Too Much Honkai, But It's My Mod

"Get me something to eat, thanks."

Natasha looked completely drained.

"Your Honored Master... is sometimes just like a child."

"You should say that in front of the Honored Master."

"Are you crazy, or am I crazy?"

"I don't have to work overtime, so clearly you're the one who's crazy."

Liu Bai cracked two eggs into the pan and fried them in a few minutes. He poured soy sauce over them and placed a bowl of rice in front of Natasha.

"So, what were you guys working overtime for? Fighting?"

"If only it were fighting," Natasha sighed, losing all semblance of a mature woman as she started shoveling rice into her mouth.

If it were fighting, let alone one night, she could handle a week straight without rest.

Killing and arson were her old specialties.

"The Honored Master suddenly decided she wanted me and Gray Serpent to create a recruitment advertisement for her. So, Gray Serpent and I were hunched over the computer all night, churning out twelve versions. We barely managed to get it approved... What kind of Twelve Labors is this?"

"...I mean, doesn't Shencheng Pharmaceuticals have an advertising department?"

Liu Bai's expression was a little strange.

"They don't work overtime," Natasha retorted, shutting Liu Bai down with a single sentence.

Alright, if that's the case, Natasha really was just a poor, overworked soul.

"Ha... Speaking of which, did anyone come to our place yesterday?"

After finishing her meal, Natasha wiped her mouth with a napkin and glanced at the living room.

"Little Gui was trying to find tenants for the apartment and entertained a guest yesterday, but unfortunately, no deal was made," Bai lied calmly. "Oh, right, the money came through last night. Want some?"

"……?"

"Why do you look so confused?" Bai looked at Natasha speechlessly. "Isn't this a private operation? You put in a lot of effort, so it's normal to give you a share of the reward, isn't it?"

You know... that actually makes sense.

Natasha subconsciously thought this was part of her duties as the "White Mouse Feeding Officer."

"Give me your card number, I'll transfer two million to you."

Liu Bai directly gave her one-fifth of the earnings. After all, no matter what, Natasha was his current powerhouse.

[Natasha Favorability: 3035]

"Next time you have a job like this, remember to call me."

Hearing the two million, Natasha's eyes lit up, and the sleepiness on her face receded by more than half.

She never imagined making money could be this easy.

What had she done yesterday?

She had charged at a fragile target and forced medicine into their mouth.

The previous few encounters were dangerous, but the more they went on, the easier it became— with a single word from Liu Bai, even the Deathless of the Shenling Temple helped her restrain their own comrades.

Natasha even had a flash of ideas.

For example, she could use Liu Bai's name to capture Honkai Beasts and Deathless and turn them in, perhaps earning a little extra. Then she could give Liu Bai some of the naming rights, wouldn't that be great?

She earned a little more, Liu Bai earned money while lying down— a win-win situation.

"By the way, sis, how's your relationship with Yelan?"

"Yelan? So-so. We had some business dealings in the past... Why the sudden mention?"

"I ordered some things, and they should be delivered this afternoon. Little Gui and I might not be back for lunch, so could you help me sign for them?"

Mainly for Guinaifen's live-streaming equipment. Liu Bai had bought the top-tier stuff. Then there were some furniture items that Liu Bai thought would be useful.

"You're kidding, right? Yelan is the temporary person in charge here. Do you really think she'd personally... Well, if it's Yelan, she might actually deliver the package herself."

Natasha knew Yelan was also someone who liked to join in on the fun, and right now, the biggest excitement in the Sky Dome Zone was this guy who seemed completely unfazed.

"Alright, I'll handle it. Be careful when you go out."

Although they hadn't known each other long, Natasha could tell Liu Bai was a cautious person. If he hadn't asked her, it probably wasn't a dangerous activity.

"Good noon, I didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?"

At noon, Liu Bai and Guinaifen arrived at the family restaurant. Eden was already seated at the reserved table.

"I haven't been here long either," Eden said, smiling and shaking her head as she saw Liu Bai and Guinaifen take their seats.

It was 11:50, a perfectly reasonable time for a guest.

"However... it looks like we might need to find a new place."

Eden glanced around the surroundings with a hint of helplessness.

As a top beauty, appearing here is a bit too eye-catching.

Almost everyone in the restaurant turned their attention to Eden, discussing whether this beauty was a big star from somewhere.

"I think so too," Liu Bai immediately understood Eden's current situation. "Then, Miss Eden, will you lead the way?"

"Of course. By the way, since that's the case, let's all order a dessert. My treat. I invited you two here, I can't have you follow me on another trip empty-handed."

Liu Bai and Guinaifen didn't stand on ceremony. After each ordering a cup of milk tea, they followed Eden out of the restaurant and to a secluded inn located in a messy alley.

"...Miss Eden, you live here?" Guinaifen stared in disbelief at the somewhat messy environment.

It wasn't that she couldn't adapt; on the contrary, she felt a sense of familiarity in a place like this. It was just that she found it hard to imagine an elegant woman like Eden living here.

"Yes, I live here. After all, no matter what, I'm just an unemployed wanderer looking for a job right now." Eden greeted the proprietress on duty and led the two into the room.

