Chapter 17: The Red Envelope Hero!

The company had a large staff and was running profitably. It was currently a busy workday morning, and the entrance to Red Moon Tower was bustling with people. A group of intern girls, cheerful and full of anticipation, were about to head inside for work.

Suddenly, the notification sound for their group chat rang out. They glanced at their phones. It was an ordinary digital red envelope.

“A new day, a fresh start! Let’s do our best! - Xiao Xiang.”

Each of them received a small amount, just a few cents, but although the sum was modest, it was meant to be motivational—a gesture to encourage everyone. The girls were delighted.

There were about twenty people in the HR department, each using their real name in the group chat. Since it wasn’t yet time to clock in and they were still at leisure, the intern girls each sent out a few yuan, wishing everyone good morning in reply.

As the group buzzed with warmth and camaraderie, a command red envelope suddenly appeared.

“Xiao Qian, Xiao Xiang, Xiao Leng… could one of you pick up breakfast for me? The one who does can claim the envelope. Others, please don’t click!” — Supervisor Bai.

At the sight of this command red envelope, the previously cheerful girls fell silent. This wasn’t the first time Supervisor Bai had done this; the names she tagged were always the interns. She often ordered them around for errands, and fetching breakfast was a frequent assignment.

Red Moon Group was, after all, a Fortune 500 company. The HR team were all white-collar professionals, yet the nearby shops were outrageously expensive. Each time, the red envelope would only contain two or three yuan—barely enough for a meager breakfast.

Usually, the interns would have to cover the difference themselves to buy Supervisor Bai her meal, only for her to later complain they’d bought too much and that eating it would make her put on weight. Yet, she always ate it all anyway.

Dealing with such a penny-pinching supervisor left them at their wits’ end. Once or twice might be tolerable, but as it happened more frequently, it became hard to swallow.

While the named interns were grumbling internally, someone suddenly claimed Supervisor Bai’s command envelope.

Xiao Xiang: Who is “Desperate for Money”? Did any of you change your name?

Xiao Zhang: Wait a second, we only have twenty-five people in the department. How come there are twenty-six now?

Xiao Leng: Seems like someone just joined...

Supervisor Bai: Whoever “Desperate for Money” is, this group requires real names. Change it back, or you’ll be removed!

...

A moment passed.

Desperate for Money: Call me Hacker Hero or Red Envelope Hero, thank you! Good grief, for a Fortune 500 company and a department head, you’re incredibly stingy—giving two yuan for an underling to buy breakfast! Even a grade schooler would be more generous. I got my hopes up for nothing...

Xiao Xiang: ...

Xiao Zhang: ...

Supervisor Bai: ...

Desperate for Money has left the internal HR group of Red Moon Company.

...

As Shi Qingqing passed by the entrance of Red Moon Tower, she spotted a group of girls doubled over with laughter. She could vaguely hear them venting their satisfaction—this Red Envelope Hero really spoke their mind! He said what we never dared to. Here’s hoping the hacker returns to snatch more envelopes from our group next time...

Shi Qingqing, carrying her backpack and maintaining a cool demeanor, strode past them without a backward glance.

She continued her own quest for red envelopes.

***

Qingming High School’s grand entrance stood tall and imposing. The main gate, a European-style arched structure, was crowned by a radiant platinum angel statue, dazzling and exquisitely beautiful.

It was the morning rush, and among the tide of students, several glossy black luxury limousines pulled up in sequence at the main gate, immediately drawing the attention of their classmates.

“Look at the emblem on those cars—looks like the Zhan family’s fleet...”

“Ordinary rich kids come to school in a single luxury car, but Young Master Zhan arrives with an entire convoy. No wonder he’s the nation’s school heartthrob...”