In the changing room, Mu Yan pinched the maid outfit in her hands.
Black-and-white color scheme, lace headband, ruffled apron, skirt hem just covering the knees.
The fabric felt soft and fluffy to the touch, but no matter how soft it couldn’t change the fact that it was a maid outfit.
Lived twenty-one years, hadn’t even tied a kitchen apron more than a few times, now suddenly handling a maid outfit.
Life turning point came so suddenly… no, I’m already dead, count it as after-death turning point.
She took a deep breath and resignedly started changing clothes.
Five minutes later, she pulled open the changing room door and walked out.
Mu Siyi was sitting by the window sipping ice water; looking up and glancing at her, a mouthful of water almost choked her.
Setting down the cup she squinted scanning up and down, finally covering her mouth as her shoulders started shaking.
“Don’t laugh.”
“Not, not laughing,” her voice trembled from holding it in, “…Jiejie turn a circle for me to see.”
“…Not turning.”
“Just one circle! One circle not allowed?”
Mu Yan turned half a circle expressionlessly, the skirt hem just floating up a bit, behind her a puff, Mu Siyi completely burst out laughing.
Pulled out her phone aiming at her click click taking several shots in a row.
“Amazing! I said you’d look good in this! Lace headband with this face of yours is simply heaven-made, apron tied just right too… you really never wore this before?”
“Do I look like someone who’s worn it?”
“True, today’s debut.”
She shouted toward the counter, “Boss lady! Come look quick!”
The proprietress poked her head from the back kitchen, eyes lighting up at once.
“Aiyo really suitable! I said you’d look good wearing it. XS size just right? Not tight?”
“…Just right.”
“Then good. Guests will start coming soon, first familiarize yourself with the menu, latte, cappuccino, lava cake these get ordered the most. Can’t remember no problem, Siyi is here to help you.”
Mu Siyi raised her phone and pressed another shot, smiling with eyes curved.
“Don’t worry boss lady, I’ll definitely take good care of my jie.”
Mu Yan glanced at her lens.
Take care? She’s planning to fill an entire album.
Eleven thirty, the wind chime ding-donged, the first guest pushed the door in.
A guy wearing black-frame glasses, carrying a backpack, looking like a nearby university student.
One glance sweeping to Mu Yan, he stopped on the spot.
She clutched the menu and walked over, forcing out that line she’d practiced for ten minutes, voice flat as an automatic announcement.
“Welcome back, Master. Please take a look at the menu.”
The guy nailed in place, staring at her for a full three seconds, ear roots whooshing red.
When taking the menu, his fingers were even trembling.
“…Th-thanks.”
Mu Yan stood beside waiting.
The guy lowered his head flipping the menu, flipping back and forth just those two pages, gaze constantly drifting toward the lace edge of her apron.
The menu is in my hands, the apron is on my body. Can you order from looking at the apron?
At the window table, Mu Siyi chin in both hands watching with great interest, raising her phone pretending to photograph outside the window, lens steadily aimed at Mu Yan’s side face.
After a long while the guy finally ordered a latte.
Mu Yan collected the slip and turned to the counter, from behind came Mu Siyi’s suppressed laughter.
“Not bad Jiejie, first day of work already made a guest shy, boundless prospects.”
“…Don’t talk with that receiving-customers flavor.”
“Then say receiving? Entertaining? Isn’t it all the same meaning.”
Mu Yan handed the slip to the proprietress, looking back and glancing at her.
This girl is definitely doing it on purpose, she knows perfectly well this word is off.
Once twelve arrived, the shop slowly got busy.
Four tables three occupied, two people also crowding in front of the counter.
Mu Yan carried the tray shuttling between tables, the maid outfit skirt hem swaying lightly with her steps.
She expressionlessly set the cups steady, reported flatly “Your latte,” then turned to the next table.
