Lin Jia’s face did not redden and his heartbeat did not change as he let his gaze fall unevenly toward the front. In the sky, a cloud layer that had been high up slowly sank down.
He acted so naturally that it seemed as if he had wanted to look at the cloud layer all along, not deliberately observe the three people. The glance that landed there merely brushed past them naturally.
The man in the black uniform withdrew his gaze from Lin Jia and continued talking with his companions.
“I need two cups.” His voice was somewhat hoarse. “Yawn—I’ve stayed up three nights in a row.”
Deputy Chen gave him his own cup of coffee, took a cigarette out of his case, lit it, and asked, “What has the inspection team been busy with lately?”
The man in the black uniform reached out and lightly tapped Deputy Chen’s cigarette case. He took a cigarette from inside, bit it between his lips, leaned closer, and borrowed the flame. The firelight illuminated a small brown mole between his brows. Only after the cigarette lit up with a red glow did he slowly straighten, take a step back, and yawn again. He said lazily, “It’s just the usual messy stuff. Cleaned out in one sweep.”
The man in the black uniform took two puffs, still not used to the smell of smoke, and casually pinched out the cigarette. “What time does the meeting start?”
Deputy Chen said, “Nine.”
The man in black uniform took out his phone to check the time and laughed. “Why haven’t I seen that group of bald old monks? Late?”
Deputy Chen frowned. “They’re your superiors.”
“Sorry, slipped out.” The man in the black uniform quickly made a stop gesture, lowered his voice, and pretended to sound steady. “Please rest assured, Deputy Chen. In front of superiors, I definitely won’t be like this.”
“No proper form at all.” Deputy Chen shoved the coffee into the black uniform’s hand. “Control that dog temper of yours.”
The man in the black uniform made an “OK” gesture. Deputy Chen clearly did not believe his promise, instructing the other two, “Keep an eye on him at the meeting. Even letting him sleep is fine; just don’t let him open his mouth.”
Time came, they stopped chatting and walked toward Lin Jia’s direction.
As they passed Lin Jia, the officer in the black uniform looked at him twice, once at his face and once at the cat on his shoulder.
Then he withdrew his gaze, yawned, and went upstairs to the second floor for the meeting.
After Deputy Chen’s group left, the atmosphere in the Bounty Hall seemed to come alive again. Someone leaned over the stairs to look at the backs of those leaving and said, “That plague god appearing in the Bounty Hall this early in the morning—could something have happened again?”
“I think it’s very possible…”
Lin Jia left the crowd that was discussing this and asked the cat, “Does the man in black feel familiar?”
The cat recalled the gaze of the man in black and shook its head. “No.”
Lin Jia: “Sure?”
The cat guaranteed, “Being stared at by him feels a bit… uncomfortable. Other than that, nothing.”
The cat said, “I think Deputy Chen should definitely be me.”
Lin Jia did not speak again. According to his previous thoughts, if the cat only felt familiarity toward Deputy Chen, then Deputy Chen should indeed be the cat. Otherwise, reasoning backward, if the cat felt only ordinary familiarity toward Deputy Chen, as Deputy Chen’s acquaintance, there was no reason for the cat not to be familiar with Deputy Chen’s ‘own people.’
Seeing Lin Jia rub two fingers together, the cat quickly asked, “What are you thinking?”
“If you’re already certain…” Lin Jia did not hide his thoughts. “I’m thinking about how to let you merge with your original self.”
At this moment, Lin Jia was the cat’s only hope. The cat asked, “Did you think of something?”
Its voice was a bit loud, attracting the surrounding attention. The cat quickly fell silent. After the others withdrew their gazes, attracted by its volume, it whispered, “Is there a way?”
Lin Jia: “Yes.”
The cat almost knelt to thank Lin Jia, solemnly promising, “When I successfully merge, I’ll protect you. You’ll live in the best house, eat the most expensive meals, sleep on the softest bed, and take the most comfortable baths.”
Lin Jia tilted his head and glanced at the cat. After more than ten seconds, the cat swore, “Don’t worry. You helped me. Even if I risk my life, I’ll make sure you leave the Underwater Wold. Otherwise, let me be trapped in the Underwater Wold forever.”
“So, what’s the plan?” the cat asked.
