I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 81

 

“Hello! Welcome!”

 

Over here, the store manager Ouyang Xue is still introducing to me how to use the machines in the kitchen. Almost reflexively, she turned and ran out of the kitchen upon hearing Ai Luodi’s voice at the door.

 

“May I help you with anything?”

 

I quickly followed behind.

 

“Our store is not officially open yet, and the cats haven’t arrived. Currently, you can only order some fried chicken and drinks.”

 

The male staff member who welcomed me earlier also quickly ran over from the nearby counter and handed me a menu, saying, “You can take a look first.”

 

I was a bit stunned watching this scene.

 

By the way… if I remember correctly, Ouyang Xue seemed to have mentioned during the introduction that they were temporarily transferred from the headquarters to maintain the operation of this coffee shop. Are they really this professional?

 

I observed various decorations on the first floor.

 

Many potted plants obviously looked like they had just been moved, with a lot of fallen leaves and unopened flowers. Some decorations like cat climbing frames, small windmills, and wind chimes were scattered around, seemingly undecided on how to arrange them.

 

Given the current situation, I feel like just the “decoration” of the store may not be finished for a few days. Adding to what Su Yunjin said earlier about “preparing for this store for several months,” it’s not hard to imagine what they’ve been doing during this time.

 

Cleaning the house, moving goods, organizing things, taking care of cat climbing frames and potted plants, managing food and raw materials, and… receiving customers? Cooking?

 

“Only regular drinks?”

 

Ai Luodi casually sat down on a small chair, took the menu, and glanced at it. “Then… give me half a roast chicken, extra spicy, make it even spicier, and a cola.”

 

After ordering, Ai Luodi handed the menu to the former owner of the Yae-Do, Lu Xinjian, who was behind her. “Here, Uncle, take a look at what you want.”

 

“I don’t need anything,” Lu Xinjian quickly waved his hand. “I have to go to the hospital to accompany my daughter later for a meal.”

 

“Okay then.”

 

Ai Luodi looked up and said to the male staff member in front of her, “That’s all.”

 

Then, she turned to me. “Hi, little Nuo’er.”

 

I felt a bit awkward, raised my hand, and waved. “Uh… hello.”

 

The store manager Ouyang Xue, curious, asked, “Do you two know each other?”

 

“She’s my… my… um…”

 

I hesitated for a while. “My editor.”

 

“Editor?”

 

“Her previous job was a web novel writer, and I was the managing editor.”

 

Ai Luodi looked at the café, with a somewhat “intoxicated” look that seemed unrelated to the alcohol. “It looks like the new job interview went smoothly.”

 

“Web novel writer?”

 

Ouyang Xue seemed to take a moment to react. “Writing novels?”

 

“Most of the TV dramas we usually watch, like ‘Promotion Diary,’ ‘The Excessive Son-in-law,’ and those endless love stories, are mostly adaptations of web novels.”

 

Ai Luodi, seemingly accustomed to answering similar questions, blurted out, “Our little sister Nuo’er used to work as a writer of web novels.”

 

“I get it.”

 

Ouyang Xue adjusted her glasses. “So, does that mean… I’ve taken away your author?”

 

“Not at all.”

 

Ai Luodi turned her head, rare without the exhausted expression. “Being a web novel writer is a profession that relies heavily on luck and talent. Even if someone wrote well before, it’s normal to have no readers and no income after starting a new book. Moreover, in our industry, we don’t care about appearances or gender. But unfortunately, Nuo’er’s greatest talent lies in her looks. I think she’s overqualified for writing web novels. Having a formal job is the best, and I’m happy for her.”

 

After saying that, Ai Luodi even winked at me. “Right, little Nuo’er?”

 

This girl… is quite calculating, huh? I silently thought to myself.

 

Ai Luodi’s appearance fits the cute girl type, especially with the twin tails she tied today. She’s dressed in casual women’s clothing similar to mine, giving the impression that she’s probably around eighteen or nineteen. It’s a completely different style from the sharp-tongued mature woman I knew from online.

