Volume 1, Chapter 45: The Most Repulsive Happy Hour

"What are you zoning out for on such a wonderful day?"
"Hurry up, let's go set off the firecrackers!"
Ah Hai forcefully pulled me over to light the celebratory firecrackers.
Back at the company, Ah Long and I had just taken our seats next to our team when the manager's voice rang out.
"Everyone, quickly wrap up the work at hand!"
"We're off at ten, group dinner!"
All the employees cheered, their faces beaming with happiness.
The cost of living here was extremely high, and a large portion of the staff only earned a base salary, meaning they couldn't afford a good meal. Group dinners had thus become a rare and enjoyable treat for them.
A company dinner was both a reward for the employees and a form of pacification.
Although the upper management regarded all employees merely as tools for making money, they knew all too well how to win people over...

"Then let's go check out that room right now!" Tang Zeng didn't even look at Kang Jinlong; instead, putting his arm around Chang'e's slender waist, he swaggered straight into the Guanghan Palace.
He remembered spending quite a few days up in the mountains before finally mustering up the courage to descend. Once down, not knowing where to go, he figured that since the old man had told him to find the chivalrous Bamboo Knight Yan Jiu, he would go look for him.
After Wang Hao left, Wang Xizhi remained dazed for a long time. In his eyes, the Earth Deity was equal to a divine being; how could the Earth Deity possibly kneel before this young Master Wang?
Speaking of this, Qin Ge suddenly felt a pang of sorrow. It is true that sometimes, thinking of heartbreaking matters makes it impossible to remain detached.
Hearing the knock on the door, Swordsman was momentarily startled. Just as he was about to go open it, he suddenly recalled that "inhumane" night in Jiankang City last night, which made him pause and listen to find out who was outside.

Having been defeated by Yan Jiu and having promised never to set foot in the Central Plains martial arts world again, the Four Ghosts of Southern Sichuan had gone to the Western Regions. Over a decade had passed in a flash, and the Four Ghosts had been living quietly in the Western Regions, practicing martial arts and living day by day, utterly monotonous.
The Heavenly King of the East, holding the State, said half-seriously, while inwardly feeling suspicious: What on earth is this pig trying to do?
"No, he is mine, and no one can take him away," Bai Zhi said stubbornly through tears, her voice hoarse.
A moment later, he drew the sword from his waist, and with the speed of lightning, he slashed toward the obstruction ahead. A cold flash of light was followed by a violent crash.
Everyone stared at him for a moment. Fortunately, he had already slowed his pace because the two people above were also sizing him up, allowing them to clearly see him in rapid motion.
Taking the black water in its initial Xenomorph form to Earth? This was going to wipe out the world! What kind of deep-seated hatred drove someone to destroy all humanity of the same origin?
"Is the beauty willing to get drunk with me first?" Young Master Li was overjoyed, his smile lewd.
You couldn't do this, and you couldn't do that; living day in and day out more detached from worldly desires than an immortal, doing everything just for show without any real use at all.
Siyan waited for a full hour outside the cold courtyard before the doors of Xing Ruchen's bedchamber finally opened.
The moment Ji Yuyan appeared, the crowd instantly fell silent. Everyone sat up straight and rigid, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
The Wen family had accepted benefits from Yu Shaosi, yet dumped the entire task of caring for Wen Li onto Xi Baiqiao.
The buzz remained unabated, and the production team grinned from ear to ear, deciding to strike while the iron was hot and finish shooting quickly so they could feature their two traffic-driving stars at more events.
The interior was rather dim with few windows, and where there were windows, heavy drapes were pulled tight to block out the sunlight. Jian Xiu hesitated, unable to understand why Runling disliked the sun. Spending year after year in a place barred from sunlight—that was a sickness.
Clutching his aching, bleeding nose, Zhou An wore a furious expression. Gathering all his strength, he threw a vicious punch at Yu Yue, but a palace guard behind Yu Yue delivered another flying kick, sending Zhou An crashing to the ground, unable to get back up.
Yujin wasn't intentionally giving the Crown Prince's Consort the cold shoulder; she simply hadn't figured out whose side this Consort was truly on. Besides, she had no desire to get close to royalty, so keeping a lukewarm, distant relationship with the Consort was the best strategy.

"Your subordinate mostly runs errands for Your Highness and occasionally helps handle any dangers we encounter; apart from that, there doesn't seem to be anything else," Chang Feng said, trying to stall for time.
The Emperor ignored him, nor did he offer any help to lift him up. He merely walked slowly up to the seat the Empress had just occupied and paused.
Shen Zili and Suxin were planning to go out of the manor to buy materials when they were blocked at the main gate of the Prince's Mansion by Duanmu Yingxiao and Mu Yanze, who insisted on tagging along no matter what.
The medical staff understood the situation at a glance. They first administered a sedative to Lin Qiqi, then told Ji Bai to return to the hospital for a day or two of treatment and she would be fine.
"Don't say Elder Chao doesn't permit it; even this old man doesn't think you pass," Tian Huang said, leaning back in his chair. "A rogue cultivator should be knowledgeable, and interactions with others require proper tact. Just now, you showed disrespect to your seniors and lacked virtue in your speech. Joining our Nine Phoenix Sect would only constantly invite trouble. Let me offer you a kind reminder: cultivating immortality also requires cultivating the heart."
Qi Jin was startled. As he felt this surge of spiritual energy—that same irritable spiritual energy—it had appeared once more, and every time it emerged, it brought along various negative emotions such as hatred and irritability.
Though they had suffered a crushing defeat this time, the military department was by no means going to let go of such a strategic stronghold as Yuhang Town. When the next offensive came, he believed the commando unit would no longer be able to block their tanks and artillery.
"I've heard that line of yours at least a few dozen times. You know my survival skills inside and out, don't you?" Kang De smiled.
Li Tiantian thought about it and agreed. The pharmaceutical factory was being managed by others now, and her main role was collecting dividends without needing to constantly go check on it.
The Crown Prince had actually ordered them to go capture the suspects directly; that was practically handing them a monumental contribution on a silver platter.
"Yes, it's over," Ku Liqiang said, suddenly lifting his leg and kicking toward Ji Ming. Seeing this, Ji Ming, who had anticipated the move, also raised his leg. Their shins collided with a crisp "crack." As a result, Ji Ming staggered back several steps, while Ku Liqiang was sent flying straight backward.