Chapter 26: My 23-Year-Old Beautiful Boss

Evening, Feiyang Internet Cafe.

I stumbled into the internet cafe with Old K, my eyes bloodshot and heavy. I couldn't sleep—absolutely couldn't sleep. The stench of Old K’s feet made me feel as if I were lying in a pile of rotting salted fish, only far worse.

"Ding Han, what’s wrong?"

Lu Xiaobei stood up, walked over, and naturally took my hand to steady me.

"Lu Xiaobei!" I stared at her through gritted teeth.

"What’s the matter?" A flicker of panic crossed her eyes.

"I’m begging you, could you give me an advance on my salary? I can’t keep going like this..."

"Oh?" Lu Xiaobei bit her red lip. "Alright, come with me."

I followed her upstairs. She opened a drawer in her private room, pulled out a bulging envelope, and said, "There’s four thousand in here. I was planning to buy two new computers for the cafe, but since you’re in a rush, let’s just count this as a two-month salary advance."

I hurriedly took the envelope and counted the money, feeling a small surge of gratitude.

...

I ate a cup of instant noodles in the cafe for dinner. Before my shift started, I went to a residential area to look for a place to stay. After calling a few "for rent" numbers, I quickly found a vacancy. The landlord seemed decent and came over immediately to show me the room.

It was a two-bedroom apartment on the fourth floor. The place was reasonably clean; one room faced the sun, the other didn't.

"The sun-facing room is already taken," the landlord said. "Young man, if you want to rent, you’ll have to take the shaded one. It's one month’s rent as a deposit and one month’s rent upfront—two thousand total. Just give me four thousand, and you’re set."

"Can you make it any cheaper?" I frowned. "Leave me enough for food?"

"I really can’t go any lower," the landlord insisted. "You’ve seen the prices in this neighborhood; they aren't low. The room facing the sun went for twenty-five hundred a month, and the other units nearby are all over twenty-five hundred. The price I’m giving you is already a steal." He pointed toward the kitchen. "Look, the kitchen and bathroom are fully equipped, and there’s hot water for showers. It’s clean inside, even if the building looks a bit old. If you want to think about it, this place could be gone in the blink of an eye."

"Fine." I nodded, pulled out the cash, and signed the contract with the landlord.

With that, I finally had a place of my own in *Star Abyss*, and I wouldn't have to sleep on a chair in the internet cafe anymore.

...

Around nine in the evening, I arrived at the cafe.

"Did you find a place?" Lu Xiaobei asked.

"Yeah, I did." I nodded. "Lu Xiaobei, I need to discuss something with you."

"Go ahead."

"Starting tomorrow, I want to work the day shift. Now that I have a place to stay, there’s no need for me to pull all-nighters. Talk to Zhao Yihang—from now on, I’ll take the day shift, and he can take the night."

"You want to work the day shift starting tomorrow?"

"Yes, straight through. After that, I’ll go home and sleep."

"That works." Lu Xiaobei nodded. "I’ll go tell Zhao Yihang."

...

And so, my days of working the day shift began.

The next day at eight, I started my shift and worked until four in the afternoon. I felt so exhausted I was practically floating, as if I were about to ascend to the heavens.

When four o'clock finally rolled around, I successfully handed over to Etsuko, bought a boxed meal, and headed back to my place.

The apartment was quiet, and the living room was empty. I still had no idea what the other tenant was like. I wolfed down my meal, drank some cold water, and then went to the supermarket. I spent three hundred on two quilts, pillows, and toiletries. For the first time, I felt like a human being again.

Night fell. Just as I was drifting into a deep sleep, the sound of a guitar echoed from outside, followed by singing:

"You are the one I miss day and night, the one I love so deeply. How can I express this? Will you accept me?"

Awakened, I cursed under my breath.

My roommate’s identity was confirmed: he was a guy, he played music, and he was a player. Otherwise, he couldn't possibly be singing songs from my world.

In the world of *Star Abyss*, many things were identical to reality—culture, brands, and so on. But some things differed, like music. There were no songs from our world here, nor were there any of those famous singers.

I covered my ears with another pillow and forced myself back to sleep.

But soon, the singing outside grew even louder and more piercing:

"I headed north, leaving the season where you were. You said you were tired, that you couldn't love anyone anymore..."

"Damn it!"

I finally snapped. I couldn't take it anymore. I rolled out of bed and pushed open my door.

"???"

The man sitting on the sofa jumped in fright, stopped playing, and stared at me blankly.

"Brother, can you keep it down?" I poured a glass of cold water, sat by the coffee table, and glared at him with bloodshot eyes.

