When system cheat becomes rampant!

Xiang Qingde is now the signature attraction of "Kong's Mansion Feast" restaurant, with Kong Daming treating him as the restaurant's most prized asset. Whenever Xiang Qingde wanted to do some work, Kong Daming would stop him.

Zhang Xiang, who once faced a dead end and was about to be sent to mine in the outer domains' wilderness, also came to the restaurant. Xiang Beifei even made a special trip to say that Kong Daming's place was just in need of help, and agreed without hesitation.

Due to the booming business of the restaurant and the high wages offered, Zhang Xiang was immensely grateful. He knew he had encountered a benefactor and worked very hard in the restaurant.

"Venerable old man, if you require anything just give an order, no need to come downstairs."

When Zhang Xiang saw Xiang Qingde coming down from upstairs, he hurriedly approached and said. He viewed Xiang Qingde with great reverence; the grandfather who could nurture a genius like Xiang Beifei was no ordinary person.

Xiang Qingde waved his hand and went over to pour himself a cup of water, saying, "I'm still young, fit, and capable of doing things on my own."

"Indeed, the venerable old man is still young." Zhang Xiang promptly said with a laugh.

After drinking a sip of water and sizing up Zhang Xiang, Xiang Qingde said, "Xiao Zhang, you don't need to be so formal with me. We're all workers here; you're acting as if I've become some sort of emperor."

"The venerable old man is kidding. Having such an outstanding grandson is your good fortune as well as a blessing for all of us N-level Awakeners. When I was almost ready to give up on myself, he told me, as long as life doesn't knock us down, it means we're in control of it," Zhang Xiang sighed.

"Eh?"

"Yes, he said it was you who told him." Zhang Xiang smiled honestly, "Although I'm not capable of much, I know only people full of hope can say such things. Mr. Xiang Beifei is a kind person, and being his grandfather, you must also be a very kind person. Kind people, they raise kind children."

Now that the Alliance had nearly stripped bare all aspects of Xiang Beifei's past life, Zhang Xiang had come to understand the hardships faced by Xiang Beifei and his grandfather before college, when days were tough, and Xiang Qingde often had to get up early and stay up late to sell vegetables.

The grandfather and grandson lived a humble life, but Xiang Qingde always worked to make a living; they were truly living life.

Zhang Xiang deeply admired such people, and he also greatly respected the life attitude of this elderly man, Xiang Qingde.

Xiang Qingde said cheerfully, "I see, no problem, now that you're here, you're one of us. Live your life well."

"Ha, I also have to thank the venerable old man for his advice. The world isn't kind to us N-level Awakeners; I really hope Mr. Xiang Beifei can one day change our situation," Zhang Xiang said.

"Let's hope so! Xiaofei has always known what he needs to do, I don't need to worry about him."

While Xiang Qingde was speaking cheerfully, he suddenly realized something and looked at his system interface.

His system panel had always been showing snowflakes, something he had gotten used to, but suddenly, lines of text began flashing rapidly, changing quickly, and then disappeared without a trace.

Xiang Qingde watched his system interface with confusion. He never understood why his system was acting up, but every time those words appeared, it was never a good sign.

Recalling the last time text appeared and he was hit by a broken brick, he quickly protected his face and head, lest he be hit by some strange object again.

However, after protecting his head for a while, nothing fell. Instead, a strange noise came through.

"This is... isn't this..."

He was slightly taken aback!

"Venerable old man?"

Zhang Xiang, seeing Xiang Qingde suddenly standing still and not speaking, quietly asked.

But Xiang Qingde seemed not to hear him, just holding his forehead and continuously knocking on his head, his expression somewhat pained.

Zhang Xiang quickly supported Xiang Qingde and said, "Venerable old man, what's wrong with you? Quick, sit down here."

Xiang Qingde sat down in a chair, his complexion somewhat pale.

Zhang Xiang was somewhat panicked. He had just mentioned that Xiang Qingde was in robust health, and now there was a problem. He quickly said, "Venerable old man, please have a seat, I'll go find the boss."

He quickly took out his phone and called Kong Daming. As soon as Kong Daming heard that Xiang Qingde was in trouble, he rushed down without delay.

"Old master, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Come on, I'll take you to the hospital." Kong Daming immediately wanted to take Xiang Qingde to the hospital.

But Xiang Qingde waved his hand and shook his head, "No, it's not that I'm feeling unwell. No need to go to the hospital."

"How can that be? We can't delay this matter!" Kong Daming insisted on taking Xiang Qingde to the hospital.

"It's not that. Going to the hospital would be useless. I'm fine. I just need some quiet." Xiang Qingde frowned slightly.

"Then I'll go find Xiaofei. Xiao Zhang, you help him rest upstairs." Kong Daming knew that the old master could sometimes be stubborn and unyielding, and only Xiang Beifei could persuade him.

"No need to find him! He's cultivating. I'm fine, I've said I'm fine," said Xiang Qingde adamantly.

"But… "

"I'm fine! Don't worry, if it were serious, I would have gone to the hospital already," Xiang Qingde emphasized again.

Unable to persuade him, Kong Daming had no choice but to carry Xiang Qingde to the upstairs resting room himself. After pouring him a glass of water, Xiang Qingde made Kong Daming promise not to tell Xiang Beifei.

After Kong Daming left, Xiang Qingde sat in the chair, staring at his screen that had turned back to a pristine white, murmuring to himself, "Why would it be that voice... Is this an illusion, or... or... real? If it's real, then does that mean..."

His expression grew more somber.

——

Kong Daming returned downstairs. Although Xiang Qingde repeatedly emphasized not to tell Xiang Beifei, he still went ahead, knowing the elder might just be worried about affecting the child, but such matters must be discussed.

He called Xiang Beifei, but when he didn't answer, he decided to go directly to Xiang Beifei's home.

However, as he was heading to the door, a person walked into the shop. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was an old acquaintance.

[Host: Ma Kainian]

[Grade S, Nitpicking System]

[Realm: Middle Stage of Meridian Opening]

"Mr. Kong, how have you been these days?"

Ma Kainian, an official from the Alliance Development Department, was in charge of managing the affairs of individual shops and businesses, and he himself was an Awakener of the literary Dao.

"Mr. Ma, what brings you here?" Kong Daming asked.

Ma Kainian, with his big belly, walked into Kong Daming's restaurant, hands clasped behind his back, surveying the situation inside. He nodded slightly and said, "Nothing much, just that you've recently opened up your shop again, and I thought I'd come to take a look. This area is under my jurisdiction, and I have to take some responsibility, right?"

He was in charge of the management of all the shops on this street, holding great power over their existence, which for shop owners meant he wielded significant authority.

Looking up as if inspecting his work, Ma Kainian sat down in the restaurant's chair a moment later and asked, "How come I don't see your store's Xiang Beifei?"

Kong Daming was slightly startled and said, "Xiang Beifei doesn't work in our shop, he's still a student and doesn't work here."

"Not in your shop, eh?" Ma Kainian furrowed his brow.

Today, he didn't come alone but on the special instruction of a senior SR-leveled leader from above, specifically to get a clear understanding of Xiang Beifei's situation.

The reason was simple—they couldn't find where Xiang Beifei's home was!