“What kind of place do you think this is?” Pixiu’s gaze was full of mockery. “With your qualifications, you aren’t even qualified to scrub the floors here. If it weren’t for Young Master Ruan’s sake, do you think you could come here to work?”
“Then let me scrub the floors,” Geng Nuo said stubbornly, his neck stiff.
Pixiu simply laughed, got up, and walked right up to Geng Nuo. Leaning in close, he stared at him with the gaze of a venomous snake, a cold, thin smile hanging on his lips. “Do you think I am that easygoing? Huh?”
Geng Nuo trembled with anger.
“Hahahahaha,” Pixiu burst out laughing, suddenly changing his expression entirely. “Just kidding. Actually, I am very easygoing.”
He snapped his fingers, and his optical computer flew up before him. Seeing him perform a quick search and then wave his hand to return the optical computer to its original position, Geng Nuo watched warily.
“How about this? You can leave, but you must finish out the month. At the end of this month, there will be a grand banquet here, and we are severely lacking in manpower. Don’t worry, if you aren’t willing, we won’t make you do anything else. Just serve some drinks and do odd jobs until the month is done, and we can part ways on good terms.”
Geng Nuo looked at him suspiciously, refusing to believe he was being this accommodating.
“I am not genuinely trying to make things difficult for you,” Pixiu said, wearing a helpless expression. “What do I stand to gain? If you throw a tantrum and offend those distinguished guests, you can just wipe your hands and walk away, but wouldn’t my entire livelihood be smashed to pieces here?”
“However, having said that, if you leave right after arriving, how am I supposed to explain it to Young Master Ruan? Not to mention my other employees, what if they all follow your example and do the same? Just consider this making a friend and do me a favor. I won’t ask you for any breach-of-contract penalty, but you will only receive the base salary for this month.”
“When we meet in the Imperial Capital in the future, if you run into any trouble, you can come to me for help. If you ever strike it rich down the road, I hope you won’t forget me, your friend.” Pixiu patted his shoulder sincerely, beaming from ear to ear.
Geng Nuo pondered for a moment. What base salary? It must be the twenty thousand Galactic Coins mentioned earlier.
So, that was fine too?
He said cautiously, “Very well, but I will absolutely not do that kind of thing.”
“No problem,” Pixiu agreed readily. “Don’t think of our place as some improper establishment. A waiter has many duties. The guests need caddies when playing golf, dealers when playing cards, and sometimes they even need someone to refuel their mechs or charge their optical computers. There is plenty to do. This is a high-end venue, and not all guests come here just to spend money on meat and flesh.”
Geng Nuo remained very cautious, half-believing Pixiu’s words, and insisted on taking a copy of the contract before leaving.
Even though there were supposed to be three duplicate copies, none had been given to him just a moment ago.
Geng Nuo knew nothing about legal clauses, and the contract was extremely difficult to read. He could not understand the professional jargon at all. Stripping away those obscure and tedious expressions, the remaining content could be summarized into two general meanings:
The club takes no responsibility for the life and safety of its waiters.
The breach-of-contract penalty is four hundred million Galactic Coins.
He also managed to understand the salary composition rules,
Pixiu was a liar!
The base salary was only fifty thousand Luke coins, and the rest entirely depended on tips given by guests. If the base salary plus tips exceeded twenty thousand Galactic Coins, that month’s income would be twenty thousand Galactic Coins plus one percent of the remaining earnings. If it fell short of twenty thousand Galactic Coins, he would only receive the base salary plus one percent of the tips.
Geng Nuo experienced the ruthless schemes of the major planets.
However, he had no intention of going back to confront Pixiu. He already understood that on the other party’s turf, he would gain no advantage. He could either endure it in silence and grind through this month, chalking it up to bad luck and rolling away, or find an opportunity to escape, even forfeiting the base salary.
Back in his room, Geng Nuo quietly tore up the contract, intending to find a chance to steal the remaining two copies from Pixiu’s office and destroy them so no one could dig up old accounts later on.
