After leaving the Back Kitchen, Lu Weizhu began her new job.
“Your coffee, please enjoy.”
“This is your cake, I hope you have a wonderful day.”
Doing her best to appear friendly, Lu Weizhu smiled as she delivered each dish to the customers.
Her smile wasn’t all that natural, but her beautiful appearance made up for it.
“Thank you for your tip, truly, thank you. We hope to see you again.”
One customer, apparently finding Lu Weizhu adorable, gave her a little extra as a tip when paying.
Watching the customer leave, Lu Weizhu thanked them sincerely, giving a deep bow.
Her earnest attitude didn’t go unnoticed by the customers, making her even more popular—quite a few began to chat with her.
Time ticked by, and before long, it was already noon; all the customers had left the Café.
“Phew, nice work, Xiao Lu. The customers really like you.”
Closing the door, Bai Yun wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel.
She patted Lu Weizhu on the shoulder.
“Ah…is that so? I don’t think I did much, though?”
Lu Weizhu sounded a little unsure.
She really hadn’t provided any particularly valuable service.
“Just standing there is already a feast for the eyes.”
Bai Yun shrugged.
“Let’s eat first. We’ve got to keep going this afternoon, but there should be fewer people.”
Bai Yun pulled Lu Weizhu back to the Back Kitchen.
Lunch was Bai Yun’s homemade Cookies and some bread.
They tasted great and were warm and comforting.
Lu Weizhu rarely ate these sorts of things, but the sweets lifted her mood, and for once, a genuine smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
Her brows relaxed, and as she focused on the food before her, the gloom in her eyes faded, her beauty all the more striking.
Bai Yun found herself a little dazed as she watched.
“…”
Coughing a few times, Bai Yun quickly looked away.
Lunch didn’t last long.
Soon, the Café began its afternoon hours again.
The height of summer made for a stifling afternoon, and just as Bai Yun predicted, there weren’t many customers.
Lu Weizhu found herself with some free time.
Rarely did she get to relax like this, so her smile lingered, and her gratitude toward Bai Yun only deepened.
She wandered around the Café, sometimes chatting with Bai Yun about this and that as time slipped by.
The sunlight outside gradually softened.
Before long, it was already four o’clock—one hour left until Lu Weizhu’s shift ended.
She thought her day would end just like this, but something unexpected happened.
“Welcome—…?”
As two guests walked into the Café together, Lu Weizhu’s words caught in her throat.
The smile on her face vanished.
“Hmm?”
Seeing Lu Weizhu frozen in place, Bai Yun was a little confused.
“Please, come in…”
Her tone a bit heavy, Lu Weizhu stepped aside to let them pass.
Ning Wan and Bai Lu walked into the Café together.
“Uh, Wan, maybe we should go somewhere else? I’m not really a fan of coffee.”
Noticing Lu Weizhu, Bai Lu looked a little awkward.
After all, she’d found a substitute when Ning Wan went abroad.
She felt a bit guilty.
She touched the tip of her nose and tugged at Ning Wan’s wrist.
In her relationship with Ning Wan, she was the weaker party.
Still, one thing was certain—they truly cared for each other, enough to forgive each other’s mistakes.
Otherwise, Bai Lu wouldn’t have sought out a substitute out of loneliness.
“But I’m hungry. Let’s rest here for a bit.”
Ning Wan also saw Lu Weizhu.
Whatever she was thinking, she pulled Bai Lu to sit down at an empty table.
What now?
What now?
Why are they here?
Will Ning Wan find out about her other job?
Will she get fired?
Silent and panicked, Lu Weizhu’s shoulders trembled as her mind spun in chaos.
“May I take your order, ladies?”
Despite her nerves, Lu Weizhu forced herself to approach Ning Wan, voice trembling.
Bai Lu noticed Lu Weizhu’s unease, lowering her gaze, unsure what this girl was thinking.
