one

The heart aches to the point of being unable to breathe in an instant! It turns out they are already a couple now. When did they start? Was it that day when Fang Xiaoxi sprained her ankle while exercising in the morning that led to this situation?

I... pulled my wandering thoughts back, yet my mood remained at its lowest point. "It's nothing!" After saying this, I turned around and continued with my work.

The leaves on both sides of the road fell one after another, gently landing on Ye Shengxi, and my heart began to feel melancholic

Upon reaching this point, my mood suddenly brightened

Strange, what is she doing standing here? Is she waiting for someone? If she is waiting for someone, then who is she waiting for?

Having said that, I left Ye Shengxi, who was left in a daze, and turned to walk away

"As you command, Father!" I picked up the tray and walked towards table 8

However, Ye Shengxi had no intention of letting me off. Sitting in the chair, he laughed and said, "Hehe, yes, it is not my business, but if I tell everyone that you are working here..."

Hey, Yuan Lulu! What are you standing here looking at so foolishly

He incessantly imparted to me the experiences of a businessman: "When doing business, you must remember to smile often. Only by smiling can you make customers feel that you are approachable, and only with a smile will wealth flow in abundantly. Oh no, that's not the right way to smile; you look as unattractive as a zombie. Look at that girl over there; see how sweetly she smiles, as radiant as a flower. Such a smile is the most endearing and the most attractive to customers!"

"Hello! Ye Shengxi, who told you that I am working here?" I suddenly turned around, my eyes nearly bursting with sparks.

Seeing that my complexion was not good, Ye Shengxi stopped speaking and lowered his head to mutter to himself: "The owner of this shop really lacks insight. When hiring waitstaff, why not choose someone with a better figure? If she scares away the customers, it would greatly affect the business, wouldn't it be terrible!"

Ye Shengxi's eyes widened as big as copper bells: "Yuan Lulu, what are you doing here? Why have you become a waitress?"

I stuck out my tongue and corrected myself: "Oh, I need to smile to attract customers"

Alas, they have all departed, and my world can finally become tranquil! Yet, why is it that my mood cannot settle down?

A sudden jolt! My heart trembled violently, then... that person isn't Cai Shiyu, is he? How did he end up here...? Could it be that Fang Xiaoxi is waiting for him?

She was constantly looking around. Her thick, seaweed-like natural curls danced in the wind, and her ice-blue eyes, reminiscent of crystal, concealed a warmth akin to sunlight while also revealing a playful spirit. Her slender figure gave her an air of nobility. It must be acknowledged that she was beautiful, beautiful like a little princess who had stepped out of a fairy tale

Before I could finish speaking, the guest exclaimed, "Ah? It's you?"

Ye Shengxi, who was sitting nearby, heard my conversation with my father and laughed so hard that he held his stomach and pounded the table. I shot him a cold glare, and he immediately wiped the smile off his face, but he couldn't hold it for more than three seconds before he started laughing and pounding the table again

"I have truly never seen anyone conduct business like you!" Ye Shengxi said, pretending to be angry. However, seeing that there were indeed many customers in the store, he obediently put away the books on the table, then struck a comical pose at me before leaving in a huff.

Sharing? I never thought a boy would say such a thing to me, and what surprised me even more was that this statement actually came from the mouth of Ye Shengxi

Oh, it turns out I also have a talent for performance. I wonder if hearing me say this will enhance the relationship between my parents

At that moment, Dad walked over again and said, "Yinyin, what is the matter? Why do you have such a long face? Has someone upset my precious daughter?"

Ye Shengxi followed uneasily and said: "Are you really okay? Usually, women who have something on their minds will say they are fine. Can you share with me what is bothering you, so that I can help you bear it?"

Father awkwardly smiled at Ye Shengxi and also left

At that moment, another familiar figure came into my view

Returning to the topic of these beggars, every time I give alms, I cannot deny that I have considered the possibility that they might be deceivers. However, whenever I see their pitiful eyes, my "soft-heartedness" takes over. It is no wonder that my mother gets so angry each time. Yet, I always fail to change my ways, not for any other reason, but because if one day I truly encounter those in need of help and do not assist them, my conscience will surely condemn me deeply.

I... I looked down at myself, unsure of how to explain for a long time. After a moment, I let out a cold snort and said, "What does it have to do with you! Just mind your own business!" After saying that, I turned around and intended to leave.

The guest sitting next to that table is a student, and is wearing the uniform of Wenfeng Academy

Dad's pastry shop is not far from the school, it takes about 15 minutes to walk there. Usually, I am reluctant to come and help because I do not want my classmates to know that this shop belongs to our family. If they see me selling pastries here, how embarrassing would that be

My heart feels a pang; it seems that I really should start learning how to take over his business

However, he has always been a prankster who takes pleasure in playing tricks on others, so I would be foolish to share my personal matters with him! Who knows, he might be concocting some scheme right now

I do not know how long I stood there in a daze, but when I came to my senses, I suddenly found that Ye Shengxi had somehow appeared in front of me, and was looking at me with a strange expression.