 

But I just can’t discern her true thoughts when she speaks. For example, in the conversation just now, if I didn’t know Ai Luodi beforehand, hadn’t spent such a long time under this editor, and hadn’t seen her ruthless comments in the group towards authors, just based on appearance and listening to her cute girl voice, I might actually believe she was genuinely happy for me.

 

But she’s Ai Luodi! The Poison-tongued Queen of Yae-Do!

 

I find it hard to believe that she has no “malicious” thoughts when saying these things. Ai Luodi, as my editor, went “missing” for a while due to the closure of Yae-Do. To save myself, I submitted my work again. Then, the two websites merged, and my situation became delicate.

 

I’m not very clear about the specific rules on the novel website editor’s side, but if I guess correctly, when an editor brings in an author and the author achieves success, the editor should also receive a certain commission, similar to sales.

 

Now, I have a book to update under Ai Luodi and a novel to write under this side. Juggling between the two, Ai Luodi might not be happy about it. However, considering that an average person updating two books a day is no big deal, and I used to be the type of author who “coos” like a pigeon every day under Ai Luodi, consistently updating only one chapter, maintaining a daily update should be fine with her.

 

But if I find a formal job, the nature of it will be different.

 

Is the difference between weekends and single days off just an extra day of rest? I believe the hearts of countless workers are very clear about this question.

 

If an employer has a day off on Sundays, then I’ll be busy for six days in a week, and what will I do on the seventh day?

 

Sleep in.

 

Wake up at noon, eat something, look at the house that hasn’t been cleaned for a week, spend a few hours cleaning, and in the blink of an eye, it’s time for dinner. After dinner, think about the anime I haven’t watched this week, haven’t played any games, haven’t defeated the weekly boss. I’ll play games for another two or three hours until it’s time to sleep, and then I’ll wake up and it’s a workday again.

 

But what happens if there are two days off? I can sleep in on Saturday, then clean the house, catch up on my favorite anime, play some games. On Sunday, with enough rest from yesterday, I can wake up a little earlier. After finishing the anime and TV shows, having enough fun with games, I have the whole day left. At this point, since I’ve already had enough rest, I can go out for socializing or learn various knowledge.

 

I once dreamed of learning to draw, writing novels, learning Japanese… These things can be learned on the extra days off.

 

These are two completely different concepts. A person with only one day off may pass through the week in a daze, repeating the same routine. On the other hand, a person with two days off not only gets good rest but also learns new skills. Learning a little every week adds up, and gradually, after a year or two, the person with two days off has gained a lot of skills, while the person with one day off is still stuck in the same place.

 

Similarly, if an author is full-time, they can read books, learn the latest trends in novel plots online, or browse various novel websites to improve their writing skills. Even if they go to bed early, they can still have a well-rested brain.

 

What can a part-time author do? After coming back from work, they hastily spend two hours updating their novel according to their own ideas. Whether the plot is exciting or not doesn’t matter; as long as they complete a day’s work, it’s considered done. Over the course of several years, the writing style and plot don’t show significant improvement. It’s still the same routine of full attendance. In the game, the “fatigue” or “energy” setting is actually based on the real world. Each person’s fatigue level is about the same in a day. Going to work consumes fatigue, full-time housewives enduring children’s tantrums at home also consumes fatigue, and students concentrating on lessons all day at school and doing homework at night also consume fatigue. This thing isn’t about who is better than whom; everyone is the same, and it has nothing to do with time. Whoever uses up their fatigue first becomes a “slacker.”

 

Ai Luodi, being an editor, definitely understands this point.

 

If I have a formal job here and am busy every day, will I still have the energy to focus on writing novels when I have free time? Definitely not—by that time, my fatigue will be almost depleted.

 

So Ai Luodi’s statement, “I’m happy for her,” if we put it in the context of her being a sharp-tongued editor, I feel it has a slight… discontent, an unhappy feeling.

 

And Ai Luodi’s contradictory appearance of a young girl makes me feel like “she probably doesn’t mean that.” The two extremes leave me momentarily confused.

 

“Uh… um… thank you.”

