32. Zhizhen
Gabriel looked like a well-bred young lady. That she could sing and dance wasn't particularly strange.
But they were here to find a job, and artistic talents alone wouldn't suffice.
Still, ng Lian didn't say anything discouraging. She checked the ti and found it was still early, so she took Gabriel from shop to shop, trying each one.
There were quite a few stores looking for help, but they all required specific skills. So after a whole morning, the two of them had made no progress.
This was the last one.
ng Lian brought Gabriel to a textile shop. She glanced at the na: Zhizhen Textile Shop, then led Gabriel inside.
"Welco to Zhizhen Textile Shop! Whether you need custom gowns, wedding dresses, or everyday attire, we take all orders. It's the start of the school term, so place your order now and enjoy twenty percent off ow~"
There was no one in the small shop, only a black cat that could speak human language.
Seeing custors enter, the black cat's carpet rose into the air and flew directly in front of ng Lian, reciting the lines with practiced ease.
A talking cat? Was it the owner's pet?
"Ahem, we're not here to order clothes. We're here to look for work. Are you hiring? Where is your owner?"
"What owner ow! I am the owner here ow!"
For so reason, the previously languid black cat bristled at the word "owner."
"Moxiang, the little Junior Sister didn't an it. Don't get so worked up."
Just as ng Lian stood there at a loss, a girl walked out from the back of the shop. She had cherry blossom pink hair that faded to black at the tips.
The girl scooped the black cat into her arms and stroked her affectionately. Only then did the cat settle down.
"Hello, I'm Zhizhen, the owner here. This is my girlfriend, Moxiang. She was hit by a witch's curse during the Academy Competition and turned into a black cat."
"Huh? I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry! I didn't know!"
Hearing that the black cat was actually a victim of a curse, ng Lian hurriedly apologized.
"It's fine. Moxiang doesn't mind, do you, Moxiang?"
Zhizhen scratched the black cat's chin with her finger. The black cat let out a comfortable purr.
"ow~"
"By the way, you said you were here to find work? Are you looking for part-ti jobs?"
Zhizhen looked at ng Lian and Gabriel. Her gaze lingered appreciatively on ng Lian for a mont before shifting to Gabriel.
"That's right. Does your shop need any help?" ng Lian asked.
"Well, I do need a model and a seamstress apprentice. Do either of you know how to sew?"
"Model?" Gabriel's eyes lit up. She had so confidence in her appearance.
"Let be frank. The model position involves wearing clothes I design and showing them off to custors. The seamstress apprentice involves learning to sew and make clothes from scratch."
Zhizhen explained the requirents for both positions.
ng Lian noticed Gabriel's eager expression and couldn't help but feel happy for her friend.
"Gabriel, do you want to try for the model position?"
"Yes!" Gabriel nodded vigorously.
"Hold on." Zhizhen suddenly spoke up, her eyes fixed on ng Lian. "Little Junior Sister, have you considered becoming a model yourself? With your figure, you'd be perfect for showcasing all kinds of outfits."
ng Lian was montarily tempted by the offer. After all, she did need credits.
But she quickly shook her head. "Sorry, Senior Sister. I'm not really interested in modeling."
Zhizhen sighed with genuine regret. "What a sha. Well, I won't force you."
She turned back to Gabriel. "Since you want to be a model, let see how you move. Walk a few steps for ."
Gabriel nervously walked back and forth across the shop floor. Zhizhen observed her carefully, nodding occasionally.
"Not bad. Your posture is elegant, and you carry yourself well. The job is yours if you want it."
"Really? Thank you so much!" Gabriel exclaid, her face lighting up with joy.
ng Lian felt relieved. After a whole morning of searching, Gabriel had finally found sothing.
Zhizhen glanced at ng Lian again, a hint of amusent in her eyes.
"Little Junior Sister, are you sure you don't want to reconsider? I pay very well."
ng Lian shook her head firmly. She had no intention of becoming a model. Her schedule was already complicated enough with her undercover work and her plans to join the Student Council.
Besides, she had a feeling that Zhizhen had other motives for being so persistent.
ng Lian glanced at Gabriel. "So, do you want to be a model or a seamstress?"
"Model, I think."
Gabriel thought about it and realized that aside from wearing clothes, she didn't really know how to do anything else. Being a seamstress sounded like skilled work. She could barely thread a needle, let alone sew clothes.
Fortunately, she had been treated like a dress-up doll by her older sister since childhood, so she had plenty of experience in how to wear clothes to showcase their best features.
"Since you've decided, sign this contract."
Zhizhen didn't waste any ti. She snapped her fingers, and a parchnt covered in dense golden text appeared before Gabriel, with a quill floating beside it.
"This is a one-year contract. Your job is to try on the new clothes I make. Work hours are five to ten in the evening, right after your classes end. On Saturdays, you'll work from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon. Sundays are off. Monthly salary is three thousand credits. If you have no objections, just sign your na."
Wow, that generous?
Hearing those terms, even ng Lian felt tempted for a mont, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
Working for soone else? Impossible. Not in this lifeti.
She'd rather just live on the academy's monthly allowance.
Besides, ng Lian rembered that class officers received monthly benefits. As Class Monitor, she would get five hundred credits per month. Added together, that ant she'd have twenty-five hundred credits each month, enough to live quite comfortably.
"I have no problem with that. Thank you, Shop Manager."
Gabriel knew this job was sothing many people dread of. She didn't hesitate and signed her na imdiately.
"But... Shop Manager, can I get an advance on two months' wages? I want to..."
Gabriel had taken out a loan of four thousand credits at five percent daily interest. She borrowed it on the second day, and today was the fifth day. If she paid it back today, she would owe a total of forty-six hundred credits for just three days. If she didn't pay it off today, the compound interest would turn her debt into an astronomical figure.
"You want to pay off a loan? No problem. I've been there myself. I understand."
Zhizhen agreed readily.
She glanced at ng Lian. After all, not everyone was like her, able to successfully undergo Witch Transformation just by holding the Shadow of the Mirage Dragon.
In reality, there were many thods to undergo Witch Transformation besides the witch potion. For example, the illusion path had the Shadow of the Mirage Dragon. Or sword practitioners, if they had sword talent, could find a magical sword and resonate with it to naturally undergo Witch Transformation.
However, all these thods required a certain level of talent. In comparison, the witch potion was direct and simple.
Zhizhen rembered when she first enrolled. She had taken out a loan of eight thousand credits and almost ended up working at the Witch House. Fortunately, she t Moxiang, who beca her patron, and she avoided that fate.
"Thank you, thank you so much!"
Zhizhen didn't drag her feet. She directly transferred six thousand credits to Gabriel. Seeing this, the weight in Gabriel's heart finally lifted.
After discussing so details with Zhizhen, ng Lian and Gabriel left the shop.
At that mont, Gabriel could no longer contain her excitent. She threw her arms around ng Lian.
"ng Lian, thank you! I finally found a job!"
ng Lian was one ter seventy-three tall, and Gabriel was about one ter sixty-eight. The height difference was small. For a mont, their Big Sisters pressed together, the soft sensation making both of them blush.
"Ah, sorry. I got too excited."
Gabriel realized her behavior was a bit too forward and hurriedly let go.
"It's fine, it's fine."
ng Lian said the words, but in her heart, she wished it could happen again.
That kind of intimate contact really was quite nice.
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