Upon seeing him, Fang Xiaoxi joyfully ran forward, linking her arm with his and walking in another direction

I pouted and said with irritation, "They all say it's fine now, have you finished eating? If you have, then hurry up and leave, don't occupy the latrine without doing your business."

Until their figures disappeared from sight, my gaze remained unreturned

Learning to do business, the first step is to smile, but whose smile should I learn from? Turning my head to look out the window, I began to search for girls with a "sweet smile".

Dad! Smiling like that all day will make your muscles sore, you know

What a narrow road for enemies, why do I encounter him no matter where I go

Didn’t Mom ask me to help you after school every day? She said she was worried you would get too tired

I really want to find him, I really want to be by his side, although this is fundamentally impossible, I still cannot control my emotions... The prince finally found the princess, but unfortunately, that princess... is not me

Indeed, after listening to my words, my father's wrinkles immediately diminished by three. However, he pretended to be angry and said, "Your mother is just overly concerned. Never mind, since the store is short-staffed right now, it's good that you are here to help."

"If you don't smile for me, at least give me a smile! With that expression of yours, you will scare the customers away. Our family only has you as a daughter, and this shop will eventually be handed over to you. Therefore, I am going to teach you what it means to prioritize customers and provide service with a smile."

Alas, why has such a good thing not happened to me? If it were I who had sprained my ankle that day, then the one currently holding Cai Shiyu's arm might have been me.

However, thanks to those "pitiful" beggars, I ultimately had no choice but to "inherit my father's business" earlier than expected

I maintained a serious expression: "It's nothing! This guest said that their ears have calluses and they can't hear what I'm saying, so they asked me to speak a little louder."

Sighing, I turned my face to look at my father and suddenly noticed that he had many more white hairs on his head. When did he grow so many white hairs? It must be because he is too tired from work usually

You, my friend! In this industry, a smile is the bare minimum! Either you don't do it, or if you do, you must do it well! Do you understand?" Father suddenly became serious and said with utmost gravity

With my shout, Ye Shengxi was so startled that he seemed to lose three layers of skin. He hurriedly forced out a stiff smile and said, "Hehe, you heard me even though I was speaking so softly just now? I was just saying it casually! No need to be so angry."

Customer first, smile service? I couldn't understand the purpose of my father's words for half a day

At that moment, Dad hurriedly walked over and asked, "Yin Yin, what happened?"

I walked over, set down the tray, and said: "Sir, your meal has arrived..."

Sitting in front of me at this moment is none other than Ye Shengxi, the king of pranks whom I despise the most

Saying this, he placed several pieces of cake and a cup of cola on the tray and handed it to me, saying: "Please take these to table 8! The guests have been waiting for a long time!"

My heart tightened once again, and my eyes did not leave Cai Shiyu for a moment. He approached with his hands in his pockets, smiling, his smile shining like a star in the night, appearing like a reserved and noble prince

Ye Shengxi! Are you here to eat or to mock others? If you are here to eat, then sit properly and keep your mouth shut. If you want to mock others, go somewhere else to do it; this is not a clown hall, please show some respect for others! Inherited my mother's loud voice, I nearly blew the roof off the pastry shop, and all the customers turned to look at me with wide eyes.

What bad luck, on the first day of helping my family with chores, I encountered that nemesis whom I despise. I really don't know if I owed him something in a past life

What does it matter if they are fake beggars? They perform so convincingly that it is only right to give them a little bit of hard-earned money. This is the only way I can comfort myself

At that moment, a familiar figure suddenly came into my view—oh, isn't that the school beauty Fang Xiaoxi? I really didn't expect her to be here today as well

It is not acceptable to speak casually! Even if I am here to work, so what? I am still earning money through my own efforts, unlike some people who only know how to spend their family's money. Hmph!

Upon entering the store, my father saw me and said happily, "Yin Yin, what brings you here?"

After distancing myself from Ye Shengxi, my anger still could not dissipate, to the extent that each guest who saw me appeared to be horrified as if they had encountered a ghost

How can this be reasonable? That big mouth, Xia Zhixin, how could she spread my business so quickly? I must go back and give her a good beating

I smiled awkwardly and said, "No, Dad!"

Isn't it? Hehe, Yuan Lulu, I think you should stop denying it. I have already heard from Xia Zhixin that you gave all your pocket money to the beggars again. Now that you are not relying on a job, where does your pocket money come from?

I really can't stand him