Finally.
Dec 2nd 2032.
Last day of the interview for the panda cuddle daycare center,
The license to operate is ready. Uncle Bai Tu helped out a lot with that.
If the center can’t find a manager today, Zi Yang has already thought of taking on additional job along with the accountant’s and owner’s job.
Bai Ze also arrived at the center with other candidates, only two more – one young man recommended by Jian Guo and another was a middle-aged uncle from the supermarket.
Apparently, he was a good manager there and quit to have some more time to himself.
He’s the most hopeful for this job.
Bai Ze looked like an old man in decent clothes and even some branded clothes. So, interviewers i.e. all uncles and aunties had already ruled him out.
Dark Void who was observing in secret was also fuming. This idiot did not read the document properly and did not prepare well. It’s over. How was she going to give an explanation to the Void Empress now?
Soon, the other interviews were over and only Bai Ze was left.
Aunt Jo called his name. There was no reply from outside the room. She went out to check and found that a sheep like or cow-like creature was playing in the backyard with the babies – pandas and the human alike.
The creature looked majestic, so she cried out loud. Other hurried out of the room and Uncle Bai Tu identified,
“Oh my god, that’s a Bai Ze. The auspicious beast who’s as famous as a dragon.”
Hearing the sound, Bai Ze also put down the kids and strode out and shapeshifted into a man while walking.
Zi Yang swears that he wanted to yell – “Animagus” and “Magic” in a heartbeat.
Fortunately, he resisted.
Instead, he asked Aunt Jo, “Is he the candidate named Bai Ze? It was really a Baize. I thought it was just a name.”
“Why kid, are you discriminating against beasts? I’m a law abiding and recognized auspicious beast. Be careful, I’ll complain to the mayor about you.”
Zi Yang’s tongue twisted for a moment and sharp pain hit him.
Dark Void felt a strange sense of comfort when she saw Zi Yang’s distorted face. Then she realized that this kid is the interviewer and Baize is picking a fight.
It’s over now. Totally over.
However, to her surprise, Zi Yang did not cancel the interview but took everyone in the room and said, “No, we don’t discriminate. Mama Mei is an important part of the center. You should be high in cultivation considering that you can switch to a human body. Why interview here?”
Baize was curiously looking at the room and at the boy when he heard this question. In fact, he was very curious about this kid who could withhold the Void Empress for 9 years and possible for another decade until he becomes a beast master.
Upon hearing the question, Baize was casual.
He replied, “I was hurt by a curse a few years ago and it is healed now. It would take another nine or ten months to recover my lost strength by then. This place looks good with kids and all. Looks lively place to finish recovering.”
Aunt Lan was frighted after hearing about the curse, “Are your enemies still around? What if they come here.”
The concerns were genuine.
Baize was still casual, “I wasn’t hurt by ana enemy. I came across a cursed tomb relic which hurt me. Fortunately, contact period was small, so I hibernated in the mountains and waited for my heavenly luck to wear down the curse.”
The room was quiet now.
First this old man looks hell-a-chilled. No worries and blatantly flaunting his strength and luck in a room full of people who had neither.
Almost all uncles and aunties here were at extraordinary level strength. And to shapeshift into a human, at least soldier strength is required.
Zi Yang was also the most unaffected. He had this inexplicable confidence that he would live a good life even if he was unable to absorb spirit qi.
He maintained his awe of strength as necessary but was never afraid or worshipped strong people in the society like others.
This looks inconsistent with a child with no support and a very dysfunctional body. This ignited Baize’s curiosity further.
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He could understand why the Empress was curious about this unique boy.
He could even feel an inexplicable nobility coming from his bones, as if anything and everything is worthless to him in its entirety.
So much so, Baize was a little dumbfounded. His beast senses are impeccably accurate. If he senses this, this is most likely true.
It seems that this boy hides some incredible secret.
“So, your strength is way over the limit for the job and we wouldn’t be able to pay you much. Do you still want it?”, Zi Yang asked cautiously.
“Sure. When do I start?”, Baize exclaimed.
Let’s sign the contract in a week. We will fix all details by then.
“Where are you staying, meanwhile? Mountains?”, Zi Yang asked.
“What? You think I’m some wild beast? Of course, I’m staying in Maysynram Blu Hotel. The spa there is good.”
Then he winked and left the flabbergasted audience behind while he strode away.
Aunt Ying blushed slightly at the old man’ wink. Her husband nudged her lightly reminding that he was still in the room.
“He’s nice and is good with the kids.”
“Yes, he was careful when dropping them even when Jo shouted her lungs out.”
“Hey, I was scared”, Aunt Jo squealed.
“Yes, even though he would only stay for 9-10 months. It’s enough for now. We’ll hire again later.”
“And his strength can also provide an extra insurance to the place.”
“What do you think, Yang’er?”
