Chan Guo's internet cafe__Demeter Internet Cafe, was a place of distinction, a high-class haven for gamers who appreciated luxury. With two floors and over a thousand computers, it was a paradise for those who sought both comfort and technology. The second floor, while somewhat smaller than the first, exuded class and sophistication. Its luxurious furnishings and minimalist décor made it the perfect place for serious gamers. Meanwhile, the first floor was a sprawling space, bright and expansive, filled with gaming stations, small rooms, and a storage area that contained all sorts of appliances.
For Ye Qiu's first task, Chan Guo had ordered him to tidy one of the small rooms by moving keyboards and other appliances to the second-floor storage. The room itself wasn't anything extravagant, but the work was straightforward enough.
As Ye Qiu busied himself with the task, moving appliances up and down, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his thoughts. He had already inspected the small room. It seemed like a decent place to sleep, although he wasn't sure about its real purpose—perhaps it was meant to be some sort of shelter. The room's decoration was simple, but it was clean and tidy. At least there was no sign of disarray or neglect, something Ye Qiu appreciated.
He had seen the recruitment advertisement for Demeter Internet Cafe. It had mentioned food and shelter, but after this initial task, he wondered if that had just been a vague promise. The small room didn't seem too bad at first glance, but the more he thought about it, the less appealing it became.
While rearranging the keyboards and appliances, Ye Qiu's mind drifted to his apartment—his former sanctuary. But now, his apartment felt like a reminder of everything that had gone wrong. The bad memories lingered, especially when he was alone in the silence of his empty home. Maybe being away from that place for a while wouldn't be such a bad thing. Maybe staying at the internet cafe would help him focus on something else, even if it meant adjusting to a less-than-ideal room.
Once he finished moving the last of the appliances into the storage, Chan Guo walked up to him, inspecting his work. She gave a satisfied nod.
"Good job," she said with approval. Then, with a gesture, she pointed to a cramped little bed inside the storage room. "This is where you'll be sleeping."
Ye Qiu's smile faltered immediately. He stared blankly at the bed, then back at her. His mind couldn't process it at first.
"What?" He couldn't help but ask in disbelief.
He had imagined the other clean room— Even the couch in the drawing room would be more comfortable than this. He turned his gaze back to the bed, then to the room itself. It was tiny and cramped, with barely enough space for a person to stretch out fully. The bed looked like it was a relic from a time when comfort wasn't a priority.
The room itself wasn't much better. There were boxes and random items scattered around, the walls were a dull color, and the ceiling seemed to be too low. The entire space felt claustrophobic, with not a hint of the luxury and comfort he had been hoping for.
"Eh…" Chan Guo scratched her chin awkwardly, noticing his reaction. "I know it's a little lacking," she said, trying to explain herself, "but you can try to make do with it for now."
"A little lacking?" Ye Qiu repeated, his brow raised in disbelief. He emphasized the word little as he took another look around the tiny room. It was a far cry from the comfort he had expected. His initial relief at getting away from his apartment was quickly replaced with frustration. This wasn't what he had signed up for.
"Thanks for the offer," he said dryly, "but I think I'll just stick with my house. It's very close to here."
Chan Guo looked at him for a moment, not exactly surprised by his response. "Hmm… Is that so?" She tilted her head thoughtfully. "I actually thought the room looked… okay."
Ye Qiu turned to her, giving her a flat look.
"Okay?" he echoed, his voice flat with disbelief.
Chan Guo quickly laughed it off, realizing she had overdone it with the optimism. "Kidding, kidding," she said, flashing him a sheepish grin. "Even i wont want to stay...." she paused as she noticed him raise an eyebrow, "Not that i dont care about my workers well being, i meant...." she began explaining "For the time being, its.... Better not to... Stay..... Till.... Renovated" she explained awkwardly
Ye Qiu nodded slowly, "No problem," he said, turning to change the subject. "So__when do I start working?"
"Tomorrow," she replied, her tone more neutral now.
"That means I'm done for today, right?" Ye Qiu asked again.
"Yes, for today," she confirmed. He nodded, about to turn to leave, when she stopped him.
"But before you go," she said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a few bills. "Go buy us some food at the nearest restaurant. I bet you're hungry."
Ye Qiu turned, offering her a slight smile. "Don't worry about me," he said nonchalantly. "I'm not hungry."he added and walked off.
Chan Guo stared at him, dumbfounded. "What?" she said, her voice tinged with both disblief and a touch of offense. "Did he just… decline my order?"
Confused, she watched as Ye Qiu left the storage room without another word. He didn't realize that his refusal had actually left her a little offended.
Meanwhile, Ye Qiu was oblivious to her feelings. He wasn't hungry, and he simply didn't think much of it—after all, he didn't have any experience in these kinds of social situations, especially when it came to work.
As he left the building, Chan Guo stood in the doorway, a puzzled look on her face. "Does he really not know what I meant?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head with a smirk.
Despite everything, something about Ye Qiu intrigued her. There was more to him than just his gaming skills, she realized. And perhaps, just perhaps, his time at Demeter Internet Cafe would turn out to be more interesting than she had initially thought.