"You... what do you know?!"
"D-do you have any idea that a top-tier agent needs to maintain a flawless image at all times to give the client the ultimate, perfect experience?!"
"I've only been reluctantly going on a diet recently to maintain that flawless image and keep my figure in check, you know?"
"To tell you the truth, I... I just pulled off a huge job not long ago! I was way too indulgent back then and didn't stop stuffing my face for days and nights on end, you know!"
"Do you even know what chicken-soup potstickers are? Do you know what Tianfu Longming tea is? D-d-do you even know what boboji, trotters soup, and braised-intestine fish are? You have no idea how insanely delicious all of that is!"
Xiaotong: *Sob, sob, sob, sob* Everything she's listing is stuff I want to eat so badly but have never had... I can't afford any of it, ah ah ah ah ah!!!!
Seeing Xiaotong flush red with angry frustration, Min Moyou gave up on the idea of teasing her further and stopped lingering on this minor awkwardness. Even though he had seen right through all her putting-on-airs, he still assumed a deeply thoughtful, approving nod and said:
"Hmm, sounds pretty convincing."
Seeing that Min Moyou still didn't look convinced by her vivid, animated speech, Xiaotong immediately insisted on arguing further:
"What do you mean by 'sounds pretty convincing'? I was actually..."
"So you're a local? And you know Zhongpu District like the back of your hand, right?"
Min Moyou had no interest in listening to Xiaotong ramble on anymore. Although Xiaotong—who pretended to know what she was talking about while desperately trying to hide the fact that she was starving and surviving on thin air—was quite adorable, Min Moyou still felt a pang of sympathy and wanted to find an excuse to take her out to eat something.
Of course, the most important thing was to spend some money quickly and trigger the ten-thousand-fold consumption rebate. A domineering CEO needed to have money to feel confident!
The moment Xiaotong heard this, she knew she had it in the bag!
Her eyes darted around slyly as she began selling herself like a peddler praising his own melons:
"You bet! When it comes to knowing Zhongpu District, if I, Xiaotong, claim to be second, no one dares to claim first!"
"From luxury hotels, upscale restaurants, and breathtaking scenic spots, down to street food vendors, arcade games, bookstores, and shadow plays—there isn't a single place I'm not familiar with!"
"Hire me to work for you, and no matter what you want to eat, play, find, or ask about, I guarantee Zhongpu District will feel just like your own backyard! It'll be as easy as taking candy from a baby, alright?!"
"Besides, as a top-tier client—uh, I mean contractor—I'm well-versed in eighteen different skills, worth three, four, five, six, seven, or eight people all by myself! I can simultaneously serve multiple roles as a bodyguard, guide, and driver, and I'll accompany you to eat, drink, play, and... uh... well, no sleeping together."
"Anyway, whenever you have things you need done here in Zhongpu, finding me is definitely the right choice!"
Min Moyou narrowed his eyes with satisfaction and nodded—Xiaotong's routine of rattling off dishes like a menu was indeed not bad.
Of course, if she agreed to sleep together, it would be even better.
"I arrived in Zhongpu District not long ago and need a guide."
"Then it's settled on you."
"You got it, Boss! I guarantee you'll be satisfied, Boss!"
Xiaotong sprang up from the bench like a coiled spring, a rare smile blooming on her excited little face.
All right!
She had landed a private gig!
Not having to let Old Master Du take a cut of the money first—now that felt amazing!
Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay!
No saving money tonight!
Late-night snacks!
Eating to her heart's content!
Wait—
Immersed in her excitement, Xiaotong suddenly sobered up—they hadn't discussed the pay yet!
What if the person opposite her gave too little and was stingy to boot? That might not even be as good as tricking Xiaoguang into shooting a zero-budget movie to make some extra cash!
Hiss...
Without a sound, Xiaotong sized up Min Moyou once more...
He probably... roughly... maybe... wasn't that kind of person, right?
Xiaotong happily hopped and skipped in place, and Min Moyou, not wanting to disturb her, casually sat down on the bench she had vacated. Leaning back against the backrest, he watched the passionate (and a bit goofy) youthful energy of the pretty young girl.
Oh well, domineering CEOs are always extremely composed; letting her be happy for a little longer wouldn't hurt.
After all, the one whose stomach was growling wasn't him.
He could talk to her about the salary later.
"Um... Boss? My pay... how is that calculated?"
Before Min Moyou could even bring up how much he planned to pay to hire her, Xiaotong hurried over, unceremoniously plopping down right next to him. She rubbed her hands together and asked with an expression full of eager anticipation.
