The next day dawned bright and sunny. Along the well-landscaped street, only cicadas protested the scorching sun. Yet people resting in the shade of the trees still felt pleasantly cool.

Leng Shuang and Yu Mo arrived promptly at the part-time job spot as agreed. The distance was short—just a bus ride plus a hundred-meter walk. Half an hour later, they were there.

"Is this the place?"

Today, Leng Shuang wore simple casual clothes and a sun hat. He looked youthful and vibrant—exactly as Yu Mo described: strikingly long legs, a tall, well-proportioned figure. His flawless appearance drew glances from passersby all the way.

"Yep, right here. Look, the boss is coming out to meet us."

A middle-aged woman with dyed hair and a trendy outfit stepped out. Her eyes landed on Leng Shuang, and she couldn’t help but stare in awe.

"Boss, didn’t I promise? Remember the raise! With a face like his for your storefront, you won’t find anyone better!"

"Hahaha, truly fair-skinned, gorgeous, and those legs! Fine, bonus time—thirty bucks extra."

"Thirty... so 220 total? Alright."

Yu Mo did a quick mental calc, a faint smile spreading across his face. The boss laughed even more heartily—whether from joy or something else remained unclear.

"Good. Since you’re new, come in and learn the ropes. Aim to be on duty within half an hour."

Beaming, the boss led them into the bubble tea shop. Inside stood another young male employee, his sallow complexion lacking the fresh charm of Leng Shuang and Yu Mo. The other female staff were young but seemed low on energy.

"Somehow... 220 feels a bit low," Yu Mo muttered beside Leng Shuang.

"Everyone, meet Leng Shuang and Yu Mo—your new teammates. Guide them well and let’s boost sales together!"

After the introduction, the staff eagerly began training them. Working alongside such handsome boys lifted everyone’s spirits—not to mention the hope of asking them out later.

Though not the sharpest, Leng Shuang had a knack for this simple work. Fueled by the female staff’s sudden "senior duty" enthusiasm, he grasped all the drink recipes in under thirty minutes. His motions were slightly clumsy, but mistake-free.

"You two—especially Leng Shuang—stay energetic. That face doesn’t need constant smiling, but never look gloomy. Speak sweetly, not tiredly."

The boss emphasized this, her expectations for Leng Shuang clear.

"Understood."

They nodded and stepped behind the counter. True to word, the shop’s buzz rose. Female customers bought extra cups just to chat with Leng Shuang. He smiled politely while answering:

"Hey cutie, where are you from? Graduated yet?"

"So handsome! Add me on Tencent?"

"New car~ passenger seat’s never been ‘blessed.’ Wanna help?"

"Buy five cups… get a kiss? Hahaha."

"—"

Flirty remarks were inevitable. Luckily, the boss had warned them: just smile, shake your head, refuse gently. Cameras were watching—words were all they had.

This was part of growing up. With standout looks came attention. Without status, you learned to handle it gracefully.

Only brief moments offered rest during the shift. As closing neared, two senior staff approached.

"Leng Shuang, Yu Mo—dinner? Our treat."

"Thanks, but we prefer cooking at home."

"What a pity." Their eyes lingered regretfully before they left.

"Those two… didn’t they know you have a girlfriend?" Yu Mo grumbled, watching them go.

"Hahaha," the boss chimed in, counting receipts with satisfaction. "With faces like yours? They’re young, full of fire. No thoughts would mean something’s wrong."

"Boss… are all women like this? Only into good looks?"

"Of course! Who isn’t? Haven’t you heard—‘appetite for beauty is human nature’?"

Leng Shuang understood. After Sakura Country’s economic boom, society grew open. Casual hookups were common—like those two "dinner" invites clearly aiming for more.

The boss handed them their pay. "Great work today. Two fifty each—extra for you."

"Thank you, boss."

Her straightforwardness felt refreshing, not off-putting. Wages in hand, they left cheerfully.

"Ugh… my jaw’s sore from fake smiling," Yu Mo groaned on the bus, rubbing his chin.

"Hahaha, pay’s decent. One more month—we can upgrade our phones."

Leng Shuang removed his hat. Silky black hair fell to his shoulders. A faint trace of sweat and fatigue lingered in the air, carrying the quiet allure of a beautiful youth. He swept his hair back. Without the hat, playful vibrancy faded, replaced by pure, ethereal grace—as if a celestial being had descended, untouched by dust. The sudden shift struck like a costume change, drawing glances from every woman on the bus.

"Hehehe~"

"What’s so funny?"

"You know that hair flip? Kinda flirtatious," Yu Mo said meaningfully.

Leng Shuang glanced around, realized everyone was staring, froze for a moment, then offered an awkward smile.

"Leng Shuang… you’ve got natural charm~ Maybe even Kazue Iinoue would notice you~"

"Don’t joke. Someone might hear." Leng Shuang shot him a glare.

Though unfamiliar with Kazue Iinoue, anyone browsing online dramas knew her name. At nineteen, she debuted in film and shot to fame. Backed by massive popularity, she became the youngest winner of the "Best Actor" award—a title steeped in controversy. Critics said she had zero acting skill, stone-faced the whole film. Yet her icy beauty, natural "ice queen" aura matching her role, and flawlessly proportioned figure won countless devoted fans. With record-breaking box office numbers, she claimed the title. In Sakura Country, judging talent by ticket sales was tradition. Her weak acting drew fierce backlash—until she retired. Soon after, a bombshell dropped: Kazue Iinoue was Councilman Iinoue Miyamura’s daughter. Confirmed by him, the news exploded online. Before that settled, another shock: she was deputy president of "Brave New World," a top-tier Fortune 500 conglomerate. From real estate to nearly every outward industry, its influence spanned Sakura Country. Overnight, critics fell silent. To her, awards meant nothing. She could blacklist anyone with a thought. Kazue Iinoue was now untouchable—top-tier beauty, perfect figure, ice-queen aura, a family whose footsteps shook the economy. The dream of countless men. Many schemed to climb the ladder through her; even one night felt worth it. Yet at twenty-five, no man had reportedly caught her eye. A common joke spread: "Think you’re handsome? Try charming Kazue Iinoue—you might go from zero to hero." It became a meme. Mention "charming a woman," and her name came first.

"Leng Shuang, seriously—I feel it. Your looks match hers perfectly," Yu Mo said earnestly.

"No way. What am I to her? Even if she noticed me… I…" Leng Shuang shook his head. "Impossible. Rumor says she’s not into men. And I have a girlfriend—I shouldn’t even think this."

"Hehehe… my hunch says she’s interested."

"How would you know?" Leng Shuang raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

"I read people well."

"You’ve never met her."

"Hey~ saw her on TV! Her vibe? Totally matches yours."

"…"

Leng Shuang fell silent. Yu Mo always defaulted to "I read people well" when logic failed. He’d make a convincing Taoist fraud—but honestly, his reads were often scarily accurate.

"I’d say this time… you’re gonna be wrong again~"