Dimensional Store: Welcome to the Apocalypse Apartment - chapter 38

Business at the Oasis Hotel was booming, and Gu Huaiwei hadn’t returned to the Real World for several weeks in a row.

Mu Lingxi was swamped with work in the Real World.

University had started, and Mu Lingxi managed to pay her tuition, relying on her after-school hours to help Gu Huaiwei handle troublesome matters.

At Oasis Hotel, during lunch break, Gu Huaiwei went to the staff lounge for a cup of coffee. At that moment, Mu Lingxi called.

Her voice came through the receiver, filled with excitement: “Huaiwei, Sister Jin wants to ask if you still have any of the gold you sold her before?

There’s a mysterious buyer now, offering a high price for these Gold Coins.”

“Mysterious buyer? Is it possible to find out who’s behind it?”

This mysterious buyer made Gu Huaiwei wary; she cared more about transaction safety.

“Um, I asked a senior from the computer department for help-he knows a bit about hacking-but the buyer is hiding very well. We couldn’t find out anything.”

Mu Lingxi sounded troubled. She had tried to mobilize all her contacts to prevent anyone from messing with their business, but the mysterious buyer was too well hidden; she couldn’t dig anything up.

“But their offer is very high. If you’re not comfortable, you can work with Sister Jin-let her handle the negotiations, and you two split the profits.”

The post station was still under construction, and Gu Huaiwei hadn’t received the Paradise Card yet.

Before figuring out the surveillance rules of Paradise, Gu Huaiwei didn’t dare act rashly.

Gu Huaiwei considered for a moment before replying, “Their identity is unclear, so let’s hold off for now. Once things settle down, I’ll go back and meet Sister Jin to discuss this in detail.”

“What about the car? The salesperson at the 4S shop said the off-road vehicle you liked is now in stock.

It’s five million landed, and you can get a three-year interest-free loan.”

“I already have a new car.” Gu Huaiwei sent a photo to Mu Lingxi.

Mu Lingxi looked at the armored vehicle in the photo: “What a cool custom car!”

“Won it in a bet.”

“Oh, free-makes it even sweeter.”

The lounge door was half open. While Gu Huaiwei was chatting with Mu Lingxi, Lin She stood at the doorway and knocked three times.

Gu Huaiwei raised her hand to signal Lin She to wait, finished up a few words with Mu Lingxi, and then hung up.

“What is it?” she walked over to Lin She.

Lin She said, “A guest wants to check out.”

“Just help him with the process. Rooms are in short supply now, and there’s a long queue waiting.” Gu Huaiwei wasn’t worried about guests leaving; there was no need to persuade them to stay.

Lin She didn’t move from the doorway: “That guest wants to see you in person. He’s in room 302.”

“Hm?” Gu Huaiwei thought for a moment. The guest in room 302 was Xiao Youqi.

Ever since she’d stopped doing business with him, he rarely appeared at the hotel. Lately, he’d been elusive-no idea what he was up to.

“Alright, I’ll go check.”

Gu Huaiwei returned to the front desk. Xiao Youqi was already waiting. She took the room card he handed over and asked, “Why the sudden decision to check out?”

“There are some matters in the Underground City-I have to go back.” Xiao Youqi was wearing the same leather outfit as when he arrived, tapping lightly on the front desk. “Miss Gu, did your new goods arrive?”

“Not yet. The hotel’s been busy lately, I haven’t had time.” Gu Huaiwei deftly processed his check-out.

A faint, almost imperceptible glint flashed in Xiao Youqi’s deep silver-gray eyes: “That’s a real shame. I enjoy doing business with you-wish we could keep it going forever.”

He meant it.

He really liked this hotel.

If possible, he’d like to stay here through business.

“Let’s wait and see-I need to watch the situation too.” Gu Huaiwei heard the disappointment in his voice and offered some comfort. “Once the post station is built, if business can continue, I’ll reach out to you.”

“Don’t you want to leave here and see the outside world?” Xiao Youqi extended an olive branch. “Since I started staying here, I haven’t seen you leave the hotel.

Why not take this chance and come out with me? I’ll show you the Lower District-it’ll be interesting, I promise.”

Gu Huaiwei shook her head and refused: “I’m a worker-no vacation for sightseeing.”

“Such a pity.” Xiao Youqi withdrew his hand, sounding wistful. “Once I check out, it’ll be hard to get a room here again.”

“You could get a membership card…” Gu Huaiwei never missed a chance to promote.

“No thanks, I’m not one of those rich folks from the Middle District.” Xiao Youqi stopped overthinking, snapped his fingers, and conjured a Copper Rabbit from his palm like a magic trick. “Here, take it-as a parting gift.”

The Copper Rabbit was palm-sized, sitting in Xiao Youqi’s hand, its tail slightly raised, body round and gleaming with metallic luster.

“It’s pretty cute-you can keep it yourself.” Gu Huaiwei wasn’t keen to accept; she and Xiao Youqi had always kept things strictly business, no personal ties.

“Take it. Next time we meet, it might be somewhere you’d never expect.” Xiao Youqi pressed the Copper Rabbit into Gu Huaiwei’s hand. “I was your first guest here, after all-I should be a bit different from the others.”

“Thanks, then.” Gu Huaiwei stopped refusing and accepted the gift graciously.

She reached out and gently stroked the rabbit’s ear-cool and smooth to the touch, perfect for decorating the front desk.

This little rabbit reminded Gu Huaiwei of her childhood, when her sister loved buying cute ornaments to cheer her up.

Unconsciously, Gu Huaiwei’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I have two men’s shirts left-not bought especially for you, but if you need them, you can take them.”

From the day Xiao Youqi arrived at Oasis Hotel until his departure, he’d worn the same outfit every day, now so tattered it couldn’t be patched anymore.

Gu Huaiwei didn’t like owing favors. She still had a few shirts Lin She had picked over-giving them to Xiao Youqi was just returning a small kindness.

“Clothes?” Xiao Youqi seemed surprised by Gu Huaiwei’s gesture. Only now did he realize how ragged his clothes had become.

It seemed that since birth, no one had ever cared whether his clothes were torn, or if he had enough to eat.

Xiao Youqi looked up at Gu Huaiwei, a complex emotion surging beneath the surface.

Maybe it was a pity, but he didn’t want things to end up like this either.