"Good song, good song!"
As the song ended, Qingque's eyes were sparkling. Her small hands clapped pa-pa-pa, praising it without any concealment.
"As expected of my life's confidant!"
The world is big, very big. Even for a long-life species exhausting their entire lifespan, how many planets' scenery could they fully view?
To meet a friend whose views align with one's own is truly one of life's great fortunes!
During her career at the Divination Commission, colleagues would occasionally gather to discuss slacking-off techniques with Qingque, but in reality, some of those guys were secretly more competitive ('involuted') than anyone else.
The so-called 'adaptation' is not making things up randomly, and 'letting it rot' is not slacking blindly.
The so-called 'letting it rot' is essentially a resistance against unreasonable oppression. It is a high-level realization of cultivating one's character by treating people and things calmly when facing insurmountable mountains!
It is just like when the Master Diviner once asked the many diviners present during the year-end summary and review meeting:
If the divination results show that there is an insurmountable towering mountain in front and a bottomless abyss behind, what should everyone do?
The answers from the many diviners varied.
High-quality answers said to forge ahead; no matter how high the mountain, as long as the original intention remains unchanged, one can ride the wind and break the waves.
But among the many diviners, the Master Diviner just had to call on Qingque to answer the question.
The little diviner smiled with a reservedness that was almost shy, and answered:
"Master Diviner, can I walk sideways? If not, letting me lie down right there works too."
Then...
Due to declaring a 'salted fish' manifesto in front of the entire Divination Commission, the Master Diviner flew into a rage out of humiliation, and half of Qingque's salary for the month was docked.
"Old Caelus, what is the name of this song?"
Qingque stood on tiptoe and patted Caelus on the shoulder; she was extremely satisfied with this song.
"Attitude Towards Life."
"Mn~~ A very fitting song title."
Qingque nodded happily and began to hum along softly.
The lyrics were too smooth and fit the psychology of a 'salted fish' perfectly; she learned to sing it completely after listening just once.
Welt was left between laughter and tears as he listened to the two singing in harmony.
Theoretically, it was Qingque's working hours right now, and she was executing a mission, yet she was singing a slacking-off song with Caelus. Although the artistic conception of the lyrics was quite open-minded, it was just very strange.
"Qingque, is the work at the Divination Commission really that busy?"
Little March hummed a few lines of the catchy song and asked curiously.
"That's impossible not to be. We have to be responsible for the sorting and summarizing of various types of intelligence, taking it to calculate and derive a large amount of intelligence, and from there screening out information that fits the formulas to recalculate specific details..."
Qingque's small face twisted slightly, as if recalling some unbearable past events:
"The Divination Commission is completely a boundless sea of bitterness for slackers. No matter how hard you turn your head, you can't see the shore! That period was simply a nightmare!"
She, this harmless and low-key little sparrow, was almost destroyed to the point of losing her feathers.
"It's okay, it's all in the past."
Caelus used a deep tone, pressing down on Qingque's shoulders to create a solemn and dignified feeling.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Without society's vicious beatings, there would be no kung fu of slacking off that you have now perfected to the realm of transformation."
"Ai, the one who knows me is Old Caelus!"
Qingque held Caelus's hand with mutual appreciation, playfully raising her little head:
"Hehe, speaking of this, I must tell you, Old Caelus, about my grand strategy."
"You don't know how much effort it took me to finally escape the hellhole of the Calculation Department and the Compilation Department!"
Qingque spoke with considerable pride about her glorious battle record of using brilliant schemes to pacify the Master Diviner and descending from a regular position.
The Divination Commission's diviner system is divided into five levels: Master Diviner, Vice Diviner, Senior Diviner, Head Diviner, and Diviner.
Under Qingque's strategizing, she went from almost being pushed up to Senior Diviner to becoming a Diviner of the lowest rank who couldn't be shaken by thunder—and she even showed a trend of going lower. It could be called a gratifying growth!
Moreover, within the system, even for positions of the same rank, some jobs could be so idle one would grow mold, while others could be so busy they would raise one's hairline.
"I am currently responsible for managing the library, which is one of the most relaxing positions!"
Qingque patted her small chest, which had a very slight curve, with a face full of pride.
Normally she wouldn't show off to others—sneakily slacking off is the way, showing it off is a no-no.
Otherwise, someone might catch her by the pigtails, or it might be heard by a spy sent by the Master Diviner. But Caelus was a life confidant she could chat with freely.
"As expected of you!"
Caelus very cooperatively offered applause.
"Then why do you still work overtime every day?"
Stelle asked in confusion.
"Ai, don't mention it. People in the workplace have no control over themselves."
Qingque collapsed her little sparrow face miserably:
"In my life, there are currently still two big mountains preventing me from lying flat completely. One is that during the New Year festival every year, I have to go home to visit my parents and talk about my recent life situation and one or two future life plans... but I have no plans at all!"
"Also, as soon as I passed the exam to enter the Divination Commission and got an iron rice bowl, the two of them started urging me to find a partner. I'm only two hundred and something years old; you tell me, what are they anxious about!"
"They even want to arrange blind dates for me... Wait!"
Speaking of this, Qingque seemed to suddenly think of something and tugged at Caelus's arm:
"Old Caelus, how about you come home with me during the next New Year festival? Help me block them."
"No problem."
Caelus made an 'OK' hand gesture.
'White' Seele blinked blankly, and March 7th popped a head full of question marks. Weren't they talking about why she worked overtime?
How did the topic suddenly jump to going home together for the New Year to meet the parents?
Before March 7th could even utter a retort, the topic unexpectedly jumped back immediately.