The employee dormitories were single rooms. Though small, they were much larger than his room back home, and the bed was very soft. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Geng Nuo felt an inexplicable sense of grievance. He did not understand why Ruan Rutang had introduced him to such a job. Did people in the upper classes truly believe that all people at the bottom could brazenly sell their dignity and endure humiliation for money?
He sadly wiped away a tear.
A knock sounded at the door outside, and He Fei brought him his uniform.
Seeing Geng Nuo’s red-rimmed eyes, He Fei pretended not to notice. Pointing at the swallow-tailed suit identical to the one he was wearing, he said, “This set is worn during weekday rotational rest days. Like me today, I am on weekday rotational rest, I cannot leave, but I don’t have to accompany guests.”
He then handed Geng Nuo two slightly thin and flimsy outfits. “These are for daily wear. I checked the schedule, and you are still a long way from your weekday rest day. For at least the next week, you will only need to wear this uniform. There are two sets to alternate between. The damage rate for this uniform is quite high; if it breaks, just go to the storage room to get a new one.”
Geng Nuo nodded, touching the fabric of the clothes. It felt like a very high-end weave, and he couldn’t understand why the damage rate would be high.
When he put it on, he realized that this black uniform was light, thin, translucent, and very short. The upper part failed to cover his waist and abdomen, while the lower part didn’t reach his knees, binding tightly to his body. Although it didn’t restrict movement, it constantly gave the sensation of being naked, exposing everything without a place to hide.
Geng Nuo touched the glass bottle pendant on his neck and silently tucked it into his collar.
As long as I survive this month, I’ll go back home. I’m a grown, upright Beta, what kind of honest living can’t I make?
Presently, his job mainly involved pushing a dining cart into various private rooms to deliver wine and food, which inevitably exposed him to the scenes of other waiters working. Geng Nuo finally understood why the uniform damage rate was so high; the waiters entwined with the guests never had their uniforms hanging on them in one piece, they tore apart at the slightest pull.
He had also once bumped into a scene of He Fei undulating atop a pot-bellied aristocrat, which was truly startling. Geng Nuo had quickly retreated.
The environment’s influence on a person was terrifying.
At first, he felt deeply ashamed just stepping out of the dorm, but seeing other waiters walking around openly in such uniforms, he gradually felt it was no big deal.
At first, when he stumbled upon service scenes, he would blush furiously and feel terrified. Yet, seeing that everyone else took it as normal, he too could calmly enter a private room, place down the drinks and food without changing expression, and silently withdraw.
Coupled with He Fei constantly discussing other people’s performance in front of him, he gradually came to feel that opening one’s legs here was nothing more than an unremarkable, ordinary service.
Whenever this happened, he would interrupt He Fei’s words and leave by himself.
Barely five days in, he would even unconsciously think in his sleep: Others can get this much money so easily, why can’t I? It’s not like I have to sacrifice anything substantial. We do basically the same work, with only this single difference, they take home tens of thousands of Galactic Coins while I only get fifty thousand Luke coins, which is barely enough for my father to use the medical capsule once.
You need money, Geng Nuo.
Your father needs money, your younger brothers need money. In this day and age, you need money for everything.
Where are you going to get money? You might as well just become an ordinary waiter right here.
Geng Nuo woke up with a start from his dream, his back half-drenched in cold sweat.
No, he couldn’t stay here any longer.
Forget that fifty thousand Luke coins, he had plenty of ways to make money.
He had to get out of here.
Geng Nuo began to carefully observe the environment. The Mad Shark Club was situated in the center of a nearly circular estate. The outer layer was a spacious annular plaza, and the middle was a forest several kilometers deep that tightly enveloped the innermost club villa area. Exactly how far away it was remained unclear, as the flying ship he took upon arrival couldn’t see the outside. There was only one path that led directly outside the estate without interference, but this road was extremely secluded, and perhaps only people at the administrator level knew about it. Behind the villa area was an endless golf course. Of course, the other side of the golf course was still forest.
Every night, the outer forests and golf courses were illuminated brightly by extremely high-wattage searchlights, with countless patrol mechs roaming everywhere.
During the day, there were even more countless Alpha managers watching them. Aside from accompanying guests to the golf course, the only opportunity to leave the buildings was when going to the wine cellar.
