Yan Jing, who had become the vice president of Cat’s Paw at a young age, truly lived up to his reputation.
His composure was top-notch, and his expression didn’t change at all.
Glancing at Little Rabbit out of the corner of his eye, he scoffed lightly, “Hmph, her so-called ‘curse techniques’ are just average. They might not even work.”
Little Rabbit, whose expertise was being questioned, wasn’t annoyed.
Instead, she proudly whispered to Shi Pengpeng, “Master, look, he’s lying again.”
Yan Jing thought to himself, “This trickster is really good at sophistry!”
“Alright,” Shi Pengpeng interjected at the right moment, trying hard to keep a straight face as she beckoned him over.
“Come here, I’ll help you break the curse.”
The girl in front of him had a half-smile that looked utterly infuriating.
Yan Jing stepped forward with a stern face and casually ruffled her hair.
“No wonder ghosts are afraid of you. You’ve got more tricks up your sleeve than they do.”
“Nonsense, I’m actually very friendly!” Shi Pengpeng turned to Little Rabbit.
“Isn’t that right?”
What could Little Rabbit do but smile? “Yes, yes, yes.”
Yan Jing: “…”
A couple of days later, Liu Yuguang returned to the company to handle his resignation procedures.
Everyone was shocked when they saw him.
In just a few days, he had lost a significant amount of weight, looking gaunt and haggard.
Dark circles surrounded his eyes, and his cheeks were sunken.
His once arrogant demeanor had turned timid and shifty.
A well-informed colleague whispered that Liu Yuguang had secretly poached a group of clients and registered his own company outside.
He had also lured away several employees from the major client department who were in cahoots with him.
Those people had resigned a few days earlier, ready to join Liu Yuguang in making a big splash.
But at the last moment, for some reason, Liu Yuguang had spread rumors about the clients outside, offending them deeply.
Now, those clients had turned against him, and all his previous investments had gone down the drain.
He was in a complete mess, unsure if the money he had made over the years would even be enough to cover the losses.
The people who had followed him were suddenly unemployed and now harbored resentment toward him.
“Serves him right,” a colleague who had been exploited by Liu Yuguang gloated.
“He had it coming with his big mouth.”
“Exactly, he even slandered Pengpeng,” HR Xiao Pan chimed in, looking at Shi Pengpeng with a sense of camaraderie.
“Weren’t you planning to settle the score with him the other day? Want to go now? I’ll go with you.”
“No need,” Shi Pengpeng shook her head.
“I’ve already reasoned with him.”
“Wait, what? You’re too civilized!” Xiao Pan was exasperated.
“Forget other things, but in this case, reasoning? Even if you don’t slap him, you should at least give him a good scolding…”
As she spoke, someone gave her a meaningful look.
“What?” Xiao Pan was puzzled.
She turned around and realized that Liu Yuguang had somehow appeared beside her workstation.
Xiao Pan instinctively flinched but then remembered that he was no longer a company executive.
She bravely rolled her eyes. “Manager Liu, why don’t you make some noise when you walk?”
In the past, Liu Yuguang would have started yelling, but now he dared not show his anger.
He glanced at Shi Pengpeng not far away and reluctantly forced a smile.
“My apologies, it’s my fault. I’m here to get my resignation certificate.”
Not just Xiao Pan, but all the colleagues around were astonished by his uncharacteristically humble attitude.
What happened next was even more shocking.
After completing all the procedures, Liu Yuguang actually started visiting colleagues from various departments one by one…
-To clarify the rumors he had spread within the company, apart from the slanderous rumors he fabricated about Shi Pengpeng, he also apologized for the other colleagues he had previously gossiped about behind their backs.
However, his actions did not earn him any praise.
On the contrary, when everyone heard how many people he had badmouthed, they became even more furious.
In the end, Liu Yuguang was chased out of the company by a group of people, and someone even took the opportunity to slap him.
Despite this, everyone was still seething with anger and puzzled as to why such a despicable person with low moral character would suddenly have a change of heart and apologize voluntarily.
Everyone was baffled and began speculating whether he might have been possessed.
Xiao Pan, glancing at Shi Pengpeng who was calmly continuing her work as if nothing had happened, suddenly had a flash of insight and tentatively asked,
“Pengpeng, did you have something to do with Liu suddenly becoming so honest?”
“That’s quite a presumptuous thing to say,” Shi Pengpeng replied with a disapproving look.
Xiao Pan immediately felt she had overstepped and quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, I thought…”
Just then, Shi Pengpeng raised a fist and said, “I just convinced him with reason.”
Xiao Pan: “…”
After careful consideration and consulting with Yan Jing on some business strategies, Shi Pengpeng finally decided to accept Tan Wei’s proposal to spin off Fuxi’s e-commerce business and register it as a new company.
For someone who had just entered the workforce, this was undoubtedly a significant challenge.
Fortunately, Shi Pengpeng had now reconciled with Yan Jing and they had become good friends who could support each other.
She was never one to be pretentious or aloof, and she knew that in unfamiliar territory, she should seek advice from professional friends.
Therefore, after making her decision, the frequency of her messages to Yan Jing skyrocketed.
