Chapter Thirteen

"You are quite full of surprises, Teacher. It seems I’m lucky enough to see your true profession," Yu Xingyue said with a smile.

Liuhai Riko smiled faintly. "You’re the first one to see it, all in all. Let’s go, and try not to be too shocked when we get there."

Yu Xingyue followed her. Riko still insisted on helping him carry his luggage, despite his protests. She had made it clear earlier that she wouldn't tolerate anyone looking down on women; she wanted to prove that girls were not just fragile ornaments. That was exactly the point she was trying to make.

They soon entered a narrow alleyway. It was pitch black—already night, and without the faint glow of the streetlights from outside, the path would have been impossible to navigate.

Emerging from the alley, Riko led him to the front of an internet café. She looked at him and said, "Go on in."

"Okay." Yu Xingyue didn't question her. He trusted that she wouldn't do anything to harm him. Upon entering, he saw the place was packed. Most of the patrons were students who struggled in their studies, hanging out there to surf the web, while others seemed prepared to spend the night.

Riko tapped him on the shoulder. "Now you know what I do for a living. Are you shocked?"

Yu Xingyue nodded. "I never imagined you were the owner of an internet café! If you're the boss, why go to our school to teach?"

"Because I was bored," Riko replied bluntly. "I had nothing to do in the mornings, so I started teaching at your school to fill the void. I was worried my knowledge would go to waste."

"That explains it. But why bring me here?" Yu Xingyue asked.

Riko tapped him on the head. Wasn't it obvious?

"Why did you hit me?" he asked.

Riko retorted, "To let you spend the night here, of course! Otherwise, you’d be sleeping on the streets tonight."

"Ah, I see! My brain really isn't working today."

Riko continued, "I’m currently struggling to find an attendant for the internet café. It’s too much for me to handle alone. Would you be willing to take the job?"

"Me? Can I?" Yu Xingyue felt a bit insecure. "I’m just an ordinary student. Isn't it a bit of a stretch to suddenly make me an attendant?"

"Don't you worry about that," Riko said, patting his shoulder. "I can teach you. It’s a crash course—you’ll be a pro in ten minutes. Plus, room and board are included."

Riko’s offer was incredibly tempting, especially the part about room and board, which struck a chord with Yu Xingyue. It meant working for her, but he considered it a first step toward independence. He had to start somewhere. He proposed one condition: "I'll agree, but on the condition that I don't have to quit school. Can I just sit here during the day?"

"Absolutely not!" Riko refused instantly. That would just be an excuse for him to skip class, which was no different from dropping out. "Being an attendant is a night job. You start tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll brief you on the essentials."

Riko led him to the second floor, where there were two rooms—her own and one that hadn't been opened in a long time. When she opened the door, a cloud of dust hit them, making Yu Xingyue sneeze.

He covered his nose. "Damn! So much dust." He had spoken in Chinese, which Riko didn't understand. "Xingyue-kun, what did you say?"

"Oh, nothing. It’s just that this room is so dirty it needs to be cleaned, or I won't be able to sleep tonight."

"Then let's get to work!" Riko had already changed into a cleaning uniform, looking ready for a major project.

Yu Xingyue grabbed a broom, but the dust was so thick it felt like sand; the broom couldn't even move it.

"Teacher, help me. This dust is too thick to sweep," he pleaded. The bristles of the broom were falling out, making the floor even messier.

"Honestly, just wait." Riko put on gloves and tossed him a matching uniform. "If you can't sweep it, just scoop it into the bin." She pointed to a waist-high trash can beside her.

Yu Xingyue looked at the dust; scooping it up would send it flying everywhere. Riko tossed him a mask so he wouldn't inhale it.

With the mask on, he scooped up the sand-like dust, and sure enough, it billowed into the air, coating his hair. But he figured he could just take a shower afterward, so he didn't care about the mess.

After four or five rounds, most of the dust was gone. Riko took over the rest. Yu Xingyue felt bad letting her do the work, but she maintained her stance: "Don't underestimate women, or you'll regret it."

Riko told him to go take a shower—the bathroom was down the hall and to the left—promising that by the time he finished, she would have finished everything else, including changing the sheets and mopping.

As he grabbed his clothes, a faint, subtle smile appeared on his face. "You really are a strong woman, Teacher. Any man who marries you would be truly blessed."

Riko replied calmly, "It’s nothing. Life forced me to become a 'tough girl.' Whatever I can solve myself, I do. That’s my rule. These are small things; I’ll be done soon. Go shower."

"It seems I need to change my opinion of you."

"How so?" Riko turned to look at him.

"Well, you're capable of both scholarly and manual work," Yu Xingyue laughed. "And if I had to add one more virtue, it’s that you're domestic. You really are a great woman for the home."

Riko scoffed, "You have a silver tongue. There’s a Chinese saying that a man’s mouth is like a deceptive ghost. Is that true? I feel like you're just flattering me."

"Only some men choose to be scoundrels. I’m different. I just want to learn to be independent, and it’s only just beginning, thanks to your help, Riko-sensei."

Riko said, "Stop with the 'sensei' all the time. It makes me uncomfortable. Call me Riko in private; keep the 'sensei' for the classroom."

"Alright, Riko. I’m going to shower."

"Make it quick. I’m not a patient person. I order you to finish in twenty minutes, got it?" She sounded like a commanding officer. Yu Xingyue saluted with a "Yes!" and disappeared. Shortly after, she heard him singing in the shower. She couldn't understand the lyrics, but he sounded happy.

In those twenty minutes, Riko wiped down the furniture, mopped the floor, changed the bedding, and cleared out the trash. The room was spotless. The weather was hot, but she didn't get irritable. Once finished, she turned on the air conditioner.

"Refreshing. That feels great. But this is Xingyue-kun’s room—I should go back to my own to cool off." She stepped out and closed the door, letting the room chill.

Yu Xingyue finished just as she was about to head to the shower. He stepped out of the bathroom and nearly had a nosebleed. Riko had stripped down to her undergarments in the heat. Her curves were stunning, and he quickly turned away, blushing.

"Riko, why aren't you wearing clothes?" he asked. "You're making it very awkward for me."

"Oh, I’m used to being alone and dressing loosely. I’m not used to you being here yet. I’ll change that in the future." She looked at him with a mischievous smirk and pushed him toward the room she had just cleaned. "From now on, this is your room. You’re working for me, so you’ll live here. Work starts at nine every night and ends at two in the morning."

"That’s fast! Does anyone know you run this internet café?" he asked.

Riko shook her head. "No one knows yet, but they will. Now isn't the time to talk about that. Go read the instructions I left for you. I’m going to shower." She pushed him into the room and closed the door. Feeling the cool air from the AC, Yu Xingyue felt a sense of peace wash over him as he looked at the tidy room.