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Chapter 880: Ban Kui

"Heh heh, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yang Haoran, and from now on, I'll be your boss."

Seeing Gu Yi's utterly thrilled expression, Yang Haoran didn't dampen her spirits, nor did he make any promises or offer any benefits. He simply smiled as he introduced himself.

"Hello, boss!"

Gu Yi quickly bowed respectfully, her face beaming with joy as she greeted her new boss.

After Yang Haoran agreed to take her on, the stone weighing on Gu Yi's heart finally lifted, and her tense nerves relaxed. Her greeting of "Hello, boss" now carried a vitality that had been missing before.

The way she presented herself before Yang Haoran now was finally how a twenty-year-old girl ought to be.

After that greeting, Gu Yi suddenly recalled something and asked in a somewhat timid voice.

"Boss, um. . . heh heh, I wanted to ask, which of the two positions did I get? Or did I get both?"

"If I gave you both roles, you'd be too swamped. As for the manager position, truthfully, please don't be offended, but you don't quite meet my requirements yet—at least, not your current self. So, I can only offer you a clerk's position."

Upon hearing Yang Haoran's reply, Gu Yi felt a slight flicker of disappointment. If she could, she would naturally have wanted to be the manager.

Despite her slight regret, she was still very grateful to Yang Haoran. After all, Yang Haoran was only hiring two clerks this time, and he had given her one of the positions without even interviewing the other applicants. It was clear he had been exceptionally kind to her.

She wasn't someone to take kindness for granted; she held Yang Haoran's favor deeply in her heart. However, this didn't conflict with her aspiration to become the manager, even though she still had no idea what kind of shop Yang Haoran was opening.

She knew Yang Haoran still had more interviews to conduct, so she didn't badger him. Besides, she wouldn't have dared. She could only temporarily tuck the idea of becoming manager deep in her heart.

"Since the boss is willing to take Gu Yi on, Gu Yi's heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the boss. How could she possibly be angry? " Gu Yi said.

"Heh heh, it's best that you think that way," Yang Haoran said with a smile.

As Gu Yi had no residence and no friends in the Underworld, she didn't leave the room after her successful interview. Instead, she respectfully stood behind Yang Haoran, accompanying her new boss during the ongoing interviews.

Naturally, Gu Yi's ability to remain in the room without leaving was certainly at Yang Haoran's instruction. Otherwise, even if Gu Yi had nowhere to go, she would have chosen to wait outside the door rather than remain inside the room.

Gu Yi's appearance was an unexpected surprise for Yang Haoran, but one that proved to be a boon rather than a burden. At the very least, he had secured a promising new clerk.

When the second applicant entered the room and saw Gu Yi standing behind Yang Haoran, he instantly understood what had transpired, and a look of unconcealed envy flickered in his eyes.

He, who had originally felt a degree of apprehension, couldn't help but feel a sliver of undeserved luck upon seeing Gu Yi's successful interview, assuming that Yang Haoran's requirements for employees weren't as stringent as he had imagined.

The outcome, however, left him feeling quite hurt and disappointed. He had barely finished introducing himself to Yang Haoran after entering the room when Yang Haoran smiled and politely ushered him out, leaving him utterly bewildered.

What this person didn't know was that while he was introducing himself, Yang Haoran had already used his Ghost Eye to peer into his life's past.

In life, this individual had been prone to petty thievery, a recidivist who refused to reform. Everyone was a potential target for him, even lonely elderly folk.

Yang Haoran was about to open a business, and he would often be absent from the shop. Naturally, he wouldn't dare hire someone like that.

Though he had no intention of hiring this person, Yang Haoran didn't speak a harsh word. Instead, he simply smiled and invited him to leave. As for the reason, he offered no explanation, unwilling to waste any more time on the man.

For the remainder of the time, Yang Haoran continued his interviews in the room. As the minutes ticked by, more and more spirits found themselves politely ushered out.

Among the spirits he interviewed, it wasn't as if there were no talents. Some actually possessed genuine abilities, but he dismissed them all. The people he sought to hire this time, whether manager or clerk, had to be beneficial to his shop, or at the very least, to his liking.

Even if some spirits had possessed genuine skills in life, if they offered no benefit and instead posed a detriment to his shop, he naturally wouldn't take them on.

