She tugged at Li Xianyu's sleeve all the way to the foot of their block, chanting, "I want to eat strawberries!" The sight was like a spoiled girl begging her boyfriend for something.
After attracting the stares of a few passers-by, Li Xianyu rubbed his forehead in frustration and stared at her.
Great-Grandma, with a blank look in her eyes, continued to utter the same words.
Are you a repeater?
Li Xianyu sighed and finally gave in. "Alright, but not more than one jin."
Great-Grandma grinned. "Good great-grandson."
He had seen through her ploy. She was a scheming girl. Whenever she had any requests, she would use the fact that she was his great-grandma. If it did not work, she would change her approach, just like the current one.
He always felt that she had lived her life doing indecent things. Now that he thought about it, her actions, although often childish and unbefitting of her demeanour, exuded an overbearing feeling of street-smartness.
For example, when they first met, Great-Grandma had used a courteous and bubbly attitude to lower his guard. She had given him the impression that he could control her, hence making him lower any inhibitions towards her.
She was evidently a fast learner, but she acted innocently whenever she went out with him, causing him to view himself as her "protector" and "nurturer."
Furthermore, she was the one who had spent all of the inheritance that his father had left for him. However, after a tiff, he was the one that had to apologize instead.
After they bought the strawberries, they bumped into their neighbour, Old Master Qin. It was unusual. He was supposed to be stationed in his sentry box, instead of leaving his house.
He probably went to find his girlfriend.
Li Xianyu, whose waist was feeling unbelievably sore, approached him with an emotional state of envy, jealousy, and hatred. He waved and shouted, "Old Master Qin!"
Old Master Qin nodded and replied, "Have you thought it through?"
Li Xianyu's stance softened. "What is the pay like if I join Baoze Group?"
Old Master Qin said, "Quite decent."
Li Xianyu gritted his teeth. "OK, I'll join then."
Baoze Group was located in the busiest section of Lujiazui. There were two office buildings that stood like twin towers opposite of each other. Although it was not the most striking in the district filled with tall buildings, it occupied a large area.
Li Xianyu recalled that these two buildings were not called Baoze Group a few years ago. This organization had engineered a rapid rise for itself over the past few years, managing to rival the operations of a state-owned enterprise.
From an outsider's perspective, it was just an organization with substantial backing. Li Xianyu, having been exposed to additional information, now knew that this building was the law enforcement headquarters of the demon descendant world. It had intricate connections with the government.
And today, he was about to become an employee here.
It was currently lunch hour. Old Master Qin made a call, then brought Li Xianyu to the revolving restaurant on the top floor.
Old Master Qin used his employee card to unlock the door, before he pushed open two solid wooden doors. When Li Xianyu saw what was inside, he wondered if he had ventured into an unbelievably posh hotel.
A red carpet had been laid by the door, all the way into the end of the restaurant. Rows of shiny, black dining tables adorned the sides of the restaurant, while many chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The layout and decor of the restaurant made it seem like part of a six-star hotel.
There were not many people dining in the restaurant, making it give off a cold aura. Great-Grandma and Old Master Qin's eyes darted around the place. She inhaled and tried to prevent herself from drooling. She tugged at Li Xianyu's sleeves and remarked, "How delicious. I'm hungry."
Li Xianyu replied, "Didn't you just eat? If you're hungry, eat those strawberries."
A poor soul like him obviously could not afford eating at such a place.
Great-Grandma pestered him. "I'm hungry! Strawberries can't solve the problem."
At this instant, Old Master Qin and a man in the corner locked eyes. The man beckoned. "Come with me."
The man was tall and strong, had short hair, a squarish face, and was estimated to be over two meters tall. He looked like a bear sitting at a dining table for humans… In other words, he was a bear who had blended amongst the humans, and was smiling.
Old Master Qin beckoned for Li Xianyu and Great-Grandma to go over, as he introduced the man. "This is the captain of our law enforcement department, nicknamed the Lightning King!"
