“Mr. Qi, here is the weekly magazine.”
Lin Zhen handed the magazine to Mr. Qi. After taking it, he didn’t rush to read it but instead turned to Yin Yang.
“So? Did you manage to find any bargains?”
“Hahaha~”
Yin Yang’s laughter was hearty, showing no trace of embarrassment at being teased.
“I’m still just reading about it. I haven’t put anything into action yet.”
Mr. Qi smiled, tore open the packaging for a quick look, and said, “Everything looks good. See you next week.”
“Yes, see you next week.”
Lin Zhen took her cue to say goodbye and led Yin Yang back outside.
Yin Yang inconspicuously slowed his pace. Using the motion of putting his hands in his pockets, he scattered some dust from his palm.
Once the two had left the estate and gotten into the car, Lin Zhen’s eyes sparkled.
“Well? I didn’t lie to you, did I?”
Yin Yang nodded repeatedly, acting as if his horizons had been truly broadened.
The two chatted the whole way back. Even as they returned to the bookstore, they still wore looks of longing, fantasizing about becoming wealthy one day.
However, as soon as they pushed open the door, they saw that both the security officer, Uncle Huang, and the shop owner looked grim.
“Uncle Huang, Dad, what’s wrong?”
Lin Zhen was curious, but before she could even sit down, Uncle Huang spoke.
“Old Hua is dead.”
Lin Zhen didn’t process it at first, then she waved her hands dismissively.
“How is that possible? I just saw Uncle Hua the day before yesterday.”
The shop owner sighed.
“Sigh, I heard it was a sudden death. Another one of our old group is gone.”
Uncle Huang wasn’t in a good mood either.
The few of them had been childhood friends and had lived in the same city their whole lives. Their bond was naturally deep.
Yin Yang also let out a sigh and walked silently back to the counter to read, listening to the shop owner and Uncle Huang recount the glorious deeds of Uncle Hua’s youth.
In their stories, Uncle Hua was a very clever man; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to acquire so many properties in Wang City.
His only regret was that he had always been a man alone, without a family.
Now that he was gone, those properties would likely be reclaimed by the government.
Time passed until noon. Once school was out, the bookstore was once again packed.
Especially since people found out they sold coffee, the foot traffic had surpassed a hundred, and people were even starting to line up.
This made Lin Zhen wonder more than once if she really was a genius at making coffee.
If she had known, she might not have come back to run the bookstore with her father; opening a café would have been much better.
Fortunately, Lin Zhen remained clear-headed. She knew very well that business was good because her ‘model’ was handsome.
And that was indeed the case.
Although Yin Yang hadn’t been working there long, ‘legends’ about him had already spread through the school.
At first, many didn't care. He was just a handsome guy, after all—hardly a rare commodity.
In the romance games they played, which male character wasn't handsome?
But when they ‘happened’ to pass by the bookstore and ‘happened’ to come in to rent a book, they realized the truth.
He really was different.
He really was a rare find!
Thus, word of Yin Yang spread, leading to a daily influx of people coming because of his reputation.
“Yes, the coffee in our shop is all made by Sister Lin. She’s very talented.”
“Me? I don’t know how. In fact, I know nothing about coffee. To this day, I only remember what a latte is.”
Yin Yang had been good at managing the emotions of those around him since he was young. No matter how many people were around, he never made them feel neglected.
He even made them feel as though he treated them specially.
It was because of this that the bookstore’s clientele grew larger and larger.
It wasn’t until school was about to start again that the students reluctantly left.
Some even specifically asked if the bookstore stayed open in the evening before they departed.
Lin Zhen refused quite decisively.
After all, Yin Yang got off work at five. It was useless for these people to come after that.
She wasn't stupid; she knew exactly what these customers were here for.
“Whew, hard work, hard work.”
“Here, I prepared this specifically for you. Give it a try.”
Lin Zhen handed a bento box to Yin Yang. He took it and saw a sticker in the bottom left corner.
【Clearance Special: Two meats, two vegetables. Only eight yuan.】
“Uh, thanks.”
Lin Zhen didn’t feel embarrassed at all. She pulled out an identical bento and started eating.
“I’m telling you, these special clearance bentos are harder to snag than the regular ones. You have no idea how many people are eyeing them.”
“If my hands hadn't been fast, do you think we would have gotten these?”
“Eat up, eat up. This is the signature bento from that restaurant. It usually sells for over twenty.”
The two ate their bentos at the counter. Yin Yang tasted it and found that it was indeed quite good.
Ding-ling.
The shop door was pushed open again. Yin Yang pulled out a tissue to wipe his mouth before looking up.
“Welcome.”
“Xiao... Xiao Yang.”
The newcomer’s voice was timid. It was the Little White Rabbit!
Lin Zhen poked her head out from behind the counter, saw it was her, and then ducked back down.
“Hmm? Is something the matter?”
“Can... can you walk me home?”
“I know this might be forward, but I just moved to this city and don't have many friends yet. Also, my landlord passed away, and I’m really scared.”
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. Looking at her, Yin Yang felt a surge of private amusement.
If he didn't already know her true colors, he might really have been fooled by her... not!
“Ah? That... that might not be very appropriate,” Yin Yang said with an awkward expression.
“I’m still on the clock. Besides, it’s only noon. Don’t you have classes this afternoon?”
“N-no, I don't.”
The Little White Rabbit seemed to have some hidden trouble. She opened her mouth to speak but ultimately just bowed, said she was sorry, and ran out of the shop.
“Aww~ such a pure young girl~”
“Go on, go comfort her. But don't fall too deep, okay?”
Lin Zhen waved her hand at Yin Yang, signaling for him to chase after her.
After all, girls that age could really do something drastic if they were upset.
“Okay, I’ll be back soon.”
Yin Yang agreed and chased after her out of the shop.
As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw the ‘Little White Rabbit’ standing alone at the pedestrian crossing, looking incredibly lonely and forlorn.
Yin Yang suppressed the curl of his lip and walked up to her side.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you back.”
“Ah?”
The Little White Rabbit turned around, her face looking as if she had just been crying.
“But... but don’t you have to work?”
“Of course I do, but aren't you scared? I’ll get you home first, then come back to work.”
As he spoke, Yin Yang scanned a shared electric scooter.
“Come on. You’re staying at Uncle Hua’s place, right?”
“Yes.”
Yin Yang handed her one of the scooter’s helmets and put one on himself. He then patted the back seat.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
The Little White Rabbit sat on the back seat with a shy expression, lightly wrapping her arms around Yin Yang’s waist.
“I... my name is Zhou Kexin.”
“I’m Xiao Yang.”
Yin Yang started the scooter. Behind him, a successful smirk played across Zhou Kexin’s lips.
And behind her, the blade-wielding ghost silently pressed the spring catch on its scabbard.
Rate on N.U.
