Great, we're doomed now!

—No, is it really okay to be so hasty?

The board game club members looked around and realized that everyone in the room was either a genius or a genius cat. They felt that their little JK (high school girl) shouldn't be involved in such a high-level game, and they were really restless.

Jianzi felt that this was acceptable, but it would be a bit of a hassle for Ye Shou, and she felt a little bad about it.

The black cat, in a very human-like manner, showed a thoughtful expression, seemingly dissatisfied with this arrangement.

"But I have a better way."

Ye Shou withdrew his hand from petting the cat and, in a rather formal tone, suggested to Yotsuya Miko, "I'd like to make Kuro the brand ambassador cat for my company. In that case, it would be only natural to arrange food and lodging for it. What do you think?"

"A cat mascot?"

"Meow?"

"It's about borrowing its image. Virtual idols are already very common in today's online world, and using animal images as auxiliary AI for websites is also very popular."

I really like Blackie. Maybe it doesn't quite fit the definition of 'cute,' but I really love its sharp eyes… You're the owners, so if you agree, I can sign a contract with Blackie right away.”

"Ugh?"

Seeing that her son was at a loss, she said, "Grandma is the owner... I need to discuss this important matter with her—"

"Let's set the endorsement fee at 100 million yen for a year," Ye Shou said casually. "I like round numbers."

"..."

"By the way, you said you wanted to discuss it with your grandmother?"

"No!"

Seeing that her grandson had stood up and said solemnly, "Grandmother is also an old lady who likes to keep up with the trends of young people, she certainly won't object!"

Chika and the members of the board game club all shut up, their expressions like those of cartoon dolls, looking at Ye Shou with awe.

It wasn't that their families couldn't afford it; in fact, there were many wealthy families in the Xiuzhiyuan. However, the fact that they decided on an annual endorsement fee of 100 million yen so casually, as if they were just taking out change, still shocked these sheltered young ladies.

"What a lovely old gentleman!"

Ye Shou chuckled and said, "Then let's talk about Xiao Hei's treatment."

"Huh? That one hundred million just now?"

“That’s for the grandmother who is the guardian. Xiao Hei himself is a separate matter—after all, even if the money is transferred to the cat, it can’t use it.”

Ye Shou is a meticulous and fair person: "I'm not quite sure what cats want, so I'll just use cat food cans as the unit for calculation... By the way, how much does a cat of this size need to eat every day?"

I'm not really—hiss!

Before Jianzi could answer, Xiao Hei was already sitting opposite Ye Shou, raising its two paws and making a two-five gesture.

"Little...Little Black?"

"Oh, I understand."

Ye Shou stroked his chin: "You're quite understanding... If you include daily meals, overtime pay, performance fees, and injury insurance... it's such a hassle. How about I add a zero for you?"

"..."

Xiao Hei leaned back slightly, its slender eyes widening as it looked Ye Shou up and down once more.

Oh, right!

Ye Shou frowned: "And there's the pension, can't we just convert the cat's age into human years?"

pension?

Everyone turned to look, and then Xiao Hei suddenly stood up, startling everyone.

"..."

The man and the cat looked at each other, and suddenly Xiao Hei solemnly placed its front paws in front of its body and bowed ninety degrees to Ye Shou.

"...What's going on?"

"It's almost like saying 'Nice to meet you.'"

Ye Shou remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was puzzled:

There was no response from the [Destiny Coin].

Doesn't this change the big cat's life?

After a moment's thought, Ye Shou turned to Jian Zi and smiled, "Your grandmother twisted her back, right? Is she still living in the countryside?"

"Yes, her aunt back home is taking care of her." Jianzi didn't quite understand why Ye Shou was asking this.

"She's the owner of Xiao Hei, so we should really consult your grandmother, shouldn't we?"

Ye Shou said gently, "It just so happens that my company has just developed a powered suit that can reduce the pain of patients during rehabilitation and make daily life more convenient."

If Yotsuya's grandmother doesn't mind, would you be interested in participating in our volunteer activities and trying out the power suit?

Of course, this is absolutely safe, with no danger or side effects whatsoever.

"Huh? Is that okay?"

