"You have no choice."
The five frigid words fell like an invisible warhammer, smashing straight into Zhu Zhuqing's final line of resistance.
Her slender body trembled once—
then went completely limp.
The razor-sharp claws that had extended from her fingertips slowly retracted, inch by inch, as if even her instinct to defend herself had been extinguished.
It wasn't surrender.
It was resignation.
The kind carved into her bones.
A faint, bitter curve tugged at the corner of her pale lips.
Choice?
Did she ever once have such a thing?
Other than lingering in Shrek Academy, making meaningless struggles day after day until the shadow behind her finally found her and ended her life—
what else could she do?
From the moment she was born, her destiny had been predetermined.
And now, this mysterious "Feng Ran Pavilion Will" simply tore off the last illusion she pretended she had the right to cling to.
Yes.
How much worse could things become?
At most, she would die.
But staying here—death was already her only logical conclusion.
So why not use her tattered freedom…
to gamble on the faintest whisper of hope?
Zhu Zhuqing slowly closed her eyes, gathering all her despair and unwillingness.
When she opened them again, only icy calm remained.
"…I accept."
Recruitment successful!
The System's cold voice carried a rare trace of approval.
"Target: Zhu Zhuqing — confirmed.
Issuing Employee credentials and uniform…"
A gentle radiance blossomed in the dilapidated dormitory.
When the light faded, a black-and-red uniform—identical in style to Hu Liena's—and a crimson maple leaf badge floated silently before her.
The uniform's silhouette seemed tailored for her:
cold, elegant, restrained—yet filled with a sacred solemnity.
"Wear it at dawn.
It will guide you to the Land of Divine Grace."
Another surge of information poured directly into her mind.
Name: Zhu Zhuqing
Position: Feng Ran Pavilion Waiter
Salary: 1000 Food God Points / month
Employee Benefits: Three free meals daily, uniform set, dormitory access…
Special Notice: As a first-batch Employee, a unique Divine Grace will be bestowed upon you tomorrow.
Food God Points… Divine Grace…
Zhu Zhuqing blinked, confused—but quickly dismissed the questions.
She had no luxury to choose.
She carefully folded the uniform, set it aside, and resumed her meditation.
But this time, her mind was still.
Calm.
Tomorrow would decide everything—
whether she crawled toward rebirth or walked straight into ruin.
At the same time, back in Feng Ran Pavilion—
Lin Feng reclined on his bed, feeling extremely satisfied after acquiring a high-loyalty, low-maintenance Employee with peak cost-effectiveness.
Cheap, obedient, hardworking, and tragically abused by life?
A perfect investment target!
He made an absolute fortune with this deal!
The System's voice echoed once more.
"Preparing to lock onto the final Employee candidate…"
Lin Feng nodded eagerly.
Another piece of cheap labor?
Of course he welcomed it!
But then—
Ding!
Target locked: Zhu Zhuyun, eldest daughter of the Zhu family, Star Luo Empire."
Lin Feng froze.
The capitalist smile on his face stiffened like it had been struck by lightning.
Slowly, very slowly, he sat up.
"…System."
His voice was frighteningly calm.
"I want to know if something is wrong with your internal circuits."
"You just had me recruit Zhu Zhuqing—promised her a bright future—made her my loyal shop waiter…"
His voice suddenly exploded:
"And now you tell me to recruit her older sister—the one who wants her dead more than anything in the world?!"
"You're not the Heaven's Food God System—
you're a professional chaos-inducing, tragedy-chasing gremlin!!!"
The System fell silent for a moment, then replied in a tone that almost sounded pleased:
"Host, you have finally understood one of this System's core joys."
Lin Feng: "…"
The System continued:
"However, you are mistaken.
Originally, Zhu Zhuqing was not on the candidate list.
Only because Ning Rongrong rejected the offer did I select the next 'high cost-performance' target nearby."
Lin Feng almost choked.
"Then couldn't it have been anyone else?! Like that rabbit—Xiao Wu?!"
"The 100,000-year Soft Bones Rabbit?"
The System's voice turned analytical.
"Based on database evaluation, her value as an ingredient is far greater than her value as an Employee.
Especially her legs—charcoal-grilled, braised, or spicy stir-fried—they are all first-class."
Lin Feng's expression twitched violently.
This thing wasn't just inhumane—it was anti-humanity.
He inhaled deeply.
"No! Zhu Zhuyun is absolutely not happening!
She'll destroy the shop's harmony!
Employee satisfaction will plummet!"
The System's next words were laced with temptation:
"Recruiting Zhu Zhuyun can introduce internal competition, stimulating Employee motivation.
Estimated increase in work efficiency: 78%."
"Also—
two stunning cat-eared sisters serving in your shop…"
"Host, visualize that scene."
Lin Feng's heart skipped.
His capitalist soul wavered.
But he clenched his teeth.
"No! Even if you say that, I still won't—"
"Her salary is lower than Hu Liena's."
Lin Feng's resolve cracked.
The System added casually:
"1500 Food God Points / month."
Lin Feng's pupils shrank.
So cheap.
Only 500 more than Zhu Zhuqing—and with the bonus of creating a competitive drive?
The hook was set.
And the System reeled him in with the final tug:
"She has ambition, cunning, and capability.
Once subdued, she will be your strongest assistant."
Lin Feng exhaled sharply.
His last shred of moral resistance shattered.
"…Recruit her."
_____________________
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