Education

Looking at the obviously overcooked dishes before him, Ye Shuang picked up his chopsticks and, under Chen Qin’s eager gaze, slowly took a bite.

Perhaps because his fever had dulled his sense of taste, all he could detect was a smoky flavor—nothing particularly strange. The texture was dry and chewy, almost like smoked jerky, even though he knew it was made from fresh pork.

"How is it?"

"Mm, not bad." Seeing Chen Qin’s intense stare, Ye Shuang refrained from saying anything discouraging. He tapped his chopsticks in the air before asking, "Don’t you usually taste your cooking before serving it?"

"I’m supposed to?"

"Of course. It’s best to check the flavor before serving. Seasoning is never exact—sometimes it’s too light, sometimes too heavy. You need to adjust it." As he spoke, he glanced at the time, wondering how Yu You and the others were doing at work.

"Mm." Chen Qin rested her chin on her hands, grinning foolishly as she watched Ye Shuang eat her cooking. This side of her was something none of her coworkers would ever get to see.

After finishing Chen Qin’s meal, Ye Shuang felt his throat tighten, as if someone had squeezed it. He stood up to take the plates to the kitchen and noticed the soup pot nearby—clearly the pork offal soup Yu You had prepared for him earlier.

A sip might help his sore throat.

"Do you want some pork offal soup?" Ye Shuang asked.

"No, it smells too gamey for me."

"Alright." Without pressing further, he scooped some soup and examined the ingredients. "Pork, pork kidneys… wolfberry leaves, oysters… huh?"

"Deer antler… wolfberries… ginseng… epimedium…"

Ye Shuang froze. What were they trying to do to him?!

No wonder the fever medicine hadn’t worked—if Chen Qin hadn’t stepped in, who knows what might have happened.

This could’ve killed him!

"Where on earth did these two get this stuff?"

……

"Brother, we’re back~"

That evening, Tang Keke and the others returned home, only to find Ye Shuang and Chen Qin sitting stiffly on the sofa—arms crossed, their stern expressions reminiscent of parents catching their kids sneaking out to an internet café in the middle of the night.

The atmosphere was so tense it felt like needles pricking Tang Keke’s skin. She blinked and glanced at Bai Yuyou, who returned an equally innocent look.

"You two, come here," Ye Shuang said.

For the next while, the two girls knelt on the floor as Ye Shuang and Chen Qin lectured them on the dangers of misusing medicinal herbs.

Just as Ye Shuang was about to wrap things up, assuming it wasn’t intentional, Chen Qin turned the lecture on him as well.

One adult and two teenagers—all three ended up kneeling under Chen Qin’s scolding.

Who would’ve thought that Chen Qin, usually so soft around Ye Shuang, could be so strict when it came to safety? Even Ye Shuang didn’t dare talk back.

……

……

A week passed, and today marked the last day of Tang Keke and Bai Yuyou’s part-time jobs. After days of practice, the two had become much more efficient. Tang Keke, once a timid social recluse, had noticeably improved after being forced to hand out flyers.

Both girls had come to understand the hardships of earning money. Now that Bai Yuyou grasped the value of money, Tang Keke had also shifted from spending recklessly to saving—though her allowance was already substantial, she’d previously blown it all on merchandise.

In the changing room.

"Keke, we earned money," Bai Yuyou said, holding the cash in her hand.

"I’m exhausted… I never want to work again. I’d rather just study properly and help my parents with their business." Tang Keke stared at the money but didn’t feel as happy as she’d expected. After all, it was barely enough to buy a small figurine.

Just then, she felt a small hand tug at her sleeve. She turned to see Bai Yuyou lifting the money slightly.

"Keke, you said we could buy something for Ye Shuang."

"Right, but what?" Tang Keke rested a finger on her chin, thinking. With a few hundred yuan, they could get a small piece of jewelry—preferably a matching set for both genders.

"Yu You, if it were up to you, what would you buy for him?"

"Food," Bai Yuyou answered.

"No, no! That’s gone once it’s eaten. We should get something he can see all the time—something that reminds him of you working hard to earn money just to buy him a gift."

Bai Yuyou thought for a moment before replying, "Got it."

"What?"

"Underwear," the girl said.

Tang Keke scratched her head. "Uh… that might not be appropriate?"

Though the price was about right.

"No, Yu You, it’s better to get something matching—something you can have too." Tang Keke tried to explain, gesturing as if unsure whether the other girl would understand.

"Oh… I see."

"So?"

Bai Yuyou nodded. "I can also buy underwear…"

"That’s not the issue!"

Tang Keke pondered before finally saying, "Tomorrow’s the weekend. I’ll take you to a gift shop."

"Gift shop."

"Yep! Let’s go." Tang Keke grabbed Bai Yuyou’s hand, and the two left the restaurant—where Ye Shuang was waiting outside.

After recovering from his fever, Ye Shuang had bounced back quickly. Thanks to his recent studies in medicine, he knew a thing or two about recuperation.

Aside from the male coworker who’d tried hitting on them earlier, the girls’ part-time jobs had gone smoothly, with no major issues.

This might’ve had something to do with the rumors circulating at the restaurant—that the two girls were wealthy young ladies slumming it for fun. Even the manager had gone easier on them.

"Last day—any reflections?" Ye Shuang asked as Tang Keke and Bai Yuyou jogged over.

"Working is really hard."

"Money isn’t easy to earn." The two answered one after the other. Ye Shuang chuckled. He hadn’t expected any profound realizations—this was enough.

Bai Yuyou had never had a clear concept of money before. Now that she’d experienced its value, Ye Shuang felt comfortable returning all the funds he’d been holding for her.

"Let’s go eat something to celebrate," he said.

"What should we have?"

"How about eating at the restaurant you worked at?"

"No way, that’d be so awkward!" Tang Keke shook her head vigorously before turning to Bai Yuyou. "Right, Yu You? It’d be weird."

Bai Yuyou tilted her head. "But… I’m curious about the snacks."

"Wait, seriously?"