"Chengzi." the Vice Director called his name again. "Could you finish whatever task you had left and then follow my niece to the Lotus Delight Pavilion?" he asked.

"Of course, Vice Director," Nick replied with a respectful bow. "This subordinate will finish the task as swiftly as possible," he said.

"Excellent. The earlier you get there, the better," the Vice Director said, shooing Nick out of the room with a wave of his hand. A gesture like this was necessary, or Nick wouldn't initiate an intention to leave the room first.

"I'll be here waiting. Don't take up too long," Jing Tian added.

"This subordinate understands. I will be returning here in a hurry." Nick cupped his fists in reply and retreated from the room.

Once outside, Nick dashed to his workstation and began prepping ingredients with the Tool Spirit's help. The sharpness of the kitchen knife allowed Nick to prepare the items that required extra effort. And in less than half an hour, he completed all his tasks.

Although this method would leave him more tired than usual, it was something that had to be done.

"Rumors had it you're off to the Lotus Delight Pavilion. Congrats, kid!" the stockkeeper said with a grin and accepted the basket of prepped ingredients his department gave Nick this morning.

"Thank you, Senior," Nick responded to the stockkeeper's words with a smile. "Had the rumors already spread here?" Nick embarrassedly acknowledged what he said.

"Keep up the good work, and take this extra fruit as a bonus reward from me. Although you only worked here for a week, ensure that you don't disgrace us from the Golden Expanse House Staff Canteen." the stockkeeper added and handed the reward to Nick.

There were fifteen Golden Tokens and two Yuan Qi Turquoise Fruits inside the small pouch. And when the stockkeeper spoke with Nick, he appeared like a grandfather who had his grandchild coming over to visit him.

"This junior will remember senior's words and try his best in the Lotus Delight Pavilion." Nick pocketed the pouch after responding to the stockkeeper politely. After all, nobody would reject a charity like cultivation resources. It was something nobody would complain about having more.

If he included the five Yuan Qi Turquoise Fruits in his room, Nick only had seven fruits.

Seven was not a large sum, but much better than those around him, like Shen Mi Kang, Ah-Fei, and Tian Wenhao. From what he knew, the trio only had around two to three fruits rewarded over the last week.

After leaving the Inventory Department, Nick returned to the room he shared with Shen Mi Kang to pack his belongings. But he quickly realized he had little to no belongings except for several containers with the seasonings, the Yuan Qi Turquoise Fruits, and two sets of uniforms with the Golden Expanses House Embroidery.

(Hahaha... I actually assumed that I had a lot to pack. Looking at these things here, a cloth sack would be more than enough, no?) Nick chuckled.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Eh?" he came across Ah-Fei and Tian Wenhao when coming out, who was about to knock at his door. This made it more convenient for Nick as he could properly bid his farewell to them before leaving.

He initially plans to tell Shen Mi Kang and let the latter deliver his message to the other two. After all, he rarely explores his surroundings' community and its facilities. And naturally, he had no idea where to look for the two.

As for Shen Mi Kang, their workplace was just adjacent to one another.

"I overheard someone say you got transferred to a restaurant near the Silver Lotus Agency. Did you angered someone in this Golden Expanse House?" Tian Wenhao asked. Out of the two, he was the one with better communication skills. Rumors like this naturally couldn't escape his ears.

But it took Ah-Fei a minute to realize what actually happened.

"What? You got fired?" Ah-Fei barged into the conversation before Nick could respond to Tian Wenhao.

"No!" Nick quickly denied Ah-Fei's ridiculous assumption. "I was told by the Canteen's Vice Director to learn and work under his niece. I am going to the canteen to follow her to the Lotus Delight Pavilion." Nick quickly explained.

"Ah... That's what actually happened... It almost got both of us to worry for nothing." Ah-Fei nodded and patted his chest softly. "But again... How amazing was that to get a job offer from the Vice Director." Tian Wenhao added.

"Hey, Chengzi. Wait right there." Tian Wenhao lightly slapped Nick's shoulder and stopped him from thinking about leaving. He made his way into the room belonging to Ah-Fei and himself and came out with a pouch holding three Yuan Qi Turquoise Fruits.

"Take it as a farewell gift from each of us. I'm sure Shen Mi Kang will have the same thought as I do," said Tian Wenhao.

"How can I take this?" Nick felt a little ashamed that it never came across his mind to share the Yuan Qi Turquoise Fruit he had with them. And just as Nick was about to continue talking, Ah-Fei interrupted.

"I have two more in my cabinet. Just wait me for a minute as I get them for you," Ah-Fei said.

"Tskk... Chengzi is about to leave. Do you want him to be late?" Tian Wenhao clicked his tongue and tugged Ah-Fei's collar.

"Chengzi, you should go now. If there's not enough time, just yell at that chunk of burnt rice and go. I'll speak with him about the rest." Tian Wenhao said.

"Good brother." Nick couldn't help but feel touched by their selflessness. He opened his arms and hugged the two firmly before leaving with a smile. And just as Tian Wenhao said, the remaining time was too tight for him to speak properly with Shen Mi Kang.

Hence, he made his way into the department and yelled.

"Shen Mi Kang! I'm going to the Lotus Delight Pavilion! Make sure you come and visit me later!" Nick yelled and left the cooking department.

"Your friend?" a member who works on the workstation beside Shen Mi Kang asked.

"Nah!" Shen Mi Kang denied it and continued stirring the soup pot he was responsible for.

(It's brother...) He whispered with a smile on his face.

(But huh... Lotus Delight Pavilion... I think we walked past that place when we left the Silver Lotus Agency yesterday...) Shen Mi Kang pondered and searched through his memory from yesterday.

...

...

"Vice Director, Miss Jing, I'm ready," Nick spoke while standing outside the office. Though a little out of breath, the anticipation of a new challenge keeps Nick awake and alert.

"Good. You're right at the time. We should make our way back before they had their dinner. The mealtime would be a great opportunity to introduce you to the rest of our staff," said Jing Tian.

"Come with me," she added, delivering a curtsy bow at the Vice Director after leaving the office. Nick also followed and nodded respectfully before following Jing Tian closely behind.

With her leading the way, Nick left the Golden Expanse House Community and took the third shopping street to get to the Silver Lotus Agency.

Nick's supposedly twenty to thirty minutes walk felt like an hour until they entered the communities under the Silver Lotus Agency's control. Walking three more shops after the Agency's security post was a beautiful, three-floor tall shop lot.

The word "LOTUS DELIGHT PAVILION" were engraved on the signboard, with the red stamp seal of Golden Expanse House and Silver Lotus Agency. This means the restaurant was protected by these two forces.

"Welcome to the Lotus Delight Pavilion, Chengzi," Jing Tian said.