Chapter 57

Congratulations, you've lost your job again!

September, devoid of any more thrills, has finally come to an end.

After being scorched by the blazing sun for three whole months, Zhouhai City has finally weathered the most sweltering autumn heat wave.

On a crisp autumn morning, the breakfast stalls along the street are still bustling with activity, contrasting with the hurried commuters, a scene of people striving to make a living.

"Good morning, sir." Cheng Sangluo, dressed in a striped shirt and jeans, greeted the landlord and then dashed out of the alley.

It seems to have become a habit; every day when this person goes to work at the convenience store, they choose to scan a shared bicycle to commute. It's cheap and environmentally friendly, and most importantly, they don't have to compete with those elderly people who rush to grab eggs early in the morning for the bus.

While munching on a large steamed bun that cost one yuan, Cheng Sangluo held the handlebars with one hand, leisurely pedaling in the cool morning breeze, and soon merged into the crowd of non-motorized vehicles in the lane.

The past month has been peaceful, because I promised Lin Jin that I would stay overnight at the health center every Saturday, so apart from bombarding her with phone calls, that clingy person hasn't disrupted my daily life.

While waiting at the traffic light, Cheng Sangluo quickened her pace in eating her steamed bun. Suddenly remembering that tomorrow was the day she was going to see the crazy woman, a bright smile unconsciously appeared on her face, and her eyes became even more radiant and sparkling.

She puffed out her cheeks and tilted her head slightly, letting the sunlight filter through the layers of leaves, dappling her face.

The early autumn sun is no longer scorching, and the wind is refreshingly cool. Listening to the countdown from the zebra crossing, there is a surreal feeling that time has stood still.

The uneventful days are just like that, peaceful and serene, with beauty hidden in the details of life that we don't even notice.

When she arrived at the convenience store, Cheng Sangluo quickly changed into her work clothes. Before the store opened, she grabbed a box of discounted milk that was about to expire and slurped it down. She also dutifully wrote down her expenses in her notebook so that she could offset them against her wages.

Once everything was ready, she walked to the cashier, yawned, and then flashed a bright smile to greet the new day.

This person set a small rule for himself: he must greet the first customer he meets each day with enthusiasm and high spirits.

This will improve everyone's mood, after all, they are like cattle being squeezed dry, nine out of ten are miserable.

Welcome!

Shortly after, the convenience store's electronic device rang.

Cheng Sangluo craned her neck, curiously watching the swaying figure at the doorway.

She was about to say a clear and resonant "Good morning" when she saw who it was, and the words stuck in her throat.

Lin Jin has been taking good care of herself these days, her complexion is getting better and better, and her light makeup enhances her delicate features. Every smile and frown is captivating.

She wore sunglasses that covered half of her already small face. Her figure was accentuated by a black and white striped A-line dress with a cinched waist. Her long, chestnut-colored curly hair was naturally draped over her shoulders. Her accessories were simple, consisting of just a diamond necklace.

Only the injured foot, fitted with a walking aid, somewhat detracted from the overall aesthetic appeal.

Even so, she was still the most out-of-place sight this morning, because her leisurely demeanor contrasted sharply with the hurried commuters outside.

Cheng Sangluo had never told the crazy woman which convenience store she worked at, so she didn't know how this clingy woman had found her way to her door.

She instinctively felt that the visitor meant trouble, so her expression became somewhat stiff, and her tone became more alert: "Why are you here?"

Lin Jin ignored him, turned around and flipped the sign on the door to "close" before slowly moving to the cashier.

She tilted her head, mentally calculating how long it had been since she'd seen the puppy, while simultaneously removing her sunglasses and a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she quietly scrutinized the other person's attire.

People are always looking at something new, especially a limited-edition skin for a convenience store uniform.

Lin Jin found the puppy quite adorable, her eyes crinkling with a smile, but her tone held a hint of reproach: "Shouldn't you have seemed even happier to see me?"

Cheng Sangluo, of course, did not show any joy in wagging her tail, secretly thinking that the long-lost, damned crazy woman had returned.

