Chapter 16: “Accidentally” Hired a New Employee

The fox demon Lin Xiao crouched on the windowsill, watching the little one sprawled out on the bed, fast asleep. Yun Tao seemed to be dreaming about something delicious, his mouth smacking every so often, accompanied by a silly chuckle. His blanket had been kicked to the floor, leaving his soft belly exposed, completely defenseless.

This squishy, clueless little demon looked so weak—Lin Xiao figured he could eat eight of him in one bite!

What kind of demon was this kid, anyway? He had horns—was he a little calf? A lamb? If he got scared back into his true form, Lin Xiao planned to grab all four of his hooves and give him a thorough squish.

The corners of Lin Xiao’s lips curled as he gracefully leaped from the windowsill to the bed. He reached out and pinched Yun Tao’s nape.

The little demon, who had been blissfully dreaming, suddenly snapped his eyes open. He stared at Lin Xiao, still a little dazed, as if caught halfway between dreamland and reality. “The fox I saw earlier today? Hmm… If this is a dream, it’s fine if I take a little bite, right…?”

Lin Xiao: ?

What kind of dream was this kid having?!

He couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. Just as he was about to jolt the little demon awake, a sharp pain shot through his wrist—Yun Tao had sunk his teeth into him!

That tiny set of baby teeth was far more dangerous than they looked. Blood immediately welled up where Yun Tao had bitten, stark and vivid against Lin Xiao’s pale skin.

Yun Tao licked his sharp little fang, the metallic tang of blood waking him up completely. He looked at Lin Xiao and smiled. “Oh, so it’s not a dream.”

His amber-colored eyes suddenly shifted, taking on a strange golden hue. The cold, reptilian slit pupils slowly emerged, sending a chill down Lin Xiao’s spine. In an instant, Yun Tao’s unleashed aura of a true ancient demon overwhelmed him. Lin Xiao couldn’t move under the pressure, nearly forced to his knees.

Though Yun Tao’s powers were unstable, the ancient blood running through his veins was no joke. He’d managed to bluff Tai Sui before, so dealing with a fox demon with a few centuries of cultivation was a piece of cake.

Sitting up, Yun Tao caught the scent of the fox’s released aura. His stomach growled audibly.

Hungry. So hungry.

He tilted his head, pondering seriously. “Since you came right to my doorstep and even tried to mess with me… I guess it’s okay if I eat a little, right?”

“Great demon! Please wait!” Lin Xiao broke out in a cold sweat, his brain scrambling for a way out as he rattled off excuses. “It was my mistake! I didn’t recognize your greatness and dared to offend you. But I swear I mean no harm! I was just—just curious! I tasted the ancient flavors of Zhuyu and Ping grass at the market earlier, and I came to seek answers!”

A lazy voice cut in from the doorway. “And you believe that nonsense?”

Tai Sui leaned against the doorframe, looking on with a mix of boredom and amusement.

“Do I look like an idiot to you?” Yun Tao dragged out his words, clearly not buying it. “After you get your so-called answers, what’s next? Planning to make a move?”

“No, no, no! I really wasn’t going to hurt you!” Lin Xiao’s voice quivered, his sincerity palpable. “At most… I might’ve thought about… squishing your belly a bit…”

“Heh.” Yun Tao smirked. “Doesn’t matter what you planned. You’ve offended me, so you’ll have to face the consequences. And I’m really hungry right now.”

In his desperation, Lin Xiao blurted out, “I’m a nationally protected species!!”

Tai Sui: “…”

Yun Tao: “…”

Well. That was… actually kind of convincing.

“Wait, let me check.”

Yun Tao pulled out his phone and did a quick search. Wild red foxes were indeed listed as a nationally protected Class II species. He frowned. “But you’re a demon, so does that even apply…?”

Before he could finish, Lin Xiao, trembling, reverted to his true form—a stunning red fox with flawless fur, his fluffy tail wagging pitifully. He let out soft, pleading whimpers, clearly trying to weaponize his cuteness to save his skin.

Classic fox demon behavior! The guy had tricks for days.

Looking at the pitiful fox, Yun Tao hesitated. Any louder commotion, and they’d wake Yun Fenghe.

Noticing Yun Tao’s wavering resolve, Lin Xiao gritted his teeth and played his trump card. “Great demon, I’m barely worth a snack with my pitiful cultivation! I’ll hand over all my treasures if you let me go!”

Yun Tao’s eyes lit up. “What kind of treasures?”

Lin Xiao extended a paw, revealing a storage bracelet, a small magical artifact. With a flick, he dumped its contents onto the floor: a pile of ancient scrolls, some spiritual fruits and herbs, a bag of century-old ginseng, and even a bottle of elixirs.

For Yun Tao, these didn’t amount to much; his lost storage ring held items far more valuable. But for this era, Lin Xiao’s stash was a rare treasure trove—it was everything the fox had.

“I don’t need your books.” Yun Tao waved dismissively and pocketed the rest. “Alright, deal. I’ll let you go.”