As he spoke, the Lightning King had already stood up. He bowed courteously towards Great-Grandma, lowering his back by 90 degrees and grabbing her hand. He spoke, "I've seen you before, Elder Li. Twenty years have passed, yet you're still as elegant as ever."
This was a handshake performed by a hierarchically inferior person to a superior one.
Great-Grandma reluctantly let him hold her hand, while her eyes were glued to the foie gras, caviar, and steak on the table.
The Lightning King retracted his hand, satisfied, and straightened his back. He reluctantly extended his right hand towards Li Xianyu and said, "Good day."
His gigantic hands swiftly appeared in front of Li Xianyu.
Li Xianyu reciprocated with a humble handshake, not minding the less courteous treatment from the other party. He remarked, "It has been a long time. Good day, Director Yang."
The Lightning King froze and said, "My surname is not Yang."
Li Xianyu fell into an awkward silence.
"You know my great-grandma?" Li Xianyu tried to switch the topic. He spoke in a reserved manner, as he felt intimidated by the Lightning King. Although he was a grizzly bear that had disguised himself as a human, he was unbelievably muscular. His muscles looked as if they would pop out of that shirt anytime.
"I know her, but I think Elder Li doesn't know me," the Lightning King responded.
Back then, when the war spirits of the Li family and Li Wuxiang ruled the demon descendant community, he had just started out as a greenhorn. He was only qualified to praise other people and be a bootlicker.
He was like most youths back then, admiring the legendary female war spirit.
Now that he was becoming a middle-aged man, the female goddess he idolized back then had not changed at all. It was a breathtaking sight.
The Lightning King snapped out of his trance and looked at Li Xianyu.
"Let's get to the point. Welcome to Baoze Group. We have waited for you for many years. You have two choices now. One, become a law enforcer. Two, become an admin clerk."
Li Xianyu replied instantly, "I choose the latter, thank you."
The Lightning King froze. "No, I just casually mentioned the second option. The company's wish is for you to join the law enforcement department. After all, it would be a waste of Elder Li's existence."
Li Xianyu cut in, "Director Yang… No, Director… I'm only an ordinary human being. Administrative work is sufficient for me. Violence is not my thing. Not only do I not have supernatural powers, but my body is also weak. I'm sorry, I have disgraced the demon descendants."
Old Master Qin interrupted him. "Let's start from an admin job then. You'll be an intern, while you understand more about the world of the demon descendants. When you have awakened, let's discuss the possibility of you transferring over to the law enforcement department."
Li Xianyu asked excitedly, "How do I awaken then?"
Old Master Qin said in a deep voice, "Every demon descendant has a different way of awakening. There's no specific conditions or ways required. For example, it's constantly mentioned in novels that the main character, having been angered by the murders of his parents, shocks everyone with his awakening. There exists such cases, but that is not a necessary condition for awakening. Truth be told, until today, we have not found a correct method for awakening."
Li Xianyu asked, "How did you awaken then, Old Master Qin?"
Old Master Qin replied awkwardly, "Myocardial infarction. I awakened after. Thinking about it, it was after a near-death experience."
Li Xianyu could not help but look at Great-Grandma and think, How did Dad awaken then?
Great-Grandma seemed to understand what was on his mind and replied crisply, "Your dad, that useless fellow, did not awaken at 22 years old. In a fit of rage, I threw him out the window, and he awakened."
The Lightning King and Old Master Qin were rendered speechless.
Li Xianyu was stunned, but he managed to speak. "Didn't you say that my dad was the most outstanding grandson you had?"
Great-Grandma replied, "He was as bad as you in terms of practicing qi only. The ability of demon descendants is judged by the ratio of contents in their bloodstreams, not based on the contents before and after awakening. Your dad's was pretty decent."
Li Xianyu gulped and said while he quivered, "G-Great-Grandma… I'm turning 22 next year."
Back then, majority of the buildings were low-rise. One would still have a chance at survival if thrown out of the window. At most, paralysis of the lower body would follow. However, at present, if Great-Grandma were to throw him out of the window, he would not even have a chance at resuscitation.
Old Master Qin and the Lightning King stared at him pitifully.