Chapter 15: Found a Job

It seems like she hasn’t talked to anyone.

This is pretty similar to my past self?

(Judging by the number of friends and times spoken)

No, wait, it’s a world apart—a cool, beautiful girl versus a shut-in child.

Sigh.

“They’ve all left.”

Su Xiaoxiao looked back at the classroom.

Now, only four people remained, still studying.

Two of them were there at noon, too—probably workaholics.

The other two were secretly playing on their phones, likely wanting to have a little fun before leaving.

Staring at the classroom, Su Xiaoxiao inexplicably felt a bit lonely inside.

She rarely felt this way before.

Thanks to this new beginning, she had made friends and experienced many novel feelings, but at the same time, new emotions she hadn’t known before had also emerged.

“Time to go. Pack the bag and find a job.”

Thinking about the evening and what came next, Su Xiaoxiao slowly made her way down the stairs at the end of the corridor to the first floor.

Since it was after school, the area downstairs was bustling.

Some were playing badminton with rackets in the open space, while others were moving around in groups, perhaps participating in some Club Activity like Xiao Li.

“Club!”

Suddenly, Su Xiaoxiao seemed to remember something.

“Did that guy this morning tell me to find him and join the club?”

She recalled the boy named Fei something from the morning—a senior in Class 5, Grade 11.

He said he was the Vice President of the Photography Club.

“I wasn’t planning on joining, but honestly, I’m interested in learning about clubs and such….”

With that thought, maybe she could even join Xiao Li’s club…

The somewhat naive Su Xiaoxiao thought so.

“Forget it. I’ll ask Xiaoyun about it later. She should know something.”

Watching students coming and going, Su Xiaoxiao strolled toward the School gate.

One major difference from before was that now she had to slightly look up at them.

Her estimated height wasn’t very tall.

“Ugh… My eyes…”

Walking along the familiar path, Su Xiaoxiao accidentally caught sight of a scene that made her heart ache.

It was a couple, holding hands and sitting intimately on a bench beneath Leifeng Building.

The sight made Su Xiaoxiao instantly avert her gaze.

“Tsk… Move, move!”

Under their gaze, Su Xiaoxiao quickly slipped away.

Few people usually walked this road, but she often used it herself.

After about ten minutes, Su Xiaoxiao finally reached the Street outside the School.

The place was crowded, as most adults and students were getting off work or out of class at this hour (excluding 996 overtime workers).

“So many people… Should I start looking now?”

Her vision was a bit unfocused.

After so many failures, she honestly felt a little reluctant to keep searching.

But she still wanted to survive.

If she didn’t search, she would have no money, nothing at all.

“I’ll just look on this side of the street near the school today. Didn’t find anything on the other side yesterday…”

The persistent girl once again set off in search of a part-time evening job.

There were many people on the road, but with a clear goal, Su Xiaoxiao’s route gradually became more direct.

After trying seven or eight places, someone finally agreed to talk to her.

“Are you sixteen?”

A tired-looking woman stared at Su Xiaoxiao.

She wore a red top and black pants, and appeared to be nearing forty.

“Mm, mm, I’m exactly sixteen!”

Su Xiaoxiao replied quickly, afraid to lose this opportunity.

This was the first time anyone had asked her age.

A good sign!

“Is that so? I wouldn’t have guessed.”

The mature woman stood in place, scrutinizing the youthful-looking girl.

“Really, I’m not lying. I’m a high school student. If you don’t believe me, I can show my ID Card.”

Su Xiaoxiao spoke seriously, trying her best to appear earnest.

“Hmm… Okay, do you have time later?”

The Manager seemed to believe her, asking for the girl’s opinion.

“I do. I’m available anytime.”

“Alright, come over and fill out some paperwork. We’ll discuss the specific job details in a moment.”

“Okay.”

Following the woman, Su Xiaoxiao nearly jumped for joy on the spot but restrained herself since she was in public.

***

“That’s about it. Since you’re a student, from Monday to Friday, 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM, fifty yuan per day. Is that acceptable?”

The woman finished the paperwork and explained the working hours.

Fifty. So much.

That’s more than enough….

Back at the factory, her parents didn’t even give her that much combined.

Unbelievable.

“No problem!”

Without hesitation, Su Xiaoxiao nodded twice, showing her sincerity.

Right…

“Um, can I get today’s fifty in advance? I don’t have money for dinner.”

As the Manager was about to leave, Su Xiaoxiao tugged her sleeve pitifully.

“Eh, you don’t have money for food?”

The woman turned around, a bit surprised.

In her mind, weren’t high schoolers all pampered by their parents nowadays?

How could this happen?

No matter how tough things got, shouldn’t they at least have enough to eat?

And such a pretty girl, too.

“Yes…”

“Alright, here you go.”

The Manager was kind-hearted.

She took out a fifty-yuan note from her wallet and placed it in Su Xiaoxiao’s hand.

“Thank you! I’ll work hard!”

Upon seeing the money, Su Xiaoxiao bowed deeply.

She was practically a lifesaver…

“But honestly. If you go after a guy and flirt a little, you wouldn’t have to worry about these things.”

“When I was young, I did that from time to time, hahaha.”

The Boss Lady patted Su Xiaoxiao’s shoulder.

Although she looked older now, with wrinkles on her face, from her demeanor, she must have been a woman with a story in her youth.

Ugh, flirting with guys?

That would be even worse.

She might as well go film herself eating in a bathroom for views.

Directly the old number nine.

“Mm…”

Not wanting to say anything, Su Xiaoxiao just bowed her head and listened to the Boss Lady.

“Alright, that’s enough. I’m leaving too. Keep an eye on things here. I’ll be back at 10:30.”

With those words, the Manager’s figure disappeared, seemingly off to handle other matters.

“Okay, time to get ready for work.”

Seeing customers entering the store, she decided to head to the counter and prepare.

Even though it was nearly 6:30, the place was crowded.

If she worked hard, it would be a tough job.

“Hey, help me check the total, will you?”

While she was zoning out, a voice called out from inside the store.

“Coming!”

“Oh, a new hire?”

The previously impatient customer seemed to take interest.

“Yes, just started.”

She answered enthusiastically, trying not to seem too introverted.

“Beep~ beep~”

She picked up the scanner and began scanning the food.

“That’ll be 27 yuan.”

“Okay.”

He used his phone to scan the WeChat QR code, confirmed the payment with the girl, and then left leisurely.

One customer gone, another arrived…

“Beep~”

This was Su Xiaoxiao’s first time working seriously, and doing it non-stop was actually pretty tiring.

***

“Standing is exhausting. Can I take a break?”

After nearly three hours, her legs were sore.

But every time she tried to rest, more people showed up, leaving her no time to sit.

“How much are these in total?”

Suddenly, a stack of instant noodles and snacks appeared in Su Xiaoxiao’s tired field of vision.

“Beep~”

“This comes to…”

As she looked up, Su Xiaoxiao saw her again.

Her black, abyss-like eyes stared directly at Su Xiaoxiao, waiting to pay.

Her elegant black hair was as radiant as the night before, draped over her shoulders.

Her cold expression sent chills down Su Xiaoxiao’s spine.

“35 yuan.”