 

Faced with Ai Luodi’s words, which I couldn’t determine whether to consider as “praise” or “displeasure,” I could only reach out and grab a strand of hair by my face, twirl it around, attempting to play it off cutely. “Well, I… have worked as a waitress before, too.”

 

“But isn’t this place recruiting maids?” Lu Xinjian seemed to want to say something but hesitated for a while before turning away, looking at the store manager, Ouyang Xue. “Do maids here have high salaries? Is it ten thousand a month?”

 

“…,” Ouyang Xue remained silent for a few seconds. “I think I’ve figured it out. You guys are this kid’s friends, and you’ve come to question us?”

 

Well, now everything is misunderstood.

 

Seeing Ouyang Xue’s thoughtful expression, I could only sigh silently in my heart.

 

Ai Luodi’s thoughts were probably just as I guessed earlier. As for Lu Xinjian… what he wanted to say just now was probably something like “If you’re really short of money, I can help” or “You don’t have to come here to work as a maid.” The conversation at the convention made him believe that I am “the sister of the person who donated their heart to his daughter” and he has been wanting to “repay the favor.” However, revealing the identity of the donor is illegal, and he can’t openly announce, “I’ve checked through my connections, Nuo’er is the benefactor of our family.” So, he held back what he wanted to say and turned it into the suspicion towards Ouyang Xue.

 

“No, but Nuo’er and I are indeed good friends, she… cough, cough.”

 

Under Ouyang Xue’s gaze, Lu Xinjian explained, “She has helped our family a lot.”

 

“I see.”

 

Ouyang Xue didn’t seem intent on dwelling on this matter, nodded, and said, “Sit for a while, I’ll go prepare the roast chicken.”

 

“I’ll go too!”

 

Feeling that I couldn’t stay here, I quickly caught up with Ouyang Xue. “Please wait a moment, I’ll be right there!”

 

“… ”

 

We arrived in the kitchen together, and I saw the manager take out a half-prepared chicken from the nearby refrigerator.

 

“I thought you would choose to stay there with them.”

 

Wearing gloves, putting on a mask, and picking up special food scissors, Ouyang Xue carefully handled the chicken on the table, took out seasonings and chili powder from the nearby cabinet, and began to pour them on carefully.

 

“Didn’t Sister Ouyang say that if there’s a chance, she hopes I can learn how to cook more?”

 

I explained. “They came over for dinner and planned to wait for me to go back together. I’m planning to rent a place nearby.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Ouyang Xue nodded to indicate that she understood, then motioned for me to come over. “This is the recipe for our original roast chicken. Currently, we only have two flavors here—original and spicy. Spicy roast chicken is made by adding chili and a small amount of pepper to the original flavor. We use this type of chili.”

 

As she demonstrated how to season and handle the ingredients in front of me, Ouyang Xue gestured to the food cabinet behind her. “The items here need to be neatly arranged and labeled correctly. Remember where everything goes. Also, the trash can is over there. After throwing away the garbage, make sure to cover the lid tightly. Don’t move it, especially not too close to the food. Clean it every morning, noon, and evening. If there’s anything left after selling out on the same day, when the food transport vehicle arrives the next day, anything unsold must be handled, no matter what.”

 

“There, you see, like this. The customer just now wanted it spicy, so you add more chili, then wrap it in aluminum foil, three layers, pay attention, like this…”

 

“One layer, two layers, three layers, it looks very nice this way.”

 

As she spoke, Ouyang Xue quickly entered work mode, cradling the prepared half chicken in her hands as she walked towards the nearby machine.

 

“Press this button for the roast chicken, and the one below is for the special marinated chicken. Dine-in and takeout are different. The standard time for roast chicken for dine-in is 18 minutes. Like this one, it’s for dine-in, fully cooked from raw to roasted. But for takeout, there’s a strict time requirement. Customers who live nearby often give us and the delivery guy only 30 minutes. So, we can’t really roast a raw chicken for 18 minutes. For takeout, we use a semi-cooked version, and when the delivery guy comes, we heat it for about five minutes before serving. There will be a difference in taste, but our main focus is dine-in.”