“This kid’s hands and feet are pretty nimble,” the proprietress chatted with Mu Siyi behind the counter, “just the face is a bit too cold. Is your jie usually like this too?”
“Born that way, not great at putting on expressions.”
“That’s pretty good actually, contrast feel. Young people nowadays eat this up, a cold maid, so special.”
Mu Siyi nodded, eyes following Mu Yan’s figure.
At this moment she was standing in front of table three, taking an order for a couple.
The girl linked the guy’s arm, the guy flipping the menu with his mouth, gaze constantly glancing at Mu Yan’s face.
“What would you like.” Mu Yan’s voice flat as a robot customer service.
“Uh… an iced Americano. That… what’s your name?”
“…Mu Yan. Your iced Americano please wait.”
She collected the menu and turned to leave, behind a hiss, the guy clearly got his arm pinched by his girlfriend.
“Looking at what?”
“No, nothing! I just felt she looks a bit like my cousin…”
Mu Siyi lay on the table, laughing until her shoulders twitched.
A little after one, a big sister with permed curls entered the shop, dressed flamboyantly, carrying a big bag, gaze pinning directly on Mu Yan the moment she entered.
“Aiyo this little girl looks way too young! Fifteen or not? Can your shop use child labor?”
Mu Yan stood in front of her, expressionless.
“…Of age.”
“Of age? Who are you fooling, looks like a classmate in my daughter’s class. Which high school are you from? Secretly coming out to part-time during summer break? Is this legal for you?”
“I’m eighteen. Want to see ID?”
“This kid is pretty serious.” The big sister laughed, shouting toward the counter, “Boss lady! This girl really of age? Don’t you hoodwink me.”
“Of age of age, already seen the ID!” The proprietress poked her head out laughing. “Just looks tender, we were also startled at first.”
The big sister looked back at her two more times, clicking her tongue in amazement. “Really opened my eyes, growing such a doll face and still coming out to work. Come come, order.”
Mu Yan walked over and stood properly.
“A mocha, extra sugar extra milk. Plus one of your lava cakes. By the way little girl, does your place have that kind of… performance? Like dancing or something? Can you dance that otaku dance?”
“…Can’t. I only handle taking orders and serving food.”
“Aiyo what a pity, this face of yours dancing would definitely look good.”
Mu Yan finished writing the last character, turning and walking half a step faster than usual.
At the window table, Mu Siyi buried her face in her arms, shoulders shaking like sifting chaff.
When Mu Yan passed by, her voice was already warped from holding it in. “Jiejie… dance performance… hahahaha otaku dance…”
“…Shut up.”
“I didn’t say anything, hurry go serve the guest coffee, extra sugar extra milk mocha～”
Mu Yan lowered her head glancing at the slip, mocha plus lava cake was correct, but the big sister had chattered a pile of other things.
She paused, turned to the counter.
“Boss lady, table five guest asked if I can dance.”
The proprietress paused, then laughed out. “Ignore her, every newcomer gets asked once. Just say you can’t is fine.”
“…Said it. She said what a pity.”
“Let her pity. You go serve table three’s iced Americano, that guy has almost flipped the menu to shreds.”
Mu Yan carried the iced Americano over.
The guy who asked her name earlier was being interrogated by his girlfriend; seeing her come over he immediately sat bolt upright, eyes staring straight at his own cup.
“Your iced Americano.”
“…Thanks.”
His girlfriend sneered beside him.
Mu Yan set down the cup and turned to leave, skirt hem sweeping the table corner, behind another sneer.
Three in the afternoon, a twin-tailed girl in school uniform pushed the door in, carrying a drawing tube, probably just finished art class.
One glance seeing Mu Yan, she immediately awwed a shout.
“So cute!!”
Before Mu Yan could react, the person had already bounced in front of her, eyes bright as two little light bulbs.
“Jiejie this maid outfit of yours looks so good! Issued by the shop? Your skin so white face so small! Are you a coser? Can I take a photo with you?”
