Chen Shu nodded and pulled off the urea bag, revealing Liu Wuyi's face.

"Hey? I know this guy! Isn't this the wanted criminal from online?"

Someone in the crowd recognized Liu Wuyi right away.

Everyone quickly pulled out their phones to check — sure enough, he was a dangerous-level wanted criminal.

Chen Shu's eyes immediately locked onto the bounty amount — a full hundred thousand yuan.

Soon, the Spirit Suppression Bureau—the department responsible for handling Beast Tamer criminals—arrived to take over, and as the black market crowd dispersed, the trio left Seven Star Street.

"Thank you both this time."

Once on the main street, Chen Shu left his phone number so the reward money could be sent after verification.

Zhang Dali, meanwhile, put on airs like some kind of master, acting like the reward money was beneath him.

In his words: "Finish the deed and brush off my clothes, hiding merit and fame."¹

"Small matter! I, Chen Shu, love nothing more than upholding justice!"

The two put on righteously stern expressions, as if they specialized in righting wrongs.

They'd completely forgotten about their graceful sprint-and-flee performance earlier.

"I'll remember this favor. If you need anything, feel free to tell me anytime." Xu Xiaoyu's expression was serious—clearly she didn't like owing people favors.

"Sister Xiaoyu, we didn't help you expecting any favors."

Chen Shu put on an equally serious expression, then suddenly shifted gears.

"By the way, I want to find a summer job."

"..."

Zhang Dali's body trembled.

You just said you weren't expecting favors — you almost had me convinced!

"What kind of job are you looking for? I might have some good recommendations."

Xu Xiaoyu brushed the hair from her ear, looking especially charming in the night breeze.

But sadly, in front of these two, her beauty was completely wasted.

"Sister Xiaoyu, my requirements aren't high. Just minimal work, close to home, high salary, great benefits, and flexible hours."

Zhang Dali spoke without thinking.

Who could possibly refuse such a job?

"Dali, your requirements are way too much!"

Chen Shu immediately spoke with reproach in his tone. He turned to Xu Xiaoyu.

"Sister Xiaoyu, I just want a job where I can literally lie in bed counting money."

"Heh... heh..."

Xu Xiaoyu gave a stiff laugh. You two really aren't picky at all.

"My family's company happens to need people. If you're interested, you could give it a try."

"What kind of work?"

Xu Xiaoyu looked a bit embarrassed. "Mainly patrolling the company, providing security services."

"Security guard?" Chen Shu frowned, as he actually wanted work related to Potion Masters.

Just as he was about to refuse, Zhang Dali's expression suddenly lit up with excitement.

"Is there really a security guard position?"

Xu Xiaoyu: "???"

Was a security guard job really worth getting this excited about?

"Dali, are you out of your mind? If your Black Iron rank Beast Tamer parents found out, wouldn't they beat you to death?"

Zhang Dali's family was quite well-off, considered middle class in Nanjiang City.

Getting this excited over a security guard job?

"Chen Pi, what do you know? If you haven't joined the security profession by now, you're OUT!"²

Zhang Dali looked proud.

Chen Shu sighed and shook his head.

When would Dali ever be as normal as him?

"Sister Xiaoyu, I can make potions. Is there anything suitable for that?"

"Huh? You can make potions?"

Xu Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow, looking incredulous.

Is 'concocting' potions something you can do just by saying so? You think it's like breeding sows?

Becoming a Potion Master required mastering complex pharmaceutical knowledge — only excellent university graduates could possibly enter this profession.

Now a high school student was telling her this?

"I can't make that decision. If you really want to try, you can visit my family's company."

Xu Xiaoyu didn't immediately agree. Their company's main products were various potions — this involved core business, not something she could decide on her own.

"But if you want to be a security guard, just say you're my classmate."

Both were tall enough — more than qualified for security work.

"Thanks again, both of you."

Xu Xiaoyu gave them a slight bow.

The three exchanged ChaoXin contacts, then scattered—each back to their own home and their own mom.

"Can't believe we just casually saved the academic ace."

Zhang Dali couldn't help but sigh.

"Chen Pi, do you think we're protagonists?"

"I'm not, but you definitely are."

"How so?"

"You have all the protagonist qualities!"

Zhang Dali's whole body trembled, eyes widening, looking like he'd finally found a kindred spirit.

"I've hidden it for seventeen whole years, but you still saw through me! Chen Pi, your insight is extraordinary!"

Chen Shu's mouth twitched. "Can we have some dignity?"

"Huh? You just said I have protagonist qualities."

"Yeah, typical protagonists start as trash. You fit that perfectly."

"You're a real piece of work!"

Zhang Dali raised his middle finger, thoroughly despising Chen Shu.

The two chatted and joked as they returned to their neighborhood.

Chen Shu got home, cleaned up, and was about to crash.

Suddenly, options appeared before his eyes again.

[Option 1: Cultivate through the night, absorbing heaven and earth spiritual energy.]

Completion reward: Obtain title "Diligent Talent", wearing effect: cultivation efficiency +10%

[Option 2: Crash immediately, lie flat directly³.]

Completion reward: Small amount of Beast Taming Power]

Chen Shu hadn't expected to trigger options right before sleeping.

He was absolutely decisive — air conditioner on, blanket pulled up, instantly lying flat.

Without the system you need to cultivate hard. With the system you still cultivate hard? Then what's even the POINT of having a cheat?

Surely no one *actually* misunderstands the true value of being a protagonist, right?

The next day,

Chen Shu walked into the classroom to numerous admiring gazes.

"Brother Pi, you're incredible! Others fight with contract spirits, you go straight to hand-to-hand combat. You've truly pioneered a whole new battle path."

"Of course! Brother Pi's reputation in the regular classes is even bigger than Xu Xiaoyu's. Just that urea bag technique alone is enough for us to study for a lifetime."

"Brother Pi, do you have any more urea bags at home? Give me one! I want to hang it on my wall to ward off evil!"

Chen Shu waved his hand, tilted his head slightly, and closed his eyes, looking like he couldn't bear all the praise.

"Everyone, keep it low-key, keep it low-key. Mainly, Class Monitor Zheng cooperated well."

Just as he was shooting the breeze with everyone,

A harsh voice suddenly rang out.

"MOVE! Get out of my way! Where's that bastard Chen Shu?!"

A thin student with an incredibly fierce gaze appeared at the classroom door.

"Third-year Zheng Nan? What are you doing here!"

Wang Meng was first to step forward, blocking Chen Shu.

"What? Not welcoming me?"

Zheng Nan sneered, arms crossed.

"I heard someone in second year bullied my little brother, even made my family lose forty thousand for nothing. As the older brother, I have to ask about it, right? What? Scammed my brother but won't admit it? You little punk, didn't you think you were hot shit?"

1. "Finish the deed and brush off my clothes, hiding merit and fame" is from the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai's "Ode to the Gallant" (俠客行), describing ideal wandering heroes who act righteously without seeking recognition. The irony of the comedic Zhang Dali using this heroic quote enhances the humor.

2. "If you haven't joined the security profession by now, you're OUT!" references a major 2020-2021 Chinese internet meme where becoming a security guard was jokingly proclaimed as the ultimate, stress-free career destination for men exhausted by corporate "rat race" culture. Zhang Dali is referencing this specific cultural phenomenon.

3. "Lie flat" (躺平 tǎng píng) represents a major Chinese youth cultural movement of passive resistance to the high-pressure "996" work culture (9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week). Young people choose to do the bare minimum and reject constant striving. The protagonist embracing this philosophy while being rewarded by his system is central to the novel's comedy.