With my guarantee in place, customers felt reassured. Of course, those checking out with just a few cheap trinkets were rare. Anyone shopping at Century City Center wasn’t exactly strapped for cash.

Still, word spread fast about our new store—while others bragged about “low-cost” or “minimal-profit” operations, we proudly ran on “no-limits spending” and “operating at a loss.”

That was the image I projected. Truth was, I had other plans. One thing stayed clear: no business *chooses* to lose money. Impossible.

Losses might come from piled-up stock, warehouse fees, or rent—but never from customers. That’s the eternal truth of business.

Thanks to the pretty girls handing out flyers diligently at the door, and customers leaving with gifts who spread the word elsewhere, our shop stayed bustling all afternoon.

Most came out of curiosity. A short walk, a small spend—and a beautifully wrapped little gift in return.

I knew most had zero connection to anime. Many didn’t even watch it. They wouldn’t become regulars—just one-time foot traffic for the grand opening.

But that was enough. I only needed these two days’ crowd.

“Finally… can relax a little… Phew…”

All afternoon, the most exhausted wasn’t the girls rotating flyer duty, nor Ye Xiaoshuang shuttling heavy boxes back and forth. Sure, she’d done grueling work—but the girl had insane stamina, showing not a hint of fatigue.

The real tired one was Xu Wei at the register. Though two other girls helped as temps, only Xu Wei stayed stationed there nonstop.

When evening came and I called the girls back from soliciting, foot traffic slowed. Cashier duty finally eased. Little loli Xu Wei stretched with effort, let out that sigh, then softly yawned.

Oddly… that yawn sounded almost like a whimper…

“You’ve worked hard, good girl,” I said, patting her head. “Only these first two days are tough. It’ll get better. And if it’s ever too busy later, I’ll train two more to share your load.”

Her little head nuzzled unconsciously against my palm. “It’s okay, Sister Xiaoxi,” she murmured. “I can handle it.”

Hah. Classic little loli bravado.

With no customers at the register, the front fell quiet. After a long hesitation, Xu Wei finally spoke up: “Um… Sister Xiaoxi?”

“Hmm?”

I frowned. What was she so shy about?

“Just say it.”

She nodded, then whispered: “Sister Xiaoxi… so it’s true you and Boss Qin… you know…”

“Huh?!” I froze. “What ‘you know’?”

“I mean… everyone calls you the boss’s wife…”

I pressed my lips to stop the twitch. Facing Xu Wei’s pure, innocent gaze, I forced a helpless smile.

“Xiao Wei, it’s just a title—no real meaning. Think of school leaders: the vice-principal. People never say ‘vice’; they just call them ‘principal,’ right?”

Xu Wei nodded.

Huh? That quick? Suspicious. “You understood?”

She shook her head—hard.

“…Then why nod just now?” A vein throbbed on my forehead.

“Nodding means I heard you,” she shrank back timidly. “Shaking… means I didn’t understand.”

*Hiss… exhale…*

I breathed deep, kept smiling. “Which part confused you?”

She glanced up cautiously. “The example… Does Sister Xiaoxi mean you’re not the boss’s wife… but the *vice* boss’s wife?”

“…”

A sharp twitch pulled at the corner of my mouth.