Chapter 93: Such Strange Happenings
Because this item didn’t specify how long its effect would last, she habitually dawdled for five minutes before stepping out of the Fragrant Gathering Pavilion with her mother.
At this moment, Zhou the Skinflint was outside with several waiters, shouting, “All kinds of barbecue, late-night snacks, a ten-year-old established shop! Come in and have a seat!”
No one paid them any attention; it was as if they were invisible.
When a few regulars passed by, Zhou the Skinflint greeted them with a smile, but they all went to other shops instead.
As the saying goes, competitors are sworn enemies. The neighboring shops, seeing the Fragrant Gathering Pavilion’s predicament, were all gloating.
“Old Zhou, business not doing so well today, huh? Did you step in dog poo on your way out?”
“Yeah, there were quite a lot of people just now, but suddenly everyone cleared out. Maybe your lucky charm is facing the wrong way!”
“Old Zhou, I see your brow is clouded—bad luck must be haunting you...”
Zhou Haitao snapped in anger, “Get lost, all of you! My fortune’s shining bright! Worry about yourselves, you lot of doom-mongers!”
…
Shi Qingqing took her mother’s arm and turned back to say, “Boss Zhou, I’ll be back tomorrow. See you then!”
Zhou the Skinflint rolled his eyes. No matter how many days she came, it would be a waste—he’d already resolved not to pay her. Yet, seeing the determined smile on Shi Qingqing’s face, he couldn’t help but shiver…
It seemed that the moment this little girl entered, all the customers vanished…
Could it really be something so uncanny?
Zhou the Skinflint shook the thought away and continued hawking his wares.
***
Zhan Su watched from his phone’s surveillance feed as Shi Qingqing poked her head around the entrance of her apartment complex, looking both ways, cautious as a little fox confirming no one was watching. Only then did she slip swiftly into the stairwell…
Hmm, this little extra sure was vigilant today—trying to escape and not show up?
Very well. Tomorrow, she’d get double the time, plus a special welcome from Blackie.
Not long after, the computer emitted a soft beep. Zhan Su put down his phone and turned to the screen. A string of numbers appeared—only he could decipher them. He tapped the mouse, browsed for a moment, and a rare smile flickered across his face.
His slender fingers stroked his chin. Could this so-called ace power-leveler really be just an extra?
With a face like that, she dared call herself an ace? What a fraud!
Still, her temperament and behavior were the same—never giving an inch. Whether as an extra or a power-leveler, she was greedy, stingy, utterly lacking in sympathy, and driven by profit…
Zhan Su lost interest in further investigating the extra. Glancing at the time—nearly eight o’clock—he remembered it was guild war night. He logged into Emperor Online…
***
Shi Qingqing luxuriated in a hot shower, then sat down at her computer.
She had finally escaped Zhan the campus heartthrob’s clutches today, ha! There’s no way he knew where she lived—she absolutely couldn’t let her whereabouts be exposed…
The “Empty as a Desert” item she’d used at the Fragrant Gathering Pavilion tonight had been immensely satisfying—she’d thought it was a useless item, but it turned out to be surprisingly effective. An unexpected delight!
No wages? No problem. Tomorrow, she’d show up at Zhou the Skinflint’s during the busiest hour, sit for five minutes…
Just sit there quietly, play around with her “Empty as a Desert” charm…
She’d snatched so many red packets this afternoon her hands felt numb, and her phone battery had drained alarmingly fast—only 8% left.
Shi Qingqing decided to take a break for now, opened the game, and began her daily client tasks.