Lin Xiao let out a shaky sigh of relief and cautiously asked, “Then… may I leave now?”

“Who said you could leave?” Tai Sui, who had been spectating the whole time, finally spoke up. “We’re short on staff at the stall. You’re staying to help.”

Fox demons were notorious for being sly and untrustworthy. Letting this one go now might spell trouble later. Besides, business at the stall had been booming lately, and Tai Sui could use the extra pair of hands. Letting Lin Xiao stick around was both practical and preventative.

“Great idea!” Yun Tao reached out and gave the fox’s head a good pat. “Didn’t you want to know where those Zhuyu and ping grass (onion) came from? Working here is the perfect chance to find out!”

And just like that, they “picked up” a new employee. Thanks, Mother Nature, for the gift!

Lin Xiao felt like crying but didn’t dare resist. Instead, he asked hesitantly, “Uh, do I… do I get paid?”

Yun Tao squinted at him. “You want what?”

Lin Xiao: I really shouldn’t have come here.

But he couldn’t let it go. He had to figure out what exactly had gone wrong. “So, uh, Great Immortal… who are you, really?”

What kind of crazy powerful beast could make him, a fox demon, feel so utterly helpless?

Yun Tao gave him a sunny smile and answered, “I’m a Taotie.”

Lin Xiao: !!!

That’s it. This morning, he must have gotten out of bed the wrong way and walked straight into a live Taotie.

Before he could even fully spiral into panic, Yun Tao gestured lazily to the doorway. “And this here is Tai Sui. He’s your new colleague. Play nice, work hard, and together, we’ll build something amazing!”

Tai Sui?! Wait, like the Tai Sui?! Lin Xiao’s brain short-circuited. A Taotie and a Tai Sui hanging out together? Okay, sure, why not.

Lin Xiao froze in place, utterly petrified. What on earth had possessed him to walk into this restaurant?

He thought back to the marketplace earlier that day. He must’ve left both his eyes and his brain at home. Not only had he strutted around with his fox ears out in broad daylight, he’d mistaken a Taotie for some minor demon, and completely failed to notice the sheer power radiating from Tai Sui. If he could rewind time, he’d slap himself across the face.

His master had warned him before he left the mountain: There’s always a bigger fish out there, so keep your head down. Clearly, he hadn’t listened. Now here he was, eating dirt.

Master, I want to go back to the mountain, wuwuwu. Lin Xiao wiped away imaginary tears as he internally wailed. He wanted to file a complaint! That so-called “worry-free scallion oil noodles” had been a scam! Not only had they failed to solve his worries, but he’d also lost his savings and his freedom!

What Lin Xiao failed to appreciate was that leaving a Taotie’s lair alive was already a miracle in itself.

“It’s late. Stop making noise and let me sleep. A kid who doesn’t sleep enough won’t grow tall,” Yun Tao yawned, casually bundling the treasures Lin Xiao had “offered” into a nest before flopping down into it. “Tai Sui’s room has an extra bed. Go crash there.”

With that, Yun Tao was out like a light.

Lin Xiao glanced at Tai Sui nervously. “Great Immortal, the floor is fine for me…”

“You’ve got work tomorrow. What floor?” Tai Sui grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and tossed him into the top bunk. “Don’t even think about running. You won’t get far.”

For his part, Tai Sui was surprisingly pleased with this new recruit. Finally, someone lower on the food chain than him in the hierarchy of the Taotie Delicacies.

Lin Xiao, on the other hand, really wasn’t planning to run. He was too scared to even breathe wrong, let alone escape. He didn’t want to sleep right above Tai Sui either!

But fear or no fear, exhaustion eventually won out, and he fell asleep. Honestly, he was impressed with his own nerves of steel.

The next day at the National Style Weekend Market, Taotie Delicacies was hands down the most popular stall at the event. Newly unemployed Lin Xiao worked his new job with trembling hands but gave it his all, greeting every customer with a bright, forced smile. On Jiang Qing’s suggestion, he kept his fox ears visible, which turned out to be a real crowd magnet.

Having an extra pair of hands helped Tai Sui a lot. He gave Lin Xiao an approving pat on the shoulder. “Not bad, kid. You’re picking things up quick. When we get back, I’ll teach you how to make scallion oil noodles.”

Lin Xiao smiled politely, his fox eyes curving into crescents. “Thank you, senior. I’ll do my best to learn.”

But deep down, he still couldn’t figure it out. Why on earth were a Taotie and a Tai Sui running a restaurant together? Was this some kind of trendy new cultivation technique?

Yun Fenghe, meanwhile, smiled gently at Lin Xiao and encouraged him. “Take your time. Don’t stress yourself out too much.”

As for how this new hire had suddenly appeared overnight, Yun Tao and Yun Fenghe explained it away like this: after tasting their noodles, Lin Xiao had become so smitten that he’d begged to join the restaurant. Lin Xiao could only smile through the pain and nod.

