A Peculiar New Employee and School Day Surprises

“Little Ran, it seems that Granny Yang also has a young girl helping out at her shop.”

Ten o’clock in the evening.

Chen Ran had already returned home from the convenience store, having just finished his late-night snack, and was now sitting in the living room, chatting with Jiang Zilin and Jiang Lengleng.

“Mm.”

Earlier that day, on his way home, Chen Ran had indeed spotted the white-haired little girl at Granny Yang’s pastry shop.

She appeared to be no older than an elementary school student, yet her gaze held an inexplicably sharp edge.

“Is she Granny’s granddaughter?”

“Unlikely, considering Granny’s hair wasn’t white when she was young.”

“Mhm, mhm, mhm…”

Jiang Lengleng, sitting beside them, nodded in agreement, adding.

“And her children don’t have white hair either.”

‘…’

‘So, there’s such a thing as “genetic” knowledge, then?’ Chen Ran mused.

Yet, upon reflection, it made sense.

Jiang Ruohua was their aunt, their mother’s younger sister, which explained why their entire family boasted golden hair.

“If Big Sister and Little Ran have a baby in the future, it’ll most likely have golden hair too~”

Jiang Zilin’s words, as always, carried an air of playful unreliability.

“Still, with Granny being so old, it’s good that someone’s helping her with the shop.”

Jiang Lengleng spoke softly, then turned to Chen Ran.

“Didn’t someone come to apply at the convenience store today?”

“Mm.”

Having dealt with the yakuza matter earlier, Chen Ran found himself with nothing to do after returning home around five that afternoon.

He decided to open the convenience store, unexpectedly encountering a “new employee” in the process.

“She was a very strange individual.”

Chen Ran described the new recruit to the Jiang sisters: a voluptuous, red-haired woman, over two meters tall, clad in a pure white long dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat.

“!!!”

Upon hearing that the new employee was a beautiful ‘onee-san’ (TL Note: Japanese term for an older sister figure, often implying a mature and attractive woman), Jiang Zilin could barely contain herself.

“Little Ran, what are you doing?! All you do is hire girls, don’t you?! Have Big Sister and Lengleng stopped being enough for you?!”

“Well, if I hired a man, I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving you two alone.”

Chen Ran replied casually, dismissing her.

Evidently, Jiang Zilin was easily swayed by such remarks.

The woman, who had been sitting right beside him, immediately snuggled closer, whimpering in a shy, coy tone.

“Of course not, Big Sister only likes Little Ran~”

‘…’

Nevertheless, Chen Ran couldn’t shake the feeling that the newly hired employee, who introduced herself as “Ipinas,” was exceedingly peculiar.

Her demeanor, for one.

From her very core, she exuded an undeniable air of nobility.

Despite her simple attire, she moved with the grace of a beautiful madam accustomed to opulence, every gesture radiating the aura of a high-ranking individual.

Chen Ran had even wondered if she might be a young lady from a wealthy family, secretly venturing out to experience life.

Yet.

During the interview, she meekly inquired, “Is it possible for meals and accommodation to be included?”

Chen Ran, considering the request, thought that providing meals would be no issue, as Jiang Zilin could deliver food daily, and the convenience store itself offered instant bento boxes.

As for lodging, a bed could simply be added to the convenience store’s storage room.

There was already a toilet, and with the installation of a water heater, it could easily be converted into a makeshift bathroom.

It wouldn’t be much trouble.

So, after Chen Ran nodded his agreement.

The woman immediately became ecstatic, her face alight with eager anticipation as she pleaded for employment.

She even declared her willingness to work from dawn till dusk, seven days a week, without any days off.

Her enthusiasm was almost frightening.

Chen Ran, however, did not take advantage of her eagerness.

He reiterated that working hours would be from 8 AM to 4 PM daily, and he would take over after school.

Weekends would also be off.

And just like that, the arrangement was settled…

****

The night passed, and Chen Ran finally enjoyed a full night’s sleep at home, free from the need to stay up late.

The next day was Saturday.

Chen Ran still had to attend school with Jiang Lengleng.

As a prestigious aristocratic high school renowned for its strictness, it was inconceivable for them to have weekends off.

Thus, Chen Ran could only ask Jiang Zilin to open the convenience store first, while he waited to return after school.

Only then could he go buy a bed and other necessities for the new employee.

As he left in the morning, he once again encountered Miss Rinzi next door, who reminded him of his previous promise: to accompany her to some autograph session in Xijing next weekend.

“Alright.”

Chen Ran, waiting for Jiang Lengleng to emerge from her house, nodded with a gentle smile.

He then watched as the beautiful lady with silver-white hair displayed a maiden-like shy expression before hastily retreating back into her house.

“Little Ran, who were you just talking to, hmm?!”

Jiang Zilin, having seemingly heard some commotion, peered out from inside, then stood at the entrance, hands on her hips.

“Lengleng, you absolutely must keep an eye on Little Ran! Don’t let other girls snatch him away at school!”

“But you need to be careful too… Ngh, come here, let Big Sister check you over.

Did Little Ran do anything untoward to Lengleng…?”

With a ‘thump’.

The door was promptly shut once more by the girl who had just finished tying her shoelaces.

“Let’s go.”

“Oh…”

As always.

Chen Ran walked a little behind Jiang Lengleng, leaving the old street, taking the subway all the way to the so-called “Academy City” in Xijing, and then continued to follow slightly behind the girl into the school.

However, when they parted ways.

Jiang Lengleng suddenly called out to Chen Ran, then leaned in close to his ear, whispering.

“Little Ran, I’ll come find you at noon… You… you don’t need to come find me…”

The girl’s tender, pale face was now flushed crimson all the way to her earlobes.

Clearly.

His previous visits to her classroom to eat lunch together had proven too much for Jiang Lengleng, who couldn’t withstand the “pressure” from her classmates and close friends.

She was utterly mortified.

The girl had never imagined sharing a meal and whispering secrets with her boyfriend in a classroom at school.

Thus, Jiang Lengleng likely felt it would be better to go to Chen Ran’s classroom instead.

“Mm, alright.”

Chen Ran, for his part, didn’t mind.

Upon arriving at his classroom, Chen Ran habitually glanced at the seats in front of and behind him—yet, no one was seated, even as class began.

It seemed that despite Saturday classes, Duanmu Hui and Lin Qingqing were conspicuously absent.

‘Hah.’

‘Another peaceful day.’

Chen Ran thought to himself.

Little did he know, no sooner had he settled into his seat than his phone immediately vibrated, displaying a message from Duanmu Hui.

[Before eleven, come to Hachioji Hotel, the same one as last time, it’s at…]

[Chen Ran: I have class today.]

[Duanmu Hui: ?]

[???]

[…]

It seemed she had finally recalled that she was now a student at Seika Angel Academy and had to attend school on Saturdays.

Chen Ran watched as Duanmu Hui remained silent for a long time, with no further reply.

He assumed she might simply drop the matter.

Chen Ran couldn’t be bothered to speculate about Duanmu Hui; after all, he realized he hardly knew this “girlfriend” of his.

But.

What Chen Ran utterly failed to anticipate was this:

When noon arrived, Jiang Lengleng, after a hurried dash, entered his classroom and, amidst the envious or admiring gazes of numerous female students, settled beside him to share their meal.

Duanmu Hui’s figure also appeared at the classroom door.