Shen Yu followed behind Xi Yue, breathing in the soothing fragrance floating through the hotel, a scent that felt exceptionally comfortable.
Xi Yue turned off the TV, sat down next to Shen Yu, and placed a glass of water in front of him. She then pulled out a tablet to show him the hotel’s room layout, introducing everything in detail.
Xi Yue’s idea was to wait for the expert to settle in first, build a good relationship with him, and only then bring up the matter of employment indirectly. She was afraid that if she brought up room and board right away, he would think she was a fool.
“2 crystals… Are those Level 1 crystals?” Shen Yu’s voice was somewhat raspy from having not spoken for so long.
Xi Yue hurriedly pushed the glass of water closer, worried his throat might be uncomfortable.
Watching Shen Yu lift the glass and wet his lips, she said, “That’s right, Level 1 crystals! Everything here is super affordable!”
Shen Yu felt a slight headache coming on. He had killed countless low-level zombies, but he had zero interest in picking up zombie crystals below Level 3, while anything Level 3 or above he had absorbed on the spot.
Seeing that he didn’t reply, Xi Yue was a bit unsure of what was on the expert’s mind.
She cast a few cautious glances at Shen Yu, her eyes darting around as if strategizing her next move.
Leaning back against the sofa, Shen Yu reached up and ran his hand through the hair on his forehead, pulling it back to reveal his brows and eyes.
Xi Yue glanced over—his eyes were truly gorgeous! A pair of phoenix eyes with slightly upturned corners and light amber pupils; combined with the rest of his face, it was practically a feast for any visual enthusiast!
Xi Yue stared blankly at Shen Yu, her eyes still crystal clear and clean, filled with admiration and envy, the little expressions on her face lively as could be.
Shen Yu had no idea why there was a hint of envy mixed in there, but watching her animated expressions, he let out a soft laugh anyway.
“I don’t have any crystals right now. Can I go out to kill a couple of zombies and come back later?” Shen Yu asked with a hint of a smile.
Feeling utterly captivated, Xi Yue blurted out, “Perhaps, would you consider working here?”
“Working? What kind of work? What are the working hours? How is the pay calculated?”
“It’s just taking care of hotel business and things like that… The pay… the pay… room and board included… work… 24…” The more she spoke, the guiltier she felt, and her voice grew softer and softer.
In truth, Xi Yue didn’t know what employees were supposed to do either; the system hadn’t specified, so she just assumed employees would handle hotel-related matters anyway.
“How much is the pay? Sorry, I didn’t hear clearly. Could you please say that again?” Shen Yu had actually heard clearly, but he found the young girl’s flustered state too amusing.
A girl like this could never belong to this apocalypse. There was not a single trace of gloom in her eyes; she looked obedient, simple, easily embarrassed, and completely transparent.
Someone like her had never experienced the apocalypse, possessed the ability to open such a miraculous hotel, yet couldn’t bring herself to state the employee wages out loud. That could only mean the wages weren’t set by her, and she was likely just managing it on someone else’s behalf.
Combining the fact that she didn’t seem to belong to this world with the possession of items beyond this era’s background, she was either an alien or, just like in web novels, had transmigrated with a system.
Xi Yue cringed so hard she felt like curling her toes, but she braved it out and said, “Room and board included. On call 24 hours a day.”
After saying that, she looked up at the ceiling, thought for a moment, and added, “B-but, I can protect you within the hotel grounds. The entire hotel is within my domain. You can sleep peacefully at night! And even though it’s room and board, my food isn’t bad either! I can definitely make sure you get some meat to eat!” The more Xi Yue spoke, the more justified she felt.
“But can’t I get all of that just by staying in the hotel as a guest?” Shen Yu looked at Xi Yue with a smiling glint in his eyes, as if saying *let’s see what else you can make up*.
Xi Yue hung her head, thoroughly speechless at her stingy system. As the boss, she had to pay for things she bought in the hotel herself.
To offer such ruthless, miserly terms when recruiting an employee was downright ridiculous.
Wait… room and board included! It wouldn’t be paid out of her own pocket, would it?!
“Do we need to sign a contract? Even if it’s the end of the world, we shouldn’t skip the proper formality, right?”
