The days that followed were pretty much as Lin Yilin had arranged.
It was just that Zheng Fan's idea of working one job and then immediately lying flat was impossible; the tiring days would continue for a while longer.
After all, the studio had just opened, and various matters still required Zheng Fan to handle them while impersonating Cheng Fei.
Zheng Fan was still responsible for solving issues of insufficient force, while Lin Yilin managed the specific operations. When it came to running a legitimate business, Lin Yilin's arrangements were unknown, but several quick-witted subordinates were called in.
They seemed to have been arranged for some kind of training, a crash course, which had astonishing results; they looked no different after returning, but they already carried themselves with an air of professionalism, no longer trembling like mere henchmen when intimidated.
With Lin Yilin's help, they also connected with some factories on Xixikeke Street, planning to start from there.
The 'black-eat-black' aspect was still unavoidable, as there weren't many clean paths on Xixikeke Street, but it wasn't a big problem; once it passed through Zheng Fan's hands and went to Lin Yilin, it could be washed clean.
On the other hand, the subordinates who weren't as sharp-minded but were efficient at work were arranged to take on some very minor commissions.
They weren't even from the official website or within the Banmu Office, but rather, they went out to drum up business themselves.
These commissions didn't involve anything supernatural, had low fees, and were not picky, quickly accumulating general reputation.
This was something Lin Yilin herself wouldn't really stoop to do. Miss Lin Yilin was proud; she disdained taking on typical private detective work like finding pets or catching cheating spouses.
At the very least, it had to involve some supernatural elements to pique Lin Yilin's interest.
However, the studio on Banmu's side had no such qualms; they didn't mind overworking people.
If they encountered difficulties from others midway, Zheng Fan would resolve them.
The goal was to resolve the studio's financial circulation in the shortest possible time. They couldn't always have Zheng Fan go inquire about the local gangs' savings every payday.
Although neither Lin Yilin nor Zheng Fan minded this, a healthy operation couldn't be so haphazard.
Now, Zheng Fan, using Cheng Fei's body, was stationed at the Banmu Office's studio. To prevent unexpected situations like others causing trouble, he couldn't run around, while all the subordinates had work to do.
"Xiao Zhao, play a game with me."
"Uh, Fei Ge, those factories have a lot of orders to process recently. This was your arrangement..."
"When did I... Oh, yes, I did arrange it. You go."
"Okay, Fei Ge."
After a while longer.
"Liu Zi, you've worked hard. Sit down, drink some water, and chat."
"Uh, no thanks, Fei Ge. Ah Huan and the others seem to have taken on another... commission! And it's from the street office! It seems our recent efforts are being recognized. They're cracking down on the rampant stray cats and dogs on Dongding Road, saying too many people have been inexplicably bitten recently, and it needs to be handled properly. Just as Fei Ge said, at times like these, we must perform well and be good street residents! Thank you for the water, I'm leaving now."
"...Mm, you all work hard."
"Alright, Fei Ge, you rest more."
Zheng Fan waved goodbye to his subordinates.
He lowered his head and rubbed his forehead.
People came, people left, and in the end, in this huge office, he was the only "boss" who was the idlest.
Not even one subordinate had time to accompany him.
Care for the empty-nest boss, don't make him wait...
"Holy crap! Boss, Yuan Jie, no, Su Hongyuan's lackeys are causing trouble again!" A shout came from outside the door, and Zheng Fan shot up.
"Good trouble!"
"Huh?" The subordinate was stunned.
"No, they're tired of living!" Then Zheng Fan walked out with a grin.
However, as soon as the group of troublemakers saw Zheng Fan, they scurried away. Zheng Fan's decisive methods had already established a formidable reputation during this period.
This new studio was entirely a soft target, but Zheng Fan, the nail within it, made no one dare to press too hard.
The trouble didn't materialize, and Zheng Fan was instead unhappy for them.
He cursed "cowards," "weaklings," "scum," and "spineless" as he returned to his seat and sat down again.
Another boring day.
After a long while, there was another knock on the door.
Zheng Fan tilted his head: "Enter."
The visitor surprised him; it was Qingye Heshi.
The cool guy strode in, politely instructing his subordinates not to enter rashly but to wait outside the door. He surveyed the studio's decor, nodding slightly: "Very well managed, orderly. Your reputation has soared recently, and I've heard about some things; you have great backbone."
Wow, this person was starting again, immediately giving off the vibe of a leader inspecting.
Although Qingye Heshi, as the head of a major faction within Banmu, could indeed be called a "leader," from a purely nominal perspective, he was still on the same level as Zheng Fan as a studio manager.
"Whatever, he's still a person..." Zheng Fan mumbled.
Qingye Heshi: ?
Zheng Fan poured him a cup of tea and pulled out his secret weapon from under the table.
Qingye Heshi's eyes instantly sharpened; Zheng Fan's movements felt like he was pulling out a gun...
Clatter.
With a crisp sound, Zheng Fan laid several game boards on the table.