Lin Jia: “Wait.”
The cat: “Wait for what?”
Lin Jia: “For the meeting to end.”
No one knew how long the meeting would last, but since all the attendees had brought their own people, it was expected that the meeting would not be short.
Lin Jia took a casual walk around the Underwater Wold before leisurely returning to the Bounty Hall.
A ‘No Entry for Unrelated Persons’ warning sign was placed at the stairs leading to the second floor of the Bounty Hall. Knowing the meeting was still in progress, Lin Jia and the cat waited nearby.
While waiting, Lin Jia never revealed the exact method to the cat.
Soon, angry arguing came from the second floor.
Lin Jia, being the closest, looked up. Several directors came down the stairs, cursing. There were many people on the first floor checking cloud layer information, so the clearly aggrieved directors could only suppress their voices; their faces were flushed red.
Management asked if they needed vehicles to be arranged, but they ignored the offer and left with their people in anger.
Lin Jia calmly told the cat, “In a moment, I’ll show you your original self.”
The cat: “?”
Lin Jia instructed, “Be quick.”
The cat: “?”
The cat: “Isn’t this a bit rash?”
Lin Jia replied lightly, “Then what do you want to do?”
The cat wanted to respond, but footsteps sounded from the second-floor corner.
They were coming.
Deputy Chen’s group appeared in view. Lin Jia took the cat off his shoulder. He held the cat in one hand and seemed to pet it with the other, but was actually trying to find the best grip to throw the cat accurately.
The sound of footsteps descending rang out beside him. Lin Jia kept his head lowered, stroking the cat, which had stiffened with nervousness, while watching the group from the corner of his eye.
Clearly, the black uniform had caused trouble during the meeting, and Deputy Chen was scolding him in a suppressed voice.
The other two lagged behind, afraid of getting dragged into the trouble.
The man in the black uniform responded verbally with “Mm, ah, oh,” but his face was careless. This attitude —‘I know I’m wrong. I’ll try to change. If I can’t, then don’t blame me’ angered Deputy Chen. He did not want to continue speaking and quickened his pace to leave.
This was his chance to throw the cat onto Deputy Chen’s face.
Lin Jia raised his head.
Meeting Deputy Chen at the Bounty Hall was accidental. Meetings were not held every day. The Underwater Wold was huge. If he missed this opportunity, he might never get another chance to let the cat merge.
Lin Jia never missed an opportunity.
He grabbed the petrified cat and threw it out the moment Deputy Chen brushed past him.
Lin Jia’s aim was good. Even though the cat looked dead, it flew accurately toward Deputy Chen’s face.
Lin Jia waited for the cat to land.
But—
An arm suddenly appeared in view. The success he expected the next second was blocked by that arm. The cat that should have landed on Deputy Chen’s face had its throat seized by that arm the next second—the cat was caught on the spot!
Lin Jia paused and looked up.
The man in the black uniform held the cat by the back of its neck. Before Lin Jia could look over, he had already fixed his gaze on Lin Jia and began to examine him. “Your cat?”
Deputy Chen stopped walking, and the two who were lagging behind hurried over in small steps when they saw the sudden situation.
The group’s gazes moved back and forth between Lin Jia and the cat in the deputy’s hand.
Lin Jia lowered his gaze. The man in the black uniform noticed this and shook the cat twice. The cat, dizzy from being shaken, frantically looked at Lin Jia: SOS!!! SOS!!! Help! Save me! Lin Jia, save me!
Just as he was thinking about whether letting them take the cat away would create more opportunities, someone called his name from the distance.
“Lin Jia?!”
Lin Jia looked toward the voice. Another group approached not far away. Familiar faces. The one who called his name was Buzzcut.
Buzzcut and his group had come to the Bounty Hall to check the Cloud Descent news when they unexpectedly ran into Lin Jia. However, when Buzzcut saw Deputy Chen and the man in the black uniform standing beside Lin Jia, his expression changed and he quickly fell silent and moved away.
“Your cat?” The black uniform beside him repeated the question, his tone carrying displeasure at being ignored by Lin Jia.
“Mm.” Lin Jia turned back. “The cat suddenly jumped out. Sorry. Didn’t hurt you, right?”
