Chapter 322
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Chapter 322: Something Feels Off
“Your Majesty, the Architectural Engineering Department just submitted a report stating that the city walls of several cities have all been repaired and reinforced.”
“Good, put it there.”
With the rapid development of the civilization, Luo Ji’s office had recently moved, and his residence was also undergoing expansion.
After all, as the Emperor, the supreme ruler of the Myriad Worlds Civilization, his living quarters could not be too shabby.
“Oh, by the way, Yaoshan, how has the new Lu Yang been working lately?”
Luo Ji quickly asked, as if remembering something, looking at Shi Yaoshan who was about to leave.
“His work efficiency is very high, and he is very capable. He adapted within the first few days. While organizing reports, he can now handle some documents quite skillfully.”
“Honestly, I even want to throw that kid Liu Xing into organizing reports and have the new Lu Yang help with documents. That way, efficiency might be much higher.”
Shi Yaoshan said, half-jokingly, half-seriously.
“You are the chief secretary. You can use your discretion in handling this matter.”
Luo Ji clearly had considerable trust in Shi Yaoshan’s ability to get things done.
More importantly, while being capable, he also possessed high emotional intelligence and management skills.
He could now be considered Luo Ji’s capable right-hand man.
“Your subordinate understands.”
Shi Yaoshan responded and withdrew.
Upon returning to the secretary’s office, he glanced at Liu Xing and Lu Yang, who were bent over their desks working, and then spoke.
“Liu Xing, starting tomorrow, you’ll share half of the document organization work with Lu Yang. It’s about time Lu Yang learned to run errands outside.”
“Oh, alright.”
Liu Xing responded without looking up.
Faced with Liu Xing’s straightforwardness, Shi Yaoshan chuckled, then spoke again.
“Everyone, put in a little more effort. We might finish early today. How about we all go for a drink afterwards?”
“I’ll go if it’s your treat.”
Liu Xing declared quite simply.
Liu Dong, who had been engrossed in his work, also raised his hand at this moment.
“Agreed.”
“You guys…”
Shi Yaoshan smiled and scolded them, then nodded.
“Alright, I’ll treat. Everyone, hurry up. If we go too late, there won’t be any seats left.”
Days passed one by one.
After nearly half a month, Lu Yang had basically adapted to life and work in Mirror City and welcomed his first day off.
He also met his old friend whom he hadn’t seen for a long time.
“It’s really hard to see you, my friend, ever since you became His Majesty the Emperor’s secretary.”
Inside the restaurant, Shen Jun teased his friend playfully.
“Work is very busy, and it’s not like I can just rest whenever I want.”
Lu Yang replied casually, which made Shen Jun’s expression freeze.
“What’s wrong?”
Lu Yang asked strangely, seeing Shen Jun looking dazed.
“It feels off.”
Shen Jun replied somewhat inexplicably.
“What’s off?”
“I can’t put my finger on it, that’s why it’s off.”
Lu Yang rolled his eyes speechlessly.
“Have you ordered the dishes?”
“Ordered them, but the restaurant His Majesty opened has too much business. The serving speed is a bit slow.”
Shen Jun, who had clearly been waiting for a while, couldn’t help but complain.
“Isn’t it because you’re too good at picking times? Now is peak dining hour. If you came an hour later, it would be much quieter here.”
After speaking, Lu Yang felt even more speechless looking at Shen Jun, who was leaning on the railing, unsure if he was listening.
“What are you doing leaning there?”
“Listening to a story.”
Shen Jun replied absentmindedly.
Hearing this, Lu Yang also moved two steps closer to the railing.
Below, a storyteller dressed in a linen robe was vividly narrating the story of ‘Killing the Tiger in West Plains City.’
The people in the restaurant were mesmerized, cheering repeatedly, and at the same time, their reverence for their Emperor grew even more.
After one story finished, taking advantage of the storyteller’s tea break, Shen Jun, who had been leaning on the railing, finally moved.
As he turned around, he saw several empty plates on their dining table.
Shen Jun’s expression froze.
“Where did these empty plates come from…”
Halfway through his sentence, Shen Jun, as if something occurred to him, subconsciously glanced at Lu Yang sitting there, then spoke with some uncertainty.
“Lu Yang?”
At this very moment, Lu Yang, sitting there, gracefully wiped the corners of his mouth.
“The dining table is a battlefield, Shen Jun. You are too lax.”
“Huh?!”
Shen Jun looked utterly bewildered, then vigorously rubbed his temples.
“Wait, I’m not fully awake. I’m dreaming, right?”
With this thought, he rubbed his temples until they were red and sore.
Shen Jun finally accepted the reality before him.
“Now I know what feels off. Lu Yang, you’ve changed…”
“How have I changed?”
“You used to not eat so fast.”
“…”
“Alright, I’m just kidding. But you used to do everything unhurriedly and methodically. Now…”
As he spoke, looking at the clean plates before him, Shen Jun didn’t know what to say.
“Efficiency is very important. And His Majesty said that outward appearances should be minimized, and the essence is what matters.”
Lu Yang remained composed.
Shen Jun couldn’t imagine what had happened during this time to cause such a significant change in Lu Yang, the refined gentleman, even though he still appeared extraordinary.
“Forget it, forget it, I won’t dwell on this.”
Calling a waiter from the restaurant, Shen Jun ordered a few more dishes, then directly changed the subject to another matter.
“Lu Yang, do you know where to find these storytellers?”
“What? You want to hire some storytellers for your restaurant and tea shop too?”
“Yes.”
It is human nature for merchants to seek profit.
Shen Jun had undoubtedly seen the commercial value of these storytellers at a glance.
In an era with basically no entertainment activities, the status of ‘listening to stories’ needed no further explanation.
Essentially, a storyteller standing there could gather a large audience in minutes.
If he invited a few storytellers to his shops, could the business of his tea shop and restaurant possibly be bad?
However, things were not that easy.
In Myriad Worlds Civilization, storytellers were not a common profession.
They could spread information and intelligence, but to prevent any rogue elements from causing chaos, Luo Ji had clearly formalized the storyteller profession.
Not just any random scoundrel could become a storyteller.
To become a storyteller, you first had to register with the relevant department, go through interviews and reviews, confirm your loyalty, and then undergo a certain degree of formal training.
After graduating, you would receive a storyteller’s license.
Only then would you be considered an official storyteller.
Incidentally, if one impersonated a storyteller without a license, spreading false information and causing trouble while profiting from it, Luo Ji explicitly stated they would face a penalty of at least 3 years, up to death penalty.
