Chapter 34: Is He Being Kept?

At night, Xia Ruo lay on her bed, clutching a pillow as she stared blankly at the ceiling.

She replayed the day’s scenes of going into the city with Lin Qianfan, a suffocating sense of loss weighing on her heart. She knew he had been incredibly busy lately, juggling the food delivery platform and the bubble tea shop, yet he had still set aside time to accompany her on their errands. In that moment, she had been overjoyed, even harboring the illusion that the distance between them had narrowed.

But this happiness was fleeting. Her own background felt like a heavy stone upon her chest, a constant reminder of the chasm between them. "He is such an exceptional person; why would he be so kind to me?" she asked herself more than once, yet she could never find an answer. The more she thought, the more chaotic her mind became. Finally, she rolled over and buried her face in the pillow, trying to calm herself down.

"Forget it. Don't think about it. It’s useless," she thought, smiling at herself with a touch of self-mockery.

On Monday morning, no sooner had the principal’s office opened than the telephone began to ring incessantly.

"Hello, this is the principal’s office," the principal answered, his tone as stern and authoritative as ever.

"Hello, Principal. I’m calling about the notice on the bulletin board regarding the server position. Could you tell me how to apply?" The voice on the other end sounded somewhat timid.

The principal frowned. "What server position? Are you calling the wrong number? Our school has no such opening."

The caller sounded flustered. "But... the poster lists your number. It says the school's bubble tea shop is hiring."

"A bubble tea shop?" The principal paused, suddenly realizing what was happening, and couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose. "Fine, I understand the situation. Don't worry, I will handle it."

He hung up, but before he could catch his breath, the phone rang again.

"Hello, I’m calling about the server job..."

"Principal, I’m calling to inquire about the bubble tea shop recruitment..."

As the calls poured in, one after another, the principal’s expression shifted from confusion to growing impatience. After hanging up, he sat with a dark face, having already guessed who was behind this. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "What kind of trouble has that kid stirred up this time?"

All morning, the phone barely stopped ringing. A few parents even came in person to inquire, causing the principal to miss his morning staff meeting.

The following day during a break, Lin Qianfan appeared at the door of the principal’s office carrying an elegantly wrapped gift box. He knocked and asked respectfully, "Principal, may I come in?"

The principal, who was busy grading documents at his desk, looked up and glanced at him coldly. "Come in."

Lin Qianfan pushed the door open and placed the gift box gently on the desk. "Principal, I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you lately. This is just a small gesture of my appreciation. Please, take a look."

"So you know you've caused me trouble?" the principal stared at him sternly. "You kid, what is this about a bubble tea shop hiring servers and using my phone number? Do you have any idea how many people have pestered me about this in the last two days?"

Lin Qianfan put on an earnest expression. "Principal, I didn't mean to cause any harm. I just thought there were suitable candidates here at the school, so I used your contact information. I had no idea so many people would call. I will rectify this immediately."

The principal looked at him, his brow softening slightly, though he remained stern. "Tell me, what is the situation with this bubble tea shop?"

Lin Qianfan explained clearly and earnestly, "Principal, it’s like this: I recently opened a bubble tea shop near the school to try my hand at a small business. To keep the shop running, I need a few servers. I didn't want to hire just anyone; I was hoping to find reliable students from our school."

The principal lowered his voice. "So you used my name? You’ve got some nerve, kid."

Lin Qianfan quickly added, "Please don't be angry, Principal. If this goes well, it will benefit the school, too. Students can earn some extra pocket money, and parents will see how well-rounded the school’s education is. This is a positive for both the school’s reputation and your own track record."

The principal fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing Lin Qianfan’s words. Finally, he sighed. "You have a point, but there must be limits."

"Principal, I promise I will handle this professionally," Lin Qianfan replied firmly.

The principal tapped his fingers on the desk. "Fine, I can help you, but on one condition: you must ensure that these students' studies are not affected."

"You have my word, Principal. I will strictly control the work hours; it will not interfere with their schoolwork," Lin Qianfan assured him immediately.

The principal nodded. "So, what are your hiring criteria?"

Lin Qianfan thought for a moment. "Attention to detail. The work requires serving customers and operating machinery, so they need to be careful and avoid mistakes."

"I see." The principal picked up his phone. "I will arrange for an interview and screen a few people. You can come and make the final selection yourself."

Before long, the principal had indeed screened a group of students. He handed a list to Lin Qianfan, saying, "Here are three candidates. Go ahead and choose."

Lin Qianfan scanned the list and noticed they were all second-year students. He found an empty classroom and called them in. The first to enter was a tall, thin boy. Upon seeing Lin Qianfan, he was visibly taken aback, his expression subtle. "You’re the shop manager?"

Lin Qianfan nodded. "Yes, that’s me. Is there a problem?"

The boy scratched his head, looking somewhat unconvinced. "I thought... I thought there would be someone with more experience."

"Experience can be accumulated, but attitude is what matters most," Lin Qianfan said, his tone calm. "Since you’re here, it means you’re interested in the job, isn't that right?"

The boy lowered his head in thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Sorry, I don't think I’m a good fit." With that, he turned and left the classroom.

Lin Qianfan watched him go and sighed slightly. "It seems there are still those who don't believe I can pull this off."

The other two students had no such reservations. One was a quiet girl, and the other was an outgoing boy; both seemed very enthusiastic.

"Then it will be the two of you," Lin Qianfan said. "There will be a one-week trial period; if you perform well, you will be officially hired."

The two nodded repeatedly. "Thank you, Brother Lin! We will definitely work hard!"

Over the next few days, as soon as school ended, Lin Qianfan took them to the shop and taught them how to make bubble tea step-by-step. He wrote out the recipes for the three signature drinks in clear, concise steps and posted them right next to the workstation.