“Sis, you worked hard. Welcome home…”
“Sis, there’s a seat over here. Would you like to sit here?”
“Sis, Sis~ These are freshly baked cookies today. They’re really tasty~”
“Sis, your cappuccino. Be careful, it’s hot~”
Cheng Yuexin started bustling around the shop.
She earned smiles and tips from many customers.
Zhang Lan sat at the counter, observing the white-haired girl running back and forth, quite satisfied.
Especially since that outfit perfectly matched her white hair.
The classic black-and-white maid outfit, with delicate lace on the collar and cuffs, and a large bow tied at the waist.
The hem just above the knees, revealing slender calves wrapped in black thigh-high socks.
Her white hair, tied in twin tails, hung down her back.
The most adorable highlight was of course the white cat-ear headband on her head, perfectly matching her snow-white hair and fair face.
Cheng Yuexin had been a bit resistant at first, but with her experience as a catgirl and convincing herself it was just for work, she gradually accepted this catgirl outfit.
Zhang Lan had set her persona as a cute catgirl little sister character.
This outfit perfectly matched that persona.
Moreover, Cheng Yuexin got into character quickly. After being briefed on the work persona, she immediately switched into work mode once she changed clothes.
She was truly a rare talent.
Zhang Lan felt like she had struck gold.
Taking a break from the busy work, Zhang Lan stared intently at Cheng Yuexin and couldn’t help resting her chin on her hand with a sigh.
‘If only I really had a little sister like this.’
Although she was twenty-four years old, she wasn’t married yet, and had just broken up with her boyfriend the month before.
If only I had a little sister like this to comfort me.
Too bad she wasn’t her own sister.
In a break from work, Cheng Yuexin, slightly shy, came to the counter.
Gripping her apron with both hands, she fidgeted and looked at Zhang Lan with uneasy eyes.
“Little Yuexin, what’s wrong? Having a problem?”
“Sis Lan… can I accept tips from customers?”
Zhang Lan nodded.
“Of course. Accepting tips is normal. It means the customers are satisfied with your service.”
Cheng Yuexin nodded with a troubled expression, looked down at the red bills in her hand, didn’t count them, and placed them on the counter.
“But… is it normal to give this much?”
Zhang Lan stared at the stack of bills on the counter, estimating it to be nearly a thousand.
“Hiss…”
Zhang Lan looked at the money tree in front of her, raised a hand, and wiped the corner of her mouth.
She swallowed her saliva, eyes shining.
She had only worked for an hour and already had so many tips.
It wasn’t that she had never seen it before, but it was unprecedented.
She really had struck gold.
Cheng Yuexin looked at Zhang Lan’s happy face, but couldn’t feel happy herself.
“Sis Lan… is this right?”
“Yes, yes. These tips were given to you, so they all belong to you.”
Zhang Lan pushed the bills toward Cheng Yuexin.
Cheng Yuexin stared at the money, eyes wide, then reached out, pressed down on the money, and pushed it back.
This exceeded her understanding of tips.
If you added another hundred or two, it would almost equal the reward for spending a night with Gu Linxue.
These huge tips were like a hot potato in Cheng Yuexin’s eyes.
“Sis Lan… I’d better give it to you. I don’t dare accept it. I’ll go back to work now.”
Cheng Yuexin fled. Zhang Lan looked at the girl’s petite back, her willow-shaped brows furrowing then relaxing.
“Accepting tips, and afraid of getting too much?”
Zhang Lan was dumbfounded.
‘She should be in need of money.’
From the first time she saw Cheng Yuexin, Zhang Lan noticed her simple clothes and appearance.
And the excitement she showed upon hearing the hourly wage of fifty yuan implicitly indicated her need for money.
So now she was actually handing the tips over to her. She couldn’t understand it.
She scratched her head but couldn’t figure it out.
She’d just add these tips to her wages.
…
“Sis, take care. Come again~”
Cheng Yuexin saw off the last customer in the shop.
At that time, she was the only temporary worker still on duty.
Seeing the departing “sisters” all smiling happily, Cheng Yuexin also felt happy.
At least her service could still bring joy to others.
“Whew, it’s over.”
Cheng Yuexin wiped the sweat from her forehead and turned to head to the changing room.
Only after changing into her old clothes and cloth shoes could Cheng Yuexin truly relax.
Although the work wasn’t complicated, the psychological pressure she had to endure was considerable.
Especially having to endure gazes from all directions.
And she also had to constantly remember her persona.
It was truly a tough job.
But the hourly wage was decent enough for her efforts.
“Sis Lan, is the salary paid daily?”