Geng Nuo felt an indescribable anxiety in his heart.
To say he wasn’t discouraged would be a lie, but he also fantasized that perhaps he could peacefully get through the month.
And then, trouble arrived.
Today, just like before, he was pushing a dining cart to deliver wine to a private room. The moment he pushed the door open, he sensed several gazes landing on him.
The previous few times had been coincidental, he had almost always entered the rooms during moments of chaos and quietly retreated. This time, the guests didn’t seem to have started doing business yet, they were simply embracing the waiters and chatting on the sofa, making Geng Nuo’s appearance extremely conspicuous.
These gazes made him very uncomfortable. Geng Nuo held his breath, composedly and swiftly arranging the wine on the table. Just as he prepared to turn and leave, someone suddenly groped his buttocks from behind.
Geng Nuo was so disgusted that goosebumps broke out all over his body, he nearly jumped up. His startled appearance clearly amused the guests, who appreciated his awkward state and burst into loud laughter.
Geng Nuo fled as if running for his life. Right before stepping out the door, he heard one of them smiling evilly, asking whether this was an Omega or a Beta, why wasn’t he on the list, and summoning him over to keep them company.
He now felt that trying to walk away unscathed after a month seemed like an impossible task.
Geng Nuo had thought this incident might bring him some trouble, but he hadn’t expected the person coming to trouble him to be an Omega who was also a waiter.
“You’re the new one?”
Geng Nuo was stopped at the stairwell.
This person was named Yuan Bingqing, fair-skinned, beautiful, and possessing a slender waist. Beautiful indeed, under normal circumstances, Geng Nuo would have gladly appreciated the view in a good mood, but unfortunately, the person before him was huffing and puffing with anger, eyes glaring and brows almost standing on end, looking thoroughly difficult to mess with.
“Something the matter?”
Yuan Bingqing put his hands on his hips, took two steps toward him, and spat, “You little bitch, don’t play innocent in front of me! Just a mere Beta, dripping with an unmaskable slutty stench. If you ever dare to seduce my guests in front of me again, I’ll make you wish you were dead.”
Is this person sick?
Geng Nuo felt the scolding was completely unprovoked and made no sense.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving first.” Geng Nuo walked around Yuan Bingqing with an expression of disgust.
His indifference successfully infuriated the other party. Yuan Bingqing pushed him fiercely from behind in bitter resentment, and Geng Nuo, caught off guard, slammed violently against the stair railing.
“Ugh!”
Damn it, that hurts!
Are they mental?
Geng Nuo was also irritated. He turned around, rushed forward, shoved Yuan Bingqing to the ground, and raised his fist to punch him right in the stomach.
He knew Yuan Bingqing was very popular with the guests, ruining his face might bring bad luck upon himself, but hitting him on the body was different, who would ever know how those injuries happened.
Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you’re an Omega!
Before patrol mechs could be alerted, the two had already been pulled apart by other passing waiters.
“Are you both crazy?! What if you disturb the guests?”
“You just wait!” Yuan Bingqing couldn’t even stand steadily, yet still spat harsh threats at Geng Nuo.
Geng Nuo wasn’t scared either, hooking a finger at the other in extreme provocation. “Come on then. I promise I won’t ruin your face.”
Yuan Bingqing shivered, and the waiters familiar with him hurriedly dragged him away.
It was a fortunate stroke of luck for Geng Nuo. According to Mad Shark’s rules, as long as the face wasn’t injured, normal service had to be maintained. On duty days, even if Yuan Bingqing had his ribs broken by Geng Nuo, he would still have to go serve normally today.
As long as the face survives, the empire survives, after all, it wasn’t as if guests didn’t enjoy engaging in abuse.
“Are you alright?” He Fei asked with concern. “This guy is getting crazier and crazier. Ever since, ugh, the last guest spoiled him rotten, and now he wants to throw his weight around and lord it over everyone.”
Geng Nuo was still panting slightly, but felt immensely satisfied. He couldn’t care less who Yuan Bingqing’s previous guest was, waving a hand, “What could be wrong? I was already in a bad mood, and just happened to run into a punching bag.”
