Chapter 435 : Xiao Ya, Why Don’t You Try It On
“How do I look, Master?”
Ling Ning stood in front of Su Ya, dressed in a maid outfit. This was Su Ya’s first time seeing Ling Ning in such attire, and paired with her soft-spoken tone, it struck a chord deep within Su Ya’s heart.
She felt utterly charmed, as though something inside her had melted.
“Y-You look amazing.”
Hearing Su Ya’s praise, Ling Ning’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Then… Xiao Ya, why don’t you try it on too?”
“Eh!?”
Su Ya blinked in surprise. While the idea of wearing a maid outfit seemed delightful in theory, she couldn’t summon the courage to actually do it. The thought of being under the scrutiny of so many customers was unbearable.
Wearing a maid outfit at work would feel like public humiliation!
“That’s such a shame~”
Ling Ning feigned disappointment, though her tone carried a hint of playfulness. Deep down, she truly wanted to see Su Ya in a maid outfit. She had tried convincing her in their previous life countless times, but Su Ya had stubbornly refused.
Even at anime conventions, Su Ya had only ever worn simple Japanese school uniforms.
“Ling Ning, is this your new classmate?”
Out of nowhere, Chu Mengyao appeared beside Ling Ning, wearing a sly grin as she studied Su Ya. Her fox-like smile hinted at mischief.
“Yeah, why?”
“Oh, nothing. I just wanted to chat with your new friend. By the way, why are all your friends such beautiful girls? And now that I think about it, you don’t seem to have any male friends, do you?”
“Male friends?” Ling Ning froze. Reflecting on Chu Mengyao’s comment, she realized it was true. Among her male acquaintances, only Chu Feng could be considered a friend. Loosening the definition, her quirky coworkers at the company might count too, so she wasn’t entirely friendless.
While Ling Ning pondered this revelation, Chu Mengyao smoothly maneuvered to sit beside Su Ya. Flashing a bright smile, she introduced herself, “Hello there, little sister. I’m Chu Mengyao, the owner of this café. Just call me Sister Mengyao.”
“H-Hello. I’m Su Ya,” Su Ya responded hesitantly, feeling slightly overwhelmed.
“Su Ya… what a lovely name. By the way, have you ever considered taking a part-time job here?”
“A part-time job?”
“Yes, doing the same work as Ling Ning.”
“T-That… I haven’t really thought about it,” Su Ya replied, her cheeks tinged pink.
Chu Mengyao waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t turn me down so quickly. Working here isn’t just about earning money—it’s a great way to build confidence too! Did you know, when Ling Ning first joined us, she was even shyer than you? Now look at her—she’s one of our most capable employees.”
Hearing this, Ling Ning’s head filled with question marks. When was I ever shy? Chu Mengyao is just making things up again! Still, Ling Ning let it slide, secretly hoping Chu Mengyao could convince Su Ya to give it a try. She would love to see Su Ya in a maid outfit.
“R-Really?”
Su Ya’s eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. Her lack of confidence had always been a problem, especially around strangers. If this job could help her overcome that, it might be worth considering.
Seeing Su Ya’s hesitation, Chu Mengyao’s grin widened. Initially, she had been only 50% confident she could persuade Su Ya to join. Now, her chances had shot up to 90%. With a little help from Ling Ning, success was practically guaranteed.
Throwing a knowing glance at Ling Ning, Chu Mengyao silently signaled her to assist. Catching on, Ling Ning nodded slightly and said, “It’s true. When I first started, I couldn’t even carry a tray out to the tables. Now, I can hand out flyers in the plaza while wearing a maid outfit without a second thought.”
“Besides, a part-time job during university is a great way to spend your free time. Earning your own money feels much more satisfying than spending your family’s. And I’ll be right here to support you every step of the way.”
After a moment’s thought, Su Ya nodded tentatively.
Seeing her reaction, Ling Ning and Chu Mengyao both silently pumped their fists in victory. Their teamwork was as flawless as ever.
“Ahem, Ling Ning, why don’t you take her to change into a uniform?”
“Of course.”
Ling Ning picked out a simple maid outfit for Su Ya—the same one she had worn when she first joined the café. As Su Ya emerged from the dressing room, Ling Ning’s face lit up with satisfaction.
In her previous life, she had failed to convince Su Ya to wear a maid outfit. Now, seeing her in one felt like a dream come true. Maid outfits are the best!
Su Ya studied herself in the mirror. The outfit fit her perfectly, but she hesitated to leave the dressing room. The thought of stepping out and facing everyone’s gazes made her want to retreat.
Just then, she felt a warm hand grasp hers. Turning her head, she found Ling Ning standing beside her, gazing at her gently.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right by your side. Just keep looking forward.”
“…Mm.”
Holding tightly to Ling Ning’s hand, Su Ya followed her out of the dressing room.
As soon as they stepped out, Su Ya felt countless eyes on her. Though it was unsettling, the warmth of Ling Ning’s hand and her reassuring presence calmed her nerves.
Seeing Su Ya’s reaction, Ling Ning smiled warmly. “Let me walk you through some of the tasks here. I’ll give you a quick demonstration as well.”
“Okay.”
From behind the counter, Chu Mengyao watched the scene with a satisfied grin, adjusting her imaginary glasses. My café now has another beautiful employee. With more maids, business will boom. And when business booms, the money will come rolling in!
Chu Mengyao could already envision herself swimming in a sea of cash.
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Author’s Note:
Would you really eat the Salty Fish if I did this?