——Reality
Silver Wolf's livestream room.
[Ning Yao becoming the branch manager—unexpected yet completely reasonable. At the same time, I hope she and Chen Yuan end up together.]
[Both managers, names so fated, and the key point is they're not even playable characters. Old miHoYo, hurry up and get Chen Yuan and Ning Yao together!]
[By the way, does anyone remember Boss Jun saying that once Fengdeng Lou's management level reaches max, there will be a little surprise?]
"I still remember this. It should be explained after this plot segment ends." Silver Wolf said while chewing bubble gum.
The quest only had ten days of business time—not all players could max out the management level within the in-game ten days.
Most players would still need to grind for a while after the quest plot ended to reach max level.
But this definitely did not include grind-god player Silver Wolf.
She successfully maxed out the management level right at the end of the final business period of the quest.
And this perfectly met the prerequisite condition Boss Jun mentioned during the preview:
Fengdeng Lou management level maxed.
So after talking to Ning Yao and receiving one million Mora, a golden exclamation mark appeared above Ning Yao's head.
Silver Wolf talked to her and accepted a quest called "Gift," with rewards of 20 Primogems and a mysterious gift.
Ning Yao: "You two—it's been a long time. This humble one has missed you greatly."
["Long Time No See"]
[No problem—they say one day apart feels like three autumns. By that math, less than five seconds is already a long time.]
[Huohuo, please speak from your own account.]
[By the way, this gift is really mysterious—it doesn't even show what it is. Boss Jun sure knows how to hide things.]
Ning Yao: "Manager Chen Yuan and the Boss already know of the contributions the two of you made to Fengdeng Lou."
Ning Yao: "To express gratitude for your contributions to the Liyue Harbor branch of Fengdeng Lou, the Boss has prepared a banquet on the third floor of Fengdeng Lou in Guili Assembly to host you both."
Ning Yao: "Please make your way to Guili Assembly."
Paimon: "Lumine, did you hear that? Third floor—the third floor of Fengdeng Lou!"
Lumine: "Feels like all our previous hard work has paid off!"
Paimon: "Jun Bai really treats us well! No time to waste—off to Guili Assembly!"
[If Boss Jun weren't a player, would we really get this kind of treatment? (serious.jpg)]
[Don't think about such terrifying things.]
[One event from Fengdeng Lou already takes up half the Primogems of this version's entire event lineup—just imagine how stingy the project team would be without Boss Jun.]
Dialogue ended. Silver Wolf directly teleported to Guili Assembly, then headed straight to the third floor of Fengdeng Lou. She found Jun Bai with the quest marker above his head and began the conversation.
Jun Bai: "Lumine, Paimon—long time no see."
Paimon: "It really is a long time. I didn't expect you to suddenly invite us to the third floor for a big meal."
Jun Bai: "Not exactly sudden. After all, the revenue you two generated at the Liyue Harbor branch was quite considerable."
Jun Bai: "I heard from Chen Yuan that during the ten days you served as managers, the revenue at the Guili Assembly branch only reaches this level during Lantern Rite."
Jun Bai: "With results like that, as the owner of Fengdeng Lou, naturally I have to show some appreciation."
Lumine: "It's because Fengdeng Lou itself is excellent—we played only a very small role."
Jun Bai: "Humility is a virtue, but excessive humility becomes self-deprecation."
[Shenzhou tradition—commercial mutual praise before eating.]
[Looks like the relationship still needs deepening. Otherwise there'd be no need for politeness—they'd just start eating like Paimon.]
[I only just noticed Paimon has already started devouring those foods with unknown effects but clearly five-star quality.]
Cutscene text appeared:
[After enjoying the delicious food of Fengdeng Lou together…]
Jun Bai: "Lumine, Paimon—today I invited you here not only to express thanks, but also for one other matter."
Paimon: "I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Is it some commission that only we can handle? Just say it—we'll definitely satisfy you."
Jun Bai: "Paimon, do I look like the type who would invite friends and then play the 'courtesy before soldiers' game?"
Jun Bai: "I've always been straightforward with my words."
[Correct, fair, and hits the nail on the head.]
[Can't forget Jun Bai's first appearance—just sat down and started self-introducing.]
[One million Mora opened the connection with the Marshal.]
Paimon: "So if it's not a commission, Jun Bai, do you have something else?"
Jun Bai: "Mm. Today, besides thanks, I also have a small gift for you two."
Lumine: "Not only treating us to a meal, but also giving us a gift? Jun Bai, you're really kind!"
Jun Bai: "Thanks for the compliment."
Jun Bai snapped his fingers. The method of external scenery unfolded—the three entered Jun Bai's domain.
Lumine and Paimon followed behind Jun Bai as the three walked into a room.
[? Is this a display error?]
[Doesn't seem like it—same thing happened on my side.]
[So the one lying in this room… is really Jun Bai's childhood self, little Jun Bai?]
Paimon (eyes darting back and forth): "Eh?"
Jun Bai: "Paimon, calm down. This is just an automaton puppet that I asked Guizhong to create, modeled after my childhood appearance."
Lumine (staring directly at Jun Bai): "Your gift… is your past self?"
Jun Bai (nodding): "Correct."
Jun Bai: "Do you still remember? In Qingce Village, when the Ley Lines recreated me from back then."
Lumine, Paimon: "Of course we remember—but didn't you use your authority to send him back to the Ley Lines?"
Jun Bai: "That's the key point. Perhaps because of my own special nature, even though I'm still alive, my recreation gave birth to a faint consciousness."
Jun Bai: "So after I sent the information about myself back to the Ley Lines, a newborn consciousness attached itself to me."
Jun Bai: "This consciousness shares the same origin as me. Though theoretically a separate individual, it can be considered my clone."
Jun Bai: "Therefore, I didn't erase the consciousness. Instead, I asked Guizhong to craft a vessel to once again contain it—resulting in the puppet you see now."
At this moment, the "little Jun Bai" puppet on the bed opened its eyes, then ran over and hugged Jun Bai's leg, calling out:
"Yiya~"
[Critical hit! My maiden heart!]
[Gift… the gift really is this little cutie? Is this allowed? Is this allowed? Is this really allowed?]
[One big and one small standing together—oh~]
Jun Bai: "Because it's a newborn consciousness, it still can't speak—only simple vocalizations. So I named it Yiya."
Yiya: "Yiya~"
Paimon: "Ah! Lumine, it's so cute!"
Lumine: "I can see that."
Jun Bai: "To me, you two are very special companions. If possible, I'd love to travel with you—like Big Brother—wandering all across Teyvat."
Jun Bai: "Unfortunately, my roots are in Liyue, so I can't accompany you."
Jun Bai: "Since that's the case, at least let another me—Yiya—travel with you instead."
As soon as he finished speaking, a character portrait appeared in the livestream room. The system prompted that a new character had joined the party.
It was little Jun Bai—Yiya.