SZAR Chapter 54

“Boss…” After a long silence, Secretary Lin finally spoke. “Maybe the situation isn’t as bad as we think.”

He tried to comfort him. “The male zerg could have directly brought charges against you, or fully authorized the Male Zerg Protection Association to send you to prison. But he chose to submit a date request… Perhaps, perhaps he likes you a little?”

Yi Xi did have qualities that attracted affection. He was handsome, refined, and gentle in bearing. His family was powerful and wealthy. In his younger years, he had been the object of affection for quite a few male zergs. Perhaps this one just happened to like his type?

If the male zerg truly liked him, Yi Xi could marry him as a female attendant, thus avoiding trial by the Male Zerg Protection Association. At the same time, he might retain a certain degree of freedom and possibly continue to hold control over Stellar.

Yi Xi adjusted his glasses and gave a bitter smile. “There is no such possibility.”

He slid a document across the table. “This is that male zerg’s information. I had someone look into him.”

Chu Xiu’s former self was a “proper” male zerg.  By “proper,” it meant he couldn’t handle academics in literature, science, engineering, or business, but when it came to eating, drinking, gambling, and pleasure, he was proficient in all of it. Of course, he had not yet undergone his second awakening, and certain biological limitations restricted his ability to fully indulge in certain activities.

Even so, his preferences were already becoming clear. When he went to bars for fun, even when ordering companions for drinks, he preferred those who were younger, between first and second awakening, still carrying a trace of youthful innocence. Someone like Yi Xi was not to his taste; he declined such a type outright.

Secretary Lin said, “But you possess enormous wealth…”

He swallowed the rest of the sentence.

Yi Xi had long ago decided never to marry. Among unmarried female zergs, he was considered relatively older and held little advantage. Originally, relying on his immense fortune, if the male zerg had been poor, there might have been room for negotiation. But Yi Xi had made a mistake first. In the near future, his wealth would legally transfer to the male zerg. The male zerg could simply sit back and reap the benefits, there was no need to take extra steps.

Secretary Lin felt a chill run through him. “Then he wants to…”

Yi Xi calmly finished the thought. “He wants to humiliate me.”

After being hospitalized from the accident, the male zerg sent a date invitation to someone who was completely not his usual type. Other than seeking face-to-face revenge, what other explanation could there be?

After a long silence, Secretary Lin’s fingers trembled. “Are you going to the appointment?”

“I have no choice but to go.” Yi Xi sat back down. He had already steadied his emotions. He uncapped his fountain pen again and began writing swiftly across the documents, racing against time. “Help me book a back VIP room of Whistle Bar.”

The information showed that the male zerg liked gathering at this bar. He had once tried to bring friends into the back area, but was refused because he hadn’t paid enough membership fees. Yi Xi chose this place for two reasons. First, he hoped that being in a bar he liked might calm the male zerg’s mood a little. Second, the back VIP room was private enough, if something really happened, no one would know.

Secretary Lin nodded. “Yes.”

His lips moved slightly, but he could not bring himself to offer false comfort. Seeing his boss already fully immersed in work again, he could only open his light brain and book the room as instructed.

On the other side, Chu Xiu opened a job-hunting app on the Star Network.

He had no idea how badly the original owner had been injured, but the medical fees were outrageously high. Just looking at that long string of zeros made his head ache.

And from the moment he woke up until now, not a single person had called him. No one had come to visit him either. Chu Xiu made a preliminary judgment that the original owner, like himself, was a pitiful soul with no one to rely on; no family, no support. The only person he could depend on was himself.

He was already used to that. He only prayed that in this life he didn’t have a gambling addict father.

Another problem was the writing system. This was a completely unfamiliar world. The script was similar to that of the human race, but slightly different. Chu Xiu could read it haltingly, but writing would take time. In other words, he was now “half-illiterate,” and many jobs were out of reach.

After scrolling for quite a while, he finally found one that suited him.

[ Whistle Bar: Senior Bartender. ]

He cautiously sent a private message to the person in charge. “Hello, I saw that you’re hiring for a bartender position?”

“Yes, Sir,” the other side replied quickly. “We’re short of a senior bartender. If you’re interested, you may come here for an interview.”

Chu Xiu asked, “Do I need to prepare a résumé?”

If so, that would be troublesome. He didn’t know the original owner’s exact situation, where personal documents like degree certificates were kept. This light brain seemed to have been replaced not long ago. The files inside were incomplete, and the contact list was almost empty. There were barely any names. Chu Xiu had only learned his name from the medical record: also Chu Xiu, the same as in his previous life.

The male zerg changed his light brain every three months and only used the newest model. This one had indeed just been replaced.

Fortunately, the hospital ward had already been paid for three months in advance, so he didn’t need to worry about sleeping on the streets within that time.

The other side replied, “No need, Sir We don’t trust those flashy but useless things. If you want to prove your skill, please mix a drink for me in person.”

That was exactly what Chu Xiu wanted.