The fresh, uniquely youthful fragrance drifting from the tips of Xiaotong's hair put Min Moyou in a relaxed and pleasant mood.
"Hmm... based on your performance?"
Min Moyou pondered for a moment and asked tentatively.
It was his first time hiring someone, so he had no experience!
He was caught off guard by the question.
But Min Moyou quickly snapped out of it—screw it, why worry so much about that!
The more money he spent, the more he got back; he could just throw out any random number, any amount would do!
Glancing sideways at the girl's stunning visage, a thought unexpectedly surfaced in the depths of Min Moyou's mind: *Who cares about money?! As long as she's happy.*
Tsk, domineering CEOs were just like that. If they liked something, they only needed to throw money at it, while the things favored by a domineering CEO had a lot more to consider.
[Congratulations to the host for achieving enlightenment of the mind, bringing your mindset closer to that of a domineering CEO. Domineering CEO persona progression increased by 3%. Current progression: 15%.]
[Obtained persona progression reward: Fictional—infiltration, escort, and assassination Death Guard squad from the Min Family of Minqin has materialized by the host's side.]
[The squad consists of six absolutely loyal female Dragon Descendant Death Guards cultivated by the Min Family of Minqin since childhood. Their code names are: Yeying (Captain), Peacock (Vice-Captain), Oriole, Cuckoo, Parrot, and Dove.]
[The six Death Guard members possess Dragon Incantations of six different attributes, categorized by roles into two damage-dealers (Yeying (Yin), Peacock (Fire)), two breakers (Parrot (Gold), Cuckoo (Earth)), and two supporters (Oriole (Yang), Dove (Water)). They are well-trained and have mastered coordinated combo formations, capable of holding their ground for thirty rounds without defeat against a Dragon Descendant wielding a Supreme Dragon Incantation-level power.]
[The above six Death Guard members are already lurking by the host's side. Whenever the host has any needs, simply calling out their code names will summon them. They are utterly loyal to the host, their bodies and backgrounds are completely clean, and they are a foundation team cultivated for the host by the previous generation of the Min Family of Minqin, capable of fulfilling all the host's demands.]
*'All demands?'*
Min Moyou hadn't expected such an unexpected windfall. Out of curiosity—or perhaps due to some wicked thoughts in his heart—he asked one more question.
[All demands.]
*'Splendid.'*
...............
Hearing Min Moyou's reply, Xiaotong thought to herself: *Oh no!*
Wasn't this guy even more ruthless and black-hearted than Old Master Du?!
At least Old Master Du would paint a grand and glorious blueprint for her, claiming that as long as she did such and such, she could make piles and piles of big money—and then pick all sorts of petty flaws to dock her pay when it came time to settle accounts.
This jerk right in front of her was even better!
He couldn't even be bothered to draw a pie in the sky anymore?!
He just wanted to trick her into working for free straight up???
Did he think she, Xiaotong, was some wet-behind-the-ears newbie just stepping out into the real world?!
Seeing him all decked out in finery and looking like a human being on the outside, she never expected his intentions to be so vicious!
What a detestable capitalist, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!!!!
Did he make all his money with such a clear conscience?!
But... but she had finally managed to land a private gig...
The feeling of having the final payment for a commission resting right in her own hands—compared to scraping money out from under Old Master Du's cat paws—made Xiaotong feel bubbles of joy just thinking about it.
She really didn't want to give up lightly...
She really didn't want to go back to working day and night while alternating between starving and eating her fill.
So Xiaotong forcibly suppressed the disgust and helplessness in her eyes, squeezed out a dry smile, and tried to negotiate with Min Moyou:
"Oh my! Boss, look at what you're saying... We should at least have a base salary, right?"
"What do you think...?"
Min Moyou couldn't stand how Xiaotong—such a big girl—was forced to put on a pitiful act even though she was clearly unhappy, so he had no choice but to reply:
"One thousand."
There was nothing he could do; that was all the Jiufang Coins Min Moyou had on him.
Take it!
Take it all, would you?!
My good little Tong-bao, hurry up and take the money away!
Min Moyou was still waiting to trigger the ten-thousand-fold consumption rebate!
"One thousand?!"
Xiaotong let out a startled shriek—hiss... one thousand a month? Wasn't that about what she made working herself to the bone for a month at Longchao Pavilion?
So heartless!
"One thousand, huh..."
Xiaotong was in a real dilemma.
