Chapter 19
Chapter 19
“Congratulations, Host!”
Barbara floated around Zhu Yin’s head and manually set off a string of tiny fireworks for her. “You completed your first mission perfectly!”
A screen of light appeared before Zhu Yin.
[Congratulations to mission worker Zhu Yin for completing the main mission as a butler. Mission completion is now being assessed.]
[Mission completion assessment complete. Mission worker Zhu Yin has received a “Perfect” rating. World mission points: +1,000. Perfect-rating bonus: 30%. Total points received: 1,300.]
[Mission worker Zhu Yin has gained the protagonists’ recognition and unlocked the title “Wicked Witch.” Points: +100. Effect while the Wicked Witch title is equipped: automatically joins the dark faction; intimidation +1; potion effects +10%.]
Barbara was so shocked that its entire body swelled by a size. “A Perfect rating! The maximum one thousand points, and an exclusive title!”
Only the greatest experts could earn an achievement like this. And this had been Barbara and its host’s very first mission!
Systems received separate settlements for assisting with missions. Barbara also earned a considerable reward this time and happily expanded its database.
Then it cheerfully told its host, “When someone achieves a perfect clear, the Central System makes an announcement across the entire World-Hopping Bureau network. Now every mission worker and system in the Bureau will know the names of our host and Barbara!”
What an extraordinary honor!
“Oh.” Zhu Yin’s reaction was calm. She tapped casually at the light screen and browsed the recently unlocked System Store.
Barbara’s attention shifted immediately. It excitedly urged, “Choose a stat point! Host, a stat point!”
Including the title reward, the mission had earned its host a total of 1,400 points. One stat point cost 1,000 points in the store.
She could exchange them for one stat point to allocate as she pleased and have four hundred left. If she saved those and completed another mission, perhaps she could exchange them for another point.
Of course, four hundred points could also buy a few basic items. But Barbara remembered the “few little possessions” its expert host had produced and decisively abandoned that option.
Zhu Yin ignored its advice. Her gaze swept across the screen before her fingertip selected another inconspicuous section.
System appearance exchange.
She soon selected her target, then tapped purchase and confirm.
Exactly 1,400 points. Not one remained.
Before the pink ball could react, an enormous gift box with a colorful bow suddenly enveloped it.
Then, bang!
The gift box burst into tiny fireworks, and countless pieces of confetti fluttered down, revealing a dazed little pink kitten inside.
Round, bright, cherry-blossom-pink feline eyes stared blankly at its host, then caught the reflection of its new appearance in her eyes.
Barbara had turned into a little kitten!
Even its voice sounded unsteady. “Host, you bought me a system appearance?”
As though picking up a present, Zhu Yin lifted the cherry-blossom kitten from the center of the gift box. It felt warm and soft, a fluffy little bundle in her hands. She could even sense the kitten’s soft breathing.
The World-Hopping Bureau store truly sold high-quality products.
Zhu Yin was very satisfied.
She asked Barbara, “Do you like it?”
Barbara’s eyes nearly turned into shining stars. What system did not want a new skin?
Then it remembered something and quickly began struggling in Zhu Yin’s hands. “Everything in the store comes with a ten-minute trial period. Host, hurry and request a refund. This isn’t worth the price. You could spend one thousand on a stat point and add it to your physique or strength. It would make you much more powerful.”
Zhu Yin squeezed its soft little paw. “Why refund it? It’s beautiful.”
“But…”
“Just tell me: is it pretty, and do you like it?”
Barbara fell silent. It could not lie. The cherry-blossom kitten skin was extremely popular among systems. Any system with a few resources would save points for it or ask its host to buy one.
It could not bring itself to say it disliked the skin.
When the system kitten looked up again, its eyes sparkled with two pools of grateful tears. “Boohoo, Host, you’re so good to Barbara…”
It would work hard and help its host complete every mission even better!
“Host, our next mission world is the modern entertainment industry.”
Barbara asked Zhu Yin, “After completing a mission, we can choose to take a week off. Do you want a break?”
“No need.” Zhu Yin thought World-Hopping Bureau missions were quite relaxing.
“Understood. Beginning mission transfer in three, two, one–”
The night sky was peaceful.
Lu Yao leaned over the balcony and gazed at the stars. Two cans of beer sat before her. Her cheeks were faintly pink, and her thoughts were hazy.
Her phone buzzed twice.
She picked it up and looked at the message.
[Brother Zheng: You’ve only been filming for two weeks, and you’ve already gone through two assistants. If you replace another, the rumors outside will start sounding bad. Besides, the company is a little short-staffed right now…]
Lu Yao stared at it for a long time before her mouth turned down in grievance. Unable to control herself, she began shedding large tears.
Was it her fault that she had replaced two assistants?
It was clearly–
A light suddenly flashed before her eyes.
Lu Yao looked up blankly and saw a streak of light race down from the horizon.
A shooting star.
Lu Yao stared for quite a while. Then another golden gleam came from the sky.
Blinking her large eyes, she murmured, “Shooting star, shooting star, please grant me an all-purpose assistant…”
The spark of gold seemed to be drawing closer. Lu Yao rubbed her eyes. The alcohol caught up with her, and her vision gradually began to spin. Staggering to a nearby lounge chair, she curled herself into it.
She slept soundly through the night.
The next day, Lu Yao stared expressionlessly at the white ceiling.
Memories of the previous night gradually returned.
Something was wrong.
She had only been drunk, not suffered amnesia. She distinctly remembered falling asleep on the balcony.
Even if, somehow, she had felt her way to the bed after passing out–
With trembling hands, she touched the soft pajamas on her body, panic roaring through her. Surely she had not gotten drunk, bathed and cleaned herself, changed into pajamas, and settled comfortably into bed?
Lu Yao fearfully lifted the blanket and looked, which eased half her worry. Then she pulled open her clothes to inspect herself, and the other half eased too.
Good. There was no sign that a second person had lain in the bed, nor were there any suspicious marks on her body.
Just as Lu Yao sighed in relief, someone knocked on the door.
She sat up warily. Her relationships within the production were terrible. The director disliked her, and even the actors working opposite her quietly excluded her.
Today was supposed to be a rest day. Logically, no one could be looking for her.
“Yaoyao, are you awake? I’m coming in!” A pleasant female voice sounded outside.
Then came a beep as a key card unlocked the door.
Lu Yao’s eyes widened in alarm and met a pair of smiling eyes.