Prodigal System in the Flourishing City
Chapter 459 - 457: Turning the Tables [5th Update for the Sparkling Reward Bonus]

Chapter 459: Chapter 457: Turning the Tables [5th Update for the Sparkling Reward Bonus]

Lu Xiaobu’s smile grew wider as he looked at Tang Geng’s previous works.

Definitely, this is the kind of talent he was looking for.

"You will be in charge of creating emoticons from now on, and as for the salary..." Lu Xiaobu thought for a moment and then said to Liang Lan, "Sister Lan, you arrange it."

"Yes, Young Master."

Liang Lan nodded.

"This task?"

Tang Geng was utterly baffled: "But, Mr. Lu, no one understands these things I make, and they don’t like them either."

"That’s just because they don’t understand," Lu Xiaobu waved his hand dismissively. "Their thinking has been set in stone. Don’t pay them any mind. You just do your thing, I’ll take care of using them!"

"Alright then."

Tang Geng was still confused.

He had grown accustomed to being criticized, so now, suddenly hearing someone praising his work as good was truly overwhelming.

"Off you go."

Lu Xiaobu couldn’t be bothered to explain: "Oh, and don’t force yourself. Emoticons without soul are worthless. You should be aware of our working style here; it’s flexible. There’s no demand on volume, but the quality must be good."

"Yes!"

Tang Geng immediately responded.

Although puzzled, he could only agree.

With Tang Geng’s matter temporarily settled, Lu Xiaobu did not immediately start using the emoticons.

After all, emoticons are a novel concept in this world and have not yet developed a culture of image-based chat battles like on Earth. Its sudden emergence would likely not be embraced by everyone.

Many people surely don’t understand - what’s there not to accept about image battles?

That’s because you are accustomed to image battles, to the culture around them, and even to being born into a world where this culture already exists.

In fact, most of the cheeky and cutesy images we now use came about after post-90s and post-00s users entered the internet and became the mainstream, gradually shaping the culture.

There were emoticons before, but most of them were pretty standard.

For example:

Hello.jpg.

A beautiful wish for you.jpg.

Cheers to our friendship.jpg.

But if you introduce our current mainstream image battle culture to a different era—like the present day on the planet Water Qi—it would be seen as an oddity, much like how the non-mainstream culture of the post-90s was criticized. It’s not just misunderstood, it can even spark disgust.

This is precisely the reasoning behind the lack of understanding for Tang Geng’s ahead-of-his-time emoticons.

Therefore, to truly make image battle culture mainstream, an opportunity is needed.

However, it’s apparent that some people won’t wait for Lu Xiaobu’s opportunity.

"Young Master, it’s a call from Lin Feng."

Liang Lan handed over the phone.

"What’s up?"

Lu Xiaobu was clearly irritated: "Why are you all over me like some clingy woman? I’m not into guys, OK? If you’re into men, I could introduce someone to you."

You all know who I’d introduce, right?

Cough, cough, cough!

"Go to hell! I don’t like men either!" Lin Feng was livid.

Damn it, getting roasted by this kid the second the call connects.

Really!

"Spill it. If you’re thinking about involving me with the Lin Family’s affairs, don’t even think about it, OK?"

Lu Xiaobu cut off Lin Feng’s path right away.

He knew this guy’s mind was fixated on that.

"It’s not about that. You’re now at the top of the wealth rankings, and you’ve got a yacht. Aren’t you going to invite us to have some fun?"

Lin Feng said earnestly.

"Have fun?"

Lu Xiaobu frowned, he always had the feeling Lin Feng was up to something.

Have fun, and he’s inviting him to have fun? Were those words Lin Feng could actually say?

What a joke!

"Not interested!" Lu Xiaobu flatly refused.

"There’s a bomb on your yacht that your people can’t find."

Lin Feng said languidly.

He had been wary of Lu Xiaobu all along.

"Doesn’t matter, I’m not on the ship anyways."

A pang of alarm struck Lu Xiaobu’s heart, but his face remained nonchalant as he spoke.

"Yes, you’re not on the ship, but if I remember correctly, the yacht I gave to you is still docked in the harbor, right?"

Lin Feng continued leisurely, "There seems to be quite a few people there! If something were to happen here... huh huh!"

"Do you think I would care?"

Lu Xiaobu snorted with laughter. "Do I look like a saint to you?"

"No, of course not, but if there really was an explosion, the Lu Family wouldn’t be able to escape responsibility, unless you could shake the Lin Family."

Lin Feng put the cigar that the butler had handed him, at its perfect moment for smoking, into his mouth, took a puff, and savored the smoke curling in his mouth, speaking blissfully.

"Do you want us to go down together? When the time comes, you’ll be nothing but a pawn. Do you think the Lin Family will protect you?"

Lu Xiaobu’s eyes narrowed.

An invisible spark of electric tension started to clash at both ends of the phone.

"No, of course not. Do you think I lack the courage to go down together?" Lin Feng laughed, put down the cigar, and slumped into the couch.

"To be honest, I really do want to kill you!"

Lu Xiaobu’s eyes revealed a murderous intent.

Every time he was threatened by this bastard, one day, he’d like to slap this guy in the face with his slipper.

"I know, it’s not the first or second time. Go ahead, kill me if you can, it would still be a case of ’both the fish and the net get destroyed’. I don’t care."

Lin Feng carelessly picked up a glass of red wine, swirled it, took a sip, and relished the supreme experience of a top-notch wine blended with a top-notch cigar, indulging in the exceptional comfort.

"Damn it!"

Lu Xiaobu cursed angrily: "Time, place, how many people?"

"Tomorrow, meet at the harbor. As for the number of people, don’t worry about it, just make sure the yacht is fully stocked with food and drink, it will definitely be enough." Lin Feng still maintained his eternally secretive demeanor.

He had suffered too many losses at the hands of Lu Xiaobu; he had to be extremely careful, keeping as many cards in hand as possible, never revealing them carelessly.

Otherwise, even the slightest mistake could be exploited by Lu Xiaobu as leverage.

"Oh, I just remembered something."

Lu Xiaobu’s lips suddenly curled into a smile.

Lin Feng, sorry, but it seems today I still need to turn the tables.

"What is it?"

Lin Feng said indifferently.

He was still basking in the pleasure of having Lu Xiaobu firmly under his thumb.

That made him involuntarily take another puff of his cigar.

"You haven’t forgotten, you still owe me a favor, have you? What if I ask you to disarm the bomb? Will you agree?!"

Lu Xiaobu’s lips twisted into a cold smirk.

Lin Feng, you think you can compete with me?!

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Feng, who had just inhaled from his cigar, immediately choked and coughed violently.

Tears nearly came out with the coughing.

He hadn’t expected Lu Xiaobu to pull this move?!

Shit!

Damn it, if that’s the case, his entire plan would be ruined!

He had never thought Lu Xiaobu would resort to this tactic.

Of course, he remembered that incident: it was when Lu Xiaobu had him crouch down to smoke a cigar and then used a photo to threaten him!

He could choose to deny the debt or give up the plan.

Which one would he choose!?

Give up the plan!

Lin Feng had his pride; he wouldn’t play such dishonorable tricks.

"Fine! Yes!" Lin Feng gritted his teeth and said: "Plan canceled!"

Damn! Damn! Damn!

Lin Feng’s mind was raging with fury!