Chapter 201 - We Meet Again (1)
Chapter 201: We Meet Again (1)
The man looked up and locked gazes with Zhao Youlin. Soon, he lowered his head again, as if the glimpse of killing intent in his eyes when their eyes met was all but Zhao Youlin’s imagination.
Zhao Youlin narrowed her eyes. She turned back and said to An Yue in a jittery, “You picked him up? Where did you pick him up from?”
An Yue knew that it was inappropriate for her to let the person in without her permission. So, the moment Zhao Youlin questioned her, An Yue dared not hide anything from her and said, “I saw him outside the outlet. When I threw the garbage outside that day, I saw… him… sitting on the ground. I pitied him and so… so…”
“So, you brought him in?” The hint of suspicion intensified in her eyes. Bringing in a man who was right at the entrance outside her outlet in broad daylight, at the same time, the man she brought in did not look as simple as he appeared to be… All this seemed to be too much of a coincidence.
“Mhm…” An Yue nodded. However, she seemed to have realized something. Her face turned white. She lowered her head and whispered, “Big Sister Zhao, I know I have brought him in without your permission. It’s my fault. It has nothing to do with my elder sister. Don’t blame her, I…”
Before An Yue finished speaking, the man who had been keeping quiet since the beginning dropped the broom in his hand and also took off his cap. The first words that came out of his mouth were, “It’s none of her fault, I’ll leave right away!”
“But, you…” An Yue was so nervous that her eyes became teary. She was so anxious that she wanted to run over to him but was pulled back by An Qi.
“Wait.” Zhao Youlin sat in place and rubbed her temples that was starting to hurt.
She had not figured out the entire story. She also wondered why an argument had abruptly broken out. Moreover, judging from the situation, she seemed like the bad guy now!
The man who was about to head toward outside paused mid-stride. He turned back and looked at Zhao Youlin. His eyes were filled with inquisitiveness and wariness.
Zhao Youlin could not help but roll her eyes at him, “I haven’t said anything yet. Why did you guys run away in such a hurry? Do I look like those merciless black-faced gods or villains in the television dramas?”
“Mommy, you’re not an evil person! You’re a good person!” Joy was indulging happily in a variety of desserts. When he heard Zhao Youlin say so, he clenched his fist and mumbled the words.
Zhao Youlin let out a bark of laughter. She pinched Joy’s cheeks, which had been stuffed with food. His face was already puffed up and was as round as a pufferfish. She said, “Fine, fine. Just because of what you said just now, I have to be a good person now.”
“Big Sister Zhao…” When An Yue heard this, she could not help but call out. She looked at her expectantly, yet with a hint of worry.
Looking at An Yue’s current expression, Zhao Youlin recalled the sight of the man dropping the broom and running out. He seemed to be defending this lass…
For a moment, Zhao Youlin thought she sensed something unusual… an abnormal relationship…
She seized the two up without leaving the slightest bit of trace. Then, Zhao Youlin spoke seriously, “I need to ask before I decide if I want you to stay. How can you guys talk among yourselves and set the conclusion on your own? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Big Sister Zhao, we didn’t mean it like this…”
Zhao Youlin ignored her. She lowered her head as she spoke and was almost in the same level as An Yue’s shoulder. Zhao Youlin waved at the man who was already at the entrance and signaled him to come over to her. Then, she said calmly, “Name?”
The man paused for some time before he blurted out hesitantly, “Han Yichen.”
When Zhao Youlin heard the name, she took a tissue and wiped away the butter bream on Joy’s cheeks. She paused.
‘Han Yichen? Why does the name sound so familiar? I feel like… I’ve heard the name somewhere…’
“Are you a local?”
Han Yichen had never expected Zhao Youlin to ask this question after some moment of silence. He nodded. However, soon, he shook his head.
Zhao Youlin looked helpless, “So, is it a yes or a no?”
“Not really. This is not my hometown.”
“In other words, you left your hometown and came here to look for a job, huh?” Zhao Youlin said in a low voice, then asked, “Have you ever done this job before? I mean as an attendant?”
Han Yichen shook his head. Zhao Youlin looked at his perfectly-arched eyebrows and attractive eyes, a handsome face that could charm those innocent young girls on the streets. She felt that the question she should ask was…
“The outlet has more females than males. Several males are not around because of scheduling. As you already saw how the business is like in this outlet, all of you would be very busy during peak hours. If not for the gentlemen supporting the business, I believe the ladies would be very exhausted. An Qi has told this to me before. But, I’ve been very busy lately, so I don’t have time to recruit new staff. Moreover, Xiao Wei and a few others are going to sit for the examination too, right?”
An Qi was standing behind Zhao Youlin. When An Qi heard Zhao Youlin’s question, she hurriedly nodded, “Yes, Xiao Wei and a few other guys of the same responsibilities are going to sit for examinations soon.”
Zhao Youlin nodded. Then, she turned back and faced Han Yichen. She said, “As you could see, most of them are college students. They are busy preparing for their examinations lately. So, An Qi, An Yue and a few others are the only ones left in the outlet. It’s peak season now. It’s a bit troublesome to recruit new staff. If you don’t mind, you could stay. But…”
Zhao Youlin deliberately paused here. She instinctively cast a glance at Han Yichen and continued, “All my life, I have hated my subordinates doing some tricks behind my back. As long as you don’t cross my line and are willing to work hard, I won’t mistreat you. As for your salary, apart from An Qi and An Yue who are the fixed employees, the rest are part-time college students. So, they use punch cards. As for you… do you mind taking it as a full-time job?”
Han Yichen nodded.
“Then, you’ll receive the salary of a permanent employee. An Qi, you could talk to him about this later.”
“Noted, Big Sister Zhao.”
“By the way…” Zhao Youlin was about to withdraw her gaze when she suddenly thought of something, “You said Yue Yue brought you in, where have you been saying for the past few days?”
“Big Sister Zhao, he… he stayed with us. But, he slept on the floor in the outlet…” Before Han Yichen replied, An Yue had already answered on his behalf.
Zhao Youlin heaved a sigh of relief. At least the two girls knew how to avoid the unnecessary and did not simply have a man who came out of nowhere stay with them. Otherwise…
No one knew the man’s thoughts. It would be troublesome if something irredeemable were to happen.
“Sort out that small room by the warehouse for him to stay temporarily. Find your own accommodation and move out by next month.”
Han Yichen naturally understood why Zhao Youlin was making such arrangements. He did not say anything further and nodded.
“So, that’s all for now. Let’s adjourn the meeting,” Zhao Youlin looked up at the clock and said to the crowd that had gathered around in a circle.