Chapter 1: A Starry Night, Cheer Up

He's here again.

The damp morning mist, the indifferent friction of backpacks against clothes, and the footsteps that kept stopping and starting.

The wind chimes chime crisply, their gentle rustling shattering a beautiful dream.

The boy didn't say a word more.

—That's just how it's always been.

"A new self-service payment machine has been installed over there. Please go and try using it. I had a fierce battle last night, and I'm feeling very sleepy now."

She had to recognize the footsteps of the first customer at six o'clock every morning, even if they turned to ashes.

Xu Zhiyu was lying on the cashier counter, her face resting on a soft cushion, drool almost coming out but then she sucked it back in.

He barely raised his head, rolled his eyes, and said the words above.

The male student stood in front of the cashier, holding a sandwich and a carton of milk in one hand, looking surprised.

"Eeee-yah-yah-cheep-cheep... Rich chicken, gurgle-gurgle-cheep-cheep... Sleepy-sounding..."

The supermarket owner could lift his head, but his tongue was still slurred, and he mumbled a long string of words.

I can't understand it, but I can get the gist of it.

Based on the boss's gesture of looking up, he turned around suspiciously, looked around, and immediately spotted the new machine installed on the left side of the entrance, close to the glass door.

He swiped his long fingers across the screen, paid the bill, and then glanced at the person who was sleeping soundly before leaving.

The gloom in my heart vanished instantly, and the smile on my lips was fleeting.

Like...fireworks.

.

Six o'clock is usually when the breakfast shops in Huainan Lane are open for business.

Following closely behind were the four major stationery stores that opened their doors.

Finally—around eight or nine o'clock—these lazy supermarket owners, having eaten and drunk their fill, looked weary, grinning their white teeth, and opened the doors to greet customers.

A lazy person like Xu Zhiyu would never be diligent enough to open the shop at six in the morning.

This is all thanks to a certain male classmate.

She guessed that the classmate was probably in the top-performing class of the senior year, the kind who gets up so early every day but can't bear to sit in a steamed bun shop for a hot breakfast. Instead, he has to go to her supermarket to buy sandwiches and bread, which are easy to carry, just to save time for studying!

Or perhaps he just loves this kind of food; that Hongfeng brand sandwich is indeed something only she would stock.

Because the price is a bit high and the quantity is small, school children usually don't choose to buy such low-value items.

But its value lies in its good taste and the fact that its ingredients are green and healthy, so she still buys some.

The store usually opens at nine o'clock, which is the second short break for high school students from the neighboring No. 1 High School. Xu Zhiyu has just finished her delicious breakfast, playing with the persimmon in her arms, and strolls to the store entrance to prepare to open the door.

only……

She was bound to see a boy in a black short-sleeved shirt, waiting at the entrance of her shop with a sour face.

"It's you again?"

Didn't you have breakfast?

She doesn't know when it started, but she saw him every time she opened the door, so Xu Zhiyu unilaterally felt that she was already very familiar with this male classmate.

"What time do you all start class in the morning? You can buy something else for breakfast, don't just focus on studying, or you'll go hungry! Let me tell you, studying is important, but it's not that important. It doesn't really matter if you sit down and have a nice breakfast..."

She swatted the cat away from her arms and slowly rummaged through her pocket for her keys.

The persimmon jumped to the ground with a "meow" and glared at the male classmate with dissatisfaction.

The boy, sparing with words, glanced at his watch, stood under the lush locust tree, stared at her retreating figure, and said coldly:

"Class is about to start."

The supermarket owner, feeling a sudden surge of responsibility, transformed into a special forces soldier.

Open the door, turn on the power, take the goods, and pay!

With focused expression and swift, efficient movements, the entire process was completed in one go.

Phew, it's simply perfect.

After buying the sandwiches, the male classmate's face wasn't so sour anymore. She smiled and watched him leave the store, but then her expression changed after he was out of sight.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... He's quite good-looking, but he's too introverted. He won't answer any questions when you ask him anything, really."

He shook his head, strolled outside the shop, put his hands in his pockets, and let out a huge yawn.

"Boys like this will have a hard time finding girlfriends in the future."

Persimmon: "Meow~"

She grumbled and complained, but the next day, she arrived an hour early.

They open around 8 a.m., which is roughly the time when high school students finish their morning self-study.

Although the break between classes is short, Xu Zhiyu was surprised to find that there was indeed a large flow of people during this time. This was because not only did high school students sneak out to buy breakfast, but junior high school students were also rushing to their first class.

The aloof male classmate quickly discovered that the supermarket opened an hour early every day.

So one day, when she lazily came to open the shop again with her cat in her arms, this kid was already waiting there before her.

His face remained sour, and he didn't say a word, but his expression seemed to be impatiently urging her to open the door.

no……?

well.

Xu Zhiyu got excited and said she would come earlier tomorrow!

A few days later, the kid was waiting at the door again...

Okay, then she can come a little earlier!

A few days later, what happened to him?

hateful.

I'll have another breakfast! Another breakfast!

The competition finally ended when the store opened at 5:50 a.m., which was already early.

Xu Zhiyu won.

The door must have been opened so early to make sure that person arrived before he did, because after a long period of getting to know each other, she discovered that he actually arrived at school at six o'clock every day.

