Watching Madam Ayako disappear into the distance, Xu Xiaoyou knew this was their last meeting. Kindness without a conclusion is a type of poison; reaching out a hand to others out of self-righteousness without actually providing salvation only causes them to fall into a deeper abyss.
Even a faint warmth must have a beginning and an end.
Xu Xiaoyou slowly lowered the peace bracelet held in her palm. This bracelet had helped her quite a lot.
She began organizing the things in the room. This was a reception room she had set up specifically for each guest. Analyzing their personalities and experiences, every seemingly insignificant detail had been meticulously designed by her, all to create a sense of comfort when the client was alone with her.
It was impossible to sit back and reap rewards based on charm alone. Giving one's heart didn't guarantee a return, but without even the sincerity of service, all gains would inevitably leave you. She had put quite a bit of effort into this aspect.
As Xu Xiaoyou washed her hands at the sink, Angelina walked out of a private booth grumbling. A young girl chased after her, eyes brimming with tears. "Little White Flower, what did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?"
"Don't get handsy with me, stay away!" Angelina hissed in a low voice. As she broke free from the girl's grip, she had to control her strength to avoid hurting her.
"Be even harsher with me, Little White Flower!"
Angelina almost broke out in goosebumps. She wondered what was wrong with these people; she already had a sour look on her face, yet instead of being repulsed, the other party insisted on clinging to her.
The girl on the floor looked around. After spotting the smiling Xu Xiaoyou, she coughed twice, swung her designer bag over her shoulder, and stood up to leave. Her beautiful long hair swayed in the air, leaving the scent of Nile Blue series perfume lingering in her wake.
Watching the figure disappear at the end of the corridor, Xu Xiaoyou looked at Angelina. The latter was full of disgust. "When can we leave this place? I've had enough."
"Why did I have to become an employee here along with you?"
"If Anya were willing to move out of the shop, I wouldn't stop her," Xu Xiaoyou said as she made a shushing gesture. Her curtain chirped; someone was calling.
The image on the deep blue screen gradually became clear. A girl with dark red hair lay on a school desk, looking bored. She was kicking the chair of the girl in front of her while poking her notebook with a pen.
At this moment, it seemed to be a break between classes on Mori no Natsu Kuri's side. Students in the hallway were walking with their arms around each other's shoulders, pushing and shoving. In the noisy classroom, girls with dyed hair—who had intentionally rolled up their pleated skirts—sat on their desks with their legs crossed high. Their black calf socks traced curves in the air as they applied makeup while intentionally or unintentionally teasing the naive young boys, completely indifferent to whether anyone could see up their skirts. If anyone were to look up at that moment, they would certainly become the laughingstock of these delinquent girls for an entire year.
Natsu Kuri froze for a moment. She seemingly hadn't expected her spiteful call to be picked up. She quickly sat up straight, closed the notebook she had poked full of holes, and swiftly withdrew her foot from the front desk's chair.
"Yu... Yuzu?" Natsu Kuri couldn't even speak properly.
"I saw everything. Were you bullying someone again, Meijiu?" Xu Xiaoyou's face held a rare look of seriousness.
"No, I wasn't! How is that possible? Xiao Xu, tell her! I haven't bullied you, right?"
Seeing the girl at the front desk not responding for a long time, Natsu Kuri urged her anxiously. Only then did Yugawa Mao look up blankly. The girl had a face full of freckles and messy, somewhat oily hair that looked like it hadn't been washed in two days. Her thick glasses were opaque, obscuring the gaze behind them.
"Yes... that's right. Natsu Kuri has never bullied me."
Yugawa Mao lowered her head, her voice weak and timid, almost as quiet as a mosquito. Natsu Kuri was somewhat dissatisfied. "Speak up!"
Yugawa Mao didn't dare look directly at Natsu Kuri's forceful gaze and fell silent.
The other girl really hadn't bullied her. To be precise, this young mistress had always been taking care of her.
Her father was a chronic alcoholic, and her mother couldn't support the family alone. It was Mori no Natsu Kuri who had waved her hand and covered her school fees for three years. The only requirement was for Mao to follow her around, help carry her bags, and run errands. If anyone bullied her, Natsu Kuri would step in to protect her...
Everyone at the high school knew Natsu Kuri's family was very wealthy; no one would cross her.
"When I actually need you, you can't even make a sound," Natsu Kuri muttered dissatisfiedly.
"I'm... I'm sorry." Yugawa Mao's head dropped below her shoulders.
"How many times have I said it? Stop saying sorry for no reason. I've got calluses on my ears from hearing it."
Natsu Kuri withdrew her legs and straightened the curtain in front of her with an embarrassed expression. "Yuzu, I really didn't bully her. They can all testify for me."
"Why did you suddenly think of calling me?" Xu Xiaoyou asked softly.
"You haven't looked for me once in so many days. You used to chat with me before bed every night. I just wanted to hear your voice..."
Suddenly, several girls from Natsu Kuri's class crowded over. Seeing Xu Xiaoyou's outfit and noticing the bartender uniform of the Mint Green Leaf Shop, they burst into a clamor. One girl threw an arm around Natsu Kuri's shoulder and laughed. "Meijiu, is this the little green leaf you're keeping on the side, or is it your boyfriend? Heavens, her skin is better than ours! She looks more like a girl than we do!"
"I just wanted to hear your voice~ So even the Little Witch has a side like this? Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"But I have to admit, Meijiu, your taste isn't bad. She's really good-looking, hee hee. She looks a bit like the one who's been really popular in Dragonfly Town lately, the one who's had the highest number of flower vouchers for three weeks in a row. What was their name... Dark Gold Rose?"
"The same name as the fifth-ranked luminous prism grade fixer, hahaha."
"You guys are so noisy!" Natsu Kuri snapped in annoyance, hanging up the call in a fit of rage. She had finally worked up the nerve to call Yuzu's curtain number, only for them to ruin everything.
"She's my friend, and nothing else! So annoying, all of you get lost!"
Natsu Kuri waved her fists. The surrounding girls looked at each other and smiled, countless messages passing between their eyes before they tactfully scattered.
Natsu Kuri sat in her seat, her face feeling a bit hot. She tugged at the button on her collar and gave Yugawa Mao's chair a light kick. "It's clearly autumn, but it's boiling. Xiao Xu, go buy me a bottle of lime tea."
The girl at the front desk stood up submissively and took the money Natsu Kuri threw her. After counting over a thousand credit points, she waved her hands repeatedly. "I don't need this much..."
Natsu Kuri frowned. "Just take it when I give it to you. Keep the change. Go, go."
Just as Yugawa Mao turned around, Natsu Kuri's voice came from behind her again. The girl's frown had softened as she asked casually, "How is your mother? Is her health any better?"
A beam of light struck the clear eyes behind Yugawa Mao's glasses. Glimmers danced in the girl's eyes as she nodded vigorously. "Her health is much better after the surgery. The doctor said if we hadn't gone to the hospital sooner, those health problems would have been big trouble if they were dragged out. Thank you, Little Natsu."
Natsu Kuri turned her face away. "Don't call me that. How many times have I told you? Call me Natsu Kuri or Meijiu."
Rate on N.U.
