After completing the task of conversing with the male supporting character, the new plot prompt disappeared, confirming one thing for Qiao Man—
As long as old plotlines aren’t causally related to the next one, delaying their completion by a few days isn’t an issue.
For example, if the old plot involves eating an apple and the new plot requires discarding the apple core, then the old plot must be completed before progressing to the new one.
But in her current situation, the Back Alley robbery plot had absolutely no connection to her first meeting with the male supporting character. So when the time for the new plot arrived, it was possible to complete the new one first.
Oh, with the precondition that one could accept the penalties for unfinished plotlines.
After missing the hero-saves-beauty and beauty-saves-hero scenarios, recreating an identical situation would require: first, having thugs; second, Gu Hantian’s cooperation; and finally, a rain shower.
The difficulty level was practically hellish.
Unable to gather all these conditions in a short time, Qiao Man decided to take this opportunity to document the severity of task failure penalties.
First day of task failure: compensated for sofa damage – 500, phone repair – 200, total financial loss: 700.
Second day of task failure: T-shirt torn, ink stains on pants, financial loss 150, nearly fell through a loose manhole cover.
Third day of task failure: shoes worn out, two textbooks water damaged, total 300, skinned hand while carelessly opening a door.
Fourth day: over 200 in financial losses, nearly hit by an electric scooter.
…
After summarizing five consecutive days, Qiao Man identified a pattern: while monetary losses seemed random, the penalties weren’t limited to financial aspects.
If she didn’t complete that Back Alley scene soon, she might someday find a truck suddenly charging toward her.
But how exactly could she make all characters act against their reasoning to cooperate with her plot completion?
While pondering this, Qiao Man placed her meal card on the reader.
Two beeps sounded – insufficient balance.
Qiao Man: “…”
“Still short 1.50, cash is fine too, dear,” the cafeteria auntie said kindly.
Glancing at the growing line behind her, Qiao Man replied, “Sorry auntie, I didn’t bring cash. Should I return the food?”
“No need, no need! You come here often, I recognize you,” the auntie waved hurriedly. “Just take it and eat. You can pay me back whenever you come next time.”
“Thank you, auntie.”
After expressing gratitude, Qiao Man turned to leave under the curious gazes of those around her.
“Sis Qiao!”
While holding her tray and looking for seating, Qiao Man stopped at the familiar voice.
“Over here!” Xiao Chen waved vigorously, his purple hair swaying in the breeze.
Ever since she defeated Gu Hantian in the exam, he’d started addressing her respectfully as Sis Qiao.
Qiao Man immediately spotted Gu Hantian beside him. Smiling, she walked toward them.
“Sis Qiao, is this all you’re eating?” Xiao Chen showed disdain at her cabbage and tofu, then quickly realized this might hurt her pride and explained, “I didn’t mean it like that, I just…”
“Broke, so this is all I can afford,” Qiao Man said casually. “I still owe auntie 1.50 too.”
Seeing her completely unbothered, Xiao Chen relaxed immediately: “That rough, huh?”
Qiao Man looked at the chicken drumstick on his tray.
“Here, have it all.” Xiao Chen promptly offered the drumstick.
Qiao Man maintained some restraint to preserve her humble persona: “That would be too impolite.””
“Eat up, eat up! I’ll cover that 1.50 for you later,” Xiao Chen declared generously.
Qiao Man smiled: “Thanks.”
“Just a small thing. Since we’re all here now, we can discuss the group assignment.”
With one group member having dropped out and another on leave, only the three of them remained to complete this assignment. Xiao Chen, feeling responsible as the one who had brought Qiao Man into the group, thought it was his duty to facilitate a discussion between her and Gu Hantian.
Hearing this, Qiao Man glanced at Gu Hantian sitting diagonally across from her. He was lowering his gaze, stirring a cup of yogurt.
Qiao Man recognized that yogurt—it was the handmade kind from the second-floor cafeteria, costing seventy yuan per cup. It looked delicious, but to maintain her persona, she had never bought one. “…Sister Qiao, should I buy you a yogurt?” Xiao Chen, noticing her gaze, felt his heart ache.
