In movies, protagonists often visited restaurants where polite waiters—either gentle and graceful or handsome and dashing—approached to ask what they needed.
But when Xie Jianxun actually tried it, he realized he had thought it was too simple.
One handled the east side while he took the area by the windows. The two quickly finished the breakfast provided by the young boss and returned to their posts.
He was full of enthusiasm, rubbing his fists eagerly, determined to be a competent novice waiter.
However, the guests turned out to be far more complicated and demanding than expected.
Some ordered cold water, so he dashed off to fetch a glass, only for them to say they wanted it hot.
Others dawdled over the menu, making him wait patiently for ages before pulling him aside to ask why the prices were higher than outside and if they could get a discount. Xie Jianxun had to explain repeatedly that those were the boss’s set prices.
Then there were those who placed their orders, and by the time the kitchen finished preparing breakfast and placed it on the tray for him to pick up, the guests had vanished into thin air when he turned around. They never came back.
In short, all sorts of frustrating things happened.
And those were just the rare occurrences.
Most of the time that morning, the biggest challenge was memorizing the different orders from four, five, or even six tables at once, then carrying a massive tray back from the kitchen.
His mind grew muddled, and his strength gave out.
If One hadn’t helped him a few times during the breakfast rush, he might have mixed up the orders and frozen in place.
Xie Jianxun felt dazed. “With so many people ordering different things, you remembered all of it?”
One let out an ambiguous chuckle. “I’m closer to the kitchen, so it’s more convenient for me to fetch the dishes—how about we switch at lunch?”
Xie Jianxun hesitated for a moment but stubbornly refused.
He felt this was an opportunity of sorts, a chance to interact with more people.
Most of the guests were friendly, smiling warmly at him and speaking slowly to make sure he understood clearly.
By the end of the two busy mealtimes, Xie Jianxun had finally gotten the hang of it.
But carrying the heavy trays for so long proved too much for his pampered shoulders. His hands began to tremble.
He nearly shook everything off the tray, but luckily Alex was right there and quickly steadied it for him.
Xie Jianxun hurriedly set the tray down on the counter and shook out his arms.
Alex gave him a look full of mixed feelings, muttering something about “pampered and spoiled, young master’s body.”
He frowned. “Can’t carry it?”
Xie Jianxun answered honestly. “A bit tired. But it’s fine. Dinner service will be over soon, and then we can rest.”
“You…”
Alex seemed about to say more but held back.
As if struck by a thought, he added, “Hold it steady—don’t smash the plates. And starting tomorrow, come in earlier.”
With that, the young boss shoved whatever he was holding into the front counter cabinet and strode quickly out of the inn.
Xie Jianxun watched him go in confusion.
It felt like there was a fire chasing after Mr. Alex’s backside, the way he hurried off.
The next morning, Xie Jianxun followed the boss’s instructions and got up early.
One always rose early—or rather, as a mechanical puppet, he didn’t need sleep at all and even brought breakfast ahead of time. After Xie Jianxun washed up, the two sat on the edge of the bed and shared it.
But as soon as Xie Jianxun raised his hand, something felt off.
His arm muscles ached unexpectedly; he could barely lift it… Wait, how was he supposed to get through the day’s work in this state?
Xie Jianxun was deep in thought. Should he just tough it out?
But when he opened the door, he saw Alex standing rigidly at the storage room entrance, holding something in his hands.
He said in surprise, “Mr. Alex?”
Alex handed the item over. Xie Jianxun looked down and saw it was a brand-new waiter uniform, but quite different from yesterday’s—more refined and flashy.
No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem like something for rushing around the lobby serving tea and water.
Xie Jianxun asked in bewilderment, “Is this for me?”
Alex replied, “I saw your clothes didn’t fit well, and you’re all clumsy, can’t even carry the trays properly. Forget being a waiter. Wear this today and stand at the door—no, just at the front desk. It’s facing the floor-to-ceiling windows anyway. Draw in some customers.”
Xie Jianxun took the new clothes in surprise and changed in the washroom.
It was still a waiter outfit, but far more exquisite than before, with a tuxedo-like elegance. He instantly transformed from a rural inn server into a sophisticated attendant gliding among guests at a high-class soiree.
Alex directed him to be a decorative vase at the front desk, and Xie Jianxun obediently complied.
His smoky-gray shoulder-length hair was tied up, smoothly draping over his collar.
Standing at the front desk and smiling at others, he seemed to glow.
The whole inn brightened up with him.
Even the young captain who had just stepped through the inn’s doors froze, peering around to confirm this was indeed Slieberlich and not some other place before boldly entering.
Alex had spotted him early and teased, “Lord Basero, you usually come to my little shop like it’s your own home. Why so hesitant today?”
The young captain couldn’t help glancing at Xie Jianxun, who smiled at him in confusion.
He replied dryly, “Hey, how was I supposed to know you’d stick a little spotlight in the shop?”
Alex: “Customer attraction strategy—not a waste of money on the new clothes.” He was a bit smug, feeling he had a knack for business.
The captain touched his nose and sat at his usual spot at the bar.
“I have to say, it’s working. People will come in just for him… Isn’t that right, little rose? You look great in that outfit,” he said to Xie Jianxun. “Who knew Alex had any taste in clothes.”
“…” The young boss’s temples throbbed. “Can a dog like you say anything nice?”
The young captain chuckled twice and smoothly ordered a drink from the bartender.
Captain Basero was right.
As breakfast time approached, foot traffic on the street picked up. Normally, those eating breakfast in the inn’s lobby were guests staying upstairs, with few walk-ins.
