A system restriction had now been put in place. Regardless of how strong he was or how many tricks he used, he would never be able to step foot inside again.
The store simply would not allow it.
“Let’s rest now, Little Xixi. We’re closing up for the night.”
He walked over to the entrance, flipping the wooden plaque hanging on the door.
The sign outside now read: ’Closed.
Hao led Mo Xixi through the storage area and up the stairs.
As they stepped onto the second floor, a vast open living room greeted them.
Mo Xixi’s eyes widened. This was nothing like the interiors she was used to.
The ceiling glowed with a steady, soft light, probably powered by embedded crystals rather than flickering lanterns or torches.
The furniture was elegant and refined, crafted in unfamiliar shapes. A long black-cushioned seat stretched out in the middle of the room, looking far too luxurious to be just a chair.
’What sort of craftsmanship is this?’
Nearby, a sturdy wooden table stood surrounded by chairs, and a large empty shelf.
Despite the unfamiliar designs, everything was clean and well-arranged. The room had a cozy, welcoming feel.
She glanced around. ’This place… It’s definitely bigger than it should be.’
She had already noticed the spatial expansion in the storage area. Now, the second floor was the same. There had to be a space formation at work here.
The store’s exterior did not match the sheer size of this living area.
Before she could dwell on it, Hao motioned for her to follow him down a short hallway.
“This way.” he said, pointing at the doors as they passed.
“That’s the bedroom. Over there is the bathroom. And this door leads to the kitchen.”
Mo Xixi nodded absentmindedly, still trying to process everything.
“Your personal room isn’t ready yet, so you’ll be sleeping in my bedroom for now.”
She barely had time to react before Hao quickly continued. “Don’t worry, I’ll take the sofa in the living room.”
“…”
Mo Xixi stopped walking.
“…What? Sofa? Living room?
Hao turned and pointed at the long black chair in the living room.
“That thing over there. It’s called a sofa. It’s like a long, soft chair. You can sit or lie down on it.”
Mo Xixi gave him a blank stare.
“As for the living room, It’s the first area we arrived in. A space for resting and receiving guests.”
Mo Xixi registered Hao’s words, then frowned.
“Wait. Why are you sleeping on the sofa? Boss, you are the storekeeper, and I am just the employee.”
“Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”
Hao waved off her concern. “It’s only for a day. Your personal room will be ready tomorrow, so don’t worry about it.”
Mo Xixi crossed her arms. “No, boss. You sleep in the bed. I will take the sofa.”
Tomorrow? How?
There was no way a room could be built overnight in this place. It must be in another location. That was the only explanation that made sense.
But still, she wasn’t about to accept this arrangement so easily.
Hao shook his head. “No way. You need proper rest.”
“I can rest just fine on the sofa.”
“You will be uncomfortable.”
“I do not care.”
“You should care.”
“I do not.”
“Well, I do.”
Mo Xixi scowled. “Fine. Then we will switch places in the middle of the night.”
“…”
’What are we, traveling warriors taking shifts in the wilderness? Should I also start a campfire and keep watch for wild beasts?’
“No.”
“Then at least let me take turns sleeping on the sofa.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
Mo Xixi glared at him in frustration. “Boss, this is unfair. You’re treating your own employee too well.”
Hao shrugged. “So?”
Mo Xixi opened her mouth, then closed it.
She had no counterargument for that.
Still fuming, she insisted. “I have slept on the floor before, boss. I can handle a sofa just fine.”
Her words were true. With no home to return to and no one to rely on, she had spent many nights in dark, empty alleys, curled up against cold stone walls.
The chill had never bothered her much. She had a tough body, and as a cultivator, staying awake for months was no issue.
But Hao’s response was immediate. “That’s all the more reason for you to sleep in a real bed, Little Xixi.”
Mo Xixi flinched slightly.
The way he said it, so casually yet with a strange warmth, made her feel something unfamiliar.
She hesitated.
Then Hao ended the discussion entirely with a joking threat. “If you keep arguing, I will kick you out of the store and lock the door.”
Mo Xixi stiffened.
She huffed and looked away. “Fine, boss. But just for tonight.”
Her voice was quiet, but her heart felt oddly heavy. Not in a bad way.
No one had ever treated her like this before. No one had ever cared whether she slept well or not.
She did not know how to respond.
Her mind told her to be annoyed. But deep inside, her inner child, the one who had been forced to hide in dark alleys and had never known real comfort, was experiencing a sense of peace foreign to her entire life.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded stiffly.
Nevertheless, Mo Xixi made a silent decision.
If her room wasn’t ready by tomorrow, there was no way she’d let her boss sleep on that sofa again.
“Go take a bath first.”
She gave a nod, already knowing where the bathroom was. The door had a small water droplet symbol on it, likely an indicator.
Inside, she found herself in a small hallway that led to three separate areas.
The first had a massive mirror above two strange white basins. She stared at them, puzzled. Were these… water troughs? But they were too shallow.
The second area was much smaller, with a bizarre white chair in the center. Was this a seat for meditation?
But why was there a hole in it? Could this be some kind of waste chamber?
The last area was the most confusing of all. A smooth, deep bowl stood at one end, and above it, a strange pipe-like device was attached to the wall. There were also bottles filled with unknown liquids.
Mo Xixi spent half an hour figuring everything out.
…
[A/N: New character designs are up! Check out your favorites and show some love. Also, a new privilege tier is available, so don’t miss it. Every purchase grants me +999 Motivation, +1 Sanity!]