Chapter 22: Helpless Xiao Zhang

While Xiao Zhang was howling, his mind was still spinning rapidly. Having this thing actually felt kind of nice—it might at least make life a little less boring. But this system seemed a bit tricky, so after thinking it through, he decided to give it a try.

Suddenly, he sprang up from the sofa. "Come catch me if you can! If you catch me, I'll let you do whatever you want!"

He didn't even bother with the elevator, but dashed down the stairs at full speed. When he burst outside, he gulped in the fresh air deeply.

You little thing, trying to play with me~

So, this really isn’t a dream. Could those times when he felt paralyzed in bed have been caused by an intrusion from another world?

Xiao Zhang glanced behind him and saw that the brick wasn’t following. He decided to go buy a pack of cigarettes.

There wasn’t a supermarket near his building, so he had to head to the one on the other side of the complex.

"Boss, give me a pack of cigarettes!"

"What brand would you like?"

"Do you have XX Wolf?"

"Nope."

"Then give me a pack of Liqun."

Behind the counter stood a pretty young cashier. She pointed at the Black Liqun in the display and gave Xiao Zhang a glance. "Is this one okay?"

"Yeah. Are you scanning me, or am I scanning you?"

"No need for you to scan me. I’ll scan you—just show me your payment code." The girl picked up the scanner and scanned the cigarettes.

"Could I get a lighter as well?"

The cashier handed him a lighter and prepared to scan the code on the cigarettes.

"Wait a second, I’ll grab a bottle of water." Xiao Zhang hurried over to the fridge and took out a bottle.

The girl asked again, "Anything else?"

"Ah, crap, I forgot my phone." Xiao Zhang reached for his pocket to pay, only to realize his phone wasn’t with him. "Never mind, I’ll leave it."

"Alright then!" The young woman had no choice but to put the scanned cigarettes back.

"Wait, hold on!" Xiao Zhang whipped out a hundred yuan note and waved it in front of her.

The cashier stared blankly at the bill, stunned at how “old school” this guy was.

After getting his change, Xiao Zhang tore open the pack, stuck a cigarette in his mouth, and lit it as he walked out the door.

Just as he was about to leave, the cashier girl suddenly came out after him. "You really are a piece of work!"

Xiao Zhang looked at the cashier girl, who had just seemed cute but now wore a sly, almost lecherous expression—as if she’d become an entirely different person.

"Who the hell are you?" Xiao Zhang quickly took a swig of water to steady his nerves.

"Of course, I’m your master!"

Hearing this, Xiao Zhang nearly spit out his drink, his face a picture of utter disbelief.

"You’re the system?"

The young woman’s expression grew solemn. "That’s right. After all, your master here is all-powerful. I can give you—"

"Give, give, give, my ass!" Xiao Zhang turned and ran. "Stupid system, catch me if you can!"

He sprinted out of the complex, glancing nervously over his shoulder. Because of this, he didn’t see the traffic ahead and was suddenly struck by a small car.

Even though Xiao Zhang’s body had been enhanced, this impact left him reeling.

The female driver burst into tears from the shock, and the surrounding pedestrians broke into chaos.

"System, are you still there?"

No sooner had Xiao Zhang spoken than it felt as if time itself had frozen—everyone around him stood perfectly still. Then, not far away, an old woman carrying a basket approached, her gaze predatory. "So, lackey, why don’t you run some more?"

"Ahhh!!" Xiao Zhang screamed, and as he did, time resumed its flow. In an instant, everything was back to normal.

Xiao Zhang scrambled to his feet and dashed away from the gathering crowd, weaving through the river of cars to the other side of the street.

He ran wildly until he spotted a taxi parked by the curb. He jumped in, shouting, "Drive! Go! Now!"

The driver turned to see Xiao Zhang covered in blood and stammered in fear, "Where to?"

"Anywhere!"

All Xiao Zhang wanted was to get away and find a secluded spot to deal with this system.

The taxi sped off...

"Bro, where, where exactly are we going?"

"Somewhere with fewer people."

The driver was so terrified he could barely speak. Had this guy just killed someone, or had he been attacked? Either way, his own safety came first—maybe he should just take this man straight to the police.

Neither spoke the rest of the way. Xiao Zhang was busy pondering how to deal with the system, while the driver was scheming how to get rid of Xiao Zhang.

"How about Beishan? It’s less crowded there."

The driver, without even turning around, chattered through chattering teeth, "Sure, sure, let’s go, bro!"

Xiao Zhang touched the blood on his head. "Damn, I’m bleeding. No wonder I feel dizzy. Oh, and don’t be scared, man! I’m not a good person—uh, wait, I mean I’m a bad guy~~"

"I get it, brother, say no more. I don’t know anything, I didn’t see anything!" The driver watched Xiao Zhang in the rearview mirror, as tense as if Xiao Zhang were about to eat him.

"What are you afraid of? I don’t eat people!" Xiao Zhang said, leaning forward.

With a squeal of brakes, the taxi stopped right in front of the police station. The driver bolted out and ran straight for the station.

"You’re insane," Xiao Zhang muttered, rubbing his face after it had collided with the taxi seat. He climbed out of the car.

He saw the taxi driver returning with a group of police officers. "Officers, that’s him!"

"Sir, please come with us to answer a few questions."

Seeing this, a thought flashed through Xiao Zhang’s mind—damn, if I get caught, they’ll probably make an announcement. He dashed across the street...

Just then...

A black SUV roared up, nearly hitting Xiao Zhang. The driver swerved at the last second, the vehicle merely grazing him as it came to a halt.

A girl wearing a face mask jumped out, eyes anxious.

"Are you okay?" she asked, squatting nervously beside Xiao Zhang.

Then a few officers subdued Xiao Zhang on the spot and took him away.

"Hey, honey, why aren’t you home when the door’s wide open?" The masked girl’s voice trembled as she answered her phone, crying, "Hey, Baibai, I—I’m at the police station. Someone broke into the house and I was too scared to go in. Then I got caught up in a traffic accident on the way."

"Miss, please come with us to make a statement."

"Baibai, I have to go—the officers need me to give a statement."

"Don’t worry, honey, I’ll be there right away." Zhao Bai was flustered by the sudden chaos, and to make matters worse, Xiao Zhang’s phone wasn’t connecting.

"One last try," Zhao Bai muttered.

To her surprise, the ringtone sounded from the sofa.

Half an hour later, at the local station—

Xiao Zhang sat there, his head wrapped in gauze, looking like a fool.