One Thousand a Month, Deal!

"Alright, Doctor, is that everything?"

Seeing Lin Li close the cabinet, Elysia turned and said to Dr. Mobius.

"Your efficiency is quite good. There are two chairs over there, you can grab them and sit down," Dr. Mobius said.

"Mhm."

Elysia turned her head and saw Lin Li already moving to get the chairs, so she walked directly in front of Dr. Mobius.

Speaking of which, Xiao Li is so diligent today, actually taking the initiative to do so many things. It seems Xiao Li really cares about the "advantages" the Doctor mentioned.

Lin Li brought over the chairs, placed them in front of the two women, and sat down with Elysia.

She sat rather primly, but Elysia was different. Although there were two stools, she still had Lin Li lean closer so she could hold her hand.

"So, how much do you want?" Dr. Mobius asked, a smile in her eyes.

Both of them felt a sense of conspiracy in that smile, though they couldn't quite place it.

"Hmm... is this amount okay?" Elysia asked, holding up one finger, just like Dr. Mobius had earlier.

But the other two knew that this meant ten thousand.

Last night, Lin Li had told Elysia that they should aim for at least five thousand as a starting point, so she planned to ask for a higher amount first. If Dr. Mobius disagreed, they would lower it. And if they couldn't even get five thousand...

"Actually, four thousand is fine too."

That's what Lin Li had said last night.

"..."

Dr. Mobius's expression remained unchanged, only the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

"Uh, if that's not okay... then eight thousand?" Elysia asked tentatively.

Dr. Mobius didn't speak.

"Seven thousand?"

"..."

"Six thousand?"

Elysia started to feel uneasy.

She had confidently promised Xiao Li last night that she would get their salary increased, and now they were down to six thousand...

It would be rude if the Doctor didn't agree now.

But Dr. Mobius had no idea what was going through their minds.

She was just thinking: Are these two's salary expectations really that low?

When she had said a thousand earlier, it was just a joke. This was the First Research Institute, with only two members. No matter what they did, the research funding was outrageously high, though she had spent most of it on various purchases.

She had originally thought Elysia might ask for tens of thousands on her first try, and then she would definitely not agree so easily, eventually settling on around ten thousand.

But Elysia had said ten thousand right from the start... this was going to be interesting.

Elysia thought about the salary she paid Xiao Yun at her restaurant... wait, she didn't actually pay Xiao Yun a salary. They both used the same bank account, so the concept of salary didn't really exist.

So, she was quite inexperienced in this regard.

"Hmm... Doctor, if it's really not possible, then five thousand? We can't go any lower qwq"

For Lin Li's salary, Elysia was willing to go all out, even resorting to acting cute.

However, Dr. Mobius still had the same expression, unchanged from the beginning.

"..."

Now, Lin Li was starting to feel anxious.

No way? Not even five thousand? Is this First Research Institute that short on money?

Although... she didn't really know what she would be doing here. But last night, Elysia had told her that she wouldn't need to do any complex research, just stay in the lab and help Dr. Mobius with some odd jobs.

Five thousand was a decent salary in her previous world. She remembered a saying...

"Five thousand eight hundred salary! No simping, I spend as I please!"

Quite catchy.

"Pfft..."

Seeing their expressions, Dr. Mobius finally couldn't help but laugh.

Her laughter was exaggerated, and she even covered her stomach with her hand.

"..."

Lin Li and Elysia exchanged glances, seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.

Dr. Mobius's laughter echoed throughout the entire institute, ceaseless.

It only stopped when a harsh mechanical noise erupted from the machine on the operating table. She frowned impatiently, walked over, turned off the machine, and then turned back.

"Interesting," she said, tucking a strand of light green hair that had fallen across her face from laughing back into place.

Neither of them knew what she meant and could only wait for Dr. Mobius to continue speaking.

"You two, don't underestimate this place too much."

"Oh, forget it, forget it. Seeing as you've tried so hard to make me laugh... Lin Li's salary will be ten thousand a month."

Dr. Mobius said, her expression returning to normal as she sat back down.

"Wow, Xiao Li, did you hear that? The Doctor is giving you ten thousand a month!"

"Mhm."

Lin Li was also a little surprised.

Alright, looks like I misjudged this research institute just now. I didn't expect it to be quite decent.

She knew that commissions that paid a hundred thousand were rare, and she usually relied on various odd jobs to earn money.

She had been thinking that if Dr. Mobius couldn't offer her a decent amount, she would just go find another job.

Lin Li felt that there were many companies in Flame-Moth City that needed people with her intermediate-level strength and agility, and the salaries were likely very high.

