Chapter 181: The Relationship Between the Two is Different
Chapter 181: The Relationship Between the Two is Different
"It doesn't matter! I won't affect your store opening!"
Li Cui really didn't want to be alone with Ren Hui in the dormitory. Lately, Ren Hui had been acting like a madwoman, attacking whoever she could.
No one knew if it was because she had been deceived by Sun Zi or if it was due to her family's impending bankruptcy, causing psychological distress.
Either way, it was best to avoid Ren Hui whenever possible—and if avoidance wasn't possible, it was best to reduce one's presence as much as possible.
Li Cui only felt safe when Yun Zijin was around.
Yun Zijin and Qin Sitong didn't want to analyze the reasons behind Li Cui's behavior, so they simply let her tag along.
"Then come with us. Grab whatever you need quickly. If you forget something halfway, I'm not letting anyone drive back."
The car Yun Zijin chose today was still a Rolls-Royce Phantom. It was spacious enough for three girls in the back seat, so having one more person didn't make a difference.
However, she and Qin Sitong probably wouldn't be able to talk about their little secrets on the way.
As Li Cui followed Yun Zijin and Qin Sitong out of the dormitory, she inadvertently turned back—and saw Ren Hui's gloomy expression.
She quickly turned her head away, not daring to make a sound.
Yun Zijin seemed to sense something and glanced back at Li Cui, but Li Cui lowered her head cautiously, preventing Yun Zijin from seeing anything unusual.
"What's wrong with you?"
Li Cui's frightened demeanor was beginning to annoy Yun Zijin.
"I'm fine. Let's go. Aren't we heading to the store? It'll be bad if we're too late."
Yun Zijin was a bit suspicious.
Although Li Cui had never been particularly brave, her current behavior was too timid. She seemed constantly on edge, as if she was about to break at any moment.
But Yun Zijin just made a note of it. If Li Cui didn't want to talk, she wouldn't ask.
They weren't particularly close, after all.
The three of them left the dormitory building together.
Knowing that Yun Zijin was heading to Forget-Your-Worries Milk Tea Shop, 017 had already driven the car to the main road in front of the dormitory building.
As soon as Yun Zijin appeared, Lingyi stepped forward and opened the back door of the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Even though Li Cui came from an ordinary working-class family, spending three years at university with Ren Hui had exposed her to some wealth.
She had been too distracted last time at the Four Seasons Restaurant to notice what kind of car Yun Zijin and Qin Sitong had left in.
But now?
The sun was still shining, and the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy emblem was right in front of her.
It would be hard not to recognize it.
"Is this... your car?"
She had only known that Yun Zijin had become rich, but she didn't know she was this rich.
Was this real?
Could she actually own a Rolls-Royce?
"Can this be fake?"
Li Cui remained silent.
Yeah, it was unlikely to be fake.
"You get in first."
Although Li Cui felt a bit awkward, she knew Yun Zijin and Qin Sitong wouldn't make her sit in the middle, so she obediently got into the car first.
Qin Sitong, not wanting Li Cui to bother Yun Zijin, followed immediately, with Yun Zijin getting in last.
After Li Cui entered the car, she stopped talking, trying to minimize her presence.
She only came back to her senses when the car stopped in front of Forget-Your-Worries Milk Tea Shop.
When Li Cui saw the beautifully decorated and spacious milk tea shop, she was momentarily distracted.
Before she even graduated, Yun Zijin and Qin Sitong had already built their own careers.
Looking at the crowded shop, it was clear that business was thriving.
If nothing unexpected happened, they would definitely make money—enough to settle down in the capital, buy a house, and a car.
At that moment, Li Cui began to question whether she had made the right choices all along.
She had always thought that sticking close to Ren Hui was the best way to avoid detours in life.
After graduation, with Ren Hui's family connections, she had hoped to secure a stable job.
But now?
That plan had completely crumbled.
Not only was Ren Hui's family facing bankruptcy, but Ren Hui's attitude toward her had completely changed.
The idea of using Ren Hui's connections to land a good job was no longer an option.
"...Are you still hiring in your store?"
If shortcuts no longer existed, she might as well find her own way.
Li Cui figured that, as roommates, Yun Zijin and Qin Sitong wouldn't ignore her request.
If she could get a position at Forget-Your-Worries Milk Tea Shop, then when the shop expanded, maybe she could even get promoted.
She had to admit, it was a solid plan.
"We're not hiring at the moment, but if you need a job, you can come on weekends as a part-time worker. We pay daily."
Qin Sitong wasn't sure why Li Cui suddenly asked about job openings, but she still offered a suggestion.
"Part-time?"
"Yes, we get more customers on weekends, and our staff struggles to keep up.
So we're looking to hire two part-time workers.
30 yuan per hour. Maximum 7 hours per day.
Since you're my roommate, I can reserve a spot for you."
To be honest, their shop's wages were higher than most, and the payment was immediate. Many students had been competing for the two available positions.
After all, working 7 hours would earn 210 yuan, and it was indoors—way better than handing out flyers.
Of course, many students from Teikyo University preferred tutoring jobs, since the university's prestige made them highly sought after.
"30 yuan an hour?"
That was much higher than most other milk tea shops, which usually paid 10–20 yuan per hour.
Li Cui was tempted.
But at the same time...
If people found out that a senior student from Teikyo University was working in a milk tea shop, it would be embarrassing.
After all, being a part-time worker was very different from being the boss like Qin Sitong.
"Think about it yourself. I'm heading to work now."
Qin Sitong quickly disappeared into the staff lounge, changed into her work clothes, and jumped straight into work mode.
Li Cui turned her attention to Yun Zijin.
"Aren't you going to help?"
After all, this was a shop run by both of them. Wouldn't it be bad for Yun Zijin to do nothing?
"Oh, I'm just a FW—waiting to be paid."
Yun Zijin joked casually.
But Li Cui's expression changed as she looked at Yun Zijin.
"If you don't do anything, aren't you afraid that she'll feel resentful and eventually start her own business?"
After all, Qin Sitong could also make the shop's signature Forget-Your-Worries Milk Tea.
"If she dares, I have my own trump card.
Besides, the relationship between Tongtong and me is different from the one you had with Ren Hui."
One was a bond of interests.
The other was true friendship.
How could they be compared?
Li Cui pursed her lips.
She had to admit—Yun Zijin was right.
Her relationship with Ren Hui had been about mutual benefits from the start.
Once those interests no longer aligned, their friendship was bound to collapse.
Today's ending was inevitable.
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