Seeing Zi's undisguised joy, although she could maintain a calm demeanor in front of Ye Shou, it was purely because her nerves had been toughened up; in reality, she was still very clear about Ye Shou's status and position.

Putting aside the name "Kuze," Ye Shou's promise alone was far more credible than that of a rural hospital, so she really had no reason to refuse!

"Then it's decided. There are still a few days before 'Fairy Dance'. Can you take me back to the countryside to visit your grandmother, Jianzi?"

"No problem, I'll tell Mom about it right now!"

Little Black's ears suddenly twitched, as if he was also concerned.

--Ding!

[Destiny Coin (Neko Hozuki) +1]!

'It really is my mother-in-law's problem!'

This black cat's fate is closely tied to its mother-in-law's; it values ​​her even more than its annual salary and pension!

Only by taking good care of that old man can I make him work wholeheartedly for me!

Great! It turns out it's a cat with only a weakness; it'll be easier to order it around now!

Ye Shou chuckled inwardly, admiring his own astonishing business acumen, his ability to precisely grasp the material and spiritual needs of every living being…

and many more!

Something's not right... What does "Nekogami Lantern" mean? Does it have other names?

Ye Shou touched his chin, puzzled.

-

Since Ye Shou was going on a long trip, Liu Li naturally accompanied him. Qian Hua Bu Yan, for some reason, also wanted to join in the fun. The group of five (plus Tou Mao) arrived at Jian Zi's hometown.

By the way, the board game club, who also love playing games, didn't come this time. According to them, their skill level was too low to match such a high-level player, so they chose to stay at home and spend the day playing cards and gaming headsets.

This is not surprising, after all, the last time they went to the mountains to participate in the test of courage, they encountered something like a "mysterious wild beast attacking the team".

Although the truth was covered up by the Hise family, those who experienced it firsthand knew that the facts were not so simple, after all, Miko's superstitious words were said to her face...

However, Chika still smiled at them before leaving:

How could you possibly encounter paranormal events every time? You're being too cautious!

Fujiwara Chika was a woman who planned to go on vacation to Mount Osore (a sacred site of Japanese ghosts), so one or two accidents wouldn't scare her!

Moreover, this trip is to a small town in the countryside, not some remote, untouched mountain forest.

It's absolutely fine!

—Ye Shou thus brought along Miss Fujiwara, who resembled an old general on a theatrical stage.

Actually, he had a similar idea. After all, it was a residential area, and even in the countryside, it was impossible for ghosts to roam freely. Otherwise, Jianzi's hometown would have been deserted long ago.

"Ah... the air is definitely fresher in the countryside!"

"Qianhua would better watch her tone. The more rural the area, the less willing she is to hear the sanctimonious words of city people."

"Ruri-chan was actually more extreme than I was... By the way, Ruri-chan doesn't use honorifics with me at all anymore now." Chika was very happy. "This means our relationship has taken another step forward, right?"

"Yes." Liuli smiled gently, a rare occurrence for those who knew her.

Chika was even more moved, but she didn't notice the strange expressions on Ye Shou and Jianzi's faces.

Needless to say, Ye Shou noticed a subtle change in their relationship along the way, and even Jianzi noticed that Liuli's attitude... was clearly just the leniency of a victor.

But seeing how happy Chika is, I decided not to tell her.

I'm hungry!

"It took quite a bit of time to get here."

"Shall we find a place to eat first?"

"I want to eat ramen!"

Chika, clutching her stomach, was the first to raise her hand and shout out a dish that Japanese girls almost never try—this dish is heavy on oil and salt, and is generally only liked by male office workers.

"Ramen... is there any around here?"

"Ah! Over there, over there! Look, there's a noodle stall!"

"Is that buckwheat noodles?"

"They're all pretty much the same thing~"

I apologize to all the ramen chefs in the world!

Ye Shou glared at Qianhua.

But in the end, he couldn't do anything about his fickle childhood sweetheart, so he followed her to the noodle stall cart under the dim streetlights.

"Meow?"

Little Black squinted at the car, licked its paws, and followed.

Why isn't Chapter 102 laughing anymore? Say something!

Wow! Silver hair, this boss is pretty trendy!

Under the lights, the obviously dyed silver hair was quite dazzling, causing the group to exchange glances, their lips curving into smiles but trying their best to restrain themselves.