"Buzz~~~"
The air swirled, and Lin Zhao rapidly turned his hoverbike in the wind.
"Going back already?"
Ding Chi chuckled, "Isn't that a bit too hasty?"
"What else?"
Lin Zhao said calmly, "Should we wait a few more days for Sister Juzi to be ravaged by those men before picking her up to the studio?"
"Hmm, that's true."
Ding Chi nodded, "I'll rent a car later and take all of Sister Juzi and Little Juzi's belongings. If we move, we move everything, and they won't have to come back here anymore."
"Mm."
...
A few minutes later, in the alley of a rundown civilian district in the early morning, the woman Lin Zhao and Ding Chi called "Sister Juzi" was carrying heavy discarded engines. Little Juzi followed closely behind. Suddenly, Lin Zhao's hoverbike floated horizontally in front of them. He looked at the woman and the young girl and said, "Sister Juzi, I want to offer you a job. Would you consider it?"
"Huh?!"
The woman was slightly taken aback, her expression somewhat vacant.
"It's like this..."
Lin Zhao frowned and said calmly, "Ding Chi, Zhang Jun, and I have settled into the game 'Tianxia'. We live by the East Taihu Lake and make a living from the game. Our income is currently stable, but most of our time is spent in the game, so our living situation is quite messy. We need someone to manage the studio. If you're willing, I hope you can come over and help us with laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking. We will pay you... eight thousand universal coins per month."
When she heard "eight thousand universal coins," the woman's previously vacant eyes suddenly brightened. Eight thousand universal coins would be enough for her and Little Juzi to live a good life.
"Also,"
Lin Zhao continued, "There's accommodation in the studio. You and Little Juzi can share a room. Normally, you just need to do your job. We won't disturb you at all. What do you say? If you're willing, Ding Chi and I will rent a car now and help you move. Don't come back here anymore."
"Brother Lin Zhao..."
Little Juzi's eyes were filled with longing. Of course, she wanted to leave this place. Once they left, her mother wouldn't have to be bullied by those men anymore.
"Lin Zhao."
Sister Juzi's expression was still somewhat dejected. "Is it true? Please don't... give me a dream and then wake me up. I've had enough. I've accepted my fate..."
"This time, it's definitely not a dream."
Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow and said, "Your previous men would betray you, but my word is my bond. I've always treated you like a sister and Little Juzi like a younger sister. As long as you agree, I will take care of you from now on, and Ding Chi will too. Right?"
Ding Chi nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes! Sister Juzi, don't overthink it. Lin Zhao and I want to hire you, partly to solve your current difficulties, and partly for a simpler reason: our studio genuinely needs someone to take care of our daily lives. Otherwise, three grown men making a mess, eating instant noodles every day, with no one to cook for us, we're living like ghosts."
"Mm..."
Sister Juzi finally relented, nodding slightly. "Lin Zhao, of course I want this job, but..."
She glanced in the direction of her home.
"It's alright."
Lin Zhao understood her meaning and smiled, "I'll pay your rent for you. Consider it your first benefit before starting work. Let's go, we'll move."
"Okay..."
...
Ding Chi spent 300 universal coins to hire a moving truck, which was parked in front of the alley. Lin Zhao helped the mother and daughter move. They could take whatever they wanted. Sister Juzi, meticulous as ever, carefully folded her pile of worn-out clothes, unwilling to throw anything away. People who have endured hardship are reluctant to part with these things.
A moment later, a man's voice came from outside. It was the landlord, who was also Lin Zhao's landlord.
"What's the matter, going to settle the rent?"
The landlord stood outside, arms crossed, and smiled. "Found a benefactor, huh? Closing down your business? Will you be uncomfortable without men visiting you every day?"
Sister Juzi remained silent, tears falling as she folded her clothes.
"Stop the nonsense."
Lin Zhao stepped forward and said, "How much rent does Sister Juzi still owe? I'll pay it for her."
"Can you afford it?"
The landlord sneered, "She owes a year's rent and hasn't been able to pay it. It totals 2400 yuan in universal coins. You're going to pay?"
Lin Zhao frowned and reached out to Ding Chi.
Immediately, Ding Chi pulled out two thousand-yuan notes and four hundred-yuan notes from his back pocket and handed them over, saying with a smile, "This clears everything."
"Tsk tsk..."
The landlord lightly patted the bills with his hand, looked at the woman in the room, and said with a smile, "You really met a benefactor! So you won't be taking clients anymore? What a shame. I have a few friends who have always been fond of you. That face, that figure, it's a shame not to do this~~~"
"Are you done yet?"
Lin Zhao stepped forward and slapped him across the face. "Slap!" The crisp sound made the landlord spin around. His face instantly turned red. He covered his face, looking stunned. He hadn't expected this brat who had rented his place for three years would actually dare to hit him.
"You... you..."
"What about me?"
Ding Chi came from behind and kicked him in the backside. "Go to hell!"
The landlord stumbled and fell to the ground, covered in mud.
"Get lost?"
