Chapter 40: An Unexpected Turn and a Determined Newcomer

This was truly unprecedented. Bai YuYang genuinely couldn’t fathom why Aunt Liu had suddenly become so agreeable.

Lacking a better explanation, Bai YuYang could only temporarily assume she might simply be in a good mood today.

He was only joking, of course. Bai YuYang wasn’t that naive; he was far too shrewd. He knew deep down that there had to be something amiss.

Where there was something amiss, there was a need for investigation.

As for how to investigate, at this stage, he could only try to gather more information. Perhaps he could ask his colleagues about any recent changes at the restaurant.

Wait, thinking about it, Bai YuYang realized he had never actually checked which company owned Lingxing Restaurant.

Indeed. In his previous life, as a high school student working part-time, he was just happy to get the job. He hadn’t possessed such a strong sense of workplace awareness back then.

However, after returning home this time, he should definitely look it up online, just to have a clear understanding.

Cough… Naturally, Bai YuYang wasn’t so arrogant as to believe that someone high up in the company would speak up for him. Still, knowing which company he worked for and having more information could hardly be a bad thing.

For now, he decided to put these thoughts aside. He just wanted to clock out quickly and go home to have dinner with Xiao Xi.

Estimating that it was almost time to leave, he headed towards the cashier’s counter to check.

“Whoa! What are you doing standing there? You scared me!”

Bai YuYang was turning from the office doorway into the right corridor when he suddenly spotted someone standing silently beside him.

Upon closer inspection, it was Su Xiaomeng.

You could at least make a little noise!

“Ah… Senior, I’m sorry. Just now, an employee outside mentioned it was quitting time and asked me to report to Aunt Liu. But I saw you were still talking inside, so I didn’t know whether to go back or enter. I just stood here waiting.”

“Couldn’t you have just knocked and gone in?”

No, wait…

Had the door been open just now?

Bai YuYang remembered not closing the door when he entered, only pulling it shut as he came out.

If that were the case…

“You heard everything we just discussed?”

“Huh? Senior, I wasn’t eavesdropping! I just happened to walk by!”

“Is that so… So you did hear it.”

No wonder when Bai YuYang first saw her, she was standing silently by the wall, looking somewhat downcast.

This really stirred a pang of sympathy.

It was likely that Aunt Liu hadn’t anticipated Su Xiaomeng overhearing their conversation. She had merely explained her reasons for hiring Su Xiaomeng too directly, all to ensure Bai YuYang grasped her meaning.

In essence, her intention was to alleviate Bai YuYang’s burden, and hiring Su Xiaomeng was merely a convenient byproduct.

No one would feel good hearing words like that.

This was especially true for Su Xiaomeng, who, until just moments ago, had been overjoyed, believing her efforts had finally paid off.

As they walked through the employee back entrance, Bai YuYang led the way, with her following silently behind.

Bai YuYang didn’t know what to say. Just as he managed to think of a few comforting words to offer her, he turned around.

To his surprise, Su Xiaomeng had completely regained her previous vivacity, her smile even brighter than before.

She raised her arms, gesturing excitedly.

“Senior, do you know? I never thought I’d have a stroke of luck! I used to be such an unlucky person. Like just now, I almost missed the interview because I was wiping the blackboard at school, and then I bumped into you and took a big tumble right after I started running.”

“But this time, I actually encountered such a coincidence! Senior, don’t you think I’ve really hit the jackpot?”

Her smile was utterly natural.

Unfortunately, it was *too* natural.

Bai YuYang’s experiences with various corporate interviews during university before his rebirth, combined with his innate ability to read people, were not for show.

He naturally caught the fleeting glimpse of sadness, helplessness, and resentment that flashed across Su Xiaomeng’s face even as she smiled.

Bai YuYang didn’t know her family background, nor was it his concern.

However, every human being possesses a heart capable of compassion.

Unable to do much else, Bai YuYang stopped and turned to her.

“Regardless of anything else, the outcome is positive, isn’t it? If I’m not mistaken, you probably really need this part-time job.”

