Watching Lin Yizhou act so serious, Su Ziling really didn’t know what to say.
She could only take the menu, call out toward the kitchen, and was about to get back to work when Su Xiaomeng quietly walked over and asked.
“Bro, bro, why are you back?”
Su Xiaomeng’s meaning was simple: why wasn’t he still serving Lin Yizhou?
At that, Su Ziling could only reply helplessly.
“He specifically requested Kekeluo, so I came back, didn’t I?”
Kekeluo was naturally not the employee’s real name but a stage name, though none of that really mattered.
“Uh…”
Su Xiaomeng glanced toward Kekeluo’s direction. That loli employee looked young but was actually already a college graduate, probably around twenty-four or twenty-five years old.
“Didn’t expect Lin Yizhou to be into that kind of thing…” Su Xiaomeng muttered quietly while taking out the Transformation Device, gesturing as she said, “How about you transform, bro? I remember after you transform, you’re also a loli… ow!”
Before she could finish, Su Ziling gave her a sharp chop on the head.
“Am I stupid? To transform over such a trivial matter?”
“I definitely won’t accept that…” Su Xiaomeng held her head, speaking with a face full of resentment. “It’s not about winning or losing—it’s about pride. If you transform, bro, you’re definitely no worse than Kekeluo.”
“Go back to work right now.”
Su Ziling ignored her muttering and continued working.
Time had unknowingly reached 3:00 PM. Lin Yizhou sipped his omurice while watching the large screen in the store.
As the final countdown began, the store’s lights slowly dimmed, and the large screen lit up. A pink magical girl appeared on the screen in a flash.
It was Magical Girl Meluke.
“Everyone~ Thank you for your patience. Magical Girl Meluke makes her dazzling debut!”
“Ooh ooh ooh!!”
The café erupted in cheers. Lin Yizhou’s attention was naturally drawn to it.
As a two-dimensional otaku, this scene hit him with immense impact.
Of course, he joined the other customers in cheering.
Su Ziling naturally noticed this. Watching Lin Yizhou’s extremely excited expression, she helplessly covered her face.
She just couldn’t figure it out…
How did her future self end up with this hardcore otaku?
“Ooh ooh ooh!!”
She glanced at Su Xiaomeng, who was also cheering and jumping beside her, and let out a deep sigh.
“I feel like you’d be more compatible with Lin Yizhou, at least in terms of hobbies.”
“What are you saying, bro?” Su Xiaomeng put down her glow stick and said to Su Ziling, “Lin Yizhou is totally not my type, okay?”
“He’s not my type either…”
Su Ziling felt a bit drained. After sighing, she quickly put back on her bright, gentle smile and went about her work.
Even though the atmosphere in the store was unusually fervent, Su Ziling walked through it feeling strangely out of place.
She was working hard to serve the customers, yet it felt as if a sad barrier existed between her and everyone else.
This naturally caught Lin Yizhou’s attention.
When Su Ziling passed by him, Lin Yizhou spoke up.
“Keeping up that disguise all the time is exhausting. Taking it off and immersing yourself in the joy of the moment might not be a bad choice.”
His voice wasn’t loud, only the two of them could hear.
Su Ziling turned back to look at the man holding a glow stick and an acrylic sign, silent for a long moment.
Lin Yizhou’s concern was a bit unexpected. However, after a while, she shook her head and said flatly.
“No need.”
With that, she continued walking forward to greet other customers.
Lin Yizhou took a sip of coffee and turned his attention back to the large screen.
But his gaze wasn’t as focused this time; he was thinking about Su Ziling’s situation.
Just like Su Lili, this girl was mature in a way that was heartbreaking.
Those around her were enjoying their youth and happiness, while she was like an ever-tireless machine, constantly busy.
Focusing on work wasn’t a bad thing, but never getting tired was.
Moreover, she could still manage her studies and earn scholarships, truly admirable.
But this state was essentially trading her life for money. One day, she would collapse from exhaustion.
Lin Yizhou downed the rest of his coffee, his mind full of thoughts.
—
Meanwhile, Su Ziling went to the kitchen. Just as she was about to pick up the next customer’s order, the shopkeeper came out from the back.
“Xiao Ling, why don’t you take a break?” The shopkeeper took the tray from her hands and continued, “The customers should all be watching the livestream right now. There won’t be many orders. You can find a seat and watch too.”
“No need…”
Su Ziling tried to refuse, but the shopkeeper pushed her by the shoulders and said.
“It’s fine. Young people need to balance work and rest.”
And so, Su Ziling was practically half-pushed out of the kitchen into the main hall.
Looking at the bustling environment around her, she couldn’t help but sigh. Just as she was about to look for Su Xiaomeng, she noticed someone unexpected.
“Pei Keke?”
But Su Ziling only glanced at her and didn’t think much of it.
After all, she was the prototype for Magical Girl Meluke, so it was perfectly normal for her to be here.
The collaboration livestream between the Attribute Coffee Shop and Magical Girl Meluke was going quite smoothly, but Su Ziling wasn’t particularly interested in that.
Just as the livestream was nearing its end and about to close, the large screen in the café suddenly went dark, plunging the entire hall into darkness.
This sudden change naturally sparked discussion among the customers. The shopkeeper noticed the situation and immediately stood up to maintain order.
“Everyone, don’t move! It might just be a tripped breaker!”
“No need to trouble yourself, ma’am.”
A frivolous voice sounded from in front of the large screen. The few lights in the hall fell on a monster wearing a night heron mask and a suit.
“I’m the one who tripped the breaker.”
Seeing the monster appear, the previously quiet crowd instantly became restless and panicked.
The Night Heron monster simply spread his arms, as if lost in his own world, and said.
“A fictional magical girl, a fake story of justice? Just something for kids.”
He seemed to be mocking everyone present.
“If you’re going to indulge in such a boring, laughable character from a fantasy, then let me personally shatter it.”
“Night Heron?”
Lin Yizhou, sitting in the dark, stared at the monster in front of the large screen, his brow furrowed.
“Why is someone from ‘Red Rose’ here?”