Global Collapse-Chapter 437 - 412: Persecution of Gu Mian_1

The official start time for work was eight o’clock.

They had arrived too early; it was just past seven-thirty.

The small shop was empty. Its wallpaper featured a dark gray theme, and a row of single seats, probably intended for people on their own, lined the huge floor-to-ceiling window. Fatty was currently seated in one of them.

Other tables were surrounded by dark gray leather sofas that looked quite heavy.

All in all, it looked like a high-class establishment.

Adding my face to the mix makes the whole shop look even classier, Gu Mian thought.

He tugged at his uncomfortable tie and turned to look at Liu Ruyan. Due to unavoidable circumstances, he had to go through an instance again with this landlady who had cost him a bicycle.

Although their relationship wasn’t the best, he still had to ask the necessary questions.

Gu Mian casually sat at the table closest to the counter. "So, out of the nine players, we already have three here."

As he spoke, he rapped his index finger on the table. "Liu Ruyan, have you seen any of the other players?"

She sat at the wooden counter, resting her chin on her hand, and shook her head. "I live alone in a nearby residential complex. I entered the instance at twenty past midnight. I had to turn my house and my phone upside down before I found this place."

"Phone?" Fatty suddenly realized. "Doctor, does that mean we don’t have phones?"

"I suppose not," Gu Mian said, massaging his aching forehead.

Fatty hadn’t used a phone in an instance for a long time, so he had subconsciously overlooked it.

Gu Mian had specifically looked for one but couldn’t find it. To avoid being late, he had to rush over.

Of course, he wasn’t trying to play the role of a diligent and humble employee. Perhaps I’ll meet other players here, Gu Mian had thought. It seemed he was right, though unfortunately, he’d run into the one person he least wanted to see.

Liu Ruyan was flipping through a piece of paper on the counter when she chuckled. "By the way, since you lack experience in this area, I should remind you: when a customer comes in, you’re to say, ’Miss, welcome home.’"

Gu Mian barely suppressed his laughter.

He was afraid he’d burst out laughing and spray the customers.

Fatty, seated in one of the solo chairs, asked thoughtfully, "Do I need to say that too?"

Liu Ruyan glanced at Fatty. "I don’t think you’ll get that opportunity."

Fatty: "..."

"The remaining players might also come here." Gu Mian calmed himself and pinched his chin with his index finger and thumb.

But in what capacity they might arrive was uncertain.

They could be customers...

At this thought, Gu Mian furrowed his brows. A female player, sure, but would Chu Changge come to a place like this?

It seemed Fatty had read Gu Mian’s mind. He waved a finger in front of his face. "Maybe Brother Chu is working as a waiter at the Shake S Milk Tea Shop next door. For example, when a girl goes for milk tea, Brother Chu might push up his glasses and say, ’You can’t have any more; you’re already too fat.’"

As Fatty described the scene, a bizarre image formed in Gu Mian’s mind.

Gu Mian quickly shook his head to dispel the image of a stoic Chu Changge telling people they were "fat."

He asked Liu Ruyan uncertainly, "There aren’t any other coffee shops around here, right?"

Liu Ruyan seemed to ponder for a moment. "Not to my knowledge."

Hearing this, Fatty looked disappointed. "I thought Miss Xiao Qiao would be in a maid café, and when she saw us, she’d say something like, ’Master, welcome home’..."

"Keep those dangerous thoughts to yourself," Gu Mian glanced at Fatty.

"This city is very large; I’m afraid it’ll be very difficult to find the people you’re looking for. So, just stay here," Liu Ruyan said, glancing at the time. It was almost eight o’clock. "Since the three of us managed to gather here, it’s possible the others might come too. Plus, we might get some useful information from the customers."

"Oh, right, do you want to check my phone?" As she spoke, she took out a phone and handed it to Gu Mian. "Most of the information I found was on this phone."

Gu Mian reached out and took Liu Ruyan’s phone.

It probably didn’t have a screen lock password to make it easier for players to check.

Gu Mian first checked the message inbox. It contained no useful information, mostly just balance warnings and spam advertisements for a fish-raising game.

He closed the messaging app and checked the contacts.

The contact list spanned several pages of phone numbers, mostly customers, including Gu Mian, Fatty, Liu Jie, and Yang Ziwen.

Gu Mian closed the contacts list and tapped on the green social media app on the screen.

Nowadays, most communication happened through convenient social media apps. Sure enough, when he opened it, he saw many messages.

Most of these messages were business-related.

Gu Mian habitually scrolled to the very bottom and started reading upwards.

Turns out, Liu Ruyan was indeed a cunning businesswoman, buying low-quality ingredients, even though the prices at this shop weren’t low at all.

What was more outrageous was a recent message about perfume; Gu Mian had never imagined he’d have to wear perfume while working in this shop.