He happily arranged an interview for tonight with the manager. Standing in front of the mirror, Chu Xiu decided to deal with his hair first.

With that colorful sea-urchin hairstyle on his head, no manager would ever let him pass an interview.

He only had 1,380 in loose money. He had to plan his spending carefully.

There were only hospital gowns in the wardrobe at the hospital. He put one on to go out, then went to the mall downstairs and found a suit set for 200.

This kind of suit was completely different from the Italian handmade suits Cointreau used to wear in his previous life. The cut was stiff and rigid, not fitted to the body at all.

Formal wear had also been one of the reasons Cointreau spent money like water in his past life. He had to accompany big bosses to banquets. That meant he couldn’t wear cheap, factory-line suits. He needed private tailoring, cuffs and vest flawless, even the gemstones on the cufflinks had to match the shirt. Otherwise, it would look disrespectful.

It was rather ironic. A real rich second generation could smoke, perm their hair, and dress in wild, flashy styles, but an escort had to be neatly dressed and gentle in manner. The contrast was almost too perfect.

Chu Xiu could tell at a glance that the suit wasn’t high-end, but with limited time and money, he had no other choice. With the remaining one thousand in his pocket, he went to a hair salon.

Although there were quite a few male zergs with flashy, exaggerated hairstyles, someone as extreme as Chu Xiu was rare. When the hairstylist saw this bright “sea urchin” head walk into the inner room, he rubbed his hands together. It took him quite a while before he stepped forward and asked, “What kind of hairstyle would Sir like?”

Heaven have mercy, this gentleman’s hair was already extreme beyond extreme. If he still thought it wasn’t bold enough and wanted something even wilder, the hairstylist would truly have no tricks left.

Chu Xiu glanced at him. “Dye it chestnut brown.”

“Alright, Sir.” The hairstylist beamed with joy. It seemed this gentleman had turned back from the ocean of wild flashy styles and decided to embrace a normal life.

Chu Xiu looked through the catalog carefully and finally chose a Japanese-style high school boy haircut that showed his forehead.

In his previous life, Cointreau had black hair. When he brushed up his loose bangs, it fully showed his fine brows and eyes, long lashes, a high nose bridge. Whether he frowned or smiled, he looked deeply affectionate. Many wealthy men fell for that look.

But in this life, Chu Xiu’s ‘settings’ were different. He was still young and hadn’t fully grown into his features. He still carried the softness of a student. If he forced himself to copy Cointreau’s old style, he would only look like a child wearing an adult’s clothes, making a fool of himself in front of others.

So he decided to change his image. A Japanese-style haircut, dyed a gentle and pure chestnut brown. Surely a shy, green student bartender would also have plenty of admirers.

Hairstyle was different from clothes. The lighting in a bar was dim; the quality of clothes was less obvious. But a bartender’s face was absolutely the biggest selling point. Chu Xiu would not save money in this area.

He spent 900 in one go. Now there was only 200 left in his account.

If he failed this interview, he would be living on cold water and plain steamed buns.

Night fell. The streets of the capital planet were filled with heavy traffic. All kinds of aircraft flew back and forth, trailing brilliant exhaust flames. Following the navigation on his light brain, Chu Xiu found Whistle Bar.

At one glance, he knew the bar was high-end. The people coming and going were either rich or powerful. A faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air, not the bottled liquor from factory lines, but something like wine poured from oak barrels in an old Bordeaux manor cellar. The guests were well dressed, moving gracefully among shadows and fragrance. Through the glass door, Chu Xiu caught sight of his own reflection.

A cheap suit. A well-behaved hairstyle. Fresh and young like a student.

Places drenched in luxury and pleasure had once been Cointreau’s home ground. Chu Xiu had long been used to it. But now, without an expensive watch and a tailored suit to cover him, he felt a rare trace of unease.

He slipped in through the side door of Whistle and greeted the person beside the bar cabinet. He bowed properly, perfectly playing the role of an obedient student.

“Hello, are you Kevin? I’m here to apply for the senior bartender position.”

Kevin was clearly stunned for a moment. On the Star Network, Chu Xiu’s wording had been sharp and seasoned, obviously someone from the industry. But his appearance was far too youthful. It was hard not to doubt the word “senior.”

Kevin frowned. “You haven’t gone through your second awakening yet, have you?”

A zerg who had completed a second awakening shouldn’t have such a young-looking face.

Chu Xiu paused.

From the forums on the Star Network, he could guess that this world was different from the human race. But troubled by the writing system, he stumbled through academic articles, and even reading casual posts from netizens came with misunderstandings. He didn’t really understand what “second awakening” meant.

Chu Xiu answered vaguely, “That’s right.”

Kevin frowned. “Under normal circumstances, we don’t hire zergs who haven’t had their second awakening.”

The first awakening marked adulthood. The second awakening was roughly equivalent to the human university stage, when one could normally start working. But a bar was, after all, a more special environment, so raising the age requirement was understandable.

