Chapter 39 Part-time Job
On Monday, after finishing his morning run, Lin Guantang rushed to his new classroom for class.
I should have gone to have breakfast first, but my new friend Yuan Wenjun from O Hospital said he had brought him a breakfast. Since I had already bought it, it would be a shame to waste it.
According to Yuan Wenjun, the clerk in the newly opened store was so good at salesmanship that by the time she realized it, she had already ordered a lot of food that she couldn't finish, so she chose to bring it back to school to share with him.
Yuan Wenjun is a lively, enthusiastic and casual omega. Among the many people who came to meet Lin Guantang at the beginning, most of them just came to join in the fun, but she was the only one who persevered and insisted on chatting with Lin Guantang every day.
And after receiving the notice of entering the elite class, he specifically asked Lin Guantang what he thought, and learned that - that is to say, it was confirmed that he would definitely enter the elite class, so he came to greet him in advance and celebrate becoming a real classmate.
All in all, he is Lin Guantang's best classmate in the college.
Naturally, Yuan Wenjun's good friend Pu Xinglan also became Lin Guantang's good friend, but Pu Xinglan was a quiet and melancholy omega, not as talkative as Yuan Wenjun. When Yuan Wenjun and Lin Guantang were talking, he was mostly reading a book or browsing the terminal, and would only look up and respond a sentence or two when asked.
In a way, his friendship with Lin Guantang was largely due to his good relationship with Yuan Wenjun, so it was inevitable that he came into contact with Lin Guantang.
But in Lin Guantang's opinion, this is nothing. Knowing each other is fate.
When Lin Guantang arrived at the classroom, he saw two people chatting in their seats. After walking over, Yuan Wenjun handed him the packed meal.
The packaging is very beautiful, and through the transparent outer packaging, you can also see the appearance of the food inside, which is very beautiful.
Even the accompanying drinks have exquisite patterns painted on the hard paper cups.
After Lin Guantang expressed his gratitude, he opened the package and started eating. The food tasted equally delicious.
But the portion is small.
According to Lin Guantang's judgment, the store should be the kind that sells a small number of high-end products.
If it weren't for Yuan Wenjun's treat, Lin Guantang would probably never have set foot in this restaurant given his financial resources.
Half an hour later, Lin Guantang withdrew the idea.
Because Yuan Wenjun was praising the store a lot - mainly praising the clerk's handsome appearance and considerate attitude, Lin Guantang wondered whether she was deceived into buying so many things because of the clerk's good salesmanship or because of the clerk's good looks.
After nearly twenty minutes of rambling, Yuan Wenjun finally spoke out the key point within a minute of the bell ringing - the name of the store:
"If you like Haitang, you can go and have a try. The shop is just across from the school gate. It's a new shop called Four O'Clock in the Morning!"
Lin Guantang: ...
Lin Guantang paused while drinking water and almost choked himself.
Four o'clock in the morning or something? Wasn't it Huo Shizhen who helped him get the game ID? And Senior Sikong also said that people who meet him will use the game ID to exchange secret codes with him.
So, he probably wasn't being wishful thinking to think that this newly opened store was related to him.
But this is too unexpected.
Lin Guantang originally thought that the person who came to contact him was most likely pretending to be an O to sneak into the O hospital, but he never expected that he would directly set up a brand new store.
Could it be that the senior's plan was to have him take over a shop, and from now on stop being a student and start being a shop owner, thus completing his ultimate goal of gaining a foothold in the imperial capital four years ahead of schedule?
The more Lin Guantang thought about it, the more unreliable it seemed, so he decided to go and take a look in person.
After class at noon, Lin Guantang immediately packed up and left the school. He had originally planned to go there alone to try it out, but after he said that he planned to go to the store at noon, Yuan Wenjun expressed his desire to go with him. Lin Guantang had no reason to refuse, so he took Pu Xinglan with him, and the three of them walked out of the school gate together.
There is no need to look for it specifically. Just look up and you can see the newly opened store on the corner diagonally across from the school.
A few days ago, the place was covered with a layer of cloth and was undergoing renovation. At that time, Lin Guantang had no idea that this store had anything to do with him. He just thought it was a renovation of the original store.
Now, under the bright sunshine, the newly renovated store is shining with the cursive words "Four O'Clock in the Morning" on it.
The new shop occupies two floors, with bright windows and clean tables. The decorations from inside to outside exude a low-key luxury style.
To be honest, if I didn't know it was a food store, I would have thought it was a luxury store.
