To escape the sunlight, the cute little creature had curled completely into the shadow of the overhead beam, looking just like an abandoned stray.

Yet even at such an adorable sight, the stunning beauty’s expression tightened. Her voice came out stiff:

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”

If she weren’t so utterly romance-blind, she wouldn’t still be single in her twenties—though orientation was only part of it…

“Ah… uh,” I suppressed the instinctive urge to yelp, “I’m waiting for someone.”

I’d zoned out while crouching to rest and hadn’t noticed someone standing before me. Even backlit by the sun, her lovely features were clear—silky jet-black hair cascading over her shoulders, glossy as a piano’s finish.

She stood nearly a head taller than me, easily over 170 cm without heels. Her bust wasn’t as ample as Chen Meier’s, but her figure was perfectly proportioned—the standard age-appropriate beauty, like the other two girls in my dorm. Something about her even reminded me faintly of Qin Xue, that stoic girl.

Maybe twenty, a few years older than me.

Her downward gaze carried quiet authority. Had I not braced myself, I’d have let out a startled “eep” the moment I looked up.

…Ugh. Why do I keep squeaking like that?

“Waiting for whom?” The elegant older sister arched a brow.

“W-wait—the boss here!” I stammered, “I’m here for an interview. The email said to come this afternoon.”

“It’s not afternoon until you’ve napped,” she said, pulling out a key and walking to the door. “But since you’re here—get up. I’m the boss.”

Huh? Huh? The boss is this young… and this gorgeous?

Flustered, I scrambled up and followed her inside. Honestly, after countless interviews and part-time gigs, I’d rarely met a superior this young and stunning. The highest-ranking one I’d seen was just a secretary—and none held a candle to her.

Beautiful. Mature. Impeccable grace. To fresh grads like us, she was the textbook goddess archetype.

But I wasn’t a fresh grad anymore. I was a legal loli—legally adult, but looking like a middle schooler. Surely an older sister like her would cut me some slack…

…Right?

She led me straight through the staff passage and up the stairs to the third-floor office. I never got a glimpse of the anime store’s interior.

“Sit.”

Her tone stayed icy, zero warmth. I perched carefully on the hard wooden stool while she settled onto the sofa opposite.

*Sofa… I wanna sit on the sofa… This stool’s digging into my butt.*

“Hello, Boss,” I chirped obediently. “How should I address you?”

She crossed her right leg over her left. Too short to see anything, obviously. “Qin Ning.”

“…Hello, Boss Qin.”

I blinked inwardly. Usually, bosses just gave their surname—employees wouldn’t dare use their full name. But this stunning Qin Ning seemed utterly unbothered. Straight to the point: “You claimed extensive work experience?”

“Yes,” I nodded. “Plenty of part-time roles before, including shop assistant positions.”

Summer jobs for high schoolers were totally normal. These gigs were informal—no records, no contracts. Unverifiable.

Qin Ning paused. “You also wrote… you can do *everything*?”

“Y-yes! I… basically can!” I nodded, then froze—*Too mature!* Panicking, I shot up a tiny fist. “I’ll do it! I’ll work super hard!”

A faint twitch at Qin Ning’s lips. *Ugh. “Super hard”? Only girls trying way too hard to sound cute would say that…*

I’d been so focused on acting young, I hadn’t thought it through.

“Since you can do everything,” Qin Ning’s eyes glinted with amusement, “tell me—how would *you* run this store after opening?”

…Huh?

First time hearing this. Past interviews only asked fluffy stuff: “Your vision for the store?” “Market insights?” But Boss Qin was asking about *operations*? My brain short-circuited.

…Wait, what does she even mean?

Noticing my confusion, she clarified: “Just walk me through your typical workday here.”

I blinked innocently. “I’ll follow all instructions from the boss and store manager. Whatever the manager says, I do.”

Flawless answer. For a bottom-tier part-timer, obedience was the only virtue that mattered.

*Heh. She must be shocked—I look so young, but my reply’s veteran-level smooth. Cute-meets-pro contrast, right?*

Just then, Qin Ning frowned slightly. “That’s not it. I mean… what if *you* were the store manager?”

“…Hah?”

“If you ran this place—how would you schedule each day to keep it running smoothly?”