Chapter Nineteen

After finishing the cleaning, Xia Qinyu Mei sat down at the front desk. She planned to use this time to put on makeup, following the instructions given by Liu Haizi. At work, her makeup had to be exquisite and captivating to catch the attention of customers. It was all about attracting men with a pretty face, and Liu Haizi understood exactly what men desired—just a little effort could win their hearts.

But there was another person upstairs, Yu Xingyue. What kind of sparks would fly if Xia Qinyu Mei encountered the straightforward Yu Xingyue was anyone’s guess. All the cosmetics on the front desk belonged to Xia Qinyu Mei. She was supposed to come straight over after finishing her makeup, but if she did, how many eyes would be fixed on her?

Unable to find a mirror, she resorted to using the computer screen, but it was pitch black and impossible to see her reflection. She was used to this now and had no trouble. She spent half an hour facing the screen. There were minor imperfections on her face, but they were hardly noticeable up close. After tidying up all her cosmetics, she prepared to start work and open the door.

Her shift began at 7 p.m., two hours earlier than Yu Xingyue’s. This was the busiest time, with all kinds of people coming in—students and office workers alike. Within ten minutes of opening, a group of students in uniform arrived.

The process was simple: pay the internet fee first, then boot up the computer. Anyone who had been to an internet café knew this well, so there was no need to elaborate.

As more customers arrived, Xia Qinyu Mei became busy, yet she felt no fatigue. There’s a saying: work brings me joy. This perfectly described Xia Qinyu Mei. For someone who loved her job so much, words could hardly capture her passion.

“Hmm, perfect,” Xia Qinyu Mei murmured softly. She wasn’t praising her own work, but noting that today’s crowd was larger than usual and the monthly revenue was much higher than before—something she had never anticipated.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Yu Xingyue was awakened by the alarm on his phone. It was 8:30 p.m., half an hour before his shift. Honestly, he felt lazy and just wanted to sleep, but he couldn’t freeload at someone else’s house forever. Reluctantly, he got up and washed his face.

Once awake, his energy returned. “Looks like I can’t escape the makeup fate after all,” he muttered and went to Liu Haizi’s room. At first, he was thrilled when Liu Haizi told him she would be late coming back. But she had one condition: if he used any makeup, he had to use it properly and not secretly pour it out, or else there would be consequences.

Even if it meant trouble, Yu Xingyue wouldn’t waste Liu Haizi’s cosmetics. Yang Shuting had often told him that cosmetics were life to women. You never really knew how expensive they were—they were practically a part of themselves.

“Well, it’s work, so I’ll just endure it,” Yu Xingyue decided, biting his lip before starting a drastic makeover on his face. He had never worn makeup before and didn’t know what he was doing. As a complete beginner, he was at a loss.

He didn’t even know how to begin, just sitting dumbfounded in front of the mirror, recalling the details of Liu Haizi’s makeup process. If his memory was correct, the first step was...

The whole process was chaotic and awkward, so there’s no need to go into detail.

When Yu Xingyue finally looked in the mirror, he was shocked. His makeup was far too heavy—the thick foundation masked his entire face, and the eyeshadow gave him an alluring look. If he added a long wig, who would guess he was a man?

After twenty minutes of makeup, Yu Xingyue went downstairs early. The internet café was already packed. He sat down next to Xia Qinyu Mei at the front desk. Neither recognized the other at first, thanks to their makeup. His sudden appearance startled her.

“When did you get here?” Xia Qinyu Mei asked.

Yu Xingyue replied casually, “I live upstairs. Didn’t you know? I thought the boss already told you.”

“You live here?!” Xia Qinyu Mei was incredulous. “I didn’t expect the boss to have such a hobby.”

Yu Xingyue knew she was overthinking, but it wasn’t what she imagined. Even if he told her the truth, she wouldn’t believe it. So, he kept silent. Silence was golden. Still, he retorted, “The boss isn’t that kind of person. You can ask her yourself.” Then he went back to his work as a network attendant.

The café was full, so no one else came in unless their time was up or they wanted to extend their session. Yu Xingyue had memorized everything Liu Haizi taught him, making his job seem effortless. Even Xia Qinyu Mei, sitting beside him, was surprised by how capable this newcomer was.

Having slept all day and skipped meals, Yu Xingyue’s stomach growled loudly. “I haven’t eaten yet. I’ll go across the street to grab something and come back. The rest of the work is up to you,” he told Xia Qinyu Mei.

“Quick, don’t take too long,” she replied.

After he left, Xia Qinyu Mei muttered, “Actually, I haven’t eaten either.” She had wanted to ask Yu Xingyue to bring her something, but just thinking about his face made her doubt his reliability. So, she bore her hunger.

At that moment, Liu Haizi returned. Seeing Xia Qinyu Mei alone at the front desk, she asked, “Where’s Victor?” She used a fake name to avoid revealing Yu Xingyue’s real identity and almost slipped up.

“He went across the street to eat. He hasn’t eaten yet,” Xia Qinyu Mei explained. Liu Haizi’s expression relaxed, relieved that Yu Xingyue hadn’t skipped work and left.

“Boss, is Victor really living here?” Xia Qinyu Mei asked, seeking confirmation.

Liu Haizi replied, “He had some trouble at home recently, so he came here to work. To avoid burdening his family, I let him stay here. Once his family situation improves, he’ll leave.”

Xia Qinyu Mei paused, thinking: So he’s in the same boat as me. I see now.

The family trouble was just a quarrel with Sun Ying, causing him not to go home. Yu Xingyue’s family situation wasn’t as dire as she’d imagined. Liu Haizi’s words had been misleading. Xia Qinyu Mei realized she’d misunderstood him and gained a new perspective on Yu Xingyue.

“I’m back! Boss, you’re here!” Yu Xingyue returned to the café after eating and sat at the front desk. Liu Haizi tapped his head and said, “Take care of yourself during work. Eat first before coming back. This is the last time I’ll let it slide.”

“Got it,” Yu Xingyue replied, sticking out his tongue. For a seventeen-year-old boy going through puberty, acting cute was embarrassing, but he did it now to cheer up Liu Haizi. Xia Qinyu Mei found this unreliable young man always liked to make others laugh at crucial moments.

Liu Haizi glanced at Yu Xingyue’s face. He knew what she was looking at—the heavy makeup. She frowned, then pulled him upstairs to the familiar room, in front of the familiar mirror, with the familiar products and scents.

“Lizi, what are you doing?” he asked, using the nickname she had given herself.

“You look ridiculous with that makeup. What if you scare away my customers?” Liu Haizi said. She couldn’t stand the thick makeup on his face and was determined to redo it.

She got to work. Twenty minutes later, a newly refined Yu Xingyue appeared before the mirror. Compared to yesterday, he looked much more polished—so much so that even he was amazed.

“Teacher, your skills are incredible! Can you teach me?” Yu Xingyue said eagerly.

“I really can’t help you. I’ll teach you on your day off. One day won’t make a difference,” Liu Haizi replied.