The two pushed their bikes out from a side road, and along the way, Chen Xiao rode with Bai MM on the back, and they chatted about many things.
Chen Xiao then realized that this girl, Bai Cai, had quite a few similarities to herself. Because her family had used all their savings to pay her tuition, she had to work part-time. However, now that she was at Kidd Academy, the school was a bit far from the city center, so she couldn't keep her original job. Bai Cai seemed a little regretful as she spoke.
"A job?" Chen Xiao suddenly had a thought: "I know a place where I might be able to find a job, and the salary is pretty good."
He thought of the fast food restaurant he was planning to quit. It wasn't far from Kidd College, the work wasn't too strenuous, the pay was decent, and the environment was relatively simple, with friendly colleagues. Since he was going to quit soon anyway, there was a vacancy—besides, although the manager was a bit cunning, he wasn't a lecherous guy and wouldn't harass the pretty female employees.
He told Bai Cai about it, and Bai Cai immediately cheered with delight, but then hesitated: "But... if I go, you'll have to resign? I'd feel so bad about that."
“Even if you don’t go, I’m still going to resign.” Chen Xiao smiled and casually explained his reason for resigning. Bai Cai sat on the back of the bicycle, listening and giggling. She couldn’t help but imagine Chen Xiao wearing the fast food restaurant uniform and being watched by a group of girls. She laughed so hard that her body went weak, and she couldn’t help but reach out and hold Chen Xiao’s waist.
"That's because you're very handsome." When Bai Cai said this, her voice was a little shy, and her face was a little hot.
Chen Xiao didn't detect anything unusual and said calmly, "What I look like is not something I can decide for myself."
Bai Cai's voice softened, and after a moment's hesitation, she whispered, "Chen Xiao... I heard rumors about you at school... are they all true? Were you really from a wealthy family before?"
Chen Xiao was silent for a moment. Bai Cai thought he was angry, so she quickly added, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that. It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."
"Actually, it's nothing." Chen Xiao's voice was calm—if he had encountered this question a few days ago, he probably would have given up and remained silent, but after what had happened in the past few days, Chen Xiao had already learned his parents' secret. The resentment that had once been hidden in his heart had long since disappeared, and with the knot in his heart untied, the pent-up emotions in his heart naturally loosened a lot. He thought for a moment: "It's not very complicated. My parents died in an accident two years ago, and the family lost its breadwinner, which is why I've become the way I am now."
“…Sigh.” Bai MM sighed, and subconsciously tightened her grip on Chen Xiao’s waist, her voice softening: “Actually, you’re already very capable. If it were me, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to hold on at all.”
Chen Xiao didn't know why he was so easy to talk to this white girl today. Maybe it was because he had finally met someone like him, a "non-rich kid," at Kidd Academy.
The two arrived at the fast food restaurant together. Chen Xiao led Bai MM to the manager and first subtly offered his resignation. Although the manager was somewhat cunning, he was kind at heart. However, with Chen Xiao leaving, he would lose a lucky charm who attracted female customers. He wanted to persuade her to stay, but Chen Xiao's stance was firm, so he gave up.
Even when settling salaries, they gave Chen Xiao an extra half-month's salary—a gesture that made Chen Xiao feel a little embarrassed, because he had secretly complained about this unscrupulous businessman who was using him as a living advertisement.
Then Chen Xiao politely introduced Bai Cai MM to the manager. The manager thought for a moment, asked Bai Cai MM a few questions, and then immediately agreed to hire Bai Cai MM to replace Chen Xiao.
Firstly, Ms. Bai has experience working in restaurants. Secondly, she's quite pretty, and such an attractive female employee would surely attract more male customers. Thirdly, Ms. Bai is Chen Xiao's classmate, so they know each other well, which is much safer than hiring a complete stranger.
And... a beautiful student from the prestigious Kid Academy, and she even comes to work by bicycle... Since my prized "Fallen Prince" has disappeared, could I package this newcomer as a "Fallen Princess"? Maybe that'll be a great selling point...
Chen Xiao knew that the story of his "fallen prince" that he told on the spot was a fabrication by this unscrupulous manager!
Now, looking at the manager's shifty eyes and sneaky smile... Chen Xiao knew that this guy's "soul of a cunning businessman" was probably burning again.