If he saw her on the street normally, Lin Guantang would definitely not even take a second look at her.
But this is a special situation. Lin Guantang gritted his teeth and walked into the store with the mentality of almost bleeding profusely.
There weren't many customers in the store. Perhaps many people thought the same as Lin Guantang: a store with such beautiful decorations must have very attractive food prices as well. Instead of being put off by the prices and being caught in an awkward situation of eye-to-eye contact with the clerk, it would be better not to come in at all.
Moreover, if the new store doesn’t have any promotional activities when it opens, how can it possibly attract customers?
There were only two or three employees in the store. When they saw them come in, they greeted them warmly and found a better place to sit.
Judging from the appearance of these two or three employees, it is impossible to tell who is the person he is looking for, but -
It could also be because there was no clue to be found within a minute or two, and if he really came to find him, he must have known what Lin Guantang looked like.
So theoretically speaking, all you have to do is wait.
Thinking of this, Lin Guantang sat down with the other two people in a relaxed mood, but when he picked up the menu to look at it, his mood immediately became heavy and nervous.
Although he had prepared himself for the high prices, Lin Guantang was still shocked by the prices when he saw the menu.
Even a cup of ordinary juice costs dozens of star yuan, which really refreshed his cognition.
He looked up silently. The two people opposite him were talking to each other. They were just worried about what dishes to eat and didn't comment on the price.
Well, it turns out that he is too poor.
As if they were in sync, at this moment, someone quietly walked up to Lin Guantang, bent down, and whispered:
"Do you think it's a little expensive and you can't afford it?"
Lin Guantang: ...
It’s not just a little expensive, it’s very expensive... Wait, this is not what a waiter should say to a customer!
After realizing that the person talking to him was wearing a waiter's uniform, Lin Guantang turned his head and saw a tall but handsome waiter with a kind smile standing beside him, hunched over and winking at him.
Although the amplitude was small, it was clear that the waiter did not seem to be mocking the customer's poverty when he said this. Instead, it seemed as if he had something he wanted to say to him quietly.
The only topic that can be discussed between the waiter and the customer who have never met each other is——
commodity.
Combined with what the waiter just said... Lin Guantang understood!
It must be because he saw his embarrassment, so the kind-hearted waiter wanted to secretly tell him about the discount method that was not convenient to publicize.
After all, it's a store that can be seen at a glance as planning to go the high-end route, and it doesn't even bother to offer the most common opening discounts. If it were to casually mention a discount now, it would be too contradictory and inconsistent with its own positioning.
Thinking of this, Lin Guantang's eyes lit up, and he leaned back, then quietly raised the menu high to cover most of his face, and then whispered expectantly:
"In that case, can you give me a special discount channel?"
The waiter nodded and answered quietly:
"We can hire you as a part-time clerk. We'll give you a discounted internal rate."
Lin Guantang: ...
Although the result is indeed a discount, the recommended discount method is not quite right.
Yuan Wenjun, who was sitting opposite, noticed something and subconsciously looked up, only to find the two of them whispering behind the menu.
Is there anything that cannot be said for everyone to hear?
The original text asked doubtfully:
"Haitang, what are you whispering about?"
It's said that someone is planning to forcibly recruit customers to become waiters.
Lin Guantang put the menu down expressionlessly. The waiter stood up straight and replied with a full smile:
"This student wants to work part-time in the store. However, even for a part-time job, a simple interview is required. Please come to the conference room to talk with me."
After saying that, he made a gesture of invitation to Lin Guantang, and then took the lead to walk into the store.
Lin Guantang could only give an apologetic smile, ask the two students to wait for a moment, then stand up and leave the seat, following the waiter to the meeting room at the back of the store.
Yuan Wenjun:……
What were they doing here today? Haitang probably didn't say she was here for a part-time job when she came.
She began to doubt her memory.
However, after watching their figures disappear around the corner, Yuan Wenjun suddenly realized and said:
"I told you Haitang is always frugal and has a knack for avoiding scams. He wouldn't even bother with anything even slightly flashy. So why did he have to come to this shop? With his eye, he should be able to tell it's not that approachable. So he's looking for a part-time job?"
If you think about it, the part-time job at this kind of store should be higher than the salary at a regular store. And since it's a newly opened store and not a well-known chain store, it's really a preemptive move. She grabbed the part-time job before others could react. As expected of Haitang, her vision is really good."
