The next day…
"Young Lady, Patriarch William has arranged a flying ship of this world for us to reach the Young Master's destination. We can depart at any time," Master Hu reported respectfully.
"Good. Let's go," Su Liana replied.
Meanwhile, near the CBD…
"Holy shit, I woke up late! Damn it—I knew I shouldn't have stayed up working on that stupid project. Why is there even a sudden shift on a Sunday?"
Karma Hi dashed out of his apartment, half-dressed and clutching his bag.
If I miss the bus, I'm screwed!
This running figure was none other than our protagonist, Karma Hi. Though he once dreamed of building a career in IT, the rise of AI had crushed those dreams, leaving him working shifts in a five-star hotel just to survive.
He was not a local of this country. Every day, he pushed himself to hold onto hope for permanent residency, hoping to secure a future for his family. But fate had been cruel.
Not long ago, he had received a call from home—his family was in ruins. His parents' marriage shattered. Their wealth stolen by hackers and scammers. His sister went missing. His father, broken by it all, died of a heart attack. And his mother… she had been framed and jailed in a scam she never orchestrated.
Karma's world collapsed in a single blow. Yet he told no one. To outsiders, he appeared ordinary, even cheerful. Inside, however, his heart was filled with grief and burning hatred. He swore vengeance against those who destroyed his family, and above all, he vowed to find his missing sister.
For now, all he could do was endure. Work, save, and plan. Wealth and power—those were the keys to revenge.
"Bro, you're late today!" his friend Sajid called as Karma finally reached the hotel, panting. Normally, Karma was always fifteen minutes early.
"What do you mean late? There's still two minutes before the shift. Anyway, let's hurry. I still don't get why they called us in all of a sudden."
"Who cares? It's Sunday pay," Sajid smirked.
"True… if not for that, I wouldn't even bother."
Events Floor – Outside the Lift
"You guys are here too? Looks like everyone's working today," said Anthony, the manager, scanning his team. "Alright, listen up—smiles on, energy high. You're all on Sunday rates!"
Everyone grinned at that.
"But Boss," Sajid asked, "why this sudden shift? There aren't any events, and tomorrow the setup team is scheduled anyway."
Anthony adjusted his tie. "I was going to explain after the uniform check, but since you asked… Big potatoes are coming. Investors—huge ones. Even the Heads and VPs will be around. Apparently, these investors want to judge the hotel staff and operations firsthand before signing anything. So today, no slip-ups. Give your absolute best."
"Yes, Manager!" the team responded in unison.
"Good. Now, let's prep for the next events team before the big shots arrive."
And so, the day rolled forward, unnoticed. Hours passed.
Outside the Hotel
"Young Miss, we've arrived," Master Hu announced as he opened the limousine door for Su Liana. Elder Zuo had left them earlier to investigate something on his own.
Su Liana's eyes narrowed. "He's here. The artifact confirms it. My brother is still within this place."
The artifact in her hand glowed faintly. It was no ordinary trinket—it was a treasure she had found deep within an ancient ruin. Since that day, it had guided her to countless fortunes and cemented her position as a prime disciple within her sect.
It was no exaggeration to say her brother owed much of his rise to this artifact as well. From the moment of his birth, it had pointed toward him, declaring him destined for great fortune. True to the prophecy, he had always been unnervingly lucky, dragging both fortune and calamity in equal measure wherever he went.
And now, here in this mortal world, the artifact was pointing once again—to her brother.
With Master Hu, William, and a squad of bodyguards clearing the way, Su Liana strode directly into the hotel, drawing every eye. Guests and staff alike froze as the aura of high security parted crowds for a single woman.
But even the imposing presence of the guards paled before the vision of the woman herself. Draped in robes finer than anything Earth could produce, her beauty was so ethereal that the staff felt as if a goddess had descended into their midst.
Step by step, she advanced… until the artifact pulsed faintly in her palm, halting her before an ordinary man at work.
That man was Karma Hi.
He hadn't even noticed her arrival. Focused on his duties, he hummed softly while adjusting table settings. His colleagues, however, stared wide-eyed, their jaws slack. Never in their careers had they seen anything like this—bodyguards parting paths, a woman of otherworldly beauty approaching a mere hotel staffer.
It felt less like a hotel scene, and more like the arrival of a president—or something greater.
Karma finally noticed the presence approaching him. Turning with his usual polite smile, he opened his mouth to greet her—
SLAP!
The sound cracked through the foyer like thunder.
The world froze.
His colleagues stood rooted, dumbstruck. His manager Anthony, his mentor Iryna, his crush Kiki, his best friend Sajid—every single one of them stared in disbelief.
A guest—no, a goddess—had just slapped their coworker across the face.
For no apparent reason.
And the story of Karma Hi's fate truly began.
---------------
The crack of the slap still echoed through the grand foyer.
Everyone was frozen.
Karma Hi, clutching his stinging cheek, finally looked up into the eyes of the goddess who had struck him—
And at that very moment, Su Liana whispered in disbelief:
"Brother… why are you pretending to be a mortal?"