In the dim and cramped room, a man sat alone in a corner. His body was so thin that he looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over, and his exposed skin had a pale color as if he had not seen the sun for a long time.

The oversized clothes, like tattered cloaks, were casually draped over his withered body, making him appear particularly颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of being listless, dispirited, or decadent).

His hair and beard, unkempt for a long time, were tangled together like wild weeds, obscuring most of his face. Beneath the messy hair, his sunken eye sockets and thin cheekbones were faintly visible, telling tales of endless weariness.

Despite being in such appalling conditions, the man kept himself impeccably clean and presentable. However, the food scraps piled up beside him were rotten and emitted a faint stench, a stark contrast to his pristine appearance.

Before the man stood a massive machine, emitting a deafening hum. The machine was covered with all sorts of metal wires, some as thin as silk, others as thick as ropes, densely intertwined. These wires were roughly bound together with black duct tape, connecting to buttons that emitted different colored lights.

Next to the machine was a rudimentary keyboard. It was clearly pieced together from various collected parts; many of the keycaps, made of sheet metal, were worn beyond recognition, and some keys were even dented, requiring extra force to type.

However, the man didn't seem to mind; he continued to focus intently on typing, producing crisp and powerful sounds.

Before the man, a black-and-white screen emitted a faint light. This light shone on his thick, bulletproof glasses, reflecting a blue-green glow that obscured his eyes.

He stared intently at the screen, as if his entire life had already been sacrificed to this small screen.

The man seemed not to notice Jiulong's arrival.

It wasn't until Jiulong coughed lightly that he was startled, his attention snapped back, and he immediately stood up.

Jiulong put on a smile and asked patiently, "How's the research going?"

Looking at Jiulong's smile, the man felt his blood rush back to his heart, and his fingers turned icy cold.

He answered timidly, "I... I still haven't figured out a few key points. After all, the equipment is limited..."

His voice grew softer and softer, as if he were afraid of accidentally angering Jiulong.

Jiulong seemed very understanding, "I understand. I don't know anything about these things either, so of course I have to rely on you."

As he spoke, he took out a can of Coke from his hand and placed it next to the keyboard. "I will try my best to meet your requests. I also hope that you can meet my requests."

The man avoided Jiulong's gaze and nodded repeatedly, "I understand, I'm already working hard to overcome it."

Jiulong smiled with satisfaction, knowing that his previous warning had worked. Besides, even if a man had the will to resist, he didn't have the ability.

He patted the man's shoulder heavily and said with promises, "Do your best! Whether you can gain freedom or even become rich and powerful in the future depends on yourself..."

The man grunted in response, a hint of cowardice and resentment flashing in his eyes, but it was hidden by his long bangs.

Jiulong then said, "If you encounter any difficulties while staying here, be sure to tell me promptly. Your happiness is essential for the smooth progress of our project, right?"

The man was startled by Jiulong's gaze and quickly said, "Brother Long, the conditions are really limited, I have done my best."

Jiulong stared at him for a long time, as if to confirm that the man wasn't lying, then suddenly relaxed and patted him on the shoulder, "Hahaha, I was just chatting with you, why are you so nervous?"

The man breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that his back was completely soaked.

Jiulong patted him on the back again, "Continue, just pretend I don't exist."

The man sat back down, stared at the screen, and began typing.

Jiulong stood behind him for a while longer, but he really couldn't understand the lines of symbols and letters on the black and white screen. So he stood there for a while longer before leaving the secret room.

The man breathed a sigh of relief, his already sickly face turning even paler.

His eyes revealed despair.

How long has it been?

How long has he been locked up here?

He can hardly remember anymore.

The secret room was dark all day and night, and his life went on in this chaotic state.

If it weren't for the screen and the keyboard, he probably would have gone completely insane.

The man grabbed the can of cola, popped it open with a "click," and started gulping it down.

Only at times like these, when he recalls life outside of Paradise Island, can he find the hope to keep living.

The man stood up, looked at himself in the mirror, and tears involuntarily streamed down his face, disappearing into his beard.

Since Susan caused a scene at the "Drunken Bar" last time, everything seems to be going on as usual.

During the day, "Little Ni" and Mark followed Jiulong and He Dadong around like servants, and at night they continued to work at the "Drunken Bar" to complete their business.

Inside the "Drunken Bar" dance hall, dynamic music surged like a tide, each note seemingly leaping through the air, stirring the heart. Colorful light strips intertwined to create a dreamlike play of light and shadow, with light spheres weaving through them, refracting dazzling light, as if stars had fallen to earth.

In the very center of the dance hall, a circular bar became the focal point, surrounded by a large group of handsome men and beautiful women, all of whom were drawn to a figure behind the bar.

The young man's handsome face stood out even more under the lamplight. The silver shaker in his hand was like his conductor's baton, leading this feast for the eyes and ears.

He tossed the jug around, each toss and catch tracing an elegant arc through the air before effortlessly returning it to his hand. The spinning jug glittered under the lamplight, like a shining star in the night sky.

This series of movements flowed smoothly, like a silent dance, causing the girls present to let out excited screams.

Then, another boy with smoky eye makeup walked in.

He nudged the former and teased, "You're so busy showing off here, you didn't give me a chance at all?"

The former poured the wine from the pot into a glass, revealing distinct layers of color.

The girls around him were starry-eyed, all hoping to receive this special treat.

"Go ahead and show off, go ahead and show off!"

Mark, sporting smoky eye makeup, said sourly, "All the girls are attracted to you. How am I supposed to keep my business?"

The next second, "Little Ni" handed the special drink to Mark, who immediately stopped complaining and began to savor it.

"Ouch, it's a bit sour."

"Little Ni" smiled and said, "Stop joking around and tell me about today's schedule."

Mark pulled a notebook from behind his back and showed him the schedule for tonight. "We'll each do one show, all night long. Can you handle it?"

"Little Ni" glanced at it casually, "No problem."