——In fact, his vision was not that good. This store was not opened in a bustling commercial area but near a school. The location was a huge mistake from the beginning. It was considered a success if it could last for three months without going bankrupt - no, it should be said that the store owner was rich and stubborn.
In other words, even if Lin is able to successfully apply for a part-time job, he will only be able to work here for three months at most, and then he will be unemployed due to severance pay due to the store closing down.
Pu Xinglan looked at Yuan Wenjun who was completely immersed in his own imagination, sighed, and decided not to spoil his fun.
After saying a lot, the original writer said thoughtfully:
"But there's no need to work so hard. We're only freshmen, and the schedule is so tight. I've only had half a day of classes today, and I'm already exhausted. If I wasn't so curious about what Haitang is doing here, I'd be in bed fast asleep. Haitang actually has the energy to find a part-time job. She's really working too hard."
The reason for working so hard is that you are short of money and so poor that you can't eat if you don't work part-time.
Since they were friends, they should know each other's basic information to some extent, not to mention that Haitang was already the center of attention at the welcome party.
So it's no secret that he comes from the poorest District 35.
Although the price in the cafeteria is considered cheap for a young lady from a wealthy family like Yuan Wenjun, it may still be a considerable expense that Haitang cannot afford.
No, no—I can’t imagine this anymore.
The original writer stopped in time when he thought of Haitang begging for free leftover food in the middle of the night, but he still couldn't help but feel infinite pity and couldn't help saying:
"If he really needs money, I can lend it to him. He's not the kind of person who likes to spend money recklessly. According to his spending level, if it's just for daily food and drink, with all my savings over the years, it's no problem to support him until he graduates from college."
Pu Xinglan had been treating himself like a statue, sitting aside and looking through the menu to kill time. When he heard this, he felt a headache and had to interrupt her increasingly outrageous speculations:
"I advise you not to do that if you still want to remain friends with him."
Original text: "What?"
Pu Xinglan said lightly:
"I'm afraid it might be mistaken for you giving him alms."
“How could it be?!”
Yuan Wenjun was shocked. She didn't have such an idea.
It is indeed because I feel very comfortable getting along with Lin, and I know that he is from District 35, so I can't help but want to feed him every day.
At most, it was done with the intention of helping him save money, but it was definitely not some kind of condescending charity.
But these were words spoken by his good friend, and for a moment he was not sure if his actions would cause him to misunderstand something.
So I asked doubtfully:
"He never refuses me to share food with him, so there shouldn't be any misunderstanding like this."
Pu Xinglan looked up at her helplessly:
"That's because you don't consider the quantity when buying things, Miss. Sharing once in a while is completely different from bringing up this topic specifically."
Even if we count from the first time we met, we haven't even known each other for a month yet he suddenly said he wanted to support someone. It's a good thing that he didn't scare the other person away.
On the other hand, if it weren't for the fact that they had been together for the past few days, and Pu Xinglan had felt that Lin was not a person who was good at sweet talk and did have his own attractive qualities, he would have really suspected that he had drugged his friend. In just a few days, he was willing to support him.
So in a way, I really don’t know which is more frightening, my friend’s generosity or Lin’s level of charm.
Pu Xinglan placed the trifold menu on the table and said seriously:
"In any case, just maintain the status quo. If he really does come here to work part-time, don't stop him. This is the way he chose to survive. If he really can't make it, he'll actively seek your help—assuming he truly considers you a friend."
Wenjun corrected his statement:
"It's us, us. Why exclude yourself? Don't you want to be friends with him sincerely?"
Pu Xinglan just curled the corners of his mouth and smiled, calling other waiters to come over to confirm the menu, obviously unwilling to talk more about this issue.
In the conference room, the waiter took off his hat and put it aside. After skillfully verifying Lin Guantang's identity, he introduced himself straightforwardly.
"Hello, Lin. Nice to meet you. I'm Ding Ruize, a graduate of this year's military academy. For the next period of time, I will do my best to ensure your safety. I will also serve as your firearms instructor, helping you understand and use firearms. Furthermore, I'll be your mission partner. Don't worry, I've already taken a six-month course of long-acting inhibitors, so don't worry about my pheromone exposure."
After saying such a long speech, she even pulled out her medical records for him to see.
Although Lin Guantang subconsciously lowered his head to look at the contents of the file he showed him, this was simply the least important thing to pay attention to among the long speeches spoken by the man in front of him.
Lin Guantang pondered for a while and decided to start with the most basic question:
"So this store is—rented by Xuezhang Huo?"
