The Males Were Reborn After The Female Ruler Was Scumbed [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 3
Lu Qing held back again and again, but still couldn’t resist. “Don’t think I didn’t see you add a stroke to the character for ‘ten’ (十).”
Seriously, at least use the same color ink, dammit!
The System played dumb: “Huh? What are you talking about?”
Lu Qing felt like an absolute idiot for arguing with the System, and turned around, rummaging through the bed.
The System floated over. “Host, what are you looking for?”
“Nothing,” Lu Qing said calmly. “Looking for a rope to hang myself with.”
The System: “…………”
“Host, don’t you dare not believe me!!” The System saw that he had actually found a rope, and was so scared he might just end it that it quickly shielded him.
It tried to persuade Lu Qing with examples: “While that advertisement might be slightly exaggerated, but!! It is absolutely feasible!! My host from before the one before, and the host from before the one before the one before the one before, all got rich and reached the peak of their lives by this method!!”
Logically, no normal person would believe the System’s nonsense, but Lu Qing was a fool: “Really?”
Could it be that I misjudged it with my dog eyes, and this thing actually spoke those words after deep consideration?
The System nodded vigorously, patting its tiny chest to vouch for it. “Of course it’s real. My host from before the one before the one before helped his sick courier friend make a delivery, and encountered a talent scout on the way, who immediately took him to act. As a result, his first movie won him the Best Actor award and he became the Mr. Ten Billion Box Office, receiving tens of millions in dividends!!”
Lu Qing stroked his chin. “That’s not bad…” The entertainment industry certainly was profitable.
“Wait a minute,” Lu Qing realized something was wrong. “Then why don’t I just debut directly?!”
Why take such a huge detour?
“That’s not the point, Host.” The System poured cold water on him. “The point is, debuting isn’t suitable for you.”
Lu Qing: “Why? Am I not handsome enough?”
The System rolled its eyes: “Whether it’s politics, business, academia… even the entertainment industry, those who make it are mostly female bugs. If there are male bugs, they are all strong in both looks and rank. Who would promote an empty-headed rogue like you?”
Lu Qing: “…………”
Is assault a crime? He was about to lose it.
“Ahem, don’t rush.”
The System knew its words were a bit hurtful. It retracted its spikes and rubbed against the host’s shoulder flatteringly. “I think the path of my host from before the one before the one before the one before the one before is more suitable for you.”
“He was a professional courier. One day, on his way to deliver food, he helped an old lady cross the street. Guess what, the grandmother’s grandson was actually a wealthy CEO!!”
“With a wave of his hand, he gave the host ten million as a thank you fee.”
Although the host didn’t take it.
“How is that possible!! Can’t you make up a story that’s a bit more reasonable??”
Lu Qing paused, realizing that his own rebirth wasn’t exactly reasonable either, and said without much conviction, “If that’s true, then that CEO must have a hole in his head.”
“You’re the one with a hole in your head!!” The System spun its invincible hot-wheels and pricked him. “Why is it impossible!!”
“Because he fell for my host, that’s why~”
Lu Qing: “…………”
Hey, where’s my knife?
Wait, Lu Qing thought of something. “Then can’t I just find an opportunity to ‘accidentally’ meet someone in a known future event?”
That wouldn’t be cheating, right?
“Of course not!! You’re going to scam for money and emotions, how can that be allowed!!”
This wasn’t allowed, that wasn’t allowed. Lu Qing was completely broken. “…Then stop bothering me. Let me hang myself early so I can reincarnate sooner.”
The System desperately hugged him, terrified that its mentally fragile host would kick away the chair. “Listen to me first!!”
“What I mean is, while you can’t hook a CEO in those accidental events, you can still do good deeds in accidental events.”
Lu Qing looked perplexed. “Why would I do good deeds?”
The System said sternly, “As long as we do good deeds, we can apply for the Good Citizen Award bonus.”
Lu Qing: “…What is that?”
The System brought up a panel for the host to see. Lu Qing’s eyes widened. The page showed the Capital Star Municipal Center Network, in an inconspicuous corner of the Citizen Style column, there was a commendation posted.
The gist was that “XXX bravely acted on a certain day, saving a noble female bug. With this incident, they won in the annual citizen competition and received the five million Good Citizen Award bonus issued by the Municipal Center.”
The System was full of fighting spirit. “So, if we win it twice within a year, your life is saved!!”
Most importantly, the host’s scumbag journey started with not having money to buy his life and committing marriage fraud. If this event is ‘butterfly-effected’ away, the host will have no reason to be a scumbag, and its mission will be completed.
“…That sounds slightly plausible.”
