Crisis!

Dongfang Yi pressed his temples and looked at the earnest girl before him, feeling somewhat helpless: "Sakura-san, it's a good thing the cafe is empty right now, otherwise, based on that last sentence alone, my reputation would be ruined as some kind of scumbag gigolo who preys on young girls."

"..."

Sakura Airi, who had gathered all her courage to speak her heart, only then realized she had nearly brought trouble upon the person in front of her.

Her jade-white, supple cheeks turned visibly red from shame, looking just like a ripe peach; it was a kind of innocent cuteness that made one want to take a bite.

"I-I'm sorry," she mumbled, perhaps having bitten her tongue in her sudden agitation.

"Well, it's not really a big deal." Dongfang Yi didn't care much about his reputation these days; carrying the burden of being a spymaster was already a massive target, so a few more wouldn't make a difference.

"But why would you think I'm so desperate for money?" He still couldn't grasp the girl's train of thought.

"Because... Dongfang-kun, you're not only working at the cafe, but you also took on a side job..." Sakura Airi lowered her head unconsciously, carefully choosing her words while stealing glances at Dongfang Yi, afraid of causing offense. "So, I thought, Dongfang-kun might be..."

"Didn't I tell you? That side job doesn't take much time, and it's better to take it than leave it." Dongfang Yi ruffled her hair, sounding exasperated: "Head up, chest out. If you keep looking down, you'll look terrible later on, and you'll develop cervical spine issues. It'll be hard to correct by then."

"But I..." Sakura Airi was afraid of being watched.

"Don't worry, I'm still here. No one can hurt you." Dongfang Yi smiled to reassure her. He moved behind the girl, reached out to support her back, and helped her adjust her posture from behind.

He continued to explain: "Actually, I just thought it would be easier to understand if I called it a side job, but in reality, it's not really a side job."

"Eh?"

"It's a long-term private commission."

"Eh!!"

Sakura Airi's eyes widened. She turned around, her watery eyes meeting Dongfang Yi's for the first time, though the look in them was hard to decipher.

"Why are you looking at me like that..." Dongfang Yi suddenly realized: "Wait, don't tell me... you thought I was being kept by someone?"

"Ugh..." The girl, having had her thoughts exposed, felt a wave of shame.

She began to quibble: "No, it's not like that, I didn't, I haven't thought that, I just, I just thought those people might... ugh..."

You girl, you haven't even learned how to lie, and you want to be an idol?

Dongfang Yi rolled his eyes: "Stop making excuses, Sakura-san. If you want to lie to people, I suggest you practice for a couple of years. Come back once you have some experience."

"O-okay."

"...Then, Dongfang-kun, have you been with those upperclassmen..." Sakura Airi pressed her two index fingers together and asked tentatively.

"Absolutely not. Sakura-san, although you have a vivid imagination, those upperclassmen aren't as rich as you think; they don't even want to order the most expensive coffee." Dongfang Yi sighed and explained helplessly: "Besides, I don't sell myself, nor am I responsible for providing emotional labor."

"I, I believe you, Dongfang-kun." Sakura Airi's eyes drifted to the side involuntarily.

I can see you don't trust me at all.

Dongfang Yi had no choice but to explain in more detail: "There are three reasons why I wouldn't do such a thing."

Sakura Airi stared at him with burning eyes.

"First, I have plenty of points. My current balance is enough for me to live in the most extravagant way for two months. I have no need for points, and there is no life-or-death crisis. Second, my employer is not an upperclassman, and she has no designs on me; I can guarantee that. Finally..."

"Finally?" Sakura Airi's eyes shimmered, filled with hope.

Dongfang Yi gave her a merciless flick to the forehead: "Finally, I'm either at school or working every single day, so where would I find the time to get involved in that stuff!"

"Ugh..." Sakura Airi clutched her head and crouched down.

Dongfang Yi's force was very light; the flick was just a formal gesture of punishment, causing about as much pain as a mosquito bite.

So why did Sakura Airi crouch down?

Probably to hide her cheeks, which had turned fiery red again from embarrassment.

Heh, this silly girl.

Dongfang Yi felt like ruffling her hair, but since he was a food preparer, he couldn't openly engage in behavior that would ruin the appetite of customers.

But given the level of perversion in Japan, a fair number of people would probably be happy to see this scene and pay for it gladly, right?

Angel's Hair-Dust Latte? Or Idol's Hair-Oil Latte?

However, in this position and this scene, it felt like something he had seen in certain adult-oriented films. Should he pull Sakura up?

Before he could ponder further, a customer's voice caused an Interruption to his strange thoughts.

"Dongfang?"

The person staring at him looked surprised.

"Welcome to Palette Cafe, what would you like to order?"

Dongfang Yi instantly switched into business mode.

"Dongfang, it really is you!" The person's tone was filled with emotion, yet tinged with happiness, as if they had finally found a shield: "Why are you here?"

Calling me Dongfang every other word, are we that close? Don't make it sound like you've been looking for me for a long time, okay?

Dongfang Yi grumbled internally and had to focus his gaze on the man in front of him and the three girls behind him.

From left to right, they were: Satoshi Ritonaka, Tamiya Emi, Kushida Kikyo, and Matsushita Chiaki.

Hmm, so it's the handsome guy Ritonaka...

Wait, this combination... how did you all end up together?

Dongfang Yi looked at the bizarre team before him and suddenly felt an urge to run away.

He cast a subtle glance at Sakura Airi, who was crouching beside him.

With Class A and Class D gathered here, one wrong move would lead to a dead end where his reputation would be ruined.

Dongfang Yi sighed inwardly, though he naturally didn't give Satoshi Ritonaka a pleasant look on the surface: "This is work hours, so please behave yourself, customer. Don't try to pull strings; even if you do, I won't give you a discount."

"Is this shop really okay with choosing you as a waiter?"

"I am but a humble man, currently the shop's special invited barista, and my single-day sales volume has already broken the shop's historical record. Please do not measure the destined-for-greatness me with your mediocre, worldly eyes."

"Ah, hello, destined-for-greatness barista, could I have your autograph?"

Although he had been retorted by Dongfang Yi, Satoshi Ritonaka wasn't annoyed; after all, he was a human shield, so having a bit of a temper didn't matter.

Tsk, what a troublesome piece of chewing gum!

If he didn't work at a coffee shop he didn't own, Dongfang Yi would have kicked him out long ago.

"Tsk, stop talking nonsense. Are you ordering or not? If you don't hurry up, I'll change the names on the love letters in my drawer and stuff them all onto your desk tomorrow."

Dongfang Yi lowered his voice to threaten him.

"Can't you act like a decent human being?!"

Satoshi Ritonaka was shocked by the lack of bottom line in the person before him.

"Dongfang... classmate?!"

Just as they were bickering, Kushida Kikyo murmured.

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