Chapter Two

Not all systems are gas balls like Boss Lu's system. When a system watches over a story, it's doing its job. And for doing their job, they get money. Usually, this currency would be used for upgrading their senses or maybe buying things for their home. But on the upper ladder of systems, they have the chance of buying a body. System 278 is an example of this.

"You have a new job. Shouldn't you look happier?"

System 278 spoke to the man in front of him. Whose back was straight and gaze was lowered. He looked up to the person behind the desk and answered lowly, "Yes, Sir."

System 278 didn't try to get a different response out of the man and just sighed. "System 34984 has reported a problem with its protagonist. Apparently, its program has developed an error that's only being reported now. It's gone off rouge and developed a mind of its own. System 34984 has lost control and the protagonist has free reign." System 278 rubbed the barcode on his temple. The barcode was left there from when he bought it.

"A protagonist malfunctioned?" Mumbled another system standing beside System 278. It also had a body of its own. With the same barcode on its temple.

Normally, malfunctions would be on side characters that the system doesn't have any power over. Such as simple background characters, cannon fodder, and typical throwaways. They aren't as influenced by the story surrounding the main characters, therefore their paths were not secure and could be easily influenced by outsiders. Never had they seen one on a protagonist. Protagonists were made by their hands, errors weren't ever a problem. Yet not only had one malfunctioned, but it also went rogue...

"It turns out that the protagonist tricked System 34984 into deleting the safety control program. We've lost all control of it."

"It tricked a system?" The system in a women's body beside System 278 was surprised. "How?"

"System 34984 was following protocol and was restarting it. But amidst the procedure, the core memory holder that was meant to be deleted was switched with the safety control."

"You're saying that it has control over its program?" The only way that such a mistake could have happened would be because the protagonist switched them itself. But if it could do that...

"Yes, and that's why it's best to take care of it now. Immediately." System 278 looked into the man across from his desk. "Bai Mo, I want you to take care of it in person."

Although Bai Mo stilled, he only responded with another, "Yes, Sir."

System leaned back in his chair and looked to the side. "System 347, use the resources we have. Don't let it cause any more trouble."

System 347 stood straighter, "Yes, Sir! Consider it done!"

System 278 was getting stressed. Although it thought that the rogue protagonist could be easily taken care of, the paperwork afterward was another thing...

"Good. You both can leave."

It might as well get a head start on them now.

--

Bai Mo and System 347 walked out of System 278 office. Bai Mo didn't give any courtesy to the system besides him and walked away without looking back.

System 278 looked at Bai Mo's straight back and scoffed before walking away.

Almost all of the higher-up systems in this department had a body of their own. They looked at Bai Mo, who was the only human around, like dust on their shoes. To systems, humans were not playthings, nor were they on the same level of them.

To them, humans were just part of the job.

Would you care for the timecard you slot in every morning? Or every report you give?

You only care about how it affects your job.

Bai Mo and didn't care for the systems looking after him. And although the systems looked at him, it didn't seem like they cared much about him. Bai Mo didn't care for their looks. He was used to them. Their stares and remarks rolled off his experienced back. His face never showed any reaction.

Bai Mo thought of his new job. System 278 wanted him to kill a protagonist. Bai Mo stopped walking and stood still. Several systems passed by him. Some would cast him strange looks, while others didn't spare a glance.

-

"Lu Jiang you bastard!"

A piercing sound of a slap resounded out of the office. Ms. Sung gave Boss Lu a strong smack to the face.

It had been a day since he had been able to set himself free. He and Leng Zhang headed back with Ms. Sung in tow. She was extremely angered earlier as she burst through that private room. But when she saw the state Boss Lu was in, she ran out to get help. But once she got back, it turns out that his illness was just as real as the rest of him. Fake!

"Lu Jiang," Ms. Sung couldn't hold her tears as they pooled down her face. She tried to finish her sentence, but the words wouldn't leave her mouth. She struggled, only to abruptly turn around and leave.

Boss Lu kept his head down until he heard the door slam behind her. He looked up and watched after her.

"Aish, Ms. Sung is really scary." He didn't know what to do in this situation. He had finally gained complete control of his actions and the first thing he had to deal with was a troubled woman. He didn't know how to placate her! That was all the system before!

