Chapter 1: The Layoff Blade Swings at Me

“You’re fired.”

The HR woman, caked in makeup, forced a fake smile as she handed over a sheet of paper.
“Mr. Shen, the higher-ups hope you can finish handing over your work today, and then you can leave the company.”

“You people are really something.” Shen Baizhou was speechless.

Tomorrow the project bonus was supposed to be paid out, and today his manager rushed to fire him. Talk about killing the donkey once the grinding is done—so efficient!

Taking the list, Shen Baizhou glanced at it and said,
“Sorry. I’ve got too much on my plate. I won’t finish today—let’s talk tomorrow.”

With that, he tossed the paper aside, stood up, and walked out of the meeting room.

You say I’m fired, and I just obediently hand over everything and walk out the door? What a joke!

“Looks like this guy’s a tough one…” HR frowned and picked up her phone to send a voice message:
“Manager Sheng, he refuses to cooperate. Says he’ll talk tomorrow…”

“Ungrateful bastard!” came a sneer over the line.

“By law he should get three months’ severance. But if he insists on dragging it out for an extra day’s pay… fine. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get a single cent of compensation! When he comes back to his desk, I’ll use him as an example—let everyone see the fate of defying me!”

“Got it.”

HR hung up, her eyelids twitching. She remembered last time someone resisted during a layoff—Manager Sheng slapped the poor guy so hard his jaw dislocated, and the cops even got called… Could something happen again today?

Shen Baizhou didn’t go back to his desk. Instead, he decided to head downstairs for some air and calm his nerves.

It had been a few days since he crossed over into this parallel world.

When he first arrived, he had nothing. After days of relentless effort, he had finally stabilized a bit—and now his job was gone.

But I’m a transmigrator, he thought. At a time this miserable, practically on the verge of sleeping on the streets, shouldn’t there be a “ding”—a system popping up?

“Ding!”

The elevator hit the first floor.

Shen Baizhou rolled his eyes.

No way. He couldn’t leave the company today. He had to drag this out until tomorrow at least. One more day meant one more day’s pay—and he had less than 300 yuan left. Salary day was still over twenty days away!

Taking out his phone, he kept working on his script—Crazy Stone.

“A failing handicraft factory discovers a priceless piece of jade and hosts an exhibition. But international thief Mike and local crook Brother Dao both set their sights on it…”

In his previous life, Shen Baizhou was an assistant director. After crossing over to “Blue Star,” he discovered the arts scene here was completely different—none of Earth’s movies, music, or TV dramas existed.

If he wanted to make it big, he couldn’t rely on some system falling from the sky. His only hope was this script.

Meanwhile, outside Jinxiu Tower.

In a champagne-colored Porsche 911, a graceful woman wearing oversized sunglasses fixed her gaze on Shen Baizhou as he exited the building. She spoke into her phone:

“He’s in a shirt, about 183 cm tall?”

“Yeah, that’s him. Sticks out like a sore thumb.”

A snicker came from the other end.
“But you know guys like that—they’re not like real men. No matter how handsome, they’re all effeminate…”

“Mhm.” The woman nodded, her eyes sweeping over Shen Baizhou’s delicate, idol-like face.
“Obvious enough.”

“Anyway, the price has been agreed on. Just make sure he doesn’t suddenly demand more—so don’t talk to him too much…”

“Got it.”

As Shen Baizhou approached, she hung up, tapped her horn lightly, and commanded:
“Get in the car.”

Her tone left no room for refusal.

Shen Baizhou froze.

He stared at the sunglass-clad beauty. Her hair flowed like silk, her lips were like red clouds, and she ordered him into her car with a voice as sweet as caramel.

“Me?” He pointed to himself.

“Of course you!” she said firmly, thinking, Didn’t we agree to meet?

Shen Baizhou frowned. So that’s how low this company’s stooped, he thought.

After all those 996 overtime days, he only wanted to delay the handover by a single day, squeeze out one more day of wages. And now HR sent this stunning woman in a Porsche to pressure him into quitting? What a grand performance!

Anger flared in him. He’d heard about “resignation specialists” companies used for difficult employees. Never thought he’d meet one today!

Fine. If they wanted to play, he’d play.

Without a word, he opened the door and slid into the passenger seat. As he fastened his belt, he studied the “specialist” beside him.

The sunglasses covered too much of her face, but her skin was dazzlingly pale—like fine porcelain glazed to perfection, as though heaven had painted her with eternal highlights.

Her figure… well, he couldn’t see her legs in the car, but her upper body’s curves were undeniable.

Strange, Shen Baizhou thought. With looks like this, she should be an idol. Why settle for a resignation enforcer? Is the beauty market that competitive now?

“You’re Mr. Shen, right?” the woman asked cautiously.

“That’s me,” he replied proudly, thinking, Yep, I’m the one you’re here to force out. So what?

She nodded, satisfied, and turned the key. The Porsche roared to life and sped onto the main road.

Meanwhile, outside Jinxiu Tower.

A tall, skinny man in a floral shirt minced over with delicate hand gestures. Looking confused, he raised his phone and spoke in a girlish tone:

“I’m Xiao Shen. I’m downstairs, but I don’t see that sister you mentioned. No Porsche either. You messing with me, you naughty thing?”

Inside the Porsche on the Fourth Ring Road, silence filled the car.

Shen Baizhou sneered at the woman.
Not talking, huh? Trying to pressure me? I’m a transmigrator—you think this works on me? Forget it. You stay silent, I’ll stay silent!

Determined, he thought, No matter what tricks you pull, I won’t be the first to speak.

Traffic was still light before rush hour. The Porsche sped past car after car, while the air inside froze in tension.

After the fifth traffic light, the woman finally spoke:
“Think it through. Once we do this, you can’t regret it.”

“I’ve thought it through!” Shen Baizhou snorted.

He had to hold out one more day, no matter what. Today’s pay—he was keeping it! This was the last bit of stubborn pride left to a worker, he thought bitterly.

“Good.” She nodded. Silence fell again.

Fifteen minutes later, the Porsche exited onto a side road and pulled into a parking lot.

The woman parked smoothly, killed the engine, and pulled out the keys.
“Get out.”

Fine, who are you trying to scare?

Swallowing his unease, Shen Baizhou followed her.

Only now did he realize how tall she was. Her legs were long and straight, her proportions divine, her waist-hip ratio almost dangerous. With a body like that, she could outshine Victoria’s Secret models—yet here she was, doing layoffs work?

Then he noticed the oversized sunglasses again, and it clicked.

Ah, her eyes must not be that great. Otherwise, with skin this flawless and a body this perfect, she’d already be on the runway or in movies. That explains the shades.

Mystery solved.

Lifting his gaze, Shen Baizhou read the golden words above the entrance of the old-style building:

Imperial City Civil Affairs Bureau.

“…Civil Affairs Bureau?” He was stunned.

Wasn’t this supposed to be a layoff meeting? Why here?

The woman didn’t stop. He trailed after her in confusion until they arrived at an office marked with a sign:

Marriage Registration Office.

“…What?” Shen Baizhou finally blurted. “Why did you bring me here?”

The woman stopped, turned, and looked at him in surprise.

“What else would we do?” She removed her sunglasses, revealing eyes so breathtaking they could stop hearts.

“Of course we’re here to get married!”