Shen Yu’s words interrupted Xi Yue’s inner grumbling. She snapped her head up and hurriedly asked the system if there was a contract.
[The official employee contract has been issued to the front desk. Once signed, it is a lifelong binding agreement.]
If this system didn’t speak, fine; the moment it spoke, it dropped another bombshell.
Even capitalists weren’t this cold-hearted! Offering dirt-cheap wages to keep someone on call 24 hours a day, and forcing them to work for you for a lifetime!
Xi Yue got up to fetch the contract from the front desk, her legs trembling as she walked.
Handing the agreement to Shen Yu, she said self-consciously, “If you sign this, it will be a lifelong binding agreement, and you’ll have to work here for the rest of your life.”
Looking over the terms of the agreement, Shen Yu laughed and said, “Even married people can get a divorce, yet once this contract is signed, you’re going to manage me for the rest of my life. According to these clauses, I can’t betray you, I have to obey you, and the right of final interpretation belongs to you, Ms. Xi Yue.”
The more Xi Yue listened, the more embarrassed she felt, her head dropping lower and lower until she looked like she wanted to shrink straight into the ground.
“Signed. Here you go. Boss Xi Yue, I am now your official employee, Shen Yu.” Shen Yu extended his right hand.
[Recruiting 1 qualified employee completed! Reward task bundle granted!]
Xi Yue immediately stood up, grabbed Shen Yu’s right hand with both of hers, and shook it vigorously.
Even though she didn’t know why such a powerful expert would choose to stay—after all, the benefits offered by the system were utterly useless to him, and the working conditions were extremely harsh.
She quietly asked the system in her mind: *Could he have some sort of conspiracy, like infiltrating from within to kill me and take over?*
She couldn’t be blamed for overthinking; after all, everything had gone far too smoothly.
[Absolutely impossible. Even if he hadn’t signed the contract, he cannot resist within the host’s absolute domain. Having signed the contract, everything of his will belong to the hotel, and he won’t even be capable of harboring a thought of rebellion.]
*Then everything’s fine!*
Xi Yue waved the signed contract in her hand; turns out he really was a saint descended to earth!
“Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat? Do you eat braised chicken with mushrooms?” Xi Yue pointed at the mushroom braised chicken instant noodles and chicken stewed with mushrooms self-heating rice she had forgotten on the table.
“I’m not a picky eater; this rice is just fine.” Shen Yu opened the self-heating rice, added water from the dispenser, and let it simmer.
In truth, he didn’t know why he had signed such a contract either; he had simply followed his heart.
He had no desire to relive his past life anyway, and coming to City B was merely to find a place to retire early, never expecting to encounter such a variable.
After signing the contract, he felt no regret and even began looking forward to his future life. After all, trying out a different kind of life wasn’t bad; at worst, it was just death again.
Xi Yue put the contract into the front desk drawer and turned to leave.
Only, she didn’t know that after she left, the contract was transferred back into the system space.
Placed beside a certain creature playing video games, a line of text floated up at the bottom.
[The Destroyer has been successfully bound to the hotel.]
“Is your hair covering your eyes annoying you? I have scissors—do you know how to cut hair?” Xi Yue asked curiously.
“I don’t know how to cut hair. Do you? How about you cut it for me?” Shen Yu uncovered his cooked food.
“I don’t know how either, and I’m afraid I’ll ruin your hair. I have some small hair ties, though. Would you mind tying your hair up? Next time we meet someone with proper skills, we can have them trim it for you.” Xi Yue suggested sincerely. Looking at Shen Yu’s thick, jet-black hair, it would be such a shame if it ended up looking like it was gnawed by a dog.
“Then help me tie it up; I don’t know how to do it.” Eating his food, he tilted his head up toward Xi Yue.
Xi Yue walked to his side, gathered the hair on his forehead with her fingers, smoothed it out alternating her hands, and tied it into a small ponytail pointing backward.
After tying up his hair, Shen Yu revealed the full extent of his handsome features, looking truly pleasing to the eye.
Fang Guohua finally returned to the hotel with his two grandsons, carrying two large bags stuffed full of crystals.
Fang Xiaojun and Qian Lele were wearing two brand-new little backpacks and cradling several plush toys in their arms. Looking at the three of them, it was clear they had made a truly bountiful harvest!