Four Whales

Facing the astonished gazes of the Ruan mother and son, Jing Chengyun calmly opened the "Space-Time Shuttle Bureau Recruitment Brochure" and said with a spirited glow, "When can I complete the onboarding process? Is an electronic ID card acceptable? What do the tasks specifically entail?"

"By the way," Jing Chengyun added, "will there be any difficulties with resigning? Does your organization have a habit of not letting people go?"

As a human resources professional, Ruan Hui had seen all kinds of people and supernatural beings, many of whom were eccentric or difficult to deal with.

She did not remain shocked by Jing Chengyun’s sudden change of heart for long. After seizing the opportunity to confirm the other party's intentions, the two found themselves in immediate agreement, deciding to visit the Space-Time Shuttle Bureau after lunch.

Ruan Mianmian tugged at Ruan Hui’s sleeve and asked in a small voice, "Can I go too, Mommy?"

Ruan Hui glanced at her watch with a troubled expression. "Time is almost up. After lunch, I’ll have your brother pick you up and take you home."

Seeing Ruan Mianmian’s eyes turn red again, fearing another bout of crying, Jing Chengyun quickly chimed in with Ruan Hui’s words: "Go home, Mianmian! Going home is good!"

It didn’t matter if she didn’t understand the deeper meaning of "time is almost up"; the most important thing was not having to see Ruan Mianmian crying!

Jing Chengyun’s persuasion acted like a spell. Ruan Mianmian actually twitched her ears, straightened her back, stifled her tears completely, and sprang up from her seat. "Okay! Since it’s Master—"

He paused and corrected himself, "Since it’s what Sister Yunyun said, Mianmian will be obedient! Mianmian won't have lunch; I'll go home right now!"

Watching the child suddenly bolt, Ruan Hui felt a throb in her temple and cast a look of helpless appeal toward Jing Chengyun.

Jing Chengyun was deeply shocked. It seemed she preferred someone a bit more clever and quick-witted?

*

The Baiyun City branch of the Space-Time Shuttle Bureau was located in the suburbs.

Ruan Hui was a skilled driver, steady and fast. She hesitated to speak throughout the journey, but with the bureau now in sight, she felt it was better to clarify things: "Ms. Jing, it’s like this. Mianmian is the youngest child in my family. His talent for cultivation is very poor, and his thoughts are quite simple..."

"It’s fine," Jing Chengyun said, waving a hand from the passenger seat. "I understand everything."

Ruan Hui wore an expression that clearly said, *No, you absolutely do not understand*, and continued to explain, "I hope you two can become good friends."

The emphasis fell heavily on the word "friends."

Glancing out of the corner of her eye at the humming orca lady, Ruan Hui muttered to herself, *She should... have understood that, right?*

The car soon arrived at the bureau.

During its construction, the City Planning Bureau, the construction team, and the bureau leadership had consulted multiple times and conducted repeated surveys, confirming the building’s hazard level as SSS. To ensure the safety of the general public, the site had to be located in the suburbs.

Later, a master set up a protective barrier so that if the bureau were to suffer a massive explosion due to equipment failure, spacetime distortion, or a runaway traveler, the damage to the outside world would be minimized.

The most secure barriers often require the simplest methods of activation.

—Swiping an employee ID card.

Seen from a distance, the bureau had a simple, unpretentious exterior that avoided light pollution. The surrounding greenery was excellent, and it faced the sea, with fresh, clean air.

"The Space-Time Shuttle Bureau is a landmark building in Baiyun City," Ruan Hui said. "Perhaps you’ve passed by here while swimming in the ocean."

She did not advise Jing Chengyun to sign the employment contract immediately. "Let’s walk around first. Signing a contract is a big deal; it’s better to give it more thought."

The first floor of the bureau was a public lobby providing free drinks and desserts. Jing Chengyun poured a cup of filtered seawater, added lemonade, and drank it down in big gulps.

