Early the next morning, Stella Charlie went to the coffee shop for an interview, imdiately got her work uniform, and started working.
There weren’t many custors in the morning, and there were several sumr workers in the store like her, who had just graduated from high school. They chatted and began talking about college.
Seeing the longing in everyone’s eyes when they ntioned college, Stella Charlie quietly listened without speaking.
There is more than a month until school starts, and with the coffee shop’s salary, even if she didn’t eat or drink all month, she wouldn’t earn enough for tuition.
Moreover, she is currently facing the pressure of finding a place to live. Although Vincent Warner doesn’t seem to need that apartnt, she can’t shalessly live in soone else’s house indefinitely.
After work in the evening, Stella Charlie went nearby to look for a place. The rent for a slightly better environnt was two thousand a month at the minimum, and even a shared place cost over a thousand.
She has only about a thousand, borrowed from Vincent Warner.
For financial reasons, she ultimately rented an underground room with a rent of six hundred, which she could pay monthly.
The room is only a few square ters, with barely any space to move after putting down a single bed.
The room is dark, damp, and reeks of mildew; she can occasionally hear the sound of rats scurrying above the ceiling.
Stella Charlie wrapped herself tightly in her newly bought blanket and lay on the bed. Although the environnt was frustrating, at least she now had a place to securely land.
She believes everything will get better and better.
The following evening, a special guest arrived at the coffee shop.
After delivering the al from the second floor, Stella Charlie saw Vincent Warner sitting alone in a booth near the window, while two young girls working sumr jobs stood swooning and enthusiastically helping Vincent Warner order.
Stella Charlie wondered whether this shop was a place Vincent Warner frequented or if he appeared here for so other reason.
Vincent Warner looked up and saw her. After their gazes t, Stella Charlie’s first reaction wasn’t to greet him but instead quickly turned her face away and busied herself with other things.
The coffee shop was busier in the evening, so Stella Charlie was occupied and didn’t have the mind to overthink.
It wasn’t until she was about to finish her shift that she noticed Vincent Warner was still sitting there.
He had a laptop in front of him that looked like he was working on sothing; the few girls who had finished their shifts had gathered at the counter, gossiping about the handso guy all afternoon.
Stella Charlie quietly cleaned up the used dining tables and then went to the cloakroom to change clothes, preparing to clock out.
"Xing, are you coming with us to KTV later?" a colleague called out to Stella Charlie.
Stella Charlie didn’t particularly like that kind of venue, plus she only had a few bucks left for fun, so she politely refused with a smile, saying, "No, I have so things to do. You guys go ahead, have fun."
"Okay then, see you tomorrow. Be careful on the way ho."
"Mm, see you tomorrow."
Before leaving, Stella Charlie sneakily glanced in Vincent Warner’s direction, seeing that he seed to be packing up his computer as if preparing to leave.
Stella Charlie didn’t know why she felt like avoiding facing him, she picked up her pace toward a bus stop a few hundred ters away.
At this hour, there weren’t many people waiting for the bus. Stella Charlie sat on the long bench, rubbing her calf, which was sore and aching from walking all day.
Suddenly, a pair of headlights shone in her direction. Against the light, Stella Charlie couldn’t make out the car’s model, only knowing it wasn’t a bus.
As she prepared to look away, the vehicle stopped in front of her.
The car window rolled down, and Vincent Warner slightly leaned from the driver’s seat, saying calmly to her, "Get in the car."
Stella Charlie stood up and walked a couple of steps to the car, waving her hand to politely decline, "No need, the bus will be here soon."
Vincent Warner looked at her and asked, "Are you avoiding because you’re afraid I’ll ask you to pay back?"
Stella Charlie was taken aback for a mont, then hurriedly explained, "No, I’ll return the money after my paycheck at the end of the month. I might have to pay half first, the rest..."
"You can’t stop here for long, get in the car and then we’ll talk."
Stella Charlie hesitated, then opened the rear door and got into the car, continuing her explanation, "I need another month for the rest, but I won’t renege on the debt."
Vincent Warner chuckled softly, starting the car while saying, "I’m not here to ask you for money."
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