Both eyelids, shielded by the visor of the Nerve Headset, struggled against the sunlight that pierced through, forcing him to blink repeatedly, his face twitching in response. He remained slumped in his chair, feeling weak and numb, as if drained.
"Damn, I got carried away," he muttered, removing the headset and placing it on the desk. "Is it morning? What time is it?"
Stretching his stiff body, his gaze froze the moment he saw the wall clock. "Crap, I'm so dead!"
Lin Tian hadn't anticipated that his brief adventure in the Martial Spirit realm would last so long. He was nearly an hour late for work. Panic set in as he washed his face, brushed his teeth, and frantically threw on the uniform he had laid out on the bed.
Hastily slipping into his shoes, he locked the door behind him and dashed through the corridor like a madman. He almost lost his balance as he leaped down the stairs, pushing himself to move faster. He barreled through the crowded street, recklessly crossing the crosswalk even as the red light began to flash.
"Almost there!" Lin Tian panted, his breath ragged as he spotted the supermarket where he worked just ahead.
But something felt off. Yu Mei wasn't at the cash register where she was usually stationed. The store was eerily quiet with no customers in sight, so he hurried inside without hesitation. "Is she still in the storage room?" Lin Tian wondered as he scanned the area, but then something caught his eye.
In the corner of the room, right by the snack aisle, he noticed two figures. As he approached, he realized it was Yu Mei and the manager. Instantly, he understood what was happening—the man's intentions were clear, and his behavior unmistakable. It was harassment.
"Come on, that stuff isn't in the right order," the manager said, directing Yu Mei to rearrange the items while she bent over. "Yeah, just like that."
The middle-aged man then positioned himself behind her, his eyes fixated on her rounded buttocks, barely contained by her tight trousers—his body inching closer as if to press against her.
However, the unsettling scene was abruptly interrupted by a loud noise. Both of them turned their heads simultaneously, startled, to see what had caused the disturbance.
"What the hell are you doing, Lin Tian?" the boss barked as soon as he saw who was responsible for the chaos. "You're not only late, but you also knocked down the whole shelf!"
Lin Tian, feeling no guilt, simply grinned and chuckled. "Ah, sorry about that, manager. I accidentally bumped into it while rushing to the staff room."
"Shut your mouth and come with me!" the manager snapped, his anger flaring—whether from the mess or from having his actions interrupted was unclear. "Yu Mei, clean this up!"
Lin Tian caught a glimpse of Yu Mei, her face a mix of distress and relief. She bowed, a silent thank you, before he turned to follow the manager into the staff-only room.
He knew what was coming next. The manager wouldn't hesitate to hurl insults and threats that could make anyone else cower. But Lin Tian had heard it all before. The words bounced off him, leaving him unfazed as he let the man rant and rave, his thoughts elsewhere.
"You always make trouble. Do you do it on purpose?" the manager roared, kicking the table in frustration. His eyes bulged, and his face flushed red with anger.
Lin Tian, however, remained calm. "I'm really sorry, boss. I was in a hurry and didn't mean to do that," he replied evenly.
"Cut the crap! You were almost an hour late! An hour! Did you forget your schedule or something?" the manager shouted, his voice booming, veins bulging in his neck. "Damn it, Lin Tian. What's going on in that head of yours, huh?"
Lin Tian said nothing, allowing the manager to vent his frustration.
"For this, I'm docking your pay, and this is your last chance," the manager threatened, leaning in close, his eyes locked on Lin Tian. "One more mistake, and you're done. Understand?"
Lin Tian nodded, his expression unreadable. As he stepped out of the staff room, he saw Yu Mei still putting the scattered items back in place. When she reached for a cereal box, Lin Tian picked it up for her. "You alright?" he asked, concerned about how she was holding up after their boss's inappropriate behavior.
Yu Mei glanced at him, her eyes showing a mix of gratitude and distress. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Thanks," she whispered, managing a faint smile.
"He's too much," Lin Tian said, his voice tinged with frustration. "I'll take care of this. You should get back to the cashier; there's a customer."
Yu Mei quickly stood up, noticing a man who had just entered the store and was browsing the aisles. She resumed her duties, recording the day's sales and managing the inventory. As the afternoon approached, the store grew busier, and the two of them found themselves working closely together.
"Thank you for shopping with us!" Yu Mei said, smiling warmly as she handed a receipt to a customer, trying to push the earlier incident out of her mind.
Once the crowd thinned, Lin Tian closed his notebook and turned to her. "Yu Mei, can I ask you something?"
"Sure," she replied, a bit curious.
"Are you free tonight?" Lin Tian asked, his tone sincere.
"Eh?" Yu Mei gasped in surprise, taking a step back. "What do you mean by that?"
"Now, now, don't get any weird ideas," Lin Tian said, trying to reassure her as he moved closer. "I meant in Martial Spirit. Do you still need me there?"
She furrowed her brows. "Why do you ask? Wait, don't tell me you've changed your mind?"
Lin Tian sighed, lowering his head. "I found my old Nerve Headset and, well, I ended up getting completely absorbed in the game again."
Unexpectedly, Yu Mei chuckled, her laughter light and sweet, making her look both beautiful and endearing. "So that's why you were late. Well, I was hoping we could hunt together. You know, for leveling up. I figured someone as experienced as you would know all the good spots."
Lin Tian's lips curved into a faint smile. "Alright then. I'll be waiting at Newbarin, Sleepless Ale Tavern. I'll log in as soon as I get home."
As night fell, Lin Tian and Yu Mei returned to their apartment together, chatting about Martial Spirit and the mysterious adventurers Feilian and Eunhae, who had managed to defeat the first hidden boss. It confirmed that she had been online at that time.
Not wanting to waste any time, Lin Tian changed into casual clothes, powered on his PC, and donned his Nerve Headset. In an instant, he was immersed in the world of Martial Spirit once more, respawning in a small wooden room.
The first thing he checked was his Path of Cultivation—still at 5%. Despite the slow progress, he knew he had someone to meet and decided to wait by buying some drinks. The sensation of drinking felt as real as in the real world, though the fullness was an illusion created by the system.
[Stamina has increased by +5. Dizziness from Blue Wine applied for 10 seconds.]
Lin Tian could still think clearly, though he was teetering on the edge of light intoxication. He barely had time to contemplate this before the door swung open.
In walked a woman with short black hair, goggles perched on her forehead, and an outfit that blended elegance with the classic steampunk style—fitted leather, brass details, and a mix of medieval and industrial design elements.
She scanned for any sign of the person she was seeking. "I'm looking for Lin Tian, is he here?"
Lin Tian raised his bottle of wine, catching her attention and walked over to him. "You sleep in this tavern?" she asked.
"What do you think? It's cheap and simple," Lin Tian replied with a shrug, his eyes taking in her distinctive appearance. "And which class are you? I don't think I've seen anyone with an outfit like that before."
She pouted slightly, a hint of disappointment in her expression. "Aren't you supposed to be a veteran in this world? How could you not recognize my class?"
With a confident smile, she extended her right hand, revealing a gauntlet that pulsed with an unusual violet aura as she clenched her fist. "I'm a Celestial Scholar from the Wizard Guild!" she declared.