Chapter 1441: A Conscientious Shop

As the waiter approached to inquire, Yi Feng casually tested the waters with a question.

"Do you have a game called 'The Sims' here at Linglong Pavilion?"

The waiter was momentarily stunned, his face showing a hint of difficulty as he clasped his hands in a gesture of apology.

"Sir, we do indeed have 'The Sims,' but I am not authorized to handle this matter. If you wish to try it, you must obtain the manager's permission. Please follow me."

With that, the waiter smiled and gestured for Yi Feng to follow.

Yi Feng maintained a calm exterior as he followed, but his curiosity grew stronger.

This place actually has 'The Sims' too.

Could this be a branch of the Linglong Pavilion from before?

To have a branch in such a remote corner of the universe, Linglong Pavilion must be quite extraordinary.

Following the waiter through the main hall, Yi Feng soon arrived at the counter.

After the waiter reported to the portly manager, the latter turned to Yi Feng with a smile.

"Sir, you truly have an eye for quality."

"Our 'The Sims' is an extremely novel game. By entering a separate space with your consciousness, you can simulate and experience all facets of life. You might become a reincarnated great being, experience ordinary happiness, or even enjoy the honor of being an emperor..."

Yi Feng already knew all this and wasn't particularly interested in the sales pitch.

Although it sounded intriguing and piqued his interest, it wasn't exactly fresh to him. Before the manager could finish, he cut to the chase.

"Hold on a second..."

"According to you, playing this game requires splitting one's consciousness. Doesn't that mean I can't do anything else?"

The manager chuckled, adopting a persuasive tone.

"Sir, that's not entirely accurate."

"Think about it. By splitting your consciousness, you can experience a myriad of lives, as if you've lived through them multiple times. Apart from your body being immobile, you don't have to expend any effort or pay any price. Where else can you find such a good deal?"

"Later, we will provide you with a precious jade. As soon as you invest your consciousness, you can immediately experience the world in all its diversity. Doesn't that sound appealing?"

It did have some appeal, and the game had its selling points.

Yi Feng nodded tactically in agreement.

"That does sound interesting..."

But when he thought about potentially sitting idle in the shop, he felt a bit awkward. He might be seen as a spectacle, and there was the risk of someone stealing his money, which would be a real headache.

Suddenly, Yi Feng's expression turned troubled.

"The game sounds good, but sitting around in your shop all day isn't exactly ideal."

To his surprise, the portly manager immediately offered a sympathetic smile.

"Ah, sir, you needn't worry."

"Once you possess our precious jade, you can start the game wherever you like. You can even return to your residence. For your safety, it's best to find a secluded place to meditate."

"Coincidentally, we have special private rooms specifically for players like you who are immersed in 'The Sims.' We can absolutely guarantee your personal and financial safety!"

"If you play for an extended period, we will even assign someone to take care of your physical body, providing services like washing, shaving, and more. We also offer elixirs and meals—anything you need, we have it all!"

"If you play for over fifty years, we'll even throw in a complimentary immersive fairy spring bath!"

"In short, whatever you need, we will do our utmost to provide, ensuring you feel right at home and enjoy an unprecedented, emperor-level experience!"

The manager's words were smooth and flattering, but Yi Feng sensed something unusual.

The service was too considerate, almost excessively so!

Even the famous "Hot Pot in the River" from his previous life couldn't compare to Linglong Pavilion.

This over-the-top attitude instantly made Yi Feng suspicious. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Manager, with such excellent service, the price must be quite steep, right?"

The manager was momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting Yi Feng to be so sharp.

But as a seasoned businessman, he had dealt with all sorts of customers and was adept at handling people. He quickly forced a smile and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"Hahaha..."

"Sir, what are you saying? Our shop has always been about quality and affordability, with customer satisfaction as our top priority. We only charge a modest fee—how could the price be expensive?"

Though the words were pleasing, Yi Feng saw through the facade with a knowing look.

Hmph.

The saying "no merchant is honest" really holds true!

All this sweet talk, but in the end, it's still about money. I can hear the abacus beads clinking all the way to my heels!

However.

Thinking about the long-awaited 'The Sims' and the peculiarities of Linglong Pavilion, Yi Feng couldn't help but probe further.

"In that case, how much does it cost?"

As soon as he asked, the pressure shifted to the manager.

He had never encountered such a shrewd customer before. It felt like the initiative was entirely in Yi Feng's hands. This was the most challenging sale he had ever faced, and he couldn't respond immediately.

After a moment of thought, he cautiously smiled and clasped his hands.

"Sir, to be honest, you are our first customer today, so we'll give you a 50% discount as a good omen for our opening."

"How about... 1,000 fairy crystals?"

As he spoke, the manager carefully smiled, his eyes filled with anticipation.

His cautious demeanor even stunned the waiter, who had never seen the manager so passive, completely at the mercy of a stranger.

Even with such a concession.

Yi Feng's eyes widened, and his voice rose an octave!

"What?!"

"1,000 fairy crystals?! You might as well rob me!"

Although Yi Feng had some savings, years of hardship had ingrained a frugal lifestyle in him. This price far exceeded his psychological limit!

A thousand fairy crystals just to play a game?

Is that playing a game?

That's called squandering!

At this rate, with only a few billion fairy crystals to his name, how could he afford such extravagance?

A rip-off!

This Linglong Pavilion is undoubtedly a scam!

Money isn't the issue, but he absolutely couldn't be taken for a fool, nor could he start indulging in luxury!

As the saying goes, it's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back.

This game isn't worth it!

With that thought, Yi Feng resolutely turned to leave!

As he turned and walked away, not only was the waiter dumbfounded, but the manager also froze, completely unprepared for this turn of events.

The failure of this transaction almost shattered the worldview these two had built over years.

Just 1,000 fairy crystals...

For such a small sum, one could experience 'The Sims' and enjoy numerous benefits.

Was the price really that high?

Why did this person react as if he had been cheated out of ten million fairy crystals?

Was it really that bad?

Could someone really be that stingy?

Before the two could react.

Yi Feng was about to step out of Linglong Pavilion.

The manager watched with gritted teeth, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes. He hurriedly chased after Yi Feng, reaching out to stop him with a trembling voice.

"Sir! Sir, please wait!"

"Our shop hasn't opened for the day yet. We can offer you a free trial!!!"

Hearing this, Yi Feng paused.

He turned back with a suspicious look.

"Free?"

"You're not trying to trick me again, are you?"

The manager quickly waved his hands, responding earnestly.

"Absolutely not!"

"Our shop truly hasn't opened yet. I feel a connection with you, so I'll make an exception and offer you a free trial. Please stay and enjoy our services. If you're satisfied, be sure to give us a five-star review!"

Seeing the manager's continuous apologetic smiles, Yi Feng finally relaxed.

It seemed the manager was eager to keep him, perhaps very concerned about customer reviews. There must be some performance evaluation system in place here. The owner was indeed unusual, likely a fellow transmigrator.

This shop didn't seem so shady after all; in fact, it seemed quite conscientious.

Whether it was free or not wasn't the main point. What mattered was that the manager was trying hard, and Linglong Pavilion had its peculiarities. He might as well stay and try it out, then investigate further later.

With that in mind, Yi Feng clasped his hands in a gesture of gratitude.

"Alright, thank you then."

As the waiter, still in a daze, was about to lead the way, Yi Feng remembered something important and casually reminded them.

"Later, when I'm playing 'The Sims,' make sure to take good care of my physical body, especially meals. Don't miss a single one!"

"As for the five-star review, I'll definitely give it when I come out!"

Hearing this, the manager and the waiter nodded repeatedly.

"Sir, rest assured, we will!"

With that, Yi Feng followed them into the private room.

Soon, Linglong Pavilion buzzed with activity. The usually cold and elegant building suddenly emitted the rich aroma of food and wine, attracting passersby who stopped to look and salivate.

On the outskirts of the crowd.

A man pushing a wheelchair walked out steadily, accompanied by an elderly man with deep lines of age on his face. Both quietly observed Linglong Pavilion, silently exhaling in relief.

Beside them, Yun Yaoyao stood quietly, her red lips curling into a smile, her beautiful eyes filled with contentment.

"The master has finally arrived..."