"Is there any way we could...?"
"Absolutely not!" the landlord cut her off without hesitation.
Tch, not even room for negotiation. Why the sudden rent increase?
Qin Yu grumbled inwardly, already formulating a plan. If the rent's going up, this place's biggest advantage—its affordability—is gone. Might as well move!
"I understand," she said. "Here's last month's rent."
"Good. You might as well pay this month's too, since you have the money. Saves me a trip."
"No."
I'm not staying in your dump anymore!
That was her plan, but there was a crucial problem she had to address: Mora.
To live in a better place, she'd need more money. And after renting for so long, buying her own place would be ideal.
But buying a house required far more Mora than she currently possessed. With her current savings, it was simply impossible.
So, earning money is the priority...
She still had plenty of Points left, enough to max out two or three Production Skills. With these, Qin Yu could easily handle less demanding jobs.
But she still wanted to do something she enjoyed.
Isn't there a short-term job that's easy, pays well, and comes with a cute uniform? Long-term was out of the question—she was too lazy and needed time for her... "research."
She scanned the job board for suitable postings.
After a long search, Qin Yu rubbed her dry eyes and sighed inwardly. As expected, there was nothing. If all else fails, I guess I could work at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. At least I know the Director.
No, no, no, that's a terrible idea. Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is usually dead quiet, and Hu Tao would definitely use "work" as an excuse to drag her all over the place.
In some ways, that would be even more exhausting than actual work.
Shenhe? She doesn't have a job.
I should ask Yanfei. She has extensive connections and might have heard about some job opportunities through the grapevine.
She should be at her law firm. I'll grab some snacks and then pay her a visit.
-
Yanfei's law office wasn't large, but its elegant decor and bookshelves overflowing with legal texts exuded professionalism.
"This place has a great atmosphere," Qin Yu remarked sincerely. "It really gives you the feeling that you've come to the right place."
Yanfei beamed. "Right? Right! In our line of work, maintaining a professional image is crucial. Clients need to feel confident in our expertise. Of course, my professionalism isn't just a facade—I'm genuinely skilled too."
"That's true," Qin Yu agreed. "Yanfei is incredibly reliable and always puts me at ease."
Yanfei scratched her cheek, slightly bashful. "I-is that so? That's good to hear. I was worried I hadn't been performing well enough lately. Your words are reassuring."
[Evaluation: D]
Qin Yu smiled, then quickly remembered she was there for business, not affection. Oh no, this is becoming an instinctive reaction.
"Actually, I wanted to ask you about something. If you have time, would you mind hearing me out?"
Yanfei nodded. "No problem! I'm free for a while."
Qin Yu explained her situation.
"So, you want to move but need a job to support yourself. Actually, there is a job opportunity that fits your criteria, but I'm not sure if it's right for you."
"Really? What is it?" Qin Yu asked, taking a sip of her tea.
Yanfei looked up and announced, "A maid!"
Pfft! Cough, cough, cough... Huh? A maid?
Yanfei panicked. "Whoa, are you alright? Here's a towel."
Qin Yu awkwardly accepted the towel and wiped her mouth. Yanfei's words had been utterly shocking. Why a maid? Would that even suit me?
"A maid? Whose?"
"Ningguang, the Tianquan."
Qin Yu stared in stunned silence, unable to speak.
Ningguang, the Tianquan Star, like Keqing, the Yuheng Star, was one of the Liyue Qixing. In terms of wealth, she was likely unmatched in all of Liyue. The Jade Chamber, that magnificent golden palace floating above Liyue Port, stood as the ultimate testament to her immense fortune.
In other words, she was an ultra-rich tycoon.
Why would such a woman need to hire a maid?
No, not that she couldn't. The point was, if she even considered it, wouldn't countless people be scrambling for the position?
Yanfei recalled, "I think it was about a month ago. I went to the Jade Chamber to handle some commercial cases and chatted with Ms. Ningguang about the latest laws. She's planning to add over a dozen more! Sigh... Anyway, back to the point."
Yanfei continued, "After we finished, she casually mentioned she was somewhat interested in maids from Mondstadt."
"And then?" Qin Yu asked.
"Well, then she decided she wanted to hire someone. Maybe she thought it would be amusing? I'm not sure, but there's also a rumor that she acquired a new residence and needs staff to manage it."
Qin Yu frowned. "If she just put the word out, wouldn't countless people be lining up to apply?"
"But she hasn't! So we don't know if the position is still available. Maybe she's changed her mind... But if you're interested, I can ask her later. I'm heading to the Jade Chamber anyway."
A maid for Ningguang, the Tianquan Star... The uniform shouldn't be a problem. Someone of her stature would care about appearances, even if she didn't personally. Her servants' attire would naturally reflect that.
After all, what kind of face would she have if her maids were dressed in rags?
I've heard that Ningguang is generous with her subordinates' rewards. If you perform well, a single day's work could earn you enough to live on for half a month!
Uniform: Check. Salary: Check. All that's left is the job itself.
A maid? Well, maids just do housework, right?
Right now, I have "Cooking Proficiency 1" and "Cleaning Proficiency 1," plus plenty of Points to spare. I could even upgrade both and still have some left over for another skill!
This is actually perfect.
"Alright, thank you so much! As expected of Yanfei, you're so reliable. But why did you bring this up first?" Qin Yu asked.
"Well, naturally, I think you'd be perfect for it!" Yanfei replied with a smile. "You're a great cook, your home is spotless, and I'm sure you're very clean yourself."
"Ah, ahaha..."
I can't tell her. If it weren't absolutely necessary, I'd never clean at all.
If it weren't for Shenhe and Hu Tao, who might drop by unexpectedly, and Yanfei, who sees me every day, my place would be a total mess!
Thank you all!
Yanfei, oblivious to Qin Yu's wandering gaze, continued earnestly, "And your personality is lovely too. You're so pleasant to be around, and most importantly, you have that rare quality of always seeing the best in others—a true treasure in Liyue's increasingly restless society."
I can't tell her. It's all an act... I just can't.
But shifting my perspective, this means my performance is flawless! That's a good thing. Plus, Yanfei and Shenhe genuinely seem to like this version of me. More Points keep rolling in—not bad at all.
"And... and you're just so cute," Yanfei added quietly, pressing her thighs together and lowering her head slightly.
"Yanfei, you're cute too!" Qin Yu replied cheerfully.
Only "cute" is acceptable!
No, stop flattering me. Compliments get me nowhere.
[Evaluation: D+]
...Well, maybe a few more wouldn't hurt.