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"What are the odds there's going to be drama from that table?" whispered Su Mucheng, subtly pointing with a fork.
"I am not betting." Mo Fan looked at the table where a bespectacled guy with brown hair was sitting in the middle of two pretty women - one younger than him who was avidly talking and another who was scrolling her phone. "They're probably friends."
"Be a bit more imaginative!" Su Mucheng was plating up their desserts as she continued "What if it's a love triangle and he has to choose one of them today? Who would you choose? The chatty one seems bubbly but see how he ordered the exact same flavor of milkshake like the other girl? Hmm... I wonder if it will end in violence or tears..."
"It doesn't matter as long as they remember to pay before their bills."
Su Mucheng laughed at this and bumped Mo Fan's shoulder playfully as she took the orders to the table.
"Two Mango Shakes, One Oreo Shake and one set of butter cookies!" Su Mucheng smiled as she set them on the table.
"These cookies are all for me, Chu Yunxiu!" Dai Yanqi immediately grabbed the plate and brought it towards herself "So if you want any you can order them yourself!"
"Eh?! What kinda hangout is this?!" Chu Yunxiu lunged for the cookies which got whisked further away and she pouted "I'm already third-wheeling here! Gimme food!"
"Hehe..." Xia Shiqin smiled sheepishly "Sorry... I didn't know you were coming. She said it was an important discussion... I didn't realize it was a date... though that doesn't explain why you asked Chu Yunxiu either, Dai Yanqi "
"It's an important discussion!" said Dai Yanqi immediately "And I brought Chuyu to help me!"
"I need food first!" Chu Yunxiu put her phone down and looked at Su Mucheng, her expression changing immediately "Oh! Hello there.... I thought Emo dude was the waiter. I didn't realize this cafe would have a cute face to live up to the cute name!"
Both Xiao Shiqin and Dai Yanqi facepalmed immediately but Su Mucheng giggled and winked at Chu Yunxiu.
"Well, my partner isn't very mochi on the outside; but all the cute customers we get make up for it!"
"Ooh, and what does..." Chu Yunxiu sat up and looked at Su Mucheng's tag "...Miss Su recommend?"
"The cherry jam mochi is a favorite of mine... a bit pricey..." Su Mucheng smiled sweetly "It's totally worth it though. I can even throw in a discount if you order two!"
"Well I definitely want to get to know your favorites!" Chu Yunxiu winked at her "So I'll take two!"
"Okay!" Su Mucheng nodded and left, pausing for a minute to grab the order from the duo on the next table before heading to the counter.
"You sold two cherry mochi again huh?" asked Mo Fan already writing up the bill.
"Hehe! Every time!" she then whispered "Also, you might be right. She's just a friend of the other girl. But...." Su Mucheng now pointed slightly to the other table "I bet those two guys are on a date!"
"Even if they aren't I'm sure your matchmaking abilities will make them a couple." said Mo Fan drily.
"Hehe! Is that a joke? Or encouragement?" Su Mucheng teased and then glanced to the side "Uh-uh! No feeding the fishes!"
"No outside food!" added Mo Fan pointing at the cookie that the young boy was holding.
"So can I accidentally drop a crumb from a cookie I buy from here?!" Lu Hanwen piped up cheerfully.
"No" Mo Fan said flatly even as Su Mucheng said 'sure' and handed him a cookie with a laugh.
Mo Fan gave her a look but continued firmly "Make sure you pay for it."
"Sure!" Lu Hanwen 'accidentally' dropped a crumb in the tank before running off to the table with the two young men "I got a cookie!!"
"Erm..." Li Xuan glanced at him "Ok, I can pay for that."
"It's fine. I'll handle it." said Yu Wenzhou with a grin "You don't have to pay for the plus one."
"No! I will!" Li Xuan said valiantly and forced a smile at Lu Hanwen "You can go anything else you want to, kid!"
"Yipee!" Lu Hanwen ran off and Yu Wenzhou gave a parting chuckle.
"You shouldn't have done that." Yu Wenzhou looked back at Li Xuan "He'll buy the place off."
"It's ok." Li Xuan sneaked a look at his rather thin wallet "I'll manage."