"Hey, don't take it upon yourself to look through the door signs. I'm open for business as usual." She complained as she walked out from behind the cashier, intending to remove the sign from the door.

But after taking only a couple of steps, she stopped again, because the madwoman had started acting up again.

Lin Jin casually picked up a strawberry-flavored lollipop in front of her, deftly tore open the packaging, and savored the sweet taste on her tongue.

"Pay first!" Cheng Sangluo turned and walked to the machine, quickly pressing the meter. "You can't do things like this!"

Lin Jin ignored them, still chewing on her lollipop, and limped into the convenience store.

A moment later, she stood in front of the freezer, grabbed two cold rice balls, and waved to the dog: "Do you remember the first time I asked you at the convenience store? Are these rice balls any good?"

Cheng Sangluo had no idea what the crazy woman was up to, so she could only purse her lips and say dismissively, "It's not tasty."

"Then I want to taste it too." Lin Jin, acting childishly, stubbornly tore off the plastic wrap and took a bite directly.

Each distinct grain of rice filled my mouth, hard as pebbles, not only gritty but also scratching my throat.

She frowned and spat out her lips in disgust: "It really isn't very good."

Cheng Sangluo rushed over, snatched the rice ball from the crazy woman's hand, and launched into another tirade of curses: "Can't you scan the code to pay first? Who shops in a convenience store like this? What if you eat something and don't pay, and then blame it on me? I'll get my salary docked!"

"Oh, oh, oh, threatening me?" Lin Jin raised an eyebrow, teasing the puppy. She then grabbed a bag of potato chips and casually leaned against the freezer, munching on them. "Crunch crunch... crunch crunch... Hmm... I think your service attitude is likely to get complaints... crunch crunch..."

"Why aren't you staying peacefully at the health center? What are you doing here causing trouble?" Cheng Sangluo jumped up in anger, listening to the crazy woman chewing on potato chips: "Stop eating!"

"If you dare yell at me again, believe me, I'll report you!" Lin Jin liked the way the puppy bristled, and threatened with a smile, "If I report you, I'll get my salary docked too, it's not worth it~"

"You!" Cheng Sang was speechless, so she simply skipped the store manager and started looking through the store owner's contact list.

She had to strike first before Lin Jin could retaliate, so she sneered, "I'll report to the boss right now and say that a madman has come to the store. He not only eats without paying, but also shouts that he will complain about me. Besides, there are surveillance cameras everywhere here. You're the one in the wrong, not me."

Lin Jin wasn't easily intimidated, and besides, it wasn't like she wasn't going to refuse to pay. So she decided to use a provocation: "Hey, you little dog, you have quite the nerve. You even know how to complain to the boss. You try hitting me, and I'll see which side your boss is on."

"Don't blame me for being ruthless. After all, everything has rules. You've gone too far!" The puppy angrily dialed the phone, hissing, "You just wait!"

That "You wait!" sounded just like a tattletale from a primary school student, but to Lin Jin, it was just irresistibly cute.

She shrugged dismissively, her smile widening even more: "We'll wait and see!"

Cheng Sangluo stood with one hand on her hip, listening to the phone call patiently as her boss answered. Her eyes were fixed on the crazy woman, as if afraid she would disappear from her sight, as wary as if she were watching her prey.

'Ring ring—ring ring—'

After only a few seconds of silence, Lin Jin's phone rang.

She was also meeting the puppy's gaze, answering the phone with the same slow and deliberate movements, "Hello?"

Cheng Sangluo's heart skipped a beat. She thought she was hallucinating. She stared blankly at her phone, repeatedly checking if she had dialed the wrong number.

But I didn't dial the wrong number!

She looked up at the crazy woman again, and asked the phone in confusion, "Hello, boss?"

Lin Jin leaned back lazily, her ear pressed against the phone, and asked in a deliberately indifferent tone, "Uh, get to the point."

Cheng Sangluo panicked, her words becoming stammered: "Y-you...how is it you?!"

