Daytime work at the fast-food restaurant, evening work as a server at the restaurant—it had been several days of this routine. Shen Tong diligently kept up with this cycle. She never grew tired of the hard and simple life because she knew what kind of life was solid and suitable for her.
These past few days felt like a dream to Shen Tong, perhaps a small surprise from fate before she returned to China, adding a little unexpected twist to her monotonous life.
"From now on, work hard and earn enough money! Keep going!" During a quiet moment at the restaurant, Shen Tong hid in a corner, satisfied as she looked at the numbers in her bankbook. As she looked, she couldn't help but think of Liang Xiaoyuan and began talking to herself. "Sigh... most of this money came from him. What a sucker! But from now on, our lives will have no intersection."
"Which fool was unlucky enough to be scammed out of so much money by you?" Liang Xiaoyuan's voice came from behind Shen Tong as he looked at her bankbook.
Shen Tong jumped in surprise and quickly put the bankbook away.
Liang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. "Why hide it? I've already seen it! Hey, your bankbook shows only a few hundred pounds left after subtracting the money I gave you. I thought you were so capable!"
"That's because I haven't received my salary yet! And I still have to save some money for living expenses! What are you doing here?" Shen Tong asked.
"Of course, I'm here to eat! And what are you doing not working during work hours? I should report you for slacking off!" Liang Xiaoyuan found that he really enjoyed bickering and bantering with Shen Tong.
"You dare!" Shen Tong threatened, pointing at Liang Xiaoyuan.
Liang Xiaoyuan was startled by Shen Tong's unique service style. "How do you survive as a server with such a customer-like attitude?"
"Sir, please have a seat. Here's our menu. Take a look and see what you'd like to eat. Would you like to try our new dishes? These are our special chef recommendations!" Shen Tong instantly transformed into a sweet and professional server, fluently introducing the dishes to Liang Xiaoyuan in English.
Liang Xiaoyuan was truly impressed by Shen Tong's quick change in demeanor. Seeing her captivating eyes, he couldn't help but feel a soft spot. "Alright! I understand how you survive. I'll have one of each new dish then!"
Watching Shen Tong's departing figure, Liang Xiaoyuan felt a sense of peace.
Liang Xiaoyuan remained seated, barely touching his food, from the moment it was served until the restaurant was about to close.
"Dear customer, we're about to close. If you really like our décor and atmosphere, you can come back tomorrow!" Shen Tong approached his table. "I'm clearing the dishes now!"
Liang Xiaoyuan nodded. "Go ahead. I'm leaving."
Shen Tong only started cleaning the table after Liang Xiaoyuan left, muttering, "These rich people, what's going on in their heads? Wasting all this food without eating. This meal costs nearly a thousand pounds! Such a waste! This is all money!"
After finishing her tasks at the restaurant, Shen Tong changed out of her uniform and prepared to take a taxi home.
"You're finally out?" Liang Xiaoyuan stood at the restaurant entrance, looking at Shen Tong.
Shen Tong couldn't believe it. "You're still here?"
"Waiting for you! I'll drive you home and save you the taxi fare," Liang Xiaoyuan said gently.
"Why are you suddenly being so nice? Do you have some sort of scheme? Could it be that you've fallen in love with me?" Shen Tong boldly voiced her thoughts.
Liang Xiaoyuan was instantly flustered. "You always speak your mind! With someone like you, who's obsessed with money but can't earn it, what kind of scheme could I have? As for falling in love with you... my eyes aren't that bad!"
"I'm glad, as long as you're not blind! If someone as tasteless as you took a liking to me, I'd be living a life worse than death!" Shen Tong replied expressionlessly.
Liang Xiaoyuan frowned. "Shen Tong! Can't you say anything that doesn't make people angry?"
"I'm mad at the world, not you!" Shen Tong responded confidently.
Knowing that continuing to argue with Shen Tong would only lead to his defeat, Liang Xiaoyuan wisely chose silence.
"Hey, hey, hey! Where are you driving? I was just joking. You're not going to take me into a little corner and kill me, are you?" Shen Tong panicked as Liang Xiaoyuan drove in the opposite direction of her home. "You must be planning revenge! I knew it was too good to be true, how could someone be so nice as to willingly send me home after being scammed for so much money!"
Liang Xiaoyuan stopped the car and leaned in closer to Shen Tong. "It's too late to realize that now!"
"Ah!" Shen Tong reflexively smashed her phone against Liang Xiaoyuan's head: "Pervert!"
"Ouch! Why did you hit me so hard? I was just joking. No need to be so serious!" Liang Xiaoyuan said, clutching his head, his expression complex.
Shen Tong adjusted her messy hair and cleared her throat. "You brought this on yourself! Any girl, no, any person would hit you with that attitude! I went easy on you!"
"You're not going to apologize, and you're blaming me? You call that going easy? My head feels swollen!" Liang Xiaoyuan pointed at his head, panicked.
"Your... your head is bleeding..." Shen Tong stammered, pointing at the wound.
"What? No wonder it hurts so much!" Liang Xiaoyuan regretted his joke, realizing it had gone too far.
Shen Tong glanced at her phone and saw the screen was cracked. Distressed, she said, "My phone! What should I do? I don't want to spend money on a new one!"
"Your phone? Let me see!" Liang Xiaoyuan grabbed the phone. "You call that going easy? You smashed your own phone!"
"Stop talking and drive to the nearest pharmacy. I'll treat your wound," Shen Tong quickly changed the subject.
Liang Xiaoyuan drove to the nearest pharmacy.
"I'll pay for the medicine!" Shen Tong offered, feeling it was her fault.
"No need! If you buy the cheapest ointment and smear it on my head, what if I end up brain-damaged? I'll buy it myself!" Liang Xiaoyuan said ungratefully.
Shen Tong rolled her eyes. "Fine, buy it yourself! Save me some money!"