Pink Lotus Mining Company

Planet 4, Aroma Cafe

I now sits in front of Eli in this cafe. This cafe located right in front of planet 4 station. I places my order, which is the cheapest drink in this place. Eli also places her order, which surprisingly same as mine.

"Well, from where should I start? Long time no see??"

I tried to open conversations.

"Haha, why so formal? Yes, long time no see, it have been around 5 years right?"

"Yeah, about that much, I never see you after we go to university."

"What can I do, our univ break didn't start at same time."

"Ah, something like that did happen. Anyway, what are you doing here? And in planet 3?"

"Can you answer first? I'll answer after."

"Hmm?? Well, okay. I have a mining ship that now in maintenance, it will take 7 days, so I came to planet 3 just to waste time. When I get to planet 3, I just realized there is no entertainment or tourist spot there. Then I decide to go to this planet, searching something fun. Who knows that I would meet with you."

"Mining ship? So you really have mining company huh."

"I have ... until a few days ago, hehe."

"Hmm?? What do you mean?"

I tell her about what happened recently, of course excluding the system.

"But it is okay, I will try restarting again. Anyway, how about you?"

"Hmm??"

"Why are you here? How is life?"

Then she tell me that she life here, at planet 4. She also has a job ... until two months ago. And now she is still searching for one. Earlier today she have interview in planet 3, but she didn't feel confident to get the job. She have been told to go home and search there if she did not get a job.

"We are similar aren't we? Haha ..." I said jokingly trying to refresh the atmosphere, and of course that fail. Luckily at this time, Eli's phone ringing. "Go receive it, I'll just wait here." I said.

Phone shape didn't change much in thousands year. The design and size still have similarities with best phone thousands year ago, of course the display quality, computing speed, and other aspect have totally developed. Actually there have been many new design, but for unknown reason, that didn't sold well. After many failure with that, phone company don't want to make new design again. That is what it said by some article on internet that I read when I was still on way to space terminal.

"Then, excuse me." She then left the table and go to toilet.

Several minutes later.

"Just now mom called. She asked me how is the interview."

"Then?"

"I said, maybe it is not good again. Then she asked when will I go back."

I don't know what to say... Ugh, what should I say...

After a few seconds, she says "Hey, Lean, let me join your company."

"Eh!? What!? Why??"

"You're trying to rebuild it right? Let me join you. I will help you."

She stared at me seriously. Ugh, what to do...

I take a long breath and calms my mind.

"Why? It will be hard, and I still don't have money. I don't even know if I can get more loan to pay your salary."

Before I came to planet 3, I have came to bank and ask if I can get a loan. They said I can, but considering that my income last few months is not good, I can only get around 40000 petals. Combined with my saving that's just 45000 petals. That amount is big, but I have to buy mining area, that cost no less than 30000, even that much money just get you a small area with not so much mineral reserve and far from trading hub. Luckily I still have the mining license because the company is still registered, just the mining area have been bought by another company.

I need worker, that's true, but I don't have money to hire many of them. If I hire a univ graduate, it is a fast way to bankrupt. In my plan, I will just hire two technical high school graduate and slowly expand the business. But, I still don't know what upgraded ship can do, maybe the ship can do more thing with only a little of worker.

I actually considered to sell upgraded ship blueprint so that I'll not take a loan, but after thinking about it again, I know it will not worth much. What kind of company buy a questionable blueprint from a stranger, rather than believing their own research team.

"I can do with no salary for a few months, I still have a saving. I just don't want to go back now... I still want to try living alone.. And in the future, I want to say to my parents 'Look, I, your daughter, have become succes with her own effort.' I don't want to rely to my parent forever. Especially with this job hunting, I have succesfully secure a job before. I want to try a little more before going back home."

"*sigh* Let's calm down first, you said before that you still have another interview next week right? For now just do your best there, I'll also think about whether I can hire you or not. Let's just meet again in 7 days?? How about that? And I think not here, this place is not a good place for talking about private thing."

She look at me and then draw a long breath, calming herself down.

"Well let's just do that." She look around and look at me again, "I want to refresh my mind, want to go together? You came here looking for entertainment right? Sorry I just ruin your day."

"What are you going to do? If it's alcohol then no, I still need to save money."

"Game, how about that? Let's play at my apartment. It's been a long time since we play game together."

"Hmm, maybe I can, but your apartment? Can I? How about your boyfriend?"

"I don't have time for searching both job and boyfriend."

"Well then, let's go?"

"Go! follow me..."

We pay our bill and come out from the cafe. I follow her and chat a little about many game on the way.