The next morning, Lin Jiang woke up early and filled a large bucket with water.

Before long, Li Yuanyuan and the other two arrived. After a quick tidy-up, they officially opened for business.

With nothing better to do, Lin Jiang started looking up information on renovation companies, eventually settling on a target: Dao Yi Design.

It looked pretty good. Many of the design cases on their website were incredibly impressive, so the price probably wouldn’t be cheap either.

However, he still had a budget of 25 million, which was more than enough to cover the cost.

Just then, a notification sound chimed.

[The leader has been killed. Reward: Basic Fighting Technique, 100,000 in cash.]

Seeing the game notification, Lin Jiang guessed that Zhou Chengrong had likely compromised and decided to close his shop for good.

This was understandable. They had been paid a visit by the authorities twice. The second time, a customer had even gotten sick, and they were facing a hefty compensation claim. Their reputation was ruined. Even if they stayed open, no one would come anymore.

It was better to just sell the shop and cut his losses.

Ignoring the cash reward for a moment, Lin Jiang discovered that memories that weren’t his own were being poured into his mind, all of them related to fighting techniques.

It took him more than ten minutes to slowly get used to the feeling.

He got up and moved around a bit, feeling as light as a feather.

[Player has completed their first kill. NPC Cultivation Mode activated.]

’Huh? What’s this?’

[With NPC Cultivation Mode activated, for every 10 points of Affinity gained, you will be rewarded with a 1,000,000 NPC-Specific Cultivation Fund.]

[A 1,000,000 initial NPC-Specific Cultivation Fund has been deposited into the player’s account. Please check your balance.]

[When you spend the specific cultivation fund, 10% of the amount will be returned to the player’s account.]

"’NPC-Specific Cultivation Fund... 10% returned...’"

Lin Jiang muttered, ’Is there a nurturing gameplay mechanic too? Can I raise these NPCs into any shape I like?’

[Yes.]

’So if I spend 1,000,000, I get 100,000 back?’

[Yes.]

Lin Jiang grinned. This game was getting more and more fun.

’I love this game.’

Lin Jiang mentally calculated. He currently had five NPCs in total.

Xu Lin, Chen Jingxian, Qin Youyou, Li Zhiyi, and Jiang Xiaoqi.

Although he had completed a quest for Zhou Wanyu, she didn’t know he was the one who did it and they had no Affinity, so she didn’t count for now.

As for Xu Lin, this kind of cultivation method wasn’t necessary for now. His buddy could do the cultivating with her.

He could spend the money on the other four NPCs.

But Qin Youyou was an exception. She wasn’t short on money, so there was no need to cultivate her in this way.

That left only three NPCs to choose from.

Chen Jingxian’s bust, Li Zhiyi’s legs, Jiang Xiaoqi’s uniform...

They each had their own unique charms. It was a really tough choice.

’Life is so hard. I’ll just have to take them all.’

Before he knew it, afternoon arrived.

Business at the shop slowed down, and it was time for the daily ice cream and watermelon break.

CREAK—

Just then, the shop door was pushed open. He thought it was a customer, but to his surprise, it was Zhang Guofu.

"Well, well, if it isn’t Master Zhang. Here to inspect our work?"

Lin Jiang was playing dumb. He knew exactly why Zhang Guofu was looking for him.

"Boss..."

Zhang Guofu looked a little awkward. He forced a smile, the wrinkles on his face bunching together as he bowed his back.

"I’ve thought about it, and I was too impulsive before. I’d like to come back and keep working. I won’t ask for a raise anymore, 7,000 is fine. And you don’t have to pay me for the previous work. We can start fresh."

"Heh... When you left, you were so high and mighty. I fucking thought you’d picked up a Death Note or something, and I was scared you’d go home and write my name in it to kill me. Why are you back here apologizing now?" Lin Jiang said with a chuckle.

"What’s wrong? Run into L?"

Zhang Guofu had no idea what a Death Note was, but he could hear the mockery in Lin Jiang’s tone.

"Boss, even if a deal falls through, goodwill should remain. There’s no point in being so insulting."

"You suddenly bailed on us, just up and left, and even secretly took our so-called recipe to Zhou Chengrong’s shop. Come on, you tell me, where’s the goodwill in that?"

Zhang Guofu was so thoroughly rebuked he couldn’t say a word. He knew it was impossible for him to come back and work here anymore.

"If we can’t agree, then let’s not bother," Zhang Guofu said.

"I was thinking, if you’d let me keep working, we could forget about my previous salary. But since you won’t rehire me, then we need to talk. I worked for a week. I won’t ask for more, but you have to give me 1,500. Pay up."

"Pay up?"

Not only did Lin Jiang find him speechless, but even Li Yuanyuan wanted to curse him for a shameless scoundrel.

"So you’re here today to demand money from me?"

