Xie Sen watched in amazement as Maine pummeled the landlord. Though roughly the same size as Maine, the landlord was powerless, his every blow easily parried.
With a cold expression, Maine kicked the landlord off the top of the stairs. The landlord tumbled down the steps toward Xie Sen, who quickly jumped to the side to avoid being hit.
"If you hit me again, I'll call the police!" Seeing Maine descend, the landlord stumbled to his feet and, leaning against the wall, shouted threats.
Maine stepped down and, without a word, struck him in the face. He kicked him at the same time, causing the landlord to double over in pain, like a curled-up shrimp, his breathing coming in gasps.
Seeing Maine about to strike again, Xie Sen quickly grabbed his arm: "Again, and we'll get into trouble."
Maine's expression was cold as he struck, and his blows were brutal and ruthless. Xie Sen felt uneasy watching him, feeling a certain resemblance to a villainous boss.
Maine glanced at him, looking him up and down. Seeing he was fine, his expression softened slightly. He tilted his head and warned the landlord, "Next time you see him, avoid him."
The landlord gasped in pain, silent. Maine lowered his voice, "Did you hear me?"
"Yes, I heard you," the landlord shuddered. The young man looked young, but his attack was brutal.
He was only a D-rank contract beast master, a clerical worker for years, and had no experience fighting. He was powerful with females, but completely vulnerable with males.
It was graduation season, and he had come up with the idea of renting a house to lure innocent females, but he had no idea it would backfire.
With such a powerful male around this female, he didn't dare to think about it anymore.
Maine saw Xie Sen empty-handed: "Where's your luggage?"
Xie Sen replied awkwardly, "I dropped it halfway while running."
This was too embarrassing. He was being harassed and needed his brothers to rescue him. What sin had he committed to have to face such a situation?
"Which floor?" Maine didn't mean to mock or tease.
Xie Sen thought for a moment: "Probably on the fifth or sixth floor."
Maine glanced at the landlord, feeling a little uneasy about Xie Sen staying here waiting. Seeing that Xie Sen had sweat on his forehead and a red face, he said to him: "Come with me."
He took Xie Sen to the sixth floor by elevator, but didn't see the luggage bag, so he went to the fifth floor and finally found it.
Xie Sen followed Maine out of the apartment building, his luggage in hand. "Thank you," he said sincerely, a little puzzled. "How did you know I was coughing here...in trouble?"
Maine pointed to his left hand. "You called my number."
"Huh?" Xie Sen was startled. He raised his hand, only to see the line was still connected. He clicked to hang up, then thought for a moment and said sheepishly, "I guess I accidentally called the police when I said I'd call."
He glanced at the clock and immediately added, "My appointment to view the apartment is up. I have to go. Thank you so much for just now. I'll treat you to dinner tomorrow."
He smiled and waved, and was about to leave when Maine grabbed his shoulder and said, "Don't go."
Xie Sen turned around, his eyes sparkling as he looked at him. Maine said, "Stay at my place for now. It's too late now."
Xie Sen's smile fell. Did that mean he still had to find an apartment tomorrow? He thought again. He had to go back to work tomorrow. He would work a late shift and would get off very late, so he wouldn't have time to look for an apartment. Wouldn't this mean he could just stay here?
"Thank you so much," Xie Sen raised his hand to his ear. "I promise I'll be quiet and won't disturb you."
Maine nodded, and the two returned to Maine's quarters. Maine pointed to Xie Sen's previous room and said, "Put your things in there first, then come out for dinner."
Xie Sen was deeply touched. He put his arm around Maine's shoulders and patted him. "Brother, you're so kind."
He quickly withdrew his hand and went back to the room, twisting his bag.
Maine could feel the warmth of his palm lingering on his right shoulder. He had always disliked close contact, but the feeling just now was not unpleasant.
Xie Sen's first night there was uneventful. Maine watched him finish his meal and then return to his room, where he remained.
After Xie Sen showered, he trained Chili Tree in his room. He and Chili Tree communicated silently, so the atmosphere was quiet.
The next day, Xie Sen got up early and prepared breakfast: two servings of fried meat.
As Maine washed up and headed out, he was greeted by Xie Sen's bright smile. "It's time for breakfast. You have an exam today, right?"
Maine paused for a moment, then nodded. "Last day." He walked to the dining table and sat down.
As he sat down, a line of white text appeared before Xie Sen's eyes: Gratitude Energy 1, Total Value 1.
Xie Sen's smile deepened, but he was also a little puzzled. Maine hadn't even started eating yet. It certainly wasn't because the food was delicious that he was giving him energy. So why? Was
it just because someone made him breakfast?
This is too easy! Xie Sen thought to himself, as expected of someone with an energy limit of 10. Getting a little energy from him was incredibly easy.
After breakfast, Maine cleared the plates. He paused as he held out his hand, as if thinking of something.
He looked at Xie Sen and said, "This breakfast is delicious, even better than what many restaurants make." Xie Sen was stunned at first by his serious expression, but then, realizing why, he couldn't help but laugh. "Thank you for the compliment, but you don't need to compliment me like that all the time."