Lin Jin reached out and hooked her collar, pulling her a step closer, mimicking her amused tone: "I...I...it's me~"

"Eeeee!!!" Cheng Sangluo screamed like a screeching chicken.

She still refused to accept the truth, so she simply hid on the other side of the shelf, covered her phone, and whispered, "Hello, hello, boss?"

Lin Jin stared at the little dog's pointed head peeking out from the shelf, clearly delighted, and shushed in agreement: "I think your boss will dock your pay and fire you while she's at it. She's not on your side!"

Cheng Sangluo felt a chill run down her spine. She stood on tiptoe and stared straight at the crazy woman through the shelf: "What's going on?!"

Lin Jin, holding onto the shelf, slowly moved towards her, stuffing the lollipop she had finished eating into her mouth as she did so, loudly announcing, "My poor little dog, she's unemployed again! What am I going to do?"

Cheng Sangluo felt like she had been played by the crazy woman again, and her fingers went numb with anger, causing her long-relaxed back to tense up once more.

What exactly happened?

Returning to the day after Lin Jin was bought for a night by that bastard for a thousand yuan.

——Memory Divider——

Lin Jin slammed down her cup and said defiantly, "Am I only worth a thousand yuan?"

"Uh...this..." Sheng He stammered, inwardly groaning: What does this have to do with me?!

But then I thought about it again, and the boss probably had no other choice but to vent his emotions on Cheng Sangluo.

He hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly, "Even you can't do anything about her, so I'm afraid I, a fool, can't think of any good solution either."

"That's not necessarily true." Lin Jin pursed his lips and explained, "You're a mercenary, and you're somewhat similar to her. Don't let your usual submissive attitude fool you; I know you're incredibly arrogant at heart. If you were me, what could you do with her?"

Sheng He smiled faintly, suddenly feeling that this kind of boss had a human touch. After all, the business world is like a battlefield, and she only cares about interests and not feelings when she plans every step of the way.

Miss Cheng is the most unpredictable piece in the whole game, capable of making this profit-driven and shrewd businessman feel melancholy, and also making this businessman more human.

“If I were you…” Sheng He pondered carefully, suddenly revealing a relaxed expression that he rarely showed to others.

He hatched a plan, a bright smile spreading across his face: "If I were you, I'd go along with her. The principle is simple: you stroke a cat's fur in the direction it's being stroked..."

"Oh? That's an interesting point." Lin Jin knew she hadn't asked the wrong person, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Tell me more, and if it comes in handy... your prize money will double..."

Sheng He bent down and whispered in Lin Jin's ear: "Instead of making Miss Cheng look for work everywhere in the sweltering heat, the boss might as well give her a chance. This way, you can know her whereabouts at any time and provide her with a place to stay temporarily."

Since Miss Cheng has always been resistant to you, we can find some excuses, such as using Miss Bai Mu's identity as a pretext.

I remember Miss Bai recently went abroad. Miss Cheng wanted to contact her, but she probably won't be able to reach her for a while. Besides, Miss Bai introduced her to a job, so it would be easy to fool her.

I just don't know what kind of job would be suitable for her; that's for you to decide.

"Good idea, I didn't realize you were so clever, Sheng He." Lin Jin listened to Sheng He's suggestion, staring at her hand that was tightening and loosening, and smiled with a sense of certainty: "She is in our grasp, we have to handle her carefully."

As she spoke, she fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

Suddenly, the image of that afternoon rain flashed through my mind, showing a pitiful stray dog ​​squatting at the entrance of a convenience store, munching on a rice ball.

So, does that rice ball taste good or not?

Lin Jin quickly came up with a next plan, and simply beckoned to Sheng He: "Go take a look around the area near the company, find a convenience store, and have someone call Cheng Sangluo tonight to tell her to start work tomorrow. As for the rice balls, I'll make sure she eats her fill."

You bastard, how dare you humiliate me with a thousand dollars?

Hmph, you think you can compete with me? What are you going to use?

[Author's Note]

Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter! After going around in circles, I've never escaped the clutches of this crazy woman.