Early the next morning, Saphen only felt as though he had spent the entire night lying beside a stove, wrapped in comforting warmth, to the point he didn't even want to wake up. But his biological clock whispered that it was time to get up and prepare for work.
The moment Saphen shifted just a little, Cain woke as well. Lowering his gaze, he saw Saphen stir for a brief moment before going still again, his eyes half-lidded—awake yet not quite awake—like a dozing cat.
Seeing Saphen like this was at least adorable, without the sharp claws he had when conscious.
Cain wanted to reach out and touch Saphen's soft hair, but right now, he didn't dare.
Sure enough, a moment later, Saphen blinked, this time fully waking up.
The instant he opened his eyes, he noticed the warmth right beside him, along with a foreign breath so close to him—closer than ever before.
His eyes widened slightly, then quickly returned to calm as he spoke in a cold voice, [6677!]
6677 very much wanted to play deaf, but it also didn't wish to Saphen to get angry, so it could only force out an awkward laugh: [Master, do you have any instructions?]
[I ended up glued to the male lead, and you didn't wake me up?] Saphen's voice was icy.
6677 replied with impressive righteousness: [I thought this was your next move. The script is vague… for all we know, the male lead and his white-moonlight were a pair already. I assumed you were trying to—]
[So I should just become a pair with the male lead, is that it?]
6677: "[!!!]"
[I'm sorry! Master, please don't be mad, sob sob sob, I'll give you a massage, please!]
Saphen wasn't that angry, but watching 6677 roll around crying was simply too funny—always scheming, yet acting like the picture of innocence every single time.
Just then, Cain's voice sounded from above him: "Last night, you suddenly threw off the blanket and rolled toward me…"
6677 felt the male lead shouldn't know how to lie, but somehow this felt like the script at work. Yes, that had to be it—
The male lead unknowingly develops feelings for the one who saved him, yet tries to hide them!
Excellent. Script, keep up the good work!
By now, Saphen had already sat up. He pressed a hand to Cain's chest, lips curving slightly: "You warmed the bed for me. I won't charge you a bed fee anymore. Anything else you want to ask?"
Backlit by the morning light, the rays caught Saphen's jet-black hair, making the strands seem to glow faintly, hazy and dreamlike. His smile and face were so beautifully surreal that Cain wondered if he was still dreaming.
He felt Saphen's hand resting on his chest and swallowed, suddenly aware of how parched his throat felt—perhaps just because he had just woken up.
Lowering his gaze, he answered softly, "No problem."
Saphen seemed capable of converting everything into money, giving the impression that… as long as Cain had enough money, he could even buy Saphen himself.
At that moment, Saphen had already left the bed and was getting ready for work.
"There's food in the fridge. You can make breakfast…"
Saphen spoke while changing his clothes. But just then, his sleeve was suddenly tugged—Cain again. "Are you coming back at noon?"
Saphen pulled his sleeve free and chuckled. "Are you a baby who hasn't been weaned yet?"
Cain pressed his lips together, saying nothing. At that moment, Saphen took out his phone and began teaching Cain how to order food.
"Observe," Saphen said softly, pulling Cain closer.
The two of them were practically leaning their heads together, the distance between them incredibly small. Cain looked at the phone screen, but in the end, his gaze couldn't help drifting to Saphen's lips as they moved while he talked.
Beautiful—perfect for kissing. The small mole beneath those lips shifted lightly, stirring an urge in Cain to reach out and touch it.
Just then, Saphen suddenly lifted his head, and the two met each other's eyes directly. A second later, Saphen burst out laughing.
Cain froze, feeling his heart begin to pound wildly again—yet he knew it wasn't embarrassment from being caught staring.
Something far stranger was quietly stirring inside him…
"Got it memorized?" Saphen smiled and asked again.
He had memorized it, but Cain instinctively shook his head. He just wanted them to stay close a little longer.
But Saphen simply grabbed his hand, placed the phone in his palm, and sneered, "If you can't do it, then go hungry at noon. I'm going to work."
With that, he turned and left the room, lifting one hand to wave twice as if casually saying goodbye.
Cain stared blankly at Saphen's carefree back, then lowered his eyes to look at the phone resting in his palm.
Today, the store was holding a customer-attraction event, and the only two male employees—Saphen and Damian—were immediately assigned to the starring roles.
A female employee inside the store complained theatrically, "Why didn't they choose me?! Potential customers like hot girls, too, you know?"
Unfortunately, the manager happened to walk by at that exact moment. He raised his voice, "Stop slacking off. Get to work."
The female employee jolted, stuck out her tongue quietly, then scurried away.
By now, everything outside had already been set up.
Saphen looked at the giant water bag hanging above him, his expression turning numb. Oh well, all for double the usual hourly wage. He hadn't forgotten that there was another mouth waiting to be fed at home.
Damian's eye twitched as well. He looked over at Saphen and grinned foolishly, "Brother Saphen, we're standing together today."
Saphen: "…" Truly an idiot.
The customer-attraction event was simple—each customer who made a purchase would receive two darts. If they could throw a dart through the water bag and drench the staff member standing beneath it, they would get a one-week free pass.
The manager spoke with absolute confidence: "Don't worry, the water definitely won't reach you two. And stand a little closer together—that way you won't get wet."
"Hurry up and let me take a picture!"
Saphen couldn't help saying, "You'd better not post it anywhere without permission."
"Haha, what's there to be shy about? These kinds of photos are popular lately. Why don't you two just become the shop's official CP?"
He glanced at Damian and Saphen—both tall, both good-looking—and Damian especially had a charming appeal that could absolutely draw in special customers.
Damian smiled brightly, blinking expectantly at Saphen.
Saphen: [This world had better make me a billionaire afterward.]
6677: [All of your sacrifices are noted. I will do my best!]
In truth, it didn't have the right to choose the worlds at all.
By then, the store's event had officially begun. It was undeniable that the activity attracted many girls, especially with Damian's radiant smile. What could be better than watching a handsome guy get soaked?
The girls kept snapping photos, and Damian scooted closer to Saphen, cheerfully saying, "Saphen, strike a pose!"
Saphen chuckled. "If I pose, I'm afraid I'll steal all your spotlight."
Damian burst out laughing. "You're really good at joking, hahaha."
Most of the darts failed to pierce the water bags. The ones that did only produced thin streams of water that curved gracefully through the air. Those arcs of water surrounding Damian and Saphen looked almost like a shimmering cage around them.
Someone passing by sighed, "So romantic!"
Saphen almost laughed out loud.
Just then, Damian spoke up, sounding a little embarrassed: "I want to go to the restroom. Brother Saphen, are you okay by yourself?"
Saphen gave him a sidelong glance. "You don't have to report every detail to me. Just go if you want to go."
Damian drooped immediately, as if two invisible ears had fallen flat, and quickly ran off.
Left alone, Saphen simply stood there in boredom. This job really wasn't bad—and it paid double—but the problem was having to stand still for so long. His legs were starting to feel sore.
At that moment, a girl's voice suddenly rang out:
"Make the handsome guy wet? What kind of handsome guy wears a mask, haha."
Saphen lowered his gaze. The speaker was a girl around fourteen years old, wearing a luxurious and adorable princess dress. Beside her were four bodyguards, and behind her stood a man of about twenty-five, dressed in a three-piece suit, his expression far from pleasant.
The manager, sharp-eyed as ever, immediately smelled the scent of money. He practically flew out of the store, rubbing his hands together as he welcomed this group—whose wealth was visible at a single glance.