Chu Xiu gave a bitter smile. “But I really need this money. If you could make an exception…”

He lowered his head. The young man’s handsome brows and eyes now looked somewhat lost and dejected.

Chu Xiu was very good at making use of the advantages he already had.

“Alright…” Kevin unconsciously stirred the mixing rod. The ceramic and the ice in the liquor clinked together, producing a clear tinkling sound. “You’re short on tuition, aren’t you?”

The Empire didn’t have nine years of compulsory education. Every step up in schooling required paying a large amount of tuition. If ordinary families couldn’t gather enough money, it was normal to find part-time work.

Chu Xiu froze for a second, then nodded. “Yes.”

No reason handed to him on a plate should be wasted.

“Fine,” Kevin said. “I can take you in as a special exception. A child’s future is always important. But the condition is that you must show enough bartending skill. I’m not hiring you to eat for free.

“Of course,” Chu Xiu replied. This was the field he was best at. There was no reason for him to feel stage fright.

Kevin said, “Pick a drink you like and mix it in front of me.”

Although reading the text was difficult, Chu Xiu had watched bartending videos from this world before coming. The staple foods of the two species were similar, various grains and the fermentation methods weren’t much different either. By judging the color and strength of the spirits, he could match the types from his two lives almost perfectly.

By the time Chu Xiu reached the bar cabinet and smelled the liquors up close, he could identify every single one.

He took a deep breath and pulled out a bottle of orange-yellow liquor.

Chu Xiu was going to make a Margarita, the first drink he had learned in his previous life and also the one he had made the most.

Kevin’s expression gradually grew serious.

He hadn’t expected much from Chu Xiu, a kid working a holiday job to earn tuition fees couldn’t possibly do anything impressive. As long as he didn’t drop a bottle on the floor, Kevin could have let him do simple chores. Yet Chu Xiu’s fingers danced up and down, the liquid in his hands like obedient pets, falling neatly into the glass, merging smoothly, and leaving a sunset-like golden-orange gradient. His timing was perfect, neither too much nor too little. His movements were elegant, his ten fingers agile and expressive; he seemed to know exactly how to show off beautiful hands. Every pause could serve as a tutorial for a hand model ad.

When the last lemon slice was placed on the rim, Kevin’s expression held a trace of disbelief.

This was a pro, a pro even more skilled than himself.

Chu Xiu pushed the drink toward him with a smooth, natural gesture, eyes smiling slightly, and for a fleeting moment, he was the same mesmerizing Cointreau.

Even the well-experienced Kevin was momentarily shaken. He thought to himself, What the hell… this student has the weird calm of someone who’s seen it all. He pinched himself awkwardly and muttered, “Get a grip, your eyes are playing tricks on you.”

“However…” Kevin inspected Chu Xiu critically. “The body is okay, height a bit short, but the face is way too young.”

Chu Xiu didn’t respond.

Cointreau had the standard 188 cm long legs that made countless people swoon beneath his suit trousers. But this barely-developed kid was just over 170 cm, which looked quite short.

Kevin turned toward the staff room and returned shortly with a mask, a pure black mesh covered in regular patterns of teal-and-gold peacock feathers. It could cover half the face. Chu Xiu’s youthful appearance mainly came from the proportions of his facial features and the slight baby fat on his cheeks; by covering the upper part, the exposed jawline revealed sharp, defined contours.

He tossed the mask to Chu Xiu, clicking his tongue: “Put this on while bartending. Your face is too young, it makes me feel guilty just looking at you. Also, it hides your identity, in case you run into any classmates. Think of it as protecting a minor.”

Chu Xiu nodded in agreement.

He put on the mask and let Kevin inspect him. Kevin nodded in satisfaction, this kid looked the part. Then he added, “By the way, we usually don’t use our real names. You’ll need a stage name. Think about it carefully.”

Chu Xiu shook his head. “No need. I’m Cointreau.”

He had used that stage name for so many years, from awkward and inexperienced, unsure how to handle teasing, to commanding the room, controlling the pace, handling groping with ease. Chu Xiu didn’t want to change it.

“Alright, Cointreau.” Kevin didn’t press him on why he chose it. He patted Chu Xiu on the shoulder and pointed ahead. “See that person? Watch on his wrist, over a million on that watch. Rich, powerful. Go meet him. Think of it as part of your job assessment.”

Chu Xiu was used to this kind of thing. He lifted the prepared cocktail from the table with an elegant posture, ready to approach, but froze as soon as he saw the man’s face.

The man wore a silver-gray suit, shirt and tie carefully coordinated, cuffs perfectly matching. He had a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and leaned alone by the counter. His expression was smiling, composed and graceful, projecting an air of warmth and authority. The bar’s flickering light seemed to turn into a corporate setting, as if he were standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows of a skyscraper, watching the traffic below, waiting for a secretary to come in with a report.

Chu Xiu had only just seen his photo today.

Top of the billionaire list, Stellar Group — Yi Xi.