Gu Hantian paused his stirring.
Qiao Man: “Thank you.”
Xiao Chen immediately went to buy it, leaving Gu Hantian and Qiao Man in silence.
Since discovering the key to gaining Gu Hantian’s favor, Qiao Man had used it two or three times. Each time, his attitude toward her improved slightly—but only from 1% to 2%, so to speak.
He still didn’t like her personally, even maintaining a respectful distance, yet he found it hard to resist the temptation of gossiping about their mutual rival. As a result, his current attitude toward her was even more awkward than his behavior toward the female lead.
In short, he disliked her but couldn’t refuse her.
The two sat in silence, with nothing to say but to eat. Fortunately, Xiao Chen soon returned, bringing back a premium yogurt.
“Thank you.”
Qiao Man took it and ate it carefully, bite by bite, moving Xiao Chen almost to tears.
He knew Qiao Man had applied for poverty assistance for the past two years, so her family circumstances couldn’t be great, but he never imagined they were this bad.
Not being able to afford yogurt was one thing, but even a three-yuan dish of cabbage and tofu required partial credit to manage.
This was too pitiful!
Qiao Man looked up and saw Xiao Chen’s red-rimmed eyes.
She looked puzzled: “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing,” Xiao Chen wiped his eyes, “I just wanted to ask if we can discuss the assignment now.”
Qiao Man nodded: “Sure.”
“Isn’t the topic already decided?” Gu Hantian finally gave Qiao Man a direct look. “We just need to complete our respective parts. There’s no need for further discussion.”
Xiao Chen nodded, about to agree, when Qiao Man spoke up: “As far as I know, another group has chosen commodities as their angle.”
“They won’t do better than us,” Gu Hantian retorted.
Qiao Man: “But it’ll make us look unoriginal.”
Gu Hantian frowned slightly.
Xiao Chen tried to mediate: “Well…”
“Let’s choose gold instead. A PPT on gold will be more eye-catching than one on potatoes or apples, and it’ll score higher.” Qiao Man smoothly proposed her suggestion, clearly having thought about it for a while.
Gu Hantian immediately objected: “Gold is even less original, and too stable.”
“Haven’t you been following international news? A trade war is about to start. It probably won’t stay stable for long. Choosing gold as our topic now would show foresight—that’s a bonus point.” Qiao Man countered.
Gu Hantian displeased: “You only care about bonus points.”
“Obviously?” Qiao Man gave him a strange look. “It’s a competitive assignment. If we’re not aiming for bonus points, what are we aiming for? Missing our moms?”
Gu Hantian: “…”
Xiao Chen: “…” Such sharp retorts.
Ever since she forcibly joined the study group as the top scorer, speculation on the school forum about her having a crush on Gu Hantian never ceased. Only he, as a member of the group, was absolutely certain—the look in Qiao Man’s eyes when she gazed at Gu Hantian was purely the blazing passion for high scores, with no trace of so-called romance.
The atmosphere was too stiff, so Xiao Chen, the social lubricant, spoke up: “Regarding the topic selection, I think…”
“Then we’ll choose gold, but you’ll be the presenter,” Gu Hantian interrupted.
Qiao Man nodded: “As it should be.”
Xiao Chen: “…” Did anyone consult me before making the decision?
With the topic discussion concluded and Qiao Man achieving a comprehensive victory, she proactively struck up a conversation with Gu Hantian: “There’s a fried skewer place in the school’s Back Alley—everyone says it’s quite good. Have you tried it?”
Gu Hantian glanced at her: “I don’t eat that kind of junk food.”
“What a coincidence, neither do I.” Qiao Man sometimes felt that although he was pretentious, he still suited her taste.
Xiao Chen coughed, drawing their attention: “Well, if I may ask, why bring up something you don’t even eat yourself?”
“Oh, I just wanted to see if anyone else would refuse to eat it like me,” Qiao Man fibbed.
Xiao Chen: “Then your approach is wrong. By labeling it as ‘good’ from the start, others might think you like it. Even if they don’t, out of politeness, they’d say they do… Of course, Hantian is an exception.”
