"Huh?"
The girl first had a look of disdain, then a realization seemed to dawn on her.
"Girlfriend betrays you, silently sends a text to break up, so toxic."
Liu Zheng continued.
"Why? Would you still be with such scum?"
The girl asked, puzzled.
"Of course you break up, but the car's already someone else's, so you got to stand up and stomp hard."
He scoffed.
"That's disgusting."
The girl gave him an even more disdainful look, then quickly took notes.
"The protagonist plans to make a fortune by writing web novels, super toxic."
"How is that toxic?"
The girl was even more puzzled.
"Where's the conflict and character relationships in web novels, how are you going to develop the plot later on?"
Liu Zheng bombarded her with questions.
"Like, yeah. So what should he rely on to make a fortune?"
The girl asked for advice.
"Sell adult toys."
He said after thinking for a moment.
"Ah?"
The girl was dumbfounded.
"Just write it like that, I guarantee it'll pass."
Liu Zheng confidently said.
Even the Legendary delivery man could only be a tree, this market is definitely a blue ocean.
"Okay, fine."
The girl was overawed by his presence and had no choice but to agree.
"Can you sign for the delivery now?"
Liu Zheng pointed to the delivery bag on her foot.
"Hmph. I'll submit it later, and if it gets accepted, I have a gift for you. If not, you're dead."
The girl picked up the delivery bag and turned to walk towards the bedroom.
He just stood at the door, waiting until the deadline.
"Done."
Liu Zheng hummed a tune as he walked toward the elevator.
Back at the entrance of the community, the security guard sat obediently in the booth.
"Really took the advice."
He tapped the glass of the booth and said with a smile.
The guard stared straight ahead, ignoring him.
"Just had a fight with the nut case in 606, got pretty hurt. Want to try to get your scene back?"
Liu Zheng tempted.
The guard turned his head, said nothing, but his eyes expressed everything clearly.
You're kidding me, right?
"Forget it if you don't want to try."
He shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the Bloody Restaurant.
The guard watched his retreating figure, the black and white strands of hair rising and falling, and finally, they fell.
"Phew."
Turning the street corner, Liu Zheng let out a long breath.
The feeling of weakness with the loss of the attribute bonus made him feel unwell, but at least he had survived.
All the effects of the Legendary delivery man vest were only active during delivery, and he had suspected that the effects might disappear on the return trip, which now seemed to be the case.
The earlier threat to the guard, including the recent provocation, were all part of Liu Zheng's plan, not just the result of Anger Management.
"I'd better find another route."
He looked at the map and chose a different route from the one he came on.
That phosphorescence, no idea what that was, but it seems like the inhabitants of this world hold grudges.
Taking the detour, it took Liu Zheng a bit more time, but he finally got back to the Bloody Restaurant.
In the break room, there was no Niu Ma, only a clean employee meal.
"Got food to eat again."
He opened his own locker, and sure enough, there was an employee meal and a drink inside.
"Name: Bloody Restaurant Employee Meal"
"Type: Item"
"Quality: Common"
"Effect: Restore stamina."
"Note: A family should be complete and united."
"Can it be taken out of the instance: No"
Inside the lunchbox was a parent-child donburi, with chicken, eggs, and a skewer of grilled quail eggs.
"Huh, it hasn't been touched."
Liu Zheng was surprised.
He didn't think Niu Ma would view him differently.
Could it be that Niu Ma also couldn't open lockers that weren't hers at will?
Liu Zheng immediately considered a possibility.
The more he thought about it, the more he believed it was likely.
He stared at the Yellow Vest he was wearing, then took it off and put it into the locker.
"Mealtime, mealtime."
Liu Zheng picked up the employee meal, sat on the small stool, and started enjoying his dinner.
The drink was just a bottle of ordinary tea, which he figured French Plane Tree wouldn't be interested in, so he drank it himself.
After eating his fill, he leaned against the wall and took a short rest. Niu Ma returned from outside.
