Chapter 8: Facial Wash?
Su Mu naturally had no idea about Bronya's mental gymnastics. After informing her about Kiana's plan to find streamers to promote the game, he stopped worrying about it and headed back to his rented apartment to rest.
The clock-in time at miHoYo was 8:00 AM. Su Mu had originally planned to get out of bed at 7:00, grab breakfast, and ride a shared electric scooter to work, which would get him there about ten minutes early.
However, even before 7:00 arrived, he found himself unable to sleep.
There was no other reason.
At this moment, Su Mu was lying in bed, his eyes hollow and dull as he stared at the ceiling.
Next to him lay a red-haired woman sleeping soundly.
Not far from the bed, a white lab coat and a pair of jeans were scattered on the floor, along with a pair of crumpled black stockings.
The red-haired woman carried a strong scent of alcohol, and her stunningly beautiful face wore the "dead" expression of a useless adult. She was down to her undergarments, and as she lay on her side, she pressed her proud peaks against Su Mu's arm. He felt his arm completely sink into the softness.
How... how did things end up like this?
Su Mu thought back, trying to figure out where to even begin.
This woman's name was Murata Himeko.
The protagonist of *Final Lesson*, a teacher at St. Freya Academy, and an A-rank Valkyrie—those were her settings in the game. But the drunk big sister lying next to Su Mu right now was, in this world, his beautiful landlady.
The reason she was here wasn't that Su Mu couldn't pay his rent and had to sell his body. It was simply because Murata Himeko was a complete alcoholic.
When she got drunk, she often went to the wrong door. As the landlady, she naturally had the keys to Su Mu's rental unit. In her dazed state, she would pull out a ring of keys and try them one by one. Then, she would enter Su Mu's place as if no one else were there, completely ignore Su Mu on the bed, toss her clothes and socks aside, and fall fast asleep.
This kind of situation had happened more than once.
Before Su Mu awakened his memories of his past life, this had happened repeatedly. Because Himeko took good care of him on a regular basis, Su Mu had some complaints but never said much. As for having improper thoughts about his beautiful landlady... sorry, he hadn't had any.
But things were different now.
Now, Su Mu hadn't just awakened his past memories; he also had the heart of a "man of culture." With such a huge, beautiful woman right in front of him, how could he not be moved?
However, before Su Mu could take any further action, Himeko moved first.
She seemed to treat Su Mu entirely as a body pillow, suddenly grabbing his head and pressing it toward her chest without a word.
Su Mu: "???"
Then she went even further, wrapping her legs around Su Mu's body like an octopus.
The woman's strength was surprisingly high. Su Mu tried to break free, but his hair rubbed against Himeko's chin, causing her to let out strange, un-reviewable sounds.
While the "facial wash" was indeed top-tier, the problem was...
If this continued, he was going to be late!!
Despite the luxury of the beautiful landlady's "facial wash," Su Mu only wanted to make money right now! Women would only slow down his speed of making money! Without money, he would have no place in this society.
Although Su Mu could have lived as a "pretty boy" relying on his face, his pride as a man told him he had to achieve something great in this world!
Seeing the work hour approaching, Himeko showed no sign of letting go.
Su Mu could only sigh and use his ultimate move—he reached for Himeko's waist and then...
"Stop it! Hahaha—!!"
Murata Himeko's octopus-like grip finally loosened. The landlady had long been self-aware of her own foolishness, so she had told Su Mu before that if he ever absolutely had to wake her up, he should tickle the sensitive spot on her side.
Evidently, the method worked.
Having finally broken free, Su Mu scrambled up and began to get dressed.
The stimulation caused Himeko to wake up mostly. She held her head, looking blankly at the dressing Su Mu. Then, as if realizing something, she leaned on the bed, propping her chin in her hands in a seductive pose.
"Are you leaving? Can't you stay with Big Sister a bit longer?"
Su Mu replied expressionlessly, "There's hangover medicine in the cabinet. Take it. I'm going to be late for work."
Himeko covered her face: "Waaah, I'm so heartbroken... I didn't think you were such a cold and heartless man, Su Mu. You weren't like this last night!"
Su Mu rolled his eyes. This woman was a natural-born drama queen; she was likely playing the role of a woman abandoned after a one-night stand.
"Don't forget to close the door when you leave. Also, take all your clothes with you. Don't leave your stockings behind again."
He didn't bother entertaining her nonsense. After washing up, he headed straight out. As for why he added that last part, it was simply due to Himeko's habit of forgetting things. Last time, a college classmate had come over and seen the stockings Himeko left behind, immediately concluding that Su Mu had some "strange hobbies."
"Alright, alright—safe travels—"
Himeko let out a massive yawn. She didn't leave at all; she tilted her head back onto the pillow that smelled like Su Mu and fell back asleep.
——————
Late on the second day of work.
Looking at the entrance to miHoYo, Su Mu felt quite helpless. If Himeko hadn't delayed him, he should have had time to spare. As the Game Director, being late on his second day was not a good look.
Thinking of a certain serious "Big Duck," Su Mu sighed. He was well aware that Bronya had a bit of an issue with him. Therefore, before stepping through the door, he felt a wave of anxiety. If Bronya saw him, she would surely scold him with a serious face: "As the Game Director, leading the way in being late is simply ruining the company's culture!!"
"Hmm?"
To his surprise, when Su Mu entered the company, he saw an empty studio. He checked the clock.
8:30 AM.
Not a single person was there?
Looking at the empty office, a question mark slowly formed in Su Mu's mind.
Good grief... was he the first one here?
Su Mu couldn't help but think of a quote from the author Yu Hua:
"On my first day working at the Cultural Center, I deliberately showed up two hours late. As it turned out, I was still the first one there. I thought to myself: I've come to the right place."
END OF CHAPTER