If You Don't Have Strong Connections, Don't Come Here as a Nepotism Hire

I'm the only person in the department who knows the new guy is actually a nepotism hire. The list of people who passed this year's civil service exam didn't include the name “Morofushi.” It wasn't there last year, or the year before, or the year before that... The story about how he graduated from university, spent years taking the civil service exam, and finally passed this year is a load of crap! Sure, he's handsome, well-spoken, and great at his job, but none of that changes the fact that he's a nepotism hire! I can't stand having people like that under my nose. I have to get rid of him! Heh, I'll give him assignments from the Security Planning Division and make him deal with those arrogant Public Security officers on the top floor! Heh, I'll deliberately leave the sugar out of his coffee, so he'll have to choke it down anyway! Heh, I'll invite him for drinks after work every day, get him drunk, and make him late the next morning! OMG, I had no idea I could be so cruel. I'm terrifying! But I'm not a bad person. I'm doing all this so that nepotism hire will realize he's out of his depth and give up. Three months later, that nepotism hire was still stubbornly hanging on. With that kind of perseverance, he could succeed at anything. Why insist on staying in this dead-end little office? I decided to speak plainly. “Morofushi, did you know there's a nepotism hire in our office?” “You must mean me, senpai?” He admitted it without hesitation, speaking in an unhurried manner. “But I don't think I've caused you any trouble.” “Huh? What makes you so sure?” I kept a straight face. “Listen, there can only be one nepotism hire in this office, and that's me! If your connections aren't powerful enough, you're not a real nepotism hire. Getting parachuted into the Image Analysis Office is nothing special. If you're so capable, get yourself parachuted into the Security Planning Division. Otherwise, I'll make sure you're kicked out!” Morofushi, who had turned down the Security Planning Division three times: ...What? + His identity was exposed, forcing his undercover mission to end. On the manager's orders, Morofushi, now in a delicate position, temporarily took a post in the Image Analysis Office. In that little office, he met a very special senpai. They introduced him to their Public Security colleagues on the top floor, made him a cup of coffee every time they brewed some, and often invited him out for drinks and a chat after work. But the most special moment came after one drunken night, when he heard that senpai, drunk out of their mind, slur: “...I know you're too good to be stuck here.” [A lighthearted short story, with everyone surviving and a Hiromitsu pairing. Chapters 1–20 are first-person office-life stories. From Chapter 21, after identities are exposed, it switches to third person, but it never stays serious for more than three seconds. By the time the mystery is solved in Chapter 23, the main story is basically over. Chapter 27 is a related prequel, Chapter 25 includes a little related sequel, and Chapters 24, 25, 26, and 28 are the romance arc. Feel free to jump straight to whichever parts you like. Thanks for reading.] [Coming soon: Who Saw the NPC at My Shop?] My name is Huo Bainian, and I run a breakfast shop. There's a guy who comes by every day for breakfast. He's ordered two pork buns, one vegetable bun, one tea egg, and a bowl of millet porridge for six months straight. He's this shop's NPC, Xiao Wang. Every morning at exactly 7:02, Xiao Wang appears at the intersection and sits in his usual spot to eat his set meal. At 7:12, a voice outside always says, “I've transferred you 7.5 yuan.” Today, he didn't show up. Who saw the NPC at my shop? // My name is Wang Queqing. Today is the seventh day I haven't had breakfast. The people who captured me said some unknown guy has been going around wrecking people's operations lately. They asked him his name, and he said, “The Huo family has had a century-old business. I've never heard of a gang by that name.” I was figuring out how to escape when the prison suddenly exploded. Whoa, I think I know which Huo family they mean. Their tea eggs are delicious. Boss Huo stands on top of two guards and holds up a plastic bag. “Two pork buns, one vegetable bun, one egg, and one porridge. The millet porridge is sweetened and in a cup.” NPC Xiao Wang: “I'll transfer you 7.5 yuan later.” ** I thought you'd gone to eat at another shop, turns out you were being held captive hahaha you scared me for a second, what a mess, as long as you're okay, I'll head back and watch the shop now. Two grown men, keeping their heroics under wraps. Added May 21, 2026. Theme: Set things right, love and peace.