"B-because..." Xu Wei, the little girl, fiddled with her fingers. "I saw this place only hires girls. If everyone’s a girl… it might feel… a little safer."

...

I stayed silent, gently brushing the hair by my ear to hide my unease. *Girl, who told you all girls means safe? Sometimes it’s the opposite.*

Take our shop’s confirmed staff: not just Ellie, the twin-tailed veteran, but also me—your boss with the soul of a macho man.

Yep. Even if I’ve gotta use this cute-girl exterior to land a job, even if I let out a tiny yelp when startled—I still see myself as a macho man.

"Got it," I said, handing her the pen and paper. "Fill in your details."

Xu Wei obediently climbed onto the stool and filled the form with meticulous care, like a grade-schooler doing homework.

I’d already decided to keep her. We’re all broke proletarians—we should look out for each other. Plus, she was genuinely obedient, sensible, and well-behaved. A little girl like her deserves good luck.

She set the form gently before me. "Then… I’ll head out now."

"Wait," I glanced outside. "It’s late. Let’s grab lunch together."

Xu Wei shrank back slightly. "But…"

"No worries—it’s company-covered," I said warmly, ruffling her hair. "Relax. Stick with your big brother… I mean, big sister. You won’t go hungry."

*The tiger in my heart sniffs the rose.* A true macho man’s grace.

Well… calling myself "big sister" isn’t very macho. But circumstances demanded it. Insist on "big brother," and people’d label me a hentai with weird fetishes. Temporary measure only!

I left Xu Wei waiting in the office, went upstairs, and opened the register. Though we hadn’t even opened yet, bundles of hundred-dollar bills sat inside. I skipped them and pulled a few bills from the change tray. Even company meals call for modesty. Contentment is virtue.

"Ready," I said, leaning against the doorframe with a practiced flick of my bangs. "Let’s go."

We sat at a well-reviewed open-air noodle stall on Snack Street. Xu Wei propped her chin, gazing up adoringly. "Sister Xiaoxi’s so amazing—being a leader at your age!"

Flattered, but clarity mattered. "Xiao Wei… I’m actually nineteen."

"Eh?! EH?!" She dropped her chopsticks. "I… I thought you were just a little older than me…"

I glanced at her flat chest, then mine. "In a certain sense… yeah. Just a *tiny* bit bigger."

"Hm?"

"Nothing. Eat your noodles," I nudged her bowl.

Snack Street was rougher than the restaurant district—open stalls, stools dragged close, chatter and clatter everywhere. The chaos made Xu Wei uneasy.

Guilt pricked me. Broke now, borrowing Qin Ning’s money… we’d make do. Once payday came, *big brother* would treat her properly on Restaurant Street. At sixteen, she shouldn’t be this petite—clearly malnourished. When I’m flush, I’ll load her up on growth-boosting eats: papaya milk, the works.

She edged closer, her soft arm brushing my hand. "W-will bad guys bother us?" she whispered. "Novels always say they do…"

I chuckled, ruffling her bun. *So adorably naive.* "Impossible," I said, flexing my nonexistent bicep. "I’m right here."

Her eyes widened. "Exactly! If bad guys come… they’ll take *both* of us!"

…She had a point. No—no way. I waved frantically. "Novel plots are exaggerated! Life isn’t fiction. Don’t worry."

I ate here all the time before—never once hassled. Totally safe.

I patted my chest confidently. "Trust Sister Xiaoxi. Zero chance."

*Thud.*

Three figures loomed beside our table: crew cut, spiky-haired punk, bald thug.

"Hey, little girls," the bald one leered, jowls bunching. "This sad meal ain’t enough. Come with us—we’ll feed you *nutritious* stuff. Helps you… *grow*."

Xu Wei: "…"

Me: "…"

*Oof. Face stings.*

*Wait.* Back then, no trouble came… because I was a guy. An ordinary-looking guy.

*So eating out as a cute girl is THIS dangerous?!*

Now my teeth hurt too. *Why did that thug quote my exact inner monologue?!*