The second and third floors were office areas, where the Complaint Handling Room was located—this place accepted all suggestions and complaints regarding the bureau, including reports about cafeteria food not being fresh or staff lacking professional proficiency.

As they passed it, Ruan Hui made a gesture for silence.

"Madam, what is your grievance?" an employee in the complaint room was asking.

"I demand that you apologize for deceiving me about the cooperation details and compensate me for the corresponding emotional distress." The person who spoke next was the complainant.

*Oh no.* Ruan Hui broke into a cold sweat. Unfortunately, no matter how strong a rabbit might be, she couldn't drag an orca away. Jing Chengyun stood openly outside the door, refusing to leave, determined to eavesdrop.

"You sent me into the book without my consent! You goddamned people, I’m going to call the police and have you all arrested!" The complainant suddenly raised her voice, even slamming the table in anger.

The staff member replied, "We only sent you into the book after your accidental death. If not for that, you wouldn't have had a second life! Ah, please don't hit me—"

Hearing the farce, Jing Chengyun smacked her lips. "It’s pretty dangerous working here."

Ruan Hui suppressed her cold sweat and pushed her new prospective employee forward. "Ms. Jing is a powerhouse of the ocean; few species can beat you. Besides, the department I’m recommending for you doesn't usually come into contact with clients."

The chaos in the complaint room would be handled by specialists. The immediate priority was to deepen Jing Chengyun’s favorable impression of the bureau.

Ruan Hui said, "Let’s go to the basement floor. The shuttle machines and other equipment are kept there. Whether it’s traversing time, space, or entering novels, games, or movies... we can generally manage it."

The word "generally" was subtle. Jing Chengyun realized this wasn't a one-hundred-percent reliable organization, but then again, what workplace could claim to never have had a mishap?

The funeral home where she worked had once mixed up the remains of the deceased.

The basement was spacious, bright, and filled with the faint scent of flowers.

It was the smell of roses, which Jing Chengyun had always liked.

She was twenty-five years old this year. For the first twenty years of her life as a whale, she had lived and cultivated in the ocean. A solitary white rose grew on the cliff by the sea, and when she was tired from cultivation, Jing Chengyun would float on the water’s surface and fall asleep to its fragrance.

*Boom—*

Before she could pull herself out of the beautiful memory, a massive blast of air struck her, hitting her square in the face! Jing Chengyun was quick-witted; she grabbed Ruan Hui’s arm first, then slapped away a ceramic flower pot flying toward them, shattering it into pieces.

As the shockwave dissipated, Jing Chengyun looked closely and saw that the door to Operation Room No. 5 had vanished.

Amidst the wreckage, only Jing Chengyun stood unmoved, looking calm and collected.

Ruan Hui huddled beside her, trembling, still shaken, and anxiously rubbing her face in circles. Had she not been pulled away in time, she would likely have been injured.

"It’s alright, Sister Hui," Jing Chengyun said, having to bend her knees to look Ruan Hui in the eye. She patted her new friend’s trembling back. "It seems there was an explosion. I’ll go over with you... Hmm? What’s this?"

Looking down in confusion, Jing Chengyun belatedly realized there was an unconscious man lying at her feet, likely thrown against her by the shockwave.

The man’s features were exceptionally beautiful—delicate, fair-skinned, and clearly unconscious, yet he looked as if he were simply sleeping, his lips shimmering with a wet, alluring sheen.

Jing Chengyun inspected the beauty openly. "What species is he? Do we need to call an ambulance?"

"He's... he's a fox spirit... a super powerful Nine-Tailed Fox!" Being scared was fine, but being able to adjust one's mindset in time was a sign of a good employee. Ruan Hui had already recovered. "No need for an ambulance; he can handle it."

After the explosion in the basement, the bureau immediately sent specialists to handle the situation.

The unconscious man was sent to the infirmary, and Jing Chengyun and Ruan Hui, having experienced the blast, were also required to go for a check-up.

The infirmary was filled with the smell of disinfectant. After the doctor checked Jing Chengyun, he exclaimed sincerely, "Unscathed! As expected of an orca!"

