That night, after dinner.
Xiao Xi, having finished washing the dishes, sat on the sofa scrolling through her phone.
Feeling a bit bored, Ye Xinglan quietly wandered into the living room and happened to catch a glimpse of what was on her screen.
“Xiao Xi, I didn’t expect you to actually like this kind of clothes~”
The slightly teasing voice made Xiao Xi snap her phone down onto the table with a smack. “No! It’s not like I like wearing this myself, I’m doing it for work, okay?!”
Su Ying had asked her about holding an opening day event for the cafe.
Since it was a two-dimensional maid cafe, Su Ying wanted her to cosplay a maid character that day.
The two of them had finally settled on Bocchi-chan from Lonely Rock, since in the culture festival episode she happened to wear a maid outfit.
So just now, Xiao Xi had been browsing Taobao.
“What kind of job do you have that requires wearing a maid outfit?”
“Actually, it’s just a normal waitress job… sigh, never mind, you highborn ladies who don’t have to work won’t understand.” Xiao Xi waved her hand dismissively.
“Who said I don’t have to work?” Ye Xinglan said seriously. “I have to collect rent every month, you know? When tenants don’t pay on time, I have to go check on them. It’s really hard work, okay?”
“As long as the tenants pay rent on time, my job as a landlord involves a lot more than that!”
Xiao Xi: “…”
She just felt her fists clench tightly.
Over the next few days, Xiao Xi unexpectedly found herself very busy.
Miss L had called her over twice, both times related to follow-up investigations with the Mang Lang gang.
Unfortunately, Cang Lang hadn’t fully recovered from his transformed state and couldn’t be interrogated yet.
The editor scheduled Xiao Xi a recommendation spot and told her to update more during the promotion period, which meant she was running around nonstop and ended up getting stuck on her story.
But no matter how busy she was, Xiao Xi felt she had to finish everything before the grand opening, otherwise she’d be even busier afterward.
As for Ye Xinglan… over these couple of days, she bought a top-spec desktop computer, had it delivered with same-city express installation, all because she found out the game she’d been playing recently had a PC version.
Looking at her own laptop that she’d been reluctant to replace for years, and then at Ye Xinglan’s casually purchased top-tier desktop, Xiao Xi felt the gap between her and this little rich girl more deeply than ever.
At times like this, you had to learn to find joy in hardship, to console yourself… Xiao Xi thought of the Blood Moon Witch.
Since Miss L said that guy had escaped from the ossuary, the fugitive Blood Moon Witch was probably running scared every day, living on edge, right?
It’s okay, no matter how busy I am, I’m definitely living better than that guy!
On opening day, Xiao Xi didn’t even get a chance to nap at noon.
She hurriedly finished writing today’s update, then glanced at the clock and realized she was almost late.
Damn, if I’m late on my first day of work, I’m definitely going to leave a bad impression on Su Ying!
Xiao Xi quickly changed clothes and shouted towards Ye Xinglan’s room, “I’m off to work!” before rushing out the door.
Fortunately, she just barely made it to the cafe on time.
Because of the opening event, Xiao Xi and Su Ying had agreed to arrive forty minutes early to prepare, so when Xiao Xi got there, the cafe hadn’t opened yet.
But already, small groups of people were gathered by the entrance, and the announcement board for the opening event was posted on the door.
It seemed Su Ying’s advertising efforts over the past two days had been quite successful.
“Xiao Xi, you’re here! Go change in the back first, I’ll do your makeup after you change!”
Xiao Xi, still out of breath, suddenly froze like she’d been petrified.
She realized something — in her rush to leave, she’d forgotten to bring the cosplay outfit!
After hearing Xiao Xi explain, Su Ying’s face showed concern.
“There’s still over half an hour before opening, but that’s definitely not enough time for you to go back, get your outfit, and come back for makeup.”
“How about opening a bit late? Or start normal service and delay the event by half an hour?”
Xiao Xi looked from the counter towards the door — more people were gathered outside than before.
The first event of the opening day was for customers to take photos with the cosplayers, then post pictures from the cafe on three social media platforms to receive a small dessert.
Xiao Xi felt guilty, knowing how important opening day was, but even if she rushed home to get the outfit now, she definitely wouldn’t make it in time… Wait!
Ye Xinglan was still at home!
Suddenly inspired, Xiao Xi said, “Store manager, I’ll have my friend help deliver the outfit. We should still make it in time.”
“That’s great!” Su Ying breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I’ll start your makeup first. You’ll have to get your makeup done before you change. Your friend will be able to get here on time, right?”
Xiao Xi nodded.
There was still half an hour before opening, and even just the one-way trip from her home to the cafe was definitely enough time.
Without wasting any time, Xiao Xi quickly dialed Ye Xinglan’s number.
“Xinglan, do me a favor! Can you check my wardrobe in my room for that…”
Actually, when it came to asking Ye Xinglan to go into her room, Xiao Xi hesitated a little.
After all, last time Ye Xinglan had entered her room, she saw the little royalty novel Xiao Xi had been writing.
And now the house was empty except for Ye Xinglan…
But at a time like this, Xiao Xi couldn’t afford to worry so much.
Besides, she had changed her computer password last time, so there probably wasn’t anything Ye Xinglan could find in her room now, right?
When Xiao Xi’s call came through, Ye Xinglan was deeply engrossed in a game — the PC version of that magical girl game from a few days ago.
Why would Ye Xinglan, who hated magical girls, play a magical girl game?
Because it was a PVP game!
Though she had to control a magical girl character herself, she enjoyed the thrill of beating the opposing magical girls to a pulp!
Couldn’t win? Impossible.
Even if Ye Xinglan lacked skill, did she lack money?
Just pay to upgrade the equipment and characters!
So in the dimly lit room, the keyboard clicked and clattered as Ye Xinglan laughed gleefully with a “Hehehe,” creating an eerie atmosphere.
When Xiao Xi’s call came through, Ye Xinglan was wearing headphones, fiercely battling.
The phone rang three times before she finally noticed and answered, but her eyes never left the screen.
“Xinglan! Do me a favor! Can you bring over the cosplay outfit I bought before? It’s in the wardrobe in my room…”
Through the headphones, Ye Xinglan couldn’t quite hear what Xiao Xi said, but she caught the urgency in her voice.
She took off her headphones and stopped playing, letting the other player drain her health bar to zero.
“You want me to bring it to that cafe where we had that blind date? You went on a blind date again… oh, it’s for work, okay okay, I’m on it.”
After hanging up, Ye Xinglan stretched widely, ready to help Xiao Xi find the outfit.
Come to think of it, this might be the first time she’d ever entered Xiao Xi’s room while she wasn’t home.
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