From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

Chapter 1023: The Ridiculous Coffee Run

 n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

June's lips pressed into a thin line as he read the message again. It left a sour taste in his mouth, and he knew exactly what he had to do.

"Bo Wen," he called out, grabbing his leather jacket from the back of the couch. Bo Wen was sprawled on the armchair, munching on a bag of chips with a blissful look on his face. He perked up at June's voice, an eyebrow quirking up in curiosity.

Yes, even Bo Wen decided to make June's apartment his haven after the Mia incident.

"What's up? You look like you're about to commit a felony," Bo Wen said, half-joking but fully serious. With June, you could never tell.

June shot him a dry look. "Not quite, but I need backup. We're going out."

Bo Wen's expression changed from relaxed to alert in an instant. He tossed the chips onto the table and got to his feet, adjusting the collar of his own jacket. "Is it about your stalker? Did she do something again?"

June nodded, slipping his phone into his pocket. "I just got a text. She's near Jia's office. I don't know what she's up to, but I need to make sure she's not harassing anyone. Especially Jia."

Bo Wen's eyes darkened with concern. He knew how much June cared about his fans-the real ones, the ones who supported him without crossing lines.

Jia was one of those fans. If Mia was trying to drag her into this mess, it was crossing a line June couldn't forgive.

"Let's go, then," Bo Wen said, cracking his knuckles. "We'll make sure she doesn't get a chance to cause trouble."

However, just as they were about to leave, Bo Wen paused.

"Wait, did you tell Jay about this?"

"Yes," June said. That was a lie, of course.

Bo Wen nodded. "Well then, let's go on an adventure!"

As they headed out, June's thoughts were racing. He wouldn't mind being hurt by Mia, but Jia was an entirely different story! Since June knew that it was Jia who Mia was trying to copy, he knew that the latter wouldn't be afraid to do something heinous.

"This is the last straw," he muttered.

***

Jia slumped back in her chair, staring at her computer screen like it was a personal enemy. It had been less than a month since she started this job, and she was already questioning all her life choices.

She ran a hand through her hair-only for a few strands to come away with her fingers.

"Great," she muttered. "I'm already losing hair. Is this what adulthood feels like?"

She glanced around the office, a maze of gray cubicles filled with overworked and underpaid employees.

The atmosphere was suffocating, the kind of place where dreams came to die slowly, smothered under stacks of paperwork and endless emails.

Everything operated on a hierarchy. The higher-ups barely acknowledged her existence, except when they needed coffee.

Well, it was partially her fault for turning down her mom's offer to work in Phoenix Entertainment. After Azure Entertainment was acquired by Phoenix, Cindy naturally transitioned to the company, too. She had wanted Jia to work with them, but Jia refused! She didn't want to be a nepo baby!

Jia sighed, turning to the tiny mirror she kept on her desk. She looked awful. She had dark circles under her eyes, pale skin, and not a trace of makeup.

She hadn't had time for it this morning, rushing out the door after snoozing her alarm one too many times.

"I look like I've been dug up from the grave," she said to herself, squinting at her reflection. Before she could attempt to tidy herself up, her phone buzzed with a new message from her supervisor.

Office

Now

Two words, no punctuation, like they couldn't spare the energy for an extra period.

"Ugh," Jia groaned, pushing herself up from her chair. Her back ached in protest. She felt like a zombie as she trudged down the corridor, heading to her supervisor's office.

"Jia, I need you to run a coffee order," her supervisor barked as soon as she stepped in. She didn't even look up from his desk. "It's for the board meeting. Get it right this time."

Jia clenched her jaw but forced a smile. She had memorized this ridiculous order by now, despite how insane it was.

"Let me guess," she said, rattling it off without missing a beat. "One triple-shot, half-decaf, soy milk latte with extra foam but no sugar. One iced caramel macchiato with exactly three pumps of vanilla syrup, no more, no less, extra drizzle on the top, and stirred counterclockwise. One black coffee with three ice cubes, not two, not four. And one matcha latte with oat milk, but only if the oat milk is the barista's preferred brand; otherwise, almond milk, no sweetener, extra matcha powder, and a sprinkle of cinnamon."

Her supervisor looked up, surprised. "You got it," she said, almost impressed. "Now hurry

up."

Jia forced herself not to roll her eyes.

'If I mess up even one drink, they'll probably make me write a 10-page apology letter,' she thought

bitterly.

With that, she walked out of the office.

The coffee truck near the office had way too many people for Jia to be happy. She shuffled through the crowd, feeling like a salmon swimming upstream against a current of tired commuters. Her whole body ached, especially her lower back, which had been protesting all day.

"Why does everything hurt?" she mumbled, rubbing the small of her back. "I'm too young for this."

She placed the order with the barista, who didn't even blink at the absurd requests. Clearly, this wasn't their first insane coffee order of the day.

As Jia waited, she leaned against the truck, trying not to fall asleep standing up. Her eyes drooped, and she was almost ready to doze off when she heard a sudden, loud noise.

The distinct sound of a motorcycle revving its engine pierced through the usual noise of the street outside. Jia frowned, turning her head toward the side. The noise was getting louder and closer. She squinted, trying to see who it was.

Before she could fully process what was happening, she saw the motorcycle swerving through traffic at an alarming speed. It zoomed past cars, ignoring traffic lights. The rider was dressed in black from head to toe, a sleek helmet hiding their face.

Jia's heart skipped a beat as the motorcycle veered closer. It wasn't heading down the road anymore-it was coming straight for her.

She took a step back, instinctively raising her hand to shield herself as the motorcycle continued to accelerate toward her.

Crap! She just went to get coffee, and now she was going to die?