First-Year Internship—And You Went to Site 749 to Contain Monsters?!

Once they arrived, they gave Cao Ying’s membership number and password and got through the gate.

As soon as they entered,

They saw the Prodigy Ranking displayed on the wall.

Next to it were the odds.

A sign posted nearby read: Final results determine payouts.

Lu Ding first place: 2-to-1. Lu Ding second: 1.5-to-1. Lu Ding third: 1.1-to-1. Lu Ding fourth: 4-to-1.

Betting cap: one billion.

Seeing that, Bai Hemen asked, “Why does fourth place pay out more than first?”

“They’re baiting fools.”Lu Ding explained, “If they dared open betting, they definitely assessed my strength. Without stored power, top three is the most likely outcome for me.”

“Fourth or fifth is more controversial, but internally they probably decided those odds were lowest.”

“So they set the highest payouts on fourth and fifth to lure in idiots and make money off them.”

“And by putting a cap, they’re making sure I can’t throw the match.”

If there were no cap and someone bet hundreds of billions, then Lu Ding threw the match on the highest payout... Tianxia Hui would be screwed.

“There are that many fools?”

Bai Hemen had just said that when, what a coincidence—

Someone in the lobby said, “Support! Gotta support my cousin holding Lu Ding to fourth! I’m putting ten million on Lu Ding getting fourth!!”

The “cousin” he mentioned was none other than Luo Ping, ranked third on the Prodigy Ranking.

Lu Ding spread his hands to match the comment.

“See? Jumped right out on their own.”

With that, Lu Ding and Bai Hemen headed to the second floor.

Two whole Wrathful Qing Chickens first—stewed whole, one per person!!

Then they flipped through the menu. There was a note that read: All ingredients are legally and ethically sourced. We accept all inspections and inquiries.

Charcoal-Grilled White Muntjac (whole)

Ordered—to see what the fuss was.

Monkey Wine (Ten-Year Vintage)

Ordered—to try it out.

Centennial Spring Tree (crafted with thirty kinds of rare spiritual ingredients)

“Xiaobai, look, a whole tree!”

“A tree? Trees are food now?” Bai Hemen was a bit dazed. His worldview couldn’t keep up—trees were dishes now?

Lu Ding didn’t care. Price was reasonable. He’d just exchange some items with contribution points and give them to Cao Ying later.

Just because Cao Ying said it was his treat didn’t mean Lu Ding could go overboard.

“Order it and we’ll see what it’s about.”

He was curious too—how did they turn a tree into food?

They quickly finished ordering.

Lu Ding called the waiter over and said, “Put me down for Lu Ding taking first place—one billion.”

Bai Hemen chimed in right after: “Same here—one billion on first.”

Then slapped his bank card onto the table.

Pa!

Lu Ding slowly turned his head, a little surprised. “Didn’t your grandma say gambling was bad?”

Bai Hemen sat up straight: “Grandma also said, a man must know how to seize opportunity. If you don’t make the cut when you should, you’ll regret it. If you don’t know the result, it’s gambling. But if you do know, then it’s investing.”

Lu Ding squinted suspiciously.

Why did it feel like Xiaobai could quote grandma on literally anything?

“She really said that? Your grandma knows a lot.”

Bai Hemen: “Grandma is very learned.”

Lu Ding bought it.

Then asked, “Didn’t you say you were broke?”

Bai Hemen had a ready answer: “I didn’t have money, but when I saw you borrowing some, I borrowed too. I know the outcome, so it’s an investment—I’ll pay it back right after. That’s finance.”

“Wait—your grandma knows finance?!”

Lu Ding’s voice shot up.

This time, Bai Hemen shook his head: “That wasn’t grandma. That was from a book. You told me to read more last time—this is from reading.”

Lu Ding let out a breath of relief. Thank god that wasn’t from grandma. If she knew finance, she wouldn’t just be Bai Hemen’s grandma anymore.

She’d be Schrödinger’s Grandma—both omniscient and unstable.

But still—

“Don’t just read anything. Why finance? You trying to start a company as a CEO now?”

Bai Hemen gave a half-understood nod: “Oh~ then I won’t read finance anymore.”

In his head, he made up his mind to throw those books out when he got home. The bookshelf next to them had philosophy.

Next time, he’d read philosophy.

After they placed their bets,

The food arrived!!!

A massive two-meter-wide platter with a whole roasted white muntjac,

A group of people carried in the Centennial Spring Tree,

And in front of each of them sat a giant clay pot—each holding a whole stewed Wrathful Qing Chicken.

Along with monkey wine in emerald jade bottles.

And then—they dug in!

A swig of wine, a mouthful of meat, chopsticks and spoons working like blenders—shoveling it in nonstop. They went all in.

The flavor? Beyond words—pure bliss blooming on the tongue.

In that moment, Lu Ding truly realized—

All his days before now had been hard times.

No wonder food ranks first among all vices.

He remembered seeing something online about the Engel coefficient. Basically, it’s the percentage of a person’s total spending that goes to food.

Lower Engel = richer country.

Most countries were in the teens.

But the Han Empire? Thirty to forty percent.

Back then, Lu Ding had scoffed. Now, he was really scoffing.

Old man Engel, what do you know? Living on dry bread and wilted lettuce—how dare you run your mouth.

You don’t even understand spicy konjac snacks.

And you’re doing data research?

Let’s not even talk about this feast—on delivery apps, there are twenty-off-nineteen coupons. Who wouldn’t go nuts?

Do you even know what Crazy Thursday is?!

While Lu Ding was thinking all this, his mouth and hands never stopped.

They ate straight into the evening—so full they could barely move.

Then they went downstairs for some air, to digest and sober up a little.

Bai Hemen, slightly flushed from the monkey wine, had a bit more guts than usual. His usual timidity pushed back by alcohol.

His words got bolder.

“I don’t wanna eat again for the rest of my life.”

Right after he said that, the breeze hit him and he hiccuped.

Rolling up his sleeves, he pointed ahead: “Let’s go! Time to pick up Director Ren’s daughter. I’d like to see who dares mess with her today. Lu Ding, don’t make a move—watch me.”

Lu Ding followed behind: “Slow down.”

“Next time, I’m not letting you drink again.”

“Slow down, that’s a flowerbed—don’t run into it!!”

And so, the two made their way toward Yunmeng No. 5 High.

They waited a while after arriving—just in time for dismissal.

Their eyes scanned the crowd.

About half an hour passed.

Most students had already left when finally, a girl came walking out slowly, eyes scanning cautiously around her.

This was Ren Tong’s daughter.

Ren Shuang.

A few hundred meters from the school gate,

She passed by a side alley.

From around the corner, two girls and two boys stepped out, smiling, eyes locked onto Ren Shuang. Not far ahead was the corner.

One boy with a cigarette in his mouth said, “Let’s go—follow her. We’ll grab her once she’s past the corner—no one can see there.”

The four followed closely, watching Ren Shuang turn the corner.

Just as they moved in—

They turned the corner—and their view opened up.

Standing beneath the streetlamp, arms crossed, were Lu Ding and Bai Hemen, blocking the way.

Ren Shuang stood nervously behind them, reached between the two and pointed at the boy with the cigarette: “It’s him. He keeps trying to get me to hang out, I’ve turned him down so many times. I said no, but he keeps harassing me.”

“This afternoon he even said he’d be waiting outside school to block me.”