Hiss... but thinking about it carefully, with this extra thousand, if she lived frugally, there was at least no doubt she could afford three square meals a day for the month—mainly because she couldn't place her hopes of making money on Boss Du's kindness!
You couldn't trust that old cat!
Besides, this thousand would be handed completely over to her as a base salary!
Maybe if she worked hard, she could scrape together another few dozens or hundreds?
No way!
I, Xiaotong, am a Dragon Descendant!
There aren't many Dragon Descendants in the entire Kowloon District!
A genuine rare commodity!
Could a Dragon Descendant be bought off so cheaply for a mere one thousand Jiufang Coins?
She had to bargain!
"Boss, you're not playing fair here."
"I'm in high demand, you know? The people lined up waiting to give me commissions could stretch all the way from here to Shizi District, alright?"
"One thousand a month? Boss, given the current market rates, you know this price just won't fly."
"It's only because we happened to run into each other in the park in the middle of the night that we have this fate, which is why I'm giving you this opportunity, Boss."
"But I also need to see your sincerity, don't I? A guide as good as me isn't easy to find!"
"Could you just...? Add a little more, add a little more~"
Seeing Xiaotong acting so dead-serious and rational, Min Moyou's mouth twitched—who was it just a moment ago that had been jumping up and down with silly joy the second she heard she got the job?
And now she was turning around and jacking up the price?
Tsk, that quirky, eccentric streak was precisely one of the reasons Min Moyou liked Xiaotong.
"A month? I think you've misunderstood something."
"What do you take this young master's time for?!"
"This young master makes or loses tens of millions every single minute! In a tiny little place like Zhongpu, you're going to act as my guide and drag it out for a whole month?"
"If that's the case, I should probably rethink whether you even have the capability to handle this job."
Min Moyou gave a scornful laugh, casting a look at Xiaotong for her to ponder on her own.
Just those three simple sentences sent shockwaves through Xiaotong's mind!
Could it be... could it be...?
Could it be one thousand Jiufang Coins for half a month?!
Then wouldn't a month be two thousand?!
Forget about Zhongpu being too small to wander around for a month, and it certainly wasn't because she, Xiaotong, didn't know Zhongpu well or lacked guiding skills or whatever.
Anyway, relying on her sister's skill at bamboozling people... uh, no, relying on her sister's mastery of Zhongpu District, she guaranteed she could give him different ways to have fun every single day!
She wouldn't run out of things to do even after playing for half a month!
And after half a month of playing, he'd still want more!
A mere out-of-towner? Sister could easily wrap him around her little finger!
At the very least, a stable salary for a whole month was in the bag for sister!
Yo-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho~~~~~
"Oh my, I am so sorry, Boss Big Brother~"
"Put it on me, put it on me. It was just my limited vision that made me misunderstand you!"
"One thousand for half a month—now that's a fair price! You really do have foresight, I admire you."
Hearing this, Min Moyou frowned.
"Half a month for one thousand? You do the math for me: how much is that per day?"
Oh?
Hearing this, Xiaotong's smile grew even wider—she hadn't expected it to be paid daily after all?
An absolute pleasant surprise!
Doing a quick, rough mental calculation, Xiaotong hurriedly replied:
"Uh... well... my math isn't very good either, so that's probably around sixty-something? Let's round it up for you, just give me seventy a day!"
"Seventy?"
"Mh... uh... y-yes! That way it's a nice round number and makes it easier for you to pay out, right?"
With a slight guilty conscience, Xiaotong looked left and right, wondering if her little scheme had managed to wrap the guy around her finger.
The guy should, right?
Not care about such small change?
"Bang!"
Min Moyou slapped his palm against the wooden bench, producing a dull thud:
"What do you take me for?!"
"Hey, hey, hey... Boss, calm down, calm down! My mistake, my mistake, I'll wipe out the odd change, just give me 65 a day..."
*Wuu*—Xiaotong never imagined her little trick would be seen right through by him in a split second...
She hadn't expected him to actually care about that little bit of money after all...?
Even though she was the one being unfair first...
What to do, what to do, what to do?
Was this deal going to fall through right here and now???
No way—
Why couldn't she just keep herself from getting greedy for even that tiny bit?!
Regret was eating her alive!
......
Right at that moment, Min Moyou pulled out a stack of Jiufang Coins and slapped it against Xiaotong's chest with a sharp *thwack*, over and over again.
In that stack of Jiufang Coins, the smallest denomination was one hundred.
Of course, the largest denomination was also one hundred.
"Are you insulting me? Who do you think you are?"
