C1 Beauty Boss

In Oklark, the ancient capital and the largest, most bustling international business hub in Bocriuqua, the streets were alive with a throng of people.

Lee Wen was eating an egg pancake, which cost four yuan, with the enthusiasm of someone chewing wax. Seated at the roadside amidst the roar of traffic, he gazed across the street at the patrons of upscale restaurants, their faces beaming with contentment. His own expression, however, slowly glazed over as he sank into contemplation.

Winter was approaching, and he was still jobless. He had sent out dozens of resumes recently, but to no avail. His lack of practical experience, a common plight for new graduates, meant that he hadn't heard back from a single employer.

"It looks like I'll have to take a job as a waiter at that restaurant across the street. At least I'd have food and a place to stay..." Lee Wen mused with a sigh. If it hadn't been for that incident at graduation, who would have imagined he'd end up waiting tables? Shaking off the thought, he finished his pancake, dusted off his pants, and made his way to the crosswalk, ready to cross the street.

Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Lee Wen's brow furrowed as he pulled out his phone and saw an unfamiliar number. He answered the call.

"Hello..."

"I'm not well," he interjected before the caller could finish, his tone laced with fatigue and sarcasm. "If you're from a loan or real estate company, please save your breath."

"Hehe, you seem quite down," a pleasant female voice responded from the other end. The sound of her voice conjured an image of a beautiful woman smiling sweetly at him over the phone. "This is Tingyu House. We came across your job application email this morning. Would you be interested in coming down to our place for a chat?"

"Tingyu House?" Lee Wen's memory was foggy from the sheer number of applications he had sent out. After a moment's thought, his face lit up with recognition. "Ah, I remember now! You're the Tingyu House in Antique City, right?"

"That's correct."

"Thank you so much! I'll be right there for the interview!" Having spent four years studying in Oklark, Lee Wen knew the city's transit system well. He ended the call and hurried to the nearby bus stop, where he was fortunate enough to catch a bus heading straight for Antique City.

Antique City spans a vast area, serving not only as the renowned cultural hub of Oklark but also holding an exceptional place within the antique circles of Bocriuqua. Many have made their fortunes through the antique trade, while others have lost everything, becoming hopelessly ensnared by their passion. The operations in Antique City range from the modest—a simple cloth laid on the ground displaying an array of oddities—to the more substantial businesses that rent shops to sell higher-end treasures. With hundreds of antique shops, Tingyu House stands out as one of the top five venerable establishments.

Lee Wen shifted his attention away from his phone, having just perused information about Antique City online. Now with a general understanding, he stepped off the bus as it arrived at Antique City and briskly made his way to Tingyu House. "233, 234..." Counting the shop numbers, he stopped at 234 and looked up to see an antique plaque with "Tingyu House" inscribed in bold, elegant script—a piece that looked quite valuable.

"This is the place! Wish me luck," Lee Wen murmured to himself, straightening his shirt and adopting a composed demeanor as he entered the shop. "Can I help you find something?" asked a middle-aged man with a pig-like nose, rising to greet him with feigned enthusiasm. "Hello, I'm here for the job interview..." "Oh... Upstairs," the man replied, his warmth dissipating instantly as he dismissed Lee Wen with a wave and turned away.

What a terrible attitude, Lee Wen thought to himself, his internal critique sharp as he took in the array of antiques filling the shop. He treaded lightly up to the second floor. The architecture of Tingyu House was predominantly crafted from costly wood, with the second floor exuding an air of refinement and sophistication more akin to an upscale teahouse than a shop.

As he was about to set foot on the second-floor landing, Lee Wen paused, finding himself unexpectedly rooted to the spot. Across from him, a shapely backside was prominently displayed, its allure accentuated by the snug gray uniform that enveloped it.

Her employer was kneeling on the spotless floor, rummaging for something beneath the cabinet. Every so often, he would shake his body slightly, oblivious to Lee Wen standing behind him. To Lee Wen, it seemed as though he was beckoning to him...

"Gulp..." A wave of heat and restlessness washed over Lee Wen as he fixated on the alluring figure before him. He swallowed hard, steadied his breath, and stepped onto the second-floor boards.

"Who are you?" The woman noticed him before Lee Wen could speak, quickly standing up and sizing him up with a hint of panic.

She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, tall, with her black hair swept up to reveal her pale, slender neck. Her face was a flawless oval, and her large eyes blinked curiously at Lee Wen.

Dressed in a high-quality professional suit, she exuded an air of simplicity and efficiency, with an underlying allure. At first glance, she struck Lee Wen as the epitome of breathtaking beauty.

Who wouldn't want to get close to such a stunning woman?

As the proverb goes, "Fortune favors the bold." He was determined to land this job!

The thought raced through Lee Wen's mind. Flustered, he blushed and stammered, "Boss, hello... I'm the one who applied for the job, the one you called just now."

"Oh, it's you! You got here quickly," Ye Tingyu said with a warm smile, extending her delicate hand. "I'm Ye Tingyu. It seems you're a couple of years younger than me based on your resume."

"I'm Lee Wen." He shook her hand, feeling a pleasant warmth that made his heart flutter.

"Don't just stand there, have a seat," she invited, gesturing to a chair. After Lee Wen sat down, Ye Tingyu fetched a cup of water from the dispenser.

Her demeanor was far from boss-like; she was approachable and down-to-earth. This made Lee Wen feel respected, prompting him to reciprocate and cast aside any inappropriate thoughts. He pulled out his graduation certificate from his pocket.

They spent the next while discussing the job details. Lee Wen would be an apprentice to the appraiser in the antique shop downstairs, with a starting salary of 3,000 yuan per month and a one-month probation period.

Lee Wen was thoroughly pleased with the arrangement. What excited him most was the knowledge that Ye Tingyu, the owner, would be in the antique shop nearly every day, which meant he'd get to see her daily!

Having settled on the terms, and with time to spare, Lee Wen began his new job at noon. "First, mop the floor, then use these cloths to dust the items. Be careful—if you break anything, you won't be able to afford it!" Gao Zheng, with his pig-like nostrils, handed Lee Wen a stack of cloths after hearing that Ye Tingyu had taken him on. Gao Zheng then lounged on the sofa, engrossed in his phone.

Lee Wen was willing to overlook not being trained properly, but he couldn't help feeling that Gao Zheng had it in for him. Was it possible that Gao Zheng was envious of Lee Wen's less-than-stellar looks?

That had to be it! Lee Wen reassured himself as he diligently mopped the floor and meticulously dusted each antique and jade piece. All the while, he couldn't stop wondering what the stunning boss, Ye Tingyu, was up to upstairs.

As Lee Wen was halfway through his cleaning, stretching on tiptoes to reach a vase on the top shelf, disaster struck. The vase came apart and plummeted towards his head!

"Damn it..." There was no time to dodge. The vase struck Lee Wen hard, seeing stars and bleeding from his head and fingers, he collapsed to the floor with a thud.