Qiao Man replied dismissively: “Is that so?” So much nonsense.
Xiao Chen, now chatty and rather pleased with himself, said: “But that fried skewer place really is quite good, and the bubble tea shop next to it is nice too. You should really give it a try. Always worrying about hygiene takes all the fun out of life.”
“You have a point,” Qiao Man agreed, seemingly offhandedly as she thought of something. “I think I should go try it too.”
“Good, you’re a sensible comrade.” Xiao Chen handed her a box of yogurt.
Qiao Man accepted it, glanced at Gu Hantian who still showed no interest, and casually asked Xiao Chen: “What’s the signature drink at that bubble tea shop?”
“Mango Pomelo Sago, less ice, regular sugar with raisin Popping Boba—it’s amazing,” Xiao Chen recommended immediately.
Qiao Man feigned surprise: “Mango Pomelo Sago! I saw Bai Xingyu buying it before.”
Sure enough, Gu Hantian looked over.
“Bai Xingyu?” Xiao Chen asked curiously. “That very beautiful young lady from the Bai family?”
“Yeah, she and I are both from the South Campus. Do you know her?”
Qiao Man knew he had become friends with Gu Hantian only after starting university and wasn’t acquainted with Bai Xingyu at this point, nor did he know she was Gu Hantian’s childhood friend. But to keep the conversation going, she had to make small talk.
Xiao Chen shook his head: “She’s the Bai family’s young lady—how would I have the chance to know her…”
“You saw her buying Mango Pomelo Sago?” Gu Hantian ignored Xiao Chen mid-sentence and directly asked Qiao Man.
Qiao Man replied calmly: “Yeah, I’ve seen her two or three times.”
Gu Hantian frowned, clearly lost in thought.
Qiao Man immediately planned to strike while the iron was hot—no matter what, she’d find some small-time thug and first trick him into going to the Back Alley.
Unfortunately, before she could speak, Bai Xingyu walked in through the door, followed, as always, by the male side character who fawned over her.
Qiao Man frowned at the sight of Jiang Sui and was about to lure Gu Hantian away when Gu Hantian spotted them.
He also saw the Mango Pomelo Sago in Jiang Sui’s hand.
Recalling Qiao Man’s mention of Bai Xingyu going to buy Mango Pomelo Sago, Gu Hantian’s expression instantly turned icy.
“What’s so great about that garbage drink?” He tossed out this abrupt remark before striding away.
Xiao Chen quietly sidled up to Qiao Man: “Sister Qiao, why did he suddenly get angry?”
“No idea, probably having a fit.” Qiao Man brushed it off casually, then turned and saw his purple hair, unable to resist reaching out to touch it.
“Feels good, right?” Xiao Chen cooperatively leaned closer.
Qiao Man stroked it again: “Not bad.”
Xiao Chen chuckled, about to praise Sister Qiao for her good taste, when he suddenly felt a chill down his spine—as if someone was staring at him. He immediately turned around but saw nothing.
Thanks to the purple-haired “big dog,” Qiao Man enjoyed a meal with yogurt and chicken drumsticks before leaving the cafeteria with an air of aloof elegance.
With no afternoon classes and neither Jia Xin nor Yi Yuanyuan in the dorm, Qiao Man outlined the basic structure for her group assignment and posted it in the study group chat.
Seeing there was still time, she gathered all her cash.
Eighty-seven yuan and fifty cents.
A meal of cabbage, tofu, and rice cost three yuan and fifty cents. This money could last for about twenty-five meals—provided she completed her tasks and avoided further financial losses.
Qiao Man felt another headache coming on. Just as she was pondering what to do, a girl from the neighboring dorm knocked on her door.
“Um, someone’s here to see you, outside the dorm building.”
“Who?” Qiao Man asked.
The girl shook her head: “I don’t know them either. They said they’re here to deliver something.”
Who would be delivering something to her at this time? Xiao Chen? Impossible—he’d just said he was going to an internet cafe and probably wasn’t on campus.
Besides him, who else did she have any connection with?
Qiao Man’s steps grew increasingly light. But when she jogged to the dorm entrance, she abruptly stopped.