Cheng Yuexin stood in front of the counter again, her eyes showing confusion and a hint of tiredness.
Her mood was relaxed and pleasant.
Who wouldn’t be happy when getting paid?
“Yes, Little Yuexin. This is your pay for today.”
She took the envelope Zhang Lan handed her, with her name written on it.
Her purple eyes blinked in confusion twice. She remembered that when others left, they just took the money without an envelope.
Why was it different for her?
According to her own calculation, it was at most one hundred and twenty-five yuan. Was an envelope necessary?
She pinched it with her small hand, feeling no significant thickness.
About three bills.
That makes sense.
“Thank you, shopkeeper. Is there anything else I can help with?”
Zhang Lan waved her hand, smiling at her.
“I’m almost done cleaning up. It’s getting late, you should go back and rest too.”
Cheng Yuexin nodded and turned to leave.
“By the way, will you come again tomorrow?”
Looking back at Zhang Lan, Cheng Yuexin clutched the envelope and replied with a smile.
“If there are no special circumstances, I’ll come.”
“Alright, take care on the way back.”
“Okay, Sis Lan, get some rest early too.”
After a few exchanges of pleasantries, only a solitary Zhang Lan remained in the café.
Staring in the direction the girl had left, Zhang Lan stirred the hot milk beside her with a dazed look.
‘She must come tomorrow.’
She wanted to know more about the girl’s story.
Maybe tomorrow evening she could keep her for a while, have some desserts and chat.
Rumble!
The sudden thunder startled Zhang Lan, making her hand tremble and her eyes widen.
“Is there a thunderstorm tonight?”
“She didn’t bring an umbrella. I hope she doesn’t get caught in the rain.”
…
On the way back to school, there weren’t many pedestrians on the street.
It was already rest time, and most shops had closed for the night.
Cheng Yuexin opened the envelope and pulled out three hundred-yuan bills, her eyes lighting up.
“Whoa, so much?! Three hundred yuan! Did the shopkeeper miscalculate?”
More than double the income, far exceeding her calculated wage.
The tiredness in her eyes was swallowed up by sudden joy.
The happy, hopping girl now only wanted to share her joy with her only family.
And also say goodnight.
“Sis, are you off work?”
Looking at the time on her phone, it was ten minutes to ten.
“Just got off work. Little sis, guess how much I earned tonight?”
Cheng Yueqing stammered, unable to answer, but from Cheng Yuexin’s joyful tone, it must have been pretty good.
“I can’t guess. Sis, you tell me.”
“Hehe, let me tell you. Your big sis earned three hundred tonight.”
“Wow, sis is so amazing. Great!”
Cheng Yuexin smiled from ear to ear, but when she thought of other things, her smile faded a bit.
“Sis might not have time to visit you these next few days.”
“I know. I know you’re busy. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been preparing for classes lately too.”
Hearing Cheng Yueqing’s calm tone, Cheng Yuexin still felt a sense of indebtedness.
But everything was for a better future.
“Okay, but make sure to rest and recover. You just had surgery, don’t push yourself too hard.”
“It’s fine. The doctor said I’ll be fully recovered in five days. My body heals fast.”
Her little sister had the same talent as her. That was a good thing.
Patter…
In the pitch-black night sky, raindrops as big as beans suddenly came down.
They splashed against her ears.
“Why is it raining?”
Looking up at the sky, she saw the frequency of raindrops quickly increasing.
Cheng Yueqing could also hear the sound of raindrops on her end.
“Sis, did you bring an umbrella?”
“No, I thought it wouldn’t rain.”
Cheng Yuexin quickened her pace. There was no place to take shelter on this road back.
“Is your workplace far from school?”
“Not far. I need to hurry back to the dormitory.”
“Hurry back. The rain is quite heavy.”
Hearing the rain getting louder, Cheng Yuexin quickly tucked the money into her pocket, not wanting it to get wet.
A gust of strong wind blew, forcing Cheng Yuexin to stop and steady herself.
Hearing the howling wind from the phone, Cheng Yueqing couldn’t help frowning slightly.
“Then I’ll hang up now. Sleep early. Goodnight.”
“Mm, goodnight, sis.”
Ending the call, without time to think, Cheng Yuexin jogged all the way back to the dormitory.
Running back from here would take at least ten minutes.
The rain was pattering, and lightning and thunder began in the sky.
Startled, Cheng Yuexin shuddered and slowed her steps for a moment.
One after another, raindrops as big as beans pelted her body, the chill penetrating her clothes and invading her skin.
“Oh no, the rain is going to get heavier. Run!”