This Hedonistic Young Master

Chapter 1: Heaven's Bargain Mart: Where Dreams Go to Die

The fluorescent lights of Heaven's Bargain Mart (天堂便宜市) flickered like dying stars—fitting, considering the tragic comedy that was his life. Yu Cheng, Master of Scanning Groceries, Champion of Price Checks, and future Conqueror of Absolutely Nothing, sighed as he glanced at his faded uniform. At least the badge was crooked—a small rebellion against the absurdity of it all. He plastered a smile on his face, a brittle mask barely concealing the exhaustion beneath, as he scanned groceries for a customer more absorbed in a shouting match on their phone than in acknowledging his existence.

Beep, Beep, Beep.

The scanner's monotonous rhythm marked the seconds of his mundane existence, echoing in the sterile silence.

Customers surged and receded like a relentless tide, each interaction a fleeting ripple of annoyance in the stagnant pool of his shift.

A teenager, eyes like chips of glacial ice, approached the counter, her expression a blend of irritation and impatience. She tapped her foot, her gaze locked onto Yu Cheng with a judgmental stare. "Can you go any slower?" she muttered, her voice dripping with disdain.

Yu Cheng flashed her a smile that didn't reach his eyes. 'Oh, I could try,' he replied, his tone pleasant enough to be mistaken for genuine. 'But I don't want to ruin the magic of anticipation.'

The teenager rolled her eyes dramatically, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Yeah, whatever," she grumbled, snatching the bag from the counter once Yu Cheng finished. She spun on her heel, her dyed hair flipping as she walked away, muttering something about "useless workers." Yu Cheng watched her go, the bitter retort on his tongue swallowed down with practiced ease.

Next in line was an elderly man, his face creased with lines that spoke of years of hardship and discontent. He placed a cabbage on the counter, his brow furrowed as he pointed at the price displayed on the register. "Two yuan more than it said on the sign!" he barked, his voice gravelly and indignant.

Yu Cheng nodded, his expression one of practiced calm. "I apologize, sir. Let me check the price for you." He picked up the store intercom and called for a price check, his voice steady despite the man's glare. The elderly man crossed his arms, his foot tapping impatiently. "This place is always trying to cheat people," he muttered loudly, making sure everyone in earshot could hear. "Back in my day, shopkeepers had some integrity."

Yu Cheng offered a small nod, knowing better than to argue. "I'll make sure the correct price is applied, sir," he said once the price was confirmed, adjusting the total. The old man huffed, finally handing over the money with a begrudging scowl. "About time," he grumbled before shuffling away, still muttering about the injustices of the modern world.

Just as Yu Cheng allowed himself a moment to breathe, a group of boisterous youths barreled into the checkout area, their laughter echoing across the store. They jostled each other, one of them grabbing a pack of instant noodles from the nearby shelf and tossing it to his friend, who let it drop to the floor with a careless shrug. "Hey, watch this!" one of them shouted, nudging another towards a display stand. The boy stumbled theatrically, knocking over several stacks of goods, the packages scattering across the aisle.

Yu Cheng's jaw tightened as he watched the chaos unfold, the mess growing by the second. He stepped out from behind the counter, his voice raised but still restrained. "Excuse me, could you please be careful with the merchandise?" he called out, his tone carrying an edge of authority.

One of the youths, a lanky boy with a smirk plastered across his face, looked at Yu Cheng, clearly amused. "Chill out, man, it's just some noodles," he said, waving a dismissive hand. The others laughed, their mirth like nails scraping against Yu Cheng's nerves. He took a deep breath, stepping closer. "If you could kindly pick those up, it would be appreciated," he said, his eyes meeting the boy's in a silent challenge.