11: Chapter 11 Zhao Xiaoshuai, who has face blindness

"Satisfied, very satisfied. Teacher Guan's technique is beyond reproach."

"Oh, that's right. I privately added a facial treatment with Teacher Guan just now. Don't forget to include it."

Guan Xiaosu glanced at him without arguing, simply adding flatly, "It's just the standard package for 328."

Tu Yuyu clattered away on the keyboard, "Sir, if you are satisfied, here's the breakdown: 1500 for the membership card, 996 for the packages, totaling 2496. Please scan this QR code to pay."

"Receptionist, can't I prepay for an exclusive package here? I'm very satisfied with Teacher Guan. I'll be looking for her whenever I come here from now on; I don't intend to change."

"You can just call me Yuyu, Sir. Of course you can. May I ask if you'll be sticking with this package combination? It's 996 yuan per session. How many sessions would you like to prepay for?"

"The package is quite expensive, so let's just prepay for 50 sessions first."

If it were 100 sessions, there wouldn't be much profit, so I can only buy 50 for now.

'Wait, is there any logical connection between those two sentences...' Tu Yuyu thought, stunned, though she maintained a standard professional smile on her face:

"Very well, Sir. Your total consumption this time is 51,300 yuan. I have updated the QR code."

Beep!

[cash-back card - 1, multiplier copper card - 1]

[Current cash-back rate: 156%, final cash-back amount: 80,028 yuan]

With a loud bang, it sounded like something had tipped over.

Everyone turned to look. It was Zhuang Jiali, who had just left; she seemed to have knocked over a small cabinet.

"Sorry, so sorry."

Zhao Xiaoshuai turned back, "Receptionist, what is that thing in the display cabinet? It looks quite nice. Is it for sale too?"

Tu Yuyu gave up on her efforts to introduce herself, "Sir, that is our shop's treasure. It's Bulgarian Otto rose essential oil. 3,000 yuan for 5g. Just adding one drop to each service can elevate the experience to a whole new level. Would you like to buy some to try?"

"Looks alright. Give me 100 grams. This should count towards Teacher Guan Xiaosu's performance, right?"

Zhao Xiaoshuai's tone was flat, as if he hadn't just bought over 60,000 yuan worth of essential oil, but merely a six-yuan bottle of water.

Another bang rang out. It seemed Zhuang Jiali had managed to lift the cabinet halfway, but perhaps lacked the strength, and it had tipped over again.

Zhao Xiaoshuai walked over and kindly helped her lift the cabinet, "Are you alright?"

"I'm, I'm fine." Zhuang Jiali looked somewhat distracted, and the way she looked at Zhao Xiaoshuai seemed a bit... "gnashing her teeth"?

[Ding! Illustrated handbook unlocked: Zhuang Jiali (Character Rating: 6.1)]

[Congratulations to the host for luckily obtaining a multiplier copper card (permanent)]

'Since when is essential oil sold by the hundred grams...' Tu Yuyu thought, complaining internally, before quickly responding:

"Of course it counts! Sir, the total is 60,000 yuan. Here is the payment code. The essential oil has been packed for you. You can choose to take it home or keep it in storage with Teacher Guan."

"Just leave it with Guan Xiaosu."

Beep!

[cash-back card - 1, multiplier copper card - 1]

[Current cash-back rate: 167%, final cash-back amount: 100,200 yuan]

"Take care, Sir. We look forward to your next visit."

Guan Xiaosu personally saw Zhao Xiaoshuai to the door.

"It's been so many years. If you're free tomorrow, come over to my place for a meal?"

Zhao Xiaoshuai thought for a moment. He didn't have anything else to do anyway, "Alright, it's a deal. But I'm on a diet recently, so just make something light."

Guan Xiaosu watched Zhao Xiaoshuai's figure disappear completely before turning back into the shop.

She seemed to hear some commotion. She wasn't the gossiping type, but the sound seemed to be coming from the room she had just serviced. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to go over and take a look.

"Teacher Zhuang, how much longer will you be? I still need to clean the room."

"Almost done, almost done! That hussy must have violated the rules in the room. It's highly likely she did a full service. I don't believe I can't find evidence!"

"I don't believe that someone could just get a regular spa treatment and then spend over a hundred thousand on her when they come out!?"

"I don't believe it!!!"

Guan Xiaosu glanced at Zhuang Jiali, who was hysterically rummaging through cabinets in the room. Understanding everything, she lost interest and turned to leave.

Just after leaving Yuzhijia, Zhao Xiaoshuai received a Weixun message:

[Brother-in-law, are you working overtime again today?]

Zhao Xiaoshuai felt a moment of daze.

It turned out that only one day had passed since he broke up with Chu Ziqing.

That heartless Chu Ziqing probably didn't even know where her sister's tuition came from. It was understandable that she had forgotten to tell her about these things.

However, his Sister-in-law, Chu Xinyi, had her college entrance exam in half a year. It was a critical period, and Zhao Xiaoshuai didn't want these messy affairs to disturb her.

Business is business.

Interactions between people might start with relationships or interests, but in the end, there are feelings involved.

He had watched Chu Xinyi grow from elementary school to middle school to high school, from a scrawny, timid little thing into a graceful, confident young woman.

It was as if he had raised a younger sister, or even a daughter; there was genuine affection between them.

Over these years, he had long since won the approval of Father Chu and Chu Xinyi; they both treated him as family.

And so, he would always treat them as family too.

[No overtime today.]

[Great! Brother-in-law, the range hood at my place seems to have a problem. Can you come and take a look for me?]

[Fifteen minutes.]

He arrived at his Sister-in-law's home, familiar with the route. He knocked on the door and opened it, only to find her cooking.

"Xinyi, didn't the range hood break? Why are you cooking?"

"I'm stewing something light, so there's no smoke. It's not urgent; we can fix it after we eat. Brother-in-law, have you eaten? I made some extra for you."

"I actually haven't eaten yet. Perfect, I'll sponge a meal off you."

The apartment Chu Xinyi lived in was also rented with Zhao Xiaoshuai's help, and he was the one paying the rent.

"Winter break is halfway over, right? How's your homework coming along? I remember you guys got a huge stack of test papers."

Chu Xinyi stared intently at the pot, replying without turning her head: "I finished it a long time ago."

"..." Zhao Xiaoshuai thought to himself that he wasn't exactly a bad student back in his day—otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten into Provincial University—so why was the gap between people still so large?

Chu Xinyi had been first in the school since middle school, and even at her key high school, she was still first.

And she was the talented type, not the kind who won by piling on study time.

In terms of studying, he, as someone who had been through it, found no room to offer advice.

Poor children grow up early; Chu Xinyi had learned to cook for herself when she was very young.

She was talented at everything she did and learned everything quickly; her cooking skills were already at a chef's level.

"Mmm, delicious! Xinyi, your cooking is good enough to open a restaurant. I wonder which guy will be lucky enough to have you in the future."

"At least it's definitely better than the instant noodles you always eat. Are you going back to my hometown with my sister for the New Year this year?"

Zhao Xiaoshuai kept his expression neutral, "No, I have some things to take care of this year."

The Chu family lived in a place called Datun near Chuncheng. It wasn't very far, but transportation was ultimately not very convenient.

Chu Xinyi didn't suspect anything; such situations had been common over the years.

They chatted casually, asking about her studies and catching up on family matters. The scene was very heartwarming.

"Is anyone at school chasing you?"