Of course, the most crucial factor was whether they suited his taste. As long as they did, a little double standard wouldn't hurt.

Several hours later, Yang Haoran departed from the Underworld Talent Market. Trailing behind him, besides Gu Yi, was one other person.

This individual appeared to be in his thirties, tall and brawny, with a menacing, almost fiendish look. Even though he now lacked a physical body and was merely a spirit, he still exuded a considerable sense of oppressive presence.

This burly man was the second clerk Yang Haoran had hired after Gu Yi.

The burly man's name was Ban Kui. In life, he had been a private bodyguard. To protect his employer, he was ultimately beaten to death by his opponents. Until his last breath, he never uttered a single plea for mercy, nor did he show any intent to betray his boss.

Ban Kui's hands were stained with blood, and he bore the weight of several lives. While Yang Haoran couldn't be entirely sure, he speculated that this might be Ban Kui's reason for wanting to remain in the Underworld and contribute.

According to the information Yang Haoran gleaned from his Ghost Eye, while Ban Kui had been a capable fighter in life, he was a rigid and inflexible man, prone to adhering strictly to his principles. Such a person would naturally be an excellent bodyguard, but for a clerk, it would be quite problematic.

After all, as a clerk, one must deal with customers, and among them are people of every stripe—some with good temperaments, others with bad. If one were to be rigid about everything, it would very likely lead to unnecessary complications.

Since Yang Haoran was hiring clerks, he naturally sought someone who could read people and handle situations flexibly. Someone with prior experience in the trade would, of course, be even better. Yet Ban Kui was not such a person, but in the end, he still chose him from the numerous applicants.

The reason for this decision was that he valued Ban Kui's loyalty. The man worked diligently and without complaint, doing exactly as his boss instructed. Therefore, even though Ban Kui wasn't the most flexible individual, Yang Haoran ultimately chose him.

Although Yang Haoran had spent a considerable amount of time at the talent market, he had not left empty-handed. At the very least, he had found two clerks he was quite satisfied with.

It was a pity, however, that he hadn't found a manager he was satisfied with. After all, the manager was the linchpin of any shop, and he had to be extremely cautious in his choice.

Walking through the streets of the Underworld, Yang Haoran's face was lost in thought, his mind wandering. Gu Yi and Ban Kui followed closely behind.

Gu Yi glanced left and right, her eyes brimming with unconcealed curiosity. After all, she was still a newcomer to the Underworld; though she had wandered there for some time, there were many places she hadn't visited and many things she hadn't seen. Now, strolling through the streets with Yang Haoran, it was only natural for her heart to swell with wonder at the novel sights.

Ban Kui's reaction was utterly distinct from Gu Yi's. Though his gaze also scanned their surroundings, there was no hint of curiosity in his eyes—only pure vigilance, a watchful eye on everything. He deliberately kept Yang Haoran protected in the safest possible position, constantly adjusting his own stance and distance, whether Yang Haoran turned a corner or slowed his pace, to ensure he could immediately shield Yang Haoran from any sudden danger.

It was entirely normal for him to act this way. After a lifetime spent as a bodyguard, the instinct to protect his employer was etched deep into his soul. Even now, without a physical body and merely a spirit, that fundamental principle remained unchanged.

Who knew how much time had passed when Yang Haoran suddenly stopped, inexplicably shaking his head, a wry smile gracing his lips.

As he halted, Gu Yi and Ban Kui, who were behind him, likewise came to a stop.

"Boss, what's wrong? Do you need to buy something? Just leave that kind of task to me. You've had a long day; you should rest first," Gu Yi said.

Ban Kui remained silent, still vigilantly observing his surroundings.

"Heh heh, I appreciate your kind intentions, but your boss isn't that delicate. However, you mentioning buying things did remind me—I do indeed need to purchase a few items."

Yang Haoran spoke with a smile, then began walking again. Gu Yi felt a flicker of confusion but didn't press for details, quickly falling in behind Yang Haoran.

As for Ban Kui, not only did he not ask any questions, he didn't even show a hint of confusion. His mindset was simple: wherever the boss went, he followed; whoever the boss told him to handle, he handled. Nothing else was within his purview.