"The second is the Master Diviner. Her elderly self's style of handling matters is as precise as a Jade Abacus. She can always squeeze new tasks in for me when I'm stealing a moment of leisure. Those are all jobs for other personnel!"
"That's going too far!"
Caelus immediately spoke up to uphold justice:
"As long as you don't take pressure seriously, no one can pressure you. Little Sparrow, I'll teach you a few mnemonic chants to deal with leaders."
"Oh? Hurry and tell me!"
Upon hearing this, Qingque became energized, seemingly wanting to see what brilliant plan Caelus had.
"Remember this well: When the leader picks a dish, I spin the table; when the leader waits on a tile, I self-draw; when the leader offers a toast, I don't drink; when the leader works overtime, I clock out!"
"Old Caelus, you really are a genius!"
Qingque was instantly astounded as if seeing a heavenly being. "Even an iron rice bowl couldn't withstand being wrecked like that, right?"
"Who needs an iron rice bowl? I asked a friend to register a chess and card game company. When 'Celestial Jade' launches and you get fired, you can directly seamlessly transition to being the Chairman."
The friend was naturally the universe-class rich woman Asta. Caelus wrapped his arm around Qingque's tender, soft shoulders:
"When the time comes, put on a show for the Master Diviner: 'The three-year period has arrived; President Qing descends upon the Divination Commission.'"
"I'm still waiting for President Qing to keep me as a mistress when that time comes!"
"That makes sense, eh!"
Attracted by the bright future described by Caelus, Qingque's eyes shone.
"Me too! I want to be kept by Qingque too!"
Stelle jumped up raising her hand.
Amidst the talking and laughing, the Starskiff sailed out of the ferry.
The Divination Commission is the place that executes the Great Dao of the Heavenly Essence and manages the calculation of the mysterious mechanisms of the future. Such an important institutional department naturally would not be connected to commercial streets or residential areas, to prevent data from being stolen by those with ill intentions.
The chat topics jumped back and forth between the Master Diviner's height, secrets of slacking off, Celestial Jade, chess and card games, meeting the in-laws in the future, and whether or not to have children.
About half an ancient hour later, after passing through an area composed of white mist and seawater, the Starskiff's speed slowed down.
"Is this the Divination Commission?"
March 7th looked around with novelty, taking out her camera and snapping photos ka-cha ka-cha.
Here, flying pavilions connected with the clouds, seemingly without pillars. Hanging gardens pierced the sky, appearing to float above the cloud layer out of thin air. Faint mist drifted leisurely past, giving one the wondrous feeling of accidentally encountering a fairyland.
"It's so big!" 'White' Seele exclaimed in surprise.
It was even bigger than the entire commercial street of Exalting Sanctum!
The Starskiff entered the Divination Commission's port and docked steadily. Qingque led everyone to the main gate of the Divination Commission, only to see the heavy doors tightly closed and unable to open.
"That's weird?" Qingque scratched her head in confusion.
"Let me guess, did the door suddenly break?" March 7th jumped out.
"Don't get it."
Qingque shook her head. "The main gate is locked. It's never been locked before. The Master Diviner didn't remind me to bring the key."
"Hey, hey, no matter how bad the cafeteria food is, you can't give guests the closed-door treatment!"
Qingque shouted at the top of her lungs towards the inside, but no one responded.
"Is there a possibility that you were fired?"
Stelle rested her chin on her hand and said after serious contemplation.
"Now that you mention it, you really... now that you mention it...!"
Qingque was suddenly pleasantly surprised, then sighed and lamented, "What a pity, it's not very likely."
"Closing the door... I guess it has something to do with that whatever Stellaron corrosion again. Forget it, I'll take you guys through the Leisure Gate!"
Qingque beckoned everyone to walk towards the side.
"Leisure Gate?" Stelle tilted her head in confusion.
"Oh, those on duty all call it that. Usually, if we're idle with nothing to do, we often sneak out from here to be free and unfettered ('xiaoyao') outside for a few ancient hours."
Qingque answered with a lazy and intriguing tone.
"A... a few ancient hours?"
'White' Seele blinked.
If she remembered correctly, one ancient hour was two System Hours. Normally, it was an eight-hour workday, which meant Qingque sister slacked off for one time... Ugh.
"How many hours did you use to slack off a day?"
Caelus also asked curiously upon hearing this.
"Under normal circumstances, in an 8-hour day, I could probably slack for 7.5 hours. Later, the Master Diviner kept throwing work at me, so I could only barely slack for a bit over 5 hours."
"I am willing to call you, Little Sparrow, the Sect Leader of the Divination Commission's Leisure Gate, the Strongest Slacker!" Caelus stood in awe.
To be able to finish all the work within one's responsibilities in half an hour—it had to be said, Qingque was truly a genius.
"Eh, Old Caelus, how did you know the title my colleagues gave me?"
Qingque didn't feel guilty at all. Why should she do the work of two or even three people for one salary?
Saying this, Qingque opened the side door, the Leisure Gate, with ease born of practice.
The next second, the sound of talking and laughing vanished, and the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
Silence persisted for several seconds before Little March spoke first.
"...Are you guys surprised? I'm not surprised at all."
She shrugged at the monsters shaped like twisted ancient trees, clad in plant armor, and covered all over with golden leaves.
"Side by side, charge!"
Stelle rushed up brandishing her bat and lance.
Caelus took out a Clow Card and snapped his fingers crisply. The sky-filling clear breeze formed chains to bind the Mara-struck, and sharp wind blades followed closely behind.
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