```
At around 7:00 in the evening, a heavy rain assaulted the entire city.
Thick clouds piled up, making the sky even more overcast than a normal night. The rainfall pounded down, splashing on cars, the road surface, and bus shelters. Water streaming off the eaves converged into small streams along the road's edge, pouring into the drainage systems. The waves of wind kept lashing out.
Boom!
The thunder, as dull as the roar of a cannon, made one's heart palpitate.
On the road, with a screech, an electric scooter toppled over.
Fortunately, Bai Xiao was quick to react; he ejected from the scooter, narrowly avoiding a face-first fall into the mud. Clad in a plastic raincoat, he stood on the waterlogged pavement, raindrops blurring his helmet's visor. Bai Xiao quickly righted the scooter, crouched down, and discovered that what was normally a dip in the road had filled with rainwater. The overhead light swept past without revealing the anomaly.
With a little more speed, one could easily go head over heels.
Having stood on the rain-soaked road for a while, Bai Xiao's sports shoes were already soaked, and the hem of his pant leg and half of his body were drenched. He looked rather bedraggled as he sat back on the scooter and twisted the handle, only to find that it was somewhat damaged.
Although it still ran, the inner components creaked ominously.
This Hummer electric scooter that Bai Xiao had used for four or five years, and especially heavily over the past one, appeared to have reached the end of its life with today's fall.
"Harsh weather is the nemesis of every deliveryman."
Bai Xiao shook his head in resignation. Encountering this rather unfortunate situation, he didn't complain or feel dissatisfied like the original owner of the body might have in similar circumstances. Instead, he evaluated the situation with a sense of equanimity.
For the current Bai Xiao, most negative information didn't really matter.
What was most important was,
how had he fared in terms of experience gained in his various jobs throughout the day?
Like an old farmer in the vegetable field, calculating the year's crop yield.
[Your profession 'Deliveryman' has gained +13 experience.]
[Your professional skill 'Electric Scooter Driving' has gained +19 experience.]
[Your professional skill 'Mastery of City Routes' has gained +20 experience.]
In front of his retina, the career panel's summary flashed by and disappeared.
On the rainy night streets, Bai Xiao drove his wonky electric scooter.
He headed towards the Sunshine District, to his rented house.
20:20, in the warmly lit room.
Bai Xiao, in his soggy sports shoes and drenched tracksuit, had strands of black hair like willow branches sticking to his skin. He stood next to the wardrobe, feeling the wet fabric sticking uncomfortably to his body.
He stripped down in no time and walked bare into the bathroom.
In the mirror, Bai Xiao examined the slight bulge of his muscles and wasn't very satisfied. This physique barely qualified as lean muscular. The so-called lean muscular build was popular among girls on the internet these days.
But Bai Xiao himself, liked it big.
In his primal male notion,
Big meant strong, strong meant big, and bigger muscles felt safer!
Once, Bai Xiao heard about a concept from the bodybuilding community in his previous life.
Those obsessed with muscles would inject their bodies with large doses of hormones and drugs, even going as far as to use what was called 'Nine Dragons' (slang for nine different kinds of steroid drugs). Many bodybuilders thus lost their reproductive capabilities and had their lifespans shortened.
Still, they pursued muscles.
Because to them, muscles were love. Turning muscles into a hard armor on the body was like wrapping oneself in stifling, thick love!
Bai Xiao felt that the bodybuilders' passion for the perfect human form was respectable. However, he didn't think to such extremes, and as long as he could regularly train in combat sports to enhance his physique and make himself strong, he was satisfied.
After sizing himself up, Bai Xiao quickly took a hot shower.
Exiting the bathroom, he first swept and mopped the floor, then briskly cleaned his clothes that had been soaking in soapy water. By the time everything was done, it was 8:40.
Bai Xiao stood beside the wardrobe, glancing at the empty space near the window.
He hesitated over whether to buy a freestanding punching bag for that spot.
