"But.." Mianmian cut in, her gaze sharp, "you didn't walk away. You kept working. You corrected your mistakes instead of whining about them."
The girl blinked, lips parting.
"That's the only reason you're still standing here.." Mianmian finished flatly. "Rest for ten minutes. Afternoon rush will be worse."
Xiao Lian's eyes shone, but she bit her lip and bowed. "Yes, boss."
Mianmian studied her one last time, then turned away, hiding the faintest sigh.
She had taken on a stray, against her better judgment.
Whether this stray could survive the storm—that remained to be seen.
The restaurant had its familiar rhythm again, the clatter of plates and chopsticks, the low hum of conversations rising and falling like waves.
Xiao Lian stood by the counter, apron slightly too big for her thin frame, eyes darting nervously from one table to another.
