Xiao Yu didn't reply, just shrugged as if to say, believe it or not.
Xu Nuo mimicked his shrug, thought for a moment, then asked, "You said you have a black belt, but to be a coach, you need a certificate. Do you have one?"
"No." He had only learned it for fun, never thinking he'd need it to make money.
"Then come assist me. This is my place; I make the rules." Xu Nuo didn't hesitate. She patted her chest, proud, her smile almost reaching her ears.
Xiao Yu turned around, pulled up a chair, and sat down. Making himself at home, he poured a cup of tea and took a sip. "Don't you want to ask me anything? What kind of interview is this?"
Xu Nuo put her hands on her hips and walked over. "Hey, hiring you directly means I trust you. Are you not happy? You need money; getting a certificate takes at least a month. I'm letting you start early—I'm saving you from a crisis, get it?"
The tea was a bit hot, warming his stomach like a ball of fire. Xiao Yu didn't argue. He nodded along. "Got it. Thank you."
Xu Nuo finally smiled.
As they talked further, he learned that Xu Nuo had stopped studying after high school. She had loved taekwondo since she was a child, so she started her own business and opened this gym. Her family initially disagreed, thinking the money would go down the drain, but she proved them wrong. The business had been doing well since opening, so she bet right.
She even tried to get Xiao Yu to join as a partner.
Xiao Yu didn't want that. To him, this was just a hobby. He quickly refused. "I'm only a freshman. I have to study."
"I wouldn't give this opportunity to just anyone," Xu Nuo said with a click of her tongue. After talking so much, she was getting thirsty. Seeing Xiao Yu drinking one sip after another, she lifted her chin and said indignantly, "What kind of employee are you? You don't even pour your boss a glass of water? So clueless."
"You didn't say you wanted any," Xiao Yu said, raising an eyebrow. He pulled out a disposable cup and poured her one.
Reluctantly, as if it were her fault.
"Ah, you really don't know how to work the room."
"I'm not a woman."
Xu Nuo laughed, holding her belly. She found this guy interesting. He was handsome and could tell jokes. She was only two years older, and they were around the same age. It had been a while since she'd met someone she liked, and she thought she should go for it.
She leaned closer, arms crossed. The distance had been fine before; she knew he was wearing perfume, but it wasn't overpowering. Now the scent filled his nostrils. He frowned and instinctively leaned back.
For some reason, in that moment, he suddenly thought of Ye Qingli. Her clothes always had a faint floral scent; she never wore perfume. It made him feel comfortable, made him want to get closer.
But Xu Nuo didn't know that. She paused. "What, am I a plague?"
"No, just want to lean back comfortably." Xiao Yu cleared his throat, turned, and grabbed a cushion from the chair next to him, stuffing it behind his back. It was a perfectly normal gesture, but Xu Nuo propped her chin on her hand and looked at him meaningfully.
"Your back's not good?"
"..." They were no longer kids, and guys were even dirtier-minded than girls. Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes. His legs, which had been apart, crossed into a lazy, domineering pose. Xu Nuo felt a chill under his gaze and heard him say,
"Talk about something else."
Whether it's good or not is none of your business.
"I was just joking, hahaha!" Xu Nuo stood up and went to the front desk to get the onboarding form. As she passed Xiao Yu, she playfully punched him, like a kitten acting coy. Xiao Yu looked down at the dent in his clothes, his forehead covered by stray hair.
Xu Yan happened to be dragging Ye Qingli past the storefront. She had heard about a new dessert shop nearby that was amazing, but they had searched for a while without finding it. As Ye Qingli looked around, she turned back and coincidentally caught that scene.
"I said we couldn't find it—the dessert shop's up in the sky! How were we supposed to find it?" It wasn't as exaggerated as she said; it was just on the second floor, but they hadn't noticed. Xu Yan tugged Ye Qingli's sleeve, and when she didn't respond, followed her gaze.
From her perspective, Xiao Yu was bent over writing something. A tall, slender woman stood nearby. Her skin was fair, her figure great, and her long, silky hair reached past her waist. As she leaned forward, a nice curve was visible for a second before her hair covered it.
She had a bright, striking aura—the same type as Zhou Nannan. They were so close, and the woman occasionally twitched her lips.
"Is Xiao Yu... dating?"
In a corner no one noticed, Ye Qingli tightly gripped the hem of her pants. After a long moment, a sharp pain pierced her heart, making it hard to breathe.
Yeah, he's been single for so long. And she's exactly his type.
Don't be sad. You should be grateful.
Ye Qingli silently told herself.