“Yo, you’re here, Brother Sheffil.”
The man dressed in a black-and-white uniform broke into a familiar grin the moment he saw the visitor, greeting him enthusiastically.
“Yo, Old Zel. It’s your shift today, huh?”
Recognizing an old acquaintance, Sheffil returned the smile warmly.
“Well, it’s the weekend rush. I figured the part-time kids wouldn’t handle it well, so I came in to cover. Still the same private room as always?”
“Yeah. Let’s head in.”
Sheffil nodded and motioned to someone outside.
“Is today’s guest Miss Dorothy and her friend again?”
Zel chuckled knowingly.
The man in front of him had been a savior of this establishment.
Ever since he helped save the place, he’d occasionally bring people over for meals.
But it was always the same group—him, his childhood friend Dorothy, and another friend of hers.
Zel, a seasoned veteran in the service industry, had long seen through Sheffil.
He was clearly just playing escort to the two girls.
In truth, he’d barely eat before reminding them not to disturb the two in the room and heading out.
Rumors outside said Sheffil was helping Dorothy, the local “lady playboy,” build a harem.
Every visit, she brought a different girl.
Thankfully, Dorothy didn’t treat the place like a love hotel.
The room was always clean, no strange smells after use, so the manager and Zel didn’t ask too many questions.
Still, to be safe, the private room had been assigned exclusively to Sheffil—no one else was allowed to use it.
“Nah, just brought a friend today. Tianxia, come with me.”
Sheffil shook his head and gestured for the girl behind him to follow.
Then he turned toward the room he remembered well.
“So it’s a bro-hang today, huh…”
Zel shrugged.
Getting this young master to wake up to reality really was wishful thinking.
“Coming right up. Ah, good evening, Mr. Zel~”
“Ah, welcome, miss.”
Honestly speaking… if his childhood friend liked girls, maybe Sheffil liked guys?
Haha, just kidding—
Wait a sec.
Was that… a girl’s voice just now?
Zel quickly looked over.
A young girl in a black dress followed behind Sheffil, her face adorned with a calm, gentle smile.
Suddenly, Zel recalled something Sheffil had once said during a drunken night of chatting.
“A girlfriend should be someone who’s gentle, understanding, and knows how to take care of people, right?”
“Bro Sheffil, your taste is so… virginal.”
“Damn right I’m a virgin. Of course my standards are virginal!”
“Dude, sounds like you’re just looking for a mom.”
“Hey, a girlfriend is allowed to have some motherly qualities! Best if she’s always smiling and gentle—Bah! I meant girlfriend!”
“Alright, alright, scatter—Sheffil’s drunk and talking nonsense.”
This girl… she might just have the potential to become Sheffil’s mo—girlfriend.
Chuckling to himself, Zel walked to the bar and leaned in close to whisper with the boss.
Sheffil and Tianxia stepped into the private room.
Though called that, it was really just a small space furnished with some restaurant gear and a sofa.
To suit Sheffil’s tastes, there were even a few decorative plants.
In the far corner stood a small bookshelf and a chair.
Whenever he was bored, Sheffil would come here to read.
More than a dining room, it felt more like a cozy café to him.
The main reason he liked the place was because the owner and Zel were always so welcoming—overly so, even.
They’d pile on the food and barely charge anything.
Sheffil didn’t like freeloading, so he rarely came for meals—usually just a drink or to finish up some homework.
“Make yourself comfortable. They’ll bring the menu soon.”
He plopped onto the main sofa, patting the cushion beside him.
“Mr. Sheffil, I didn’t expect you to live so… comfortably,” Tianxia remarked, glancing around in surprise.
She was no stranger to rooms far fancier than this, but hadn’t Dorothy said this guy was just an ordinary student with no one backing him?
In Dorothy’s eyes, could any regular student afford this?
“It’s alright. Have you tried the beer here? Wait, do you even drink?”
Sheffil casually pulled out a bottle of Summerleaf beer from under the table, steering the topic elsewhere.
Summerleaf was a signature beer from Jadecrest, brewed from a plant that only grew in the cool eastern regions of the Empire.
Refreshing and crisp, it was shipped all the way to the northern Brilliance Federation.
Jadecrest’s Summerleaf beer was especially renowned.
“Hmm~ Alcohol and I don’t mix well. Also, Mr. Sheffil, don’t you think it’s a little scary to bring a girl you’ve only met once before into a private room and try to get her drunk?”
“So you do know how to be scared? Then why’d you still come?”
Sheffil awkwardly put the bottle away, slipping it back into a barely-opened case.
He didn’t like drinking much either.
He’d only brought the box to look fancy—snatched it from the cellar earlier.
Instead of sitting beside Sheffil, Tianxia chose the seat across from him.
Her curious gaze wandered across the room until it landed on the bookshelf.
Her eyes lit up like she’d discovered a hidden treasure.
“Mr. Sheffil, you actually read?”
“Yeah, sometimes.”
“Judging by the desk, ‘sometimes’ might be an understatement.”
“…I don’t like sharp-eyed little brats like you.”
“Calling someone a brat straight to her face—how rude, Mr. Sheffil. You’ll crush a girl’s delicate heart…”
“Hello dear guests! Here’s your Romantic Summer for Two!”
The waiter’s voice interrupted their playful banter as he placed two fancy desserts on the table.
The shimmering strawberry glaze atop the ice cream was shaped into one large and one small heart—clearly meant for couples.
Both Sheffil and Tianxia were stunned.
Tianxia gave him a puzzled look, but he was just as confused.
“Is this a mistake? We didn’t order anything yet,” Sheffil asked the waiter, pointing to the couple-themed treat.
“Nope, no mistake! The manager says you’re the 100th couple dining here today, so we’re giving you our 500-lu special couple set, along with our heartfelt blessings!”
“…How long have you worked here? You actually believe that?”
“Sir! The manager said he came up with it just now!”
“And he also said, ‘Today we’re joining forces. This girl—we must win her over!’”
“…You just said that in front of the target. Way to ruin the whole plan!”
“Ah! My bad! Anyway, wishing you two eternal love and happiness!”
“Eternal my ass! Zel’s definitely getting your pay docked for this!”
“Sorryyyyyy!”
The waiter dashed out of the room.
“Those two old men—bored out of their minds, clearly,” Sheffil sighed deeply, scratching his head as he turned to Tianxia, who’d been quiet throughout.
“Sorry, Tianxia. My people clearly got the wrong idea. I’ll have them take it back…”
“So good! This ‘Romantic Summer’! Huh? Did you call me just now, Mr. Sheffil?”
Tianxia swallowed the last spoonful of her ice cream, her eyes now shining as she locked onto Sheffil’s untouched portion.
How shameless.. lmao.