The Seafood Buffet Heist and the Call Back
"Boss."
Zhou Yu stacked the empty white porcelain plate on the corner of the table.
"Add two more king crabs."
The boss walked over, rubbing his hands together, sweat dripping from his forehead. He pointed to the wall clock.
"Guest, our restaurant has a clearly stated two-hour dining time."
He glanced at the mountain of shrimp shells piled on the table.
"You two have been eating since the store opened this morning, almost five hours now."
Zhou Yu pointed to the empty plate on the table, twirling the thermos halfway around in her hand.
"Your store rules also state in Article 4 that participants in the 'Clean Plate Campaign' may have their dining time extended at the store's discretion."
We didn't waste a single crab leg.
The boss's gaze fell on the last Boston lobster remaining in the glass tank, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
Boss: (╥╥)
"But this young lady's appetite doesn't conform to common sense in human biology."
"My small business really can't withstand this kind of exploitation."
Zhou Yu grasped Dania's wrist under the table and tapped the edge of the old-fashioned digital watch face twice with his fingertips.
[Satiety Reset]
Dania burped, touched her flat stomach, and blinked.
Dania:(✧✧)
"Zhou Yu ~"
I'm hungry again.
Zhou Yu pushed a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice toward Dania, then turned to look at her boss, whose face was filled with utter despair.
"She's still growing, so her metabolism is quite fast."
"Making sure you get your money's worth is an essential professional quality that every worker who wins a free voucher in the grand prize category must possess."
Sigelica sat opposite her, holding a cup of digestive tea, rubbing her bloated stomach.
"My goodness! (Roy Tribe slang) Yaya, have you used up all your food reserves for this lifetime?"
Dania was gnawing on a shrimp claw, her cheeks bulging.
The book says that being able to eat a lot is a blessing, so I need to eat more to grow taller.
Chisaki was recording data on her tablet, and the numerical curve on the screen kept rising.
Chisaki:(⚆_⚆)
"Target B's calorie intake has exceeded 30,000 kcal, and the law of conservation of energy completely fails at this point."
Aimis lay on the table, rubbing her stomach, too weak to even speak.
"I can't even drink a sip of water anymore, you guys keep fighting."
The owner gritted his teeth, pulled out two vouchers for a high-end Japanese restaurant from his pocket, and slammed them on the table.
"How about I refund you both?"
Please, please go to the shop next door.
"I swear I'll never serve a buffet again in my life."
Zhou Yu took the voucher and handed it to Dania to wipe her mouth.
"Since the boss is being so polite..."
"Then we won't bother you any longer."
The bus was traveling on the coastal highway.
Dania was fast asleep, her head resting on Zhou Yu's lap, with half a crab leg still clutched in her hand.
Zhou Yu pulled out a wet tissue and gently wiped away the grease from the corner of her mouth.
Dania smacked her lips in her sleep and buried her face in his stomach.
Dania:(๑´ڡ`๑)
"It's delicious."
He covered her with his coat to block the cold air from the air conditioner.
In the front seat, Sigelica rubbed the back of her neck.
"The seat design in this crappy car is so inhuman, my neck is about to break."
Lu Hesi handed her a memory foam neck pillow and adjusted the angle of the chair back for her.
"Use this; it can relieve neck muscle tension."
Sigelica looked at the neck pillow warily.
Sigelica:(ಠ_ಠ)
Is this considered a medical service or a complimentary gift from the tour guide?
"I don't have the money to pay the extra fees; my six-figure bill is still accruing interest."
Lu Hesi smiled and tucked the neck pillow into her arms.
"This is a private sponsorship; no Starcoins are required."
He took out his terminal, and a QR code appeared on the screen.
Lu Hesi:(≖ᴗ≖)
"However, in exchange, Sigelica, could you please add a private communication frequency band?"
"To facilitate follow-up visits to monitor your sleep quality."
Sigelica stared at the QR code, her finger hovering in mid-air.
"Does a private frequency be needed for sleep quality follow-ups? Can't the medical center's public account use that?"
Lu Hesi's smile faded, and his tone became professional.
"Public accounts can only address basic pathology issues. For anxiety disorders like yours caused by massive debt, you need more personalized, long-term intervention."
"Of course, if you find it inconvenient, then forget it."
Sigelica gritted her teeth and scanned the code on her terminal.
"If you ask for money, I'll block you immediately!"
Lu Hesi looked at the newly added contacts in his friend list and put away his terminal with satisfaction.
Zhou Yu tucked Dania's loose hair behind her ear, then gently took the crab leg from her hand and placed it aside.
The bus was parked in the square of the Flamebearers' Academy.
Just as Zhou Yu woke Dania up, a medical guide robot glided to the car door, blocking Zhou Yu's way.
The display screen above NANA's head was flashing red.
NANA:(◉_◉)
[Attention, Manager Zhou Yu.]
Your paid leave allowance has been exhausted.
Principal Lupa is waiting for you in her top-floor office.
Sigelica walked over carrying a riot shield.
"Why does the principal want to see you? You've caused trouble again."
Zhou Yu handed the canvas bag in her hand to Sigelica and pushed Dania next to her.
"Keep an eye on her and don't let her go hunting in the mountains behind the village."
Dania rubbed her eyes; the collar of her little yellow duck pajamas was still a bit crooked.
Dania:(๑--๑)
"I don't eat wild animals, I want the sweet and sour pork ribs from the cafeteria."
Zhou Yu patted the top of her head and straightened her collar.
"I'll take you out to eat tonight. Be a good girl and wait for me in your dorm."
He picked up the chipped thermos and turned to walk towards the office building.
Director Moning emerged from around the corner, carrying a stack of documents, and blocked Zhou Yu's path.
Moning: (ꐦ°᷄д°᷅)
"Manager Zhou had a wonderful time on your seaside trip. I heard that your bargaining skills at the night market were even better than the local vendors."
Zhou Yu unscrewed the thermos and took a sip of goji berry water without even lifting her eyelids.
"Just basic stuff."
"If Director Moning wants to learn, I can open a training course. The registration fee will be double your overtime pay."
Moning's face darkened, and he snorted coldly as he stepped aside.
"I hope you can still be so sharp-tongued in front of Principal Lupa. The abnormal weather data from the seaside resort last night is already on the principal's desk."
Zhou Yu ignored him and walked straight to the solid wood door at the end of the corridor, raising her hand to knock on the door.
"Please come in."
Zhou Yu pushed open the door. The office was dark, with only the holographic projection on the desk emitting a faint blue light.
Lupa sat in a large leather chair, holding a cup of black tea.
She pointed to the energy fluctuation diagram on the projection.
"This thing's energy reading exceeds the limit of the academy's monitoring equipment."
"Zhou Yu, what exactly did you do on the hotel rooftop last night?"
Why did the resonance signal of Aleph One suddenly stop?
Zhou Yu pulled out a chair, sat down, and placed the thermos on the table with a muffled thud.
He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.
"I posted a notice about paid leave."
"According to labor law, refusing to handle work-related matters during rest hours is legal and compliant."
Lupa rubbed her temples.
"The Fractsidus of the Northern Territory has begun to assemble."
"The news that you assigned Yeqi to clean toilets has reached the Northern Territory, and they are demanding that the academy hand over Dania."
Zhou Yu leaned back in his chair, took a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket, unfolded it, and pushed it in front of Lupa.
That was a "Notice of Demolition of Illegal Buildings within a Time Limit".
"Then let them come."
"The Logistics Department happens to be short a few temporary workers to wash dishes."