Ch. 16 - Part-Time Plans

The academy had a whole lineup of cafeterias, each with its own vibe.

Most served standard sit-down meals—everything piled onto a single tray. Others specialized in unique dishes or had private rooms for group dinners. A few even went all out with a high-end, upscale atmosphere.

After some serious begging on my part, Bai Yu finally agreed to eat in the main hall on the first floor. Otherwise, I’d have been dragged into one of those dimly lit private rooms that gave off questionable vibes. No thanks.

The fast-food options here were impressive—tons of variety, covering most of the cuisines in this world.

Sadly, nothing from my old life made the cut.

Still, trying all these new flavors was its own kind of adventure. And since Bai Yu was footing the bill, I definitely wasn’t holding back. The cost of a fully loaded tray was cheaper than even the appetizers at those swanky joints.

“Yuehan, you really like this stuff, huh?” Bai Yu said, settling down at a nearby table and eyeing my overloaded tray with a grin.

“Yeah, it all looks good, and I’ve never tried any of it before. I want to dig in,” I said honestly.

Back home, food wasn’t exactly a culinary experience—more like fuel to keep going. 

My parents got decent meals at their jobs, but I was stuck fending for myself with whatever was in the kitchen.

We barely had seasonings, so “good” wasn’t really an option.

It wasn’t until I started eating at school that I realized food could actually taste decent. But “decent” was as far as it got—until now.

The Witch School’s cafeteria was blowing my mind, and I was already hyped to try more.

Of course, being broke was the real kicker. Today was my one shot at eating well.

“Glad you like it. Eat up—but it’s a shame this is all pretty standard fare. I was hoping to treat you to something…” Bai Yu trailed off.

“Hey, no worries!” I cut in before she could finish. “I appreciate the thought, Sister Bai, but why go overboard? Food’s about enjoying yourself, right?” No point dwelling on it—spending more doesn’t mean caring more. If that became the norm, this world would be a pretty miserable place.

“Fair point,” she said with a nod. “Let’s change the topic, then. What do you want to talk about?”

“Uh… what about—mmph…” I mumbled through a mouthful of food, barely intelligible as I shoveled it in.

Bai Yu just chuckled, watching me scarf it down. “Slow down, you’re gonna choke.”

She leaned back slightly. “Let’s talk about what’s next. There’s still a good chunk of time before classes officially start.” She paused, giving me the floor—like she was curious if I had any plans lined up.

“Oh, right.” I swallowed and nodded. The break had just kicked off, and I had tons of time to kill. “Maybe I could pick up a part-time job. Got any recommendations?”

“You want me to suggest something?” she asked, caught off guard that I’d tossed the question back at her.

“Well, yeah! You’re my senior, right? You know the Witch School inside and out. You have to have some insider tips on which gigs pay the best,” I said, beaming at her with total trust.

“Hmm, tough call…” Bai Yu hesitated, then a faint blush crept up her cheeks. “The biggest money-maker around here is probably Charm Alley.”

“Charm Alley?” I tilted my head, catching the odd shift in her expression. The name alone sounded… sketchy.

My mind immediately jumped to shady places, but this was Witch School. It’s a school, not some seedy back alley. They wouldn’t have anything that weird here… right?

“No way!” Bai Yu’s voice shot up, sharp and urgent, cutting me off mid-thought.

She hadn’t expected me to take her little joke seriously, and now she looked borderline panicked.

If I actually wandered over to that place out of curiosity, things could get messy. Not to mention, “Charm Alley” wasn’t even its real name on the map—just a nickname that’d stuck around.

“I was kidding, Yuehan. You can’t go there. It’s all… degrading stuff,” she said, her tone softening but still firm.

“Oh… uh…” I faltered, blinking at her reaction. Wait, so the Witch School did have shady spots like that? 

Mental note: Charm Strip. Underline it twice.

“Got it. I’m a good kid—I won’t go near it,” I said quickly, throwing in a verbal promise for good measure.

“You’d better not,” Bai Yu replied, exhaling in relief. “The academy’s got plenty of legit part-time gigs. If you’re ever stuck, just come to me. I’ll help you out.”

“No need to bother you over something small like this,” I said, waving it off. Then, with a cheeky grin, I added, “But if I really hit a wall, I’m counting on you to bail me out, okay?”

She laughed. “Of course! I’m your big sis, after all. If you’re ever in a pinch, just say the word. Oh—speaking of which, Yuehan, let’s add each other as friends. I don’t have your new phone’s contact yet. It’ll make staying in touch easier.”

“Cool.” I handed her my phone without a second thought. I still wasn’t used to fiddling with it, so letting her handle it was the simpler option.

“You’re just handing it over like that? Not worried I’ll snoop through your secrets?” Bai Yu teased, flashing a playful smile.

“It’s a brand-new phone. There’s nothing on it to snoop through,” I shot back, unfazed.

“True enough,” she chuckled, a little embarrassed at her own jab falling flat.

She tapped away, adding herself to my contacts. But then she pulled up my data screen again.

Since the phone hadn’t synced with my student ID since the last check, it still showed the same info. Her eyes lingered on it like she was double-checking something.

She stared at that hidden “Supra” tag after Psi-vision, her brow creasing slightly. Clearly, she was wondering if that was really the kind of Psi-vision level a total newbie should have?

“Sister Bai? What’s up? Something interesting on there?” I asked, noticing her zoned-out expression. I didn’t think much of it—just figured she’d spotted something random.

“Oh, nothing,” she said, snapping out of it with a quick smile. She handed the phone back. “All set. Just hit me up through the friends list whenever. And hey—keep your personal info safe, alright? I’ve masked some of it for you, but if someone’s nosy enough, they might still piece things together. Get in the habit of checking it solo, and clear the cache when you’re done.”

“Gotcha,” I chirped, already diving back into my food. Whatever else was going on, I’d deal with it after I’d filled my stomach.

The meal wrapped up pretty quickly after that, just light chatter between bites.

I patted my belly, feeling full for once.

If every meal was like this, I might have to start watching my figure.

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