The System continued to brainwash him. “Think about it, if you lie at home every day, people who need help won’t come knocking on your door; if you sit in an office, the probability is definitely not as high as running deliveries outside. So tell me, is there a better way than this!!”
Lu Qing pursed his lips. His face still showed reluctance; after all, he’d been lazy for two lifetimes.
But those familiar with him knew this was a sign of impending compromise. “I could also just go out on the street to look for bugs who need help…”
He was just short of writing “I don’t want to work” across his face.
The System asked a soul-searching question: “Do you have money?”
Lu Qing, who was just swept out of the association after completing his awakening period, not only had no money but also owed the hotel owner three days’ accommodation fee, suddenly felt a slight toothache.
It was past noon. The busy lunch hour was finally over, and it wasn’t time to prepare dinner yet. Most people working in the catering industry welcomed their most relaxed time of the day.
Geli was no exception.
The middle-aged male bug had been busy all day, and finally had a chance for a nap. He reclined the back of his chair, just about to take a quick doze, when an unfamiliar voice abruptly sounded.
“Excuse me, is this the Strange Delicacies Research Institute—?”
Geli sat up. It was a young male bug with chestnut hair, amber eyes, defined and deep facial features, and a well-proportioned, tall figure—very handsome.
Geli was a professional male bug and wouldn’t get angry at a customer for losing his precious nap time, especially since the customer was quite pleasing to the eye.
“Yes, welcome, esteemed customer. What can I get for you?”
The male bug… that is, Lu Qing, was afraid the other party would bring a menu; he didn’t have money to eat, so he quickly shook his head. “I’m here to apply for a job. I heard you’re hiring a courier?”
Geli: “Not here to eat?”
Lu Qing had been unemployed for two lifetimes and had never properly looked for a job. Hearing this, he felt a little nervous. “Yes.”
“Then never mind.” Geli retreated behind the cash register and put the chair back down. “Talk to me after I wake up.”
Lu Qing: “…………”
The reasons not to work have increased.
The System appeared with a chirp. “He’s so mean.”
But his arrogant, face-saving host didn’t say a word and honestly found a corner in the shop to wait.
The System: “Aren’t you angry, Host?”
Lu Qing: “I am, but among so many job advertisements, this store has the highest salary.”
This was the one the System found that paid one hundred thousand a month. A bug still has to bow to reality.
The System: “…………”
You could say Lu Qing was arrogant, but once he figured things out, he wouldn’t put on airs, seeming able to endure any offense and hardship.
But if you were to say he was down-to-earth, honest, and hardworking, he was also lazy, sly, greedy, and unprincipled, letting others support him for so many years without any psychological burden.
Truly contradictory.
“But…” The System was still very protective and wanted to say something.
“But what?” Lu Qing tapped the System’s head to lecture it. “A true hero can bend and stretch. You’ve guided so many hosts, don’t you understand this?”
The System felt its sincerity was wasted on a scumbag. “Then I’m truly sorry, but all my hosts were among the best, and none of them were as miserable as you.”
Lu Qing: “…”
Can you die if you don’t antagonize me?
“Whose fault is that? If you hadn’t bound me, would I be this miserable?”
The System huffily hit his head and disappeared with a smack into the air. “You’d be dead without me.”
Lu Qing waited for two hours. When Geli woke up, he didn’t see the male bug and thought he had left, feeling a little disappointed. “Young bugs…”
No resilience. Can’t even handle this.
“Are you calling me?”
Geli turned around and found the male bug standing in the corner. His trousers were wrinkled; it seemed he had been squatting there for a long time.
Geli was quite surprised. “You didn’t leave?”
Lu Qing nodded, handing him the recruitment flyer, the one the System had printed for him earlier. “Boss, I’m here to apply for the job.”
How could he leave without achieving his goal?
Geli was somewhat satisfied with him. He took the flyer. “I’m not the boss, just the manager here. Have a seat.”
“I won’t introduce the salary and benefits; the recruitment ad is accurate.” Geli said. “Can you accept the working hours?”
Lu Qing: “I saw it. Is it 8 PM to 11 PM?”
Geli nodded. “Yes. We mainly focus on dine-in, but some friends of our boss find it inconvenient to visit, and the shop is too busy during the day for outside delivery, so we can only use these hours at night to prepare the meals.”
“Besides these three hours in the shop, we don’t care about the rest of your time. You can find another job during the day; we have no right to interfere.”
Lu Qing: “OVO”
Hooray, I can sleep in during the day!
Lu Qing felt a little bit of enthusiasm for the job now.
However, with such a high salary, these three hours must be incredibly busy, he thought.
Thinking this, Lu Qing drooped again.
So Lu Qing asked, “Are there other colleagues?” If not, he feared he’d be busier than a production team’s donkey.