“…I’m a waitress. Not a coser.”
“Waitress can take photos too! Your shop has photo service right? Right right?” She turned and shouted toward the counter, “Boss lady! Photos allowed?”
“Allowed allowed, as long as the clerk girl agrees!”
The girl immediately turned back, palms together looking at her eagerly.
Mu Yan froze in place.
Wanted to say no, but the person’s phone was already raised switched to selfie mode.
Her peripheral glance swept Mu Siyi—that one was giving her a jiayou gesture, phone raised even higher than the girl’s, clearly planning to shoot the whole process from the side.
So you’re here as a war correspondent huh.
“…Just one.”
“Okay okay just one!”
The girl squeezed next to her, making a big V.
Mu Yan stood ramrod straight, expressionless like a human standee.
Click, the shutter fell.
“One more one more! Just now I didn’t smile well! Jiejie you also make a V?”
“…Can’t.”
“Then I’ll make two! You just stand, this face of yours standing is already good-looking enough!”
Another click.
The girl sat down satisfied looking for a seat, lowering her head starting to send voice messages.
“Let me tell you I saw a super cute jiejie at the maid café!”
A little after five, a girl carrying a schoolbag entered the shop, the proprietress’s little sister Xiao You, also Mu Siyi’s classmate.
Seeing Mu Siyi she paused.
“Siyi? Why are you here?”
“Xiao You? Didn’t you go to make-up class?”
“Got out early. What are you doing in our shop?”
Xiao You’s gaze swept to Mu Yan who was collecting plates, eyes immediately widening. “Wait! Who’s that wearing the maid outfit? Did you bring her?”
“My jie.”
“Your jie?!” Xiao You’s face was full of disbelief. “Don’t you only have one gege? And… she’s the jiejie you mentioned yesterday?”
“Yeah, distant relative from my ge’s side, recently moved to Jiangcheng looking for work, I recommended her to your shop. How about it, suitable?”
Xiao You looked at Mu Yan’s back again, mouth forming an O.
“Too suitable! My mom just sent WeChat saying the newly hired waitress is especially cute, I was still wondering who. Just she looks way too young… of age? If not of age my mom wouldn’t dare use.”
“Of age, ID already seen, eighteen. Just looks young.”
“Eighteen?” Xiao You was shocked again, looking at Mu Yan once more. “You sure it’s not fourteen?”
Mu Yan carried an empty tray passing by, footsteps pausing, tossing out two words flatly:
“Eighteen.”
Xiao You jumped, turning to laugh at Mu Siyi. “The way she talks is so fun! Voice soft and fluffy, but talking like a robot.”
Mu Siyi chin in hand smiled. “Right. I said long ago she’s super cute.”
“I believe I believe.”
Mu Yan walked away expressionlessly.
Discussing me to my face, treating me as an exhibit huh.
Six sharp, Mu Yan changed back into her own T-shirt and shorts coming out of the changing room.
Mu Siyi was already waiting at the door, handing over a bottle of iced mineral water.
“Hard work Jiejie. How does first day of work feel?”
Mu Yan took the water, twisted it open and drank a sip, looking up quietly at her.
“…How many photos did you take today.”
Mu Siyi blinked.
“Not many, just a few dozen. Don’t worry, not posting all. I’ll pick a few of the best-looking to post on Moments, the rest save in the private album.”
“When did the private album appear.”
“Built it last night. As for the name～”
She came close, pressing her voice, carrying a bit of wicked smile.
“My cutest jiejie.”
Mu Yan was silent for five seconds.
Then she said the harshest sentence of today.
“Mu Siyi. You are the most terrifying human I have ever met.”
Mu Siyi smiled even happier, reaching out and pinching her soft cheek.
“When Jiejie says terrifying it’s also super cute. Keep it up tomorrow, I’ll come visit the set again.”
Mu Yan turned her face away, silently rolling her eyes in her heart.
Just kill me.