Jing Chengyun laughed heartily, accepting the doctor’s praise. Before she had finished laughing, she felt a strange gaze fixed on her, giving her goosebumps.

It turned out the beautiful injured man had woken up.

The injured man’s name was Su Zile, and he belonged to the higher-ranking lineage of the fox clan—the Nine-Tailed Fox.

As long as he declared his bloodline, he was destined to be flattered; those four words were born as symbols of power—not only beautiful but also possessed of deep, demonic power.

Su Zile was already awake. Ashamed of the injury on his forehead, he didn't want to raise his eyes, only lifting his eyelids slightly to look at the others. "Who is this? A newcomer brought in by Sister Hui?"

Knowing the bureau was hiring, Su Zile quickly guessed Jing Chengyun’s identity and received an affirmative nod from Ruan Hui.

He pursed his thin lips, his face cold, making his appearance look even more aloof and moving. "Was it me who bumped into this young lady just now?"

Jing Chengyun enthusiastically extended her right hand, wanting to befriend this beautiful prospective colleague. "Hello, my name is—"

"How truly embarrassing." Su Zile sneered. He had no intention of shaking Jing Chengyun’s hand, pulling his arm back with eyes full of vigilance. "It seems my right arm is injured, too; I can’t lift it."

*How rude!* Jing Chengyun thought to herself, but she didn't take it to heart.

Su Zile’s behavior fit perfectly with her stereotype of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan: not only were they beautiful, but they were also arrogant and difficult to get along with.

Since he was difficult, she wouldn't bother with him.

Su Zile’s gaze was both cold and intense, scanning Jing Chengyun from head to toe. This behavior was completely lacking in decorum, yet he didn't care. "The equipment malfunctioned just now, causing an explosion, which is why I fainted..."

It was an entirely unnecessary explanation, like a sign saying "there is no silver buried here."

Jing Chengyun knew the hardness of her own body; if Su Zile hadn't spoken, she never would have suspected that. She returned Su Zile’s gaze with a faint smile and mouthed silently: *Is that so?*

*Is that so? Did you really faint because of the explosion's impact, and not because you bumped into me?*

Su Zile’s expression turned cold instantly, and he turned his face away, refusing to look at anyone.

Once things in the infirmary were finished, Jing Chengyun, still thinking about her job, dragged Ruan Hui straight to the Human Resources Department, saying she didn't need to learn any more about the bureau and wanted to finalize her onboarding immediately.

The HR department assigned her to Task Force Group 5. Including her, the group had three members: the fox spirit Su Zile and the kangaroo spirit team leader, Du Yishui.

The bureau’s task force had several groups with bizarre names, such as the "Only a Monster Like Me Would Object Group," the "If You Want to Fight, Go to the Dance Studio Group," and the "Crematorium Fire Extinguisher Specialist Group." The names were strange, but they fit their primary business well.

For instance, Jing Chengyun’s group, the "The World Didn't Provoke Anyone Group," was responsible for entering novel dimensions to stop bugs that could potentially destroy the world.

"Haha, quite humorous," Jing Chengyun couldn't help but chuckle. "A kangaroo, an orca, and a fox—can they stop the world from being destroyed?"

But, it would be nice to experience the feeling of saving the world, right? Maybe she could really become a savior.

*

Onboarding procedures were relatively complex. In addition to a pile of tedious forms, she had to go through several rounds of fingerprint and facial recognition registration.

Jing Chengyun hated filling out forms. She and her recently deceased boyfriend, Chen Ji, had been classmates in college. Once, when Chen Ji heard her complaining, he asked if she needed help.

If she wanted, Chen Ji could have filled out forms for her for all four years of college.

Thinking about it now, Chen Ji was probably in love with her back then; otherwise, when he confessed after graduation, he wouldn't have said, "You don't know how long I've liked you."

Thinking of this, a smile naturally slipped across Jing Chengyun’s face.

