Awakening Zhongli Template, Retiring on Terra

"Yes, but just because it's not happening now doesn't mean it won't happen later. 'Lungmen's Top 100 Food Guide' is aimed at almost all tourists from out of town. To get their own food featured more prominently, the bidding advertising fees between merchants will only get higher. This is much more profitable than selling groceries!"

Shi Lei understood her grand plan. It had to be said that Croissant had a knack for business, being able to connect simple customer needs with ways to make money.

"You truly have an extraordinary talent for business. It's only right that you make a lot of money."

The simple and unpretentious compliment made her a little embarrassed, and she modestly explained:

"Heh heh, it's not that amazing. It's mainly because my family has been in business since I was young, and I've accumulated some experience. Do you have any other needs? Feel free to ask."

Since the other party had said she was welcome to ask, Shi Lei spoke his mind without any reservations:

"I need to rent a place recently and am looking for a medium-sized warehouse similar to yours. Do you have any recommendations?"

"You can ask Penguin Logistics for housing, but their agency fees are quite expensive. I can keep an eye out for you and recommend something if I find a suitable place."

"Alright, I'll look forward to your good news."

Shi Lei stayed in the warehouse for over an hour and returned to the safe house on foot around five o'clock.

At this time, Exusiai and Texas would be getting off work, so he could ask them to join him for dinner.

Croissant's mind was full of the 'Lungmen's Top 100 Food Guide,' and she just wanted to get it implemented as soon as possible.

After promising him that she would treat him to a meal once she made money, she rushed out to solicit investment and sponsorships.

Shi Lei arrived at the company building and saw a familiar little tiger from afar. It wasn't the tiger-headed Waai Fu, but Beatrix Swire, wearing black stockings and leg garters.

She was dressed like a rich young lady again today, carrying a designer bag as she approached:

"Mr. Shi, thank you so much for what you did the other day. I only found out at noon that my third uncle was stripped of his position by the Commercial Union for causing trouble that night. Would you do me the honor of letting me treat you to a simple meal today?"

During their conversation, Exusiai and Texas walked out of the elevator. The former, upon hearing about being treated, playfully teased:

"Zhongli, I'm so envious of you. Someone's treating you to a meal again. Can you bring us along this time?"

Beatrix knew the identities of the Sarkaz and Texas and politely extended the invitation:

"Of course. If you two are willing to join, I'm sure Mr. Shi would be delighted."

Swire was usually very calculating, but she never hesitated when it came to spending money. Such expenses for social interaction were very necessary.

Seeing Exusiai had taken the initiative to arrange the meal, Shi Lei had no choice but to agree:

"Miss Swire, a meal is fine, but let's be clear upfront. Don't order anything too expensive; just find a casual restaurant nearby."

"Sure, I remember there's a good Eastern Cuisine restaurant in the nearby commercial center. How about there?"

With the dining location decided, the four of them crossed the road, chatting and laughing as they walked towards it.

Shi Lei, surrounded by three beautiful women, was quite a sight on the street, drawing envious glances from passersby.

Eastern Cuisine in Lungmen could only be considered mid-range. The price was only slightly more expensive than eating grilled meat. When the waiter saw the guests enter, they enthusiastically greeted them:

"Four honored guests, please come in. What would you like to eat?"

As Shi Lei was the guest, he wisely handed the menu to Beatrix, letting her order:

"I don't eat fish. You can decide the rest."

Exusiai rarely ate Eastern Cuisine, so today she decided to take advantage of the occasion and indulge. After looking around the menu, she ordered several dishes.

Texas remained silent the entire time.

With winter approaching and not much exercise, her weight had increased slightly. However, talking about dieting at a time like this would be a buzzkill, so she decided against ordering. They would eat whatever everyone else ordered and just be mindful of their portions.

Before long, the waiter brought out the dishes.

They were mostly rice balls, natto, and burdock rice, with no distinctive fish dishes.

After a few cups of sake, the atmosphere gradually became livelier. Beatrix sat next to Shi Lei and, breathing softly into his ear, asked:

"Do you have any plans for New Year's?"

"I probably don't. Why?"

