight smile; she smiled.

"Thank you, leader..."

At the moment she uttered those words, something inside her heart broke.

She sat down, feeling like a death row inmate who just received a reprieve. As the focus shifted to another new employee, a young girl like her, a drunken leader shouted for the young girl to perform a "maiden disrobing," and everyone else burst into laughter, overlooking the girl’s troubled expression.

After all, in such settings, anything said while one becomes a "drunkard" is forgiven.

Ming’an excused herself from the table and stumbled into the restroom. As soon as she shut the door, the acid surged up, and she couldn’t help violently vomiting. The scorching taste of the alcohol almost burned her, and her stomach felt weighed down by a tremendous burden.

"Ugh... ugh... sob..."

As she vomited, she covered her mouth and began to cry. Her days and nights were reversed, sleeping only four hours a day. This lifestyle exhausted her more than before; her heart painfully throbbed.

In between bouts of vomiting, she suddenly thought of that gentle City Lord. He had pulled her out of the mire of inferior personas, away from the red-light district’s mortal purgatory. He said she would have a new life; he said the Dawn System would arrange a job for her...

Where was he now? She heard that Caius Tower had opened...

"That White Lotus today really made me nauseous."

Suddenly, a female colleague’s voice came from outside the door; Ming’an immediately covered her mouth, afraid to make a sound.

"I’ve disliked her from the start," another female colleague’s voice came. "But her work is quite efficient, I’ve delegated my tasks to her these past days; she’s doing the work for others and doesn’t even know it, haha..."

"She privately told me that Leader Wang harassed her, which is hilarious. Leader Wang has power and talent; why would he risk emotional overload to harass her? Besides, her looks are partly to blame..."

Ming’an leaned against the door, her mouth covered, trembling.

Two female colleagues chatted and walked out the door.

"What are you talking about?"

Suddenly, a male voice came from the doorway; he seemed to be standing at the bathroom entrance.

"I... we..."

"We didn’t say anything..."

The two were timid and easily intimidated, their tones instantly softened.

"The Dawn System sent you here, and this is how you repay the City-State? By slandering colleagues and stigmatizing others, how can you justify yourselves to the one who established the city-state, the Lord of Acto City?" the man said vehemently.

The two female colleagues lowered their heads and dared not say a word.

Five minutes later, the two female colleagues hurried off in a disheveled state, and the voices outside disappeared.

Little Mei pushed the door open; she walked out of the bathroom somewhat fearfully, looking for the person who had helped her. After a while, she saw a man waiting around the corner. He was dressed in a well-fitting suit, with neat cuffs and crisply pressed trousers, his golden hair neatly combed back and fixed with hair gel, looking like an elite.

Seeing her approaching, the man smiled and reached out his hand:

"Hello, are you called Little Mei?"

Little Mei hesitated to reach out her hand. She vaguely recognized the man as someone she had seen on television...

"I am the Councilman from the Core Area; you can call me by my real name, Atlanda." Seeing her reaction, the man did not insist and pulled out a business card from his pocket, his movements measured.

"Core Area... Councilman?" Little Mei finally recognized the man—he was Fulkrey Corby, the Councilman of the Core Area. A central figure in power in the City of Measurement, he stood equal with leaders of the Hawk Hound Mechanical Army, the Sanctuary, and Eden. His face was often seen on live televised press conferences. His status was worlds apart from hers.

Why... did he know her?

Why... did so many benefactors suddenly appear in her dull life? Why were they taking care of her...? Could it be that destiny was finally bestowing a gift upon her?

Atlanda smiled. He was a Player who had acquired this identity of Councilman. Earlier, when Edward had led the Rebel Army into Central City, he had already expressed his support for the Lord of Acto City during a press conference. He had chosen not to enter Caius Tower but continued to search for clues in the City of Measurement.

In the process of searching for clues, he discovered a key npc named "Little Mei." Su Ming’an had been in contact with her for a long time and had instructed White Cat to protect her. Little Mei was definitely an important character, and he needed to win her favor.

"Did your colleagues bully you?" Atlanda asked softly, "If you don’t like this job, I can apply for the Dawn System to give you another assessment opportunity; you don’t have to worry about being homeless."

"Why... do you want to help me?"

Atlanda quickly thought of a reason, "I cannot stand seeing someone being defamed, and also, you resemble my sister, so I thought I would help you out."

"Then I..." Little Mei’s eyes brightened.

She actually wanted to enter the laboratory in Central City... She was no longer an inferior persona now; her Emotional Value was changing towards normalcy, she was eligible to enter, and she wouldn’t burden the City Lord anymore.

But quickly, she shook her head, "But I cannot take someone else’s spot; if I got a better job, then the person who deserved this job would lose a lot..."

She bowed deeply, her black hair falling forward, "Sorry, I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot do that."

Atlanda was somewhat surprised; he hadn’t expected this seemingly weak girl to have the courage to refuse such temptation.

He didn’t say more, only patted her shoulder, encouraging her to keep going.

"There are many despairing things in this world; they will destroy your will, your dreams, your soul. They won’t let you hold your head high, turning you into an ordinary and mediocre person," Atlanda consoled, "However, there are also things in this world that can move your heart, even make you give everything for them, just like the sunshine in your life. Little Mei, you haven’t met your sunshine yet, your life is just beginning—your remaining life exists to find that streak of sunshine in your life, and other troubles, insults, and misunderstandings are just passersby, not worth dwelling on."

"Councilman, thank you for comforting me..." Little Mei felt relieved, clasping her hands tightly.

The sunshine in her life...

She thought she had already found it.

And there would be no more.

Such wonderful sunshine, she would never encounter again. That person had taken all the splendor that remained in her eyes, and everyone she would meet thereafter would be dull and dim.

She would keep her promise to him, becoming a self-reliant person... not needing anyone’s help, she could live independently without selling her body...

Atlanda gave her a few words of advice and warned Little Mei’s colleagues before leaving. He felt he had done a great job this round, having increased Little Mei’s favor towards him and leaving her his contact information. Should this key npc trigger a hidden quest, she would definitely contact him first.

Moreover, when Su Ming’an returned from Caius Tower, he could also earn Su Ming’an’s favor. After all, he had extended a helping hand to Little Mei.

This girl must not be simple; perhaps she was involved in a major secret regarding the instances.

A huge gain.

In this world, there is never any care and love without reason.

...

[Caius Tower - City of Gods]

Su Ming’an leaned against Yamada, his eyes slightly closed, as snow adorned his pale features.

Yamada Machiichi was somewhat at a loss as he supported him, until the footsteps of Lin Guang came "clattering" over.

"Get lost!" Lin Guang shouted at Yamada on arrival.

However, the normally submissive Yamada Machiichi now showed unexpected resilience, his expression resolute as he protected Su Ming’an without taking a step back.

"Ha, even you, a minor character, are starting to rebel," Lin Guang scoffed, stretching out his hand, sharp metallic gleams flickering at his fingertips.

"I should have smashed that bag of roasted sweet potatoes over your head at the start," Yamada retorted coldly.

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