Xu Tian’s eyebrows wrinkled but it only lasted for a second before his expression returned to his usual professional one. “Sir, I don’t suggest for you to do that. Examining hundreds of thousands of submissions, maybe even a million if CEO Hou Liang’s projection proves to be correct, is just not possible to finish by yourself in time before the year ends.”
Jin Liwei nodded and continued tapping his fingers on his desk, thinking. “I’m well aware of that. I wasn’t expecting for that many entries to join my special contest either.”
His eyes glanced at his AI daughter who was chasing after a virtual ball in his computer screen. Then an idea hit him. “Ketchup.”
The white cat AI immediately stopped playing and sat on her fluffy butt. “Yes, Daddy? Meow~”
“Do you think that your company can hire a large number of temporary virtual assistants to help me filter through the entries for my special contest? I’ll write down a list of guidelines for them to follow on how to choose the best entries. This should make my final choices easier.”
“President, are you still planning on choosing the final winners by yourself?” Xu Tian asked.
“Of course. I’m the one who’s officially hosting this special contest in honour of my wife, so I should be the one who chooses the winners in the end. I’m only going to choose the most deserving ones—the ones who praise my wife the best.”
“Understood, President.”
Jin Liwei turned his attention to Ketchup who had her furry little head tilted to the side just like her mother, looking very adorable by doing so. “So what do you think, Ketchup? Can you do it? It’s urgent so it’s better if it’s done as soon as possible.”
“How long will the job last, Daddy? Meow~”
“Hmm. A couple of weeks or so. Since it’s my contest, I’ll be the one to pay the temporary workers. Treat this job as a commission from me to your White Tigress company. I’ll not only pay the temporary workers the overtime rate but also a holiday rate because we need them on such short notice. Of course, your company will also get a commission fee on top of that.”
At that moment, Bacon reappeared next to Ketchup and told her, “Hire me as a temporary worker in your company. I want to see how creative the participants are in praising Mother in their entries. And of course, my main reason is to help Father narrow down the entries to the very best so that he can have an easier time in choosing the final winners.”
Ketchup snickered. “Bacon, you little liar! You just want your cute and mighty Big Sister Ketchup to hire you because you overheard Daddy say that he’ll pay the overtime and holiday rates. Hihihi! Meow~”
Jin Liwei’s mouth twitched. He agreed with his AI daughter but didn’t point it out. “Bacon, did your mom arrive at Orchidia Beauty yet?”
Bacon shrank his little furry head to his fluffy neck. “Not yet, Father.”
After his surprising meltdown earlier, Bacon now began to show a little more expressions in front of family members instead of just his usual stone face.
“Don’t worry, Daddy! The cute and mighty Ketchup is still accompanying Mommy and Uncle Dom—and oh, my little human twin siblings, too! They’re all okay! Meow~”
“Good.” Jin Liwei nodded, relieved.
“Father, may I also work at Big Sister Ketchup’s company as a temporary worker?” The black cat AI’s tail swished back and forth in hopefulness.
“You’re still grounded.”
Bacon’s tail drooped. “Oh.”
Jin Liwei felt his heart softening. He couldn’t really make himself act too strict on his AI son right now especially after what happened earlier and discovering how sensitive Bacon actually was. Fine, then. If it was only for today, he would let it slide.
It was good to be strict on one’s children but being too strict wasn’t good either. Just look at how miserable and suffocated his wife felt in her past life by how her mother Madam Vetrova raised her. There needed to be a balance on how to raise happy children who loved and respected their family.
“Alright,” he finally said. “Ketchup, hire your little brother. But make sure to keep an eye on him. He’s still grounded…well, semi-grounded.”
“Aye aye, Daddy! Please help Ketchup draw a suitable contract for the temporary workers. Meow~”
Jin Liwei sent Xu Tian a meaningful glance.
Xu Tian stepped forward. “Let me take care of the contract template, Young Miss Ketchup. I’ll have it ready by the end of the workday.”
“Thanks, Tiantian! Ehehe. Meow~”
Bacon’s tail rotated into blur. “Thank you, Father.”
Ketchup faced him and puffed out her fluffy white chest. “Jin Bacon, you’re hired! After signing the employment contract, you’ll officially become a temporary worker at my White Tigress International Virtual Assistant Services. Yay! This is super-duper to the highest level exciting! Meow~”
“Big Sister Ketchup is known as Kitty Jin in your company. Bacon also wants to be known by an English name.”
“What name does my little kitty brother want? Oh oh oh! What about Pussy Jin? Then we kitty siblings will be the most perfect combination ever! Meow~”
Xu Tian couldn’t stop himself from releasing a bark of laughter before quickly disguising it as a loud cough. “Excuse me. The weather is cold….”
Unlike his assistant, Jin Liwei was able to restrain himself from reacting and maintained a rather calm expression. His mouth only twitched again but that was it. He looked at his AI son and was sure that Bacon would detest Ketchup’s suggestion.
Bacon, however, tilted his furry head to the side. “Should Bacon use Pussy Jin?”
“Do it, Bacon! Then we’ll become known as the Team Kitty and Pussy Siblings! Amazing, right? Meow~”
Xu Tian started another coughing fit but stopped after receiving a frosty look from his big boss.
Jin Liwei finally couldn’t take it anymore. “There’s no way I’m allowing you to use that name. Absolutely not!”
This time, both Ketchup and Bacon tilted their furry little heads at the same time in an identical movement.
“Aaaw! But Daddy, it’s the perfect name for Ketchup’s little kitty brother! It matches Ketchup’s English name, Kitty Jin! Meow~”
“Why not, Father? Bacon thinks that Pussy Jin is good.”