Zi Yang also agreed. He felt good after seeing this old man and not just because of the luck halo.
He felt a kind of dependable aura on him.
So, everyone agreed.
Zi Yang proposed to draft the contract.
No one in the room took him a kid after spending a year with him managing business and recruiting. They all acknowledge his intellect. Still, Uncle Bai Tu would help if necessary.
After dismissing everyone, Zi Yang signed in on the void net and purchased two highest grade void contracts.
Even though Baize old man never mentioned his strength, Zi Yang assumed the highest he could and bought the best contract that can restrict anyone whose strength is below the void empress.
He bankrupted himself to buy this contract.
Reason why Zi Yang was so cautious was because he had a slightly crooked idea in his mind and had to be foolproof. His instincts told him that doing so was right for his survival.
Then, he started typing the content that should be printed in the contract on the void net.
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The Employment Contract Agreement (hereinafter refered to as the “Agreement”) is entered into on December 9, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Zi Yang, with an address of H/19, First street, Panda Cuddle Daycare Center, Mawsynram town, Jade Cloud City (hereinafter referred to as ‘employer’) and Bai Ze, an auspicious beast with citizen ID: VE-AB-PE-00001/02 (hereinafter referred to as ‘employee’) (collectively referred to as the “Parties”.
Responsibilities:
During employment, the employee would perform the following duties:
1. Take care of overall center and operations.
2. Help take care of babies when necessary.
Pay and Compensation:
The parties agree that the employee would be entitled to share half of the income amount from the employer’s income share or a minimum guaranteed amount of 100,000 Ancient country dollars; whichever is more.
Benefits:
Both parties agree that the employee would show up once every week for first six months and once every month thereafter. The rest could be construed as non-working days.
Constraints:
1. Employee guarantees to have no ill-will towards the employer, his brother, his acquaintances, property and his city during or after the contract period expires.
2. Employee is required to identify himself as employer’s brother, Zi Ming’s godfather during the period of employment and the employer as ‘Young Master’ while outsiders are present.
3. Should the employer stay beyond his suggested time period of 9.0 months, he is considered to have agreed to both conditions as set for life.
Term of Employment:
The employment of 9.0 months starting from Dec 9 2024 is hereby agreed by both parties.
Notice:
Any conflict in regards with the agreement would be resolved on Void Net by assigned arbitrators.
Signed:
Bai Ze
Zi Yang
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Zi Yang first couriered a draft on blank paper to the Mawsynram Blu Hotel for Bai Ze to view and asked him to come on 9 Dec for his signing and closing off.
He also attached a note to the ‘Constraints’ header – “So that the neighbors don’t look down on us brothers” with smiley emoji.
Then, he immediately replaced 9.0 from ‘terms of employment’ to 90; and printed both contracts – one copy for each the employee and the employer.
Finally, he summoned his courage and went to Aunt Jing’s house in the afternoon.
The first thing he saw after entering the house was the last woman recognized as “perfect” by everyone. Apparently, she’s been hired by Aunt Jing.
“Hi, your name was…”
Dark Void rolled her eyes and said, “Ling Yi”
That’s her name. But she hardly uses it.
“Yes, Miss Ling”
Dark Void was slightly happy after hearing him call her Miss. Although it is because of her persona she created during the interview, she is a Miss anyway and the Void Empress is an Auntie.
“Please come in”, Dark Void led him to the common room and served some snacks. Then she went to inform the empress who already knew Zi Yang was in the house.
Zi Yang was a little nervous in front of Auntie Jing. First, he had swindled her beast and now he came to her to seek her help in swindling.
Anyone would be a little afraid. Moreover, Aunt Jing’s eyes were really piercing when she looked at him. She seemed to be always scrutinizing him which made Zi Yang uncomfortable all over.
If not for the help required was urgent and he didn’t know whom to ask; he would have never come here.
“Yes, Zi Yang. How are you doing now?”
Void Empress had already sat opposite Zi Yang at some time.
“I am doing well. Thank you, Auntie. I had a favor to ask of you.”
‘Oh, one of three owed favors?”
“Yes Auntie”, Zi Yang replied solemnly. Just his still babyish face coupled with the serious had the Void empress struggling to hold her smile.
“Okay, tell me.”
“Auntie, I want you to cast a confusing spell on 9 Dec on my house – where everyone sees what they think they should see or have seen before.”
The void empress was a little confused about this favor, but she didn’t think much of it and agreed casually.
Zi Yang breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her agree. He was a little confused if there was even as spell such as that or which beast could do it.
Now that that's done, Zi Yang went home and lay exhausted.
He admired the new buds of the poplar tree which grew out of the thunderstruck wood he had bought.
He was in beautiful mood today.
He succeeded in blooming life out of the branch. And he had a feeling – the job contract would also bring new life the two brothers.