Chapter 168: Temporarily Closed

【Liang Shan Bo Yu Zhu Ying Lai】: He only said they were starving orcs, pitiful, asked us to travel together or something. He didn't mention anything else. I can feel he wanted to tell me, but something seemed to stop him.

What else could it be?

It's the system.

Cheng Shuili was speechless; even the system‑recruited big‑leak‑scoop NPC had said so much, yet she was still pretending to keep it secret.

Might as well just notify directly.

【Liang Shan Bo Yu Zhu Ying Lai】: That orc said I looked good to him, felt a fate connection, so he told me these, and even specifically warned me not to tell anyone else.

Liang Shan Bo's tone contained no hint of guilt for breaking trust, only a pride that could attract Cheng Shuili's attention!

But this time it really was a merit.

Cheng Shuili opened the fridge, rummaged for a while and found that the only drink left was Good Su Su Milk. She was startled, hesitated a moment before turning around, and, in disbelief, asked Su Rui: "Did you finish the soda?"

Su Rui seemed a bit embarrassed, lowered her head, scratched the back of her head, and slowly extended a finger, "Ahem, I only drank one bottle."

Indeed only one bottle remained.

Cheng Shuili for a moment didn't know what to say, took out a bottle of Good Su Su Milk with the outstretched hand and gave it to Liang Shan Bo, then solemnly said: "I think we need to talk."

She wore a serious expression, sat on the mat Su Rui had just laid out, sitting cross‑legged face‑to‑face with Su Rui, looking very much like she was about to hold a family meeting.

Su Rui's obvious guilt was evident; she admitted that in the past two days she'd been a bit reckless, especially today, when she not only used Cheng Shuili's water but also took a bottle of drink.

But what Cheng Shuili cared about wasn't this; think about it—an employee works twelve hours a day wholeheartedly for you, without salary, only needing you to provide food and lodging. Anyone with a shred of conscience wouldn't think it's a problem if that person drinks a few extra bottles of water, right?

Su Rui is a frugal person, the type who can't bear to throw away an empty mineral‑water bottle.

Now that empty bottle has become her teacup; Cheng Shuili has seen her pour water from the kettle into that bottle to drink.

The water inside comes from the Primary Condensed Water Device produced daily; Cheng Shuili used to never finish it, but now with Su Rui she finally doesn't have to worry.

What Cheng Shuili cared about was, "Did you regain your sense of taste?"

Su Rui hadn't expected that question, and felt a bit guilty again—a guilt of judging a gentleman's heart with a petty mind.

She was sincere and directly described her most immediate feeling: "I have a little. But it's like behind a membrane; I can only sense a tiny bit. I drank that soda because its stimulating sensation is stronger; I wanted to see what the difference with ordinary water is."

Cheng Shuili raised an eyebrow: "Is there a difference?"

Su Rui shook her head, then furrowed her brows in a thoughtful manner, and after a moment said: "It's strange; for a moment my taste was even completely normal, but most of the time it's problematic."

Fine then.

Cheng Shuili felt a bit helpless; she had thought she could start managing meals, and she was definitely willing to manage Su Rui's meals.

She now earns nearly four thousand Game Coin daily; not to mention one more Su Rui, even several more people would be enough!

But that statement… Cheng Shuili fell silent for a moment, how does it sound so much like a bad connection? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't; could it be a bug?

Thinking of this, Cheng Shuili got up and fetched a box of milk from the fridge. That Good Su Su Milk had originally come out as a whole case; when she first got it, Cheng Shuili drank a box every night, calling it a sleep aid. After forgetting one day, she never drank it again.

The milk's flavor isn't mild; it's perfect for testing!

Cheng Shuili handed the milk to Su Rui, indicating her to drink, then raised her hand and pressed down on Su Rui's shoulder.

Su Rui's muscles twitched, her body almost reflexively tried to shoulder‑throw Cheng Shuili. Though she didn't understand what this was for, whatever Cheng Shuili arranged must have her reasoning. Even if Su Rui weren't a servant, she felt she would still trust Cheng Shuili.

She didn't hesitate, tore open the straw and took a sip; the milk flowed through the straw into her mouth.

She suddenly widened her eyes, looked back at Cheng Shuili, and realized she actually tasted the flavor!

Cheng Shuili actually wasn't sure if this worked, after all the "bug constitution" isn't under her subjective control.

Sometimes she might have already triggered a bug, yet she wouldn't realize it at all.

Take the Energy Stone, for example; she previously speculated it might be something she produced using her bug constitution, but after Liang Shan Bo opened it from the treasure chest, she denied that speculation.

But now, if her "bug constitution" could even affect Su Rui, then influencing the golden treasure chest that the system rewarded her through Liang Shan Bo might not be entirely impossible.

However, as Cheng Shuili said, she can't subjectively control the bug constitution. After Su Rui took two sips, her sense of taste vanished again.

Cheng Shuili sighed; it seemed impossible to restore Su Rui to normal by exploiting a bug.

Su Rui wasn't disappointed; she didn't know the mechanism, but from Cheng Shuili's actions she could guess: that person just now was trying to restore her taste!

That's enough.

She didn't pick the wrong person, and no longer has to worry about staying or leaving; now she's sincerely content, being bought by Cheng Shuili is her blessing.

A night without dreams.

Day three of the famine.

Cheng Shuili opened her eyes and saw a system notification.

【Due to certain unavoidable factors, your bakery will be closed for a few days; the exact reopening date will be announced later! We deeply apologize for the loss and inconvenience caused!】

Closed?

Cheng Shuili rubbed her eyes and read the notice again carefully.

Closed for a few days? The reopening time still needs a notice?

Cheng Shuili: "!!!"

Is it because of the famine? Or because Bao Chi finally discovered he only gets a 1% share?

Both are indeed possible.

Cheng Shuili silently got up, washed her face, dried it, then opened the partnership page; everything was normal, except at the bottom it read "Temporarily Closed".

Temporarily Closed.

Reading it that way, it seems to be giving way to the famine.

According to Liang Shan Bo's news, there will be refugees today. Come to think of it, with everything in such a mess, it's unreasonable that her bakery remains unaffected.

Moreover, if Bao Chi were dissatisfied, their partnership should have been cancelled outright, not just a temporary closure.

Cheng Shuili breathed a sigh of relief, opened the regional channel and waited calmly for breakfast.

Today's regional channel was also bustling; because Designated Player Duel Cards were rampant, many people met friends they hadn't seen in a long time. The recent regional channel could be described as thriving.