Setting aside Li Zhi's concussion, Ye Rong, who gradually regained consciousness, appeared to have temporarily lost her memory.
Fortunately, after some moments of confusion, she finally slapped her forehead and exclaimed "Ah!", rushing out in a flurry.
However, just a few seconds later, Ye Rong suddenly dashed back and stood still, gazing at Gadi with deep contemplation.
After a brief hesitation, she lowered her voice and said, "Regardless of everything, I owe you an apology for the misunderstanding earlier."
With those simple words, Ye Rong, before Gadi could respond, vanished again, leaving only the echo of her departure.
Chen Mo, looking slightly exasperated, scratched his chin and followed behind. But just as he casually closed the door behind him, Gadi's voice suddenly broke the silence: "Mo, actually, I could buy this store and then lease it..."
"No need. I think it would be better if Rong Jie handled it herself," Chen Mo smiled and shook his head gently. "But it's strange, why would you suddenly want to help her?"
"Well, let's just say it's a rare moment of conscience!" Gadi took a sip of tea nonchalantly, then flashed a sly grin. "Also, I just researched Chinese law, and it seems that so-called labor contract doesn't even exist!"
"Cough, cough! The weather's really nice today..." Hearing this, Chen Mo awkwardly cleared his throat, quickly fleeing the scene amidst Gadi's laughter.
When he returned to the restaurant with Xun'er in his arms, he coincidentally found Ye Rong hanging up the phone—her disappointed expression revealing that Mr. Lei Zhen had not delivered any good news.
At the sight, Lin Lin and the others grew even more uneasy—no one wanted to face unemployment! Especially in this time of economic crisis, how difficult could it be to find a job?
"Don't worry, there will be a way," Ye Rong said, forcing a smile as she gently comforted Lin Lin with a rare tenderness. "You all go rest for now. Worst case, we'll find a new location, just as a change of feng shui!"
Though she spoke lightly, the anxiety on her face could not be fully concealed. With prices soaring, South City was already considered prime real estate, and landlords were asking for two years' worth of deposit—a sum far beyond what Ye Rong could afford.
Thus, Lin Lin and the others exchanged glances and hesitated. "Rong Jie, really, it's fine! Why don't you take your time finding a new place, and we'll go look for temporary work. Even if it's hard and tiring, it's better than nothing..."
"No!" Ye Rong suddenly clenched her fist, angrily declaring, "We're all good sisters—how could I let you suffer?"
"Uh, does it sound awkward when you say it like that?" Chen Mo rolled his eyes involuntarily, wondering if she was subtly criticizing men again.
After Ye Rong's persistent persuasion, Lin Lin and the others, their eyes red, finally agreed to return home for the time being.
Ye Rong sniffled lightly and returned to the counter, searching through the phone book as if planning to leverage every contact she had, even thinking of calling up her kindergarten classmates.
"Don't worry, we still have three days!" Chen Mo sighed, hesitating before patting her shoulder. "Let's think of something together. There's always a way out!"
Looking up at him, Ye Rong finally showed a hint of warmth after a day of cold silence.
But soon after, upon seeing Xun'er playing at the door, she immediately snapped, "Don't try to sweet-talk me! I don't want to end up like Xun'er's mother!"
What could he say? Chen Mo could only awkwardly scratch his nose and smile bitterly. "Actually, it's not just to help you. I also want to help Lin Lin and the others, and I don't want to go looking for a new job either!"
"Now that's more like it!" Ye Rong wrinkled her little nose, her expression adorably cute, causing Chen Mo to freeze momentarily in his tracks.
Seeing his dazed expression, Ye Rong suddenly felt a flutter in her chest and couldn't help but turn her face slightly away.
For a moment, the two of them stood silently, but the quiet atmosphere between them gradually filled with a soft, almost imperceptible tension...
"Daddy! Xun'er is sleepy, she wants to sleep!" At that moment, Xun'er's pouty voice broke the budding atmosphere between the two.
"Almost tricked me!" Ye Rong suddenly seemed to remember something, and with a scowl, she stomped her foot on Chen Mo's shoe. "Come clean! Wasn't Xun'er's mother also like this back then?"
