I strolled leisurely around the city. The scenery here was hauntingly beautiful in its serenity; the crowds passing by looked and behaved no differently from ordinary people in my old world. This vividness occasionally made me forget that I was standing in the middle of a perilous Weird World.
Catching sight of a young boy engrossed in kicking a ball on the sidewalk, an idea to test the waters struck me. I approached him, flashing the friendliest smile I could muster:
-"Hey there, kid."
The boy stopped the ball and looked up at me with clear, innocent eyes:
-"Oh, hello mister. Are you looking for someone?"
-"Ah, I'm Zhao Tianxia, a reporter doing some field research," I fabricated a profession that sounded somewhat prestigious.
-"A reporter? That sounds so cool! What are you researching?" The boy's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
I narrowed my eyes at the sky, where the colossal eye still stared down intently, and asked softly:
-"About the atmospheric phenomenon. What do you think the sun looks like today?"
The boy looked up blankly, then replied artlessly:
-"Um... the sun is round and shining bright just like every other day? You ask such strange questions, mister."
-"Ah... thanks, kid. Good to meet you."
I smiled and waved goodbye, but the moment I turned my back, a cold sense of unease surged within me. How bizarre. Why couldn't they see "that thing"? That repulsive eye was still dominating the entire sky, radiating a thick, murderous intent, yet in the eyes of these residents, it was merely a normal, radiant sun.
Was it because I was on a mission that my senses had been altered, or were these people living inside a massive hallucination? Or worse... was I the one with the problem? The thought made me shiver, but I quickly brushed it aside. In this world, the soberest ones are often the ones who suffer the most.
Lost in thought, my feet led me to a small cafe nestled by the roadside. To my surprise, I spotted a familiar figure behind the glass pane; a girl with blue hair as soft as lake water - Qing Yashu.
Inside the shop, Yashu looked incredibly busy. One hand held a thick stack of receipts while the other tapped rapidly on her phone, her brows slightly furrowed under the pressure of work. My gaze suddenly stopped at the recruitment board hanging right in front of the door:
HELP WANTED: SERVER Age: 16 - 25 Requirements: Agile, hardworking.
A thought flashed through my mind: ( Oh, so this must be where Yashu is staying. Maybe I should apply too? My pockets are empty anyway, and having a teammate nearby feels safer ) A job, a salary, and a chance to ask Yashu about what happened-this was truly killing three birds with one stone.
Without further hesitation, I pushed the door open. The interior was bustling and thick with the aroma of roasted coffee. Customers moved in and out constantly, while staff hurried about without a moment's rest.
The moment Yashu looked up and saw me, she jumped in surprise, which was quickly replaced by a radiant smile. She set her phone down and ran over to greet me:
-"Oh my god, Zhao Tianxia! How on earth did you find your way here?"
-"Just a coincidence," I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.
Yashu narrowed her eyes playfully, then pointed at the recruitment sign:
-"You're here for the job, aren't you? I knew it."
She really could read me like an open book. I suppose she understood that newcomers like me would starve to death in this strange city if we didn't find work.
-"Good guess," I replied half-jokingly. "Does this place have room for an unemployed student like me?"
Yashu let out a soft laugh, her eyes curving into mischievous crescents:
-"In that case, step inside, 'student.' Let me take you to meet the manager. Don't worry, he's quite easygoing-he won't eat you."
-"That's a relief. I'm counting on you then," I replied, feeling inwardly relieved to have someone vouch for me.
She grabbed my sleeve and pulled me behind the counter. As we passed through the main hall, I noticed a few customers stopping, their gazes fixed on the two of us. It wasn't a look of typical curiosity, but a silent, soulless observation that made the hair on my neck stand up. But amidst the noise, I didn't know how to describe that eeriness, so I ignored it and kept walking.
We went through a short hallway leading to the back of the shop. Contrary to the bustle outside, this area was decorated simply yet exuded a refined elegance. Finally, I met the man Yashu called the "manager."
I discreetly observed him from head to toe. He was a tall man, fit and healthy with an impressive height of about 1m80. His features were delicate, radiating a composure and kindness rarely seen in this treacherous world. Yashu introduced us quickly:
-"Mr. Ming, this is my friend. He wants to apply for the server position."
He looked at me with a searching but not uncomfortable gaze, then nodded slightly:
-"I see."
He pushed open the office door behind him and politely gestured for me to enter:
-"Come in and sit down; let's discuss this in more detail."
-"Thank you," I replied formally and stepped inside.
The room smelled faintly of agarwood, creating an unusually relaxing atmosphere. Once we were both settled, he began the interview in a deep, warm tone:
-"Could you introduce yourself a bit?"
I had already prepared a script in my head and replied smoothly:
-"I'm 20 years old, currently a university student. I have prior experience working part-time at several large restaurants, so serving and customer care aren't new to me."
The manager nodded, asking a few more questions about handling difficult situations with complaining customers, as well as my commitment to time and my personal strengths and weaknesses. I tried to answer as sincerely yet cleverly as possible, hoping this "student in need of work" persona would help me secure the spot.
After a tense round of Q&A, the manager finally smiled and nodded. I was officially hired and could start my shift immediately. Stepping out of the interview room, I let out a soft sigh of relief, feeling as though a heavy stone had been lifted from my chest.
Qing Yashu was still waiting in the hallway. Seeing me come out, she rushed over with curious eyes:
-"How did it go? Did Mr. Ming give you a hard time?"
-"It went well. I got the job," I replied, maintaining my composure despite being quite happy inside.
-"Awesome! Congrats, new colleague!" Yashu cheered, her face glowing with more excitement than mine.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, I pulled her closer and lowered my voice to ask something important:
-"Hey, when do you plan to take on the second mission?"
Yashu paused, thinking for a moment before replying:
-"Probably in about a month. I need to gather enough gear and stabilize my mental state first. Why? Are you worried?"
-"Nothing, just asking," I shrugged.
Yashu squinted at me suspiciously, her voice suddenly turning serious:
-"Don't tell me you're 'battle-hungry' enough to dive back into the Demon Gate by next week? Don't play with your life."
-"That's not going to happen," I shook my head firmly.
Yashu breathed a sigh of relief, patting my shoulder in approval:
-"Phew! That's good. We just escaped death; we need at least some time to recover..."
-"I'm going the day after tomorrow," I interrupted her nonchalantly. "Waiting until next week is too long."
Yashu, who had been talking incessantly, suddenly froze. Her expression turned to stone, her eyes wide as she stared at me like I was some strange creature from outer space. Silence enveloped us for a few seconds, broken only by the distant sound of car horns from the street outside.