Chapter 94
Chapter 94
Li Cheng reluctantly returned the little ball to Lin Zhu. After taking a long drink of beer, he explained, “Every Item has quality levels. We’re still using pagers, but top players have smart terminals.”
Cheng Miao thought of their phones. They still had physical keypads, though she had promised to buy Qi Jiajia a touchscreen model.
“Our Stamina Recovery Pills are the lowest grade. They have a chance of side effects and can’t restore your threshold, meaning your mental state.”
Jiang Qi interrupted with his face crumpled like paper. “I got unlucky last time. The side effect was diarrhea. Heaven knows how many times I used the restroom in that instance. Thank goodness it wasn’t supernatural.”
Qi Jiajia frowned and put down the soup she had been drinking to glare at him. Jiang Qi had no idea why a little girl made him so nervous. He apologized awkwardly and stuffed a piece of crispy pork into his mouth.
“Your Item is high-grade and restores mental energy too. I’ve seen one before. It costs almost 500 Travel Coins.” Li Cheng smacked his lips enviously.
Lin Zhu had not realized how good the bargain was. He tried to give it to Cheng Miao, but she refused. When he offered it to Qi Jiajia, she loftily expressed her disdain and ordered him to keep it.
He considered giving it to Qin Musong…
Lin Zhu looked at Qin Musong’s powerful arms and silently put the Item away.
“Why are you working here?” Cheng Miao asked. All four looked exhausted and would probably need to return to clearing dishes and serving customers soon.
“We saw a recruitment ad on television and applied. Each person earns 400 Travel Coins a day. A standard room at a Guesthouse costs only 500. It isn’t much, but at least we don’t have to risk our lives.”
Li Cheng looked miserable. He was exhausted and ordered fried rice to shovel into his mouth. “No one made of flesh and blood can wake up and enter instances every day.”
“Are there any jobs with higher pay?” Tong Qian and Bai Jiang had not seen the advertisement. Hearing Li Cheng’s account made them interested.
Li Cheng glanced apologetically at the couple and shook his head. “We aren’t Hotel-level guests, so naturally we can’t get good jobs here. A Hotel-level guest could earn seven or eight hundred a day without much difficulty.”
Bai Jiang’s eyes lit up. He exchanged an excited look with Tong Qian. If they found work, they could remain at the Hotel.
They cautiously looked at Qiudong, who was eating tofu from Cheng Miao’s hand. As though sensing it, Qiudong gave them a languid glance. They immediately looked away, trembling like students who had accidentally made deadly eye contact with a teacher during class.
Qiudong leisurely finished the plate of tofu before saying, “I still need a cleaner. Eight hundred a day.”
Tong Qian thanked him repeatedly in excitement. When they stayed before, Qiudong had not even opened his eyes as they paid the room fee. This job offer was clearly thanks to Cheng Miao.
“Qianqian, you stay at the Inn. It’ll be safer. When we go back tonight, I’ll look for other work.” Bai Jiang was excited too. He held Tong Qian’s hand, looking far more energetic.
Cheng Miao glanced at Qiudong in surprise. His lordship had already eaten his fill and closed his eyes.
She did not address Qiudong again. Turning to the couple, she said, “Working is one option, but advancing through work is difficult.”
In other words, they might eventually earn enough to return to the real world, but it would take a long time.
Bai Jiang smiled bitterly. “We understand. But every instance is a near-certain death. Several times, we barely made it out… Under those circumstances, being able to stay with Qianqian as long as possible is enough for me.”
Cheng Miao fell silent. Entering instances truly was not the choice most people would make.
Li Cheng nodded along. “Exactly. Look at us. We all struggled to make a living in society. My parents died young, and I’ve always been alone. Returning to the real world doesn’t matter much to me. Staying alive comes first, right?”
An inexplicable sorrow rose within Cheng Miao. She swallowed it, raised her glass, and drank with everyone.
The meal lasted until eleven. Jiang Qi and Zhang Hui supported the drunken Li Cheng, with Jiang Hao following behind. After exchanging contact information with Cheng Miao’s group, they headed out of the city.
They said trains outside the city traveled to all the different Inns. Tickets were inexpensive, only 20 Travel Coins per person.
Tong Qian and Bai Jiang thanked Cheng Miao again for the meal, then hurried back to the Hotel. They wanted to search the television recruitment ads. Remaining somewhere with such a pleasant environment would be wonderful.
Qiudong lay on Cheng Miao’s shoulder while the four teammates strolled through the city.
Many stores had closed, though shops not operated by players remained open. The group wanted a proper night’s rest, so they decided to explore more the next day.
“That meal was so cheap. It only cost 200 Travel Coins.” Lin Zhu conscientiously entered the expense using his phone’s physical buttons. He took his role as bookkeeper seriously.
Cheng Miao walked in silence for a while, then slowly sighed. “I only learned today how many people choose to remain in the Survival Inn.”
Qi Jiajia was far more cheerful than before and skipped ahead. “Isn’t that normal? Hotel-level Inns have good environments and low prices. If you find a job, you only enter an instance once a month… That might be better than many people’s lives in the real world.”
Cheng Miao remained silent. It was true.
Not everyone had a reason they absolutely had to return. Life was life wherever one lived. Why risk death for an existence that might be no better?
“What about you? Have you ever considered staying here?” Cheng Miao asked softly, unconsciously raising a hand to stroke Qiudong’s fluffy head.
Qiudong opened his brilliant eyes, the tip of his tail twitching. Forget it. The woman was unhappy. He would let it pass.
“No. I’m going back to find my wife.” Qin Musong softened his voice. The gentle expression on such a distinguished, handsome older man briefly dazzled Cheng Miao.
“What about your daughter?” Qi Jiajia looked up at the uncle who treated her so well. He always said she resembled his daughter, though surely no other child behaved as viciously as she did.
Qin Musong lowered his gaze, and the corner of his mouth moved. “She died from an illness.”
The other three froze. Qin Musong constantly mentioned his daughter. None had realized she was already gone.
Qin Musong was a resilient man and did not let himself sink into grief. He rubbed his brow and changed the subject. “What about you?”
“Me? Either way is fine. Both my parents are alive, but I’m not their only possible heir.” Qi Jiajia shrugged. How could a wealthy family contain nothing but affection? Her parents loved her, but even they were powerless against certain things.
She did not mind. If the team left together, she would leave. If they stayed together, she would stay.
Lin Zhu tucked his phone into his pocket and considered seriously. “My parents divorced and have their own lives now. They’re doing well. It doesn’t make much difference whether I return… I’ll follow Sister Miaomiao!”
Cheng Miao was speechless. How the hell was that her decision to make?