It was just that she didn't want to leave Flame-Moth, which was why she came to the research institute.

Ten thousand a month, while in her understanding it was already a very, very high salary, it was really nothing to her, who had the System.

It seems that without realizing it, my understanding of money has been muddled by the System.

"Excuse me... what will my job duties be?" Lin Li asked, suppressing the slight joy in her heart.

However, her slightly upturned red lips betrayed her mood.

"Job duties? You still want to work? I thought you were just coming here every month to collect money," Dr. Mobius said, feigning extreme shock.

"..."

Lin Li and Elysia were speechless upon hearing this.

"Ahem, I haven't decided on your job duties yet. How about you answer some questions for me now? Based on your answers... based on your answers, I'll decide on your job duties."

"Okay, ask away," Lin Li nodded.

Although my intelligence is intermediate, but! Think about it, if intermediate speed and strength are already this powerful, how much worse can intelligence be?

No matter what, I should be able to answer some simple questions, right?

"Alright, first question."

"If there are five leaders in front of you, but there are only four cups of water on the table, what would you say at that moment?"

After speaking, Dr. Mobius stared intently at Lin Li, observing her expression and anticipating her answer.

"Hmm... I would say, 'I'm sorry, I forgot there were five leaders coming and prepared one cup short. I'll go get another one right away.'" Lin Li said after thinking for a moment.

"Mhm, mhm, that's a great answer," Elysia also praised from the side.

However, Dr. Mobius didn't think so.

Compared to such a formulaic answer, she hoped Lin Li would be more unconventional, for example...

In fact, she couldn't think of any good answers either, but it just couldn't be what Lin Li said.

"Second question, while you're working, if your leader, meaning me, suddenly says 'You've worked hard,' how would you reply?"

"Not hard."

Lin Li answered almost instantly.

Upon hearing this, Dr. Mobius frowned imperceptibly and continued to ask, "What if Elysia says it to you?"

"..."

Lin Li glanced at Elysia, who was looking at her expectantly.

She touched her chin, thought for a moment, and said, "Then I would say, 'It is indeed very hard.'"

"?"

Elysia's pink lips pouted unhappily when she heard this, and she shot Lin Li a glare.

"It seems Elysia doesn't like your answer," Dr. Mobius said with a smile, noticing Elysia's expression. "Then Elysia, what about you? If Lin Li says 'You've worked hard' to you, how would you reply?"

"Me? Of course, I'd say... 'How could it be hard? It's not hard at all to work for my favorite Xiao Li!'"

"..."

Lin Li's lips twitched slightly.

Does anyone really say that?

Dr. Mobius also found this answer a bit absurd.

This question of hers came from a joke she had seen before, and there was an answer below it.

"Alright, last question, please state the theoretical steps of DNA recombination technology."

"...??"

Lin Li suspected she had misheard.

What... DNA recombination? What was that?

She wasn't well-read, and asking questions like that was practically a death sentence for her.

Seeing Lin Li's reaction, Dr. Mobius knew the other party couldn't answer.

But it was fine. From the very beginning, her intention in recruiting Lin Li, the "Herrscher vanquisher," wasn't for her to research anything with her.

She had told Bianca before that one reason for recruiting Lin Li was to protect her.

If there was another reason, it was purely because Lin Li was good-looking. Even if she did nothing in the lab, just standing there would be pleasing to the eye.

For someone like her who was always engrossed in high-intensity research, recruiting some eye-pleasing people was very necessary.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have said a single word to Lin Li, a person with such weak biological knowledge.

"Alright, that's enough questions," Dr. Mobius waved her hand and said. "You can start working tomorrow, of course, if you'd prefer to wait until next Tuesday after Bianca resigns, that's fine too."

"Huh...? That's it? You haven't told me what I'm supposed to do..." Lin Li looked utterly bewildered.

Dr. Mobius had asked three questions. For the first two, she didn't understand why they were asked; they seemed nonsensical, only related to daily life. And it seemed Dr. Mobius didn't like her answers.

The third question was purely academic knowledge, which she didn't understand at all, but Dr. Mobius had actually shown a slight smile?

What did that mean?

"So... Doctor? Can Xiao Li and I leave now?" Elysia asked.

"Mm, go on, go on. We'll talk later. Seeing you two now is annoying," Dr. Mobius turned her head and said, "Remember to put the chairs back when you leave. Of course, if you're thinking of sitting on the restraint chair for me to research, that's not impossible either."