"Alright! By the way, where do you work? I didn't see that on your profile."
"Erm... I'm... looking?" Li Xuan stumbled for a bit and then sighed "I'm... unemployed."
"I hope not by choice." Yu Wenzhou laughed seeing Li Xuan's expression and waved his hands "I'm joking! I was thinking we matched up because of our interest in photography - I didn't see much on your socials, so was wondering if perhaps it was a full-time profession."
"No, no! Haha... just a hobby." Li Xuan squirmed in his seat, glancing at Lu Hanwen who was looking at a very expensive pastry "Anyways... you work at the college right? Art teacher?"
"Haha! More like Design and the like. Art and production design is big in films and it's a pretty good class to teach." Yu Wenzhou smiled "If you want to I can always refer you. I believe you did have a photography degree even though you said it was a hobby...."
"You noticed..." Li Xuan said weakly "Um... don't misunderstand. I... did not match up with you to get a job referral."
"It's fine even if you did! Dating sites for getting jobs and hiring sites for dating is the new trend today! Or so say my students!"
"No! I swear I want to get to know you!" Li Xuan paused as Su Mucheng came over with their orders, relieved at the interruption.
"One Vanilla Milkshake and one Blueberry Mochi! Enjoy!" She paused "Also I think it is your boy who ordered three raspberry mochi, one strawberry pastry and a chocolate cookie..."
"Yes! Add it to the bill!" squeaked Li Xuan before Yu Wenzhou could speak and Su Mucheng held back a smile.
"Enjoy your time together at the cafe, sirs!" she gave Li Xuan an encouraging smile as she then walked over to the other table where the trio were now in heated discussion.
"But Xiao Shiqin you were so good!" Dai Yanqi was stuffing a cookie in her mouth with one hand while poking at the young man's shoulder "Everyone else felt so.... boring. The role fits you perfectly! I know everyone thinks that Bai Shu guy would get it being an actual transfer student, but he can't act for toffee! The way you read the lines though...."
A dreamy look came across Dai Yanqi's face as she quoted "I have quite a sweet tooth indeed.... though I hope you have enough to spare; because once I get started.... I would not be able to stop!" Dai Yanqi let out a squeal "Chuyu! You should have been there to see it!! He was sooo goood!!"
"Well I can't imagine him saying something so cringey... but he must have been good to get you so fired up." Chu Yunxiu immediately perked up as Su Mucheng placed the mochis in front "Ooh so this is what Miss Su is partial to?" She took a little bite of the mochi and laughed "Well, well - I am glad I ordered two! Because I don't think I can get enough with just one!" She winked at Su Mucheng even as Dai Yanqi rolled her eyes and muttered something about 'look who's cringey'.
"Anyways you HAVE to go for the next round of audition!" continued Dai Yanqi loudly "We already know that new guy from the film club got picked for the other protagonist - but i bet that was just for the looks! So we will need someone to act! It has to be you! Chuyu make him say something!"
Chu Yunxiu looked like she would rather talk to Su Mucheng but she reluctantly turned away, letting Su Mucheng leave.
"Do you NOT want to act?" asked Chu Yunxiu finally "You haven't said a word yet."
Xiao Shiqin let out a loud sigh as he finally finished his drink.
"Look... I'm still not sure myself why I did that. I-" he lowered his voice slightly and wiggled his eyebrows at the next table "Mr Wenzhou, told me to try out. I wasn't sure if it was a joke or whether that was his way to kindly put it that I don't have much calibre for design and should probably try a different class."
Dai Yanqi rolled her eyes "You think too much! But answer Chuyu's question! Is it because you don't want to or are you thinking too much again?!"
"No...well, yes." Xiao Shiqin looked at Chu Yunxiu "Have you ever felt that even if thinks seem to be falling into place easily it could all go wrong and you should back out before things get worse?"
"All the time." said Chu Yunxiu giving a rueful glance at the counter where Su Mucheng was holding out a fork with a bite of Mochi to Mo Fan and trying to make him eat it. Quickly turning back she shrugged "No harm in trying though. If you get picked it's a good opportunity. Working for Ye Xiu is like end goals. And look, if design is your passion, this would get you a foot in the door to build up more contacts."