Oh no, I'm here at the supermarket on time to buy breakfast.

Seeing Mr. Xu's aggressive behavior, the other supermarket owners sensed a dangerous sign.

I also decided to get up early and open the door sooner.

However, in reality, it was found that opening too early meant there were few pedestrians on the street, and most customers entered the breakfast shop as usual. Even if they were just buying water, the breakfast shop now also offers a variety of drinks.

There's hardly any business in the first two or three hours of the morning.

I don't know what Ms. Xu was thinking, but she's a college student, educated, so she must have her reasons for doing this.

After all, the supermarket business boomed after her mother took over from Mr. Xu.

Their supermarket has been renovated and looks more like a cat breeder or bubble tea shop than a supermarket. I haven't been inside, but it does look cozy from the outside.

Students of all ages love to buy things from her house.

What can the other supermarket owners do?

After so many years, how much would it cost to renovate it?

Besides, business is still alright. It's an old shop with many regular customers, so we're still making a profit, which is enough to support my family.

Privately, I was a little envious, but Boss Xu was a kind-hearted and quick-witted person. On the surface, everyone was polite to each other as neighbors, but in the evenings, we were still regular mahjong partners.

As long as we can get by, and she doesn't act arrogantly or cause trouble, the best approach is to find an opportunity to play cards and subtly probe her for information to learn from her.

This is the conclusion reached by the owners of Yiming Supermarket, Shanghaojia Supermarket, and Duoyouquan Convenience Store in collusion during a card game without Xu Zhiyu.

.

"Ugh—vomit!"

I woke up naturally while lounging on the checkout counter, when a terrifying, piercing stretching sound echoed through the supermarket, and stray cats sunbathing at the entrance scattered and fled.

She stretched and almost peed.

Xu Zhiyu frowned and turned her neck, her joints cracking.

As dawn broke, fine, golden sand filtered through the glass door, softly carpeting the floor.

A flower-shaped wind chime hangs by the door, swaying gently from side to side. Its ceramic surface reflects a golden light, which shines on the wall and shimmers.

Ah...that feels so good...

Peeking out from behind the cushion, her fair face bore the imprint of a zipper about half the length of a finger. She casually pulled her hair back behind her head, and the stray hairs around her cheeks added a touch of playfulness to her innocent look.

He got up and pushed open the glass doors on both sides, revealing the doorway wide open.

She stood with her hands on her hips in the setting sun, waving to her friends on the old locust tree.

"Good morning, Persimmon Girl."

"Good morning—white socks."

"Good morning—Little Mole, eh? Mole Bro, where's your wife?"

The broken bowls under the locust tree were already empty. Seeing that Boss Xu had only crawled out of her hole at midday, the several hungry cats on the tree rushed down and surrounded her.

In the morning, at the entrance of her cave, their throats were hoarse from shouting. That seemingly nonexistent cave door, which actually hurt a lot when bumped into, completely separated them from Boss Xu into two different worlds.

She slept soundly, while her brothers were starving.

"It's getting late, Ah Yu, it's almost noon by eleven o'clock. Hurry up and get ready, the kids are about to get out of school."

The auntie who runs the stationery store next door likes to drag out the last syllable of her words, making it sound like she's singing.

"Oh? It's eleven o'clock already?" She covered her mouth and chuckled. "No wonder these guys are in such a hurry to freeload off me, they must be starving."

She turned and went into the back room of the supermarket, which was a warehouse for storing goods.

There was a simple iron bed along the side. Before the surveillance cameras were installed, my mom liked to stay up all night guarding the shop, and my dad would sleep here to keep her company.

Later, Xu Zhiyu installed surveillance cameras in the shop, carried out a major renovation, and changed the types of goods she stocked. The shop's business boomed, and she was very content, so she usually closed the shop early in the evening.

Is it because Ms. Xu is inherently averse to money?

No, it's because there are more important activities tonight.

The cats jostled and nimbly followed closely behind her, sometimes even slapping each other when they got too impatient. They were all excited to see her carrying a bag of delicious treats and several cans of the most delicious treats.

They went in and then came out.

She added good cat food and freeze-dried food to each person's bowl fairly and impartially, and opened a can of food for each person, all with practiced ease.

After finishing, I leaned against the locust tree, observing the busy couple in the restaurant across the street, the passersby, and the drifting clouds in the blue sky.

To be honest, it's already getting a bit hot in early summer. In a couple more days, I guess we'll have to turn on the air conditioning from the morning onwards.

Feeding the cat doesn't mean she can relax; she also has to go upstairs to water the plants on the balcony.

"Ha, the view from the second floor is definitely better."

No. 1 Middle School is considered the best middle school in Mushui City. Although it can't compare to schools in big cities, its playground is still very large and well-maintained.

She tilted her head back, took a deep breath of the incredibly fresh air, and felt as if her soul had been completely cleansed.

Looking back on the first half of the year, struggling alone in the provincial capital, just thinking about those days makes me feel suffocated and miserable.

Xu Zhiyu wore a light purple short-sleeved knit top and loose dark blue jeans today.

The image of her looking up and feeling the breeze was deeply etched into the mind of a boy on the playground.

The green leaves rustled softly; he and she felt the same wind, standing under the same sky.

The boy's eyes were fixed, and he silently recited in his mind:

A note from the author:

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Happy New Year!

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