“Suddenly jumped out, or…” The black-uniformed man did not believe Lin Jia’s explanation. “Attack?”
The more Lin Jia explained, the worse it got. Lin Jia’s gaze passed over the man in the black uniform and landed on Deputy Chen. He avoided the main point and asked, “I’m really sorry. Could you give my cat back?”
The cat said that Deputy Chen was its original self and had sworn that its original self had upright conduct. If Deputy Chen truly was the cat, naturally he would not make things difficult for a naughty cat.
Taking a step back, even if Deputy Chen was not the cat’s original self, after yesterday’s unpleasant meeting, he was the only director who told management to restore the faulty lines as soon as possible. Someone like that wouldn’t make things difficult for a cat.
Furthermore, although Deputy Chen was clearly angry about the black uniform, he still suppressed his voice and did not cause a bigger disturbance.
This was the basis of Lin Jia’s confidence in asking for the cat back directly. There were many eyes in the Bounty Hall. It would not look good for the deputy director of management to make things difficult for a cat.
Deputy Chen glanced at the helpless, pitiful, fat cat in the man in black uniform’s hand and said, “Return it to him.”
The black uniform did not move. Deputy Chen raised his voice, “Yan Xu!”
“Alright, alright.” Yan Xu released his grip. The cat immediately ran to Lin Jia’s feet. He looked at the cat twice. “It really isn’t very obedient.”
He raised his head to look at Lin Jia. “It needs training so that it won’t hurt people or cause trouble later.”
Lin Jia lowered his eyes. “Mm.”
Deputy Chen: “Still not leaving? Isn’t this embarrassing enough?”
Yan Xu gave Lin Jia and the cat one final look, then followed Deputy Chen.
After the group left, the cat collapsed weakly onto the ground.
Lin Jia was about to tell the cat to get up when the group that had tactically retreated earlier surrounded hih.
Buzzcut introduced to the person beside him, “Boss, this is Lin Jia.”
The so-called boss looked at Lin Jia. “A Yao came back empty-handed this time. I heard he couldn’t beat you.”
Lin Jia looked at Buzzcut’s hand, which was injured. After leaving Fish Belly, Buzzcut had finally had his wound treated and wrapped in gauze. A cat sensed unrest and climbed onto Lin Jia’s shoulder. It bared its teeth at these people to support Lin Jia.
Lin Jia withdrew his gaze. “A narrow win.”
The boss looked at Buzzcut’s injury, following Lin Jia’s gaze. He smiled and asked, “You’re new?”
Lin Jia: “Yes.”
Boss: “How much do you know about the rules of the Underwater Wold?”
Lin Jia did not want to circle around with him and directly asked, “Want to recruit me?”
This was the Bounty Hall. If they really wanted trouble, they wouldn’t choose here. It would be wiser to wait until he left the Bounty Hall and then surround him.
“Smart person.” Only then did the boss truly smile. “Tell me your conditions.”
He knew Lin Jia definitely wouldn’t join easily. After all, Buzzcut had turned hostile after coming out of Fish Belly, and they had fought.
After a moment of thought, Lin Jia asked, “Which Fish Belly are you planning to go to?”
In front of a display screen, Buzzcut clicked on the cloud information labeled “D2481.” Very quickly, the display switched, and detailed information about Cloud D2481 appeared.
[Number: D2481.]
[Cloud thickness: about 500 m]
[Cloud volume: approximately 1 km]
[Cloud height: approximately 1,800 m]
[Estimated fall time: about 48 hours]
[Estimated people involved: about 13]
[Estimated difficulty: about three stars]
[Estimated sinking city area: First District]
[…]
Buzzcut’s boss personally explained to Lin Jia: “Cloud layer starting with D are usually three-star difficulty. These still have survival rates, unlike four- and five-star clouds—go in and you die. From my experience, the Fish Spirits produced by these clouds are usually good quality. This is a 13-person Fish Belly; the number of Fish Spirits will be high. It’s just that my team doesn’t have that many people—or rather, not that many smart people like you.”
Lin Jia neither agreed nor disagreed and asked, “How many stars was the previous Fish Belly?”
He needed to understand the concept of a three-star difficulty level.
Buzzcut said, “One star.”
