242: The prosperity remains, the mission begins

At six o'clock in the afternoon, the doorbell rang punctually.

Standing outside the door was Lin Wei, still in a crisp combat uniform, her expression serious.

But when she looked at the insulated box in Lu Chuan's hand, a hint of anticipation entered her eyes.

"Mr. Lu, you've worked hard."

"It's nothing."

Lu Chuan helped place the insulated box onto a trolley.

Lin Wei took the box, her fingers brushing over its surface, seemingly feeling the warmth and inviting aroma emanating from within.

Her throat subtly bobbed, then she quickly averted her gaze.

"Tomorrow, the ingredients will be changed to fried rice. I'll send you the specific list shortly. Goodbye."

After she finished speaking, she picked up the box and turned to leave with brisk, decisive steps.

After seeing Lin Wei off, the smile on Lu Chuan's face faded slightly.

Ye Chen's task was complete; now, it was time to deal with his own system's mission.

Selling fried rice in the Magic City Financial Center Plaza, and making fifty elites lose their composure... He sighed, resignedly beginning to prepare his stall equipment.

This time, the system didn't provide a stall cart, but thankfully, Lin Wei could help prepare these things.

As for the ingredients, Lin Wei had already had them sent to the cold storage room, all top-quality fresh ingredients prepared according to his requirements.

However, Lu Chuan had also prepared some additional ingredients he had collected earlier from Yinhua Mountain and the Alien Rift (Otherworld Rift).

A "Cloud Mushroom" powder that could enhance umami, and a few "Explosive Flame Beans" that could bring an extreme wok hei.

Ding Xinyang curiously leaned over.

"A Chuan, are you really going to set up a stall there?"

Lu Chuan, while tidying up, replied helplessly:

"It's a random stall, so since it's chosen, I must go."

Ding Xinyang nodded thoughtfully, and helped tidy up... The Magic City truly lived up to its reputation as a first-tier international metropolis, even after experiencing a crisis that almost overturned the entire city.

Yet, just one day after the lockdown was lifted, it quickly returned to its former bustling appearance.

For the destined workers who received the notice to cancel their holidays and rushed back to their posts, it seemed no different from usual.

Of course, there were still changes; after meals or during work breaks, people would always discuss the rift that connected heaven and earth two days ago.

Xu Ying continuously complained while organizing the transaction documents her leader needed.

"If you ask me, the world is practically ending, so why do we still have to work?"

Luo Li stretched, almost popping a button on her chest, which made her quickly rein in her movements.

Hearing her colleague's complaint, she rubbed her slightly sore lower back and responded:

"Does the end of the world mean you don't need to eat? According to the leader, the first ones eliminated in the apocalypse are those without savings."

Xu Ying rolled her eyes in exasperation, then sighed.

"Ugh, we're all finance majors who graduated at the same time, so why did You Yueyi climb to a management position so quickly? Look at her, she posts pictures of luxury cars, mansions, and yachts every day. It's so enviable."

Luo Li lazily opened an Excel sheet and casually replied:

"Perhaps her foundation is solid and her abilities are outstanding, which is why the leader appreciates her so much."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ying curled her lips in disdain, but seeing her busy colleagues around her, she swallowed the words she was about to say.

However, she still leaned closer to Luo Li's ear, a mischievous smile on her face.

"If you ask me, Li Li, you're so beautiful and have such a good figure, and Mr. Zhang seems to have a little interest in you. If you were willing, you could definitely..."

Before she could finish, Luo Li pushed her head away.

"Hey, stop right there!"

Then, she looked at the time on her computer, stood up, and said:

"It's 12 o'clock, time for lunch."

At the mention of food, Luo Li also felt a bit hungry, and immediately nodded.

The two of them grabbed their bags and hurried towards the elevator.

This was the time when the white-collar workers in the Skyline Financial Building began their lunch break and searched for food.

If they didn't hurry, just waiting for the elevator would be maddening.

Fortunately, today was the first day back to work after the "apocalypse," and it seemed everyone had a lot of work, so the elevator wasn't as crowded as usual.

However, upon reaching the plaza, the bustling scene of people coming and going was still visible.

Well-dressed white-collar workers hurried along, either carrying delicate coffee paper bags or heading to nearby upscale restaurants together.

"This doesn't feel like the end of the world at all. All I see is a bunch of overworked people who still have to solve their own food problems."

Xu Ying started complaining again.

Having left the oppressive work environment, Luo Li no longer had a strained expression.

She covered her mouth, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as she laughed. Due to the somewhat large movement, her upper body swayed slightly.

Even Xu Ying, also a woman, couldn't help but glance at her twice.

Luo Li, blushing, blocked Xu Ying's gaze, then huffily linked her arm with hers and quickened her pace.

Just then, a middle-aged male voice nearby spoke up.

"Oh, it's Luo Li! I was wondering who was laughing so sweetly."

Upon hearing this voice, Luo Li's eyebrows subtly twitched, and a flicker of distaste quickly crossed her face.

Xu Ying, beside her, had already greeted him.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Zhang."

Luo Li, resigned, also offered a greeting.

The speaker was Zhang Jun, the company's vice president.

He greedily took a quick look at Luo Li's curvaceous figure, then adjusted his expensive custom suit, a greasy smile simultaneously appearing on his face.

"Hey, Luo Li, I told you before, call me Mr. Zhang at the company, but outside you can call me Brother Zhang! Don't you agree?"

He stared at Luo Li the entire time he spoke, completely ignoring Xu Ying beside her.

Luo Li felt goosebumps rise from his gaze, but she couldn't react, so she clenched her fists, vowing to find a new job as soon as she saved enough next month.

"Mr. Zhang, if there's nothing else, Xu Ying and I are going to lunch. Goodbye."

After saying that, she pulled Xu Ying and quickly walked away.

Zhang Jun slicked back his shiny hair, greedily watching Luo Li's alluring retreating figure, then chuckled lewdly and continued to wait where he was.

A moment later, the descending elevator doors opened, and a sickly sweet female voice emerged.

"Brother Zhang~"

At the same time, a fair and smooth arm automatically linked into Zhang Jun's arm.

Zhang Jun quickly shook off You Yueyi's arm, but then thought better of it. Seeing no one around was paying attention, he secretly pinched You Yueyi and chuckled:

"You little hussy, why are you so proactive today? Didn't we agree to avoid suspicion at the company?"

You Yueyi playfully patted Zhang Jun's shoulder, her voice simpering as she said:

"Isn't it because I haven't seen Brother Zhang in two days and missed him?"

In reality, she had watched the entire process of Zhang Jun hitting on Luo Li from above in the transparent glass elevator, and a sense of crisis had arisen in her heart.

No one knew better than her how she had risen in rank, and she was perfectly clear about the true nature of the notorious "Piggy Zhang" in their circle.

Luo Li's figure and appearance were both better than hers, and she usually gave Zhang Jun the cold shoulder. This personality, which kept her far away from power-for-sex transactions, was undoubtedly a fatal temptation for someone like Zhang Jun.

"Heh, I like to hear that. Let's go."

Zhang Jun patted You Yueyi's hand, then pulled her towards a nearby expensive Western restaurant.