Straightening his posture, he suddenly let out a hiss and touched his right hip. It hurt a bit, he must have banged it against the railing earlier.
He Fei supported him and advised, “Don’t pay him any mind. He’s just jealous of you. He grew up in a nest of Betas and always thought he was a celestial being descending to earth, but when he got here, he couldn’t even rank anywhere. Other people look better than him, so he’s jealous, other people have higher performance numbers, so he’s jealous too.”
“He probably figured it out when you went into the private room he was serving to deliver wine, and the guest took a fancy to you. It must have turned him sour with envy.”
Actually, Yuan Bingqing really did look very good. Perhaps from a guest’s perspective, some people just loved his pretty, overbearing look, but clearly, his peers all detested him.
He Fei couldn’t help glancing at Geng Nuo. Despite being a Beta, Geng Nuo was much prettier than many Omegas.
He hadn’t quite recovered his breath yet, his chest heaving continuously as he breathed, the faint outlines of budding youth pushing against the paper-thin uniform. His skin was fair, flushed bright red from anger, the black uniform hid what was underneath, but even his neck was flushed, and further down it invited endless imagination.
Pink and tender.
He had no idea how alluring he looked.
He Fei scratched his head. “It’s also strange. You’ve been here for so many days, and yet nobody has called for you. If you ever open for business, your performance stats will definitely blow him out of the water.”
Geng Nuo didn’t say anything. He hadn’t told He Fei about his agreement with Pixiu, offering only a vague reply before leaving first.
As dusk approached, the club suddenly grew tense. All staff members were on high alert. Geng Nuo didn’t understand what was happening, but judging by the posture, some big shot must be arriving.
Seeing no one coming to assign him work, he decided to muddle along by wiping the glass near the windowsill, trying his absolute best to lower his presence.
Before the sky darkened completely, the roar of approaching flying vessels echoed from outside. The moment the vessels landed, the illumination lights in the estate lit up in unison, instantly turning the front courtyard as bright as day.
Geng Nuo narrowed his eyes in discomfort, using the cover of the wall to peek out and observe the craft.
What noble lord was coming here to amuse themselves this time? It was grand enough to make Pixiu personally come out to welcome them.
The massive black flying vessel looked like a silent behemoth, bringing a merciless twilight. The cabin door opened, and several young men descended in sequence. Beneath their seemingly relaxed and casual expressions lay a terrifying, oppressive aura. Even from this distance, one could feel the sharp glint hidden beneath their effortless facades.
Pixiu nodded and bowed to them obsequiously for a long while, apparently still waiting for the ultimate big shot.
Unable to resist his curiosity, Geng Nuo stretched his neck as well.
Inked-leather shoes stepped out of the cabin, and a man dressed in a long black windbreaker walked down smoothly. He was tall with a slender build and a leisurely gait. From the moment he appeared, everyone involuntarily held their breath in anticipation, a terrifying wave of coercion pressing down meticulously from spirit to flesh.
He took off his sunglasses, hung them on his chest, smoothed out the wrinkles at his cuffs, and didn’t spare even a single glance for Pixiu. Every step he took on the lawn felt like it was treading on people’s hearts, making it impossible to tell whether the echoes in their ears were their own racing heartbeats or this man’s resounding footsteps.
Geng Nuo always used the imperial tyrant General Gu to frighten his younger brothers, but if he were truly thrown in front of General Gu right now, he would probably be suppressed and unable to breathe, just like this.
This person appeared to be a genuine big shot occupying a position of supreme power.
Just as he was lost in thought, the man downstairs suddenly halted his footsteps, his gaze sweeping with pinpoint accuracy straight toward the window where he was. Geng Nuo started in shock and hurriedly turned around, using the wall to block himself.
Even with a guilty cover-up, he crouched down and covered his mouth.
At the same time, he noticed that on the other side of the covered corridor, several guests were also hiding in secluded spots, silently watching below.
Seeing Gu Chengayan suddenly stop, Pixiu hurried over to inquire obsequiously, “General Gu, what is it?”
Gu Chengayan withdrew his gaze, his expression faint as he continued walking forward. “Nothing. Saw a little rat.”