Upgrade the hotel’s farm?
“Seed of Life”?
Jiang Lingyue’s eyes lit up the moment she saw the mission released by the system.
A farm!
This was an amazing opportunity!
If she could grow her own vegetables in the hotel, that would mean she could have unlimited access to fruits and vegetables in the future.
No more worrying about running out of stock, no more counting crystal cores every day just to get by!
This mission had to be completed!
“GreenSource Plant Research Institute…” Jiang Lingyue muttered the name to herself.
It sounded like a dangerous place.
Plants in the apocalypse weren’t exactly easier to deal with than zombies.
But right now, she had two S-class employees under her. Even the most dangerous place should be manageable, right?
Jiang Lingyue made up her mind and immediately told Gu Han, who had just finished eating and was about to wash the dishes, about the new mission.
“…Plant research institute?”
Gu Han frowned immediately upon hearing it.
“That place is very dangerous,” he said in a low, serious tone. “The area around the institute is covered with mutated plants, including some A-class, and there may even be S-class mutated plant kings.”
“S-class mutated plants?” Jiang Lingyue’s heart skipped a beat.
She knew mutated plants were troublesome, but she hadn’t expected S-class ones to exist.
“Yes,” Gu Han said, his expression serious. “Over the past five years, several teams of ability users have tried to enter the institute to retrieve valuable pre-apocalypse plant samples, but almost all of them never returned. The place has been designated as one of the city’s S-class forbidden zones.”
S-class forbidden zone…
Even just hearing the title sent shivers down Jiang Lingyue’s spine.
“So… what do we do?” she asked, hesitating.
For a few seeds, sending her employees to risk their lives didn’t seem worth it.
What if something happened to Gu Han? Where could she ever find such a reliable worker again?
“I’ll go.”
Gu Han looked at her, unwavering, without a hint of hesitation.
“Alone?” Jiang Lingyue’s worry deepened. “No, that’s too dangerous!”
“I can handle it,” Gu Han said calmly, but there was an unmistakable confidence in his voice.
He knew how important this mission was for the hotel and for Jiang Lingyue.
Food.
In the apocalypse, food trumped everything.
If the hotel had a farm that could continuously produce food, its value would be immeasurable.
No matter how dangerous, he had to go.
It was his duty as the hotel’s “Number One Employee” and his selfish desire to make sure she lived better, more securely.
Before Jiang Lingyue could respond, a lazy, slightly provocative voice rang from the stairwell.
“Heh, S-class forbidden zone? Sounds interesting.”
It was Lu Xiao, who had gone upstairs not long ago, now leaning casually against the second-floor railing, looking down on them.
He was wearing clean casual clothes another exchange from Jiang Lingyue’s mall. His face still bore some injuries, but that defiant, unyielding aura had returned.
He had obviously overheard Jiang Lingyue and Gu Han’s conversation.
“What? A new mission?” Lu Xiao’s lips curved into a playful smirk. “Such a good opportunity shouldn’t go to him alone, right?”
He pointed at Gu Han, unashamedly teasing.
Gu Han cast him a cold glance but said nothing.
Jiang Lingyue could feel the pressure around him lower slightly.
“This doesn’t concern you,” Gu Han finally said, his tone icy.
“Why not me?” Lu Xiao walked down the stairs and stood in front of Gu Han, half a head taller. “I’m an employee of the hotel now too. Why should all the good stuff go to you? I’m going too!”
He urgently needed a chance to prove his value.
He didn’t want to watch Gu Han enjoy good food while he gnawed on compressed biscuits.
And he also wanted to show that woman who the stronger man really was!
“You?” Gu Han looked him over, a hint of disdain in his eyes. “You can’t even get through the hotel gate, and you want to go to an S-class forbidden zone?”
That hit Lu Xiao’s sore spot precisely.
“Who the hell are you calling incapable!” Lu Xiao exploded, arcs of electricity sparking around him. “I was careless before! Let’s go train right now! I’ll beat you so badly you’ll be picking teeth off the floor!”
“In the hotel, private fights are forbidden,” Gu Han said coldly, citing hotel rules.
“You!” Lu Xiao clenched his teeth in anger, helpless.
He couldn’t risk another round of those soul-crushing electric shocks just to prove himself.
Seeing the two about to argue again, Jiang Lingyue quickly stepped in to mediate.
“Alright, alright, stop arguing!”
She was stressed out.
These two were natural rivals every time they met, it was instant conflict.
“It’s just a mission. What’s there to fight about?”
“This mission is important and dangerous,” Jiang Lingyue said seriously. “I need the strongest person to execute it.”
The moment she said that, both Gu Han and Lu Xiao looked at her simultaneously.
Their eyes seemed to scream: Pick me! Pick me!
Gu Han’s gaze was icy and determined.
Lu Xiao’s gaze burned with fiery confidence.
Looking at both pairs of eyes, Jiang Lingyue felt her decision paralysis setting in.
If she chose Gu Han, Lu Xiao would be unhappy and might cause trouble later.
If she chose Lu Xiao, Gu Han would be silently displeased and he was clearly more stable and reliable than the impulsive Lu Xiao.
“Well…”
“Why don’t you two go together?” Jiang Lingyue tentatively suggested.
Both were S-class; together, their safety would be much higher.
“I don’t want to go with him!”
“I don’t need a partner.”
Both refused almost simultaneously.
Of course. Jiang Lingyue had expected this.
She rubbed her throbbing temples being a landlady was exhausting.
“Then what do you suggest?” she tossed the question back to them.
“Simple,” Lu Xiao grinned, baring his white teeth. He pointed at Gu Han and said, “Let’s compete! Whoever wins goes!”
“Compete in what?” Jiang Lingyue asked.
“Who can collect the most crystal cores tomorrow!”
Lu Xiao’s eyes burned with determination. “From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow. Whoever submits crystal cores of the highest total value wins. The loser must unconditionally obey one demand from the winner. Ready? Dare to play?”
He provocatively stared at Gu Han.
Gu Han paused, then coldly said one word:
“Fine.”
He couldn’t lose.
Not in strength, nor… in her eyes.
“Alright! It’s settled then!”
Seeing both agree, Jiang Lingyue made the final decision.
Competition creates motivation.
Letting them compete would also stop them from bickering in front of her every day.
Plus, she was curious which of these two S-class top-tier powerhouses was stronger.
And just like that, a competition concerning mission execution and male pride was hastily decided.
The air in the lobby grew tense and heated with the anticipation of the coming rivalry.