Can Jiuluoyu Also Work As Customer Service In Wuxianliu? Chapter 6
byZhang Yu spent the entire day busy, replying to messages with a flurry of clicks and clacks, finally making it to quitting time.
He clocked out without hesitation the moment the hour struck.
He couldn’t take it anymore; his fingers were truly about to give out.
It wasn’t just his hands; his spine and feet were also suffering. After sitting all day, his body had genuinely reached its limit.
He was now weak in the limbs and seeing stars.
Lying down was so much more comfortable. If only he could work while lying down.
He arrived at the elevator bank and found the Ghost Painter was also there.
Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. Seeing the Ghost Painter always improved his mood now.
Last night, the Ghost Painter not only replied with a “1” but also complimented his handwriting, which had kept Zhang Yu happy all night long.
In the past, he had sent WeChat messages to many people, but they either sank without a trace or he was scolded for being annoying. Only the Ghost Painter complimented him.
The Ghost Painter smiled gently as usual: “How was today? Are you getting used to it?”
Zhang Yu had completely forgotten about the complaint form from the morning and happily replied, “Used to it, used to it. Everything is great, and today’s boxed lunch was delicious too.”
“That’s good.”
“Can I still send you messages today?” Zhang Yu asked cautiously.
The Ghost Painter’s smile didn’t change: “Of course.”
That’s wonderful!
Persistence always pays off. In an instant, Zhang Yu felt he had found a kindred spirit.
Ding—
The elevator arrived, and the doors slowly opened. Zhang Yu remembered the workplace rules he had crammed: the newcomer should let the senior go first. He quickly held the elevator door: “You go first.”
The Ghost Painter didn’t move: “I still have things to do and will leave later. You go ahead. I’ll watch you get in.”
“Oh, okay.” Zhang Yu didn’t think much of it and stepped forward, completely failing to notice that the Ghost Painter beside him had dropped his smile and was staring at him expressionlessly.
Just as he was entering the elevator, Zhang Yu’s legs suddenly went weak, and he stumbled forward, about to fall flat in the elevator bank. Fortunately, the Ghost Painter managed to steady him in time.
However, this action meant the Ghost Painter also entered the elevator with Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu was shaken and gripped the Ghost Painter’s arm tightly: “Thank you, thank you. I’m so glad you were here, or I would have had a workplace injury!”
The Ghost Painter didn’t speak, nor did he pull away from Zhang Yu. He watched the elevator doors slowly close, a rare look of astonishment on his face.
The Safe House had limited boundaries, only covering the floor where the company was located. Players were not supposed to be able to enter the elevator.
Yet, he had just walked in.
With no resistance whatsoever.
Was it because of Zhang Yu? The Ghost Painter stared at the heavily breathing Zhang Yu, struggling to understand what this person’s background truly was.
Zhang Yu finally calmed down. He secretly glanced at the Ghost Painter a few times, then quickly retracted his gaze, his eyes eventually settling uncontrollably on his hand—for some reason, the Ghost Painter was still holding his wrist. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it felt strange.
Based on Zhang Yu’s half-year of observation, this counted as intimate contact, something only people with a very good relationship would do.
Did the Ghost Painter forget? Or was he just a naturally enthusiastic person?
Also, didn’t the Ghost Painter say he had to work overtime? Why was he coming down with him?
Zhang Yu couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild.
The elevator quickly reached the first floor. Zhang Yu was momentarily unsure what to do, hesitantly prompting: “Ghost…”
The Ghost Painter spoke just then, interrupting Zhang Yu’s unfinished word: “We’re here. Let’s go.”
With that, the Ghost Painter naturally pulled Zhang Yu out of the elevator.
Zhang Yu: “…”
He felt like something was wrong, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
The Office Building lobby was as deserted as ever. The Ghost Painter subtly surveyed every corner. When they walked out of the Office Building and saw the bustling road with heavy traffic, even he couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned.
Was this part of the Dungeon or Reality? The Ghost Painter couldn’t tell.
Most Players in the Dungeon were unwilling participants in the game, and they all hoped to accumulate enough points to return to Reality.
“Um, Ghost Bro, which way are you heading? We probably aren’t going the same way.”
Zhang Yu twisted his wrist, reminding the Ghost Painter that it was time to part ways. It was almost rush hour, and he needed to hurry to grab a shared bike.
The Ghost Painter was unmoved, staring deeply at the flowing traffic ahead, lost in thought.
Zhang Yu sighed inwardly. Forget it. The Ghost Painter seemed odd; he’d just endure it a little longer.
Workplace rule: always maintain good relationships with colleagues.
·
The Ghost Painter felt the warmth in his palm.
Zhang Yu’s hand was rough, not delicate, but his body temperature was high, warm, very much like a living person.
He had only been able to leave the Safe House by holding onto Zhang Yu. What would happen if he let go of Zhang Yu? The Ghost Painter didn’t know, but he wanted to try.
Perhaps he would die.
This thought drifted lightly through the Ghost Painter’s mind, leaving no tangible trace.
He was not an indecisive person; if he thought of something, he would do it. So, he gently released his grip.
If he died here, would it scare Zhang Yu? The Ghost Painter thought casually.
Probably not.
In both the Dungeon and Reality, death was commonplace; it wouldn’t scare anyone.
A sliver of the setting sun shone through the tree canopy onto the Ghost Painter’s face. It wasn’t blinding, just very unfamiliar.
He couldn’t even remember how long it had been since he left Reality.
·
Zhang Yu was momentarily stunned.
He had prepared himself to continue being led by the Ghost Painter, but who knew the Ghost Painter would suddenly let go?
