Chapter 40: The Curio Convenience Store and an Unexpected Shift

“We’ve arrived; this is the place.”

“Curio Convenience Store? Does that mean it sells peculiar items to make people feel intrigued?”

“Hmm, I don’t think that’s quite it. It’s a common name. More importantly, are you alright?”

Fifth Ziyuan, perhaps without even realizing it, had already tightened her grip on her backpack straps, her hands clenching involuntarily from the moment they stopped at the store’s entrance, her usually bright and composed expression giving way to awkwardness and unease.

“Yes, no, it’s fine. Let’s just hurry inside.”

‘Are you sure?’

‘Because if I’m not mistaken, your firm, well-toned legs are no longer as light and steady as they were when you were walking; they’re subtly trembling.’

‘It seems that causing trouble for Mi Xiaoli has nearly become a psychological trauma for her.’

“Then please forgive my impulsiveness.”

Speaking, I took her wrist directly and walked towards the automatic doors.

‘If I hadn’t, I suspect she would have decisively fled the moment we reached the entrance.’

‘It’s not some insurmountable obstacle; this procrastination is simply unbearable.’

“Ah? Hey!? Wait, Student Zhao, really, don’t pull me like this…”

*Ding-dong—*

“Ugh…”

‘My guess was indeed correct.’

****

“Welcome! Oh, it’s Zhao Wangqiu.”

“Hello, Manager. But why are you at the register?”

‘If I recall correctly, the one usually responsible for today’s till should be the female university student with black-rimmed glasses.’

As for her partner, another cashier—a high school girl with neat, short black hair—she was on the other side of the store, arranging goods on the shelves.

“There’s no need to be surprised. Everyone has times when they’re held up by something. More importantly, is your body truly fine now?”

“Yes, completely fine. If anything were to happen, I’d just have to complain to our school doctor.”

“Heh heh, you certainly look energetic, but don’t push yourself too hard. If there’s any issue, let me know immediately.”

“I will.”

“But who is this?”

“Oh, regarding that, I have a small favor to ask of you.”

I promptly introduced Fifth Ziyuan to the manager and briefly explained her situation.

Throughout this, she resembled a kitten newly arrived in a strange home, constantly surveying her surroundings with unease.

While the current approach might seem a bit drastic for Fifth Ziyuan, the manager was also a woman and highly skilled at putting people at ease, ensuring that Fifth Ziyuan wouldn’t slip away while I changed into my uniform.

Having inevitably lost some time earlier, and unsure how long Fifth Ziyuan would take to select items, I had originally planned to change into my uniform first and start work, then have her simply come to the back of the store to greet me once she was done shopping.

However, judging by her earlier behavior, if no one kept an eye on her, she would likely make a swift escape while I was changing.

Frankly, the university student cashier appeared quiet, but I always suspected she had a restless personality, and entrusting Fifth Ziyuan to her made me somewhat uneasy. As for the other one, I couldn’t immediately tell if she was outwardly cold but inwardly warm, or simply consistent in her demeanor. In any case, having the manager take over now brought a profound sense of relief.

“I see. Coincidentally, I have some experience in this area, so you can rest assured and leave it to me.”

After speaking, the manager continued to smile gently at Fifth Ziyuan.

“Hello, Ziyuan. You don’t mind if I call you that, do you?”

“Mm…”

Fifth Ziyuan’s emotions seemed to stabilize slightly; though still a bit awkward and uneasy, she was clearly making an effort to overcome it.

“Now, just relax. Shopping is actually a simple and enjoyable activity; there’s no need to be so nervous. If there’s anything you’d like to buy, just tell me, and I’ll help you find it, alright?”

As the manager spoke these words, she stepped out from behind the register, subtly waving me off to change my clothes, while simultaneously taking my place and holding Fifth Ziyuan’s wrist.

Witnessing Fifth Ziyuan, after a moment of panic, not only quickly relax but also shyly and obediently follow the manager to select items, I felt reassured enough to go change my clothes.

****

“Oh, Student Zhao, you’ve changed. Looks like everything’s fine now.”

Having changed and gone straight to the unloading area in the back, my senior colleague, Yang Ge, greeted me with a hearty smile.

“Yes, Brother Yang, I’m sorry to have caused you worry.”

“Haha, why so polite? Come on.”

As he spoke, he approached, placing the item he held onto my shoulder, then slowly easing the weight.

“How does that feel? Are you really okay?”

“Completely fine.”

“Alright then, let’s make good use of our time.”

He patted my back lightly, then returned to the stacking area, hoisted another item, and walked with me towards the warehouse.

“The manager mentioned that we have quite a lot of stock to replenish today, and the other team from the loading and unloading crew was held up. So not only is another batch of goods arriving soon, but we’ll also have to handle everything here by ourselves.”

While Yang Ge spoke, he led me into the warehouse and placed the goods in their designated spot.