 

With a “beep” sound, Ouyang Xue placed the marinated chicken into the machine and closed the door.

 

“When we open, there will be a dedicated chef, but the kitchen staff won’t work overnight. If there are customers coming in or takeout orders at night, it will depend on you.”

 

Perhaps seeing my curious expression, Ouyang Xue continued to explain, “Anyway, remember, hygiene comes first. Empty the trash when it’s half full, check the kitchen three times a day. If the chef is not meeting the standards, for example, not wearing a mask or gloves, it’s your responsibility to point it out. This way, when the food inspection people come for a surprise check, which is very likely for a new store, there won’t be any problems. The most common issue is hygiene, so the work of you maids is the most important.”

 

“Understood.”

 

I nodded, “Hmm… Sister Ouyang, what were you doing before?”

 

“Didn’t I already say?” Ouyang Xue turned her head, “I’m in charge of logistics management at Tongmeng’s headquarters. I’m the team leader, and those outside are under my command.”

 

Logistics management… what is that?

Is it the same as what I understand as logistics management?

 

“I don’t really know how to explain it to you specifically. In a nice way, it’s a little manager, in a not-so-nice way, it’s a handyman. I’m the head handyman.”

 

Ouyang Xue half-jokingly said, “Well, there’s not much for us to do at the headquarters lately, so they asked me to take care of this mess.”

 

I didn’t quite understand, “Do you need to learn how to cook for logistics management?”

 

“If the company needs it, then you have to learn.”

 

Ouyang Xue shrugged, “Logistics management, when something comes in, you check the goods, count them, keep records. When there’s nothing to do, the company wants to make a short video, film interesting things in life, promote a department, all sorts of random things for us to do. If you don’t know, then learn.”

 

“Did Sister Ouyang also learn about the café?”

 

“Learned on the job.”

 

“Well… do you also have to learn things outside of work?”

 

“The salary is enough, why not learn? Being the store manager here doubles the salary. With that, I can save a lot after paying the mortgage this month. I can even afford a nice set of cosmetics.”

 

Ouyang Xue sighed, looking like a weary middle-aged person, “You’ve touched upon the sorrows deep in my heart. If it weren’t for company regulations, I’d light up a cigarette and chat with you about life right now.”

 

“Don’t… smoking is bad for your health.”

 

“I don’t smoke much, less than a pack a month.”

 

Ouyang Xue sat down on a nearby chair, “Has the little girl ever had a boyfriend?”

 

Huh? Ouyang Xue’s sudden change of topic confused me, “No.”

 

“Single for 18 years?”

 

“Single for 30 years.”

 

“Not bad, I’ve been single for 30 years too.”

 

Ouyang Xue sighed, “In the first few years after graduation, I thought about working first before dating. After squeezing into a big company like Tongmeng, the thought of spending time and energy on a relationship seemed troublesome. What if the boss sees me having a boyfriend and wanting kids and decides not to promote me? So, I decided to focus all my energy on work, and here I am, busy until now.”

 

“Haha… I didn’t expect Sister Ouyang to be such a sentimental person.”

 

“This isn’t being overly sentimental, it’s more like advice from someone who’s been there for you, a little sister… How should I put it? Consider it a word of caution.”

 

Ouyang Xue glanced outside, “You’re just like I was back then, newly entered into society, with all your focus on work… Of course, cough, I wasn’t as cute as you back then. People in the company used to call me a tomboy.”

 

But your figure is really good!

 

I discreetly glanced at Ouyang Xue’s chest.

 

Confirmed, it’s a size that even some women can’t match.

 

“Go and chat with them. Making customers happy is also part of the maid’s job.”

 

Perhaps because the chicken roasting machine was gradually warming up, the kitchen temperature started to rise. Ouyang Xue took off her gloves and removed her mask, “By the way, tell me your height, waist size, and shoe size. I’ll contact the factory tonight and make sure your maid outfit is rushed out with some overtime.”

 

Tonight?

 

“Can it be made in just one night?”

 

“With a template.”