"Got it..." He gave a sheepish smile. "Hey, you must be the new tenant?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "I’m Ding Han. You?"

"Milo."

He stood up to shake my hand, then sat back down. "Sorry, Ding Han. I didn't know you were sleeping, or I wouldn't have been practicing in the living room."

"I was working the night shift yesterday. It’ll be fine now that I’m on days." I glanced at him. "You’re into music?"

"Yeah." Milo smiled. "Loved it since I was a kid, but I didn't achieve much when I grew up. Currently working as a resident singer at a bar. You know, just... getting by."

"I heard the songs you were singing earlier. Not bad."

"Oh?" Milo chuckled. "Really?"

"Yeah. Play a few more; let me critique them for you?"

"Deal!"

Milo nodded and immediately sang a few more songs. One was Pu Shu’s "Those Flowers," and the others were Jay Chou’s "Starry Mood" and "Clockwise from the Opposite Direction."

"How was that?" He grinned. "With my singing, I should have a shot at making it in the Red Dragon Kingdom’s music scene, right? I’ve decided—I’m going to quit the bar job soon and head to BH City in the Red Dragon Kingdom to chase my dreams. Maybe I’ll make a name for myself. I’ve even thought of a stage name. Changing 'Mi' to 'Xia'—what do you think, Ding Han?"

I almost laughed out loud. I couldn't help but blurt out:

"Wait, is your name Xia Luo?"

"Holy crap!" Milo was horrified, slapping his thigh. "You’re a player too?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Man, that’s great!" Milo was thrilled. "Ding Han, I remember the melodies for a lot of these songs, but I can't recall all the lyrics. Could you help me check and fill them in? I want to master more songs. The music standards in *Star Abyss* are mediocre, and there are very few people who can actually sing. To be blunt, even someone like Pang Mailang could sweep the floor here. If we produce music in this world, we’ll definitely go far!"

I frowned. "Milo, we’re strangers, but since we’re roommates, it’s fate. I have to ask: are you planning to give up your status as a player and focus entirely on music in this world?"

"Yes." Milo frowned. "I never liked the killing. If I lived like other players—fighting every day—I’d never know when some sniper might blow my head off. So, half a month ago, I shut down my game system. I want to live as an ordinary person, create music, and start a different life."

"I don't agree with that approach." I pondered for a moment. "Milo, if you consider me a friend, I have to give you a piece of advice: don't be so naive. We players are already the natural enemies of this world. The only thing we should be doing is increasing our level and combat power, because those are the only things that are truly real for us."

"..."

Milo didn't speak; his hands, clutching the guitar, trembled slightly.

"Of course..." I felt a bit of sympathy. "Everyone has their own path and the right to choose how they live. If you really want to live as a musician in *Star Abyss*, as a friend, I’ll support you."

"Right!" Milo nodded emphatically. "Ding Han, just for saying that, you’ve earned the right to be my brother!"

I smiled faintly. "But I have a suggestion I hope you’ll consider carefully. It’s very important for you."

"Tell me!"

"If you want to conquer *Star Abyss* with music from our world, don't copy it note-for-note. That will only bring huge risks upon yourself."

I frowned. "People in *Star Abyss* see us players as monsters. The Star Maple Federation, Dark Tide, and the people in the wilderness will execute us on sight if they discover our identity. The Red Dragon Kingdom and Creek City have ambiguous attitudes, but we shouldn't be optimistic. So, I suggest you don't copy them directly. Take the essence of each song, but write, rewrite, and change the keys of the rest yourself. That way, even if other players suspect you’re one of them, they can't be certain. They’ll just assume the parts you copied were just fragments you heard someone else sing. It’ll be safer that way."

"I’ll keep that in mind." Milo took a deep breath. "Ding Han, you’re right. I’ll do as you say."

"Good. Let’s get to work on those songs. Back in the day, I was known as the 'God of Song' in Sunan. I rarely met my match in karaoke."

"You’re shameless, saying that without even blushing."

We spent until about eight o'clock working on the songs. Then, he left to perform at the bar, and I went downstairs to grab a bowl of wontons before heading back to sleep. When I woke up, it was seven the next morning.

...

I arrived at the internet cafe with a slightly heavy heart.

I needed to make money. Whether for my own living expenses or for purchasing weapons and ammunition, I needed a massive amount of Star Coins. And I already had a plan.

Milo planned to use the songs of Pu Shu and Jay Chou to make a splash in the music scene of *Star Abyss*. Well, I’d do the same—I planned to write novels on the Origin Literature Network in *Star Abyss* and make money from subscriptions!

I opened a document and prepared to write.

My fingers flew across the keyboard as I typed the title:

*My 23-Year-Old Beautiful Boss.*