Chinese chess, Ludo, Go, of course, could also be Gomoku, checkers... everything was available.
"Choose, pick one you like." Zheng Fan shook his wrist, raising an eyebrow at Qingye Heshi's expression: "Why are your eyes so fierce?"
Qingye Heshi blinked: "Sorry, my eyes are a bit dry... But these, I didn't come here for this."
Clatter.
With another clatter, Zheng Fan continued to pull out things: "Don't like board games?"
Poker, Truth or Dare, Ligretto, Monopoly...
"No..."
Why does your studio have so many board games? Qingye Heshi almost wanted to ask that, but he realized he couldn't be led by Zheng Fan.
"Let's play a round. We can talk while we play, otherwise, I'll send you off." Zheng Fan propped his leg up, hands clasped behind his head, looking like a slacker.
Qingye Heshi considered himself not to be a good-tempered person, and his veins were already struggling to stay calm.
He slapped his hand down: "This one."
Truth or Dare.
"Oh, interesting." Zheng Fan's eyes narrowed.
Then Qingye Heshi swept the Truth or Dare box aside and said: "However, how about we freely improvise the content of Truth and Dare?"
"Of course." Zheng Fan smiled.
...
Finally, the two chose the simplest spinner, with two colors, one for Zheng Fan and one for Qingye Heshi.
They set it up while chatting idly.
"I investigated some of the properties your studio recently acquired and found some clues," Qingye Heshi said.
Zheng Fan remained noncommittal, set up the spinner, and gestured for him to start.
The spinner rotated rapidly with Qingye Heshi's push.
"Some of those factories were almost unable to operate in the past. Although it appeared to be local gangs that helped them, the guidance behind it came from someone else."
The spinner stopped on Zheng Fan's color.
"Truth." Zheng Fan's smile remained unchanged.
"Who do you think that person is?" Qingye Heshi asked.
"Perhaps someone who knows a lot about Xixikeke, who, though not quite normal, actually possesses considerable compassion."
After speaking, Zheng Fan pushed the spinner.
"As expected of you. While others set up intelligence networks, even if you're not as good as that person, your influence is significant, and it's not hard to notice details if you put your mind to investigating. And most importantly, you understand that person."
The spinner pointed to Qingye Heshi's color.
"Truth." Qingye Heshi was expressionless.
"Whose side are you on?"
"My father is one of the founders of the Banmu Office, and she is merely a fleeting acquaintance. I cannot stand the chaos caused by the management model within the office, but I also will not allow anything that endangers the office to happen."
Saying this, Qingye Heshi spun the wheel.
Zheng Fan, Truth.
Qingye Heshi: "You got involved with that person, why?"
Zheng Fan: "A chance encounter. Heh, and the handiwork of a certain acquaintance within our office; part of my startup capital also came from this."
Spin, Qingye Heshi, Truth.
Zheng Fan: "How do you view that person?"
Qingye Heshi was silent for a moment: "Her confidence, her talent, I admire them, but she is too fragile, alone..."
Seeing him hesitate, this time Zheng Fan helped spin.
Points to Zheng Fan, Truth.
"Who are you?"
Qingye Heshi quickly sorted his thoughts; the momentary hesitation seemed like an Illusion.
Zheng Fan smiled: "A huge change, a drop in status, a nobody's comeback, making the impossible possible, the one in Dadu most skilled at achieving these..."
Qingye Heshi's eyes lowered slightly, and he spun.
Points to himself, Truth.
"My turn. Have you decided what you're going to do? Of course, here's a bonus message: she guessed you would find out, and she also guessed your possible choice."
After a moment of silence, Qingye Heshi said: "You might be able to become my support. I hope to accept you, as long as you truly pose no harm."
Spin, Zheng Fan, Truth.
"Are you trustworthy?"
"I am not trustworthy, but she might be."
Spin, Qingye Heshi.
Qingye Heshi nodded: "Dare."
"Pleasure working with you," Zheng Fan said.
"Pleasure working with you," Qingye Heshi responded.
After speaking, Qingye Heshi stood up: "Then I'll stop here. Goodbye. You exceed my imagination. Experience dealing with one Illusion cannot be applied to another Illusion. I also don't know if my choice is correct, but, take care of her."
With that, he turned and left, cool and dashing.
Suddenly, Zheng Fan's voice drifted from behind: "Our chemistry is also good, but then again, if I had dared you to put your pants on your head and go outside yelling 'I'm an idiot,' how would you have responded?"
Whoosh!
The air rippled, and the spinner on the table instantly shattered.
Zheng Fan saw it: beside Qingye Heshi was a creature like a fox but without limbs, and its skin was not furry but smooth and moist like a sea slug.
"Then there would be no such dare." Qingye Heshi replied coldly, striding away.
However, he still politely closed the door.
Once the door closed, Zheng Fan clasped his hands behind his head again and mumbled: "He's really handsome, but his temper is really not that great."