When his primary undertaking began to impede his secondary goals, and the returns no longer justified the investment, sustainable development was at risk of imminent collapse. Lin Bai decisively chose to cut his losses. A youth without a touch of willfulness is a youth wasted. Lin Bai had too many Systems, and his energy was limited; it was impossible for him to spend too much energy and time on any single one. He had to ensure he spent the minimum on each System to reap the maximum reward. After all, whether it was the ’big brother’ System, other Systems, or even emotions—they were all merely tools to serve him. If a tool was useful, he’d keep using it. If not, he’d discard it and find another. Completing System tasks was meant to improve his life; life wasn’t meant for completing System tasks. He had to be clear about this relationship; it absolutely could not be reversed.
"You play games for pleasure, but I do tasks for survival. The right to life takes precedence; happiness must yield to life." Having made the decision to abandon his ’eldest brother’—his primary System—Lin Bai sighed, finding an excuse to console himself.
To the natives of this world, he was a transmigrator. To the Players, he was an NPC. This awkward positioning destined him to be a lone wolf. To survive and live better, he had to constantly maintain an optimistic, positive, and proactive attitude. After all, he was still very weak; one wrong step could mean the end of his life.
His ’big brother’ System, Crispy Rice, had autonomously found a ’profession,’ netting Lin Bai three points of Luck Value for free. This gave him a solid foundation of confidence. Just yesterday, he had acquired the Dreadful Mansion and resolved its issues smoothly, emerging unscathed, all in less than a day. This made Lin Bai realize that Qi Yun was indeed working in his favor, turning misfortune into fortune and calamities into auspicious signs. Therefore, he felt certain he would have good luck today.
Currently, his ongoing tasks included: opening a restaurant for the Cooking God System; collecting positive emotions for the Emotional System; the Inner Strength task from the Everything Has Shortcomings System; and the Chief Supporting Role System’s task to instill faith in his ’big brother,’ Crispy Rice.
The highest priorities were the Inner Strength task from the Everything Has Shortcomings System and the positive emotion collection for the Emotional System.
Collecting positive emotions, which rewarded Temperament, certainly had its benefits. But Lin Bai had already experienced the benefits of Spirit Value. Just a few points could leave him feeling invigorated and clear-headed, allowing him to work late into the night before fatigue set in. A high Spirit Value could potentially reduce his need for sleep even further.
During the beta test, with fewer Players, managing was not too troublesome. However, once open beta launched and Player numbers surged, his time would definitely be insufficient. He needed enough energy to handle them all. To grow faster than the Players, he had to become the ultimate grinder among NPCs. Therefore, for the current Lin Bai, Spirit was more important than Temperament.
He felt it was necessary to quickly clear the positive emotion collection task—and it certainly wasn’t because he preferred collecting negative emotions. The Inner Strength task was crucial for his protection. After all, collecting negative emotions was an offensive business that could easily get him killed. These two tasks were complementary and had to progress together.
He woke up early. Alright, fine, it was mid-morning.
Having formulated his plan for the day, Lin Bai was in high spirits. He pushed open his door and called out, "Waiter! Bring a basin of water, I need to wash up."
"One moment, sir!" The waiter’s voice drifted from a distance.
A moment later, there was a knock at the door.
Lin Bai opened the door. Holding a half-filled basin, the waiter, whose face had been expressionless, instantly put on a strained smile. "Your water, sir."
"Thanks," Lin Bai smiled. "Just put it on the stool."
"Very good." The waiter entered, placed the basin on the stool, and turned to leave.
"Wait," Lin Bai called out.
"Anything else I can do for you, sir?" the waiter asked, stopping reflexively.
"Your tip," Lin Bai said, looking at the waiter with a smile. Ten Copper Coins lay in his open palm.
[Joy from Liu Chun +1]
"Thank you, sir!" Liu Chun’s face lit up, his forced smile instantly becoming more animated. He accepted the Copper Coins, nodding and bowing to Lin Bai. "Please, sir, if you need anything at all, just let me know."
Indeed, spending money is always a shortcut to growth, no matter the era!