Lin Zhao said with a cold voice.
"You... you guys... just you wait..."
The landlord scrambled to his feet and quickly ran away.
...
At noon, the truck slowly stopped in the courtyard of a villa by Taihu Lake. Lin Zhao called Zhang Jun out to help with the move. Sister Juzi got out of the truck, her face full of disbelief. "Lin Zhao... this is your place?"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao smiled slightly. "Don't be surprised. It's actually not entirely mine. My sister uses it as a studio, and I'm half the landlord. Sister Juzi, come on, let's pick a room?"
"Oh..."
Sister Juzi looked flattered. Little Juzi's eyes were wide open. She had never seen such a luxurious residence before.
In the end, Sister Juzi chose an inconspicuous small room in a corner on the first floor. Although Lin Zhao thought she should have chosen a larger room, considering it was for a mother and daughter, she refused. He had no choice but to let her have her way. Lin Zhao understood that Sister Juzi had suffered a lot over the years. The concept of being "beneath others" was deeply ingrained in her mind. Facing Lin Zhao and the others, Sister Juzi was filled with anxiety.
This kind of thing could only be addressed slowly.
...
In the room.
Little Juzi and her mother's belongings were mostly moved in. They looked shabby and out of place in the room's high-end decor. Sister Juzi looked embarrassed and said, "It seems like... I've dirtied this place."
"It's alright."
Lin Zhao sat on the sofa opposite her and took out 8,000 universal coins from his pocket, placing them on the table. "This is your first month's salary, advanced. Don't think it's little. The studio hasn't truly gotten on track yet, so this is all we can afford for now. Also,"
He took out another 10,000 universal coins and placed them on the table. "Sister Juzi, this is the money for groceries and various daily necessities for everyone this month. Don't be stingy with this money. We all need to eat well. When you buy groceries, buy enough for five people. You and Little Juzi will eat with us. However, our schedules for logging in and out are not always regular, so sometimes you might have to go hungry with us for a little while."
Sister Juzi chuckled, "It's not like I haven't gone hungry before. It's alright..."
"And,"
Lin Zhao took out another 5,000 universal coins and said with a smile, "There's a commercial district about a mile away. If you have time this afternoon, take Little Juzi there and buy a few sets of clothes for yourselves. From today onwards, you're an 'external member' of our Scarlet Moon Knights, so you need to look the part, right?"
Sister Juzi also smiled, but her smile carried a hint of bitterness. Only when she was alone with Lin Zhao did she feel a little less constrained. After all, Lin Zhao had known her for three years, while Ding Chi and Zhang Jun seemed a bit more distant.
"Alright."
Lin Zhao rubbed Little Juzi's head and said with a smile, "From now on, you'll be living here with your mom, okay?"
"Mm!"
Little Juzi nodded vigorously and then pointed at the television set in the room. "Can... can I watch that?"
"Of course."
Lin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Alright, Ding Chi and Zhang Jun should be back with food. This afternoon, the three of us will be logging in. Sister Juzi, take the keys and room card, and do whatever you need to do. Don't mind us."
"Okay!"
Lin Zhao walked out of the room, his pockets empty. His savings were all spent, but he felt a sense of comfort at that moment. Some things had to be done, and doing them made him feel at ease.
...
At noon, the five of them ate boxed lunches together, and then logged in.
"Swish!"
Lin Zhao logged in, clad in golden equipment, with two swords on his back, and his posture straight as he appeared in the east city square of Cloudfall County. It was already 1:30 PM when he logged in. Because of the matters concerning Little Juzi and her mother, a whole morning had been delayed, so he needed to catch up on his level in the afternoon.
"Ah Zhao!"
Not far away, Ding Chi walked over with his sword, a smile on his face. "The equipment we consigned yesterday has been sold. Guess how much that Treant War Bow finally fetched?"
"How much?" Lin Zhao asked with a smile.
Ding Chi held up three fingers. "A full thirty thousand universal coins! Damn it, there are too many rich people in the county town. Plus other miscellaneous consignment earnings, our studio made about 34,000 universal coins yesterday. The Treant War Bow was the biggest chunk. The other equipment only sold for scraps. Starting today, Xuan Tie grade and Bronze grade items are severely devalued and worthless. Silver grade items have the highest market demand, and Gold grade items have the highest market price."
"Got it. We still need to work hard today."
Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Have the people who gather boss information been found?"
"Found."
Ding Chi smiled slightly. "I'll call him over now."
"Mm."
...
A few minutes later, a ripple of space appeared in front of Lin Zhao. He immediately raised his hand to grip his sword hilt, the blade unsheathing a few inches. He smiled slightly and said, "Come out?"
A figure emerged from the void. It was an assassin, young, around twenty years old, with a lazy smile. He said, "Junior Mo Yin reports for duty, greetings to Brother Bai Yi!"
Lin Zhao smiled warmly. This newcomer was quite high-level!
[Mo Yin] (Apprentice Phantom Assassin)
Level: 29
所属小队: None
小队职位: None