Yan Jing’s patience also seemed to grow, as he was unusually patient with Shi Pengpeng.
Not only did he meticulously answer many of her questions, but he also proactively introduced her to a series of professionals in finance and legal matters.
Those professionals, out of respect for Yan Jing, offered very reasonable “friendship” rates.
Shi Pengpeng saved a lot of trouble, and the preparation for the new company went relatively smoothly.
While she was busy with the new business, her junior brother, who hadn’t bothered her in a while, sent her a message.
Xiao Lingshu: [Senior sister, good news, your junior brother has successfully landed a job!]
Shi Pengpeng was somewhat surprised.
There were only a few units in Xiluo related to their field, and most of them weren’t hiring at the moment.
How had Xiao Lingshu found a job so quickly?
SPP: [Congratulations! Where’s the offer from?]
Xiao Lingshu: [Hehe, it’s a long story. You’ll find out soon enough. For now, I’ll leave you with a little surprise.]
SPP: [?]
What?
Xiao Lingshu thinks it’s too long to explain?
Shi Pengpeng suspected there was something fishy about this job and was about to press for more details when Xiao Lingshu sent her an address.
Xiao Lingshu: [In a few days, I’ll officially start my new job. I sincerely invite you to come and guide me on-site. If possible, bring my daddy and auntie along. They’re the only family I have in Xiluo, and I’d love for them to cheer me on in my new career.]
Shi Pengpeng paused for a moment before realizing that “daddy” and “auntie” referred to Yan Jing and Cao Fanzhen.
SPP: [What kind of job requires the whole family to come and cheer you on?]
Xiao Lingshu: [Shared [QQ Music – The Lucky Trio]]
Xiao Lingshu: [Our family is so auspicious and harmonious, and we’ve been through thick and thin together. Why don’t you come see what’s up with me?]
SPP: […Got it, my dear son.]
After replying, SPP forwarded Xiao Lingshu’s message to Yan Jing and Cao Fanzhen.
Unfortunately, Aunt Cao already had plans for the weekend and had to decline regretfully.
Yan Jing, however, was free, though his focus was a bit odd.
Yan Jing: [Daddy?]
SPP: [Yeah, that’s how my junior brother is. One escape room adventure, and we’re family for life.]
SPP: [It’s peak filial piety, really.]
Yan Jing: “…..”
SPP: [So, are you going or not?]
Yan Jing: [I’ll go to show my support.]
Yan Jing: [A family should stay together.]
SPP: “……”
This kid was really putting on a show!
Yan Jing drove to pick up Shi Pengpeng, and following the address Xiao Lingshu provided, they arrived at a commercial district designed to look like an ancient town.
Seeing the rows of stalls lining the streets, Yan Jing couldn’t help but doubt, “Did junior brother give us the wrong address?”
“Probably not, right?” Shi Pengpeng wasn’t entirely confident either.
Just as they finished speaking, a familiar voice called out from ahead, “Senior sister, over here—”
Looking up, they saw Xiao Lingshu standing in front of a building, waving at them.
He was wearing a Taoist robe and a headpiece, looking every bit like a celestial master.
Shi Pengpeng was stunned.
Walking over with Yan Jing, she asked, “Junior brother, is your new job being an NPC in this tourist spot?”
“What kind of logic is that?” Xiao Lingshu was clearly dissatisfied with his senior sister’s imagination.
He pointed to the building behind him, “I’ve rented this Taoist temple. From now on, I’m the abbot here.”
Shi Pengpeng and Yan Jing: “………….?”
Wait, what kind of logic is that?
It turned out that Xiao Lingshu had decided to pursue graduate studies, but it was too late to apply this year, so he’d have to wait until next year.
While staying in Xiluo to prepare for the exams, he figured he might as well look for an internship.
However, there were very few job opportunities in their field.
After much thought, he decided it was better to rely on himself.
Shi Pengpeng: “So you rented a Taoist temple?”
“Being a Taoist is the same wherever you do it,” Xiao Lingshu reasoned.
“Besides, many temples these days are privately owned anyway.”
This was true.
Nowadays, aside from officially recognized major temples, many smaller shrines and temples were privately owned, often attached to tourist spots as a way to generate income.
Coincidentally, after Xiao Lingshu came up with the idea of starting his own business, he stumbled upon a rental ad for this tourist spot on a local platform.
The area was originally a night market and a base for Hanfu photography.
For some reason, the owner decided to build a Taoist temple, but it was done half-heartedly.
A few statues were placed inside, and instead of hiring a proper Taoist priest, they just got a retired old man from the neighborhood to manage the incense and cleaning.
Over the years, the small temple struggled to stay afloat.
Seeing it was a money pit, the owner decided to shut it down and put it up for rent.
Xiao Lingshu saw that the location was good, and all the necessary permits had already been obtained by the previous owner, so he could take over directly.
After some consideration…
Xiao Lingshu thought it was quite suitable, so he didn’t hesitate much and signed the contract.
Shi Pengpeng shook her head and sighed, “The damn cat’s paw.”
Such a niche rental ad could still be precisely found by Xiao Lingshu.
