Although he said all that, the truth was that the restaurant was quite busy during summer vacation.
Liu Yan himself didn’t find it too tiring.
While he was constantly stir-frying, he kept gaining new insights during the process, to the point that he felt his cooking skills had improved again.
But when he saw Chen Tang curl up on the sofa like a cat every day after coming home and not move, he felt she wasn’t suited for this work.
She had a lazy nature.
Maybe once he took over his parents’ business, he should change the restaurant’s operating model?
But that wasn’t something he needed to consider right now.
After all, they were still college students.
It wasn’t like they hadn’t been given time off.
After spending a month at the restaurant, halfway through the two-month summer vacation, Liu Yan’s parents said it was enough.
They didn’t need help anymore.
The busiest time had passed.
When students first went on break, it was a peak period for gatherings. Now, with a month gone, most students were already lying around at home.
So they could manage perfectly fine.
Chen Tang then went to find Xia You.
“I’m recommending a part-time job to you. Are you interested?”
Xia You looked at Chen Tang warily. “What do you mean?”
She was still working at the same milk tea shop where she had met Chen Tang and Liu Mengmeng before.
“I heard you and Zhou Bin broke up?”
“So what?”
“Why?”
Xia You stared at Chen Tang, her eyes narrowing into a dangerous slit. “What, someone’s kitten has no leash and wants to come out and bite people? I think a dog would be more fitting.”
“A dog wouldn’t either. As the saying goes, a dog is man’s most loyal friend. And in terms of romantic mood, maybe a dog is more appropriate than a cat—more appealing to men, don’t you think?”
Those words left Xia You speechless. She wanted to say, “Do you have no shame at all?”
In broad daylight, in a milk tea shop, you actually say something like that?
And why do you look so smug?
“Why don’t you tell me exactly what kind of part-time job it is?”
“Liu Yan’s family runs a restaurant, you know? It’s been busy recently during summer break. Liu Yan and I have already helped out for a month. It’s settled down a bit now, so we’ve decided to take time off. But leaving all the work to the two elders doesn’t seem filial, so I thought about finding another worker.”
She broke into a smile. “I think someone like you, the King of Part-time Jobs, would be a good fit.”
“Who are you calling the King of Part-time Jobs?!”
“Whoever responds is who I mean!”
“…Did you come here just to pick a fight? And if I go work at Liu Yan’s house after what happened, won’t I lose face?”
“They’re paying eight thousand a month. And it’s only lunch and dinner. You can still do tutoring in the mornings and afternoons. That means next month you could earn around fifteen thousand. You made about eight thousand last month, right? Isn’t an extra seven thousand good enough?”
Xia You initially didn’t want to accept, but she couldn’t turn down that number given her current situation.
X City University itself was a top-tier school. Tuition was 4,800 a year, and dorm fees were 1,200 per semester. In other words, she had to pay 6,000 first at the start of her sophomore year, and she could keep her living expenses to 600 a month. Eight months of school a year meant another 4,800.
After other expenses, she spent about ten thousand a year. The rest she used to support her family—for example, her younger brother, who was still in elementary school.
She wanted him to live as normal a childhood as possible, unlike herself, who had to wear patched clothes and feel inferior.
And there would be more places where money was needed in the future.
She really couldn’t refuse it.
Even though working at her ex-boyfriend’s house was embarrassing—but when you earned money through your own labor, what was so shameful about it?
So after some deliberation, she went to see her boss and explained that she wouldn’t be coming in the day after tomorrow.
After all, the part-time job at the milk tea shop was paid daily.
Besides, she often came back after the semester started. She had some connections here, and everyone knew about her family situation. They all admired the girl a bit, so no one made things difficult for her.
Her boss even gave her a little send-off, treating her to a cup of milk tea and letting her chat with Chen Tang—after all, Chen Tang had introduced the job. Everyone assumed they were friends.
As for their earlier conversation, they chalked it up to friendly banter between friends.
“Why are you helping me?”
“It’s simple.”
Chen Tang bit the straw of her milk tea. “You know that Bai Mengling and Liu Yan broke up, right?”