"I have never spent such a pitifully small amount of money in my life—what on earth made you dare to look down on me like that?"
"Who gave you the gall!"
Huh?
Huh?!
Ahhh, gorgeous heavens!!!!
They had run into the God of Wealth today!
Did he mean he was planning to give her one thousand a week?
Right?!
Right?!
A fierce wave of bliss battered Xiaotong until her head was spinning!
One thousand a week—calculated at four weeks a month, that was four thousand!
Then wouldn't she, this month?
Be able to live it up however she wanted?!
Xiaotong immediately discarded the inner script she had prepared to act wronged and evade accountability—the "sick mother, disabled dad, un-sensible pet (Old Cat Du), and her broken self" sob story. Her back no longer ached, her legs no longer hurt, and even her stomach stopped growling!
Putting on a warm smile like Min Moyou had never seen before, she shook his arm while her gaze remained fixed firmly on the stack of cash Min Moyou had just slapped against her chest:
"Oh, my goodness! Big Brother! You are my very own biological big brother!"
"It was your little sister here who was blind and ignorant! Provoking you was entirely my fault, entirely my fault, wuu!"
"My good big brother! It's getting late, how about little Xiaotong finds you a place to stay first?"
"Or do you want to go play right now? Or eat something? Drink something?"
"Little Xiaotong guarantees to get you fully sorted in one go! Make you feel right at home!"
Beneath Min Moyou's cold and detached exterior, he was extremely satisfied with Xiaotong's sudden change in attitude, and he was thoroughly enjoying it.
The sound of one sweet, coquettish "good big brother" after another made Min Moyou's heart melt.
No...
The corners of his mouth were almost refusing to stay down...
She was so adorable!
"Big Brother, just call me Xiaotong. What should I call you?"
Xiaotong thought to herself: *With a sugar daddy this big, shouldn't I get to know him properly?*
Only then did Min Moyou manage to snap out of Xiaotong's charm offensive, though he didn't show anything on the surface.
Still, Min Moyou wasn't satisfied with this speed of spending money—though part of it was also due to Xiaotong successfully putting him in a good mood.
Sigh, the simple joys of a mature man were just that effortless.
However, a domineering CEO could afford to be even happier.
"Don't go trying to claim relations, you're not worthy of sharing a family name with me just yet."
"You should address me as: 'Master'."
"Once you've taken the money, do a good job according to my demands."
"Get your position straight."
Min Moyou's arrogant and overbearing attitude remained unchanged.
It finally made Xiaotong feel a tiny bit uncomfortable: *Wait? Why is he being so insufferably arrogant, he's been like this from the very beginning... If he weren't the employer, I'd really f***ing want to punch him...*
*Calm down. Calm down.*
If she beat him up, all her previous efforts would go down the drain, and she'd have to go right back to her old life of living on thin air for late-night snacks and matching wits with that broken cat, Old Master Du.
Mainly because Xiaotong simply couldn't bring herself to say the word "Master"!
Who said New Kowloon didn't have slaves, anyway!
If she really went around shouting "Master, Master" at him on the street every day, it would be way too easy for people to misunderstand and think she was into some weird play...
What would happen to her innocence then? What would happen to her reputation?
No, she absolutely could not agree!
Xiaotong took a deep breath, pressing her lips together in hopes of changing the pervert's bizarre notion—even if she ended up dropping this guiding commission altogether, she refused to spit out such a humiliating title:
"Boss! Can I just call you Big Boss instead? I honestly can't bring myself to say that other title!"
"Can't you pick a different one? That one really won't work!"
"Boss, please understand! I'm still an unmarried maiden! If I called you that, what would other people think of me?"
"If it really doesn't work, I can take a little less pay! If you're going to insist on that... then I can't take this commission, you'd better find someone else."
"This is my bottom line."
Very well, very well!
Min Moyou knew it was time for him to show off and flex!
"Bottom line?"
"This young master's favorite thing to do is trample on other people's bottom lines!"
"You're just complaining that the money is too little and not enough to drive you to call me Master."
"What if I give you one thousand an hour? Is that enough to make you lower your bottom line for me?"
Min Moyou's voice was cold, his gaze locked straight into Xiaotong's eyes—and he caught a flicker of hesitation in those eyes.
Tsk, she wasn't all that firm after all~
Xiaotong's heart truly wavered for a second—one thousand an hour?
That was thirty thousand a month!
Thirty whole thousand!
Xiaotong had never laid eyes on that much money since she first entered the working world!
She was tempted!
She was genuinely tempted!
The way he threw money around was so utterly charming!