The furnishings inside the room were completely different from the impression given by the street outside.

It was small and tidy. Even just looking at the arrangement, one could tell that a respectable person lived here.

"Honestly, if I can't find a job soon, I'll have to go home."

"Go home to inherit a billion-dollar fortune?" Guinaifen voiced her intuitive impression of Eden.

"My family is just a musical family; we can say we don't worry about food or clothing. If I really had a billion-dollar fortune, I wouldn't be out looking for a job."

Eden was amused by Guinaifen.

"By the way, Mr. Liu Bai, you've been quiet since just now. Are you not used to this place?"

"...I'm thinking, Miss Eden, are you really short on money?" Liu Bai looked around, a bold idea forming.

Upon hearing this, Eden's expression turned slightly cold, but she still replied, "...Frankly, yes. What do you want to say, Mr. Liu Bai?"

If it weren't for the good impression she had of Liu Bai so far, Eden would have already told him to leave.

Generally speaking, with an opening like that, she didn't need to think about what would come next.

She had seen plenty of people who liked to take advantage of vulnerable situations.

"Then, what's your monthly rent here?"

"?" Liu Bai's next question clearly stunned Eden for a moment. "...I don't plan to stay long-term yet; it's still a daily rate, eighty a day."

"My sister has an apartment that's looking for tenants, around a hundred square meters, monthly rent of two thousand, with all utilities included. Interested?"

"Hey, hey, Boss, isn't it too suspicious for you to suddenly say something like that to a beautiful woman you've only met twice! I'm calling the police for Miss Eden!"

Chapter 42: What Did I Do to Deserve a 2D Paper Doll!

Hearing Guinaifen's teasing, Eden's slightly cold expression suddenly melted. Following Guinaifen's words, she continued, "It is indeed very suspicious—please call the police, Miss Guinaifen."

"Alright, alright. I know I suddenly said that it might seem like I'm lusting after her—you have to consider that I'm a normal man."

Liu Bai also realized that his words had been a bit abrupt and began to ease the atmosphere.

"Well, although it's a bit like playing the hero saving the damsel, actually... it's more like an investment?"

"Investment?"

Eden suddenly became a little interested.

"Are you so sure? Because of my looks?"

Eden knew very well what was most attractive about her in the eyes of ordinary people.

"I admit that's one of the reasons—but Miss Eden, you didn't lose your job because of your singing, did you?"

"I mentioned it when we first met; I'm unemployed because I dislike those restrictive contracts... Of course, I also offended quite a few industry seniors due to being too unconventional."

Eden's tone was casual, but anyone could hear the unwillingness within it.

When there are no heroes, mere commoners rise to fame!

Although saying this was a bit arrogant, Eden was fully confident that on a big stage, she could defeat all those "seniors"!

But the problem was the lack of opportunity. The resource gap between the two sides was too large.

She didn't even have a chance to perform... Even if someone was interested in her, they were only interested in her body and appearance; no one cared about her singing.

"Hmm... is this what they call youthful arrogance?"

Guinaifen nodded in understanding.

"So, Miss Eden, that's why you tried to break into traditional opera?"

"Yes, but as you can see, I don't seem to have much talent. I wholeheartedly accept the criticism from the head of the Yun-Han Opera Troupe."

Eden frankly admitted her lack of talent in this area and looked at Liu Bai again.

"So, Mr. Liu Bai, are you saying you can provide me with a stage? Why should I believe you? I've offended many industry seniors."

After all, they had only met twice, and neither knew anything about the other.

She had revealed a lot about herself, but she still knew nothing about Liu Bai.

However, by asking this question, Eden had already been moved.

She was merely curious about traditional opera, an attempt made out of desperation. When it came to passion, Eden's passion was undoubtedly for classical music, which had accompanied her since childhood.

"Hmm... then give me a list? Maybe in less than a month, the list of industry seniors will have to be changed."

"..." Eden fell silent. "Are you... joking?"

This topic was a bit too dangerous for her to know whether she should respond.

"Obviously, I'm joking."

Liu Bai nodded—half-jokingly.

Anyway, as long as the money was right, Natasha wouldn't mind getting her hands dirty.

"Alright, let's get down to business—Eden, why do you insist on making the spotlight stage your starting point?"

"...What do you mean?" Eden asked, her expression turning serious. "To be clear, if you're talking about busking, I've tried it. It's easy to get harassed—though that might be my own problem."

"No..."

"I get it! Live streaming!" The livestream expert next to them, Little Gui, immediately understood what Liu Bai was getting at.

"Live streaming... I think I've heard of it."

Eden wore a thoughtful expression.

"But doesn't it have a bad reputation?"

"Is that some ancient mindset?" Guinaifen stepped forward without hesitation to defend the reputation of live streaming.

"And that's your reason for taking the unconventional route of live streaming while eating noodles upside down?" Liu Bai quipped.

"It's more interesting than biting a lighter!" Guinaifen put her hands on her hips, looking proud. "And besides eating noodles upside down, I can also break stones on my chest!"

"...No, let's skip that kind of live stream."

Eden pictured herself breaking stones on her chest.

...She'd probably get crushed by the stones, right?