Chapter 26: An Unusual Hobby

“Uh... could it be that the performance failed?” Wei Yu scratched his nose, then grinned and said, “Master, don’t be upset. It’s perfectly normal for acrobatics to go wrong sometimes. You’re already amazing. I’m convinced—truly convinced!”

“You’re convinced? You’re shameless! Are you done yet? Stop calling me ‘master.’ Do I even know you? Who are you anyway?” Chen Yun was already furious, and this stranger’s relentless pestering nearly made his anger explode.

“Please don’t be angry, master. Getting angry isn’t good for your health. Let me introduce myself—my name is Wei Yu, and I’m a passionate acrobatics enthusiast. I happened to see your performance today and was so impressed that I came to ask you to be my teacher.” Wei Yu took a step back and was about to bow.

“Hold it!” Seeing Wei Yu’s actions, Chen Yun hurriedly stopped him. “You’ve mistaken me for someone else. I don’t do acrobatics, and I don’t take apprentices.”

“How could you not be an acrobatics performer? If you weren’t, how could you be so skilled? Master, I seriously want to learn from you. I already have some basics, so please take me in.” Wei Yu pleaded earnestly, “I genuinely mean it.”

“Player Chen Yun has triggered a random quest: Take NPC apprentice-level acrobatics performer Wei Yu as your disciple and teach him at least an advanced acrobatics skill within three months. Upon completion, player Chen Yun’s level +2, fame +10,000. Accept? Yes/No?”

Chen Yun was about to refuse outright, but hearing the quest made him frown. Why would the system issue such a task? If he accepted, he wasn’t even an acrobatics performer—how could he teach? But if he didn’t accept, the reward was too tempting to let go.

“Accept!” Gritting his teeth, Chen Yun chose to accept. Since the system issued the quest, it had to be possible to accomplish. An advanced acrobatics skill? If he could learn culinary and singing skills, surely he could learn acrobatics too.

“Alright, since you’re so sincere, I’ll take you as my apprentice, but you have to agree to one condition.” Chen Yun put on a stern face, feigning aloofness.

“Master, please say it!” Wei Yu was overjoyed. “One condition, ten conditions, even a hundred—I’ll agree to all as your apprentice!”

“I’m currently working at the Yechua Hotel chain in Blue Melody City. You can come there to learn from me, but I won’t have time to teach you for at least two months. Come find me after two months,” Chen Yun said.

“Huh? Two months? That’s so long! What are you busy with, master? Work?” Wei Yu was dumbfounded. Why would an acrobatics master be working at a hotel? Could it be that hotels now feature acrobatics shows?

“Work is part of it. The rest is other matters. Don’t ask. Give me your contact information—I’ll reach out when the time comes,” Chen Yun said, glancing at Wei Yu’s bicycle.

“Exquisite bicycle. Level 1 mount. Requires level 1 riding skill. No additional skills. Mount effect: increases movement speed by 130%. Durability: 200/200.”

Hmm? This guy’s bicycle has really high durability! Maybe real bicycles are more durable than toy-transformed ones?

“Alright, master. Here’s my contact info. Please keep it safe and make sure to call me,” Wei Yu said cheerfully, handing over a business card.

Page 1/3

“Oh, you even have a business card.” Chen Yun took it and read, “Manager of Orange Era Bar, Blue Melody City.”

“Yes, Orange Era Bar isn’t far from your hotel. Come visit often, master—I’ll comp your bill.”

“Alright, I’ll drop by if I have time. Now, leave the bicycle,” Chen Yun coughed. He figured even if Boss Liu came, he wouldn’t be able to drive. He’d still have to use the old method to get to the hotel. This bicycle would be the tuition.

“What? Leave my bicycle?” Wei Yu was stunned.

“To become my apprentice, there’s a rule—you have to pay tuition. But I’m not greedy. My bicycle broke, and yours looks decent. It’ll do as tuition.”