Maine raised an eyebrow. "It's worth it to make you so happy with just one sentence."
Xie Sen's heartbeat suddenly quickened, and he sighed, "You're so kind."
Maine smiled. He was already handsome, and his smile was even more captivating. He continued clearing the plates. "You're the only one who thinks so."
Xie Sen watched him walk into the kitchen and couldn't help but complain. It was others who were so short-sighted. He was so good-looking!
After breakfast, the two went their separate ways. Maine went to school for an exam, and Xie Sen went to work at the nursing home.
After punching in, Xie Sen went straight to Yang Shun to apply for the night shift. Knowing he'd finished his exams, Yang Shun nodded in agreement. "Try it this week. Although you're young, you might not be able to handle long hours every day. We'll see next week." "
Thank you, Manager Yang." Xie Sen was satisfied with his work.
His duties remained varied, going wherever needed. He quickly became familiar with the structure of the maintenance center, which was divided into two major departments: female and male contracted beasts.
The personnel distribution in both departments was the same, but the female contracted beast department was mostly staffed by females, who cared carefully for the adorable contracted beasts, while the male contracted beast department was mostly staffed by males, as only males could handle the more powerful contracted beasts.
Xie Sen's work area was limited to the female contracted beasts on the left. The contracted beasts he'd seen that day were all very adorable. Their owners were mostly gentle and sensitive, and he easily gained energy from them.
Xie Sen was extremely satisfied with his job, collecting five energy points that morning, for a total of six.
He ate his lunch and turned on the system. The number below the blank image to the right of the chili tree read 6/100, meaning it would take another 94 energy points to activate the next plant.
That's assuming no energy was used.
Xie Sen looked at the meat in the lunch box and swallowed it in big gulps, suppressing his nausea. Eating meat every day for several days, with no seasoning other than salt, was really making him uncomfortable.
He simply couldn't resist exchanging his chili peppers for food! He could only manage to economize, but increasing income was paramount!
He threw away his lunch box and quickly took an hour's nap during his lunch break.
That afternoon, his head was filled with the aroma of chili peppers and marinated spicy beef strips. The more he thought about them, the more he craved them. To truly enjoy them, he worked even harder.
He had just emerged from the clinic when he was called to another.
There were three people in the room: Xiao Ke, a caregiver, and Mr. Lin, the owner of a short-eared rabbit. Next to Mr. Lin stood a tall, muscular man, his arm around his waist.
Mr. Lin smiled upon seeing Xie Sen. "Master Xie, Xiao'er's ear is healing well after the injection yesterday. Another one today should clear it up."
Xie Sen smiled, "Yes, it will heal quickly."
As Xie Sen spoke, a message suddenly appeared before his eyes: "Gratitude Energy 1, Total Value 9."
He was startled, glancing at the three people in the clinic. Xiao Ke and Mr. Lin's gratitude was full, while the tall man's was only at 7/8.
He looked over and caught the man's eye. The man looked serious, but his voice was gentle: "I heard from Ah Hao that you helped me yesterday. Thank you."
Lin Hao smiled and poked the man's serious face: "Xiao'er's been in a bad mood these past few days, and I worried you."
"I'm glad you're okay," the man said with a doting look.
Xie Sen stood by, stunned. Lin Hao was grateful for the energy he had received from the man for helping him. Doesn't this mean that the source of energy doesn't necessarily have to be the person he helped, but could also be the relatives and friends of those people?
That way, the energy would be gained much faster!
Xie Sen was overjoyed and helped Xiao Ke give Xiao'er an injection. Xiao'er was very cooperative, allowing Xie Sen to stroke his fur. After the injection, Lin Hao held Xiao'er: "Thank you. I'll take him for a sterilization bath in a few days after he recovers."
Xie Sen received another energy boost and smiled as he escorted him out of the clinic.
When work ended at 5:30, Xie Sen, thinking about clocking in for his evening shift at 6:30, quickly bought a box lunch and ate it before going to sleep in the lounge.
He dozed off for a moment, then remembered he hadn't told Maine he was working overtime. He got up, sent Maine a message, and then went back to sleep.
He'd only been awakened half an hour later by a traffic accident involving a contract beast, and his assistance was needed. It wasn't
until Xie Sen arrived at the clinic that he learned the details: two B-rank bird-type contract beasts had met mid-air, and neither owner was willing to give way, leading to a brawl.
Both were injured, and as they crashed to the ground, they struck two teddy dogs taking a post-dinner stroll. The dogs were quick to escape, only being crushed by the beast's wings and not seriously injured. However, they were frightened and wouldn't let anyone approach, barking non-stop.
Xie Sen was speechless. Could that B-rank bird-type contract beast be a roc? The sky was so vast, and they had to share it.
The clinic was abuzz with activity. The owners of the two teddy beasts, their eyes red, tugged at the sleeves of the caregiver, Xiao Tu, asking, "What should we do? Will something happen to them?"
Meanwhile, in the corner of the bed, two teddy beasts huddled against each other, barking in panic.