"Quick, quick, what did you trade with that tree?"
It asked eagerly as soon as it came in.
"A legendary delivery man's vest."
"Holy shit! Where's the vest? Show me, quick!"
Niu Ma's eyes bulged in amazement.
"I put it in the cupboard,"
Liu Zheng replied.
"What kind of lunatic puts their clothes in the cupboard instead of wearing them?"
Niu Ma wondered aloud.
He didn't answer, just responded with a polite smile.
"Oh, so you've figured out I can't open your cupboard, huh?"
Niu Ma wasn't stupid and caught on quickly.
"The boss is indeed wise,"
Liu Zheng flattered.
"Hmph, always playing these clever tricks. I could kill you and open the cupboard just the same,"
Niu Ma said dismissively.
"Such loyalty from the boss, you wouldn't do that,"
he said with a laugh.
"Loyalty? When did you start living under the illusion that we had a good relationship?"
While taunting, Niu Ma lifted a hoof.
"I told Dai Legao, if I don't go see him tomorrow, he should spread the word that you have a Heaven Island Double Vacation Voucher."
Liu Zheng stated calmly.
"You're bluffing me,"
Niu Ma declared confidently.
"I wouldn't dare to bluff you, boss,"
he said with a seemingly wronged expression.
"Even if it's true, what's the big deal? I, Niu Ma, could wear that holiday voucher on my forehead and see who dares to take it,"
Niu Ma declared proudly.
"Of course, but, boss, you wouldn't want the other half of your horn broken as well, right?"
Liu Zheng said as he looked at the top of its head, where all other injuries had healed except for the horn, which was still only half there.
"Don't you dare talk about my horn!"
Niu Ma suddenly erupted in anger.
"Alright, alright,"
he gestured like he was zipping his lips.
"Forget it, keep it for yourself. Anyway, that thing is just of sentimental value to me,"
Niu Ma sniffed dismissively.
"Actually, it's not that I can't give it to you, boss,"
Liu Zheng added.
"Since when have you been so generous?"
Niu Ma looked at him skeptically.
Ever since he started his job, the kid had been scheming to trade things, more like a street dealer than a delivery man.
"The boss takes such good care of me, it's only right that I offer something in return. Of course, it would be even better if you could subsidize me a little,"
The item description stated that the legendary delivery man's vest couldn't be taken out of the instance; better to trade it for something else rather than waste it.
"What do you want? Just to be clear, I don't have as much as that tree does,"
Niu Ma said with a grimace.
"Whatever the boss deems fit, just something to keep me alive a few more days,"
Liu Zheng said.
"That's not a small request,"
Niu Ma scrutinized him.
"The fact that you've survived up to now has already surprised me,"
it said seriously.
An average person should have died on Mr. Li's order, high tips aren't easy to come by.
Green Garden Mad City is no pleasant place either; while it's not an upscale neighborhood, it's filled with a mixed bag of characters.
"All thanks to the boss for keeping an eye on me,"
Liu Zheng said respectfully.
"I can't protect you. I really don't have anything here that's suitable for you,"
Niu Ma shook its head.
It wasn't like that French Plane Tree, with a hoarding obsession, the items it got were either used or exchanged.
"Just grab me a couple of bottles of Mao Tai and we'll call it even,"
he said generously.
"Keep dreaming. If I had it, I would've drunk it myself already. The last time I got a bottle of Vlad III, if I go back to the kitchen they would kill me without a doubt,"
Niu Ma glared.
"Well, then there's nothing I can do. I might as well trade it with Dai Legao,"
Liu Zheng said regretfully.
"You wouldn't dare!"
Niu Ma bellowed.
"Boss, I still have to find a way to survive,"
he said calmly.
After staring at each other for a few minutes, Niu Ma snorted.
"I don't have any items, but I can give you an opportunity to earn some extra money,"
it said thoughtfully after a moment.