HSS CH10
by InterstellarSnakeChapter 10: Living to a Hundred
He Congshan was dragged back by Little Zheng, cursing and struggling to fight with Huo Yuchuan.
“Your company is the one that’s going to close down, and it’s going to happen tomorrow!”
“Huo Yuchuan, get out here! If I don’t beat you up today, I’ll change my last name!”
“Come out……”
Huo Yuchuan sat steadily in the car, listening to the voice fade away, and said coldly, “See how scary he is.”
Lin Miao defended the boss, “That’s because you cursed his shop to close down.”
Huo Yuchuan replied, “He also cursed my company to close down.”
Lin Miao: “……Alright, then it’s even.”
He asked again, “So can I go work then?”
Huo Yuchuan still said, “No.”
Why not? Lin Miao was a bit angry, feeling that Huo Yuchuan was being too controlling. He wasn’t taking up Huo Yuchuan’s sleeping time; why couldn’t he go to work?
The more money he earned, the sooner he could pay off his debt to Huo Yuchuan.
Little Zheng finally got back in the car and drove them back to Shengting.
Lin Miao sulked all the way, ignoring Huo Yuchuan. But once they got home, he seemed less angry and clung to Huo Yuchuan, saying he wanted to work part-time at He Congshan’s place. He followed Huo Yuchuan wherever he went.
“Huo Yuchuan, just let me go.”
“The job posting says it’s okay for just a few hours. I’ll be back quickly.”
“Huo Yuchuan……”
In the end, Huo Yuchuan dragged him into bed and said, “Go to sleep.”
Lin Miao grumbled, “I can’t sleep.”
Huo Yuchuan replied, “I don’t believe you.”
Lin Miao: “……” Am I really that good at sleeping?!
“Huo Yuchuan,” Lin Miao asked with a stern face, “Do you know why Xiao Ming’s grandfather lived to be a hundred years old?”
Huo Yuchuan: “Because he didn’t work.”
Lin Miao: “……”
“No,” Lin Miao corrected, “It’s because he didn’t mind other people’s business.”
Huo Yuchuan lowered his gaze and looked at him emotionlessly, “Do you think I’m minding other people’s business?”
Lin Miao suddenly felt like he had said something wrong, “No……”
He tugged at the blanket and said in a low voice, “But I really want to earn money.”
Huo Yuchuan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Then remember a few things.”
Lin Miao: “What things?”
Huo Yuchuan reached up and pressed down a tuft of hair that Lin Miao had raised, “What if a customer curses at you?”
Lin Miao, dedicated to his job, replied, “Endure it.”
Huo Yuchuan, however, said, “Curse back.”
Lin Miao: “Huh?”
Lin Miao worried, “Boss He will deduct my wages.”
Huo Yuchuan: “He won’t dare.”
“Really?” Lin Miao felt a bit relieved, “Okay.”
Huo Yuchuan asked again, “What if you encounter danger?”
Lin Miao: “Call the security guard.”
Huo Yuchuan nodded and added, “What if someone asks for your contact information?”
Lin Miao: “Don’t give it.”
Huo Yuchuan: “What if they keep pestering you?”
Lin Miao: “Tell them I don’t have a phone.”
Huo Yuchuan: “What if they don’t believe you?”
Lin Miao thought for a moment and said, “Then just give them a random number.”
Huo Yuchuan “Hmm”ed.
Lin Miao hopefully asked, “So can I go?”
Huo Yuchuan pulled out the blanket that Lin Miao was tugging at and said, “Have Little Zheng pick you up after work.”
“Okay.” Lin Miao’s eyes lit up.
Huo Yuchuan: “Can you sleep now?”
Lin Miao immediately closed his eyes, “Already asleep.”
A faint, barely perceptible smile appeared on Huo Yuchuan’s lips as he reached up and turned off the light.
The next day, Huo Yuchuan called He Congshan, and Lin Miao started work that evening. It was his first time in such a place, with the dazzling lights making him feel a bit at a loss.
He Congshan told him to go directly to the manager. The manager was a charming and beautiful woman who gave him a uniform and called over a girl about Lin Miao’s age, asking Lin Miao to follow her and serve drinks together.
“My name is Xu Yue,” the girl said. She seemed very cheerful, but her face was hidden behind a black mask.
“My name is Lin Miao,” Lin Miao followed her through the crowd and realized that most of the waiters here were wearing black masks, as if they were issued uniformly.
Lin Miao couldn’t help but ask Xu Yue, “Um… do I need to wear a mask?”
“It’s up to you,” Xu Yue said, “Wear it if you want to.”
She glanced at Lin Miao and added, “You’ll probably want to wear one; otherwise, it’ll be very busy.”
“Huh?” Lin Miao didn’t understand at first. After walking a few steps, someone stopped him and asked for his phone number.
Lin Miao: “I don’t have a phone.”
The person, of course, didn’t believe him. Lin Miao wanted to give a random number, but the person didn’t catch it the first time and asked again.
Lin Miao: “……” Oh no, I forgot what I just said.
He had to mumble it again vaguely.
“That’s not right,” the person said, “There was a 9 in the number just now. This isn’t the same number, is it?”
Lin Miao was extremely embarrassed.
Xu Yue hurriedly said they needed to get back to work and dragged him away.
But soon after, another person asked for his number.
Afraid he wouldn’t remember again, Lin Miao blurted out Huo Yuchuan’s phone number.
Then several more people came over, and Lin Miao could only continue to give out Huo Yuchuan’s number.
Xu Yue thoughtfully handed him a mask.
In a dimly lit corner, Huo Yuchuan leaned on a soft sofa, holding a glass of wine in one hand, his gaze fixed on Lin Miao, who was now in a white shirt and black trousers, watching as one person after another stopped him and said something.
He Congshan, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t resist teasing, “Oh, are you here to keep an eye on him personally? Is your company really about to close down, Huo, that you have so much free time?”
Huo Yuchuan took a sip of wine and said, “From now on, it’s forbidden to ask waiters for their numbers.”
He Congshan replied, “But how can I forbid people from asking when their mouths are on others?”
Huo Yuchuan said, “Settle the money you owe me tomorrow.”
He Congshan immediately agreed, “Forbidden, definitely forbidden. I’ll post an announcement at the entrance tomorrow.”
Huo Yuchuan then shifted the topic away from money, “Make sure your people keep their eyes open.”
He Congshan wanted to say, “You haven’t paid their wages yet and you want to boss them around?”
But thinking of the money he owed Huo Yuchuan, he felt he could boss them around.
“Rest assured,” He Congshan assured him, “No one dares to cause trouble here. If he wants to fight, I’ll hold the person down for him. Alright?”
When Lin Miao got off work, it was already midnight.
He came out with his school bag and saw Huo Yuchuan standing at the entrance.
“Huo Yuchuan,” he ran over happily, “I thought you had gone back already.”
“I was planning to go back,” Huo Yuchuan took out his phone and said indifferently, “But several people called me tonight, calling me ‘baby’ and saying they were waiting for me.”