The last customer finally left.
As the door clicked shut and the bell above chimed one last time, Gu Xi leaned back against the counter and exhaled deeply. The sweet scent of roasted beans, sugar, and cream still lingered in the air, clinging to the apron he began untying from his waist.
Boss Ai stepped out from behind the espresso machine, holding a small paper bag. "Here," she said, handing it to him with a warm smile. "Freshly baked bagels. One of the perks of working here."
Gu Xi blinked, then smiled. "Thanks, Sister Ai."
He dusted himself off and stretched, his joints giving a satisfying pop. "So… how did I do?"
Sitting at one of the bar stools, Song Ai nibbled on a bagel and sipped a latte she'd made for herself during the lull.
"You did good," she said, her voice calm. "Really good."
Then she looked at him with that half-amused, half-appraising gaze of hers and added, "Well enough that I'm wondering when you're free."
That caught him off guard. He blinked once. Twice.
Then rejoiced inside. Nice!
"I finish school around 3 p.m. on weekdays, but weekends I'm free from 9 to 3," he said, after a moment's thought.
Song Ai nodded slowly, calculating in her head. Then she said, "Come in every Saturday and Sunday. I'll pay you 40 yuan an hour."
Gu Xi froze. That was well above average.
"Forty?" he echoed.
"Mm." She closed one eye, teasingly. "You're worth it."
Before he could even thank her, she asked, "You have a bank account?"
"I do," he nodded.
Her phone chimed. A second later, his did too.
Gu Xi checked it—300 yuan.
His eyes widened slightly.
She giggled at his stunned face. "For coming in on short notice. Also… we had more customers than usual today. I think your face might've brought in some curious ones."
She winked.
Gu Xi, of course, was not the kind of boy who'd blush and shyly bow his head.
Instead, he tilted his chin and smirked. "Or maybe it's because they knew the boss was serving drinks herself today. I noticed more than a few boys doubling their orders when you were at the counter."
That wiped the smile right off her face.
"Wh—t-that's…!"
He laughed, enjoying the sight of her cheeks slowly turning red again.
"Thanks again, Sister Ai."
"Don't get cheeky."
Before he could tease her further, he remembered something.
"Oh—will Daji be coming back on weekends too?"
Song Ai blinked. "Didn't he tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"He quit. Last weekend."
"...What."
Gu Xi pulled out his phone and dialed immediately.
Daji picked up on the second ring, his usual high-pitched voice chirping through, "GuGu~ What's u—"
"Su Daji." Gu Xi's voice was calm. Too calm.
There was a pause. Then—
"Uh… the number you're trying to reach is currently—"
"Su. Daji."
"Eek! I'm sorry, GuGu! I didn't mean to lie! I—"
Gu Xi pressed a hand against his forehead. "You said you had something to do. A convention. I don't hear a single sound around you."
Daji sniffled. "I'm sorry! I just… I heard you muttering in your sleep during class, about not having money. And I knew you'd never accept a handout, so I—"
Gu Xi was quiet.
Daji babbled on, "So I thought I'd give you a reason to try it out. I just knew you'd do well. I mean, c'mon, you solve calculus for fun!"
The silence stretched.
Finally, Gu Xi sighed. "This pretty boy…"
Daji perked up. "So you're not mad?"
"You owe me milk tea. Monday."
"Yes, sir! Gugu~ Did you get the job though?!"
"I did."
"Knew it! My GuGu is the best~!" Daji swooned. "Oh right, can you hand the phone to Boss Ai for a while~?"
Gu Xi rolled his eyes and handed the phone to Song Ai, who was just stepping out from the back.
He turned to find his sister standing by the door, punctual as always. She didn't even greet him before asking, "How was work?"
"It went well," he said, smiling. "Got the job. I'll be working weekends now."
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Why? The college entrance exams are in a two months. If you need money, just ask me."
Gu Xi paused.
Then he shook his head.
"Sister Lin. As a man, why would I depend on women for handouts?"
Gu Lin raised an eyebrow.
"…Sorry. I meant—I want to work. Earn my own money. This isn't the 90s anymore. I just… don't like depending on others too much."
"Besides, maybe I'm saving money to buy something for my big sister's upcoming birthday," His grin widened. "So, be good!"
Oh, how she hated that smile now. That warm, genuine Gu Xi grin she'd started to see more often lately.
She sighed, then muttered, "Fine. But I want to meet your boss first."
He called toward the back. "Boss Ai—can you come here for a sec?"
Song Ai stepped out, looking just a little flushed, and handed his phone back. Gu Xi raised an eyebrow.
"What did Daji say?"
She laughed softly. "Just to take care of you. That's all."
But then she noticed Gu Lin standing beside him.
Her eyes sharpened.
Gu Xi stepped in between before the temperature could drop.
"This is my big sister, Gu Lin. Sister Lin, this is my boss, Song Ai."
The two women stared at each other.
Cold. Careful.
Measured.
Then Gu Lin broke the silence.
"I hope my brother won't cause you trouble."
She bowed slightly.
Song Ai seemed momentarily caught off-guard—then flustered, and returned the bow with equal politeness. "No trouble at all. He's already doing better than most new hires."
As they turned to leave, Gu Xi suddenly remembered something.
"Oh—Sister Ai!"
She turned.
He stepped forward—and hugged her.
"Thanks for today."
Ding—
[Criteria 1 Completed!] [Current Progress: 1/3]
Inside his mind, Gu Xi smiled wryly. One step down. Damn you, system.
He didn't notice the stiffened back of the woman he was hugging.
Or the growing fury on the face of the one behind him.
"Gu Xi!"
He was yanked away.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Her hand clamped around his wrist as she began a lecture on male propriety, boundaries, and how to behave with older women.
Gu Xi listened.
Kind of.
Not really.
Her voice faded into the background as he stared at the cityscape through the train window on their ride home.
Meanwhile, back in the café, Song Ai stood frozen.
She looked down at her sleeve. Then at her shirt.
And slowly brought them to her nose.
The faint scent of lavender lingered in the cotton.
She blinked.
Then softly, quietly—
"…What a little fox."