 

Ouyang Xue had a “don’t be surprised” expression on her face, “Tongmeng Net has been a listed company for many years. We have collaborations with many factories, as long as the money is enough. Custom-made clothes rushed out in one night? They can even make you a crocodile maid outfit if you pay.”

 

“Oh…”

 

I nodded, “For my measurements… height, I measured it with a ruler before, 139 centimeters. For the three sizes, it’s 71, 53, and 78. The upper bust may be 72, I’m not very sure. And my foot length is 21 centimeters, shoe size 32.”

 

Bra cup size is calculated by subtracting the underbust from the upper bust, and the resulting value is classified. For example, a difference of 10 centimeters is an A cup, 17.5 centimeters is a D cup.

 

My upper bust and underbust are almost the same, or it’s the smallest AA cup, which is an upper bust of 72 and underbust of 71. I haven’t measured it precisely, but it doesn’t feel tight when I wear children’s underwear.

 

I compared these measurements online before. According to information from various authors, the character closest to my body shape is Yoshino Himekawa from the anime “Date A Live.” Yoshino’s measurements are 73, 55, 78, and height is 144 centimeters. My body is similar, just with a slightly smaller bust, a slightly narrower waist, and similar hips and thighs. Being about 6 centimeters shorter in height, roughly equating to the body shape of that ice-type loli character isn’t a big issue.

 

“Not even 1.4 meters?”

 

Hearing my measurements, Ouyang Xue was somewhat surprised, “Your parents… cough, did you not eat well when you were a child?”

 

“I ate well.”

 

I didn’t know how to explain, so I could only helplessly say, “I just don’t grow.”

 

“That’s fine too. When you open the shop, you’ll probably be the mascot for the entire café.”

 

Mascot? What the heck, why a mascot again! It seems like I’ve heard this term more than once! Back when I was still Uncle, playing games with Pipi and the others, I was the “mascot.” They would open loot boxes and do card draws while shouting in voice chat, “Sacrifice Uncle’s 20 years of life for me!” or “Sacrifice Uncle’s little thing to get me a gold.” Then, at the author’s rights protection meeting, I was the mascot. At the comic expo, I was treated as a mascot to attract attention. And now, at the café, I’m a mascot again?

 

“Go ahead first, or else your friends might get worried. I’ll come to take the chicken over in a bit.”

 

After noting down my measurements, Ouyang Xue gestured towards the kitchen door, “Remember to report here at eight tomorrow. I’ll bring your maid outfit over then.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Thinking about wearing strange clothes to “work” here tomorrow, for some reason, my heart felt a bit chaotic as I left the kitchen.

 

“Are you done?”

 

In the nearly empty lobby of the café, seeing me come out, Ai Luodi, who was originally playing on her phone, showed a slightly resentful expression, “Starving to death…”

 

“Didn’t you eat all the snacks at lunch?”

 

The boss of Yae-Do Hall behind her, Lu Xinjian, couldn’t help but say, “Still hungry?”

 

“Hungry…”

 

Ai Luodi pressed her face onto the marble tabletop in front of her, looking listless, “The company benefits are too poor… I want to change jobs…”

 

“Tsk…”

 

Lu Xinjian looked at me, who was walking towards us, “Yin Nuo’er, give us some insight. Wasn’t there plenty of food at the comic expo?”

 

“Ahaha…”

 

I didn’t know whom to help for a moment, so I just smiled.

 

“Dear customer, your super spicy oven-roasted chicken and cola are here.”

 

Fortunately, a few minutes later, Ouyang Xue walked over holding a tray with a steaming half-chicken and a large cup of cola, “Please enjoy.”

 

“Do you two want some?”

 

Upon receiving the tray, Ai Luodi almost wolfishly tore open the aluminum foil, exposing the hot and fragrant half chicken to the air.

 

Both Lu Xinjian and I shook our heads almost simultaneously.

 

“Then I’ll eat it.”

 

Ai Luodi didn’t hesitate either, she simply put on gloves and tore into the tender and spicy chicken, eating it without any semblance of a ladylike demeanor.