“Yes! I’m very satisfied!”

‘Satisfied? What nonsense.’

“So, don’t dwell on unnecessary thoughts. As long as the outcome is good, you’ll have a chance for others to recognize you. If you can’t even get past the threshold of Lingxing Restaurant, then how can you expect others to acknowledge your abilities, right?”

“Senior…”

Feeling that he had said enough, and recalling the earlier incident, Bai YuYang added another line, following the same topic.

“And do you remember what I told you at school? To occasionally try fighting for yourself. An interview isn’t necessarily the only struggle. Just consider your current formal work as the beginning of that struggle, wouldn’t that be better?”

In truth, Bai YuYang had said those words to Luo Hao.

Su Xiaomeng had mistakenly assumed they were for her. Bai YuYang had originally intended to clarify the misunderstanding.

But after such a convoluted turn of events, how could Bai YuYang bear to clarify it now?

Was he supposed to tell her, ‘Don’t misunderstand, I never actually encouraged you’?

Bai YuYang couldn’t bring himself to do such a thing.

“Ugh…”

Su Xiaomeng’s optimistic expression wavered for a moment, but only for a moment.

She immediately nodded with determination. “Mm-hm! Senior, don’t worry! I’ll work hard so everyone at the restaurant respects me!”

“My main point in saying all this is so you don’t feel so much psychological pressure while working here. Aunt Liu didn’t have any other intentions, you understand, right?”

“Yes! I understand everything!”

Whether she truly understood or merely pretended, Bai YuYang couldn’t tell.

However, judging by her current state, she certainly seemed much more relaxed than before.

Having said what needed to be said, Bai YuYang stopped there. He didn’t want to have too many unnecessary entanglements with Su Xiaomeng.

He had experience from his previous life, after all. Every time he thought his words were perfectly normal, those girls would inexplicably latch onto him!

Indeed, he was talking about Tang Qihuang and the others!

****

Returning to the cashier’s counter, Bai YuYang saw no customers left in the restaurant. A few servers were at the entrance, putting out the ‘Closed’ sign.

This was a themed restaurant, so it closed relatively early, never later than nine o’clock.

“You go on ahead. I’ll just double-check the accounts.”

He instructed Su Xiaomeng and prepared to reconcile the books. Sometimes, accounting errors would cause trouble for the morning shift colleagues the next day.

However, Bai YuYang noticed Su Xiaomeng hadn’t left.

“What are you looking at? Oh, you want to learn this? No need. I’ll be working here part-time for two years; you can handle the cashier duties later, and I’ll take care of the accounting.”

“Um… Can I learn everything? Even if I don’t use it, I’d like to have an extra skill!”

Seeing her earnest expression, Bai YuYang smiled helplessly. “Then just watch if you have nothing else to do. There’s no harm in it.”

Indeed, Bai YuYang didn’t dislike hardworking children.

She might act nonchalant, but her self-esteem was likely quite strong. After what happened earlier, she surely wanted to prove herself and take on more work.

But before he could even begin reconciling the accounts, Aunt Liu happened to pass by from the employee back office.

Spotting Bai YuYang preparing to start the reconciliation, a look of panic clearly crossed her face, and she quickly scurried over to urge him.

“Oh my goodness! Bai YuYang, why haven’t you left work yet?! Didn’t I tell you to leave on time? Don’t delay! Go, go, go! I’ll handle the accounts!”

“A-Aunt Liu?”

Bai YuYang was dumbfounded. Was this really the same Aunt Liu?

“Just don’t worry about it! Employee welfare, no overtime – that’s our corporate culture! Understand? Now go home quickly, no staying in the store! Remember not to be late tomorrow!”

“……”

“……”

Bai YuYang and Su Xiaomeng, who had absolutely no knowledge of this ‘corporate culture,’ were forced to leave the restaurant.

Before they departed, they could still see Aunt Liu, a look of panic and terror on her face, grappling with the accounts.

Yes, terror.