"No." Mou Gu smiled at him. "I don't want to hire you, that'll change our relationship as former classmates, you know? I'll start treating you differently, even unconsciously as I give you your paycheck I don't want that to happen, so no. I won't hire you."

This guy… Han Jing sighed and sipped some of the hot broth. "I'll borrow from you next time then." He had to cross this one out as an option. Seriously, he didn't mind bootlicking if necessary, but it seemed that it wouldn't work with this guy. "You see, I only wanted to start taking my life more seriously, thankfully there's not much of a need to loan money right now." He explained to his old friend as they began to eat.

"Well, I'm always here—well, not always. Sometimes I have to close the shop to finish my gigs, but when you see it open, I can definitely treat you to a meal every once in a while." Mou Gu offered to him with a small grin, "If you suddenly became successful, I'm sure you'll remember me!"

"... I mean, I'm not really sure if I would."

"Hey!"

Their time together was pleasant as they ate their lunch and chatted idly about their days in university. And so, when they finished eating their lunch, Han Jing offered to help wash up the dishes but the man simply insisted that it was unnecessary.

"I wouldn't let a guest wash their plate, it's fine. Are you sure you don't want to loan anything?" Mou Gu asked him.

"I'm good."

"Okay~"

The two of them stared at each for a good minute.

"...Uh, actually could you spare me enough cash for a bus trip from here to the business district and back?" Han Jing scratched his head.

"Pfft… alright, this one is on me." Mou Gu took out some bills from his wallet, "Who are you visiting?"

"A certain senior who might accept me to work for them…"

"You had other options than me? I'm terribly hurt." Mou Gu clutched his chest dramatically.

Han Jing stared at the man, narrowing their eyes at him. He mustered his best stony expression. "If you had said yes the first time or even now, I wouldn't even bother going to her."

"It's a she? My, my… Han Jing, you're finally stepping up your game~" Mou Gu chuckled and elbowed him in the side.

Han Jing clutched his ribcage, the man's arm muscles seemed to develop thanks to cooking. "I'm not into older women, Mou Gu."

"So you like younger girls?"

"Yes—I mean no. Someone around our age." Han Jing narrowed his eyes at the man.

"Psh. Nobody in our age group notices you, you either need a doting older woman or an adoring younger one." Mou Gu tapped his cheek thoughtfully. "Or maybe you could try with guys, maybe your chances would be better."

Mou Gu gave him an unnerving grin.

"No thank you, I'm looking for work and not a relationship." Han Jing began to evacuate from the kitchen, "Having a girlfriend means I have to spend money you know? Buy her gifts, take her out on dates..."

"If you had a boyfriend, they could be the one who'd spend their money on you, Han Jing~"

Before he escaped the Gu's family diner, he heard Mou Gu break into laughter as he retreated. That damn dude was too playful, even for someone as carefree and impartial like him!

.

.

.

And so he went to the business district via the bus. It was all thanks to the generosity of other people. He probably shouldn't have used up all of his money by buying snacks and then giving the rest of it to his mother.

But at last he arrived.

When he was younger, he had dreamed of working here. Clad in business suits and power walking his way to a corporation X and making the big sum. As he grew older and finished his university years—he realized that he would like to work remotely and in his most comfortable clothing at that.

But soon he saw the establishment in the distance, one of the better businesses not only compared to Mou Gu's but also in general.

It was a prestigious tradition, passed on from ages to ages—tea shops.

In perhaps a millenia ago, a tea leaf fell onto boiling hot water and started the concept of brewing leaves and drinking boiled tea leaf water. Kidding aside, drinking tea was ingrained and a culture established here.

The 'Heavenly Jade Pavillion' was one of the longest established tea shops in the entire city and perhaps across the country.

Han Jing made his way towards the pagoda-like structure, until he was stopped at the door. "Do you have a reservation?" One of the girls that were standing outside the entrance gave him a blank stare.

Han Jing once again felt the familiar shudder that rolled down his spine whenever girls looked at him. "Er… I'm here to meet up with Senior Bo Lifen. I'm a colleague of hers."

"We don't accept peddlers and bystanders. Shoo." The young woman's face barely shifted at his words.

"Seriously! I know her!" How could a young woman crush his ego like this—a peddler really? He took a deep breath and flashed her a smile. "Actually, why don't you just find her right now and tell them that a Han Jing is waiting for them—you'll see."

"No."

"Why not?" He tried not to smack a hand over his face.

"She's busy. Go."

The other female attendant close to her whispered into her ear, the young woman who he was dealing with made a face but sighed. She looked into his direction, "I'll be right back, if you don't actually have an appointment with Elder Sister Bo Lifen, I'll throw you out and make sure you never come back again."

She reminded him of those cold but violent beauties that he'd read in light novels and web novels.

"Sure, thanks." Han Jing did not have a thing for girls like them.

"An Jin was it?" The girl asked as she began to leave.

"Han Jing!" He corrected her.

"Nan Jig?"

"Han Jing."

Was this girl actually having troubles with hearing or was she messing with him? Watching the girl retreat into the tea shop, he sighed a bit. The other young woman attendant who was left simply gave him an apologetic smile, "...she's new."

As if that actually said anything about the girl's rough personality. Han Jing sighed as he recalled the girl that he met in the apartment, at least she was kind, soft and shy. Even though she kept referring to him as a big brother.

It only took a couple of minutes before the young woman returned with a slightly sulky expression, "Let me lead you into one of our tea rooms, Elder Sister Bo Lifen will meet with you there."

She gave him one of the most narrowed eye expressions before turning back, "Follow me." What a quick change in personality.

It really didn't take awhile as he passed through clean and ambient corridors before he was ushered into one of the available rooms. He could hear the soft sound of instruments playing in the background.

And there he met her once again.

She was kneeling in front of a low table, a tea set was laid out before her. She was pouring the contents of a tea kettle gracefully into a cup—the charm of a lady.

When she wasn't exactly wearing a uniform or her boyish outfits from the university, Bo Lifen actually looked quite womanly. And her very womanly form was accentuated thanks to her attire. He glanced back at the girl standing beside him, now he noticed it, everyone around him was donning the traditional attire of cheongsam and other similar robes.

They really were quite a professional group here… would he have to wear such clothes too?!

"I've brought Ha Jie." The young woman bowed low beside him.

Han Jing blinked and inwardly sighed but didn't say anything else. He had gotten used to it rather quickly—it was still something that she bothered trying to grasp with the name.

"Ah, thank you Ning Bi, you may go." Bo Lifen gave the young woman a small but firm nod. With another bow, the young woman quickly stepped out of the room, although leaving her another one of the glares.

Perhaps it meant 'I'm watching you.' or 'You dirt.' it could also be 'Why are you even here? Why is my boss tolerating someone like you?!'—Han Jing really didn't know, he was guessing but had the feeling that it was along those lines.

When the door behind was shut for privacy, Bo Lifen seamlessly pulled herself up from her kneeling position on the floor. "And what's a scrawny boy like you doing here? What do you want, Jing?"

The image of a womanly and feminine figure shattered almost immediately.

"And here I thought you finally changed." Han Jing grinned.