Today was the complete opposite. Plenty of outsiders stopped in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, unable to resist peeking inside. When the handsome waiter turned and gave them a slight smile, they instinctively stepped in.
But once inside, they were greeted not by the pretty server but by a tall, handsome young man blocking the way, shoving a menu into their hands and asking what they wanted.
His expression was calm, but somehow intimidating—
Probably because there wasn’t a hint of a smile on his lips.
The walk-ins weren’t deterred and tried to peer around. “That waiter…”
The mechanical puppet said flatly, “That gentleman doesn’t handle reception.”
He blocked them firmly.
At the bar, boss Alex smacked his lips loudly, clearly delighted with his strategy. He decided to give Xie Jianxun a raise—for his good looks.
Basero called for the bartender to mix a second drink. As he sipped it, Alex casually asked, “Bad mood today?”
“…You could tell?”
“You’re on your second drink already. How could I not?” Alex frowned. “Spill it.”
Basero set down his glass, thought for a moment, and said, “Several merchant caravans got attacked by bugs. Lost a lot of manpower.”
Alex: “I’ve heard people talking about it these days. Worried about your caravan?”
Basero: “I’ve got a new business lead, so yeah, a bit worried. But that’s not the main thing—you know what I mean.”
He spoke vaguely, and Alex glanced at him.
“I’m not getting involved in your mess. I just want to keep this inn my mom left me running smoothly,” the young boss said, his brows darkening as he grumbled lightly, “What a hassle…”
Basero: “Alex, you’ve got more connections and hear more news. We need your help. Just us few won’t cut it.”
Alex: “What makes you think I have that kind of pull? Who do I even know…”
“Fine.”
He hesitated but agreed.
“Thanks, thanks. What about those two outsiders?” Basero nodded toward Xie Jianxun and One . “I asked you to look after them, but you know it’s only temporary.”
Alex: “They’re saving up to leave. I told them there’s only one cargo ship at the cargo port west of the City Lord’s Mansion that can get off this planet. They plan to work a few more days, save enough for tickets, and go.”
“Uh…”
Basero did some mental math and gave a helpless smile. “That’ll take at least a couple months.”
Alex shrugged slightly. “They haven’t checked the prices yet. Hope they don’t keel over on the spot when they do.”
After the mealtime rush, Xie Jianxun finished his posting.
His face felt stiff from smiling. After changing out of the clothes, he rubbed it vigorously.
Mr. Mechanical Puppet stood quietly in another stall changing, making almost no sound—just the rustle of fabric.
Xie Jianxun was a bit excited. Alex had said he only needed to work the peak shifts.
Outside those two hours, his time was free.
“Let’s grab something to eat later. I want to check the flights at the transport port,” Xie Jianxun said happily. “I wonder what dinner is today! Alex said it’d let us try some desert specialty cuisine.”
Dinner was Golden City specialty fried rice courtesy of Alex: golden, glossy rice paired with sea buckthorn juice that was tangy and rich, flanked by two finger-length strips of smoked pork on the plate. It had quite the flavor.
Xie Jianxun ate with crinkled eyes and a joyful mood.
Until he saw the ticket prices at the transport port. Then his smile slowly faded.
Xie Jianxun: “…”
He could hardly believe his eyes. “A first-class ticket to the Capital Star is only two thousand!”
Twenty thousand credits per person!
And that was for cargo hold seating with no guaranteed service—like paying a fortune for a smuggling spot. Yet it was official, run by the City Lord’s transport port.
He anxiously did the math. Alex had promised daily wages of one hundred at the inn.
Even if he bought nothing else, it’d take at least eight months to save enough for a ticket out!
The black-haired youth stood rooted before the announcement board at the transport port entrance, staring fixedly at the ticket prices. Someone patted his shoulder comfortingly.
The puppet gentleman stood behind him and said softly, “Then take my wages. It’ll save you time.”
Xie Jianxun whipped around in surprise. “How could I? That’s the fruit of your labor.”
But he saw One press a hand to his chest, eyes slightly downcast.
The mechanical puppet’s dark, curly hair fell, covering most of one eye, while the other gazed at him clearly. His expression was pure, his thoughts plain to see.
“You gave me energy—it’s like giving me life,” One said. “This wage is nothing.”
Xie Jianxun hesitated. “I…”
But One changed the subject. “Something that fully charges my energy slot must be a top-grade energy stone. Market light brains don’t come with that rarity… Did your family get it specially for you?”
The black-haired young man looked at him and murmured a soft affirmative.
The mechanical puppet smiled. “A priceless gift. Your family must love you very much.”
After some deliberation, Xie Jianxun shook his head and refused.
The two left the transport port and returned to the bustling main street, as if reentering the world from a quiet corner.
“I can’t just take your gift for free,” he replied earnestly. “The energy stone was my willing present to you. No need to convert it back to money for me.
“As for the ticket… Alex’s shifts are flexible, leaving plenty of afternoons free. I can find a part-time gig. And leaving here isn’t urgent anyway.”
He clasped his hands behind his back and smiled easily. “When I left home, my head was still fuzzy from the ordeal, and I was all hot-blooded, thinking I’d do something earth-shattering!
“Now that I’ve calmed down, I realize I need time to think things through properly… Huh?”
One noticed his pause. “What’s wrong?”
Xie Jianxun thought he’d seen wrong. He gazed toward the street corner in the distance, where a familiar face seemed to hurry past.
It looked like Huo Jing—a tall young man, but not in his signature bright jacket. Instead, he wore a shawl with the colorful, vibrant patterns unique to desert caravans.
Uncertain, he said, “I think I saw someone I know… I’ll go check. Be right back!”
As if irresistibly drawn, he couldn’t help but run toward that direction.