After forming a basic understanding of the three-star cloud layers, Lin Jia spoke up: “I can go there, and I’ll obey your Fish Spirit distribution, but I want you to find a way for Deputy Chen to enter D2481 as well.”
Everyone was stunned, thinking about what they had just seen—Lin Jia and Deputy Chen together.
“Management knows about the clouds, so they won’t easily be drawn into Fish Belly. They have money, and they won’t voluntarily enter Fish Belly.” The boss hesitated and asked, “But it’s not completely impossible. Can I ask why?”
Lin Jia: “When you really think of a way, I’ll naturally tell you. Otherwise, no matter how much I say, it’s just useless talk, and you’ll only hear a bunch of it.”
That made sense. The boss coughed dryly. “All right, I’ll think of a way.”
Lin Jia said lightly, “If I enter Fish Belly and don’t see Deputy Chen…”
He paused deliberately. The atmosphere instantly became tense. Buzzcut’s group stared at Lin Jia.
Lin Jia wasn’t stupid enough to make enemies directly, so he kept his tone calm. “Then I’ll have to seriously consider whether to join you.”
The atmosphere eased. The boss smiled and said, “I’ll use every possible method to get him into D2481 for you. I guarantee you’ll see Deputy Chen in D2481.”
He extended his hand. “Surname Zhou, just call me Old Zhou.”
Lin Jia shook his hand, but pulled away immediately after touching it.
Old Zhou said, “Nothing else, right? I’ll take you to see our base.”
Lin Jia had no objection and turned to follow the group away from the Bounty Hall.
The cat followed, its mind filled with doubts about Lin Jia’s actions and a lingering fear from almost being strangled.
Old Zhou’s base was near the Bounty Hall: a small, two-story villa with a crew of more than twenty people. Speaking of the base’s naturally advantageous location, Old Zhou showed Lin Jia the scar on his forehead. “This place is highly contested. Being able to take it all depended on my willingness to risk my life.”
It was a knife scar, as long as a finger.
“But now that I’m older, the brothers around me have gone through life and death too many times. We’re no longer the same group as before.” Old Zhou shook his head and said, “These people now… sigh. Anyway, let it be for now. I don’t expect them to bring back many Fish Spirits from Fish Belly. As long as everyone can eat enough, wear new clothes occasionally, and our territory isn’t taken, I’m satisfied.”
After speaking, Old Zhou remembered something. “Do you have a place to stay? If not, I can clear out a room for you.”
Lin Jia: “I do.”
Old Zhou led Lin Jia around the villa. Lin Jia noticed a locked door.
Old Zhou had Buzzcut unlock it and push the door open. Inside were bottles and jars, along with some knives. Old Zhou said, “Those who die in Fish Belly don’t leave behind corpses, so we burn the things they used while alive and put the ashes in jars. At least it counts as letting them rest in peace.”
Lin Jia showed no emotion, his gaze landing on the knives.
“Management is stricter now. If the Inspection Team finds these things, we’re finished. That’s why they can only stay locked up here.” Speaking of the Inspection Team, Old Zhou had strong resentment. “The Inspection Team wants order, but this is the Underwater Wold! If we don’t unite and fight, we’ll starve to death!”
Just as he said this, Lin Jia casually asked, “What’s the story with Management?”
Old Zhou: “Management was established by the first group of people who entered the Underwater Wold.”
Lin Jia: “What do they want Fish Spirits for?”
“They use Fish Spirits to research a way out.” Old Zhou sighed. “But who knows when there’ll be results. Until then, you should live your own life properly.”
Old Zhou was too curious not to ask, “You and Deputy Chen, exactly…”
Lin Jia casually lied. “If he goes to Fish Belly unprepared and I save him, I’ll earn a favor. Things will be easier later.”
Old Zhou paused, then laughed. “That makes sense.”
Lin Jia probed further. “Actually, I don’t know Deputy Chen. Today was only because the cat almost scratched him, which created contact. Do you know him?”
Old Zhou glanced at the cat on Lin Jia’s shoulder and said, “People like us don’t have much contact with management, either. What I know is limited and mostly what I’ve heard from others. Management has several directors, but only Deputy Chen is a deputy director.”
Before Lin Jia could ask, Old Zhou added, “Deputy Chen’s background has some issues.”
