Future Pet Shop

Chapter 229: Rich and Willful

As Shen Yibin got closer, he realized something was off. While he didn’t know much about luxury goods, he still recognized logos like Louis Vuitton and Hermès. ’Showing up in clothes from brands like these for a pet store clerk position? Seriously, are you so bored at home you decided to come mess with me?’

"It’s fine, I haven’t been here long. Why are you just standing there? Let’s talk sitting down." The woman in stockings had no intention of getting up. She remained seated with her legs crossed, gesturing with her chin toward the sofa opposite her.

"Alright." ’Why does this feel so awkward? Who’s interviewing who here? How did you end up acting like you’re the boss?’ Shen Yibin sat down, suddenly at a loss for words.

"My name is Xia Shixuan. Are you the owner of this shop?" From the very start, it seemed the woman had subconsciously taken control of the conversation. Her chin was tilted slightly up as she glanced at Shen Yibin out of the corner of her eye.

"Yes, I’m Shen Yibin. I own the shop. Are you really here for an interview?" Shen Yibin struggled to wrest back control of the conversation, finally managing to squeeze in a question of his own.

"Why? Don’t I look the part?" Xia Shixuan uncrossed her legs and glanced at her own outfit, seeing nothing wrong with it.

"A month’s salary here probably isn’t enough for you to buy a single one of your scarves. Please tell me you’re not just here for a laugh." Shen Yibin pointed at her clothes. "That whole outfit has to be at least six figures. Why on earth would you come work for me?"

"Oh, you mean these." It dawned on Xia Shixuan. She muttered under her breath, "I even picked out some of my plainer clothes for this interview. How did it still cause a problem?"

PFFT! Shen Yibin nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood. ’You’re not that different from Sylvie! But at least Sylvie doesn’t dress like that at the shop! If this is what you call "plain," then I really don’t know what "luxurious" is. Do you normally wear custom-designed haute couture?’

"Miss Xia, you see, our shop is really too small. We can’t possibly accommodate someone of your stature..." Shen Yibin said with a forced, polite smile, hoping to persuade her to leave. Inwardly, however, he was cursing Xu Ye to hell and back. ’Damn it, couldn’t you have picked a few normal people? How can a little shop like ours afford a rich young lady like her?’

"It’s fine. I just saw your shop online and thought it seemed interesting, so I wanted to give it a try." Xia Shixuan didn’t seem to catch the subtext of his words. "Sigh, I just got back from a trip to Bergen, and it’s so boring staying at home. I just want to find something to kill some time. C’mon, Boss, just hire me."

Xia Shixuan’s last sentence was coquettish, and she drew out the final syllable. It sent a tingle down Shen Yibin’s spine. ’Whoa, her voice alone is that enchanting. And with that body, those long legs... she’s a natural-born siren. Any guy who becomes her boyfriend would probably be sucked dry in a matter of days, with nothing left but a husk.’

"Miss Xia, I’m really sorry, but..." Shen Yibin struggled to turn her down again. ’If I let her stay, will customers come to see the pets or to see her?’

"Didn’t Xu Ye say you were easygoing? Why are you being so stubborn?" Xia Shixuan grumbled, then took out her phone and made a call. After a few words, she handed the phone to Shen Yibin. "Here, Xu Ye wants to talk to you."

"Oh, excuse me." Shen Yibin took the phone and walked into the storage room. "Hey, what the hell is going on? I asked you to help me find employees, so why did you send a pampered princess my way? Is she someone my little shop can afford?"

"Calm down, calm down." Xu Ye’s tone was perfectly calm. "She’s from a family that mine has been friends with for generations. I’m negotiating a business deal with her family right now, so I really couldn’t refuse this small request. Just do me a favor and put up with her for a few days. Once she gets bored of it, she’ll quit on her own."

’What do you mean, "gets bored of it?" That sounds so wrong!’ Before Shen Yibin could ask, Xu Ye continued, "Actually, Shi Xuan is pretty easy to get along with. She doesn’t have that typical ’rich kid’ temper. She just hasn’t worked a day since graduation, got bored of traveling the world, and is feeling a little restless. A while ago, she heard me mention your shop and got interested. She just wants to kill some time there, that’s all. Don’t feel too much pressure, okay?"

’I used to think stories about rich, beautiful heiresses working as internet cafe attendants were just nonsense. I never expected a similar rich girl would show up wanting to be a clerk at my store. You rich people really do whatever you want!’ Shen Yibin was speechless. But he couldn’t just ignore his connection to Xu Ye, so he hung up and went back to the sofa.

"Um, so, do you know anything about pets?" ’Might as well follow the standard interview procedure,’ he thought. ’If she isn’t qualified, at least I’ll have a valid reason to give Xu Ye.’

"At home, we have two poodles, three British Shorthairs, two ferrets, four Longmao... Oh, and I also have two thoroughbred horses. Do they count as pets?" Xia Shixuan asked, seriously counting on her fingers. "I often help take care of them, so I’d say I’m pretty familiar with them."

’Great. The pets you keep at home are already way fancier than what I have in my store right now. What can I even say to that?’ He asked a few more questions about pet care, and Xia Shixuan answered them all fluently. Her performance was much better than Li Shiqing’s or Gao Shu’s had been. Shen Yibin was out of excuses. "Alright, then. If you want to, you can stay. Just let me know in advance when you get tired of it."

"Also..." Shen Yibin glanced at her clothes again. "If you’re going to work here, these clothes don’t seem very appropriate. Maybe you could..."

"No problem! I’ll go buy new clothes right now. Boss, just tell me what to wear and I’ll wear it!" Xia Shixuan said, immediately standing up.

’If it were up to me...’ ’Nope, better not go there,’ he thought, shaking his head. Shen Yibin called Sylvie over. "Why don’t you go with Sylvie to pick something out? Here, take my car keys." ’Look at her,’ he thought, ’Sylvie is a real princess, and she still wears clothes that cost, like, twenty bucks to work. I’ll let her help pick something out.’

"No need, I drove." As she spoke, Xia Shixuan pulled a key fob from her purse and pressed a button. Outside, the doors of a gleaming Maserati unlocked.

Shen Yibin just stood there, dazed. He didn’t snap out of it until after Xia Shixuan and Sylvie had gotten into the car and disappeared around the corner. ’Damn it, what is my life even?’

Fortunately, the next few girls he interviewed were relatively normal, though they were somewhat lacking in professional skills or personality. That is, until a young woman named Xie Nannan appeared.

"My name is Xie Nannan. I’m twenty-four years old. I used to run a pet store in another city, and I’ve come here hoping to learn from you." She introduced herself with confidence and poise.