*

With a new colleague, a welcome party was naturally held.

Due to the recent "book-traversing" accident, there were very few employees left in the bureau, and even fewer were willing to attend the welcome party.

Baiyun City was an island city, and most employees were based on marine animals. Some of them had been bullied by orca pods and would hide upon seeing Jing Chengyun, let alone welcome her.

In the end, only a dozen people attended the welcome party. Jing Chengyun didn't care about the numbers; she could happily spend a long time with a bottle of wine all by herself.

At the party, wine flowed freely.

The kangaroo team leader, Du Yishui, was moved to tears, hugging her new colleague with snot and tears. "It’s not easy! I thought our bureau was going to go out of business! I didn't think we could recruit a new employee, and one assigned to our group at that!"

The team leader was so enthusiastic that Jing Chengyun couldn't fall behind. She grabbed a bottle of wine and poured it into her cup. "Come! Let’s drink!"

She had a high tolerance for alcohol and loved to laugh heartily. Coupled with being the newcomer, she naturally became the focus of the party.

In the corner, Su Zile’s expression was even uglier than it had been during the day.

*Everyone is going to laugh with that orca, everyone is praising how smart and brave that orca is. What about me?!*

Before Jing Chengyun joined, he had been the most popular person at every party!

"Lele—" The kangaroo team leader wiped her tears. She looked around and suddenly said to the resentful Su Zile, "From now on, I’ll leave Yunyun to you to lead. Take good care of her."

Jing Chengyun didn't care who led her, as long as she could experience a new life, adapt to the work quickly, and get a decent salary. Although the Nine-Tailed Fox was arrogant, he was truly beautiful, so there was no need to dwell on his rudeness during the day.

In the lively atmosphere, Jing Chengyun raised her glass from afar to toast Mr. Nine-Tailed Fox, mouthing silently: "Please take care of me."

The lighting was dim, and Su Zile’s fair skin and superior bone structure were even more attractive. He narrowed his fox eyes, raised his glass as well, and mouthed back: "Fine."

*

Halfway through the welcome party, Jing Chengyun went to the restroom to splash her face and wake up, but she encountered an uninvited guest on her way back.

She asked, "Are you here for the restroom, too?"

Su Zile was amused. "Is there any other purpose?"

Yes, he did have another purpose.

His palm gripped Jing Chengyun’s shoulder, pushing her all the way into a corner. Su Zile lowered his dark eyes and asked in a low voice, "You like staring at men, don't you?"

Indeed, Jing Chengyun had cast glances at him throughout the party to admire his perfect face, so Su Zile was likely there to confront her.

Caged within his arms, Jing Chengyun remained calm, putting on a reprimanding tone. "If you buttoned up your collar, I wouldn't be able to see! You aren't wearing your clothes properly; you're shameless!"

Su Zile was furious. Only then did he realize his collar was open; even if he didn't ask others to look, they had already seen everything.

His face turned hot, and his menacing aura vanished in an instant. He hurriedly covered his chest, growling in near-collapse, "Who’s the shameless one?!"

Taking advantage of his loss of composure, Jing Chengyun went on the offensive—something she had always been capable of; she had only tolerated it until now out of curiosity about Su Zile’s motives.

She mimicked Su Zile’s posture, lowering her voice. That wasn't enough; she also seized Su Zile’s slender, bony wrists, pinning him into the corner.

*Would it be too greasy if I breathed into his ear?* Jing Chengyun frowned, thinking that disgusting him with a breath would be fine, but before she could open her mouth, she saw Su Zile’s face turn bright red—not looking embarrassed, but rather exceptionally vivid.

The scent of alcohol from her breath drifted into Su Zile’s nose and down his collar.

He was in a state of chaos, trying to distinguish: *Is this cherry wine? Or grape wine? But the scent seems to have the fresh, salty smell of sea breeze...*

"I thought fox spirits were all very good at flirting, but this is all you are." Jing Chengyun suddenly released him, shook the water from her palms, and walked away without looking back.