Boss Lu felt a little regret. System! Come back and help me with my woman problems!

He did feel bad for the woman. She must have thought that her hubby was wrapped around her delicate finger. Yet it turns out that it has the chance of being all fake. And instead of clearing the misunderstanding with her, Boss Lu didn't do anything! Does this mean that it wasn't a misunderstanding? And that it was real? So what about all of the other rumors, where they are true too!?

Ms. Sung left the building and immediately went home to cry in her bed. She didn't come out of it until the next morning.

"Leng Zhang..." Boss Lu rubbed his forehead. This was too much thinking for him. Give him a couple more hours.

"Yes, Boss?" Leng Zhang snapped out of his shock. Was Boss Lu still sick? What was that interaction? Ms. Sung just slapped her hubby!

"Can we go home now?" Boss Lu looked up at Leng Zhang. Although Boss Lu's hair was fixed from yesterday, because of Ms. Sung's beating, it was messy once again. Leng Zhang looked into Boss Lu's eyes and knew the look that he was giving him. Although he and Lu Jiang had a boss and employee relationship, before that, they were friends. He was able to read him easily.

Leng Zhang breathed out a sigh, "Alright, let's bring you home."

Once again, just like the day before. Leng Zheng and Boss Lu left work early.

Leng Zhang was not a chauffeur. Yet he drove Boss Lu around more than the actual chauffeur.

Boss Lu laid in the back of the car and silently thought of the future. If he was being honest, he didn't have a plan after getting free from the system. The system more than likely reported this incident to higher-ups, they probably wouldn't let this slide.

Maybe he should have thought this though, he should have planned a little farther ahead...

Does he run away? Go out and hide in the wilderness? He's pretty sure they would be able to find him. Ahhh, what should he do???

"Boss Lu, do you have a headache, are you alright?" Leng Zheng looked through the mirror to his boss, who was holding his head.

Boss Lu didn't miss the chance to complain and said to him, "Wahh, Leng Zheng. What am I going to do?"

"???"

Was his Boss talking about Ms. Sung? Does he want to fix their relationship? Boss, if you were thinking that, why were you complaining about her? Mr. Leng thought that his boss didn't like Ms. Sung anymore. He thought that Boss Lu lost feelings for her, but didn't want to hurt her feelings and leave her. But now he doesn't want her to leave?

Boss, your love life is too confusing.

Boss Lu was going to continue to complain when the phone in his pocket began to ring. Boss Lu pulled it out and looked at who it was.

It was his mother.

"Ah, Leng Zhang, quick, answer the phone for me!" He almost threw the phone at Mr. Leng.

"Boss, who is it?" Boss, please stop waving the phone in front of me, I'm driving.

Boss Lu looked like he was about to cry, "It's my mother! Quick! Take it!"

"Boss, I can't answer. I'm driving. It wouldn't be safe." Leng Zhang didn't need to wonder why Boss Lu wouldn't want to answer the phone. After knowing Lu Jiang for so long he had already, unfortunately, met his mother. Just remembering that time made him break into a cold sweat.

The phone continued to ring, as Boss Lu panicked even more. "It's best if you answered it now. Or else she would get twice as mad if you ignored her." Leng Zheng tried to convince his boss.

Boss Lu thought that Leng Zhang was right. He quickly gathered himself and placed the phone against his ear.

"Hello? Ma?"

"Son."

Small amounts of sweat gathered on his forehead when he heard her tone. Oh no, she sounds angry.

"Yes, Ma?"

"Lu Jiang. Do you want to explain what it is that I'm seeing on the news currently?"

Huh? News?

"Ma, what are you talking about, why would I need to see the news?"

His mother's tone didn't change as she calmly continued, "Alright, that's fine. Why don't you bring it up right now? Watch it and tell me what you think."

Boss Lu wasn't dumb.

If his mother was saying such things, while she sounded so angry, then that means that something bad about him showed up on the news.

Boss Lu felt his stomach drop. He didn't know what his mother could have found but he didn't want to see it.

"I-I'll bring it up right now."

Boss Lu brought out his laptop and pulled up the news. While he was searching, a vehicle outside honked its horn which drew Boss Lu's attention. But when his eyes skimmed across the billboards his jaw almost dropped to the floor.