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Translator's note: Time to end this book now.
I'm going to sneak into this book and take Yuehan's position. I need this job.
Just kidding.
When the fresh bread dough smacked onto the shiny, custom countertop, Tang Yihan’s hands got to work like she’d been doing this forever, turning it into something so fancy I couldn’t even imagine buying it.
I had to hand it to her—Tang Yihan was pretty darn good when she got into her groove.
Meanwhile, Ying Shiqian just stood there beside me, watching her do her thing, not bothering to pitch in.
“What’s with the look? I’m the one stuck running errands later,” Ying Shiqian said the moment she caught me staring.
“Errands? You’re handling deliveries yourself?” I blinked, a bit thrown, trying to piece together what my senior was up to.
We could just use a courier for delivery—oh, wait. Then I remembered how much that order was worth. Yeah, with that kind of cash involved, it made sense she’d take it on herself.
No way we’d trust a random delivery guy not to mess up the cake.
At that point, I still had no clue how crazy things were about to get—until someone walked into the bakery.
“Welcome!” I said brightly, sliding into my part-time worker spiel without missing a beat.
“Oh, so you’re the new hire?” The girl who came in acted like we were already friends. Her eyes lit up as she zeroed in on me, grabbing both my hands like it was totally normal.
“Uh, yeah,” I said, caught off guard and unsure what was going on. Was she a regular or what?
“Manager Xia? You’re finally back?” Ying Shiqian’s voice piped up behind me, and those words stopped me cold. "Yuehan, she's the boss, manager and owner of this place."
“Manager?”
I stared at this girl—guess I should call her the manager now.
She still had my hands, rubbing the backs of them lightly, like she was testing how much she could get away with. If she weren’t my boss, I’d have pulled away already.
With that goofy, almost creepy grin, I half-wondered if she was some street kid in a past life.
How could this be the flaky, rich manager I’d heard about?
It was seriously throwing me off!
“Yep, nice to meet you, my cute new employee—and a freshman, too!” Xia Li finally let go of my hands, though she didn’t seem thrilled about it.
She looked pretty happy with me overall. “Work hard, okay? You’re still new, but I’ve got big hopes for you later on.”
“Got it. I’ll do my best,” I said, throwing out my standard go-to answer. Honestly, I wasn’t sure why a part-time bakery job came with talk about “big hopes.”
What, was I supposed to guard the place from academy thieves or something?
Nah, that didn’t add up.
I wanted to ask more, but the manager brushed past me and headed straight for Ying Shiqian.
Tang Yihan saw her coming and took a quick step back, keeping her distance.
“Yihan, seriously with that step back? I just wanted to check on my hardworking employee,” Xia Li said, laying the fake drama on thick.
Then she flung herself into Ying Shiqian’s arms, hanging on like she needed a hug to live. “Only Shiqian’s warm hugs and softness can fix my lonely soul.”
I shuffled over to my spot at the register, feeling awkward. Talk about a first impression—this manager was a lot.
I didn’t even know where to start with her.
“Don’t worry about it. She’s always like this,” Tang Yihan said, sliding up next to me. She must’ve seen my shocked face wasn’t an act and figured I needed a heads-up.
“Uh…”
“Just focus on the paycheck. If she gets too touchy, say no—or ask for a raise. Trust me, she’ll pay up every time,” Tang Yihan said with a shrug.
“What?”
I was stunned. Was this really a legit way to score extra cash?
Mind blown. I’d learned something wild today!
Tang Yihan didn’t hang around to see if I got it—she just went back to her work. That big order she’d been working on was finally finished, but it still needed boxing up.
“Mmm, Shiqian, I just heard—something big’s happening, huh?” Xia Li mumbled, pressing her face deeper into Ying Shiqian’s chest. She didn’t look like she had any plans to get up—just kept snuggling in.
Ying Shiqian didn’t shove her off—guess that’s what a paycheck gets you?
I couldn’t help feeling a little jealous.
“Yeah, the order’s on me now. Yihan’s wrapped it up, and we’re about to box it,” Ying Shiqian said fast, while I stood there, half-confused, trying to piece it together.
What did “something big” have to do with a big order?
No way this was just some birthday party with a red velvet cake, right? If you’ve got that kind of money, wouldn’t you go for a custom birthday cake instead?
“So quick? You guys are seriously good—like real pros!” Xia Li grinned. “What’s the deal with this one?”
Ying Shiqian shrugged. “Pretty much ‘lure someone in.’ They’re paying, but we don’t get any extras out of it.”
“Delivery address and who’s it for?” Xia Li asked.
“San Angel School. It’s for… Tan Han.”
That’s when it hit me—especially the name Tan Han!
If I heard right, wasn’t that the genius who crushed it this year?
A coincidence, maybe?
My gut said no. Sharing a name with that academic star would be way too weird.
But if it was Tan Han… there was some real stuff going on here.
A brain like hers didn’t seem like the type to wind up at the Witch School.
She’s got bigger goals—wouldn’t the Big Three make more sense for her?
So how’s Ying Shiqian supposed to drag a red velvet cake across town?
And why would Tan Han even order from the Witch School out of nowhere?
Questions stacked up quick, but I kept quiet. This felt like a secret-code talk—way over my head as a part-timer.
“What? San Angel School? No way, I’m coming with you. I don’t care if I don’t make a cent—I’m in on this!” Xia Li suddenly snapped, her face twisting like someone flipped a switch.
San Angel School... Ying Shiqian had just said it, and now Xia Li was fired up. Mental note for myself: don’t ever mention that place again.
“Whoa, Manager Xia! Calm down—think about the cash! This is our chance to bump up the price,” Ying Shiqian jumped in.
“Right, more money! Tell them to pay extra and I’m there!” she yelled.
And she went on, “Manager Xia! Are you even hearing me? We tell them to pay more. We’re not doing this for free—we’re the ones busting our butts! If I die there, are you paying my REVIVAL FEES?”
Ying Shiqian shot back, clearly done with it. She was about one second from shaking some sense into Xia Li’s weird logic. Honestly, half the reason this place was still running was her keeping Xia Li in line.
“REVIVAL FEES… oh, yeah!” Xia Li muttered, suddenly chilling out. Guess those fees were hefty enough to pull her back to reality.
But… revival?
I didn’t hear that wrong, did I? People could come back from the dead?
This… this was some transcendence-level stuff?
That’s nuts—like death’s no big deal!
“Make them pay the revival fees!” Xia Li announced, only to get another round of yelling from Ying Shiqian, plus a couple of smacks to drive it home.
Meanwhile, Tang Yihan and I hung back, watching the mess play out. Xia Li was basically groveling at Ying Shiqian’s feet—were they, like, together or what?