She grinned and took out five vouchers from her bag:

"The Commercial Union recently invested in a chain of hot spring hotels and gave me some internal experience vouchers. But I've been a bit busy lately and haven't had time to go. I thought I'd give them to you all so you could relax."

"Ooh ooh ooh, hot springs! Hot springs!"

Exusiai's eyes lit up, seemingly very excited.

However, Shi Lei didn't reach out to take the vouchers. Instead, he lowered his voice and asked Texas for help:

"How many days off do we have for New Year's?"

"We get off the day after tomorrow and have until the fifteenth of the first lunar month. During the New Year period, logistics and transportation services will be suspended. If there are bodyguard-type orders, you can accept them yourself. The company won't take a commission, and anything extra will be considered overtime pay."

Seeing that he was still hesitating, Beatrix directly handed him the hot spring vouchers and said with a slight smile:

"Mr. Shi, please don't be so formal with me. If you don't go, I won't have time either. Wouldn't these five internal experience vouchers go to waste?"

Shi Lei didn't care about that. He had his own principles: "Miss Swire, this has nothing to do with whether it's wasted or not. It's one thing to accept a favor, and another to get involved in future power struggles between families. I still won't participate."

A Pact is a Pact.

You can't change your stance just because of a few small favors. Things should be as they are.

"Sigh, Mr. Shi, you're too serious. I just didn't have time to go myself, so I'm giving the tickets to you guys. There's no other meaning behind it. I won't use these experience vouchers to force you to pick a side in the future."

Some things are better discussed openly.

The atmosphere of the dinner party didn't diminish because of this. Exusiai was good at livening things up, and the four of them clinked glasses, chatted, and laughed merrily.

After Beatrix paid the bill and left, Exusiai quickly asked for the internal experience voucher to check it. It listed five hot spring chain stores where it could be used to cover all expenses.

The nearest hot spring was located in southeastern Ursus. Exusiai and Texas estimated its approximate location, expecting it to take about ten hours to get there.

The problem now was that there were six of them in total: the three of them, plus Croissant, Emperor, and Isu. However, there were only five internal experience vouchers, meaning either someone had to go, or the boss had to pay out of pocket. In any case, there weren't enough tickets.

January 2, 1095. 10:00 a.m.

Emperor's heart was filled with joy upon hearing that Shi Lei had managed to get internal discount coupons for everyone to go on a hot spring trip.

He was truly their lucky star, not only bringing high profits to the company but also solving an urgent problem.

The end of the year was approaching, and they hadn't decided where to hold the company's team-building event. Perhaps Jiangqi City, or the mobile city of Chernobyl. They never expected Shi Lei to directly provide a plan and help save a significant amount of money. With such an employee, any boss would be smiling in their sleep.

Recently, Penguin Logistics had entered its off-season, with no new business. Emperor was in the same boat, not even having the inclination to record new songs. Upon hearing about this good opportunity, he immediately made the decision to head to Ursus!

Croissant was busy writing her book and seeking sponsorships, and didn't want to go at all. She even tried to sell her spot to Isu.

However, the boss issued a strict order that everyone had to participate. Miss Sora was not included in the team-building list due to other arrangements with her agency.

The next day at 9 a.m., everyone gathered at the company entrance.

Croissant drove her pickup truck, carrying Exusiai and Isu. Texas drove her car, carrying Shi Lei and Emperor.

Exusiai also brought out her motorcycle, placing it at the back of the pickup truck. It was foreseeable that this motorcycle might not return in one piece.

The two vehicles, one in front of the other, drove out of the Lungmen territory.

This was also Shi Lei's first time leaving a bustling city and venturing into the uninhabited wilderness.

The mobile city of Lungmen grew smaller and smaller in their line of sight until it finally disappeared.

The ground in the wilderness was uneven, causing the vehicles to jolt from time to time. Along the way, they encountered many undulating hills and valleys, possessing a primitive and wild geographical beauty.

They set off at nine in the morning and drove until the sun was about to set before entering the border of Ursus.

The fiery sun cast its glow over the mountains, as if adorning the land with a thin new garment. Emerald-green coniferous forests lined the sides of the road, their branches bent under the weight of snow.

The wilderness of Terra was not safe. They encountered several packs of wild beasts on the road, all of which were easily dealt with.

