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The day after Shen Mi was harassed by her boss, his wife showed up and gave her an earful, scolding her without any attempt to understand the truth. If Shen Mi hadn’t run fast enough, she might have lost a chunk of hair in the process.
He was the one with no integrity, but she was the one who got yelled at.
Absolutely ridiculous.
But then, Shen Mi was used to bad luck—it was almost second nature. Picking the worst outcome seemed to be her specialty, like missing Tsinghua University by just 10 points.
If she could restart her life, she’d have gone along with her mother and moved to Xinjiang back then.
But her birthplace was chosen by her ancestors, so she, as a descendant, had no choice but to grit her teeth and push through, no matter how tough.
Though reality often left her in tears, in the virtual world, Shen Mi had been racking up easy victories for years.
—Thanks to her skilled in-game master.
They met in *World of Warcraft*, and after getting bored of easy wins, they moved to a more relaxing wuxia game for a change of pace. This game was flashy and chaotic, not much fun, but one thing it did well was make her master feel more “three-dimensional”—almost like a real person.
Shen Mi sat across from her master, who was dressed in a stunning white robe, his top-tier equipment practically blinding her. Her hand slipped while typing, and an unfinished message was accidentally sent out.
*Mysterious Little Noob*: “Master, master, hug please!”
*Very Mysterious*: “?”
“Mysterious Little Noob” was a pun, a homonym on Shen Mi’s name combined with her actual skill level in the game.
Once, after being hunted down and left with almost no health, she complained to her master, who immediately bought a top-tier account, casually changed the character’s name, and stormed in to avenge her. When she asked why he chose that name, he replied, “So it’s obvious we’re a team.”
“Very Mysterious” didn’t sound like a powerful player at all.
But day after day, her master—this high-rolling player who spent real money in the game—had crushed enough opponents to become a legendary figure, famous without needing an impressive name.
Having a master with the best gear in the game was indeed intimidating; for three years, Shen Mi had been able to roam the open battle zones without fear.
Unfortunately, her streak of easy victories didn’t extend beyond the game. In real life, the pampered in-game “heiress” was now on the verge of financial ruin, struggling to pay rent.
Since her message had already been sent, adding the line “I got yelled at today for no reason by some Scumbag’s wife” felt like it would ruin the harmonious vibes between her and her master.
*Mysterious Little Noob*: “Just expressing my respect for you.”
*Very Mysterious*: “Hugging is the only way to express respect?”
*Mysterious Little Noob*: “I can kneel instead.”
After sending the message, Shen Mi immediately made her character kneel in front of her master.
*Very Mysterious*: “…”
Her master’s online schedule was unpredictable. Most of the time, he was AFK, and they would chat for a bit before he disappeared again. Shen Mi, reluctant to waste her precious game points, would quickly finish her daily tasks and log off.
—
Before her sunscreen ran out, Shen Mi finally found a suitable job.
But then, the boss’s nephew returned from overseas and took her position.
Once again, Shen Mi found herself unemployed.
Her roommate, who was a live streamer, told her, “You’re so pretty, you don’t even need filters to make a lot of people fall for you. Streaming can make good money. My classmate who only graduated middle school bought a house from it.”
Shen Mi said, “I don’t have any special talents.” Singing and dancing were just average for her. She had taken dance lessons for a while when she was younger, and her flexibility was decent enough for some fun moves, but she was far from professional.
Her roommate replied, “No need for talent. Just stream and chat with people. Add a little tease to your voice, call them ‘brother’ a few times, toss in a little wiggle every now and then—making over 10,000 a month isn’t hard.”
Shen Mi glanced at her bank balance and hesitated. The next day, she waited for her roommate to start streaming, then spent over an hour in the live stream room, studying her methods.
She took notes. The roommate had called “brother” 21 times in 60 minutes, twisted her waist 15 times, and ignored 48 comments asking her to strip.
This wasn’t something Shen Mi could do.
It wasn’t that she looked down on the profession of live-streaming, but her mindset and personality simply couldn’t align with making that kind of money. She had spent sixteen years studying hard, emerging from the grueling battle of the college entrance exams to graduate from a top 985 university, and the idea of using that hard-earned degree to please men felt like a betrayal of all those late nights and sacrificed hours of studying.
If these men were emperors, and flattering them would lead to leveling up, becoming a concubine with guaranteed retirement benefits, she might consider it. But this kind of “job” was fragile, too easily broken, and Shen Mi didn’t feel secure enough to make that kind of trade-off. It didn’t seem worth it.
The next day, Shen Mi packed up and headed out for another interview.
Perhaps it was the curse of her unlucky nature, because even when she just went to buy a bottle of water by the roadside, she ran into that woman again—the one who had pointed at her nose and called her a “Vixen” last time.
This time, the woman was even more passionate in her accusations, her vocabulary expanding by five words. The reason? Her husband had once again sneaked off the night before to have an affair with this “Vixen.”
The heat was unbearable, and after finishing her interview, Shen Mi was extremely thirsty. She unscrewed a bottle of mineral water and drank a few sips before saying, “If you think of me like that, there’s nothing I can do.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to defend herself. She had tried explaining before, but the woman wouldn’t listen. As for engaging in a fiery argument, Shen Mi could hold her own against a few elementary school kids on the keyboard, but in real life, she had never won an argument, especially not with someone like this. There was no point in trying.
Her silence, however, seemed to strike a nerve. The woman, now completely enraged, accused her of dressing like this to seduce men and claimed she had no shame.
Shen Mi had dressed very appropriately for the interview—just a simple shirt and pencil skirt—but in the woman’s eyes, it had somehow transformed into a provocative, seductive look aimed at tempting men.
She sighed and said, “Then you should call the police.”
The woman, perhaps feeling disrespected after pouring all her energy into this verbal fight and not getting the response she wanted, was utterly enraged. She twisted open a nearby bottle of water, intent on splashing it all over Shen Mi.
Shen Mi rolled up her sleeves, ready to face whatever came next.
Just as the woman prepared to throw the water, a voice cut through, “Sister, you’ve got the wrong person! The one who went to the hotel with my brother-in-law last night is this woman, not her…”
Shen Mi dropped her sleeves, grabbed her water, and walked away.
—
After resting at home for two days, Shen Mi logged into the game to wallow in her frustrations, venting to her master: “In real life, all the CEOs are either balding or lecherous!”
She had intended to just vent a little, but surprisingly, her master wasn’t afk today—he was actually online.
Very Mysterious: What position are you applying for?
Mysterious Little Noob: Secretary.
Her master sent her a string of addresses: “This company is hiring. You can try applying.”
“Ruixing Bank?”
Since meeting her master in her first year of university, Shen Mi and he had hardly discussed real-life matters. All she knew was that he was from the north, worked in the south, and traveled often for work. She didn’t know anything more, nor did she dare ask.
Now, her master had sent her an address from her own city, and it happened to be for the company she had always dreamed of joining—Shen Mi felt a sudden, startling shock, as if the dimensions between reality and the game world had collapsed.
Ruixing Bank wasn’t a traditional bank; it was more like an investment bank, part of the commercial banking sector, known for its excellent benefits. The pay was famously high, considered the industry’s ceiling.
Mysterious Little Noob: I’ve been there before. They said they don’t hire female secretaries.
Very Mysterious: ?
Mysterious Little Noob: They said the CEO has some family issues.
Very Mysterious: ?
Shen Mi suspected her master hadn’t quite understood, so she explained: “The CEO’s girlfriend doesn’t allow him to hire a female secretary.”
She thought her master was about to send another question mark, so she was already ready to continue explaining.
Very Mysterious: Gender discrimination.
Very Mysterious: Do you have evidence? Report it.
He then sent her a reporting address.
Shen Mi was speechless.
A few minutes later…
Very Mysterious: You’ve been scammed.
Very Mysterious: He doesn’t have a girlfriend.
Shen Mi was puzzled about how her master knew this, but she had always respected he greatly. She didn’t even know whether her master was “she” or “he,” and didn’t dare ask.
However, considering how her master casually bought top-tier equipment without blinking, it wouldn’t be strange if they had a few wealthy friends.
Oh, right, her master always played a female character.
Shen Mi’s little loli character often chased after the cold-blooded female demon who killed without hesitation, usually trying to heal. But by the time she raised her hand, the opponent’s health bar was already empty.
Mysterious Little Noob: Yīng yīng yīng, shīfù fù nǐ zhēn měi! Zhè xiōng zhè yāo zhè tuǐ.
Since no one knew each other in the game, and she wore a mask, Shen Mi often acted cute and relaxed while playing, letting loose without fear of embarrassment. She had been doing this for four years.
Very Mysterious: …
*
Encouraged by her master, after lying low for a day, Shen Mi got back to working hard again.
Shen Mi’s mind cleared up.
Since they didn’t need a female secretary, why did they even invite her for the interview?
The answer was obvious: she had been played.
Shen Mi went straight to the glasses-wearing man who had rejected her last time, determined to gather evidence. Even if she never worked again in her life, she was ready to go down fighting with this toxic workplace bully who was using gender discrimination!
When the glasses-wearing man saw Shen Mi today, he suddenly backed down, admitting his mistake first: “Mr. Wang doesn’t have a girlfriend. Actually, it was my personal reasons…”
It turned out he had been lying to her just to introduce a relative into the company.
Her master was right once again.
The glasses-wearing man kept apologizing.
Shen Mi wasn’t having any of it: “My interview was canceled because of your lie. You’re wasting your time apologizing—maybe you should figure out how to make up for your wrongs instead.”
“You’ve abused your power, damaging the company’s reputation. If Ruixing fires you, you’ll never be able to work in this industry again. We’re all just employees here. Leave a way out for others. You handle this however you see fit.”
Shen Mi’s tall and slender figure, with her slightly wavy long hair tied into a high ponytail, and her slim waist wrapped in a pencil skirt, gave her a sharp, cold, and professional aura. Her stern expression was intimidating, and she knew how to use it to her advantage when speaking.
The glasses-wearing man broke into a cold sweat. “Please wait, I’ll go negotiate and try to get your interview rescheduled immediately.”
Shen Mi raised her head proudly, offering a smile that barely touched her lips. “I hope I can see your sincerity.”
The glasses-wearing man scurried off to the neighboring office, looking defeated.
Shen Mi nonchalantly slipped into the restroom, closed the door, and took a few deep breaths—’steady yourself’.
No matter what, she couldn’t lose her composure.
She adjusted her hair in the mirror and touched up her makeup. The cool, sophisticated look of her face certainly served its purpose. While it caused her some trouble in the workplace, it also gave her the confidence to walk into luxury stores with just a hundred bucks in her pocket.
But still, was the glasses-wearing man overly intimidated by her? That was odd.
Experience made perfect, and it applied to job hunting as well. At her next interview, Shen Mi answered with ease, impressing the interviewers who nodded in approval.
“Shen Mi?” One of the interviewers looked up from her resume. “You seem quite experienced, much more so than other recent graduates. Did you have similar part-time jobs during university?”
“Excuse me.” A man in a gray suit walked in.
The interviewers immediately stood up, respectfully saying, “Mr. Wang, what brings you here…”
The man, addressed as Mr. Wang, glanced at Shen Mi before walking directly toward one of the interviewers, extending his hand. “How many people are interviewing for the secretary position today?”
“These five were arranged for the morning session, and she’s the last one.”
The man flipped through the resume and asked, “Has this Shen Mi been interviewed?”
“This is her,” the interviewer raised a hand to introduce. “But she’s a fresh graduate…”
“She’s the one,” the man said. “I need someone urgently. Take her with you.”
Just like that, she’s hired?? The process was so informal. Could she have unintentionally used some backdoor connection to replace someone else?
Shen Mi followed the man into the office, maintaining her smile. “Mr. Wang, aren’t you going to confirm anything further?”
The man sat down in the office chair, his gaze toward her probing. “What, do I need to report to headquarters just to hire a secretary?”
“I’m not implying that,” Shen Mi explained. “It’s just that if the interview doesn’t follow the proper process, it wouldn’t be fair to the other candidates.”
She had previously lost job opportunities to relatives of executives at other companies. Although she was now struggling financially and really needed this job, she still wanted to maintain her integrity.
“I’m the one paying to hire employees. Do you mean to say that even after I’ve made the decision, it’s not enough? It has to go through all the steps in my company’s rules?” He emphasized every word with a heavy “I.”
He acted as though he wasn’t afraid of anyone, even the most powerful people.
Since he had already said “I,” there was no question of her walking through any backdoor. It was all about taking action according to his will.
Shen Mi smiled diplomatically. “Thank you, Mr. Wang, for giving me this opportunity to gain experience.”
“This isn’t experience,” he corrected. “This is a legitimate position. Let me introduce myself—Wang Bo. I haven’t printed my business cards yet, so you can go ahead and get them printed.”
Shen Mi quickly got into the role, pulling out her notebook from her bag. “Wang, like the character for ‘king’? Bo? And your position?”
This local boss was Wang Bo, the CEO of the Beijing branch of Ruixing Bank, and he was the highest authority here.
Although his tone was a bit domineering at first, for the next half hour, he behaved very courteously, treating Shen Mi almost like a friend without any airs.
During the process of arranging for business cards to be printed, Shen Mi learned more about the situation at Ruixing Bank. A few months ago, the bank had undergone a change in leadership. The new big boss, who had been parachuted in, was extremely ruthless—upon taking office, he immediately fired several senior executives, including six CEOs from different branch offices. It was essentially a complete overhaul, like a change in dynasties.
No wonder her boss, Wang Bo, was so eager to get her settled and hadn’t even bothered with printing his business cards yet.
Despite the major shake-up at the top, the company’s operations continued as usual. The HR department was highly efficient, and by that afternoon, Shen Mi successfully secured the job.
*
After a long day at work, Shen Mi returned to her rental apartment and reverted to her “little novice” self. She excitedly logged into the game, checked her master’s location, and used the teleport function to appear by her master’s side. She quickly typed into the private chat box: ‘Ahh, Master, I got the job!’
Her master’s willow-like waist shifted slightly.
Very Mysterious: Not bad.
Compared to those middle-aged, creepy guys, Wang Bo is truly the most “gentle and kind” boss in the world. Shen Mi added a thick layer of filter to him and used her limited vocabulary to describe him: My boss is so gentlemanly and kind! He’s also tall and handsome!!!
Mentor: Oh.
**Author’s Note**:
The nameless male lead, Mr. Xie: “Is he really handsome?”
Let me introduce to everyone our male lead—Xie Rongzhuo.