Chapter 345: Lazy

Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Lazy

His hair was a messy bird’s nest, and his clothes were spattered with oil.

He peeked outside and sighed in relief when he saw no customers had arrived yet. He was just about to go back and lie down.

Just then, he locked eyes with Lily Hart, who was arranging scratch-off tickets. She gave him an exasperated look, her lips pursed.

’It’s only been a few days, and he’s already let himself get into this state again?’

’He doesn’t change his clothes, doesn’t wash his hair... anyone who didn’t know better would think I was mistreating him.’

’No, that’s not right. No one would know. He never comes out.’

’Damn it!’

Old Man Keaton met her disgusted gaze, retreated without a care, and went back to his small bed to lie down again.

He had only come out to open the door.

Lily Hart huffed softly and continued arranging the scratch-off tickets. ’I need to find a chance to figure out what this old man’s deal is.’

’He’s just too filthy. He’s dragging down the class of my lottery shop.’

Customers began to trickle in, so Lily Hart couldn’t spare the mental energy to dwell on it. She got busy selling tickets and Super Lottos.

The breakfast shop was also packed with people. To get things up and running smoothly, Lily Hart hadn’t changed the part-time staff.

It was still the same six people from yesterday. They were doing a great job—quick and nimble, and they didn’t slack off.

They were the kind of employees every boss loves.

She even wanted to hire them as long-term employees. That way, she wouldn’t have to find new staff every time she moved to a new base.

Otherwise, Lily Hart would have to retrain everyone each time, and just when they finally got the hang of things, it would be time to move again.

’Talk about making things unnecessarily hard for herself.’ She immediately retracted her previous idea of hiring new part-timers every day!

’This way, it’s easier for everyone. I’ll go ask them later if they’re willing to be long-term employees!’

Lily Hart was always one to act on an idea immediately. She instantly handed the Super Lotto machine over to Tina Jacobs.

She hurried downstairs, but it was already too crowded, and the staff was swamped.

She had no choice but to turn and knock on Old Man Keaton’s door. He refused to open it with so many people outside.

Lily Hart simply pulled out her key, shouting as she did, "I’m coming in! Make sure you’re dressed."

A rustling sound immediately came from inside. Lily Hart opened the door and went in, greeted by a faint stench that filled the air.

She put her hands on her hips, feeling the urge to curse him out again. But remembering the customers outside and not wanting to disturb them, she shut the door behind her.

"You old man, what in the world are you trying to do?!"

The moment the door was shut, Lily Hart planted her hands on her hips and let him have it. In her anger, the smell in the room seemed to grow even stronger.

’This room doesn’t even have a window, not a single spot for ventilation. It’s one thing when there are customers, but he keeps it sealed like this in the afternoon when there’s no one, too.’

Lily Hart had only been in here for a short while, but she already felt like she was suffocating.

Old Man Keaton was completely bundled up in his blanket, forming a lump. He didn’t make a sound, simply letting her say her piece.

She looked down and operated her Light Brain, adding a small window to the room, and then a private bathroom.

’Initially, I didn’t put a bathroom in here because I wanted him to go to the public bathhouse, to get him to go out and walk around more.’

’Who knew this guy wasn’t having any of it? He just refuses to bathe, barely even uses the toilet, and just holes up in this little room all day.’

’He grabs a few buns before the customers arrive, eats them for breakfast, eats them for lunch, and eats them for dinner. Buns, all day long.’

Lily Hart was at her wits’ end with him.

She took two steps forward, posturing as if to rip his blanket off, and even gave him a warning, "Get up and go take a shower right now, or I’m ripping this blanket off you!"

Old Man Keaton didn’t budge.

Lily Hart reached out and grabbed the corner of the blanket. It felt slightly greasy and a bit sticky, and she couldn’t help but feel a wave of revulsion.

’In my mind, I was going to yank it off in one go and throw the blanket on the floor with a SWISH. But I can’t even move it?’

She looked closer and saw that Old Man Keaton was gripping the corner of the blanket tightly from inside.

"!!" Furious, Lily Hart yanked again with all her might. The blanket loosened slightly.

She took a deep breath and nearly fainted from the stench. ’Better to just hold my breath.’

Lily Hart took a step back, letting go of the blanket. "Alright, alright. Let’s you and I have a proper talk."

"Tell me, what is it you’re trying to do? Why do you insist on making yourself look so slovenly? Did you make enemies outside? Is that why you can’t show your face, or you’ll be captured?"

"Or did you leave a trail of broken hearts out there, and you’re afraid someone will hunt you down to settle the score if you go out? Or is it a money debt?!"

"Or do you think this makes you look tough?! Like someone not to be messed with?!"

She couldn’t think of any other reasons.

Lily Hart stood with her hands on her hips, launching a verbal assault, nagging relentlessly. It was one thing that this guy wouldn’t show his face to run the breakfast shop.

She was the one who had to handle hiring part-timers, creating the menu, and setting the prices.

The only effort he’d put in was scratching off the ticket for the breakfast shop.

She could let that slide; after all, their initial agreement was that he wouldn’t have to show his face. But could he at least clean himself up?

’If this keeps up, the stench is going to spread outside sooner or later. How are the customers supposed to eat then?’

’The customer experience is an important factor, you know!’

The more Lily Hart thought about it, the angrier she got. She kept up her tirade until Old Man Keaton finally poked his head out from under the covers.

His eyes were ringed with wrinkles, and his sagging skin gave them a slightly triangular shape.

Lily Hart met those somewhat ancient eyes and was suddenly reminded of her own grandfather. She froze. ’Never mind, never mind... he’s an old man, after all...’

"It’s none of those..." Old Man Keaton said weakly.

Lily Hart suddenly felt she had been too harsh. Just as she was about to soften her tone and try to persuade him gently, she heard him say:

"I’m just a lazy person. Too lazy to move, too lazy to wash my hair or shower, too lazy to clean myself up. If Boss Hart can’t stand it, why not just fire me?"

’I don’t want to run a breakfast shop anyway,’ he thought. ’Other than having buns to eat every day and a bed to sleep in...’

’...a roof over my head to shelter me from the elements, and not having to live in fear every day... ’

’...besides that, there’s nothing really appealing about it...’

’Besides, Boss Hart doesn’t like me. It’s all the same to her whether I’m here or not. She might as well get someone else to run the breakfast shop properly.’

He thought this, deceiving himself, while carefully observing Lily Hart’s expression.

Lily Hart was so angry she laughed. "You think I don’t want to?" His indifferent, I’m-a-lost-cause-anyway attitude had pushed her to the point of exasperated laughter.

She had barely said a thing, and now *he* was the one acting all wronged.

"Since Boss Hart feels the same way, that’s even better. I’ll pack my things and leave right now."

With that, Old Man Keaton made a show of getting up. Lily Hart didn’t move, just watched from the side with her arms crossed.

She watched him throw back the blanket, finally leaving his "pigsty," and slowly start to pack his things.

But in reality, besides the cloth sack and its contents, nothing else in the room belonged to him.

Even the clothes on his back were bought by Lily Hart, to say nothing of the bed, the blanket, and the pillow.

Lily Hart just watched. ’Let’s see what you’re actually going to pack.’

Old Man Keaton looked around the room and finally noticed the newly added bathroom, freezing by the side of the bed.

Lily Hart snorted. ’He finally sees it. An old man’s eyesight really is terrible.’

"..." Old Man Keaton looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself. Instead, he picked up the cloth sack from beside his pillow.

He took a few slow steps toward the door, his back radiating hesitation, as if he were waiting for something.