"The talent is real. She just gave me ten lottery tickets with a single deal. Not taking this pet would truly be a crime!"
Shen Xiao thought enthusiastically.
Shen Xiao cleared his throat, trying to maintain his cool in front of Lao Jiang.
"How about this? I can pay off the mortgage on this house for you."
"But this money isn't free, you have to work for me to pay back the debt."
Lao Jiang thought for a moment.
Life as a stray cat was hard, stealing scraps from neighbors, scavenging through trash, and having to be on constant alert for intruders every single day.
"Can I eat until I'm full, meong?" Lao Jiang asked hesitantly.
"Of course, until you're stuffed," Shen Xiao answered firmly.
"How much does this house cost, meong?"
"Around 1.2 million yuan. Let's say you work for me for 200 years to pay it off, and I'll pay the bank upfront right now. How's that?"
Lu Zihao's lip twitched.
His Boss was definitely not cut out to be a businessman, he was more suited to be a loan shark!
A 1.2 million debt paid over 200 years meant her monthly salary wasn't even 600 yuan.
Even a beggar wouldn't work for that wage.
"Can we reduce the time, meong? 100 years?" Lao Jiang countered.
"180 years is my bottom line."
"150 years, meong!"
"Deal!"
Ding!
[Gained Lao Jiang's favorability, Fate Ticket +10]
To Shen Xiao, 1.2 million yuan was just pocket change.
From the 20 lottery pulls he had just earned, the value of the Spirit Stones obtained far exceeded that.
Moreover, the cat's loyalty was proven, she was willing to guard her deceased masters' home for months on end.
Once the handwritten employment contract, complete with a cat paw print, was finished, Lao Jiang looked immensely satisfied.
"My name is Lao Jiang, meong. I'm a female cat, 2 years and 1 month old."
"I'm Shen Xiao. From now on, you're my friend. If anyone bullies you, report it to me!"
Ding!
[Lao Jiang's favorability increased, Fate Ticket +1]
Ding!
[Lao Jiang's favorability increased, Fate Ticket +1]
Shen Xiao then crouched down and picked up Lao Jiang.
"Apologize to them. They are my friends, don't scare them anymore."
"I'm sorry, meong. It was my fault," Lao Jiang said sincerely.
Lu Qingyue gently stroked Lao Jiang's head.
"I'm sorry too, for damaging the walls of your house earlier."
While introducing Lao Jiang to the team, Shen Xiao began his grand experiment.
Plan Pet the Cat.
Ding!
[Lao Jiang's favorability increased, Fate Ticket +0.01]
Ding!
[Lao Jiang's favorability increased, Fate Ticket +0.01]
Though the value was small, Shen Xiao started doing quick math.
If he petted her 60 times a minute, that was 0.6 tickets per minute.
In an hour, 36 tickets.
If he did it all day while reading a novel or watching TV, he could pocket hundreds of tickets without breaking a sweat!
Compared to his first six months after reincarnation.
Where he worked like a dog just for 86 tickets, this "cat-petting" method was a shortcut to peak power.
"Lao Jiang, what do you want to eat? I'll buy it."
"Anything that smells like meat, especially dried fish, meong!"
"Alright, I'll buy as much as you want."
Ding!
[Gained Lao Jiang's favorability, Fate Ticket +10]
"Master is so kind, meong!"
Shen Xiao smiled thinly.
Petting a cat can make me strong, so why should I lift weights or train hard at the gym?
As long as sausages and dried fish are available, the lottery tickets will keep flowing.
...
The next day, Shen Xiao called a professional cleaning company.
Lao Jiang's masters' old house was given a total makeover, the holes in the walls were patched, and several advanced security cameras were installed.
This way, Lao Jiang could monitor her home anytime via phone when she left with Shen Xiao later.
That night, they celebrated the mission's success and welcomed Lao Jiang as the newest member of the team.
Lao Jiang was a true performer.
She controlled her two ghost projections, Ah Gui and Ah Piao, to put on a two-man comedy show.
While eating, the team was treated to unique supernatural entertainment.
However, the most shocking part was the cat's appetite.
How could an 8 kg cat devour 5 kg of dried fish plus one whole steamed white snapper in a single sitting?
It's a good thing you keep giving me lottery tickets.
Otherwise, I really couldn't afford to keep you, Shen Xiao thought, shaking his head.
Total cost for cat maintenance that day: 200 yuan.
But the ticket harvest?
106.88 tickets in one day!
If converted to Spirit Stones and sold, the value could reach 20 million yuan.
A very profitable investment.
...
The following day, they headed to the bank in Ku County.
Shen Xiao asked Lu Zihao and Su Qiao to stay behind and supervise the house renovations, while he took Lu Qingyue to the bank.
His primary goal wasn't just to settle Lao Jiang's house affairs, but to pay off Lu Qingyue's family debt.
All this time, Qingyue had refused help, saying she could handle it herself.
But Shen Xiao couldn't let his "Empress" continue to suffer under bank interest.
"Qingyue, just wait in the car with Lao Jiang. Give me all your debt documents," Shen Xiao said as they arrived in front of the bank.
"Eh? But I have to come up..."
"No need. Your tongue gets tied too easily, you'll be swindled by the bank staff. Let me negotiate to get the interest reduced. Just guard the car so we don't get a ticket," Shen Xiao cut her off flatly.
Qingyue finally obeyed, though she felt uneasy.
Half an hour later, Shen Xiao stepped out of the bank with a light stride.
The 3 million yuan debt was paid in full.
To others, it was a massive figure, but to Shen Xiao, it was merely the price of a few dozen lottery tickets, a small investment for Qingyue's happiness.
The three main burdens of the Empress, the debt, her brother's school, and the mission assessment.
The debt is settled.
As for her brother's school?
Another one or five million is no problem.
Just one more mission, and she'll be truly free.
Shen Xiao thought with satisfaction.
Upon entering the car, Lao Jiang immediately jumped into Shen Xiao's lap, seeking attention.
But this time, Shen Xiao moved the cat to the back seat.
"Eat your dried fish in the back for now, Lao Jiang," Shen Xiao said, tossing a bag of treats.
Ding!
[Gained Lao Jiang's favorability, Fate Ticket +1]
Lao Jiang purred contentedly, while Shen Xiao looked at Lu Qingyue.
He held a piece of receipt from the bank.
"Qingyue, steady yourself before opening this."
"Did... did they give a big discount on the interest?" Qingyue asked anxiously.
"It's a secret. Take a deep breath first."
Qingyue took a long breath, trying to calm her racing heart.
She thought her debt might have been reduced by a few tens of thousands of yuan.
Once she felt ready, she opened the envelope.
Her eyes widened.
There, it was written.
OUTSTANDING BALANCE: 0 (PAID IN FULL).
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100!]
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100!]
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100!]
Tears began to well up in Qingyue's eyes.
The burden that had crushed her life for years, that had forced her to work until she lost her hand, had suddenly vanished in an instant because of the man beside her.