บท 10: First Payment

When Gu Xin Ye returned to the B&B, Luo Jun was no longer there. However, there are a couple who stood at the counter with Mrs. Li. Judging from the way they acted, it looks like they came to the B&B to check-in.

Seeing that Luo Jun was no longer around, Li Jun Xuan turned to her mother. "Mom, where's Xiao Jun?"

Mrs. Li looked up briefly at her son and answered. "He went back after you left. It's the weekend, the noodle stand is probably busy today."

"You should hurry to the noodle stand," Li Jun Xuan said to Gu Xin Ye.

When she turned around to leave, Li Jun Xuan followed after her silently. Gu Xin Ye has almost reached to the jetty when she noticed the man's presence behind her.

Sensing her questioning gaze, Li Jun Xuan scoffed and said, "I'm going to the noodle stand too. Why? Is that wrong?"

Thinking that this man might be a bit temperamental, Gu Xin Ye shook her head and pick up her speed. As she approached the noodle stand, Gu Xin Ye was surprised to see that there were so many people gathering around the place. Thinking that something might happen there, Gu Xin Ye began to jog and on stopped upon seeing that those people were enjoying noodles.

Behind the counter, Qin Zhan was busy pulling the noodles, Luo Qi was busy arranging the bowls and the topping on the noodles, while that little boy was busy attending after the customers.

At the side of the road, various types and brands of vehicles lined up. But, where did these people came from? When she walked around the beach, Gu Xin Ye could have sworn that she did not see people around.

Qin Zhan only spared her a glance before he returned his concentration to the noodles. "You're late."

His sharp gaze caused Gu Xin Ye to flinch.

"She got lost in town," a voice behind her said.

Gu Xin Ye turned around and saw that it was Mrs. Li's son. His words made her wonder if he was helping her. But Li Jun Xuan raised a brow towards her before he ordered a bowl of seafood noodle from Luo Qi.

Qin Zhan tossed the noodle into a bowl before he looked at Gu Xin Ye again. "Go and help clean up the table first."

Gu Xin Ye nodded, then picked up the dirty dishes from the table, throw the leftovers in a pail, and toss the bowl and utensils into a large basin. Once the bowl started to pile up, Qin Zhan sent her to wash the dishes.

After half an hour of washing the dishes, it doesn't look like the crowd was getting any lesser. There was always another group walk in, whether alone, or in a large group. But still, Gu Xin Ye could not figure out where did these people came from.

It was only after Qin Zhan had put up a notice that their noodle is sold out that the crowd started to reduce. It was only then that Luo Qi helped her to wash the dishes.

"Sister, you worked hard on your first day!" Luo Qi smiled. "It's always like this during the weekend. This place would be packed with people who came all over from the nearby city."

Gu Xin Ye lifted her head. "I have a question. Where did those people come from?"

Luo Qi tilted her head sideways. "Huh? The cities, I guess?"

"They come from the city just to eat noodles?"

"I guess," the frown on Luo Qi's forehead deepened. She suddenly felt as if they were talking about two different things.

At this time, Qin Zhan came from behind the two girls and to pick up the washed bowls to dry them. He glanced at Gu Xin Ye and asked, "Did Mrs. Li told you not to go the west side of the town?"

Gu Xin Ye turned around and raised a brow, wondering why was Qin Zhan asking him such things. Then, she slowly nodded.

"Did she tell you why?"

"She said there are a few vacation houses around and I shouldn't wander around there," Gu Xin Ye answered. "Isn't it because it's a private area?"

Qin Zhan let out a chuckle. Then, he stared at Gu Xin Ye with a curious gaze. "When you decided to come over, did you not do a bit of research on this town?"

Gu Xin Ye shook her head. She only came to this town to recruit Qin Zhan and did not bother to learn about the town.

Moreover, she did not expect that she would be staying in the town for too long. She let Lin Qiao book the accommodation and only specified that Lin Qiao should find the nearest accommodation around Qin Zhan's noodle stand.

However, she could not possibly say this to Qin Zhan, or else, that man might grab his cleaver and chased her out.

"A friend booked the B&B and said that the view is beautiful," Gu Xin Ye lied.

Qin Zhan's curiosity accelerated at her reason. He had previously overheard her conversation on the phone yesterday with a person she had addressed as her uncle. Judging from the bits he heard, he started to wonder if the girl in front of him had come to Z Town to escape from something.

"You… what is your name?"

"Gu Xin Ye," since she had registered her name to book the B&B, it would not make any sense if she suddenly gave Qin Zhan a fake name.

"Gu Xin Ye," Qin Zhan repeated. "Well, let me tell you that the customers came from the west side of this town. Other than a few private residences, there are also a few hotels and resorts, facing the sea. I imagine that Mrs. Li told you not to go to the west side so that you wouldn't change your mind and stayed at the hotel on the west side instead. This was not the first time she did this."

Hearing that, Gu Xin Ye could only stare at Qin Zhan with her mouth gaped.

Wait. Something does not feel right. Gu Xin Ye scoffed as she realized that Qin Zhan has been eavesdropping to her conversation again!

Gu Xin Ye stared at her wrinkled fingers as she sat down. Her knees started to hurt after squatting to wash the dishes for too long. She had only stayed to work at the noodle stand for a few hours, but it was more tiring than working in an office for a whole day.

Suddenly, something came over to block the light. When she looked up, Qin Zhan was staring down at her. Gu Xin Ye watched him in a puzzle and saw a few bills in his hand.

"Today's pay." Qin Zhan said.

"Thank you." She stared at the money in a daze.

Only when Qin Zhan walked away did she check on the first payment she received. Gu Xin Ye wanted to cry as she looked at the amount of money. Even her daily expense during high school is more than this!