[Liu Jie: Boss, we’re running out of perfume in the back!]

At that moment, Liu Ruyan, from her seat, took out a newly purchased pink bottle of perfume from a drawer. "I bought this on the way. Do you want to use some?"

Gu Mian retreated a few steps, avoiding the fragrant onslaught.

"Alright, it’s almost time," Liu Ruyan said, glancing at the wall clock. "I’m going to the back room."

Fatty asked in confusion, "Aren’t you staying out here?"

Liu Ruyan gave a slight smile. "The young ladies wouldn’t want the handsome face they adore to come with a proprietress."

"Indeed," Fatty nodded solemnly and looked at Gu Mian. "I think they also wouldn’t want to see a man even more handsome than you. It would make them feel insecure."

As he spoke, Fatty walked over and patted Gu Mian’s shoulder. "Anyway, our proprietress is one of us. So, I’m going to skip out for a bit and see if I can find the others outside. I’m a bit worried Brother Chu won’t be able to find us."

And so, Gu Mian watched as this "man more handsome than himself" walked out the door.

The not-so-large coffee shop was now empty save for Gu Mian. He promptly stood up from his seat. It wouldn’t do for customers to see a server slumping in his chair.

He just stood there, straight and still.

In his twenty-odd years, Gu Mian had never worked as a server, mainly because he was afraid customers might suddenly drop dead from poisoning while eating.

Fortunately, not many people came to hang out on a Friday morning. Gu Mian stood there until nearly ten o’clock before the first, blissfully unaware, patrons arrived.

It was a girl with a slightly round face who looked like she was still in school. She wore her hair in two pigtails, and the little cherries on her hair ties swayed with her movements. She seemed rather shy.

Next to her was a girl of about the same age with her hair down, smiling at Gu Mian.

Gu Mian immediately went to the door and dutifully delivered his line, "Miss... welcome home."

The two girls sat down near the door, and Gu Mian then heard the girl with loose hair say to her friend, "See? I told you the one on duty this morning is the best looking..."

While they were ordering, Gu Mian heard the door behind him being pushed open again.

He dutifully turned around. "Miss, welc—"

But he swallowed the rest of his words.

The glass door behind him had been pushed open, and someone walked in. Sunlight streamed through the glass, illuminating the newcomer’s face.

Chu Changge looked at Gu Mian, emotionlessly adjusting his glasses. "Why did you stop?"

"..."

How did you find this place? Gu Mian really wanted to ask.

But with two girls sitting at a nearby table, Gu Mian had to swallow his words. He led Chu Changge to the most secluded corner before asking in a low voice, "How did you find this place?"

Chu Changge studied the menu intently. "I’m a student. My classmates Wang Xin, Qiao Chu, and Xiao Wan didn’t come to the first class today. I heard the three of them are renting a place together... Caramel macchiato, extra sugar."

Gu Mian paused for a moment. "Okay, got it. Continue."

"I found their place and went in."

"I have all three of their numbers in my phone. I called before I went and confirmed that Xiao Wan is a player, nicknamed Magical Girl Little Rabbit Ball. Qiao Chu, well, no need to explain her."

Gu Mian knew that Xiao Qiao’s real name was Qiao Chu.

"They told me their situation over the phone. Wang Xin died last night. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Xiao Qiao hid the body under the bed. The two of them are currently investigating places Wang Xin visited a few days ago, so it would have taken too much time for them to come back and open the door for me."

"I used the special item ’No.1 Car Warehouse Access Card’ to get into their apartment. You gave me that card."

Gu Mian, lacking an item inventory, couldn’t hold many special items, so he had given most of them to Chu Changge and Fatty.

He remembered the item Chu Changge mentioned; it was obtained in the Bizarre Runaway Train instance. It was a one-time use access card that could open any door requiring a card swipe.

Since Chu Changge went in, then knowing his personality...

Gu Mian suddenly lowered his voice and looked intently at Chu Changge. "Did you strip the body?"

Chu Changge’s finger, resting on the menu, curled slightly. After a few seconds, he looked up at Gu Mian. "The body is gone."

"Then I searched Wang Xin’s room."

Gu Mian knew that Chu Changge’s "search" must have been a truly thorough one; he might have even pried up the floorboards.

"I found this in the pocket of one of her outfits."

As he spoke, Chu Changge took out a business card and pushed it towards Gu Mian. "Of course, there were other business cards in her room, but this one was the most direct."

Because in the middle of this business card, "Gu Mian" was written in large characters.

Gu Mian looked down at it. Besides his name in the center, the card also had his phone number and his place of work: Weaver’s Coffee Shop.

Chu Changge put down the menu and propped his chin on his interlaced hands. "So, I came looking."