Pretty good.
At least he didn’t have to follow Fu Zheng today.
Realizing this, he actually sighed in relief as the two walked away.
Because compared to tagging along for bullying, he preferred running errands.
That way, he earned his pay without going against his conscience—a win-win.
Right, Tao Zhi got paid to work for Fu Zheng.
Real money, regular wages.
In other words, Fu Zheng was his boss.
It all started after the National Day holiday ended.
The first day back, Fu Zheng moved into the dorm.
Right away, he bossed Tao Zhi around. Dropped his luggage and unceremoniously told him to unpack.
Tao Zhi was good-natured.
Though stunned at first, Fu Zheng’s tone was so matter-of-fact that he dazedly complied.
He hung the clothes from the suitcase in the closet, put the shoes on the bottom shelf, made the bed, fitted the sheets and duvet—did it all.
Fu Zheng enjoyed it without lifting a finger.
Not even a thanks.
He just said, “Not bad.”
Tao Zhi: “……”
This new roommate was weird.
But Tao Zhi didn’t dwell on it.
He had time anyway—call it maintaining good roommate relations.
Little did he know, it was just the beginning.
That evening, Fu Zheng came back, saw Tao Zhi heading out, and said to grab his delivery on the way since he was going anyway.
At night, seeing him washing clothes, he tossed his own in and told him to wash them clean.
Next morning, couldn’t get up, so made Tao Zhi go to class for him.
Not even 24 hours in, and already this overbearing—what next?
Tao Zhi belatedly realized he was being bullied.
But that wasn’t the point.
The point was, this seriously cut into his part-time job time!
No class that morning—Tao Zhi had planned to dress as a mall mascot handing out flyers. 30 bucks an hour.
Three hours in the morning: 90 bucks, several days’ living expenses. He couldn’t skip for subbing a class.
No way. After nearly 24 hours of exploitation, Tao Zhi finally said no to Fu Zheng.
No matter how good-tempered, he couldn’t take this.
Gathering courage, he refused: I’m not going.
I have to go part-time.
It’s your class—you go yourself.
Fu Zheng: “?”
The young master, who’d just claimed he was too sleepy to open his eyes, bolted upright.
Freshly awake, impatient scowl, brows furrowed, thin monolids drooping—looked fierce. His tone sharp: “What did you just say?”
Tao Zhi fearfully stepped back two paces.
……He was actually quite intimidated by this roommate.
Tall, menacing looks, always impatient, never a good face to anyone.
Felt just like the deadbeat thugs back home in school—bullying classmates, extorting lunch money from good kids.
A big reason he’d endured 24 hours was fear.
But nothing could stop him from part-timing.
He really needed that 90 bucks.
Besides, who did that?
Even if rich and spoiled at home, you couldn’t boss people around at school forever.
Tao Zhi grumbled inwardly but didn’t show resistance outwardly.
He patiently reasoned with Fu Zheng, head tilted up, neck slender and pale, slightly overgrown black hair draping the side—looked very soft: “It’s your class. You have to go yourself.”
“No.” Fu Zheng ruffled his hair, patience maxed: “Say it again.”
Huh?
Say what again?
Tao Zhi thought: “I have to go part-time?”
“Phone, hand it over.” Fu Zheng tugged his lip.
Huh?
“Don’t zone out, phone. Now.” Fu Zheng snapped at him.
“Oh… okay.” He hastily agreed twice and pulled out his phone from his pocket.
Meanwhile, Fu Zheng propped his head and grabbed his own phone from beside the pillow.
Tao Zhi didn’t know what he was up to, held his phone up; roommate scanned down.
One iPhone 16 Pro Max.
One ancient feature phone.
Fu Zheng: “?”
Tao Zhi still tilted his head, puzzled.
“Fuck.” He was really losing it now, volume slipping: “What the hell is that?!”
“My phone.” Tao Zhi didn’t get why he was mad. But that face and tone made his heart skip.
“That thing’s a phone?!” Fu Zheng’s voice rose.
Tao Zhi pursed his lips awkwardly.
“I’m done with you. What prehistoric cave did you crawl out of? No smartphone?”
“If you weren’t dressed so poor, I’d think you were messing with me.”
Fu Zheng grumbled as he got up.
Hearing that, Tao Zhi’s cheeks burned hot; he retreated two more steps.
Up now—probably meant going to class? Time for him to leave.
Tao Zhi felt a bit wronged. He shuffled toward the door almost, when Fu Zheng turned and called him back.
“Where you running? Come here.”
Tone fierce, like extortion next—Tao Zhi steeled himself and went over.
He really disliked Fu Zheng.
Loud, mean, bad temper, bossy… Tao Zhi decided: no more obeying. He’d resist. He owed Fu Zheng nothing—
Several hundred-yuan bills were suddenly shoved into his hand.
Tao Zhi froze.
“That’s all the cash I got. Take it for now.” Fu Zheng’s tone stayed irritable: “Finish class, then buy a smartphone. Unbelievable.”
Paused, added: “I’ll reimburse.”
Tao Zhi: “Huh?”
Was this… for him?
Tao Zhi still didn’t get it.
“Huh what. Still standing there like an idiot? My class is at eight.”
“Go sub.”
Tao Zhi: “……”
Fine.
Tao Zhi had to admit, that thousand bucks tempted him.
A thousand—how many part-time hours for that? Dazed, he pocketed it, got the classroom, and went sub confusedly.
After class, didn’t buy the phone—too pricey.
And on second thought, the money felt too hot; he shouldn’t take it… Half an hour of internal tug-of-war, tearfully decided to return it.
Fu Zheng wouldn’t take it.
Told him not to bother him.
Next day, gave him the latest model phone.
Dropped it on his desk: “Quit all that crap part-time. From now on, just serve me, got it? Laundry, meals, shoe cleaning, deliveries—whatever I say, you do.”
“I’ll pay you.”
Thus, Tao Zhi became roommate Fu Zheng’s money-bought lackey.
He dutifully tended Fu Zheng like a giant baby—serving food, passing chopsticks, pouring water, uncapping.
Fu Zheng did pay handsomely.
Over two weeks, transferred seven or eight thousand total.
Huge sum for him.
Tao Zhi once thought it was a great gig.
……Then came the college kid bullying high schooler fiasco.
Sigh, Fu Zheng even went to the guy’s high school to corner him—unbelievable and embarrassing.
Hoped it never happened again. Fu Zheng could stick to errands for him; bullying wasn’t his thing and just got him scolded—totally unfair.
Harboring hopes for a better future, Tao Zhi headed back to the dorm.
At the building, Fu Zheng’s backpack suddenly rang with an urgent phone tone.
Incoming call.
Tao Zhi paused.
Did Fu Zheng leave his phone in the bag?
He hadn’t planned to check—rifling others’ stuff was rude—but the ringing persisted relentlessly.
Even back at the dorm, it hadn’t stopped.
Probably something important?
Tao Zhi suddenly thought: maybe Fu Zheng realized and called to have it sent over. With that, he quickly pulled out the phone.
But the ringing stopped then, followed by a barrage of messages.
Assistant Ji: [Second Young Master, Young Master Qi snitched to President Fu. He’s furious.]
Assistant Ji: [I suggest you lay low outside for a bit.]
Assistant Ji: [Oh, Young Master Qi mentioned you brought a lackey to humiliate him when he complained. President Fu’s even madder—he wants to see who else dares follow you into trouble.]
……
Huh?
Lackey? Humiliate?
Was that… him?
Tao Zhi stared at the phone, utterly bewildered.
