12. Update Mode
On the to-do list, Yu Zhi unchecked the “clock in” task and noticed a new icon appeared under [Packages].
[Box of Props]—but she couldn’t open it.
Yu Zhi: “???”
I spent half an hour enjoying the breeze here, another half hour gazing at the water, and this is the fake product you give me?
At that moment, she was sitting at a small riverside stall, eating grilled fish—freshly caught and delicious. Nearby, she overheard someone telling tourists about the epic water battle that once took place here.
It wasn’t boring at all; in fact, it was lively.
The river through Maple City was a vital waterway for transportation. One direction led to the port; this branch had calm waters, lined with several fish vendors.
After finishing her meal and clocking in, she collected her mysterious reward, slung her bag over her shoulder, and hurried to her company’s address.
Today, she could finally go inside!
—
Pan Yanhe’s situation was rather awkward. She had resigned a couple of years ago, taken two years off to raise her child, and now that her child was old enough for kindergarten, she wanted to return to the workforce.
However, in today’s fiercely competitive job market, with many demanding roles, someone with a career gap like hers found it difficult.
She couldn’t find a suitable position.
Yesterday, she arranged an interview for today, about a twenty-minute drive from her home. She deliberately wore a simple, understated casual suit she had bought before. Her husband carefully ironed it for her. She didn’t wear any jewelry or style her hair, only light makeup. Anxiously, she arrived at No. 24 Lakeside Street, Tanxi Road.
The past two weeks of job hunting had completely drained her confidence.
“Has this office building really been sold?” She looked up in surprise at the once-proud tower of Maple City.
It had once been bustling, but with industrial shifts and economic decline, many companies had moved out.
As the population dwindled, the surroundings grew desolate, and the business district shifted to the newly planned city center, leaving infrastructure behind.
A vicious cycle—within a year, this place was deserted.
Unexpectedly, upon entering, the interior looked so newly renovated!
When did they do this?
Sigh, it was her own fault for isolating herself while sick.
Pan Yanhe was stunned to see that even the first-floor reception and security were young, good-looking people who treated her with kindness and respect.
Knowing she was here for an interview, they issued her a temporary access card and courteously escorted her to the elevator.
Pan Yanhe: “If a company rents such a place, they must be quite capable, right?”
The interview was on the 21st floor, with few people around, and the elevator went straight up.
Turning the corner, she saw the sleek “Zhengzheng Film and Television Co., Ltd.” logo, embodying the spirit of the new media era.
Pan Yanhe took a deep breath, summoned her courage with a silent “You can do it,” then strode inside with confidence.
—
Yu Zhi brought Bo Qiao and Xu Huang along for the interview.
Bo Qiao: “Such a big company!”
Xu Huang: “The computers are so new too?”
Bo Qiao’s glasses sparkled with excitement: “Time to latch onto someone rich!”
Yu Zhi patted the dog’s head: “Don’t forget me, don’t forget me. I know, I know.”
Xu Huang’s eyes gleamed: “Zhi Zhi!”
Yu Zhi: “Alright, alright, you two pick your spots first.”
Bo Qiao: “Yay!”
Xu Huang: “Love you the most!”
The two dashed off like college students happily grabbing their first job cubicles, unaware of the hardships yet to come.
The hundred-square-meter office was indeed small. Yu Zhi could take it all in at a glance from the entrance.
As expected, this “fully renovated company” included not only basic office conditions but also necessary facilities and equipment—desks, chairs, printers, water dispensers, and a tea bar.
The style was minimalist, mainly black, white, and blue lines, exactly Yu Zhi’s taste.
In the larger space, about twenty workstations were arranged, each with a desk length of 1.2 meters, split into two sides, each desk separated by three-sided partitions to give a bit of privacy.
Perhaps because no one was currently using them, the room felt especially spacious.
Nearby were a small conference room and a modest-sized office.
Yu Zhi glanced at the screen and saw a map in the side quest.
Her current location was unlocked and brightly lit, while the surrounding areas remained gray and unavailable.
She sighed in relief: “As expected.”
After completing the side quest, the company would gradually expand, potentially occupying the entire building.
—
When Pan Yanhe arrived, Yu Zhi had already signed contracts with three people for the assistant roles in film production.
One was even a university student seeking an internship, who was easily convinced with just an internship certificate.
—
She was led by Bo Qiao to the conference room.
Yu Zhi looked up at her with a smile: “Please have a seat.”
Pan Yanhe wondered if a startup run by such young people was really stable. Would it collapse in three months?
She kept her worries well-hidden, revealing nothing.
Yu Zhi held no prejudice against those who had resigned to have children and were now returning to work.
They had talked yesterday; Pan Yanhe’s salary expectations were modest, and her past experience in HR was rich, though motherhood had delayed her career.
Unfortunately, she had suffered from depression during pregnancy and postpartum, making it difficult to continue working full-time.
Yu Zhi: “Today is mainly about confirming salary. As you see, I’m short-staffed and really need you to help recruit.”
Pan Yanhe: “The potential of a startup is limitless...”
She offered some polite, diplomatic words.
Yu Zhi didn’t interrupt, listening patiently to the flattering talk for a few seconds before confirming her intentions.
“Probation lasts two months, with salary at 80% of the formal rate. If you stay for a full year after regularization, the remaining 20% will be added to the performance bonus for the same month next year. Social insurance and housing fund are included in the contract—please check the documents beside you.”
The contract covered a five-day workweek, annual leave, overtime pay, and more.
Seeing Pan Yanhe pick up the folder, Yu Zhi continued, “Our working hours are tentatively set from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., avoiding rush hours. There’s a one-hour lunch break. You can take one day off per month without reason, but it doesn’t accumulate and expires next month.”