Lin Jia sneered. “Do they even investigate family backgrounds?”
“No, no.” Old Zhou explained. “Before Deputy Chen entered management, he caused trouble. “Do you know Broken Cloud? The biggest team in the Underwater Wold—it was founded by Deputy Chen himself.”
The cat’s eyes instantly widened.
Lin Jia noticed the cat’s reaction and knew the cat had forgotten everything.
He said, “No.”
Old Zhou did not realize that Lin Jia wanted to hear more about Broken Cloud. He continued, “In the early years, Deputy Chen was always excluded. The fact that he’s the only deputy director tells you where he stands in management. But in the last two years, his status has risen. Even the other directors have to watch his expression now. If you do him a favor in Fish Belly, won’t everything become easier for you later?”
Lin Jia repeated, “His status rose in the last two years?”
“Mm.” Old Zhou said. “He raised a good dog.”
Lin Jia immediately thought of the black uniform.
“The captain of the Inspection Team.” Sure enough, Old Zhou said, “Yan Xu.”
Yan Xu.
That was all Old Zhou knew. To welcome Lin Jia, he warmly invited him to eat.
“No need for food.” Lin Jia had already seen Old Zhou’s base and intended to leave.
Old Zhou could not persuade him, so he said, “Leave me your contact information.”
Lin Jia: “I don’t have one.”
Old Zhou: “Do you have a phone?”
Lin Jia: “What? Phones work?”
“They do.” Old Zhou said enthusiastically. “What’s your number?”
Lin Jia recited a string of numbers. Old Zhou dialed the numbers on his phone. Unexpectedly, Lin Jia’s phone rang. He waved his phone and said, “Calls to the real world don’t connect, but people in the Underwater Wold can contact each other unless you enter Fish Belly. Remember to save my number.”
Lin Jia saved it as “Zhou.”
Afterwards, Old Zhou mentioned things that the cat had never told Lin Jia.
For example, phones could bind Underwater Wold cards and handle transactions directly, including transfers.
The Underwater Wold also had an internet, though it could not connect to the real world and did not have as much content.
Old Zhou: “The Underwater Wold has a forum. Check it out when you have time; there’s a lot inside.”
Lin Jia: “Alright.”
On the ride back to the hotel, Management helped Lin Jia bind the card to his phone.
After paying the fare, Lin Jia and the cat got out.
Crying came from not far away. Lin Jia looked up once. Outside a convenience store, a mother and child were begging Management for food—not much, just one cup of instant noodles.
But the clerk shook his head. “I can’t give it. I don’t have permission.”
The mother knelt down. “My child hasn’t eaten in three days. Can I owe you for it first? I’ll definitely pay you back once I have the money.”
Management still shook his head. “If everyone were like you, there would be no order in the Underwater Wold.”
The mother said, “I’ll definitely repay it! I will!”
Management said, “Please understand my work.”
Lin Jia quietly watched the scene, then stepped forward.
The cat froze, never expecting Lin Jia to interfere, and hurried after him.
Lin Jia bought some food and handed it to the mother.
“Thank you, thank you.” The mother cried and promised to repay her.
Lin Jia neither accepted nor rejected the offer; he only asked, “Do you have a phone?”
The mother nodded. “Yes, yes.”
Lin Jia: “Give me your number.”
The mother reported it. If necessary, she was even willing to hand over the phone itself.
After saving a second contact, Lin Jia said, “Keep your phone on.”
Though she did not know what Lin Jia intended, the mother nodded anyway. Seeing Lin Jia turn away, the mother hurried after him and asked, “Can you tell me your name?”
In the Underwater Wold, where everyone was out for themselves, Lin Jia had saved her and her daughter’s lives.
Lin Jia: “Lin Jia.”
Back in the hotel room, the cat circled Lin Jia in disbelief. “My God! Are you still the Lin Jia I know?”
“Haven’t I saved you before?” Lin Jia nudged the cat aside and asked the hotel staff to send up a laptop.
After some thought, the cat admitted that it was true. Without Lin Jia, it would have been killed by Yan Xu today.
Soon, hotel management delivered a brand-new laptop.
Naturally, the cost was deducted from Lin Jia’s room bill.
Lin Jia opened the laptop and began typing.