Chen Xiao glanced at the cabbage girl, who still had a bewildered and innocent expression, and sighed... He guessed that in a few days, she would turn into a brand new lucky cat.
Chapter Twenty-Two: [Come or Don't Come]
After leaving the manager's office, Chen Xiao saw his lovely female colleague standing at the door, gently biting her lip. Her usually cute and playful eyes held a hint of disappointment as she looked at him wistfully.
"Chen Xiao, are you really leaving?" The lovely female shop assistant's voice was somewhat sad.
Chen Xiao coughed, turned her head to avoid the other person's gaze, and forced a smile: "Yes, I found a new job that's closer to home, so it'll be less tiring."
The cute shop assistant forced a smile: "So even if we're not colleagues anymore, let's keep in touch! We're still friends, even if we're not colleagues. Don't forget you still owe me a birthday present."
Remembering that she had given him an MP4 player on his birthday, Chen Xiao naturally understood what girls were thinking. After a moment's thought, he quickly copied down a number: "This is my phone number. You have to invite me to your birthday party!"
After receiving the phone number, the female shop assistant smiled happily, carefully put it away, and then asked, "Chen Xiao, we've been colleagues for over two months, and you still don't know my name?"
Chen Xiao felt a little embarrassed again—he used to be a bit aloof and didn't like talking to people much: "I only know that everyone calls you Xiao Nuo... so I just followed suit. Come to think of it, I've never asked your name before, which is really rude of me."
"My surname is Ye, Ye Xiaonuo." Xiaonuo smiled sweetly, revealing a pair of dimples on her cheeks: "Don't call me Xiaonuo anymore. My friends all call me 'Ye Zi'."
“Okay, I’ll call you Yezi from now on.” Chen Xiao nodded solemnly.
Ye Xiaonuo's eyes lit up, and she stretched out her hand that had been behind her back, holding a bag in her slender palm. She lowered her voice and said, "Take this. I know you haven't eaten since you come to work at this time. I saved two beef burgers for you. It's on me."
After saying that, he stuffed the item into Chen Xiao's hand, then turned and ran into the back of the counter.
Bai Cai MM was hired on the spot and stayed to work for a trial period. Chen Xiao left the fast food restaurant alone, holding two steaming hot hamburgers in his hand, feeling a little touched.
Seeing that it was still early, I decided to go to the bank first and find my bicycle.
Just as he was about to head to the subway station, his phone suddenly rang in his pocket. He picked it up and looked...
Um?
I recognized the number; it was the very phone number Hei San had given me! I had dialed it last night, but the person on the other end hung up on me impatiently.
"Hello." Chen Xiao's voice immediately turned cold after answering the phone.
"Chen Xiao?" The other person was still the same old man I had heard last night, his voice hoarse and strained, with the same indifferent tone: "No matter what you're doing right now, I'll give you half an hour to report to me immediately."
"Now?" Chen Xiao frowned. The other person's voice was very impolite, even commanding, which made him very uncomfortable. Chen Xiao was a little annoyed: "Didn't you say last night that it was okay within a week?"
"Enough with the nonsense!" The other person's voice was even more impatient than Chen Xiao's: "Come when I tell you to. I have an urgent matter and need manpower! You have half an hour to get here immediately! Three thousand a month, two meals a day included!"
After saying that, without waiting for Chen Xiao to speak, he hung up with a snap.
Chen Xiao was genuinely annoyed—damn! So arrogant?
However... a monthly salary of three thousand, plus two meals a day... for a job, that's really good enough!
Besides, Chen Xiao's wallet has been bleeding money these past two days, and there's now an extra mouth to feed at home...
I gritted my teeth and endured it for the sake of my job!
The address is located in the southwestern suburbs of K City.
Although K City is a large city, the real estate boom in recent years has caused land and housing prices to soar, with newly developed neighborhoods everywhere. However, in this area of the southwestern suburbs, land and housing prices have remained stagnant.
In previous years, the southwestern suburbs were K City's industrial zone, home to several large local factories. Although most of these factories have relocated to more distant areas in recent years in response to real estate development, the area has undergone considerable development. A few years ago, newspapers and television frequently touted the creation of a "new urban area," but it has consistently failed to achieve its intended purpose. Developers have come and gone, building one project after another, creating numerous commercial districts and residential communities, but nothing has managed to attract residents.