“Oh, but why are we suddenly so short on stock?”

As I set down the goods, I couldn’t help but voice my confusion.

At the very least, the current inventory I was seeing was far less than what I’d encountered during my first shift.

Since the store had limited space for storage, they had to increase shelf height to accommodate the wide variety of products, meaning the aisles in the warehouse weren’t wide enough for pallet jacks or similar tools; everything had to be moved manually.

However, because the customer base was relatively stable, restocking on Friday was usually sufficient for the entire week’s sales. Thus, much like the Evergreen Noodle House, only one extra person was needed on Fridays.

Yang Ge also served as the warehouse manager, typically starting work at six in the morning to count and transport daily limited supplies of fresh dairy products, as well as fresh ingredients for prepared takeout meals.

After confirming the sales from the store’s display cabinets, he would pre-transport the necessary replenishment items to designated spots within the store, making it easier for others to restock, and meticulously record all incoming and outgoing goods.

The same procedure needed to be repeated before the night shift began at eight in the evening.

Given Yang Ge’s diligent work ethic, it was highly unlikely for such a significant stock shortage to occur without him promptly informing the manager for replenishment.

“Apparently, two large tour groups suddenly arrived this afternoon and bought a huge amount of stock, even clearing out some items that usually sell but aren’t bestsellers.”

“That’s quite unusual.”

‘It’s an unexpected stroke of luck, I suppose.’

“Indeed. This kind of situation usually only happens in districts eleven or fifteen.”

Returning to the stacking area, Yang Ge once again placed an item on my shoulder before hoisting another one himself.

“Brother Yang, you don’t have to go out of your way to look after me.”

“Haha, what are you talking about? As a senior, and since it’s just heavy lifting, isn’t it alright to look out for a junior and earn some goodwill while we can still chat?”

“Heh heh, of course, that’s fine. I’ll gratefully accept then.”

“That’s more like it.”

****

We stopped chatting and focused on moving goods for a considerable time, until, during a water break, he suddenly spoke up.

“Oh, by the way, the person you mentioned who wanted to visit you at work? Did they not come today either?”

“Yes, it happens to be a little sister’s birthday today, so she went to celebrate with them.”

“Oh, no wonder you took an hour off. What a shame. Just from her voice on the phone, I could tell she was a very lively and adorable girl.”

“Ah, haha…”

‘Hmm, I certainly can’t reveal that it wasn’t the same person.’

“Look how flustered you are. Don’t worry, I’m not interested in younger girls, especially not a junior’s girlfriend.”

‘That’s not the issue at all…’

“But we’re not a couple.”

“No way, really? That kind of attitude—caring for someone even more than you care for yourself—it was audible even over the phone.”

“Hmm, if you put it that way, I suppose I do have a similar attitude. But we truly are just good friends; there are no romantic feelings involved.”

Yang Ge simply chuckled after hearing this, then lightly patted my shoulder.

“Alright, time will tell all. Come on, let’s keep going.”

“Mm.”

****

About an hour later, we had moved most of the goods from the stacking area, and the delivery truck arrived as scheduled.

“Yo!~ Old Yang, and the new guy, good work. We’ll take it from here for a bit. You two go rest.”

“Alright, but don’t stack things too haphazardly like last time, making us walk around in circles in the warehouse.”

“Okay~ Okay~ Weren’t we in a rush earlier? This time, everything was sorted before we even arrived, so you can relax.”

‘That just makes me even more uneasy.’

Yang Ge muttered, putting an arm around my shoulder, and led me towards the break room.

Indeed, although I didn’t know the exact procurement channels, according to Yang Ge, the driver of the truck, along with the two people in the cargo bay, and two others who were off today—a total team of five—were actually hired by many nearby businesses jointly, solely responsible for loading, unloading, and transporting goods.

Inventory and warehousing, like what Yang Ge and I did, were handled by each business hiring their own staff.

Consequently, to ensure other businesses also received their goods promptly, they inevitably rushed when loading and unloading.

Not only did goods get stacked haphazardly, but sometimes delivery errors also occurred.

Even after being reminded multiple times and showing some improvement, it was precisely because of this that such an attitude, as displayed just now, only made those familiar with them more distrustful.

‘It’s become somewhat normal… Hmm?’

‘Did I forget something?’

It wasn’t until I reached the break room door that I suddenly remembered: an hour had passed. With the manager’s help, Fifth Ziyuan should have finished her shopping by now, yet I hadn’t seen her come over.

‘Could she have gotten too excited and forgotten to let me know?’

‘I’ll ask the manager later.’

This thought, that it was most likely the case, allowed me to momentarily put Fifth Ziyuan out of my mind.

Less than ten minutes later, the previous driver came to call Yang Ge to count the goods.

“Student Zhao, you keep resting. I’ll call you when I’m done counting.”