“I know.”
She had no intention of lying.
“But Bai Mengling doesn’t want to let go.”
Chen Tang said with a headache. “I’ve attacked her several times already, and like you saw, I even went so far as to pretend to be Liu Yan’s boyfriend to mess with her. But that woman has perfected the art of playing dumb—she just pretends not to hear, not to see, and refuses to give up.
She’s come to Liu Yan’s restaurant to eat eight times this month. Don’t you think that’s too much? Twice a week!”
“You mean you want me to help you deal with her?”
“As expected of our School Beauty Xia! So sharp! That’s exactly what I mean.”
“But why would I help you?”
“Because you regret it.”
Chen Tang looked at Xia You. “Honestly, if I had to choose for Liu Yan between you and Bai Mengling, I would definitely pick you.”
“Why?”
“Because your family is reaching above his, while with Bai Mengling, it’s Liu Yan reaching above her. When you reach above someone, you become humble. I’d rather it be you who feels inferior, not Liu Yan.”
Xia You sneered. “Heh heh~ Is this what a childhood friend is? You really are good to him! Why don’t you just marry him yourself? You’re from similar backgrounds.”
“Yeah, you’re right. If neither of you wants to, then I will marry him. That’s beyond doubt.” Chen Tang faced Xia You’s sarcasm calmly. “The reason I’m not doing that now is because Liu Yan hasn’t developed a ‘heart of love’ for me.
Maybe it’s because we’re too familiar, or maybe because I don’t have the figure you and Bai Mengling have, so I don’t suit his taste. But the fact is, he doesn’t like me right now. I only have my face—it’s decent enough.”
‘Your waist is very thin too…’
Xia You looked enviously at Chen Tang’s delicate appearance.
“So if possible, I hope he can pick someone he likes and who will also respect him. You fit the bill.”
Chen Tang took a big sip of her milk tea. “Anyway, let’s not waste time on useless talk. The bottom line is, you’re willing to work there, right?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s enough.”
“But I didn’t say I’d help you deal with Bai Mengling.”
“Your presence there is enough. Next time she comes to eat and sees you there, she’ll definitely be disgusted.”
This person was really twisted.
No wonder she was called a Demon Pill.
Xia You thought she had reformed, but today the Demon Pill nature reared its head again.
“Did you tell Liu Yan you invited me to work there?”
“I told his parents. Whether he agrees or not, what difference does it make?”
Chen Tang picked up her milk tea and left.
‘How did she know I regretted it?’
‘My WeChat post? …Well, that was what I meant.’
Xia You didn’t bother communicating with Chen Tang anymore.
…
For Liu Yan, what should he do with the remaining time in summer break?
He had considered continuing to work at his family’s restaurant and letting Chen Tang rest instead, but his parents scolded him severely.
“Just come help occasionally! College students are supposed to act like college students! You should go traveling with Tang! Go out and have fun! If you’re short on money, we’ll reimburse you! Settle down with Tang soon!”
He knew exactly what his parents were thinking.
Who would have thought that after Chen Tang turned into a beautiful girl, they became childhood friends living next door?
Both families believed they were destined to be together.
So it was natural for them to push Liu Yan and Chen Tang together. Otherwise, who buys houses right next to each other?
But he and Chen Tang really weren’t in that kind of relationship.
Still, Chen Tang was a great buddy—she’d given him plenty of benefits.
But then again, humans were such delicate creatures.
He couldn’t even remember what Chen Tang used to look like anymore.
That made sense—after all, in this world, there was no trace of the old Chen Tang, not even a single photo.
So the current Chen Tang was just Chen Tang, the beautiful girl before his eyes.
Following his parents’ advice, he should be trying to win Chen Tang over in the remaining time.
But could he do that?
Of course not.
“Do you want to go somewhere fun?”
Hearing Liu Yan’s question, Chen Tang looked puzzled. “Are you crazy? Going out during summer break—are you not hot enough? Or do you think there aren’t enough people at tourist spots? Or do you want to go on an impromptu military march? Come on, isn’t it better to sit in the AC? Isn’t cola good? And aren’t video games fun?”
