Xiao Ya
This Text Adventure Game Is Seriously Cursed
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Shen Ya 1 |
| Alias(es) | Xiao Ya (小雅); also rendered as Xiaoya 1 2 |
| Gender | Female 32 |
| Affiliation | Wonder Pet Store 1 6 |
| Occupation/Role | Pet-store employee; the shop’s only remaining employee at the beginning of the story 1 |
| Residence | A rented home in the neighboring residential complex, approximately ten minutes’ walk from the shop 20 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1, “Fool” 1 |
Background / History
Xiao Ya was hired while Mu You’s parents still ran the pet shop. By the beginning of the story, she had worked there for four full years. During the preceding six months, the other employees had left one after another, leaving her as the only employee who stayed. Her attachment to the shop is described as being as deep as Mu You’s 1.
When financial losses forced Mu You to sell the shop’s cats and dogs, she feared that the business would close. His explanation that he was narrowing its range—and his promise not to sell unless absolutely necessary—reassured her, and she returned to caring for the animals 1.
Appearance
- Hair: Wears her hair in a ponytail when first introduced 1.
- Work clothing: Wears an apron behind the shop counter 1.
Personality
Xiao Ya is loyal to the pet shop and openly invested in its survival. She worries about its possible closure, excitedly announces Mu You’s viral success, and smiles throughout the rush of customers when business recovers 1 6 8.
She is friendly and considerate, bringing drinks for her coworkers and repeatedly urging Mu You to rest when he looks unwell. Although initially described as adorably ditzy, she is perceptive about him: after working together for over two years, she notices small changes in his appearance and behavior 1 13 37 38 45.
Her curiosity does not always lead to questioning. When Mu You appears troubled and asks her to manage the shop, she agrees without pressing him for an explanation 20.
Abilities & Skills
Sales and Customer Service
Xiao Ya explains pet supplies enthusiastically while adapting her approach to individual customers 8 32.
- Helps a first-time hamster owner select a full set of supplies; the customer’s total purchase exceeds 1,000 yuan 8.
- Packs purchases and includes the Hamster Rearing Manual compiled by Mu You’s parents 8.
- Gives customers space when they prefer to browse independently, an approach Lin Xue appreciates 32.
Animal Care and Shop Operations
Her duties include animal care, cleaning, customer service, and closing the premises 1 6 8 38.
- Scrubs turtles’ backs and cleans fish tanks, including replacing their water 1 6.
- Reports pet reservations and raises the possibility of ordering additional stock 13.
- Helps Mu You tally the day’s earnings 14.
- Handles the shop alone during Mu You’s absences, though the growing crowds eventually exceed what she can manage by herself 20 22 32.
- Locks the front door and lowers the roller shutter at closing 38.
Relationships
- Mu You — Her employer, whom she addresses as “Boss.” Their familiarity lets her notice his increasingly unusual behavior. He rewards her work with a 500-yuan cash gift, warns her against going out at night, and closes the shop for a weekend so she can rest after handling business alone 14 20 22 38.
- Mu You’s parents — Her original employers. She continues working at the shop after Mu You takes over and distributes the hamster-care manual they compiled 1 8.
- Lin Xue — Her coworker after Mu You hires Lin Xue as the shop’s veterinarian. They discuss his strange behavior; Xiao Ya also reminds Lin Xue that he is her boss too. She is stunned when a uniformed butler collects Lin Xue in a Maserati 33 38.
- Cola — Mu You’s personal American Shorthair. Xiao Ya is immediately won over when he rubs against her hand, exposes his belly, and purrs; she offers to fetch canned food for him 32.
Story Role / Major Arcs
| Event | Xiao Ya’s involvement |
|---|---|
| The Time Pocket Watch’s first test | Cannot see the watch in Mu You’s hand. After she accidentally knocks a glass from the counter, he rewinds time and catches it during the repeated moment. She credits his quick reaction; he later dismisses his earlier mention of the watch as a joke 1 2. |
| Wonder Pet Store’s recovery | Arrives with the crowd drawn by Mu You’s viral video and helps prepare the shop. The resulting rush leaves her doing the work of three or four people; the day ends with sales exceeding 15,000 yuan and a reward for her efforts 6 13 14. |
| Staff expansion | Works through another crowded morning with Mu You after the weekend closure. He posts a help-wanted notice and subsequently hires Lin Xue 32 33. |
| Rainbow Bay murder investigation | Brings news from the homeowners’ group chat that a young woman living alone has been murdered in Building 39. Her information prompts Mu You to leave the shop and investigate 37. |
| Clues to Mu You’s changed behavior | Tells Lin Xue that she once found him absorbed in the Complete Guide to Harry Potter’s Magic Spells. Later, her warning about his unhealthy appearance prompts him to recognize that he is beginning to resemble his Night Watchman skin 38 45. |
Notable Quotes
“Boss, you’ve gone viral!” 6
“You really are under too much pressure, aren’t you, boss? Don’t worry. Look, business is already picking up. We definitely won’t go under!” 13