“No need, Brother Yang. I’m rested. I’ll just come along and observe.”

After all, the manager had said earlier that everyone has times when they’re held up. Counting goods isn’t difficult, but I still needed to familiarize myself with the process.

“Alright then.”

Yang Ge didn’t insist, leading me to the stacking area. From his shirt pocket, he pulled out an inventory list and a pen, then began counting the goods and checking them off.

“Hey! I’m telling you! Come take a look yourself, how did this happen again?!”

Initially, everything was fine, and Yang Ge quickly checked off the items.

However, when it came to the last few items, he suddenly yelled angrily at the three men gathered at the smoking area nearby.

The driver, hearing this, quickly tossed his cigarette butt and jogged over. Yang Ge, looking annoyed, handed him the inventory list. After the driver compared it with the goods, he immediately showed an embarrassed expression.

“Ah, my apologies, Old Yang, how about…”

“Alright, alright, just hurry up.”

The driver wanted to say more, but Yang Ge waved his hand dismissively, clearly exasperated.

I then saw the two others who had rushed over quickly move the items on top of the misdelivered goods, and then place those incorrect items back into the truck bed.

“Ah, Old Yang, we’re really sorry.”

The driver offered Yang Ge a cigarette with an apologetic smile.

“You forgot again, didn’t you? I quit long ago. Student Zhao is just a high schooler, don’t mess around.”

Yang Ge waved his hand, politely declining.

“And it’s not like this is our first day knowing each other. If you keep doing this, what if our manager happens to be checking stock one day? Then I won’t be able to cover for you.”

“Oh, I wasn’t… sigh, never mind. A mistake is a mistake. I’ll treat you to a meal another day. I’m off now.”

Knowing that arguing was pointless and already pressed for time, the driver saw that the other two had already loaded the empty pallets from where we’d moved goods back into the truck bed. He then put away his cigarette and spoke.

“Mm, don’t take it to heart. Safety first.”

Yang Ge said earnestly, patting the driver’s shoulder twice.

‘It seems they have a decent personal relationship.’

“Alrighty.”

He responded, then got into the driver’s seat, leaned out to wave at us, and started the vehicle, driving away.

“Sigh…”

Yang Ge watched the departing truck, shaking his head with a sigh.

“Have you known each other long?”

Driven by curiosity, I couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes, we went to the same high school. This kid actually has a brilliant mind; he picks up everything quickly. He was just too fond of playing around, so he didn’t go on to college and instead started driving for his family’s delivery business. It used to be long-distance, so he didn’t have to load or unload. His temper is still a bit impulsive even now. If the leader isn’t attentive, the helpers naturally aren’t either, so these situations are bound to happen.”

“Hmm, that reminds me of someone similar I know.”

“Haha, isn’t that a common phenomenon? If they listen to advice, that’s great. If not, don’t take it to heart. Which path to take is ultimately one’s own decision. You can have good intentions, but you shouldn’t be the kind of ‘good person’ who proactively gets involved before the other party even asks.”

“Indeed, I’ve learned something.”

‘I should find a chance to remind Lin Shurou about this sometime. She’s the type who, upon seeing someone in difficulty, will immediately offer help before they even ask, without considering if the other person wants it. As a result, even if she ultimately helps, the other party might not say anything to her face but probably rolls their eyes behind her back quite often.’

“Tch, kid, you clearly understand these things better than I do. Why bother with the empty flattery?”

“Not at all.”

‘It wasn’t flattery; it’s just that, as Yang Ge said, good intentions are permissible.’

‘Since a senior was kindly imparting his experience, even if I already knew, I should naturally show appreciation and gratitude.’

Without further words, we once again focused on moving the goods.

****

“Whew~ It’s finally over.”

“What about the misdelivered goods from earlier?”

I didn’t want to dampen his spirits while he stretched and relaxed, but if their luck was bad, the delivery crew would likely have to deliver all the items on the truck before realizing which ones were wrong.

“Just as you guessed, we’ll have to wait until the end. Don’t worry about it. Go change and rest. I’ll just read a book while I wait.”

As Yang Ge spoke, he took out an advanced programming book from the locker, sat down at the table, and began reading.

‘He said that, but I still felt a pang of guilt.’

‘And… that book wasn’t the same one I saw last time.’

Gazingo at Yang Ge, who was already absorbed in his reading, I could only sigh inwardly. After changing back into my school uniform, I gave a brief word and headed towards the store.

‘I couldn’t just open old wounds by directly asking about his recent job applications, could I?’

‘I could only wait for the moment Yang Ge was recognized, and then offer my heartfelt congratulations.’

Upon returning to the store, before I could even ask the manager about Fifth Ziyuan or settle my hourly wage, I was struck dumb, standing rooted to the spot by the sight of Fifth Ziyuan, now dressed in the store uniform, standing behind the counter and ringing up a customer.

‘So, what exactly did I miss?’