The cat had many questions. Why join Buzzcut’s team? Why force Deputy Chen into Fish Belly? And after this failed fusion attempt, what’s next?
But Lin Jia, busy working, ignored the cat.
Bored and still frightened, the cat could only sleep. When it woke up, Lin Jia was still sunk in the chair facing the laptop. Now, he was wearing gold-rimmed glasses from somewhere unknown.
The cat called to him several times, but Lin Jia did not answer.
So, the cat jumped onto the desk and looked at the screen. A document filled with text typed by Lin Jia was open.
A proposal.
Too many words—so many the cat’s head hurt, and it rubbed its eyes with a paw. The cat remembered that Lin Jia had gone to the Bounty Hall to find business opportunities, but it could not understand how observing crowds could lead to a business opportunity.
The cat asked, “What business are you actually planning?”
The keyboard clicked crisply.
The cat tested: “You’re this serious… don’t tell me it’s some black-hearted business?”
The typing stopped. Lin Jia looked sideways at the cat. “Correct. Black-hearted business.”
The cat froze. “What…what black-hearted business? Murder and robbery?”
Lin Jia: “Middleman.”
The cat agreed immediately. “I don’t understand, but it sounds blackhearted.”
Lin Jia got up, poured some water, drank it, and sat back down. “Here, people solve food and survival problems by risking their lives, not through labor. Normal business models begin with demand and then satisfy it. Here, the model must change—first lock in labor; then find clients who need that labor.”
The cat understood none of it. “Huh?”
Lin Jia glanced at the document. “Simply put, Buzzcut can fight, so find wealthy clients who need Buzzcut’s protection. I connect both sides and take a commission.”
The cat finally understood. “But where do you find clients? Rich people in the Underwater Wold are all big shots. They can already bring back lots of Fish Spirits from Fish Belly. Why would they need Buzzcut’s protection?”
Lin Jia said flatly, “At present, clients may not need protection. But what about emotional needs? After being away from home this long, don’t they miss their mother’s cooking? There are countless restaurants in the Underwater Wold, but can management cook food that tastes like a mother’s? Such irreplaceable labor is abundant here.”
The cat: “Can you cook food with a mother’s taste?”
Remembering Lin Jia’s noodles, the cat’s stomach felt uneasy.
Lin Jia tossed his phone to the cat. “I can’t, but you can ask that mother if she knows how to cook.”
The cat froze, then suddenly understood why Lin Jia had helped the mother and child.
Of course—capitalists could never simply be kind. Especially a capitalist like Lin Jia—it was absolutely impossible for him to have compassion. He had only valued the mother’s labor.
Still, the cat followed instructions and called the mother, asking the exact question Lin Jia wanted.
“Do you know how to cook home-style food?”
The mother was confused but answered honestly: “Yes.”
“She does.” After ending the call, the cat relayed the answer. “Then what?”
Lin Jia tapped the keyboard twice. The cat looked over curiously and saw that Lin Jia was logged into the Underwater Wold forum and had posted a new thread titled: Can cook some home-style dishes. Contact me if needed…
But he had not posted yet. The cat asked, “Can that really find clients? Why stop?”
Lin Jia said coldly, “I don’t want to give out my number.”
Dealing with uncertain clients and being bothered by endless inquiries was not Lin Jia’s style.
The cat asked, “Without a number, how will clients contact you?”
Lin Jia stared at the cat until its fur prickled. “Why are you staring at me?”
Lin Jia stood up again and called the hotel, asking management to send a smartwatch. The cost would be deducted from the room bill, of course.
The hotel was quick to respond—there were few guests anyway.
After receiving the smartwatch, Lin Jia removed the strap, threaded a cord through the watch face, dragged the cat over, and tied the cord around its neck.
“The watch exists; the cat exists. If the watch dies…” Lin Jia said coolly, “the cat dies.”
The cat: “…”
Lin Jia returned to the chair and calmly finished the post. Can cook some home-style dishes. Contact phone: 184XXXXXXXX.
The cat’s phone number.
The cat pawed curiously at the watch on its neck, still studying it, when it heard the mouse click.
It quickly looked up. “Posted?”
Lin Jia: “Mm.”
The cat watched the new thread appear on the forum homepage, but almost no one replied. The few replies assumed the poster was doing charity work.
