Time Traveler Help Hotline

The bell rang to signal the end of the last class on Friday, and the atmosphere in the classroom immediately relaxed.

The boundaries between university teachers and students are not as clear as in high school. While the teacher is still leisurely organizing materials at the podium, the students have already flocked out in groups—many of whom are "substitutes" from other classes.

Archaeology majors have limited job opportunities, and highly specialized courses are relatively popular. However, these courses, which are only taken to earn credits, have become a major target for "substitute course attendees."

Mo Ruqiu originally wanted to find someone to cover his classes, but playing games all night had given him dark circles under his eyes. However, seeing that his only roommate Ji Mo still insisted on attending classes, he inexplicably felt that he couldn't be too decadent, so he moved his nap spot from the dormitory to the classroom and slept very soundly, only waking up groggily after being nudged several times.

"Hmm... Ha, school's out?" He muttered as he stretched, exuding a nonchalant "just being alive is good enough" vibe. "What's for dinner? Hot pot? That new place near school?"

"Maybe next time. I have a part-time job tonight, introduced by Xiao Jiu." Ji Mo zipped up her backpack without stopping. "I probably won't be coming back."

Mo Ruqiu immediately cast a sympathetic yet ambiguous glance at him. He knew that Ji Mo came from an ordinary family, but fortunately, he had a childhood sweetheart from a wealthy family who often helped him out—instead of directly giving him money and hurting his self-esteem, it would be better to introduce him to some "high-paying part-time jobs".

But what kind of part-time job can earn four figures a night? And you often stay out all night, coming back exhausted, and not even wearing the same clothes you left with you?

When asked, the details never matched the exaggerated compensation.

Which game tester gets paid 1,000 yuan a night? Is the test content something like "kill 1,000 scarecrows and get a 1,000 yuan shopping card", plus a set of exquisite Legend of Mir costumes that look like cosplay?

Who makes so much money organizing files? These days everything is electronically archived. Why would anyone need to visually inspect paper documents? And they even deliver the latest electronic gadgets afterwards?

And that time I played a minor role—"as Alice"? Is it the "Alice" I'm thinking of?

Mo Ruqiu patted his shoulder, with an "I understand" expression on her face: "Even if it can't stop anything, a boy should at least make a symbolic struggle when he's out in the world."

Ji Mo ignored him and kicked him, saying, "Stop looking at all this nonsense."

……

There's never a shortage of food around the university. Ji Mo casually bought dinner on the commercial street and, while eating, habitually looked around.

Cash is almost nowhere to be seen here; transactions are completed instantly by scanning a QR code with a mobile phone. Insisting on paying with paper money might even be met with disapproval from shopkeepers. Electric scooters are parked haphazardly at street corners; once the key is removed, they don't even lock up, and no one steals them. Occasionally, a few driverless taxis, still in their promotional phase, drive by on the roadside, their passengers mostly being curious young people.

Everything seemed ordinary, free, convenient, and orderly.

A standard, advanced, modern technological society.

Ji Mo didn't linger too long on his meal. His part-time job tonight was on Pingjiang Street in the city center, which was more bustling and farther away than here. Even by taxi, it would take half an hour, not counting traffic.

Upon arriving at Pingjiang Street, he glanced down at the navigation, then looked up again—there was no need for navigation at all. The tallest building, Hongyun Building, was his destination. Just by looking at the external advertisements and its size, he knew the rent here was far beyond what ordinary companies could afford. Without sufficient profit to support it, he would simply be working for the landlord.

My phone kept buzzing. Qingmei Jiuchonglou, whose online name is [White Moonlight], was spamming the chat window: "Are you there yet? Are you there yet? Are you there yet?! 32nd floor! The whole floor is mine, don't worry about getting lost!"

On the 32nd floor, the lingering smell of paint still hung in the air. Regardless of whether the layout was reasonable, it was definitely designed to have everything: an open-plan office area, a rest area filled with game consoles and snacks, a well-equipped meeting area, and further in were shooting rooms, recording studios, and private offices... everything inside was brand new.

"Where are you now? The lounge area? That's close, just walk straight and turn right and you'll see me."

Ji Mo kept on the phone until he finally heard a familiar voice outside a door.

In the makeshift shooting room, a tall young woman sat on an expensive mixing console, seemingly oblivious to the discomfort caused by its metal frame. She crossed her legs and swayed gently.

Seeing Ji Mo push open the door, she jumped down, her heels making a crisp sound.

Standing straight makes her height even more striking. Among girls in the South, a height of 1.8 meters is truly remarkable.

Coupled with her flat chest, she looks exactly like a "plate-like" character straight out of some game.

She is Jiu Chonglou.

"How's this place?" she asked excitedly.

"good."

It's more than just "good".

Ji Mo had checked the rent for this building; normally, a single floor would be subdivided and shared by three or four companies. This building, with its entire floor leased, brand new renovations, and top-of-the-line equipment, was currently only employing him as a temporary worker.

He looked around at the expensive-looking equipment and the almost non-existent anti-theft features, nodded, and said, "Looks like a good place to start from scratch with a million dollars in evacuation."

"That's alright." Jiu Chonglou has his own system of understanding.

"So, in what capacity am I resolving this issue?"

"I don't know." Jiu Chonglou waved his hands.

"have no idea?"

Ji Mo frowned.

The world is not as ordinary as we imagine. Just like the worldviews described in many online novels, extraordinary events do exist, but they are dealt with in advance or covered up with excuses such as gas explosions.

The Sanchuan Tailor Shop behind Jiuchonglou and the official Extraordinary Countermeasures Bureau are responsible for these kinds of things.

The time before last, they said they would have him be a game tester to experience a new game, but in reality, they were trying to bring a superhuman who was attempting to overlap the game world with the real world offline.

The time before last, I was supposed to be a file clerk, but in reality, I was involved in an extraordinary incident that deprived me of my sense of existence. I spent several nights searching for survivors, and my eyes were almost blinded.

Last time, it was a special barrier that could not be entered by anyone without a specific identity. I was forced to borrow a tool to temporarily change everyone's perception of me as "Alice".

As for changing his clothes?

You fought a battle with an enemy of unknown ability, and your clothes are still intact. You are this (thumbs up).

The reward for resolving such incidents would certainly not be a mere one or two thousand. If Ji Mo dared to reveal the real amount, Mo Ruqiu's already misunderstanding would likely spiral out of control, and she might even take the initiative to bring out the steel wire flower, a symbol of wealth, to subtly inquire whether Xiao Jiu had any other wealthy best friends.

At that time, even if Ji Mo says "we can't risk our lives for money," he will be refuted by "we can't risk our lives for money."

Seeing how urgently Jiu Chonglou was urging him to arrive tonight, he thought there was a mission that absolutely had to be nipped in the bud.

"I'm planning to make a show, a show about time travel."