“Uh... alright.” Wei Yu was bewildered. He’d never heard of tuition being paid with a bicycle, but since the master said so, he had to comply.

Chen Yun mounted the bicycle and said, “Wei Yu, my name is Chen Yun. When you come to the hotel, just mention my name.”

“Got it, master. Safe travels.” Wei Yu nodded.

Watching his master ride off, Wei Yu suddenly realized a troubling issue. His bicycle was now gone, and there wasn’t a village or a taxi in sight. What was he supposed to do?

“Damn, master, you really put me in a tough spot...” Wei Yu scratched his head in frustration, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number. “Sis, come pick me up...”

After riding for less than ten minutes, Chen Yun saw Boss Liu arriving in a Maserati.

“Oh my, Master Chen, you scared me half to death! I drove all the way to the outskirts, looked in the mirror, and you were gone. Wait, you’re not riding the same bike, are you?” Boss Liu rushed over, and halfway through his sentence, he noticed Chen Yun had switched bicycles.

“Yeah, met a friend along the way. Just riding a different bike for fun,” Chen Yun replied vaguely, securing the rope. “Let’s go.”

“...Alright.” Boss Liu didn’t ask further, got in the car, and as he drove, wondered how Master Chen managed to switch bikes at 60 km/h.

“Player Chen Yun’s mount durability is 90. Mount randomly drops front wheel. Durability consumption doubles...”

“System, damn you and your whole family!” Chen Yun cursed, barely able to contain his rage. No matter how high the mount’s durability, it was no match for a single line from the system!

Page 2/3

The Blue Melody City branch of Yechua Hotel was a standard five-star establishment, located in the city center—Blue Melody’s largest and most upscale hotel. At this moment, nearly a hundred staff members stood in six rows outside the entrance, listening to the general manager’s speech.

“Everyone, in about ten minutes, our hotel will welcome a very young master chef—someone with the potential to become a grandmaster chef. From now on, what he says in the hotel is as good as my own orders. You must obey him unconditionally, understood?”

“Yes!” The employees were surprised. They hadn’t expected a master chef, let alone one with grandmaster potential, at a mere five-star hotel. Wasn’t that a bit overqualified? Those who worked at five-star hotels had seen a lot; they knew the main distinction between five- and six-star hotels in the Empire was whether a master chef was present. It seemed Yechua Hotel’s Blue Melody branch was about to become a six-star hotel—excellent news! Their salaries and benefits would at least double!

“General Manager Yu, should I give up my position as head chef when the master arrives?” asked Chef Zhang Lang, whose status in the hotel ranked just below the general manager and two deputy managers.

“No need. Chairman Jiang gave strict orders. Master Chen will be named hotel director, equal in rank to me. I’ll prepare a dedicated kitchen for him—he won’t join you,” General Manager Yu replied.

“Alright.” Chef Zhang Lang clicked his tongue. A dedicated kitchen? This master was certainly favored by Chairman Jiang.

“Xiao Lin, is Master Chen’s office ready?” General Manager Yu asked his secretary.

“Manager Zhang, it’s basically ready. Any further adjustments will be made according to Master Chen’s preferences once he arrives,” Secretary Lin replied.

“Good. I trust your work. This task is yours—remember, Master Chen must be satisfied. This isn’t just my instruction; Chairman Jiang emphasized it as well. Understand?”

“I understand. I’ll make sure everything is perfect,” Secretary Lin replied, startled that even such a small matter was under Chairman Jiang’s orders. Just who was this Master Chen, to warrant such attention?

“A blue Maserati, towing a bicycle behind—must be the master...” The general manager, having received advance notice, glanced at the approaching car, steadied himself, and addressed the staff.

“Master Chen is here. He has unusual hobbies—nobody laugh! When his car arrives, clap as hard as you can!”

Unusual hobbies? What did that mean? Before the employees could react, a stunning blue sports car appeared, a long rope tied to its rear, dragging behind it a bicycle reduced to just a frame and a single rear wheel...

Page 3/3