Yun Fenghe had noticed Lin Xiao was a demon, but given the unique nature of Taotie Delicacies, hiring a regular human wasn’t really an option. Having a demon volunteer to work for them was actually pretty convenient. Plus, Lin Xiao had a good attitude and was eager to learn.

Faced with Yun Fenghe’s kind words, Lin Xiao stiffened like a board. “Thank you, senior.”

After his earlier blunder, he wasn’t taking any chances. No matter how frail and gentle Yun Fenghe seemed, there was no way he was ordinary. Anyone who could share a roof with a Taotie and Tai Sui had to be hiding something. He wasn’t falling for another trap!

Unbeknownst to Lin Xiao, Tai Sui was having the exact same thoughts about Yun Fenghe. And so, the quietly ailing little earth god became the unintentional object of awe and suspicion from both sides, all while being blissfully unaware.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qing and Luo Zheyan were over the moon about Lin Xiao joining.

Luo Zheyan hooked an arm around Lin Xiao’s shoulder, grinning ear to ear. “Feels like Shanhai Street’s getting livelier by the day!”

Lin Xiao forced a smile and nodded. Livelier? You have no idea. With these two monsters around, who knows what this street’s going to turn into.

The first week of the National Style Weekend Market wrapped up perfectly. Taotie Delicacies had stolen the show, and their social media account gained over 10,000 followers—a clear sign of success.

Their incredible food had also brought a lot of attention to Ruan Ruan’s shop. She uploaded pictures from the event to her online store, and the results were immediate. She even gave Yun Tao a generous paycheck for his efforts.

Two days of fun, plenty of delicious food, and a surprise new employee—Yun Tao was quite satisfied with how things had turned out. The only thing that annoyed him was the system. Once again, it had gone offline, ignoring all his attempts to summon it.

The system going offline wasn’t exactly a new thing for Yun Tao—it happened often enough that he was almost used to it. He sighed, stopped trying to summon it, and rolled himself up in a blanket for a nap.

But this time, the system stayed silent for way longer than usual. Yun Tao woke up from his nap, and it was still MIA.

“Did it ghost me? Or go in for repairs again?” Yun Tao grabbed a small towel and vented his frustration by twisting and wringing it like it was the system itself. “Why is it so unreliable?!”

“Who’s gotten you all worked up?” Tai Sui sauntered over, lazily ruffling Yun Tao’s curls.

“No one,” Yun Tao said, pushing his hand away with a dead-serious warning. “And stop messing with my hair.”

“Worried you’ll stop growing?” Tai Sui yawned and, with zero shame, reached out to ruffle it again.

He knows and still does it! Yun Tao’s temper flared. With a sharp kick to Tai Sui’s leg, he stormed off, puffing with irritation.

Tai Sui chuckled, now fully awake. The perfect way to start his morning: riling up his younger “brother.”

After the National Style Weekend Market event, the buzz from their dishes—Zhuyu Pancakes and Worry-Free Scallion Oil Noodles—began spreading. Customers started noticing that the descriptions on Taotie Delicacies menu weren’t just clever marketing.

It seemed like they really did get their hands on genuine Zhuyu and the mythical ping grass (onions).

The Zhuyu pancakes left diners feeling full and deeply satisfied, while the scallion oil noodles seemed to have a miraculous way of untangling life’s problems. People started sharing their experiences, cautiously at first, in the restaurant’s comment section. Before long, a wave of “worry-free success stories” flooded the page.

And thanks to the jaw-dropping outfits the team had worn at the event, Taotie Delicacies’ account got a lot of attention from curious onlookers. They scrolled through the comments, captivated by the stories, and soon, the top ten posts were racking up tens of thousands of likes.

The buzz came out of nowhere, but it all made sense in hindsight. Taotie Delicacies inbox exploded with messages—some asking for recipes, some proposing business partnerships, and even one from a talent scout asking if they’d consider forming a family boy band.

Yun Tao found it hilarious. He updated the bistro’s profile bio to say: Don’t bother asking—we’re too busy running a restaurant to debut.

Of course, someone screenshotted the bio and sent it to a comedy meme page, where it promptly went viral, gaining them even more followers.

Yun Tao’s explanation for all the sudden popularity? “It’s the scallion oil noodles. People eat enough of them, and suddenly everything they touch turns to gold.”

Even though the system was still offline—leaving their kitchen repairs and plans for in-person dining stuck in limbo—it didn’t stop the restaurant’s business from booming.

Business was so good, in fact, that they were constantly running out of food. Even with their high-tech tricks and the addition of Lin Xiao as staff, Yun Tao felt they were still overworked. The lack of proper rest wasn’t sustainable in the long run. Things had calmed down a little recently, so it seemed like the perfect time to take their foot off the gas.

He restructured Taotie Delicacies operating hours: five days a week, with three meal services a day—two hours per service. Food would be limited, and once it sold out, that was it. Exceptions would only be made for emergencies (like if the system threw a surprise mission at them).

Tai Sui and Lin Xiao both enthusiastically supported the change—especially Lin Xiao.