Zhang Yu: “…”
So all his mental preparation was for nothing.
Fine then.
As long as he let go.
This young master is going home!
Zhang Yu was racking his brain trying to figure out how to smoothly separate when he turned his head and saw the Ghost Painter still staring ahead expressionlessly, yet his gaze was so faint that it left no impression wherever it landed.
For some reason, Zhang Yu suddenly had a very strange feeling, but he couldn’t quite describe it.
The two stood quietly like this for a long time until the Ghost Painter slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth: “It’s this late already. How about we grab a meal together?”
Eat?! Zhang Yu instantly forgot the unknown emotion from earlier, and alarm bells went off in his mind.
Eating out required money.
Zhang Yu, who constantly bounced between abject poverty and mild poverty, would never do such a thing.
But this was the Ghost Painter…
Never mind, he’d worry about the budget later.
Zhang Yu gritted his teeth and nodded fiercely: “Let’s eat!”
There weren’t many restaurants nearby, so the two walked for about ten minutes before finding a noodle shop.
The noodle shop was deserted and very small, with only the two of them as customers and a few delivery riders waiting for orders.
Soon, their bowls of noodles were placed on the table.
Zhang Yu had a bowl of plain vegetarian noodles, but he had ordered beef noodles for the Ghost Painter, plus an extra egg.
Although the shop was quiet, the taste was genuinely good. It had a natural aroma, without that cloying, artificial seasoning smell.
Zhang Yu’s appetite was stimulated, and he happily dug in.
The Ghost Painter didn’t eat, watching Zhang Yu carefully.
After a few bites, Zhang Yu looked up in confusion: “Don’t you like it?”
When they entered, the Ghost Painter had said anything was fine and told him to order whatever.
“No.” The Ghost Painter picked up his chopsticks. “It’s just been a long time since I’ve eaten this, and I feel a bit nostalgic.”
Just eating a bowl of noodles, and he had to have so many feelings about it? Zhang Yu was dumbfounded. People in the big city really were different.
After finishing the noodles, Zhang Yu finally had a chance to say goodbye to the Ghost Painter.
As soon as he stepped out of the shop, he spotted a lonely shared bike on the road. He quickly hopped on, waving and pedaling away, afraid the Ghost Painter might still be keen on some fashionable and expensive urban activity.
Only after speeding back to his Rental Apartment did Zhang Yu finally feel his wallet was safe.
The Rental Apartment was a Partitioned Apartment. A two-bedroom, one-living room unit had been forcibly divided into four single rooms. The landlord lived in the master bedroom, and the other three rooms were rented out. The neighbors were all working people. Although they lived under the same roof, they rarely saw each other, only hearing the constant noise from all sides.
Zhang Yu returned to his room and checked his bank balance. He felt secretly melancholic. If the company couldn’t pay his salary on time, he would have to beg on the streets and become a wandering wage slave.
Shaking off the distracting thoughts, Zhang Yu fiercely listened to several hours of online classes. After studying, he started getting restless again, wanting to send a message to the Ghost Painter.
Zhang Yu tentatively asked if the Ghost Painter had arrived home.
The Ghost Painter instantly replied: [I’m here. You?]
[I’m here too, hehe.]
[That’s good.]
Test successful! The Ghost Painter wasn’t tired of him yet. Time for a long essay!
Zhang Yu grabbed paper and pen and wrote profusely, then took a photo and sent it before climbing into bed to sleep.
It was a smooth, uninterrupted process.
Closing his eyes, Zhang Yu should have quickly drifted off, but for some reason, he had insomnia today and lay awake for a long time.
A trace of coolness lingered on his wrist, as if the Ghost Painter’s fingers were still clasped around it.
·
“How is the Ghost Painter now?!”
“Why was he so impulsive, directly leaving the Safe House?!”
“He really doesn’t value his life!”
The Players in the Safe House were frantic. They had watched the Ghost Painter enter the elevator with Zhang Yu and hadn’t seen him since.
Now, a night had passed, and the Players were sleepless, all sporting dark circles under their eyes, standing guard near the elevator bank, completely at a loss.
Could the Ghost Painter already be dead?
In the past, other Players had tried to use the Safe House to return to the real world, and without exception, they had died tragically at the very first step.
Gradually, everyone understood the severity of the prohibition, and no one dared to attempt such a suicidal act again.
The Ghost Painter must have known this, yet he did it anyway, without any hesitation.
He had survived countless near-death experiences in the Dungeon and was undoubtedly one of the top Players. Could he have died so easily?
A dark cloud hung over the Players. Everyone was deeply dejected, but they had to pull themselves together to face the new day: “It’s past eight. Zhang Yu is about to come to work. Everyone return to your Posts. Act well, and let me emphasize again: the game’s prohibitions must absolutely not be violated.”
“Sigh…”
Everyone sighed and was about to turn away when they heard a “ding” sound from the elevator.
Someone had arrived.
They had been staring at the elevator, and the car had shown no signs of moving up or down.
When Zhang Yu came and went, the elevator operated normally; it wouldn’t appear so abruptly.
Who could it be?
The Players held their breath, staring intently at the elevator.
Soon, the elevator doors opened, revealing a familiar face.
The Ghost Painter.
Completely unharmed.
“Morning. So many people came to welcome us? I’m flattered,” the Ghost Painter said with a grin as he stepped out of the elevator.
The crowd blocking the elevator entrance automatically parted, creating a path for him.
The Ghost Painter walked through the crowd as if nothing had happened.
The Players were dumbfounded, unable to utter a single word.