"Uh, let's not then." Elysia chuckled a couple of times and quickly pulled Lin Li towards the door, taking the chairs with them.

"Then thank you, dear Dr. Mobius. Xiao Li, let's go~"

"Okay."

The two left the laboratory. Dr. Mobius took out a stack of documents and began writing.

"Lin Li, low emotional intelligence, unstable strength, good-looking, personality..."

"Xiao Li, how are you feeling now? Aren't you happy?" Elysia held Lin Li's hand as they walked on the main path of Flame-Moth.

Many soldiers passed by, and as they did, they couldn't help but look back at the two.

It couldn't be helped. Neither of them looked like soldiers; they looked more like vibrant young girls from the outside world.

Their clothing was similar, both wearing light-colored short-sleeved shirts and short denim shorts, just in different colors.

What was most eye-catching were the matching thigh straps tied around their fair and delicate thighs, one on each side. Hand in hand, they truly gave off a couple's outfit vibe.

In fact, Elysia had dressed like this today because of Lin Li's outfit.

According to Lin Li, she dressed like this simply because it was cool.

If you asked Elysia, she would probably say: Since Xiao Li is dressed like this, I definitely have to do the same.

"I'm not exactly happy... maybe a little," Lin Li said.

"Isn't that still happiness?"

After Elysia finished speaking, she suddenly stopped, forcing Lin Li to stop as well.

Lin Li knew Elysia was up to something again and waited for her to speak.

But strangely, Elysia said nothing. She stood still, as if a character in a game had suddenly frozen.

Lin Li waved her hand in front of her eyes curiously, but there was still no reaction. Her eyes didn't even blink.

"..."

Lin Li looked at the soldiers on the road. They were all normal, and some were even looking curiously in their direction.

"Elysia, what's wrong?"

Lin Li started to panic a little and tugged on Elysia's hand.

Then she heard a very soft voice.

"Your cute Elysia is in a bad mood and needs Xiao Li to give her a kiss to be cured."

"..."

Lin Li's expression immediately turned blank.

She let go of Elysia's hand and walked forward alone.

"Hey, wait for me."

Elysia quickly caught up, trying to take Lin Li's hand again.

But this time, Lin Li refused to let her hold it.

The two returned to the villa like this.

Elysia was still trying.

"Xiao Li~ I know I was wrong."

"I actually thought Xiao Li would laugh at me."

"Why would you think I'd be amused?" Lin Li glanced at her and retorted, "If you really wanted to make me laugh, why not just tell a joke? Why pretend to be like that?"

"If I'd known you were faking, I wouldn't have cared about you. Honestly."

"I'm sorry." Elysia apologized sincerely.

Then she successfully took Lin Li's hand back.

"This time I'll charge you double."

"Mhm mhm."

Elysia didn't care about the price, as long as she could hold hands.

Xiao Li's hands were soft and felt so comfortable to hold.

"Xiao Li, where do you want to go play later?"

"Why do we have to go play?"

"Uh... what do you want to do then, Xiao Li?"

"Sleep."

After speaking, Lin Li lay down directly on the sofa.

"w(?Д?)w"

With Lin Li lying down like that, Elysia didn't know where to put her hands.

"Xiao Li, do you want to go back to the bedroom to sleep? Sleeping on the sofa isn't comfortable."

"No need, I'll just rest for a bit." Lin Li said, "My hands should stop being sore after resting a little longer."

"Mmm... so Xiao Li's hands were sore just now? Then why did you go move those two chairs?" Elysia asked, rubbing Lin Li's arm with concern.

"It was all for that salary. I definitely had to act more proactively." Lin Li pouted.

"Good thing those chairs weren't heavy, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered moving them."

"Sigh, just ask me next time. Honestly, you don't take care of yourself at all." Elysia sat beside Lin Li and stroked her face.

"But you don't seem to have as much strength as me."

"..."

"Does Xiao Li underestimate me too much?" Elysia puffed out her cheeks and said a little unhappily, "If your hands weren't still sore, I'd definitely arm wrestle you."

"..."

Lin Li remained noncommittal.

She rested her head on Elysia's lap, turned her body to the side, and curled up her legs slightly.

"Call me when it's time to eat."

"Mhm, sleep well. If you can't sleep, I can offer free services, you know?"

"What services?"

"Free kisses~"

"Never mind."

Lin Li closed her eyes.

Elysia looked at her delicate and perfect profile, her throat bobbed, and she slowly leaned down.

But in the end, she didn't take any further action.

When will Xiao Li ever agree to let me kiss her? I want to do it every single second...

Sigh.