The moment food was mentioned, Si Qing's eyes lit up.
Seeing Si Qing accidentally reveal her inner foodie, Jiang Cheng said calmly, "It really is good, the price is reasonable, excellent value for money."
The offer appealed not only to Si Qing but even more to Ye Wan, whose finances were tight.
Her daily food budget was two steamed buns for breakfast—just one yuan. Lunch was either a six-yuan bowl of noodles or one-yuan white rice with a two-yuan side dish; dinner was the same.
That kept the day's meals under ten yuan; only when her part-time wages came in would she occasionally reward herself with a meat dish.
So each month her food expenses were about three hundred yuan.
If she worked here, she could save that three hundred and receive double the amount in food allowance.
And that allowance would cover two whole months of meals.
Reading the note in parentheses, Ye Wan asked uncertainly, "Manager, what does 'must be used within the calendar month' mean? Will… it be taken back?"
Yang Fan slowly shook his head and explained patiently, "No, we won't reclaim the money. The rule is simply this: if you don't spend the full six hundred this month, next month you forfeit the benefit. Spend every yuan within the month and the same six-hundred-yuan allowance renews the following month."
After hearing this, not just Ye Wan but even the quietly listening Si Qing felt dazed.
They had never encountered such an odd condition.
Since when did a gift come with a forced-spending clause?
It looked as though the company was terrified someone might get a meal card and not use it.
"Ah! Must I really finish it all this month? That's… quite a lot; I don't think I can," Ye Wan said, brows knitted in distress.
Yet Yang Fan answered with perfect seriousness.
"We did the math: six hundred yuan breaks down to twenty yuan a day, a perfectly reasonable amount. As company staff, part-timers should eat their fill; only then will they have energy to work."
The moment these words left his mouth, Ye Wan and Si Qing found them hard to believe.
Even Yang Fan himself felt he was spouting nonsense.
Still, since Jiang Cheng had demanded it, he could only soldier on.
Seeing Ye Wan's troubled face, Jiang Cheng knew he had set the right condition.
Without that restriction,
even if the company topped up her meal card every month,
given Ye Wan's thrifty habits she would probably let the money pile up unused.
Then the whole point of getting her to eat properly would be lost.
In sharp contrast, Si Qing, standing nearby, suddenly seemed to grasp something after Yang Fan's explanation.
Especially when he recommended it to Ye Wan in a deliberately lowered voice, as if he wanted only the four of them to hear.
Clearly he didn't wish more people to know.
Si Qing's eyes flicked quickly toward Ye Wan and Jiang Cheng.
At first glance she had thought Ye Wan plain,
but now, studying her closely, she found Ye Wan surprisingly attractive.
Her features held a unique, refreshing grace.
Those slightly timid eyes were like a spring of clear water.
The only flaws were her rough, darkish skin and overly thin frame.
Si Qing decided to observe for a while and sipped her milk tea in silence.
She even took a photo of the cup and sent it to Si Nian.
Si Nian replied almost instantly.
Si Nian: "I want one too, less sugar no ice, thanks."
Si Qing: "??? Send the nine yuan first, thanks."
Si Nian: "Next time you skip class, even if you pay me I won't cover for you…"
Si Qing: …You win.
Si Nian: Hehe, easy leverage.
Si Qing: "…Your Tycoon picked up the tab. I'm drinking here; asking for another cup would be awkward."
Si Nian: "??? Jiang Cheng??"
Si Qing: "Yep. Ran into the big shot with a female classmate; looks like he's selling her a job—suspicious behavior."
While Si Qing was chatting, Yang Fan continued, "On top of the meal subsidy, the hourly wage has also gone up…"
Noticing his sudden warmth toward her,
Ye Wan couldn't help glancing at Jiang Cheng.
She wasn't stupid; during her previous stint here there had been no such perks.
With several universities nearby, part-time students were plentiful.
Even without these benefits the shop could easily find staff.
She suspected Jiang Cheng was behind it.
Though reluctant to owe him, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
When she stayed silent, Jiang Cheng asked, "No free time, or is something wrong?"
Startled, Ye Wan waved her hands hastily.
"No… no, it sounds great."
Used to her quietness, Jiang Cheng said, "Then take the part-time job?"
She nodded silently.
Inside, she longed to thank Jiang Cheng again,
but the words stuck in her throat, impossible to voice.
She was deeply moved by his help,
yet felt mostly shame and loss,
because she knew a chasm separated her from Jiang Cheng—one she could never cross no matter how hard she tried.
Even her best effort would never reach him.
The thought tormented her.
She had never liked anyone before, yet now she harbored an unrealistic hope toward Jiang Cheng.
At the same time she understood someone in her position should focus on studying and saving money, not on illusory love.
Ye Wan: favorability value +10!
Jiang Cheng wasn't surprised by the ten-point rise.
Even with the increase, her score was only sixty-five—
still within the range of an ordinary classmate.
He could sense Ye Wan's inner struggle, but he didn't care.
His help came from simple reluctance to see her suffer, not from any ulterior motive.
Whatever the future held, that was his honest feeling at the moment.
Relieved that Ye Wan had agreed—this was the first task his boss had ever given him—Yang Fan asked, "When are you free? I'll schedule you."
Glancing at the busy shop, Ye Wan said, "I… have nothing now. Do you need help today?"
At thirty yuan an hour, the wage was very attractive.
Yang Fan looked toward Jiang Cheng,
uncertain whether he should keep Ye Wan now.
If he agreed and ended up hijacking their date, what then?
He found it unlikely,
because compared with Ye Wan, Si Qing, who had come with Jiang Cheng, was a certified beauty.
Most men would choose Si Qing.
After Jiang Cheng gave a slight nod, Yang Fan said at once, "Sure, we're swamped right now. Clock in and you can start immediately."