She had a point.
During summer break, there really wasn’t any particularly fun place to go.
Why not just lie down at home? Summer is perfect for sleeping under a blanket with the AC on.
“If you’re really bored, I’ll buy some cosplay outfits, and we can experiment with that.”
She lay on the sofa, looking up at Liu Yan.
Liu Yan hesitated, then decided against it.
What if they got carried away playing cosplay and something happened?
He didn’t have much faith in his self-control.
“How about we go swimming instead?”
“Swimming?”
A smile curled at the corner of Chen Tang’s mouth. “What, you want to see a swimsuit CG?”
She laughed. “If you want to see a swimsuit CG, just say so. It’s no big deal. Actually, I’ve already bought a swimsuit and haven’t tried it on yet. Want to see?”
“Forget it, forget it!”
Liu Yan quickly refused.
Chen Tang looked at him in surprise. “What’s up with you? Why are you refusing everything? You’re not yourself today. No cosplay, no swimsuit—are you becoming a monk?”
She was puzzled by his behavior.
“Even a man has his days.”
Liu Yan joked.
Chen Tang didn’t take it too seriously. “Anyway, at times like this, playing games is the best.”
“Oh, right!”
Chen Tang suddenly remembered something. “I asked Xia You to work at your restaurant. Today should be her first day. And Bai Mengling, as usual, should be coming to eat today. What do you say—wanna go watch the drama? Those two will definitely tear into each other!”
“Huh?”
Liu Yan wasn’t sure he heard correctly.
“What did you say?”
“I said I asked Xia You to work at your restaurant. Today is her first day.”
“…Are you crazy?”
Even Liu Yan couldn’t hold back. “You—why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why would I tell you? Uncle and Auntie already agreed.”
“What? They agreed? Why didn’t they tell me either?”
“Maybe they thought I already told you.”
Liu Yan grabbed Chen Tang by the neck. “You’re trying to ruin me! I’ll choke you!”
“Ah~ I’m dead~”
Chen Tang cooperated perfectly, pretending to be lifeless, and didn’t move.
Liu Yan was speechless. He pressed his hand to his forehead. “Seriously, why did you think to invite her?”
Chen Tang suddenly revived. “Oh, don’t worry so much about the details.”
“I promise you, this will only bring you benefits, no harm. And you know Xia You’s family situation is bad. Even if you’ve broken up, you don’t have to be that heartless, right?”
“…”
‘How dare you say that to me?’
That was basically Liu Yan’s expression.
“Let’s go!”
He stood up silently, and Chen Tang scrambled to her feet. “Wait a sec, I’m changing into my battle gear.”
Liu Yan knew she was about to put on her white stockings and short skirt and go “fight” with the two beauties.
It seemed like Chen Tang treated this as a competition of power.
She really enjoyed it.
But Liu Yan only felt the sky was falling. He could already imagine what would happen at his family’s restaurant.
Especially with Chen Tang and himself going there…
But could he not go?
No, he had to.
His sense of responsibility wouldn’t let him ignore the situation.
Even with his heart full of anxiety, Liu Yan decided to take action.
“Sigh!”
Sighing probably wouldn’t help at this point.
At that moment, in Liu Yan’s family restaurant, Bai Mengling had come as usual.
She’d recently discovered that Chen Tang was just a paper tiger. Childhood friends… weren’t they just the losers’ archetype? No matter what banner she waved—like getting revenge for Liu Yan or helping him out—
If you ignored her actions, you’d realize she couldn’t pose any real threat.
She liked Liu Yan so much that she dealt with everything from his perspective.
Air was indeed more important to humans than water, but no one noticed air.
That was the truth.
She flaunted day after day, and then what?
Nothing seemed to progress.
Recently, Chen Tang’s taunts had even become somewhat refreshing to Bai Mengling.
What was there to be concerned about?
The roar of a loser dog was sometimes quite pleasant to hear…
“What are you doing here?!”
“Ah~ Classmate Bai, long time no see. Happy summer vacation~”
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