Ding Ruize:
"To be precise, he should have bought it, including the basement."
Lin Guantang: ...
"After all, the basement needs a complete renovation, and it's just a rental."
Ding Ruize replied:
"This is a secret training base for a light food restaurant. After the renovation is complete, it will become a secret base for more training. Then, Lin can pretend to be a delivery clerk like me and do these secret training and missions."
Lin Guantang:
For a moment, I didn't know whether to sigh at Huo Shizhen's wealth or to admire his thoughtful consideration.
Seeing that he didn't reply for a long time, I thought he was doubting my ability, so I took the initiative to introduce myself:
"Don't worry. Although my firearms skills aren't as good as Young Master Huo's, they're still top-notch. Furthermore, my gun handling skills are the most standard among my classmates. Although I haven't participated in many S-rank missions, I still graduated with full marks in terms of my mission completion."
The implication of this sentence is that, considering his average completion rate of A+ level tasks, it should be more than enough for him to play the task game with Omega.
After all, what kind of difficult mission could an omega with no money, no power, and no family history take on? Judging by the difficulty level of the Central Military Academy's missions, it would at most be a B+ mission.
It's just a little bit of water for him.
But saying such things directly might hurt people's self-esteem or make them feel that they are looking down on others, so he chose to conceal it out of kindness.
Lin Guantang didn't know that he was thinking so far and carefully, nor did he question his firearms skills. He just felt a little frightened.
In his expectation, the so-called secret course would require him to travel a long distance to visit the teacher. Who knows, the teacher might have many senior students who would look down on him as a laggard, and the other students would also look down on him, and then isolate him...
To be honest, Lin Guantang had already repeatedly rehearsed how he would respond if he was ignored, despised, or even bullied. Or what if his teacher refused to teach him sincerely?
I never expected that they would build a base directly.
Moreover, the teacher was deliberately wronged to come and work as a store clerk and bodyguard part-time.
Thinking of this, Lin Guantang felt even more uneasy.
"You—should I call you senior or teacher—I heard that the first job of a fresh graduate is very important. Senior, will coming here to work part-time hinder your serious career?"
Although the other party's appearance here means that he has already negotiated terms with Huo Shizhen.
But when I think about it, I still feel guilty because I wasted such an important time node.
"Just call me by my full name."
Ding Ruize said sincerely:
"It doesn't matter. Once you enter the Central Military Academy, you're a family. It's my duty to protect my family's love. Compared to that, my personal future is nothing."
Lin Guantang: ...
Are you sure you didn't say the opposite?
No matter how you look at it, personal future is more important.
Does the Central Military Academy have some kind of succubus system that allows you to say such abnormal words?
Guan Tang couldn't help but complain in his heart, or maybe it was because he had too little experience. In any case, in his entire life, he had never seen many people who really took the superficial slogan "campus is family" seriously, let alone risking their own future.
However, despite his inner complaints, Lin Guantang still keenly grasped certain words in this sentence and cautiously probed further:
"What do you mean by family and family love?"
Ding Ruize said without hesitation:
"Huo Shizhen, he used to be in the Executive Department, and I used to be in the Executive Department too. So if you round it off, we're like family."
Lin Guantang: ...Isn't it a bit too much of a stretch for you to round off?
If we round it up like this, then everyone is family. After all, we are all Imperials, and our relationship is even determined from birth. Isn't it more long-standing than the so-called colleagues in the executive department who have served for a few years - or even the same department where their time together may not overlap?
At this moment, Lin Guantang strangely felt his patriotic heart beating as a patriot of the imperial capital.
Wait – now doesn’t seem like the time for me to love Empire!
Lin Guantang shook his head, pulling himself out of the messy associations.
Next to my ear, Ding Ruize was still answering every question.
"As for his so-called love—"
Ding Ruize's smile was filled with the excitement and tentativeness of watching the fun:
"Isn't it you? Aren't you his O? Otherwise, why would he specially find someone to protect you? He has always kept his distance from Os. You are the first omega that Young Master Huo has paid so much attention to, and even the first omega that has caught his eye."
Lin Guantang: ...
It’s outdated to even complain about these cheesy and domineering quotes from entertainment works!
Lin Guantang regretted asking this question.
However, if what he said was true and not a joke, this logic is really impossible to refute.
Lin Guantang was stunned for a long while before he asked helplessly with a headache:
"What you said, especially the fact that I'm his omega, did he tell you in person?"
That's not the case - but isn't it obvious?
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