Ch. 71 - The Manager's Sneaky Genius Find

I still couldn't quite wrap my head around it, but yeah—here I was, officially joining the Bakery Club.

The perks kicked in right away, though. My wage? Instantly raised. Call it the club membership bonus.

That was a lifesaver for me. Cash was tighter than ever these days.

Once the paperwork was wrapped up, I scarfed down a few cookies to tide me over, then headed to the back with Tang Yihan to pick up some baking basics.

Sure, she had a knack for whipping up kitchen disasters now and then, but her fundamentals? Rock-solid. Worth watching every move.

Worst-case scenario, I had the recipe booklet she'd hooked me up with. Self-study for the win, right?

Up front, Ying Shiqian took care of the customers. It was the usual setup from before I joined, anyway.

"Hey, Senior... mind if I ask you something?" I kneaded the dough between my hands, shaping it into some funky design on the baking sheet.

"Shoot," Tang Yihan said with a nod.

"So, what do you think about me knocking out a pilot's license over break, before classes start? Good idea?"

I'd spotted it scrolling through my phone earlier—it seemed like the perfect distraction.

She paused, mulling it over, then flashed a thumbs-up. "A pilot's license? Huh... yeah, solid plan. Picking up a skill like that? Always a win. And beats dealing with airport lines or traffic any day."

"If you're serious, Yuehan, I can point you to a great spot. Top-notch instructors."

"Wait, you know a flight school?" I blinked, caught off guard. Connections made everything smoother—like scoring that sweet DMV hookup back in the day for my driver's license.

"Not tight with them or anything," she shrugged. "But I've got my own license, so I've been through the program. Trust me, their training's the best."

I was about to ask her for details when a commotion pulled my attention out front.

Not customers, from the look of it. Ying Shiqian's look screamed "boss alert."

We swapped a quick glance, then set down our tools and stepped out.

Her club app needed the manager's sign-off anyway.

I trailed behind, honestly thrown off balance. The boss showing up now? Weird timing.

Sure enough, there she was—Xia Li, all smiles, lighting up the place like she'd just unlocked my piggy bank.

But the real shocker? She wasn't alone. Trailing her was this girl who pinged my radar hard.

I flicked on my Psi-vision on instinct. One mana core, buzzing like it was itching for trouble. Freshman vibes, just like me.

Hang on... didn't I know her from somewhere?

Before I could place it, the seniors swooped in—Ying Shiqian leading the charge, full charm offensive.

"Boss! What brings you here today? Here to check out your favorite barista?" She batted her lashes, grinning ear to ear.

"Uh, clearly not. And are you blind? She's got company." Tang Yihan rolled her eyes, cool as ever, then zeroed in on the girl beside Xia Li.

Even though the girl kept her cool, that unmistakable freshman aura gave her away.

"Tan Han, right? We crossed paths once," Tang Yihan said, stepping forward with a warm smile.

"Han, let me introduce you—these are your seniors. This is Tang Yihan, and that's Ying Shiqian," Xia Li said, grabbing Tan Han's arm with enthusiasm.

"Boss, come on—what's with 'that's Ying Shiqian'? That's no way to introduce me! Han, just call me Senior Shiqian," Ying Shiqian chimed in from the side, feigning offense.

"Fine, you can call her Senior Shiqian—or skip the senior if you want. And that one... uh... Yang Yuehan." Xia Li paused, recalling my name, then waved me into the mix. "She's our new hire here, another freshman this year. And her name's Yuehan too—two Hans! You two are basically meant to be friends."

I stood off to the side, feeling a flush of awkwardness. It wasn't until she said the name that it clicked: this tall, cool-toned girl was the perfect-score genius from our class.

Once that sank in, a wave of intimidation hit me—her presence alone felt suffocating.

She hadn't uttered a word since arriving, which somehow nailed the aloof genius vibe perfectly. It matched every stereotype I'd built up in my head: the type who probably kept everyone at arm's length.

Wasn't she the one who'd been "recruited" against her will, still getting pep talks at the academy? And here she was, settling in already?

Plus, she'd just swiped my nickname—"Han." How was that a sign of destiny?

"Hey... hi?" 

No matter what, I had to say something. Couldn't come off as rude—especially not when her status already had me outmatched.

"Hello." Tan Han's gaze swept over me appraisingly, but her greeting came my way first. It caught me off guard, like an unexpected kindness.

The air grew thick with unease for a moment until Xia Li jumped in to ease things.

"Oh, that's just how Han is—she's not much of a talker. No hard feelings, everyone." She shut the glass door and guided Tan Han toward the back. "You two are both freshmen, so you've got plenty in common, I'm sure. Han, didn't you say you're curious about this place? Feel free to poke around. If anything catches your eye, go ahead and try it—no need to hold back with me."

With that, Xia Li hurried off to the back like she had urgent business waiting.

Ever since I'd learned the café doubled as the Bakery Club's headquarters, it all made sense—the storage area wasn't just for ingredients. It held club gear, hosted meetings, and more.

The seniors tagged along to join the fun, leaving me stranded in the sudden quiet with Tan Han.

Common topics? Where had that idea come from?

I barely had any practice hanging out with people my age. Friends? I could count them on one hand.

I tugged at my work uniform and apron, suddenly hyper-aware of how plain it looked next to Tan Han's outfit—clearly custom-made from head to toe.

"Uh... want me to grab you a stool or something?" I ventured, glancing around. The front counter wasn't set up for sitting—no tables and no chairs. This was just a spot to sell pastries, not a full café.

"No thanks. I'll just take a look around," Han turned down the offer, polite but firm.

"Alright then..." I shook off the awkwardness—it was just a rejection, no big deal. "So, do you need a rundown on what's—hey! Wait! That's not edible!"

Translator's note: Hey! Not two "Hans"! We've got three "Hans" here. And four if you count Yuehan's brother in! And five if you count my colleague in!

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