Trapped In Paradise
Volume 3 Chapter 33 / Chapter 538: A Job
"Wen Yang! Wen Yang!"
"I found a job!"
The very next day after deciding to take whatever work she could while continuing her job search, Ning Chu came home with good news.
She threw open the apartment door, planted both hands on her slim waist, and lifted her chin proudly, looking so smug that her nose practically pointed at the ceiling.
"The manager was super nice! The moment I finished the interview, she hired me on the spot! I officially start work tomorrow!"
Wen Yang, who had only just gotten home from work himself, froze for a moment before looking up in delight.
"Then let's go out and have something nice to celebrate."
"Huh? Is there really anything to celebrate?"
Ning Chu immediately lost some of her confidence, taking a hesitant step backward.
"I'm still on probation. What if I don't pass..."
"How about an all-you-can-eat buffet? It won't be too expensive. Mom asked last night if you'd lost weight. Eat a little more, or she'll break my legs when we go back."
"Last night?"
"You don't remember?"
Ning Chu vaguely recalled that there had indeed been a phone call the previous night.
At the time, though, she'd been far too distracted to pay attention. She'd instinctively covered her mouth, and before long her mind had completely wandered elsewhere.
Her expression changed.
"My mom didn't hear anything... did she?"
"No. And now you're embarrassed? Last night, while I was on the phone, you were practically pulling on me—"
"Stop! Stop talking!"
Unable to withstand the teasing, the thin-skinned Ning Chu covered her ears and hurriedly fled into the bathroom.
"I'm going to the bathroom! Then we'll go eat!"
Wen Yang chuckled and followed after her, only for the bathroom door to slam shut and lock.
Leaning against the wall outside, he asked through the door,
"So what's your schedule? What time do you start and finish? Do you get weekends off?"
"Nine to six. Weekend shifts rotate, but I still get eight days off every month."
"That's not bad. If the job makes you unhappy, just tell me. You don't have to put up with being treated badly."
"Why aren't you asking how much I make?"
Even in a city as expensive as Shanghai, customer service salaries weren't particularly high.
Still, Wen Yang played along.
"So... how much?"
"Five thousand a month after I pass probation! And if I keep writing my novel and earn my attendance bonus every month, that'll be six thousand!"
When Ning Chu came back out of the bathroom, she'd already returned to her smug, triumphant self.
Compared to others, the salary wasn't especially high.
But she was only a third-year college student doing a summer internship.
Her income would surely increase in the future.
"The manager also said that if I learn more from my coworkers whenever things are quiet, I could eventually transfer into operations. Apparently there's a lot of potential there~"
Wen Yang scratched his head.
"That kind of sounds like they're selling you a dream."
"People online say you can transfer into operations too!"
Ning Chu stopped halfway out of the bathroom, then backed right back inside.
"What are you doing now?"
"Putting on lipstick~ I'm going out to dinner with you."
She stood in front of two lipsticks for quite a while before finally choosing the one Lily had given her as a birthday present.
Apparently it was one of those shades people called a "guy killer."
She couldn't really tell the difference between lipstick colors anyway and knew almost nothing about makeup.
Standing at the doorway with his arms folded, Wen Yang made no move to hurry her.
Instead, he smiled as he watched the girl in the mirror carefully apply her lipstick and gently press her lips together.
He hated waiting.
But all of his patience belonged to Ning Chu.
Even if she decided to spend an entire day putting on makeup, he wouldn't mind.
"Should I change clothes too?"
She turned around to ask him.
"This outfit feels kind of old-fashioned."
To look more mature and dependable during interviews, she'd deliberately chosen a conservative dress, though her youthful baby face still made her look younger than she was.
"Sure. Want me to pick something?"
"Okay~ Just don't pick anything with a skirt that's too short."
"How about the sailor uniform?"
"I think I do have a sailor uniform..."
Ning Chu turned around, only to see Wen Yang pulling two tiny pieces of fabric out of a drawer.
She froze.
Then she lunged at him with bared teeth and claws.
"That's lingerie! You idiot!"
The top was so short it didn't even cover her waist.
The skirt was so short it barely covered her backside.
"Wait! I didn't look carefully!"
Wen Yang fled with his hands over his head.
Kicking off his shoes, he ran circles around the tiny apartment, weaving around the bed.
The room was far too small, however, and he couldn't avoid taking several indignant punches from Ning Chu.
Normally, this little succubus couldn't even open a bottle by herself.
But when it came to hitting people, she somehow had plenty of strength.
"Alright, alright, knock it off."
Taking advantage of his height, Wen Yang reached out and firmly pressed a hand on Ning Chu's head.
Ning Chu kept shouting and wildly swinging her fists, but she couldn't even come close to hitting him. Finally, she gave up with an exasperated huff.
"Let go! I need to change!"
"Quit fooling around."
"Like I want to fool around with you!"
She rolled her eyes at Wen Yang, clicked her tongue, then turned to open the wardrobe. Digging through the back, she found the sailor uniform she rarely wore.
Her temper flared up quickly and disappeared just as fast. Clutching the outfit, she ducked into the bathroom. As she changed, she asked worriedly,
"Wen Yang... what if I don't get along with my coworkers?"
The excitement she'd felt earlier had faded, and the anxiety of starting her very first job finally surfaced.
"When you first started your job, what did you do when your coworkers ignored you?"
"It was great if they ignored me. I just sat there playing on my phone."
Ning Chu let out a long sigh.
"I don't have skin as thick as yours~ I'd die of embarrassment if I just sat there playing on my phone while everyone else was running around working."
"Just remember to bring a power bank. You can play all day."
"..."
Wen Yang couldn't help but laugh, "Relax. Usually someone will show you the ropes. Besides, you're pretty. There'll definitely be male coworkers who'll talk to you. You won't be left out."
"Ugh~ I don't want to talk to men..."
Having once been a man herself, Ning Chu understood all too well what went through a man's mind when he saw a pretty girl.
She finished changing and stepped out of the bathroom. Holding the hem of her skirt, she spun around in front of Wen Yang.
"How do I look?"
Wen Yang stroked his chin, carefully sizing up the little succubus before him.
The sailor uniform gave Ning Chu an extra touch of youthful innocence. Combined with her baby-faced features, the feminine charm and soft, alluring grace in her expression blended into a unique aura that would make it far too easy for men to become captivated.
"How about... you change into something else?"
Ning Chu froze.
"It doesn't look good?"
"It's too good. I'm worried other guys will keep staring at you when you go out. It bothers me."
Her face immediately lit up with a delighted smile.
"Then I'll change into something else~ You're the one who insisted I wear the sailor uniform!"
"Oh, say... once I get my paycheck, should I buy something for my mom and Black Bean?"
"You haven't even started work yet—you already have your paycheck planned out?"
"True... What if I can't handle it and quit after just two days... Though... I probably won't, right?"
Even Ning Chu sounded unsure of herself. She had never been someone who handled hardship well. Whenever she ran into difficulties in the past, her first instinct had always been to avoid them.
"If you can't handle it, then just quit. I can still afford to support you for now."
"Who are you looking down on?!"
"???"
Wen Yang looked completely baffled.
"When did I ever..."
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Link for character illustration:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IxOucqi87ss3bmqfO9zI2gYiM1Gy8Hz2