 

“…”

 

—

 

Ten minutes later, Ai Luodi and I sat contentedly in Lu Xinjian’s car.

 

“My daughter’s surgery went very smoothly, or rather… too smoothly.”

 

While driving, Lu Xinjian spoke in what seemed like a casual tone, “The head of the hospital specifically talked to me, saying that my daughter’s postoperative recovery level is so smooth that it almost violates medical standards globally. No infection, almost no rejection reaction. At noon, the child’s mother called me and said that our daughter had already been transferred out of the intensive care unit and could speak.”

 

I remained silent in the back.

 

Perhaps tired from the comic expo, Ai Luodi directly leaned against the window with a “clatter,” closing her eyes. The silver necklace around her neck made a “drip-drip” sound as it touched the car door, accompanying the slight swaying of the car.

 

“Since you’re busy with work over here… when my daughter fully recovers and is discharged, our family will come over.”

 

After a pause, Lu Xinjian spoke softly again, “Thank you.”

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

I turned my head, looking out the window, “Cotton candy isn’t expensive. If you feel uneasy, just give me a bottle of cola later.”

 

At times like these, playing dumb is the best strategy.

 

Because such situations are really awkward.

 

In the medical field, patients investigating donors is prohibited to prevent situations where the recipient’s family and the donor become entangled.

 

But there’s nothing I can do. Lu Xinjian belongs to the type of person with some connections. He might know some people in hospitals or the police station who can find information about the person who donated to his daughter. Although it’s illegal, what can I do? Report it with my real name? That would just lead to everyone pretending not to know each other…

 

“Alright, we’ll reciprocate with a big bag of cotton candy for you!”

 

Lu Xinjian, clearly a master of pretending to be clueless, seemed pleased when he heard my words. “From now on, the highest reward on the Yae-Do Novel Website will be cotton candy!”

 

You cheeky guy…

 

I could only smile helplessly at this. I checked the time on my phone, imitated Ai Luodi, leaning against the window and closing my eyes.

 

In the swaying world, not long after, I felt the car beneath me come to a stop.

 

“We’re here.”

 

Opening my eyes, I saw Lu Xinjian in front turning his head, seemingly pressing a switch. The window next to him lowered with a “buzzing” sound. “Do you need help carrying things?”

 

“No need, there’s an elevator.”

 

Ai Luodi yawned, stretched lazily, opened the car door, and hopped out. “Thanks, boss… Oh no, the former boss!”

 

“You’re being cheeky. After the website merger, your boss won’t be me anymore, and the editor-in-chief of Honeydew won’t be as easygoing as I am.”

 

Lu Xinjian laughed and scolded, then looked towards me, “Nuo’er, watch your step.”

 

“Okay.”

 

After opening the car door and hopping out, I checked the things on me and the bunny backpack behind me, then closed the door. What appeared before me now was an old residential area with a variety of flowers, plants, and fruit trees. The gate looked worn-out, with many rusty spots, indicating that it hadn’t been maintained for a long time.

 

“This is an old neighborhood, not many people live here because it’s a bit remote. Many bought houses here for investment, and the property management consists of only three people, with two security guards who only come out at night.”

 

Ai Luodi explained, “The police station is just 300 meters away, and there are many cameras inside. It’s safe.”

 

So, that’s how it is.

 

I followed behind Ai Luodi.

 

“Do you know the other tenant?”

 

As we walked, Ai Luodi, seemingly recalling something, curiously asked, “When I mentioned someone coming to share the rent with her at noon, she seemed especially happy when she heard your name.”

 

Especially happy?

 

“We’re… friends.”

 

At this point, I could only tell the truth, “I just didn’t know she lived here too.”

 

“Well, that’s good. That tenant has been living here for a long time. In the first few years, she seemed a bit clueless about many things, always asking my mom for help, even with things like how to download apps and make payments with a QR code. But now, she’s much better.”

 

Ai Luodi turned around, leading me into this old neighborhood that could be described as “filled with the fragrance of birds and flowers.”

 

“You two should get along very well.”