Learning the waiter’s name, Liu Chun, from a System prompt, Lin Bai smiled. "No need for thanks; you’ve earned it. Liu Chun, in all my years of traveling, you’re the most alert and capable waiter I’ve ever met. You’re neatly dressed, honest, understand etiquette, work efficiently, and have a way of making people feel comfortable."
[Joy from Liu Chun +1]
"Thank you for your kind words, sir." Liu Chun’s smile grew more genuine as he scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "I’m not as good as you make me out to be."
"Your perspective is too narrow," Lin Bai said, shaking his head with a smile even more amiable than the waiter’s.
"Too narrow?" Liu Chun echoed, taken aback.
"Yes, too narrow," Lin Bai affirmed with a nod. He glanced at the water basin on the stool and said earnestly, "You might fool others, but you can’t fool me. When you assist guests, you arrange items with meticulous care. Whenever a guest calls, you respond immediately, without a hint of complaint. During your downtime, you’re constantly observing how the Shopkeeper runs the inn, noting each customer’s current needs and demeanor. Therefore, you must be secretly learning the art of management—your mind is always working even when your body is at rest. Tsk, tsk, such dedication..."
So my work was that meticulous, and guests actually noticed?
Even my moments of zoning out had such profound meaning?
Liu Chun was stunned for a moment, then nodded decisively. Yes, that must be it! Otherwise, a guest wouldn’t say such things. He even remembered my name!
[Joy from Liu Chun +1]
Lin Bai subtly raised an eyebrow, looking at Liu Chun with an appreciative gaze. "Liu Chun, ah, you might not realize it, but you possess countless admirable qualities that perhaps even you haven’t discovered. I see great potential in you. Trust my judgment: your future doesn’t end with being a waiter. Persevere, and one day, you’ll have an inn of your own..."
[Confidence from Liu Chun +1]
Liu Chun’s chest swelled with pride.
He’d milk this for all it was worth. As long as Liu Chun could still provide positive Emotion Value, Lin Bai didn’t mind laying on the flattery.
After all, it was a win-win. Liu Chun gained affirmation, recognition, and hope for the future, while Lin Bai made progress on his task.
"Waiter, a pot of tea!" another voice called from outside.
"Go on," Lin Bai said with a wave of his hand. "Don’t let me keep you from your duties."
"I’ll get right to it then, sir! If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call for me; I’m always available." Liu Chun’s smile was even more genuine now. Who wouldn’t enjoy serving an appreciative customer, especially one who tips generously?
At that moment, he was no longer the same perfunctory waiter. He was now a man with a goal—optimistic, confident, filled with hope for the future, and determined to take his work seriously.
"Naturally," Lin Bai chuckled. "And there’ll be another tip if you do well."
[Joy from Liu Chun +1]
"There’s no need for another tip, sir. It’s all part of my job," Liu Chun said with a bashful smile. "You’re too kind."
"A promise is a promise. Consider it forging a good bond, and my small contribution to your future enterprise," Lin Bai insisted.
Emotion Value bought with money was the most cost-effective. After all, System tasks increased in difficulty. In the future, when he needed to collect large amounts of Emotion Value, mere flattery wouldn’t cut it. Throwing money around would be the shortcut. Therefore, Lin Bai felt an urgent need to fatten his wallet.
He recalled there was still a Tycoon System among his reserves. If that System unlocked, it would be the perfect partner for the Emotional System. Unfortunately, he had no idea how to activate these subsequent Systems.
[Joy from Liu Chun +1]
Liu Chun departed, but not before providing Lin Bai with one last bit of positive Emotion Value.
[Positive Emotions Stimulated: 9/10. Reward: Temperament Three.]
Liu Chun alone had provided six points of positive Emotion Value.
It just went to show, as long as one put their mind to it, any task could be completed quickly.
After a quick wash, Lin Bai stepped out of the inn, feeling refreshed and determined to tackle the day’s tasks seriously.
If he was a devil for collecting negative emotions yesterday, then today, he was an Angel delivering warmth to the world.