Both Texas and Croissant had extensive experience driving in the wild and finally arrived at the designated hot spring chain store around seven in the evening.

There weren't many tourists that day, and they could barely see any staff inside the establishment. The group checked in, had dinner, and rested until about nine before heading to the hot springs.

Men on the left, women on the right; no mixed bathing.

As Shi Lei was changing, he suddenly heard an indescribable penguin's scream.

He quickly wrapped himself in a bath towel and ran towards the men's bath, the source of the sound. He saw Emperor lying on the ground, a bloody hole on his forehead from a lightsaber.

065 First Meeting with Mudrock (Two-in-one)

Seeing Emperor's dazed eyes, his short legs kicking as he fell to the ground next to the bath, Shi Lei frowned and issued a warning towards the adjacent area:

"The boss has been attacked, beware of enemy intrusion!"

Just as he was about to search for the assailant, Emperor sat up as if nothing had happened. He picked up his hip-hop style clothes and took out two waterproof band-aids from his pocket.

What was going on?

He was fine even with a hole in his head?

Emperor lowered his head without a word, tore open the packaging of the band-aids, and applied them to the wound on his forehead. The two band-aids were placed crosswise on his forehead, forming an X shape. At first glance, he looked like a penguin with three eyes.

"Boss, you're not dead?"

"I'm fine, don't make a fuss."

With that, Emperor picked up the lightsaber from the ground and threw it back into the women's bath next door.

Shi Lei noticed that the lightsaber was Texas's usual weapon. Now it was unexpectedly on the boss's head, clearly a case of being caught peeking and getting stabbed.

Serves him right.

Emperor, knowing he was in the wrong, didn't mention the attack anymore. He submerged more than half of his body into the hot spring, extended a paw towards Shi Lei, and beckoned, "What are you standing around for? Come down quickly. This kind of weather is perfect for soaking in hot springs."

Seeing the farce come to an anticlimactic end, he gradually submerged himself in the water from the other side of the pool, looking around and asking, "Where's Mr. Isu? I don't see him."

"Don't worry about him, he's probably working in his room right now. He'll come to soak when he's done."

Amidst their conversation, Exusiai's laughter could be heard from next door, as if she were playing in the water with Texas and the others. In contrast, the men's bath was much quieter.

Feeling the warm current of the pool envelop his entire body, Shi Lei felt incredibly relaxed. If he switched to his immortal body mode, couldn't he fill an entire swimming pool?

"Pfft, pfft..."

Suddenly, a string of bubbles emerged around the Emperor.

Seeing this, Shi Lei immediately abandoned his previous thought.

Some secrets are best kept buried deep in one's heart, never to be revealed.

For instance, the boss seemed to have an immortal body, Texas had a dark past involving gangs she didn't want to talk about, and the reason for Exusiai's broken wings. As long as they didn't mention these things, it was wise not to pry.

Shi Lei stayed in the bath for half an hour before getting out, to avoid any symptoms of oxygen deprivation from soaking too long. He hadn't seen Isu during that time; he figured he was still busy in his room.

There were no other guests at the hot spring inn today. The person in charge of welcoming them was a Ursus man in his thirties. He introduced himself as Ivan and had light brown bear ears. He had a sturdy build and likely did a lot of physical labor.

Ivan was waiting at the front desk, with a small fireplace beside the counter. The burning firewood crackled, providing warmth and reddening his rough face.

"Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

Shi Lei didn't particularly like being called "Sir," but they had been calling him that since the beginning, and it didn't feel right to correct them:

"Could you please show me to my assigned room?"

"Of course, sir, this way. I'll be on duty tonight, so feel free to find me at the front desk if you need anything."

Upon returning to his room, Shi Lei didn't lie down. It was only ten o'clock at night, and he was still full of energy.

He opened his phone, intending to play some games to pass the time. However, the signal was terrible, so he gave up.

Not long after, Exusiai and Croissant came to visit Shi Lei's room. Texas, having heard that soaking in hot springs helped burn fat, arrived ten minutes later.

The three women and one man sat in the room, with no internet signal. They could only stare at each other. Finally, Exusiai broke the silence and suggested: