Zuo Wanjin was not just uncomfortable—he was panicking.
Didn't they say the boss had gone off to explore some ancient ruins?
So why was he suddenly here again?
And that glare from just now... Did the boss see it?
Would a senior like him really hold a grudge over something that small?
Countless anxious thoughts swirled in Zuo Wanjin's head, cold sweat soaking his back like he'd just taken a plunge into an icy lake.
The crowd, still munching on melons—figuratively and literally—watched with baffled expressions.
What was going on here?
This scene wasn't playing out how they'd imagined it at all.
Why did Zuo Wanjin look so... terrified?
"Come. Let's eat," Luo Chuan said flatly.
He wasn't reading too much into the situation—he was genuinely just here for breakfast.
"Eat… Yes, of course! This way, senior!" Zuo Wanjin let out a long sigh of relief, practically bowing as he led Luo Chuan into Wind Immortal Tower.
Luo Chuan gave a simple nod and followed him inside.
Meanwhile, murmurs broke out among the onlookers.
"I feel like that guy looks really familiar…"
"Yeah... I was just thinking that! It's like déjà vu."
"Wait! I remember now!"
"What did you remember?"
"The Second Prince! The Emperor! Silver Moon Mansion!"
One by one, names began to spill from their mouths like dominoes falling, and the pieces finally clicked into place.
They remembered who that young man had been.
And just like that, awe washed over their faces like a tidal wave.
Suddenly, Zuo Wanjin's nervousness made perfect sense.
Inside Wind Immortal Tower, Luo Chuan's breakfast was just as it always had been—light, calm, and quiet.
That normalcy helped soothe Zuo Wanjin's nerves significantly.
Of course, it would have been even more reassuring if Luo Chuan hadn't vanished right after finishing his meal.
As always, Luo Chuan casually tore open space itself and stepped through a rift back to Origin Mall.
In front of the Origin Mall, space cracked like glass and Luo Chuan emerged with a calm step.
Originally, he intended to head straight into the shop, but something caught his eye.
A slip of paper still fluttered on the front door—the leave notice he'd posted before departing.
He paused, reached out, and peeled it from the surface, slipping it into the system's inventory space.
His first-ever leave of absence. A strangely nostalgic moment.
Inside the store, the first thing that greeted him was the familiar figure of the World Tree, standing proudly beside the counter.
Though only about a meter tall, it radiated a mysterious energy that filled the air with a sense of ancient wisdom.
Tiny star-like specks shimmered on its lush green leaves, making it look almost celestial.
Well... it's pretty. That's about it, Luo Chuan thought with a shrug.
But he hadn't forgotten the system's message from the day before.
He walked to the shelf, grabbed a variety of drinks, and poured them all into the soil where the World Tree was planted.
In response, the tree's branches swayed gently, almost playfully, as if expressing joy.
Luo Chuan tapped his chin thoughtfully. "System, the World Tree counts as a member of Origin Mall, right?"
A brief pause.
"The host may interpret it that way," the system replied in its usual monotone.
Luo Chuan nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on the little tree.
The World Tree seemed to sense his intent and suddenly stopped moving.
It felt a strange chill in the air.
Luo Chuan's expression turned solemn. "Even if you're technically a member of the Origin Mall… doesn't it feel a bit unfair that you're constantly enjoying our products without contributing anything?"
The World Tree rustled in confusion and slight guilt.
"Therefore," Luo Chuan continued, "I think it's only fair that you start doing something."
The World Tree listened in silence, leaves trembling.
"I'm planning to launch a new product soon—World Tree Leaves. I'll need you to provide a hundred leaves a day."
His tone was matter-of-fact. Dead serious.