Anxiously, the cat said, “Why no replies? Is the content too short? You didn’t even mention the price.”
“Why didn’t you state the price?” Lin Jia slammed the laptop shut. “First, it’ll get deleted. Second, the price is evasive. Third, it’s a case of ‘tailoring the price to the customer.’”
After running around all day, Lin Jia went to take a bath.
The cat chased after him. “I know about deleting posts, but what do you mean by ‘tailoring the price to the customer’?”
Lin Jia: “You have a phone. Search it yourself.”
Bang! He shut the door.
The cat jumped onto the sofa. Cat paws are inconvenient for typing, but the expensive smartwatch that Lin Jia bought has voice assistant functions.
The cat activated the voice assistant and asked, “What is evasive pricing?”
Soon, the voice assistant answered: “Evasive pricing means that if you quote a price too early, before customers understand the product, it will only scare away clients who are beyond your target budget. First, let clients understand and like the goods. Then, clients will raise their psychological budget, greatly increasing the transaction rate.”
The cat thought it through, then asked, “What does ‘tailoring your approach to the customer’ mean?”
e voice assistant said, “Tailoring your approach to the customer’s means deciding what to say and do based on who the customer is.”
The cat froze and looked toward the bathroom.
For Lin Jia, that meant adjusting the price based to how much money the customer had.
The cat: “…”
Middleman indeed—black-hearted.
After getting the phone, the cat gained a new duty—constantly checking to see if it rang. Sometimes, the cat would also glance at Lin Jia’s phone, finally understanding why Lin Jia wanted Old Zhou to force Deputy Chen into D2481. Inside Fish Belly, the cat would naturally have more contact with Deputy Chen, giving it more chances to merge.
While waiting for Lin Jia’s clients to call, the cat also waited for Old Zhou’s message.
One evening, just before entering the D2481 cloud layer, Lin Jia sat in a chair replying to a text message he had just received.
After Lin Jia put down the phone and went to shower, the cat secretly peeked.
Zhou: [You asked me to do it. Everything is ready. We’re only waiting for D2481 to sink and for Deputy Chen to take the bait. Oh, what do you want to bring into Fish Belly? I’ll have A Yao prepare it for you.]
Lin: [Change of clothes ×13, disposable toiletries ×13, food ×13 (no toast, no compressed food, no sweet greasy spicy food), bedsheets ×3, latex pillows ×2, high-lumen flashlights ×10, phone chargers ×2, these for now, rest later.]
Zhou: [typing…]
Zhou: [typing…]
Zhou: [Message withdrawn.]
Ding—new message.
Zhou: [You asked me to do it. Everything is ready. We’re just waiting for D2481 to sink and for Deputy Chen to take the bait.]
The Cat: “…”
A slender hand removed the phone from view. Lin Jia glanced at the message, said nothing, and put the phone away.
He had no intention of owing Old Zhou for helping him prepare. Other people’s goodwill only troubled him.
The cat looked at him. Lin Jia had changed into a new outfit, and the cat could smell clean perfume on him.
It muttered, “You… look especially refined today. I almost thought you were going on a date instead of to Fish Belly.”
Lin Jia replied lightly, “First impressions are often based on appearance and are hard to change. Do you want your original self to have an extremely bad impression of me?”
The cat froze, moved.
It quickly noticed the flaw, though: “But this isn’t your first time meeting Deputy Chen.”
Lin Jia: “Then what does how I dress have to do with you?”
The cat: “……Sorry.”
As the time for D2481’s descent approached, Lin Jia took his high-lumen flashlight and left.
The cat followed him into the car, which was heading toward First District, where D2481 would sink.
As the car neared First District, Old Zhou called.
Lin Jia answered. Old Zhou’s breathless voice came through the receiver: “Done… done it, but… there’s an accident.”
Lin Jia frowned. “What?”
“Damn it.” Old Zhou was clearly running and panting hard. “I didn’t expect the plague god Yan Xu to come too…”
A bang—something that sounded like a gunshot.
Clouds piled in the sky, brewing a storm that devoured people.
The taxi stopped. Lin Jia could only continue on foot into the center of the storm.
You can read the full completed story here with instant full access. ✨
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