NOVEL NEXT Ch. 25
Chapter 25: Gold Medal Bartender (2)
After a while, he hung up the phone, turned around, and walked back to his desk.
That worldly smile appeared on his face again, with a touch of deliberate mystery.
“Xiaobai.”
He rubbed his hands together, pulled over the chair, and sat down again.
“The call is done. As for the boss lady’s side… one good news, one bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?”
Bai Lengci looked at Zhou Zheng’s smiling face and said calmly.
“The good news is, the boss lady agreed to my request for a salary of one thousand per day, even higher than my quoted price.
The bad news is, this high salary comes with an observation period, roughly two weeks to a month.
During this period, if the bar’s customer flow, turnover, and popularity show significant improvement, proving that my value matches this salary, then the cooperation continues.
Otherwise, if the results do not meet expectations, or the improvement is not enough to cover costs, then… I leave. Correct?”
The smile on Zhou Zheng’s face froze instantly.
His eyes widened, his mouth slightly open, and after a few seconds, he suddenly sucked in a sharp breath.
“Wo—… cough cough!”
He nearly cursed but forced it back down, leaving only a face full of disbelief.
“You… how did you know?!”
He felt like a transparent person, all his little calculations seen through clearly by this high school student before him.
“Guessed.”
“Based on your so-called ‘one good news, one bad news’ classic spiel. As for the exact duration…”
She paused.
“I don’t know Lady Boss’s personality or way of handling things, so I can’t deduce precisely. I could only give a reasonable range based on general business logic.”
“Hiss…”
Zhou Zheng drew in a cold breath, his body sinking heavily back into the chair.
He looked at Bai Lengci again with a gaze carrying both awe and absurdity.
“You… tsk tsk tsk, this brain, this logic… you really don’t seem like a high schooler! If you told me you graduated from some top business school, I’d believe it!”
Bai Lengci said.
“This can be learned just by reading more books.”
Zhou Zheng said with self-mockery.
“No, can’t do it. I’m old, my brain doesn’t work well anymore. Don’t even mention reading books, even when I read a novel, I have to think for half a day.”
Before Bai Lengci could speak, Zhou Zheng continued.
“Anyway, enough of that. I really do see great potential in you, that’s why I worked so hard to recommend you to the boss lady. Don’t let me down. Just based on that bartending trick earlier, and also… your brain! Hm! You must perform well and use your charm to the fullest within a month. If our bar’s performance can increase by twenty percent, then I can guarantee you’ll get to stay… At that time, asking for a raise wouldn’t be impossible either.”
Bai Lengci thanked him, hesitated a little, then took out the Mao bills from her pocket.
Afterward, she separated out half of it, about seven or eight hundred, pushed it toward Zhou Zheng, and said.
“Thank you, Manager Zhou, for your recommendation and this opportunity. Please have some tea with this portion.”
Zhou Zheng stared at the stack of red bills pushed before him, dazed for a moment.
The slickness of his worldly smile faded instantly, replaced by a kind of almost helpless sincerity:
“Oh dear! Xiaobai! What are you doing? Quickly take it back, take it back!
You’re looking down on your Brother Zheng like this! I recommended you because of your skills, because you’re worth it!
Closing the deal at this price is something you earned yourself! What would I want your money for? As long as you work hard and don’t embarrass me in front of the boss lady, that’s the best reward you could give me! Truly!”
Just as Bai Lengci was about to speak, Zhou Zheng immediately cut her off, his face carrying the weary smile of someone experienced.
“Stop right there! Kid, you really are smart, but when it comes to social experience… you’re still a bit green.”
He pointed at the stack of money.
“In this kind of situation, if you want to thank someone, if you know a bit of worldly manners, either buy them some good cigarettes, or find an opportunity to invite them to a meal, to build some rapport.
Who directly splits cash like this? Makes it look like splitting dirty money!”
Hearing this, Bai Lengci’s mind raced quickly:
Invite to dinner? Waste of time.
What if there’s nothing to talk about during the meal, wouldn’t that be even more awkward?
Cigarettes?
Would he just sell them to make money?
All this back and forth, what’s the point?
Inefficient, and he’s not even an official afraid of being bribed.
She thought this in her heart, but her face showed no expression, only calmly nodding.
“Understood. I’ll buy cigarettes later.”
“Haha, good! Then I’ll be waiting!”
Zhou Zheng didn’t take it too seriously, just thought the young person had learned a bit of social etiquette.
Then, he shifted the topic back to business.
“So, do you want to officially start tomorrow? Or… go to the bar counter now to get a feel for the work atmosphere?”
Bai Lengci thought for a moment.
Since she was getting high pay (even if on probation), and had received so many tips (even though Zhou Zheng didn’t take a cut, the favor was owed), she ought to show something.
“Now.” She stood up.
“Great! Refreshing.”
Zhou Zheng’s eyes lit up: “Great! Refreshing! Let’s go!”
The two returned to the bar area.
The earlier clamor had eased somewhat, but quite a few customers still remained, their gazes drifting now and then toward the bar, clearly still savoring the previous performance.
Bai Lengci walked behind the bar, and A-Ken, being quick-witted, stepped aside from the main spot.
She said nothing, just picked up a shaker and pulled several bottles of liquor from the rack with precision.
No warm-up, no opening words.
“Shhh—!”
The bottles came alive in Bai Lengci’s hands…
The performance ended.
“Wow—!”
After a brief silence came applause and whistles even louder than before!
The customers who had missed the earlier show were now completely won over.
Bai Lengci placed the prepared cocktail on the counter but didn’t hand it to anyone.
Her calm gaze swept over the few customers who had tipped her and cheered the loudest earlier.
Including that Young Master Wang.
“This glass, and the ones after, are for the friends who supported me just now. Thank you.”
“Wow—!”
“Such generosity!”
“Brother Zhou, awesome!”
Instantly, the bar erupted in cheers and applause.
……
After the two rounds of performance, the applause thundered, and the whistles echoed endlessly.
One by one, the cocktails were swiftly pushed to the customers who had tipped earlier.
“This drink was worth it!”
“Come often from now on, beauty!”
After finishing the last cocktail, Bai Lengci gave Zhou Zheng a slight nod, then gently nodded toward the still-excited customers.
“Thanks for your hard work. Tomorrow at 10, on time.”
Zhou Zheng’s face was all smiles.
“Mm.”
Bai Lengci responded lightly, took off the temporary apron, pushed open the glass door, tightened her coat, and walked toward the bus stop.