After a long pause, Feng Hao asked, "Has anyone been looking for me lately?"
"Yes, of course." Houhuiyao said with a serious expression, "Senior Sister Bai Yin has looked for you many times, but you were never here."
"What’d she want with me? To get her revenge?" Feng Hao asked, surprised.
"Heh heh, that’s right." Houhuiyao chuckled obsequiously. "Ever since she lost to you, Boss, Senior Sister Bai Yin went into seclusion for a month. I heard she learned a powerful Secret Technique from the Supreme Elder."
Feng Hao nodded knowingly and said dismissively, "I’m not interested in playing her little games. Next time she comes looking, just turn her away for me."
"Understood." Houhuiyao nodded. Then, as if remembering something, he looked up and said, "Oh, right. Senior Sister Yao Ying has been looking for you, too. She’s been saying she’ll marry no one but you, and now everyone thinks you’re some kind of heartbreaker."
"A heartbreaker?" A dark look crossed Feng Hao’s face. "Damn it, that woman is relentless!"
"So, Boss, when did you hook up with Senior Sister Yao Ying?" Houhuiyao asked, his eyes brimming with gossip.
Feng Hao shot him a glare and snapped, "Get lost. Do I look like the kind of guy who messes around?"
"That’s true," Houhuiyao nodded, surprised.
Feng Hao couldn’t be bothered with his nonsense and simply drove his Mansa away from the alchemy department.
By the time he got back to his shop, it was already afternoon. Just as he was about to open the door, he noticed the banner hanging outside was gone again.
’What the hell? Are the brats around here ever going to give it a rest?’ Feng Hao pushed open the shop door, speechless. He’d been away for over a month, and the interior was covered in a layer of dust. There was no helping it; he’d have to clean up first.
After pottering around by himself for over an hour, he finally got the shop clean.
He went upstairs, grabbed a piece of cloth, wrote out a new banner, and hung it outside the shop door. Unlike the previous one, this time Feng Hao added an extra line: "Professional General Store, selling all kinds of novel products. (Note: Whoever tears this banner down has no ********!)" ’All done.’ Feng Hao dusted off his hands, a satisfied look on his face.
Back inside the shop, the shelves still held a good deal of the stolen goods Lin Luo had left behind. After a quick tidying, he placed a few MP3 players in a prominent spot. The once-empty shop instantly felt much fuller.
’This won’t do. There’s still not enough merchandise.’ Feng Hao frowned, lost in thought.
’Since I’ve decided to run a proper general store, I can’t be as half-assed as before. At the very least, I need to stock the shelves.’
’But right now, MP3 players are my only main product. Even with my sworn brother Lin Luo’s stolen goods to pad out the inventory, it’s not enough to keep a general store in business.’
After thinking it over, Feng Hao had no choice but to take out a few types of commonly used pills from his Spatial Ring and put them on display.
The red and blue potions for restoring health and qi went without saying. In addition, Feng Hao also made a point of putting out the Snow Frost Ointment and the Life Spirit Pills developed by Miao Feng.
’Not bad, not bad. It’s finally starting to feel like a real general store.’ Feng Hao scanned his surroundings, satisfied.
Just as Feng Hao was daydreaming about his shop’s bright future, a discordant voice cut in. Immediately after, Yao Ying, dressed in a revealing outfit, strode inside, her beautiful eyes sparkling. "Darling, you’re finally back!"
"Stop, stop, stop." Feng Hao hastily halted her advance, his expression dark. "Who’s your ’darling’? Now get out."
"Do you really hate me that much?" Yao Ying asked, her eyes misting over, her gaze full of tenderness.
A dark look crossed Feng Hao’s face. "’Hate’ is giving you too much credit. I just fucking never want to see you."
Yao Ying looked even more aggrieved, her bewitching face filled with sorrow. "But I really, really like you... Just let me be your girlfriend for a few days, please? Don’t worry, I promise I’ll be good. I won’t make you angry."
"Don’t be ridiculous. I already have a girlfriend," Feng Hao said with a sneer.
Yao Ying faltered, her shapely brows knitting together. "You have a girlfriend? How come I didn’t know?"
Feng Hao laughed coldly. "What do you think I’ve been doing this past month?"
"I’m not convinced." Yao Ying sashayed up to Feng Hao, twirling a few times to show off her perfect figure. "Is she as beautiful as me?"
"She’s cuter than you."
Yao Ying was taken aback. She asked in a soft voice, "Well, is she as sexy as me?"
"She’s cuter than you."
"Is her body as good as mine?" Yao Ying struck several provocative poses, nearly pressing herself against Feng Hao.
"But she’s still cuter than you," Feng Hao replied, his tone laced with amusement.
At this, Yao Ying finally snapped. She rolled her eyes in annoyance and said, "Cute, cute, what good is being cute?"
Feng Hao curled his lip in a cold smile. "Don’t test my patience. Go back where you came from, and stop interfering with my business."
"I’m not leaving. I’m going to stay by your side until you understand how I feel," Yao Ying said, her eyes filled with defiance.
"Hah, so you’re trying to force my hand, is that it?" Feng Hao’s expression darkened.
Yao Ying simply closed her eyes, her delicate body trembling slightly, as if she were a martyr bravely facing her doom. "Even if you beat me to death, I won’t give up."
Feng Hao froze, his expression turning strange. ’Could it be? Has the legendary number one flirt of the Five States really decided to turn over a new leaf?’
"Hee hee." Seeing that Feng Hao still hadn’t made a move, Yao Ying’s eyes gleamed. "I knew you couldn’t bear to hit me."
"Who said that?" Feng Hao snorted coldly. "Did you forget the two kicks I gave you last time?"
Yao Ying’s expression froze. A flash of venomous resentment flickered in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it. "I was in the wrong last time. Now, I just want to be with you. Seeing you every day is enough for me."
"Fine. The shop happens to be short-handed, so you can be a clerk," Feng Hao said, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Really?" Yao Ying cried out with delight, her beautiful eyes twinkling. "I’ll work hard to help you!"
Feng Hao laughed to himself. ’I don’t know what this woman is up to, but I’m positive things aren’t as simple as they seem.’
’The general store is just getting started, so having some free labor isn’t a bad thing. I can also use this chance to figure out her real goal. Besides, with a beauty like her around, business is bound to boom. What’s not to like?’
"Ahem... In that case, I’ll be your boss from now on. I’ll go over the prices of our merchandise with you in a bit. From now on, your job is to attract customers," Feng Hao said with a perfectly straight face.
"As long as I can be by your side, I’m willing to do anything."
"You’d really do anything?" Feng Hao teased.
"Mhm," Yao Ying purred, her eyes turning sultry.
Feng Hao sneered. "Alright then. First, go shave your head completely bald."
"..." Yao Ying was completely floored. It took her a long moment to recover before she let out a hollow laugh. "Can I ask for something else?"
"A person has to be sincere. If you can’t do something, don’t make empty boasts." Feng Hao adopted a victorious posture and began to lecture her earnestly. "Come on, let me introduce you to our store’s products first."
Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Yao Ying followed behind Feng Hao, listening intently to his explanations.
When Feng Hao began introducing the Snow Frost Ointment, Yao Ying’s eyes immediately lit up. She covered her mouth and gasped, "This ointment can really be used for skincare?"
"Obviously," Feng Hao snapped.
"Can I try some?" Yao Ying asked, her eyes full of curiosity.
"Sure." Feng Hao wasn’t stingy, casually tossing her a few jars of Snow Frost Ointment. "It’s better if you try it for yourself," he said calmly. "That way, you can give customers a more detailed introduction."