Pan Yanhe was initially surprised by the work hours but was even more shocked by the no-questions-asked day off.
She looked up: “This kind of leave?”
Yu Zhi: “Menstrual leave. Who can work when the pain’s unbearable?”
Most of her collaborators were women, so this leave was a must.
Missing one day wouldn’t cause the world to end.
Pan Yanhe: “...”
Such a familiar yet strange term.
Menstruation was called “regular leave” because it used to be part of labor rights.
Yu Zhi herself suffered from severe dysmenorrhea, always taking ibuprofen and sometimes fainting from the pain.
“Just one day for now. It’s my first time running a company, so I’ll revise details later.” She thought for a moment. “As long as it doesn’t affect normal work or burden colleagues, you can take that day anywhere you want.”
Yu Zhi smiled: “If the sun’s especially nice and you want to take a walk outside, that’s fine too.”
She wanted to grant such leave individually but wasn’t sure if it was allowed.
No worries—once the company was up and running and things settled, she could make adjustments.
Hearing “sunshine,” Pan Yanhe pictured the warmth of autumn rays but sighed—summer wasn’t the best time for a stroll.
She laughed: “Alright.”
Yu Zhi hesitated a little: “Though it sounds like pie in the sky, I’ll gradually improve employee benefits.”
Pan Yanhe blinked: “For example?”
Yu Zhi: “Like shorter workweeks—four days, longer annual leave, team-building trips... but it’s busy now, so none of that yet.”
Pan Yanhe fell silent.
She studied this young boss carefully; she was truly a first-time entrepreneur.
“You’re prone to failure in this industry,” Pan Yanhe said frankly, dropping the pretense.
But she also saw that Yu Zhi’s promises weren’t empty—they were sincere.
Yu Zhi: “Let’s give it a try.”
She looked at Pan Yanhe: “So, are you willing to try with me? It might cost you some time.”
If it failed, Pan Yanhe would have to find another job.
She didn’t know whether the job market would improve or worsen by then.
Glancing at the contract terms and then at Yu Zhi’s eyes, Pan Yanhe breathed out and relaxed her shoulders: “Alright.”
When signing, she smiled wryly: “This is probably the least formal interview I’ve ever had.”
Yu Zhi watched her sign: “We talked almost everything yesterday. I’ve seen your resume and gave you a test. Today’s just a formality.”
No need to repeat.
The HR’s KPI was simple now—just follow tasks and recruit twenty people.
After collecting the contract, Yu Zhi asked if she could start today.
Pan Yanhe was surprised: “So soon?”
Yu Zhi smiled awkwardly: “There are more interviews later.”
Pan Yanhe: “...”
Starting work right here on the spot?
Bo Qiao and Xu Huang perked up upon seeing a professional sister arrive.
Bo Qiao: “Lifesaver!”
Xu Huang: “Yay, I knew I could make it to this day!”
—
Pan Yanhe felt a little dizzy being surrounded and fussed over by the younger girls.
She and Yu Zhi were less than seven years apart in age.
But it felt like two different generations.
—
After all nine contracts were signed, Yu Zhi received a task completion notice.
[Random Task] Fully Renovated Company
*Ding dong!* “A team of ten officially formed! Congratulations on taking countless steps toward success!”
[Rewarded] A 100-square-meter office
[Checked: Yu Zhi’s positive attitude toward the task leads to merging this random task into a permanent side quest, assigned to Side Quest One]
Yu Zhi: “What’s the point?”
Wasn’t this a new side quest before?
She reread the text: “...So I don’t have to rush this task either?”
Then what about the next two days?
Yu Zhi was obsessive-compulsive; once she made a plan, she would follow it strictly unless impossible.
[Side Quest One merged with Main Task, binding mode randomly selected]
[Selecting...]
[Bound]
[Updating task info—]
Yu Zhi: “Hey, hey, hey!”
Why force this on me again?!
[Side Quest One: Fully Renovated Company]
[Bound to Main Task: Shadow Mode]
[Initial capital of Task 01: 1% copied to Side Quest One]
[Success]
[Final settlement of Task 01: 30% copied to Side Quest One]
[Detected Task 01 in progress, executing this instruction later]
Yu Zhi: “Wait, wait, wait?!”
I can read these words, but I don’t quite understand!
At that moment, the “Zhengzheng” section on the screen updated, showing two million yuan deposited.
The film crew’s two hundred million yuan (short by ninety thousand) remained unchanged.
“Ha.” She stared blankly.
How can the money keep increasing as it’s spent?
Bo Qiao happily ran over and poked Yu Zhi as she passed.
“What’s up?” she asked.
Yu Zhi: “...Obsessive-compulsive disorder saving the world.”
Bo Qiao: “???”
What does that mean? Is this suddenly philosophical?
Yu Zhi smiled with her eyes curved into crescents, the joy of finding money.
If she weren’t so diligent, there was no way she’d raise two million in two days!
Two million!
Looking at the final settlement, wasn’t it saying that after she made money from filming, she’d get a 30% bonus directly to Zhengzheng?
What is this?!
It’s basically free money!
Yu Zhi had been worried that the hundred thousand yuan wasn’t enough to run the company and that some had already been paid to the screenwriter.
She was ready to dip into her own savings to start the company—after all, the screenwriter app had helped so much, maybe she could make it work!
That money was meant to buy a house for herself, somewhere less restrictive, where buying property didn’t require strict social security.
Unexpected!
Yu Zhi: “I’m rich! I’m rich!”
Bo Qiao readily agreed: “You really are!”
Yu Zhi looked at her with a strange gaze: “No, you don’t understand.”
You have no idea how rich I really am!
Bo Qiao: “Huh?”