As for Ning Wan…she didn’t say anything, simply observing Lu Weizhu’s outfit.
The relatively fancy dress made Lu Weizhu more eye-catching, and the Cat Ear Hair Clip on her head only made Ning Wan feel amused.
So, you really can only get by by pleasing others?
Ning Wan shrugged and curled her finger.
Nervously watching Ning Wan, Lu Weizhu’s eyes pleaded with her not to ruin this job for her.
With those pitiful eyes and the cat ears on her head, she really did look like a cat begging its owner for affection.
Ning Wan’s mood improved a bit.
As for Bai Lu?
Her gaze only grew darker.
In the year she’d known Lu Weizhu, she’d never seen her dressed like this.
“Two Caramel Mousses, one Iced Americano, and one Latte.”
In the end, Ning Wan didn’t expose Lu Weizhu, instead ordering properly.
Lu Weizhu let out a sigh of relief.
“Please enjoy.”
After a while, Lu Weizhu brought over Ning Wan’s order, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
“Wait, why don’t you sit here and chat with us for a while?”
Patting the sofa beside her, Ning Wan glanced at the Work Gloves on Lu Weizhu’s hands.
“Ah, okay, alright.”
Sneaking a glance at Bai Yun behind the counter—who looked like she was ready to watch the drama unfold—
Lu Weizhu’s heart started pounding again.
She sat carefully beside Ning Wan, head lowered, not daring to look at Bai Lu or Ning Wan.
Both of these women were her Patrons.
Running into them at work was the height of awkwardness.
“Catgirl Maid, huh.”
Ning Wan touched the Cat Ear Hair Clip on Lu Weizhu’s head.
It was soft and fluffy—nice to the touch, but Ning Wan still preferred the girl’s waist in front of her.
Too bad she couldn’t go too far with Bai Lu watching.
Feeling a little regretful, Ning Wan stroked the top of Lu Weizhu’s head, as if she really were petting a cat.
“Wan.”
Seeing Ning Wan petting Lu Weizhu, Bai Lu couldn’t help but feel a little unhappy.
She called Ning Wan’s name in protest, but feeling guilty, she didn’t do anything else.
Ning Wan ignored Bai Lu, and the atmosphere grew even more awkward.
Feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles, Lu Weizhu wished she could disappear, but she didn’t dare move.
Twisting her fingers, Lu Weizhu bit her lower lip, looking like a wronged little wife.
Though she looked similar to Ning Wan, their personalities couldn’t be more different.
“Catgirl Maid, can you meow for us? Give us a few meows?”
With a gentle smile—so unlike her usual self—
Ning Wan’s tone was soft, but to Lu Weizhu it sounded even more cutting.
Biting her lip, Lu Weizhu lowered her head even further.
Weighing her options, she finally looked up after a long silence.
“Meow…meow…”
She managed two soft meows, her face flushing with embarrassment.
Her voice was light, like a kitten pawing at the corner of a shirt, with just a hint of reluctance that made one want to conquer her.
Bai Lu’s breath caught.
She looked away and started drinking her Latte.
“Good girl.”
Whether it was praise or humiliation, Ning Wan smiled, taking Lu Weizhu’s right hand and pressing down on her wound through the Work Gloves.
“Mm…customer?”
Lu Weizhu let out a muffled whimper, but didn’t dare cry out in pain, looking pitifully at Ning Wan.
Ning Wan smiled faintly, only pressing harder.
“…”
Unable to beg for mercy, Lu Weizhu could only bite her lip, doing her best to endure. The feeling of grievance brewed in her chest.
She hung her head, saying nothing more.
“All right, go on, little cat.”
After a few minutes, with her grip only getting tighter and Lu Weizhu refusing to make a sound, Ning Wan finally lost interest.
Lu Weizhu fled from Ning Wan’s side and sat in another corner of the Café, watching from afar as Ning Wan and Bai Lu whispered sweet nothings to each other.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.