“Classmate Qiao?” Several boys greeted her somewhat shyly. “Brother Jiang asked us to deliver this.”
Qiao Man looked at the air conditioner and outdoor unit they’d specially carried over, accepted them with a cold laugh, and immediately listed them on a secondhand website.
Yes, after two and a half months of being broke, she’d learned about secondhand websites—where she could sell assets without leaving her room.
The nearly new air conditioner, used for just over a month, was listed at half price. Someone placed an order within ten minutes, with a delivery address near the school.
Qiao Man messaged the buyer: “Are you a Jing Da student? I can deliver it directly.”
The buyer: “No need. Hire a delivery service.”
Qiao Man: “Unnecessary. It’s quite heavy—hiring delivery isn’t cost-effective.”
The buyer: [200 yuan transfer]
Qiao Man raised an eyebrow, suddenly tempted to pose as the delivery person, deliver it herself, and pocket the 200 yuan.
The buyer: “Delivery fee sent. If you deliver it yourself, I’ll report you to the dispute platform.”
Qiao Man: “…” Plan failed.
The hired courier arrived quickly. After handing over the air conditioner, a plot prompt suddenly appeared in Qiao Man’s mind—
[Go to Night Colors Bar to apply for a part-time job and save money to buy Gu Hantian a birthday gift.]
Qiao Man: “…”
She could barely support herself—why should she save money to buy Gu Hantian a birthday gift!
Complaints aside, the plot had to be followed.
Frustrated but resigned, Qiao Man immediately left campus and took the subway to Night Colors Bar, an hour’s journey away.
“You’re a college student?” The interviewer scrutinized her repeatedly, his eyes gleaming shrewdly behind his glasses.
Qiao Man wanted nothing more than to turn and leave, but remembering she had to follow the plot, she nodded instead. “Yes.”
“Good, college students are educated. Customers like that sort,” the man said, then chuckled. The others around him laughed along.
Instead of showing the awkward embarrassment he expected, Qiao Man just asked coolly, “When can I start work?”
“Tonight alright? You’ll be serving tea and water in four private rooms on the second floor. Can you handle that?” the man asked.
Qiao Man: “What about the pay?”
“Eight hundred per night.”
This wage was considered high for any bar. After saying this, the man waited for her to show a delighted expression.
But Qiao Man remained nonchalant: “Fine.”
The man: “…”
Qiao Man checked the time: “It’s eight o’clock. Should I start work now?”
The man: “…”
Seeing he wasn’t responding, Qiao Man went straight to find the supervisor.
In the original story, the female supporting character endured harassment from both her supervisor and customers at the bar just to afford a birthday gift for the male lead. She had to bear the humiliation to keep this high-paying job.
Qiao Man had found it so frustrating to read that she skipped two chapters back then. Little did she expect she’d now have to live through the very plot she couldn’t stand watching.
The supervisor was the bespectacled man who interviewed her. Tonight’s plot involved being harassed by him.
Before starting work, Qiao Man sat in the staff lounge waiting for the supervisor’s harassment. To facilitate the plot progression, she deliberately left the door open.
At 2 a.m., the bespectacled man hurried past the doorway. Noticing the open door, he glanced inside and happened to make eye contact with Qiao Man, who was sitting upright with perfect posture.
Then his gaze shifted away as he continued walking straight ahead.
Qiao Man: “…Stop.”
“What do you want?” The bespectacled man stopped reluctantly.
Qiao Man walked to the doorway, also frowning deeply: “Didn’t you see me?”
“I’m nearsighted, not blind. Of course I saw you,” the bespectacled man retorted, then asked incredulously, “You don’t actually expect me, the manager, to initiate greetings with a temp worker, do you?”
Qiao Man: “…”
“Psycho.” The bespectacled man prepared to leave again.
Though unsure what went wrong, having already failed once before, Qiao Man absolutely wouldn’t allow a second failure.
With a cold expression, she directly dragged the bespectacled man into the lounge, slamming the door shut with a bang.
Locked it, then advanced step by step.
“You… what do you want to do?” The bespectacled man covered his chest in panic.