"Looking for part-time help..."
Chen Qimeng glanced at Lin Yu, her expression troubled as she struggled to find the right words.
After a moment’s hesitation, she reconsidered.
Between her and Xiao Yu, was there really anything she couldn’t say?
So she decided to be straightforward:
"Xiao Yu, the work at the flower shop is quite detailed, and the only really troublesome part is the deliveries."
"Honestly, it’s only for a specific hour or two each day, but the timing isn’t fixed."
"I know you’re thinking of me, but the shop’s profits are already..."
In Chen Qimeng’s mind, the person Lin Yu mentioned was probably one of his classmates.
A college student taking on a part-time job, especially at a flower shop—
Forget about wages, what kind of work experience or skill-building could they even expect?
And when it came to pay, she genuinely didn’t have much to offer.
She couldn’t possibly ask someone to work without giving them fair compensation, could she?
The fact that Chen Qimeng could be so direct with him touched Lin Yu deeply.
At least now, she no longer treated him like a child.
She was willing to share the reality of the situation and discuss it with him.
In a way, he might even have to thank that "Thousand-Faced Fox" woman still lying in a hospital bed.
Without her accidental "assistance," Chen Qimeng might not have changed so much.
Lin Yu wasn’t unaware of the flower shop’s financial struggles.
But by bringing this up, he had already considered it carefully.
"Aunt Qimeng, don’t worry about the pay."
"We can try a different approach—compensate them with 'labor' instead."
"It might just mean you’ll have to put in a little extra effort sometimes."
Chen Qimeng: "???"
Was it really possible to hire part-time help without paying them?
Lin Yu’s mention of "labor payment" left her utterly confused.
"No money? Then... how could we possibly ask someone to work for free?"
"Xiao Yu, even if they’re your good friends, we still can’t..."
She trailed off, feeling the rest of her words might sound too harsh.
Lin Yu, however, looked completely confident.
"We can give it a try first. I’m not entirely sure it’ll work either."
"I’ll need to make a call and discuss it. If it doesn’t work out, we can stop anytime."
Chen Qimeng met his gaze.
Her instinctive trust overpowered her rational doubts, and she found herself nodding in agreement.
With the shop owner’s approval secured, Lin Yu stepped outside with his phone and dialed a number he’d only recently saved.
After a few rings, an enthusiastic voice answered:
"Little Brother Lin Yu, you should’ve received the money by now, right?"
"If you ever come across any other hard-to-sell treasures, just bring them to Gui Hang."
"As long as I’m here, I’ll make sure to help you out."
Lin Yu replied warmly,
"The money’s come through, thank you, Sister Hong."
"That’s actually why I’m calling."
"This collaboration went so well, I’ve got another piece I might sell next month."
Sister Hong’s voice brightened instantly:
"Anytime! Seriously, anytime!"
"Little Brother Lin Yu, just give me a heads-up a couple of days before you’re ready, and we’ll make it happen."
The "Yuan Dynasty Carved Lacquer Grapevine Pattern Begonia Tray" had already brought Gui Hang a wave of prestige.
If they could ride that momentum with another big sale next month—
None of the other underground auction houses would stand a chance against Gui Hang’s rising fame.
Lin Yu could tell from Sister Hong’s tone that she was quite excited at the moment.
Seizing the opportunity, he added:
"Sister Hong, there’s another small matter that could kill two birds with one stone. I’d like to discuss it with you."
"Isn’t Sister Feirong preparing for the civil service exam?"
"I know a suitable tutor I’d like to recommend to you!"
"Locking herself away at home won’t help. Sister Feirong just holes up in her room playing games, don’t you think?"
Sister Hong paused for a few seconds before abruptly shifting her tone:
"Little brother Lin Yu, are you saying Rongrong…"
"Has been bleeping holed up in her room playing games this whole time?!"
Lin Yu: "!!!"
Damn it!
Why did she zero in on that part?
That wasn’t the point he was trying to make!
...
At 2:30 in the afternoon,
Chi Qingchi had made plans with her club’s younger girls to take photos together,
so she left the flower shop early.
By then, two more familiar faces had arrived at the shop:
The antique-loving elder sister, Shen Buyao!
And the queen of dirty jokes, Huang Feirong!
After a round of introductions,
Chen Qimeng pulled Lin Yu aside and asked uneasily:
"Tutoring that girl Rongrong for the civil service exam?"
"Xiao Yu, I can’t do this!"
"I took my exams back in the early 2000s—what kind of useful experience could I possibly have now?"
"Wouldn’t I just… be wasting her time?"
Lin Yu was tempted to say outright:
With Sister Feirong’s academic record, is there even any room to waste her time?
How much lower could she go?!
But he couldn’t phrase it so harshly.
Instead, he reassured her:
"Qimeng, can’t you be a little more confident?"
"Even if you took the exam in the early 2000s, you still passed!"
"Knowledge doesn’t expire—what matters is the study method, right?"
Chen Qimeng: "???"
Is that how it works?
Seeing her doubtful expression, Lin Yu quickly added:
"Sister Feirong’s family isn’t short on money. Her parents just want her to pass the exam no matter what."
"Aside from the time needed for errands, she can study at the shop. Isn’t that better than her going out to date or party?"
"For kids from wealthy families, as long as they stay out of trouble, it’s a win."
Chen Qimeng was still hesitant: "But…"
Lin Yu simply turned to Huang Feirong and asked:
"Sister Feirong, Auntie Qimeng and I discussed it."
"Aside from an hour or two each day for arranging flowers or making deliveries,"
"and the four-hour study sessions agreed with your mom—Sister Hong,"
"the rest of your time at the shop is yours to spend as you like."
"Oh, and I’ll install a super fast computer in that corner over there!"
"What do you think?"
The moment she heard this,
Huang Feirong’s eyes lit up like stars!
"I’m in! I’m so in!"
"Sister Qimeng, to be honest, my childhood dream was to run a flower shop."
"Today, I’m basically… living the dream!!"
"I’m a hard worker—I’ll do anything, busy or not!"
"Talking about pay is so crass. Plus, I get to learn from you? I’m beyond in!"
"You can totally trust me with the flower deliveries."
"And uh… the faster that computer gets installed, the better. Hehehe."
Lin Yu turned back and shrugged at Chen Qimeng:
See? Easy fix.
Hearing Huang Feirong’s enthusiasm,
Chen Qimeng finally said:
"Rongrong, then let’s… give it a try?"
with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
