When Zhu Zhuyun finally stumbled out of the back kitchen—fingers wrinkled, hair messy, and dignity half-eroded—Lin Feng was already reclining leisurely in a rocking chair, as if he had been waiting for her for ages.
His relaxed gaze swept across the three newly hired Employees standing stiffly in a row, each with their own distinct aura.
"Since you're all here," Lin Feng said lazily, as though chatting about tomorrow's weather,
"let's talk about your jobs."
His hand lifted casually.
"Hu Liena—you're nimble and presentable. You'll handle greeting guests, taking orders, and serving in the front hall."
Hu Liena nodded respectfully.
"Zhu Zhuqing—you're fast and efficient. You'll be in charge of clearing tables and maintaining the hall."
Lin Feng's gaze finally settled on the visibly tense Zhu Zhuyun.
"As for you…"
A beat of silence.
"You'll wash dishes in the back kitchen."
Boom!
Zhu Zhuyun's mind went blank.
She pointed stiffly at herself, voice raising an octave.
"M-me? Wash dishes?!"
Lin Feng didn't even bother answering.
Instead, Hu Liena's frosty gaze swept sideways, slicing straight through Zhu Zhuyun's spine.
"What's the problem?" Hu Liena asked coldly.
"Do you have an objection to the Senior's arrangements?"
"I—!"
Humiliation, fury, disbelief—all of it surged through Zhu Zhuyun's chest, burning hot… yet Hu Liena's killing intent crushed every syllable she wanted to speak.
Lin Feng waved his hand like shooing away a bothersome fly.
"If you don't want to work, then leave.
I don't force anyone."
These light words landed like a heavenly hammer in her heart.
Leave?
And go where?
Back to that icy Dai Family?
Back to waiting to become the Star Luo Empress… while watching the clan's internal slaughter for the throne?
Back to a future where the taste of that divine fish porridge existed only in memory?
No.
The moment she thought of that transcendent taste—
of that power called Divine Grace capable of overturning fate itself—
Zhu Zhuyun's breathing quickened uncontrollably.
In her mind, the glowing portal spanning thousands of miles flashed once more.
The bowl of fish porridge that could shake one's soul.
That almighty voice promising a power capable of destroying the Dai Family and rewriting destiny.
These visions surged like a tidal wave, crashing through the fragile dam of her so-called pride.
Washing dishes?
Humiliating.
But the bliss that ignited from the depths of her soul—
the intoxicating addiction to that taste, that power—
was far stronger.
Compared to that… what was dignity?
Zhu Zhuyun bit down hard on her lip until blood pooled on her tongue.
The sting brought a sliver of clarity.
She gritted her teeth.
"…I'll do it."
Just then, Hu Liena's eyes narrowed slightly, as if sensing something.
She turned and walked toward the shop entrance.
Her back was straight, elegant—
yet at this moment, exuding a holy dignity.
As she stood still—
A group of Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall appeared at the end of the street.
Hu Liena offered a serene smile tinged with compassionate pity and bowed slightly.
"Everyone.
The Senior has been waiting for you.
Please—come in."
This posture.
This tone.
These words.
The Titled Douluo all froze, their hearts trembling violently.
Inside the shop, Zhu Zhuyun followed their gazes—
And saw the person at the very front.
Orchid fingers.
Effeminate movements.
An appearance that she had seen countless times in Star Luo's intelligence archives.
Chrysanthemum Douluo—Yue Guan!
"T-T-Titled Douluo?!"
Her brain nearly snapped.
A peerless existence standing at the pinnacle of the continent—
and yet… he was coming here, to this little unknown shop?
Her stunned cry jolted the startled Elders back to reality.
Ghost Douluo's gaze passed Hu Liena, then landed on Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun—both in employee uniforms.
Understanding dawned instantly.
He stepped forward swiftly, hand over his chest, and bowed deeply toward Hu Liena.
"Greetings, Divine Emissary!"
The title made Hu Liena freeze.
"Grandpa Ghost, I—"
"No!"
Ghost Douluo cut her off, face stern.
"Nana, from the moment you wore this uniform, you ceased to be merely the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall.
You are now a Divine Apostle serving at the Senior's side."
"Your status is above ours—
and even… above His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff."
The other Titled Douluo suddenly awakened from their stupor.
They immediately followed Ghost Douluo's lead, performing a solemn chest-salute to Hu Liena—
and also to the terrified Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun behind her.
"We greet the three Divine Emissaries!"
Rumble—
Zhu Zhuyun's mind completely collapsed.
Titled Douluo—
the kind of people who could shake the continent with a single stomp—
bowing…
to her?
Her.
A beginner-level dishwasher?!
Her worldview shattered, crumbled, then reshaped itself entirely.
So washing dishes here…
could make Titled Douluo bow to her?
Suddenly…
washing dishes sounded absolutely incredible.
Zhu Zhuqing, standing beside her, silently watched this absurd spectacle.
That suffocating shadow of death she had carried since childhood—
the despair that kept her awake nightly—
was pierced open by the blinding dignity of these powerhouses.
Her taut nerves eased for the first time in years.
Perhaps… living wasn't such a distant dream after all.
After paying respects to the three "Divine Emissaries,"
Ghost Douluo steadied his breath and led the group forward.
They approached the one person who—since their arrival—
hadn't even looked in their direction.
The true core of this divine realm.
The source of all their reverence.
Ghost Douluo straightened his robes, face solemn to the extreme, placed a hand over his chest—
And bowed deeply toward the man reclining lazily in the rocking chair.
"Senior, we have come to trouble you again."
Behind him, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Devil Bear Douluo, and the rest bowed in perfect unison.
Lin Feng's eyelid twitched.
Sigh… Here comes today's performance again.
Every fiber of his being screamed:
"So annoying."
"I want to go home."
"I want to clock out."
But on the surface, he maintained his calm and aloof façade.
He waved his hand casually.
Ghost Douluo shuddered with relief.
"Thank you, Senior, for granting us seats!"
Only then did the Titled Douluo move to sit at the same table they used yesterday, not daring to make a single unnecessary sound.
At the same time—
Hu Liena floated to the counter, retrieved a small booklet and pen, and turned gracefully.
"Elders," she said softly,
"who will begin today?"
Zhu Zhuyun finally regained a sliver of thought.
Her gaze moved stiffly from the respectful Titled Douluo…
to the man in the rocking chair who treated them like background noise.
Why would someone who regarded Titled Douluo as air open a tiny restaurant?
For money?
She crushed that thought immediately.
Ridiculous.
To such an existence, money and power were less than dust.
There must be a deeper purpose.
Was he experiencing mortal life?
Playing among humans?
Or… was this restaurant a supreme trial ground for selecting believers?
Her heart pounded violently.
Slowly, Zhu Zhuyun's eyes drifted toward Hu Liena—
that seductive fox who had clearly been here longer than any of them…
Already integrated.
Already trusted.
Already standing as the de facto manager.
She must know something.
The shop's secret.
The Senior's true identity.
The purpose behind all of this.
Zhu Zhuyun's eyes sharpened dangerously.
The first step—
extract everything from that vixen.
No.
Not just her secrets.
Her position as well.
At that thought, all of Zhu Zhuyun's earlier humiliation evaporated—
replaced by a boiling ambition that lit her veins on fire.
_____________________
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