Chapter 571 : Explain There’s Nothing Left to Explain!
“Hey, I’m back~”
After a long rest and a small snack, Ling Ning and Jiang Xue finally returned to the café.
It had to be said—the café was bustling today. The moment Ling Ning stepped inside, she was greeted by the sight of customers filling every available seat. Even Chu Mengyao, who usually stayed at the counter as the café’s poster girl, had rolled up her sleeves and joined the action.
Hearing Ling Ning’s voice, Chu Mengyao handed her task to Luo Xiaoning and walked over with a smile.
“Well, if it isn’t our Lady Ling Ning. I thought you might have run off with my adorable little employee~”
“What? No way! I was diligently helping your cute employee distribute flyers. Without me, Xiaoxue would’ve been handing those out until noon,” Ling Ning replied calmly.
“But by my calculations, with your help, the flyers should’ve been done long ago. So why are you so late? I have my suspicions…”
Ling Ning chuckled. “Even handing out flyers has to follow basic routines. Besides, it’s freezing today, and there weren’t many people out on the streets. Coming back late is perfectly reasonable. If you don’t believe me, feel free to go out and see for yourself~”
Chu Mengyao immediately shook her head. No way was she stepping outside in this weather!
Standing off to the side, Jiang Xue gazed at her Master with admiration. As expected of her Master—she could effortlessly silence even a fearsome boss like Chu Mengyao.
Chu Mengyao sighed lightly. “Alright, I won’t press further. You’ve seen the situation here, so I’ll have to trouble you today~”
“No problem, but you know the terms of my payment, right~”
“Of course, you can count on me.”
Ling Ning and Chu Mengyao exchanged knowing smiles, the atmosphere thick with an unspoken “friendly transaction.”
Blinking in curiosity, Jiang Xue wondered about the nature of her Master’s compensation but wisely chose not to interrupt.
After reaching an agreement with Chu Mengyao, Ling Ning headed to the changing room. A moment later, she emerged in a maid outfit—though this one was noticeably warmer than her usual attire, given that it was winter.
With Ling Ning’s help, the staff’s workload lightened considerably. Even Chu Mengyao had to admit that Ling Ning was the café’s most exceptional maid. No matter the task, Ling Ning handled it with ease, contributing wherever she was needed.
However, the day’s high pace proved challenging for Su Ya, who, as a novice maid, struggled to keep up. Holding a cup of coffee, she froze, unable to remember which table it was meant for.
Just then, Ling Ning’s voice came from beside her. “That coffee is for Table Four. Oh, and the guest there likes sweet coffee—bring two packets of sugar.”
With Ling Ning’s guidance, Su Ya finally found her rhythm. She stopped thinking too hard and simply followed Ling Ning’s directions without question.
It was unclear how much time had passed, but eventually, the crowd began to thin, giving the staff a moment to catch their breath.
“Alright, everyone, take a break. Let’s get ready for lunch~”
Chu Mengyao’s face beamed with satisfaction. Although it had been a tiring day, the high volume of customers meant an equally high volume of income—a win-win situation.
Meanwhile, Su Ya collapsed onto the sofa, utterly spent. She had encountered busy days before, but nothing had ever left her this exhausted.
As she caught her breath, a familiar scent reached her nose. Turning instinctively, she found Ling Ning sitting beside her, grinning mischievously.
“Well? Regretting not going shopping now?”
“Not at all. Honestly, I quite enjoyed it. If I get the chance in the future, I’d like to open my own café,” Su Ya replied with a hint of longing.
“That sounds great. So, future café owner, will you need a lady boss? If you do, how about me?” Ling Ning leaned in with a teasing smile.
Su Ya gave her a sideways glance. “You… can come on as a server. As for the lady boss…”
“Eh?! Xiao Ya, how mean! I’m cute and lovable, yet I can only be a server? Don’t tell me becoming the lady boss requires some… unspoken rules? If it’s you, Xiao Ya, I wouldn’t mind~” Ling Ning teased, her tone dripping with playful charm.
Seeing Ling Ning in her maid outfit, her expression coquettish and mischievous, Su Ya’s gaze flickered. Someone as flirtatious as Ling Ning was bound to be “dealt with” one day.
As Ling Ning continued to tease her, a sudden chill made her shiver involuntarily. Looking around, she found the room warm and cozy, so why did she feel cold?
Shaking off the thought, Ling Ning composed herself and asked, “Xiao Ya, do you have plans after your shift? How about dinner together?”
Su Ya shook her head lightly. “After work, I’m heading back to the dorm. I’ve got something to take care of.”
“Eh?! But I was planning to treat you to a six-yuan bowl of spicy hotpot!”
“Not interested. Go away!”
As if remembering something, Ling Ning stood and walked over to Chu Mengyao at the counter.
“Dear Mengyao, since the rush is over, can I collect my payment now~?”
“Sure, but my, aren’t you eager.”
Chu Mengyao replied with a smirk as she pulled an envelope from a drawer and handed it to Ling Ning.
Taking the envelope, Ling Ning peeked inside and nodded in satisfaction. As promised, the envelope contained high-quality photos of Su Ya in her maid outfit. Her collection had grown yet again.
“So, Ling Ning, your payment for working is… these photos?”
“What do you mean ‘these photos’? These are pictures of Su Ya in a maid outfit! Just look at that shy expression—it’s absolutely perfect…”
Ling Ning trailed off, realizing something was amiss. Turning slowly, she found Su Ya standing right behind her, staring at her expressionlessly.
“Xiao Ya, let me explain!”
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Author’s Note:
It feels like I’ve lost my mind.