This way of finding employment was indeed unconventional, no wonder this guy had been acting so mysterious and even asked her to bring people over.
Turns out it was to boost the popularity of his newly opened Taoist temple.
Xiao Lingshu, however, was quite satisfied and enthusiastically took them on a tour.
After renting the temple, Xiao Lingshu had it renovated and changed its name to Yuan Yi Temple.
Yuan Yi and their alma mater Liang Yi both originated from the same classic.
As stated in the “Book of Changes,” “The Supreme Ultimate gives birth to the Two Forms (Liang Yi), the Two Forms give birth to the Four Symbols, and the Four Symbols give birth to the Eight Trigrams.”
And “The Supreme Ultimate refers to the primordial unity before the separation of heaven and earth, the original qi mixed as one, which is the Great Beginning, the Great One.”
The original statues in the temple had never been consecrated.
After performing a ritual, Xiao Lingshu had them removed, leaving only a statue of Zhao Gongming in the side hall.
Legend has it that Zhao Gongming could command thunder and lightning, dispel plagues, and uphold justice.
He is revered in Taoism as the “Marshal of the Orthodox Unity Mystic Altar.”
Most importantly, he is also the Taoist god of wealth.
Although Xiao Lingshu is a rich second-generation, his family has never been very supportive of him pursuing this career.
If they found out he couldn’t find a job and had to pay for his own employment, who knows what they would say.
Therefore, he didn’t dare to be too extravagant and considered the economic benefits when planning.
The god of wealth is undoubtedly the top choice for popularity now.
The temple could have sustained itself for a few more years, with half of its revenue coming from people who came to the god of wealth to scratch lottery tickets.
As for the main hall, it now only houses a statue of Fuxi.
Fuxi is one of the four sages of the “Book of Changes,” who created the Early Heaven Eight Trigrams, the foundation of the “Book of Changes,” and is also the ancestral master worshipped by Liang Yi Academy.
The temple was originally a derivative project of the scenic area, not very large.
Apart from the two halls, there is a courtyard, a reception room, and a living area, which they quickly toured.
Finally, Xiao Lingshu asked, “Senior sister, what do you think?”
“Not bad,” Shi Pengpeng nodded.
Although the scenic area doesn’t understand Taoist temples, it understands architecture.
The overall layout and design here are quite good, and Xiao Lingshu also has a formal professional qualification.
It’s indeed a small but complete setup.
As they spoke, the three passed by a small mobile stall set up next to the back door, piled with red cloth strips and golden lock pieces.
Shi Pengpeng asked, “What are these?”
“Oh, these are the cultural and creative products originally made by the temple, prayer ribbons and love locks,” Xiao Lingshu replied.
These are the most common small items in temples and monasteries.
For a few yuan, you can buy one, write your blessings or wishes on the prayer ribbon, and hang it on a tree in the courtyard to pray for good luck.
The love locks are a common product in scenic areas.
There is a Lover’s Bridge in the scenic area where couples can buy them, write their names on them, and hang them on the bridge to express eternal unity.
After the scenic area rented the temple to Xiao Lingshu, they also gave him the remaining cultural and creative products.
Xiao Lingshu didn’t care much about these and casually grabbed a handful for Shi Pengpeng, “Do you want some? Take them for fun.”
Shi Pengpeng glanced at them and picked out a lock piece, “Then I’ll take a love lock.”
“What?” Xiao Lingshu teased, “Do you have a sweetheart?”
Yan Jing caught the keyword and instinctively glanced over.
“Of course,” Shi Pengpeng said with a deep gaze and a low voice.
“For so many years, there has been a man in my heart. Although he has always been distant and indifferent, playing with my emotions for a long time, my sincere feelings for him have never diminished!”
“Really?” Xiao Lingshu was shocked.
“Which man is so bold as to treat you like this?”
Shi Pengpeng covered her chest with one hand and said:
“To be honest, you know this person too. He’s currently in the temple.”
Xiao Lingshu: “???”
Yan Jing: “?!!”
Xiao Lingshu looked around, confirming that there were only two living men in the temple besides himself, and that was…
“Wait, it can’t be Brother Jing, right?!”
Yan Jing’s heart involuntarily raced, his expression stiffening as he instinctively retorted, “Nonsense…”
When had he ever played with her emotions?!
But before he could finish his sentence, Shi Pengpeng simultaneously refuted, “What nonsense are you talking about!”
Xiao Lingshu gasped. “It can’t be me, can it?!”
Yan Jing: “????”
His face darkened, the unspoken words stuck in his throat as he looked at Shi Pengpeng in disbelief.
“You…?”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Shi Pengpeng gave Xiao Lingshu a disdainful look, picked up a pen from the stall, and quickly wrote three words on the love lock.
“The man in my heart can only be him.”
Yan Jing and Xiao Lingshu looked down and saw a familiar name written on the love lock: Zhao Gongming.
It really was a man from the temple.
“I don’t seek to be eternally united with  Zhao Xuantan. I only hope he will occasionally favor me and help me make more money,” Shi Pengpeng said with utmost sincerity.
Yan Jing, Xiao Lingshu:”……”
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