"I'm not sure if it's my passion..." Xiao Shiqin sat back "The role... I just read off what I felt fit. I wasn't even trying like so many others there. I don't want to get cast somehow and then end up taking away someone else's opportunity to give a half-assed performance of my own..."
"Stop being such a martyr!" Dai Yanqi rolled her eyes "And you call what you did half-assed?! You need to be a bit more confident! You saw the character for what he really was instead of making the character you!"
"Is that right though?" Xiao Shiqin looked at Chu Yunxiu "I mean... isn't the whole thing about acting to make the character YOU?"
"i don't know anything about acting. I just do camerawork." Chu Yunxiu shrugged "But you gotta become the character too. Play the part the way you see... I still can't imagine you saying cringey lines like that though. Does the other protagonist have to say those too?"
"Yes." Xiao Shiqin turned a bit red "And that role has even more suggestive lines and... even though Dai Yanqi said that guy was chosen for looks I think he did a great job at acting. He really seemed to be into it. I just... feel like a drifter."
"And that's ok." Dai Yanqi said again "Listen, I'm not saying you're getting the part. After all, Director Ye didn't pick anyone then and just chose a bunch for a second round. All I'm saying is don't give up!" With a sudden vigour she leaned forward and took Xiao Shiqin's hands "Just go back in there and do what you did again! And don't think so negatively about everything! What if Mr Wenzhou asked you to try it because he thought you had the calibre to act?!"
"... I did not think of that." Xiao Shiqin sighed "Ok. No harm in trying. And I won't be the only one nervous. I bet the other guy is too... hopefully." He paused before adding" I should talk to Mr Wenzhou maybe? Just for some perspective...."
"Just don't do it now." Chu Yunxiu whispered "Looks like he and his date are going out for some quality time... Actually is he married? I did not know he had a kid!" She looked over at Dai Yanqi who shook her head.
"I don't think so... I didn't know he had a kid either. Might explain why he's so patient in class though."
"Um... so are we done with our serious discussion? Since you girls are onto gossip now?" Xiao Shiqin gave a feeble laugh "If so I'll settle the bill and leave you to it."
"Yes! Yes!" Dai Yanqi grinned "And you better go back to your room and practice the lines alright?! I'll be checking on you!"
"Yes ma'am!" Xiao Shiqin smiled as he stood up and nodded at Chu Yunxiu too "And thank you too Senior for dragging you out here for something so small..."
"Haha! That's fine! And don't Senior me! Makes me feel old!" Chu Yunxiu grinned "I don't think I did anything. But I agree. You would never know unless you give a shot. I mean... I didn't think I would ever get into camera work after getting yelled at by Director Sun during my apprenticeship... but here I am. So who knows... maybe you're the rising star of the future and someday I might get to frame you!"
"And I'll write awesome dialogues for you!" said Dai Yanqi with an excited clap.
"Now, now! I thought you two wanted me to act! Don't scare me away!" Xiao Shiqin said with a teasing smile and waved at them "I'll be off to my dorm then. See you later!"
He went up to the counter and was immediately presented with the bill from Mo Fan.
"Only cash. No card." said Mo Fan.
"Okay..." Xiao Shiqin was pretty sure he had seen a little board on the counter mentioning that card was allowed too... a board which was missing now, but he quickly paid in cash and waved at the girls before leaving.
"Mo Fan..." Su Mucheng slid up to him "Just because the other guy's card declined doesn't mean this guy's would too!" She snatched the notice board from below the counter and propped it back up again "He did pay in the end right..."
"Hmm...." Mo Fan made a face "Wait.... don't tell me that new Mochi flavor was sunflower seeds with cinnamon?"
"Yes! Wasn't it goo-"
"No sunflower seeds." Mo Fan gave her a look "You're the boss but I'll quit before you serve sunflower seed mochis here."
Su Mucheng pouted and then giggled "Well, it took you longer to figure it out! I just gotta find the perfect way to hide them!" With a hum she skipped off and Mo Fan sighed.
He knew it was quite a challenge to keep Su Mucheng from introducing this horrendous mochi line - but he had to keep trying - the reputation and finances of The Mochi Cafe were after all solely in his hands!