Chapter Text
Usually on the weekends in the city, you would find people spending their time idly shopping at large stores or just strolling past the wealth of libraries and restaurants that scattered across the expanse of the large city.
It was hard to not find what you were looking for, whether it was food and drink, or a rambunctious day out - the city had something prepared within its intricacies of tarmac and concrete. However, only those that knew the knots of roads and alleys of the urban jungle, or were lost between them, would often find themselves in a small clearing, before a petite and yet remarkable café.
"Welcome to Puqi café! Is there anything you would like?"
Famed for its antique elegance, the café was in almost all respects a treasure trove of unique experiences. The varied cast of customers, the ever-changing decor, the group of friendly cats and (most importantly) its eccentric owner made every visit completely different from the last.
There was hardly any negative comments about the place, excluding the food reviews, and people would sometimes flock to visit the cats that roamed the area. And yet, despite its popularity, Puqi café remained as it always had done - small and simple. Perhaps, for the shop's sake at least, it was a good thing that it stayed as it was.
Some people said ot was the area's bad fengshui, some say it was just bad luck, however, regardless of the reason - the café was always one step from breaking down. Small tragedies (like valuable scrap catching fire) or the everyday accidents (like a hole being blown in the roof) became a norm in Xie Lian's life.
"It's lucky enough that it was only this bad," he would often sigh.
So, after turmoil after turmoil, it was still a pleasant surprise to see it standing. It seemed that the precarious amount money it accrued each day was spent almost wholly on the cost of keeping it up and going.
However, Xie Lian was adamant that he didn't need help for the repairs and work. Despite insistence from frequenting customers, the local elderly that cherished him like their own grandson, or even Ruoye (his silky white dog) who always whined whenever Xie Lian spent too long in work, Xie Lian wouldn't budge.
Roof's broken?
He'd fix it in time.
Ingredients missing?
He'd surely find something soon.
Noisy customers?
He'd sort it out eventually.
Even if he was badly scraped, Xie Lian would always smile and laugh it off, saying that it would only need time to fix everything.
But time couldn't solve all of his problems, as Xie Lian found himself making little progress in his growing to-do list and yet more worn out as each day passed. As a result, after a seceral years of successful-ish running, a neat, handwritten notice finally sat by the main glass window:
"Now hiring: A part-time waiter, no experience required, must be friendly with cats. Talk to owner inside for more information."