Chapter 75: If It Works, It Works. If It Doesn’t, It Doesn’t. What Does “Do Your Best” Even Mean?
She really has such a beautiful smile!
Classmate Baiyi is great in so many ways, but one thing that’s not so great. She never gives others a chance to show themselves.
He had no idea how to make the girl in front of him happy.
Xia Changyu couldn’t help but ask himself, ‘why am I so clueless?’
Thinking back on his past with girls:
In kindergarten, he got along well with an older girl.
During the nine years of school, boys and girls were usually separated, so like most boys, he treated girls like something dangerous.
In first year of high school, he had a secret crush on someone.
In second year, after changing classes, he secretly liked someone else.
After the college entrance exam, that crush also ended.
This wasn’t just Xia Changyu’s story. Probably a lot of guys went through something similar, right?
Three years of college life.
His only relationship was with Gu Xiaoxue, who chased after him.
And the result? Everyone saw how that turned out.
Taking something too easily never ends well…
Ahem. Xia Changyu meant to say: Every gift from fate already has its price written in secret.
…………………………………………
They walked together until they reached a fork in the road.
It was time to part ways.
Lin Yibai said goodbye. “This is far enough! If you go any further, you’ll miss your dorm building.”
The road didn’t seem to lead to the girls’ dorm, but Xia Changyu didn’t ask.
After all, they were university students now. If someone has the money, renting a place off-campus is totally normal.
There’s no need to ask too much about things you shouldn’t ask.
Besides, instead of worrying about where Lin Yibai lived, Xia Changyu cared more about something else.
“What about tomorrow? Um… I mean, do you have any plans for tomorrow?”
He had already started guessing.
Going out? Shopping?
Maybe a movie?
You couldn’t really blame him for thinking that way. Gu Xiaoxue and her weird dormmates had left him with that kind of impression.
But she replied simply, “Going to my part-time job!”
Xia Changyu was surprised and asked, “You’re really going out to work a part-time job in this hot weather?”
So he does know how hot it is!
Just hearing this made Lin Yibai feel happy inside. She almost wanted to throw her head back and laugh out loud, then point her finger and say something like,
‘In this kind of heat, doing exhausting part-time jobs outside is something for you boys to worry about. What’s that got to do with me, now that I’m a girl?’
Hard labor like that is for you guys. It has nothing to do with someone like me.
Of course, she just enjoyed that thought quietly in her mind.
But she couldn’t help smiling as she said, “It’s not outdoor work. It’s in the Xiyu District of Fucheng. I'll be working as a customer service agent for an online store. 160 yuan per day, and it comes with one meal. Hehe~”
After subtracting the cost of the hotel…
She’d still make a clean profit of 70 yuan a day, so satisfying!
And the best part? It’s an indoor job, with air conditioning!
Isn’t that a hundred times better than working yourself to death under the sun, treated like a workhorse by your boss?
Xia Changyu was even more surprised.
So… just a simple part-time job like that could make her this happy?
Speaking of part-time jobs—
His eyes lit up, and he immediately said, “If it’s just part-time work anyway, and you’re already doing customer service, how about working for me instead?”
“Work for you?”
“Yeah, for me.”
“I can’t do that,” Lin Yibai quickly shook her head and said honestly, “My English is terrible. I nearly died taking the college English Level 4 test. You mainly do foreign trade, right? If I go work for you, I might ruin your business!”
Of course Lin Yibai liked relaxed and happy jobs, but she also understood her own limits. If she really wasn’t good at something, she wouldn’t pretend she could do it and mess things up for others.
She was an honest person who didn’t want to trick people or hurt others just for personal pleasure.
Work ability is like going on a honeymoon. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
So what does “try your best” even mean?
Xia Changyu said, “It’s not for foreign customers.”
Lin Yibai didn’t get it and asked, “You do foreign trade, right? If your business isn’t for foreign clients, then aren’t you doing something off-track?”
Xia Changyu: …
She made a good point. He couldn’t even argue with it.
But it wasn’t a big deal. Xia Changyu just smiled and replied, “Remember that exhibition where you helped me with promotions? A lot of people were asking about traditional Chinese-style porcelain. So I thought maybe I should also start doing business for the local market.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“But it seems like it didn’t matter whether I was there or not,” Lin Yibai shrugged, “It didn’t feel like I made much of a difference. So if it’s just a part-time job, why should I work for you?”
Besides, you’re my annoying love rival.
If I help you, wouldn’t that be helping the enemy?
She wasn’t about to dig a hole and jump into it herself.
Time to go.
“Good luck with your business,” she said as she waved goodbye and started walking across the street.
“Wait a second!” Xia Changyu didn’t want to give up yet. He called out, “If I remember right, part-time customer service jobs in Fucheng usually pay 150 to 200 yuan a day. If you come work for me, I’ll give you the highest rate. How about that?”
Lin Yibai: …
Ugh, how annoying! (〃>皿<)!
That guy actually wants to bribe me with money!
But I’m not the kind of person who treats money like trash…
She really wanted to say no, but the money he offered was too tempting.
If she worked for him…
She could make 110 yuan of pure profit every day.
Honestly, there’s no good reason to say no!
“…I’m just not sure I can do a good job with the tasks you give me,” Lin Yibai said after thinking for a moment. “So I think… it’s better if you find someone else who’s more skilled.”
She was clearly tempted. She actually wanted to go.
But since she had rejected him so quickly earlier, Lin Yibai still had her pride, okay?
She couldn’t just go because the pay was good.
If he asked her again and she said yes just like that, it would be so embarrassing!
Xia Changyu narrowed his eyes, as if he could read her mind, and said, “Here’s the thing. I only recently decided to start a local business. So it’s all still new, and we’re just exploring the idea.”
Lin Yibai asked, “Then why don’t you find someone experienced to help guide you? Having a pro on your team would make things a lot easier.”
“I wish,” Xia Changyu said with a bitter smile. “But they all charge way too much. Some want a share of the company even before we’ve gotten things started. One person brought a PowerPoint and started talking about profit-sharing. Others ask for super high daily rates, thousands of yuan a day, or just give me a huge flat price. I’m still talking to a few of them.”
“If they really bring results, I guess that price might be fair?” Lin Yibai replied.
“It’s just… the situation is kind of messy,” Xia Changyu said. “And I’m not sure what kind of people they really are.”
Then, after thinking for a second, he invited her again.
“If you agree to come, you can see the whole thing for yourself. You’ll understand what’s going on.”
So… should she say yes?
Emotionally, it felt a bit awkward to work part-time for him.
But logically, the pay was way better than most jobs, how could she say no?
After thinking for a moment, Lin Yibai decided not to overthink it and said, “Alright then. I’ll come to your place tomorrow?”
“I’ll be waiting for you in person.”
“OK!”
After going back to the hotel…
Lin Yibai opened the internet and started looking up info about porcelain. She was a practical person and said to herself.
“If I show up and know nothing at all, that would be so embarrassing.”
It wasn’t about saving face for her love rival.
It was about not losing face in front of her love rival.