Wu Xichen shook his head. "No, he's not dangerous. It's just that his appearance frightens people."
"How so?"
"Well," Wu sighed, his smile turning bitter, "his body is enormous, his head is completely bald, and he's covered in muscles. He looks more like a gangster than a worker." Wu recalled the day Zhang Bao first came to him, asking only for food and shelter in exchange for labor. It seemed like a bargain, so he agreed.
And truthfully, Zhang Bao's work ethic was excellent. He was honest and diligent. But whenever customers saw him, they would freeze in terror and run out the door. At two meters tall, with bulging muscles and a shaved head, he looked like a monster pulled straight out of a crime drama.
"As long as he's honest, that's all I need," Lang Lin said calmly. "I don't care about his looks. I'm not opening a restaurant—he just needs to check payment records and help with deliveries. Besides," he added with a sly smile, "with his size, he could double as a bodyguard."
Wu chuckled awkwardly. "As for why he doesn't ask for wages, he once told me he only wanted to experience the outside world. Money doesn't matter to him. Strange, isn't it?" He shook his head. "To me, he seemed more like a child in a giant's body, like someone who grew up in the mountains and didn't quite fit into society."
"Take me to see him," Lang Lin said. "Since you're offering him to me, I should at least ask his opinion first. If he refuses—"
"Refuse? Why would he refuse?" Wu interrupted eagerly. "You're busy, you need someone. And I don't need him anymore. It's only natural he goes with you."
Wu was determined. This was his chance to finally get Zhang Bao out of the shop, and he wasn't about to let it slip away.
He led Lang Lin to a dusty storage room, repurposed into a living space. Knocking on the door, he called, "Zhang Bao, come out. Someone wants to see you."
The door creaked open, and a towering figure stepped out. His tanned skin stretched over mountains of muscle, his bald head shining under the dim light. At two full meters tall, he looked like an ogre in human form.
"What is it, Boss?" Zhang Bao asked in a guileless voice, his face bright with an innocent smile.
"From today onward, he will be your boss," Wu said quickly, pointing at Lang Lin. "You'll go work for him."
At those words, Zhang Bao suddenly dropped to his knees and clutched Wu's leg tightly. "Why, Boss? Did Zhang Bao do something wrong? Do you not want me anymore?"
Wu winced, grimacing at the painful strength of that grip. The man's muscles weren't just for show. Quickly, he forced a laugh. "No, no! You've done well, Zhang Bao. I'm sending you with him not because I don't want you, but because things are quiet here. You know that. With no jobs, I can't even feed you. But if you go with him, you'll have meals every day. Isn't that better than starving?"
Lang Lin crossed his arms, watching silently. Was Wu really bribing him with food? It sounded ridiculous, but from the way Zhang Bao's eyes lit up, maybe it was working.
"I see," Zhang Bao said suddenly. He released Wu's leg, stood, and lumbered toward Lang Lin. "Hello, Boss! My name is Zhang Bao, but you can just call me Bao. I'm easy to please—just give me three meals a day, and I'll do any work you need!"
The speed of his turnaround stunned Lang Lin. Did food really motivate him this much? He filed the thought away with a wry smile.
"I'm Lang Lin. Your tasks will be simple: check payments for book orders and help send packages by post. Do you understand, Bao?"
"Of course! Bao can do that easily!" he declared, thumping his chest with a grin.
Wu Xichen excused himself, clearly relieved. He was smiling so widely his cheeks nearly disappeared. Lang Lin didn't bother to stop him.
"Pack your things, Bao. We're leaving."
Bao returned moments later with a cloth bundle slung over his shoulder. Inside were only a few old outfits, strangely styled like something from a martial arts novel. Lang Lin shook his head. Did this man really think he was some wandering swordsman?
"Bao is ready! Shall we go now, Boss?" Bao's goofy grin and squinting eyes made him look like a deranged gangster from a comedy skit. Lang Lin had to turn away to stifle his laughter. If Bao ever became a comedian, he'd probably be famous in no time.
They hailed a taxi for the return trip. Lang Lin no longer felt the need to pinch pennies—money was already flowing in. With a stockpile of novels from another world, he would never go hungry again.
On the way back, he stopped to buy a brand-new laptop. The old one was unbearably slow, but now he could afford an upgrade. With this tool, he could earn far more—perhaps even become a millionaire.
"This is the place, Boss?" Bao asked as they arrived. He set his bundle down and began pacing around the small home.
"That's right," Lang Lin replied, placing the new laptop on the shelf. "Oh, and stop calling me 'Boss.' I don't like that word."
"Then… what should Bao call you?" Bao scratched his bald head with a blank look.
"Call me 'Boss.'" Lang Lin smirked. "It suits me better."
"Alright, Boss! So, are we eating now? Bao is hungry!" His eyes sparkled with childlike eagerness.
Lang Lin suddenly remembered—he had nothing in the house but instant noodles. No meat, no vegetables. "Not yet. There's no food. Go buy some fresh ingredients from the village store. A hundred yuan should be enough." He handed Bao the money.
"Yes, Boss! Bao will be quick!" Bao took the bills eagerly, not for the money, but for the promise of a good meal.
"By the way, do you know how to cook?" Lang Lin asked.
"Anything else, Bao may not be good at," he boasted, pounding his chest again, "but when it comes to cooking, nobody is better than me!"
"Excellent. I'll be waiting to taste it."
"Don't worry, Boss!" Bao left happily, whistling as he went.
Miu! The little rabbit hopped out from hiding and tapped its tiny paw against Lang Lin's leg.
"What is it, little one? Are you scared of him?" Lang Lin chuckled, picking the rabbit up and scratching its soft belly.
Miu! The rabbit melted under his touch. Though it had once hated him for stealing it from the Frozen Realm, time had dulled that grudge. Living here wasn't so bad after all.
"There's no need to be afraid," Lang Lin murmured. "Bao is harmless. All brawn, no brain. Nothing to worry about."
As evening fell, Lang Lin opened his brand-new laptop and checked his Weibo.
The sight made him freeze. Thousands of people were clamoring for books. Even though he had said the next round of orders would only begin after this one was shipped, readers clearly couldn't wait.
"This is bad," he muttered, forcing a bitter smile. "I can't keep up with the demand."
But then, an idea struck him. "Wait… why print only five hundred copies at a time? I could order a larger batch, then release them in rounds of five hundred. That way I won't waste time, and orders will always be ready to ship. The real question is—can Uncle Wu handle a bigger workload? And can I afford it?"
He glanced at the remaining money in his pocket and sighed. "First, let's get this batch delivered. With the next round of payments and what I already have, I'll order a much bigger print run."