"Not exactly, but since you won’t rehire me, we have to discuss this." Zhang Guofu’s expression changed, his previous humility gone.

"Honestly, I’m not short on 1,500 yuan. When I decided not to keep you on, I was planning to settle your wages. But you explicitly said on the phone that you didn’t want the 1,500, so I couldn’t very well pay you."

Lin Jiang said slowly,

"Besides, your sudden departure caused the shop considerable losses, and you stole our ’recipe.’ You should be glad I’m not demanding compensation from you. How do you have the nerve to ask me for money?"

"What’s there to be embarrassed about? It’s what I deserve."

"Now that’s a statement." Lin Jiang gave him a thumbs-up.

"Yuanyuan, go get me 1,500 yuan."

"Oh, okay, got it."

Li Yuanyuan went to the counter, got the money, and handed it to Lin Jiang.

Seeing the 1,500 yuan, Zhang Guofu sneered and walked over, ready to take the money.

"You were going to give it to me sooner or later. Why waste so much time?"

"Hold it. I never said this money was for you."

Lin Jiang called out,

"Yang Tao, Xiaoli, you two come here as well."

Putting down their work, the two came over to Lin Jiang.

"I’ve seen how hard you’ve all been working during this time. I’m not a petty or harsh boss. Here’s 500 for each of you as this month’s bonus."

The three of them exchanged glances. Li Yuanyuan was the first to speak.

"Thank you, Brother Jiang."

Seeing Li Yuanyuan take the money, Yang Tao and Zhou Xiaoli didn’t hesitate either and accepted it from Lin Jiang.

"Thank you, Brother Jiang."

Lin Jiang stood up, stretched, and looked at Zhang Guofu.

"I’m done giving out bonuses. There’s nothing for you here. You can go about your business now."

"Lin Jiang, don’t take it too far!" Zhang Guofu gritted his teeth in anger.

"How is giving my employees a bonus taking it too far?"

"If you’re going to be like this, then don’t blame me for getting rough. And don’t think you can bully me because I don’t know the law. If you don’t give me the money, I’ll sue you."

"Sue me? Be my guest. I’ll have the director of my noodle shop’s legal department contact you."

"We’ll see about that."

"Watch my ass."

Zhang Guofu left, and the shop returned to its quiet state.

"That guy is so unscrupulous. How could he have the nerve to come back and ask for money?"

As she spoke, Li Yuanyuan handed the money back to Lin Jiang.

"Brother Jiang, here’s your money back."

Yang Tao and Zhou Xiaoli also held out their money.

"Why are you giving it back to me? I told you it was a bonus. Just take it."

"You’re really giving it to us?"

"What do you think?"

"Brother Jiang, I’ve only been here for two days. I can’t take this," Yang Tao said, embarrassed.

"Everyone who’s here gets a share. Just take it."

"Thanks, Brother Jiang."

Holding the bonus from Lin Jiang, the three of them went back to work, delighted.

"Brother Jiang."

Hearing the voice, Lin Jiang looked over and saw Qin Youyou walk in from outside.

Lin Jiang guessed she was here to pick up her medicine.

"Brother Jiang, I just saw your former chef leaving, cursing up a storm. Did something happen?"

Lin Jiang told Qin Youyou what had just happened, and her reaction was intense.

"Is this guy trying to play hardball? He’s going to sue you? He’s got some nerve."

"I’m just waiting for him to sue. I want to see what tricks he can pull."

"You shouldn’t get involved in this. Just leave it to my sister," Qin Youyou said.

"My sister actually called you just now. She said she wants to treat you to a meal. She told me to ask you if you’re free tonight when I came to get the medicine."

"Sure, let’s go."

After getting the medicine, the two of them left. They decided to have dinner downstairs at the Century Triumph Building.

Soon, Lin Jiang drove his car to the entrance of the Unnoticed Barbecue Shop.

The exterior was lavishly decorated, giving off a vibe that it was too expensive to eat there. It looked like even the God of Wealth would walk out naked after a single meal.

Lin Jiang parked the car and spotted Qin Yangyang’s car outside.

As he entered the shop, a waitress in a high-slit qipao walked over to greet him.

’It seems you get what you pay for. With a setup like this, even a bathhouse would have to call them professionals.’

Qin Yangyang was sitting at the innermost table. She waved when she saw the two of them enter.

Lin Jiang’s steps faltered for a moment, because a yellow exclamation mark had appeared above Qin Yangyang’s head!

This wasn’t an ordinary daily quest!

As he walked over, Lin Jiang tapped the yellow exclamation mark.

[Quest Name: Death Threat]

[Quest Description: You are being threatened by the suspect’s family. Help the NPC resolve the current crisis.]

[Quest Reward: X-ray Vision (7 days) x1, Blink Card x1, 30 points]

Holy crap!

X-ray Vision!