"Uh, did you lose your virginity?" Looking at the heel mark on his shoe, Chen Mo could only sigh dramatically, wiping away a tear as he carried Xun'er back to the house.
Ye Rong stood there, staring at his retreating back in a daze. Finally, she bit her lip and returned to the counter to make another call.
Of course, she did not notice the four sneaky figures slipping past the door, quietly disappearing into a nearby alley...
"Cough, cough! Meeting time! Meeting time!" A few minutes later, Nono's lid flickered with blue light, announcing the start of the official discussion.
No need for a pre-meeting speech. The old war movie immediately played, with a stern Nationalist general on the screen addressing his troops: "Comrades, in this perilous moment for the party and the nation, we must unite in our efforts..."
"Bookbook, can you turn that off?" Nono muttered, snapping the lid shut and jumping to the middle of the group of devices. "As you all know, Rong Jie's restaurant is about to close! The problem isn't finding a location, it's not having enough money to secure one. So we have to help!"
"Huh, are we supposed to be Lei Feng?" Gogo swayed up, still not understanding why they needed to help Ye Rong.
"Idiot, do you only think about underwear?" Nono glared at him irritably. "If the restaurant closes, our boss will lose her job. If she loses her job, she won't have money. If she has no money, she'll resort to theft. If she steals, she'll get caught. If she gets caught..."
Alright, if Nono continued, the closing of the Ji Xiang restaurant would eventually lead to the destruction of the universe.
Fortunately, the devices finally got the hint and raised their hands in surrender. So the next topic was simple—how could they find enough money for Rong Jie?
It's worth noting that the devices had completely forgotten about their bad luck, or perhaps they were purposely choosing to forget, since it wouldn't be their problem if things went south.
"How about we rob that bank on the corner?" After a long moment of thought, Cheche suddenly turned its lights on and suggested thoughtfully. "We've been talking about it for a while. They must be really sad we haven't gone yet!"
Who would be sad? If the bank manager knew about this plan, he'd likely cry and shake his head in disbelief.
But for the devices, they all shared a moment of sudden enlightenment, imagining piles of RMB raining from the heavens.
"No! While robbing a bank might be easy..." Nono suddenly shook itself vigorously. "The real issue is, how can we, such righteous beings, make those pretty cashiers scared?"
"Well, that's true!" As the saying goes, everyone has a love for beauty. The devices nodded in agreement, as if they had collectively evolved into protectors of the fair.
"Then how about kidnapping?" A moment later, Cheche suddenly flashed its headlights and proposed thoughtfully, "Let's kidnap a few rich people, and while we're at it, take Lei Zhen too, since he's taking over Rong Jie's restaurant!"
"Great idea! Be sure to kidnap some rich young ladies, and all the lingerie is mine!" Gogo was the first to raise its "hands" in approval—if it had hands, that is.
"Idiot!" But Nono immediately shook its head, disapproving. "Kidnapping takes time, and don't forget, Rong Jie's restaurant will be closed in three days!"
This was true. Even if they offered the option of installment payments, they would still need the other party to agree.
Thus, in this bizarre silence, the devices exchanged glances before, almost in unison, sighing: "Indeed, we such kind-hearted monsters are really not suited to do bad things!"
"Actually, I think..." Just as they were running out of ideas, Benben, who had been silent all this time, suddenly jumped out and hesitated awkwardly.
"Speak!" Three pairs of eyes turned toward it, causing Benben to nearly forget what it was about to say. After a long pause, it slowly opened a webpage.
A few seconds later, after seeing the news it had clicked on, the devices exchanged looks and nodded in unison. "Alright, let's go with this!"
"But, we'll need a human to help!" However, Cheche immediately shook its head in frustration. "Rong Jie will faint! Gadi will snitch! Our boss... unless we want to be torn to pieces, who else do we have?"
No one answered. The devices all simultaneously hit the brakes, staring at each other in confusion.
But then, Nono's screen lit up, and it emitted a Bingo sound: "Wait, I've