Chapter 75 – New Mission Completed

Chu Jiangyue really didn’t care about those zombie crystal cores—she didn’t rely on them to survive.

“I’m only someone you hired to cook. Having you help me pay as well—that’s against the rules.”

Granny Hua still didn’t want to take advantage of Chu Jiangyue for free.

“No need for payment, I already said so. Boss Chu, please take these back.”

Qi Mo shoved the bag of crystal cores back to her again.

Looking at the bag, Chu Jiangyue finally gave in.

“Alright then, but I can’t really let you help for nothing either.

The mangoes in the hotel are almost ripe. When they’re ready, you’ll have priority to buy a batch.”

When she had just returned to Jianglin Hotel, she’d noticed the mango trees were already bearing fruit. Given how fast things grew inside the hotel, they would ripen in just a few days.

“Mangoes?” Qi Mo’s eyes lit up.

That was his favorite fruit.

“Great! I’ll definitely buy some!”

Since the apocalypse began, he hadn’t eaten fruit at all—let alone mangoes.

If Jianglin Hotel had them, that would be amazing.

“I’ll notify you in advance.”

Last time it was Shen Zhigui and his group; this time, it was Qi Mo.

“Qi Mo, what are you doing out there? Why aren’t you coming inside?”

Qi Mo didn’t live alone. While he chatted with Chu Jiangyue, the people inside were clearly growing impatient.

“Coming, coming! Boss Chu, let’s talk inside.”

He stepped aside at the villa entrance, making space for Chu Jiangyue and Granny Hua to enter.

“I’ll head back first. Call me if you need something.”

Jin Churan saw there was nothing for him to do and didn’t want to stand around like a background prop.

Chu Jiangyue waved him off casually, then entered the villa with Granny Hua.

The others inside were surprised to see Chu Jiangyue and Granny Hua walk in together.

“This is…”

They knew Boss Chu, but who was this elderly woman?

Qi Mo explained with interest, “This is Granny Hua, Boss Chu’s hired cook. She’ll be living with us for now. And when the mangoes at Jianglin Hotel ripen, we’ll have priority to buy them!”

The mention of mangoes caught everyone’s attention.

Fresh fruit was nearly impossible to get in this world now—it was harder than climbing to heaven.

“The mangoes really are about to ripen,” Chu Jiangyue confirmed.

But to earn that privilege, they’d have to ensure Granny Hua’s safety.

“Mangoes! Then what do we need to do?”

They had already learned the hard way that nothing came for free.

“All you need to do is protect Granny Hua while she lives here.”

She was only a few people short of completing her mission now. A day or two would be enough, since the B City Safe Base was always sending survivors over—just a matter of numbers.

“No problem! We’ll treat Granny Hua like our own grandmother.”

At her age, calling her their grandmother wasn’t a stretch.

Granny Hua looked gratefully at Chu Jiangyue. Without her, she’d be completely lost in this place.

Chu Jiangyue nodded, trusting them somewhat. Besides, Jin Churan was nearby too—he was the little brother of the heroine in Little Fox’s storyline, which meant he was definitely a man of good character. If anything happened to Granny Hua, he wouldn’t just stand by.

“I’ll head back. Granny Hua, get settled in, no rush.”

Cooking was just an excuse—Chu Jiangyue had never truly considered Granny Hua a real chef.

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll come cook breakfast for you.”

But since non-hotel residents could only stay inside Jianglin Hotel for two hours a day, she would have to carefully plan her time. Otherwise, if she was expelled in the middle of cooking, she might get tossed straight into a zombie horde—with zero chance of survival.

That was what Granny Hua worried about.

Chu Jiangyue didn’t think so deeply. She believed that since she had brought Granny Hua here, her life would certainly get better.

So she accepted the offer without rejecting it outright.

After making sure Granny Hua was settled, Chu Jiangyue didn’t linger. She greeted everyone, then left the villa and walked toward the gates of Shengshi Huadu.

When she finally returned to Jianglin Hotel, it was already quite late. She made herself a quick bowl of noodles in her cabin, ate, washed up, and went to bed.

---

Inside Jianglin Hotel, safety was overwhelming. Chu Jiangyue slept soundly until she woke naturally.

After washing up, she opened her cabin door and found Granny Hua already waiting outside.

“Granny Hua, why didn’t you send me a message first?”

『Why didn’t you remind me either?』 she asked the little fox quietly perched on her shoulder.

“Didn’t you forbid me from waking you while you’re sleeping?”

It still remembered all too well her terrifying morning temper.

『Even though you’re not human, you still need to use judgment. Next time Granny Hua comes, wake me even if I’m asleep.』

“Alright, Master.” The little fox was very obedient.

Though their conversation looked long, it only took an instant.

“I saw the door was still shut, so I figured you were still asleep, and I didn’t want to bother you,” Granny Hua explained.

But she had already wasted 20 minutes waiting.

With less than two hours total, she hurried into the kitchen and got straight to work.

If Chu Jiangyue’s cooking was just average, Granny Hua’s was truly masterful.

Chu Jiangyue felt like she had barely blinked before Granny Hua had already finished folding the dumplings.

Since it was only for one person, she made twenty dumplings in no time and tossed them into boiling water.

“I can’t stay longer than two hours—I still need time for lunch and dinner.

Once the dumplings float, they’re ready to eat.”

Granny Hua took off her apron and quickly left the cabin, heading straight for the hotel exit.

Watching her leave, Chu Jiangyue soon spotted Qi Mo approaching.

Granny Hua and Qi Mo left Jianglin Hotel together.

【Mission: Please expand Jianglin Hotel’s clientele (1000/1000) – Completed】
【Reward: Full unlock of Building 3, new feature – refreshing iced drinks, +1000 EXP】
【Current Hotel Level: 3 (8150/10000)】
【Would you like to build and place Building 3? Yes/No】

Seeing the prompt, Chu Jiangyue’s eyes lit up. She immediately chose Yes.

She placed Building 3 directly behind Building 2, not too close—so it wouldn’t block the sunlight.