She didn't want to punch him for being arrogant anymore at all!
Wasn't this guy looking way more pleasing to the eye than that stinky cat Old Master Du?
After Min Moyou dropped that price tag, a fierce internal struggle began inside Xiaotong's head...
She genuinely wanted that thirty thousand bucks.
And she genuinely couldn't bring herself to say that title.......
What to do...
She couldn't bear to give up this commission.......
Acting as an easy-peasy guide, following him around to have fun all over Zhongpu District, and then comfortably pocketing thirty thousand in wages........
Where on earth could you find a pie that delicious falling from the sky, ah ah ah ah ah!!!
Anyway, in the twenty-odd years old sister had been alive, this was the first time she'd ever seen one!
Min Moyou saw right through Xiaotong's struggle. With a crooked smirk, he decided to toss another log onto the fire.
So, Min Moyou silently leaned in close to Xiaotong's ear, inhaling the fragrant scent of the girl, and softly chanted his devilish whisper:
"Then what if... I give you one thousand for every single minute?"
"One thousand a minute—is that enough to make you proactively lower your bottom line?"
"Is! It! Enough?!"
Xiaotong was left completely frozen in place, wondering if her ears were playing tricks on her—
One thousand a minute?!?!?
That was twenty-four thousand a day, one hundred and sixty-eight thousand a week, and seven hundred and twenty thousand a month!
Once I finish this job, I'll instantly become a rich lady?!
At that exact moment, no matter how much lingering reluctance she had, no matter how many bottom lines or how much unwillingness remained, Xiaotong's mouth was exceptionally honest as she softly breathed out a single word to Min Moyou:
"Master..."
Are you kidding me!
How many coins was a bottom line worth, anyway?
Her bottom line was exceptionally flexible.
Hesitating for even a single second would be an act of disrespect toward money!
"Good girl."
At this, Min Moyou put on a bored expression once again, acting as though he had anticipated Xiaotong's capitulation all along and had everything completely under control.
Reaching out, he pinched Xiaotong's soft, fair cheek—which she had narrowed her eyes in bliss to offer—and could tell that Xiaotong truly hated calling him that title, but yielding to the pressure of reality and the temptation of money... blind oppression would only yield the exact opposite result...
Bah!
He wasn't feeling sorry for her at all,
Clearly, it was just the fickleness of a domineering CEO!
So Min Moyou took half a step back and said to her:
"Forget it, you can just address me as: 'Young Master'."
"Making you call me 'Master' when you're so unwilling just sounds grating to the ear."
Anyway, Min Moyou had already gotten his fill of satisfaction from hearing that single utterance of "Master" just now.
Xiaotong's eyes lit up instantly—did he actually just cut his own price down?
There were perks like this too?
Calling you "Young Master" meant she had zero psychological burden left at all!
"You got it, Young Master! Wishing you all the best, Young Master!"
Enjoying Xiaotong's flattery, Min Moyou gave a grand wave of his hand:
"A reward! Consider that first thousand an advance."
Without a second thought, Xiaotong snatched the thousand Jiufang Coins right out of Min Moyou's hand, clenching them tightly in her palm. After a quick, rough check to make sure the money was real, her uncontrollable excitement broke through all barriers, causing Xiaotong to throw herself directly into Min Moyou's arms!
"Thank you, Young Master! You're so generous, Young Master!"
Her soft body pressed tightly against Min Moyou, a grateful hug full of the girl's overflowing joy from head to toe.
He didn't disturb her further, choosing to quietly savor this moment of bliss.
[Congratulations to the host for breaking down someone else's bottom line through despicable financial means, while successfully delivering the classic domineering CEO quotes at the right moment—"This young master makes or loses tens of millions every single minute," "Get your position straight"....... Domineering CEO persona progression increased by 5%. Current domineering CEO persona progression: 20%.]
[Obtained persona progression reward: Fictional—10th Supreme Dragon Incantation-Aohui materialized, now integrated into the host's body.]
[Dragon Incantation: Aohui (Purple): The holder will gain high affinity with the six elemental attributes and basic mastery over applying the six elemental energies; the holder can peer into energy fields and spatial fluctuations; when not stirring up elements, the holder can completely conceal all of their own aura related to Dragon Descendants; the holder's physical and mental strength will be moderately enhanced.]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully spending one thousand Jiufang Coins to hire a guide, triggering the ten-thousand-fold consumption rebate mechanism, and obtaining ten million Jiufang Coins. Stored in the system space, the host can materialize them in any form.]
……………