But after a moment, Bai Xiao abandoned the idea.
```
The rental was situated within the neighborhood, surrounded by neighbors above and below, and there was a fear that the noise of punching a sandbag would lead to complaints, as the soundproofing in the Sunshine District was not particularly effective. Besides, Bai Xiao spent his days outside, with tightly packed schedules, and by the time he got home, he hardly had any free time. Even if he bought a sandbag, he probably wouldn't use it often.
Actually, the main issue was that he was broke, strapped for cash.
Otherwise, he would have just set up a dedicated training room, filled with all sorts of gym equipment, combat gear, and professional props, training however he wanted.
No need to hesitate and worry about this and that.
"Soon, with my two great talents, the professional panel and the Dark Red Modifier, everything will gradually develop in a positive direction..."
Bai Xiao's phone screen lit up slightly, interrupting his thoughts.
He took it out and saw it was a lock screen notification from a chat app.
The profile picture was a swordsman, with the note "Society's Brother Dong."
Society's Brother Dong: Xiaozi, I've been missing you and Lao Liang. Fancy a drink tonight? I'm at Heng Guang, and I'll reimburse you for your travel and accommodation expenses.
Society's Brother Dong: Had another argument with my dad, feeling down.
Bai Xiao looked at the message, and after a brief recollection, remembered.
Wei Dong, a buddy from the same dorm room throughout high school, and his bunkmate. They had always been tight, and had stayed in touch even after graduation. Wei Dong's dad was already a small-time boss during high school, and then suddenly made it big during college, turning into a big company CEO within a mere four or five years.
Wei Dong relied fully on his father, upgrading to a second-generation rich kid. His social media photos were either of him with a sports car or spending lavishly at luxury venues.
Wei Dong had risen to wealth, and he actually wanted to bring his old buddy Bai Xiao along. But the original Bai Xiao was somewhat stubborn and had a bit of pride.
So, their relationship had never extended beyond friendship.
In fact, this was also good. If he really became an employee at Wei Dong's father's company, the fairly pure friendship between the two might have soured.
Bai Xiao stood in place, pondering for a moment before finally sending a reply.
"No can do, Brother Dong, I'm a bit busy with work lately,"
He followed up with an emoji that the original Bai Xiao frequently used.
Soon, there was a response.
Society's Brother Dong: Then get on with it. It's good to be busy.jpg
Society's Brother Dong: My dad has opened a branch company in Huai Shui. It should be set up in half a month. I can easily get a position and come to visit you there. You better not make excuses then, I'll come to see you!
Bai Xiao replied with a speechless emoji and typed.
"Mr. Dong, you're short of company? Last time I saw your birthday photos on your social media, there was a crowd of dignified people, plenty of promising young men and women, and I even saw a few minor celebrities. You're not lacking in friends..."
"Why so desperate to see me?"
The screen flashed slightly.
Society's Brother Dong: How is that the same thing? Friends, after my dad hit it big? Everyone I've met, to a man, they're not friends. The only people I can have a heart-to-heart chat with are you and Lao Liang.
Bai Xiao replied with another speechless emoji, typing: It's up to you.
Society's Brother Dong: Hehe.jpg
Then, another photo came through.
A young man reclined against the riverside railing, wearing sunglasses, with a cigarette in his mouth. He was looking up at the sky, seemingly fixated on something.
Five minutes later, Bai Xiao left the house, driving his rundown electric scooter to the bar.
He continued to faithfully play his part as a security guard in the stormy ambiance of the nightlife, shadowed by the roaring club music. Ever since he got the cheat, he treated each job and task with an upgraded level of meticulous dedication.
Because in Bai Xiao's mind,
To know one could grow stronger and not act on it was a form of laziness!
He preferred that fulfilling sense of achievement, far surpassing any pleasure from slacking off.
[Your profession 'Security Guard' has gained +11 experience]
[Your professional skill 'Patrol' has gained +15 experience]