Geli shook his head. “No. But you don’t need to worry. As you can see, our boss likes to research strange and unique foods, so not many bugs buy them. We get at most three or four orders a night; it won’t be busy.”
Lu Qing: “.”
Something is wrong. This is very wrong.
Although Lu Qing hadn’t lived very long in either life, he knew that a job with high pay and little work wouldn’t be posted for so long without applicants… and still be available to him?
Lu Qing was a little scared. Could it be that they want to use the job as an excuse to capture me to be a gigolo?
That’s it! 8 PM to 11 PM, what a subtle time!!
The System popped out at some point. It also felt something was fishy, but it disagreed with the host’s thought process.
Do female bugs need to be so secretive when looking for male bugs? They can beckon a large group with a wave of their hand. Besides, this kind of thing, in any case, is more of a loss for the female bug.
The System concluded: “I think he just wants to harvest your kidneys.”
Lu Qing: “…………”
The truth was, both the bug and the System were wrong. Geli explained: “I must inform you that our boss’s friends mostly live in Area A and Area D.”
Lu Qing’s face turned green: “…”
Geli was a little embarrassed, apologizing. “It’s also because the customers are rather special, which is why I gave you a hard time earlier.”
After all, the customers there were quite difficult to deal with. If he couldn’t handle this much, things would be difficult when encountering those headache-inducing customers.
The System scratched its head. Being new, it didn’t quite understand. “Host, what’s wrong with these two areas?”
Lu Qing: “…………”
A big problem. The Capital Star has four areas: A, B, C, and D. Area A is the political power center of the entire Capital Star, and even the entire Bug Race. Administrative agencies, military and political key areas, royal palaces… are all located here.
Therefore, the bugs living in Area A are all aristocratic families, military and political officials, and bugs of the highest status.
Working there, one mistake could offend a big shot, and then you wouldn’t even know how you died.
Areas B and C are mostly where commoners live. Lu Qing currently lives in Area C.
As for Area D, it’s famously the most chaotic place on the Capital Star. Immigrants from other races, ex-convicts who avoided being expelled from the Capital Star because someone covered for them, Bug Race members with mental instability due to retirement and are maintained by the Empire, and some collected poor people… most live there.
It’s okay when someone manages things during the day, but at night… it’s genuinely life-threatening.
He had no idea what kind of ruthless character the boss of this shop was, to be friends with bugs in both of these places simultaneously.
He now understood why no one was applying for the job. It was simply too dangerous for an ordinary bug to go to those two places.
But… Lu Qing struggled internally. Those were potential dangers. If he was lucky and cautious enough, maybe nothing would happen.
However, if he failed to pay the rent again, he would definitely suffer a disaster today.
The male bug’s face was complex, switching between green and pale. Geli realized he probably wouldn’t find anyone this time and sighed. “If you’re unwilling, we won’t force you…”
“Well… it’s not entirely forced.”
Compared to the unknown dangers far away, the current pressing issue was more important. Thinking of the fierce and bad-tempered landlord, Lu Qing wisely compromised.
Geli: “I hope we can cooperate next time… Huh? What did you say?!”
Lu Qing repeated: “Not forced. I’m willing, but Manager…”
Even with Lu Qing’s thick skin, he felt a little embarrassed now and chuckled awkwardly. “Can I get an advance on two days’ salary?”
Geli: “…”
Is this guy trying to scam money??
In the end, Lu Qing, relying on his harmless-looking face, got the salary advance from Geli—a full three days’ worth, about ten thousand star coins.
It was also thanks to Geli being so frustrated from not finding anyone that he decided to take a desperate chance on Lu Qing.
But Geli wasn’t an idiot. Fearing he would run, he scanned his identity chip. If Lu Qing didn’t show up for work the next night, he could report him to the police.
Lu Qing had no intention of taking the money and running, so he naturally agreed.
After getting the money, Lu Qing quickly settled the rent for the past few days, only to find that he had only stayed for three days, and the guy dared to charge him three thousand credits.
In his last life, he staged a rescue and got injured, and was hospitalized that very day for half a month.
Lan Xi had sent someone to check out of this house, so Lu Qing naturally didn’t know it could be such a scam.
If the Capital Star had a Price Control Bureau, Lu Qing would definitely sue this crooked business until it was bankrupt.
But for now… Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Lu Qing didn’t have time to dwell on it and quickly found a new apartment.
One bedroom, one living room, a private bathroom, and most importantly, very close to work.
Aside from the unfriendly price, it was perfect in every other way.
The more serious issue was that after paying the rent, Lu Qing only had five hundred credits left in his pocket.
Deducting money for food, he would only have five credits remaining.
To make things worse, Lu Qing, as a courier, didn’t have a vehicle
Ah no, a flyer.