Ch. 109 - Paid Time Off and Club Recruitment

By the time I reached the bakery, I noticed the crowd was much larger than usual. It looked like business was finally picking up.

“Ying Shiqian, I’m here to rescue you!” I called out as I walked in.

Ying Shiqian was behind the counter, looking like she was in the middle of a marathon. I assumed Tang Yihan was in the back; surely she wouldn't be experimenting with new recipes this late, would she?

“Yuehan? Is that you?” Ying Shiqian looked up, surprised. “Isn’t today Orientation Day? What are you doing here instead of partying with the freshmen?”

“Oh, you know, I went for the spectacle, but I ended up wandering back here,” I explained, leaning against the counter. “Looks like the place is packed today. Are you actually going to have to work for a change?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Ying Shiqian groaned, leaning her head on her hand in mock exhaustion. “With the new students moving into the nearby dorms, this place has turned into a madhouse. My glorious days of slacking off are officially over.”

“So that’s why it was so quiet before? The neighborhood was just empty?”

It made sense. But I felt a pang of regret—now that the crowds were here, my own classes were starting, meaning I wouldn't have much time to help out.

“Exactly,” she sighed. “This year's freshmen were all assigned to the housing block right around the corner. No more peace and quiet for me.”

“Look on the bright side—more customers means the club’s budget will actually exist for once.”

“Budget? What budget?” Ying Shiqian rolled her eyes. “Whatever profit we make is going straight into Tang Yihan’s ‘mad scientist’ fund. Baking is supposed to be a high-margin business, but with the way Tang Yihan burns through premium ingredients, we’re lucky if we don't end up owing the suppliers money.”

I offered a silent prayer for the Manager’s bank account. This bakery only survived because the Manager was willing to subsidize Tang Yihan’s obsession—and pay the three of us a salary on top of it. She was practically a saint.

“Anyway, Yuehan, you went to the orientation site, right? Was it huge? I’m so jealous I didn't get to see it.”

“It was a total circus,” I said. “Way more grand than our enrollment. I’m actually feeling a little salty about it.”

“Ugh, I bet. But hey,” Ying Shiqian’s voice took on a suggestive, testing tone, “would you be interested in hanging out with me tomorrow? Just for a bit?”

“Me? Doing what? Classes are just starting; I’m going to be swamped.”

“Oh, come on, nothing happens in the first week. I just need you to come with me to the orientation grounds. The Manager decided to be ‘proactive’ again.” She looked like she’d just been told she had to run a 5k.

“What now? What did she do?”

“She went to the freshman welcome event today and saw all the other clubs recruiting like crazy. So, of course, she called us and said we have to set up a booth tomorrow and the day after. She’s so impulsive.”

“Club recruitment? So you’re the one stuck doing it?”

“Yep. Tang Yihan and I played Rock-Paper-Scissors for it, and I lost. To make it worse, she won't even come with me! Claims she has to ‘attend the bakery.’ Like the world would end if we closed for two days,” Ying Shiqian complained. “Oh, by the way, she even started a group chat for the Velvet Bakery Club. Let me add you.”

“Sure, I guess I am technically a member.”

I pulled out my phone, and a second later, I was added to a chat titled Red Velvet Bakery Club.

The member list was small: the Manager, the two seniors, and Tan Han. But I noticed there were already about a dozen other people in there.

The moment I joined, the screen lit up with “Welcome!” and “Newbie alert!” messages. Even Tan Han chimed in with a quick “+1.”

I froze for a second. I’d promised Bai Yu that I’d stay away from Tan Han.

Fine, I thought. I’d just play it cool. Cold shoulders and slow replies. Just like with my ex. Time made people forget everything eventually.

“Yuehan~ Please? It’s not like you’ve got a full schedule yet. Come with me for the next two days of recruitment! I’ll literally die of boredom if I’m out there alone~”

Ying Shiqian was back in "pathetic mode," clinging to my forearm with a look of pure, calculated desperation.

“Ugh… fine, fine! Ying Shiqian, let go of me. I’ll go with you…”

“Yes! No take-backs!” Ying Shiqian’s face flipped instantly. The "sad puppy" act vanished, replaced by the smug grin of someone who just won a bet. 

“But,” I added quickly, seeing her excitement, “if something comes up, I’m out. I actually do have a lot on my plate.”

“It’s the first week of freshman year!” Ying Shiqian waved a dismissive hand. “What could you possibly have to do?”

“Actually, we got our section assignments today. I’m in Section 14, and I already met my advisor. As luck would have it, I’ve been drafted as the Class President. I have a million things to organize.”

“Wait, what? You’re already President?” Ying Shiqian stared at me, genuinely floored. “On day one? When my class picked a President, it was basically a bloodbath of political backstabbing!”

“I mean, it’s just a title, right? It’s probably not that big of a deal.”

“Are you kidding? You’re the Lead! You get all the perks of being the face of the class. Compared to the benefits, the actual work is nothing!”

“I’m not so sure about that,” I grumbled. “I don’t even know who’s in my section yet, and my advisor already told me I have to set up the group chat and track everyone down. It’s a logistical nightmare.”

“Oof. Okay, yeah… that does sound like a headache.”

“By the way, how did your President find you back in the day? Give me some pointers here.”

“Me? Uh… I honestly don’t remember. I think I just woke up one day, and I was in a group chat. No idea how she did it. Sorry, I’m useless for advice,” Ying Shiqian said with an apologetic shrug. “But hey! If you come with me to the recruitment booth, maybe you’ll run into some of your Section 14 classmates? Kill two birds with one stone!”

“The odds of that are astronomical! Besides, weren't you just complaining about how sad it was that you couldn't see the orientation events?”

Still, I remembered Ji Niang mentioned she’d unlock "Presidential Access" for me on the academy portal. I wondered what kind of "basic info" that included.

Would it show their Talents?

Invading people's privacy felt wrong, sure, but the temptation was real. And technically, if the school gave me the access, it wasn't "snooping"—it was "conducting a student census."

I wondered how many people were in my section. I hoped it wouldn't be a huge crowd. I’ve never been great with names, and if there are thirty or forty people, my brain is going to short-circuit trying to memorize them all. Just thinking about it made me want to take a nap.

“Anyway, I don’t care! You promised, Yuehan!” Ying Shiqian chirped. “I expect to see your face tomorrow morning. If you aren't there, I’m blowing up your phone. Don’t leave your favorite lonely senior hanging!”

“'Lonely'? Please. But fine, I’ll try to drag myself out of bed.”

“Yes! You’re the best! I’ll even clock you in for the shift. You’re technically working for the club, so the Manager will pay you for it. Tell you what—I’ll even give you half of my double-time bonus tomorrow!”

That sealed the deal. I mean, who said no to extra cash?

Apparently, Ying Shiqian was getting holiday pay tomorrow. Even if I only got half of her bonus, getting paid to sit around and slack off at a recruitment booth sounded like a dream job.

After hanging out for a while longer, I finally started the trek back to the villa. I needed to have a very serious talk with Guan Qiuling. Bringing a "dangerous" senior into our shared living space without a warning was a major safety hazard.

It was time for our problem roommate to get a much-needed intervention.

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