Chapter 38: Come With Me

Xiong Yibai strongly suppressed the urge for her lips to curve upward, maintaining a calm expression on her face.

After this little interlude, the table fell briefly silent.

Director Wang held back his anger, his face looking rather unpleasant, but he couldn’t very well continue lashing out at a mere server.

The gathering barely continued for a while longer, with the atmosphere growing somewhat awkward.

Seeing that his attempts to get her to drink had failed, Director Wang had nowhere to vent his pent-up frustration, and his gaze began to roam over Xiong Yibai.

He plastered a deliberately friendly smile on his face.

“Little Bai, you’re too reserved. You need to loosen up more at the hospital and get closer to your seniors.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand as if to pat Xiong Yibai on the shoulder.

“I’m telling you, if there’s ever anything you need, just come to me. We’re close—no need to stand on ceremony!”

Xiong Yibai noticed his intention and tensed up, pondering how to subtly avoid this unwelcome contact.

Feng Miwan, who had been watching Director Wang’s every move intently, narrowed her eyes. She picked up a water pitcher and strode forward quickly.

“Hello, let me refill your water.”

She positioned herself perfectly between Director Wang and Xiong Yibai, aiming the pitcher at the empty glass in front of Director Wang. The act of pouring water interrupted his sleazy little maneuver.

Director Wang’s hand froze in mid-air. With his plans thwarted one after another, the anger he’d been bottling up finally erupted.

He was just about to glare at this meddlesome server when he saw Feng Miwan finish pouring, and as she withdrew the pitcher, her wrist “slipped” again.

The remaining half pitcher of cold water “splashed” out, landing squarely on Director Wang’s thigh!

“Ah!”

Director Wang jolted from the chill and leaped to his feet. His light-colored trousers were soaked from thigh to crotch, leaving him utterly disheveled.

He could no longer hold back. Pointing at Feng Miwan’s nose, he roared in fury.

“You! What’s wrong with you?! So clumsy! I’ve put up with you for long enough!”

Xiong Yibai watched Director Wang hopping mad in his wretched state, then glanced at the “server” beside her who was hanging her head with slightly shaking shoulders.

Finally, she couldn’t help but turn her face away, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle her laughter.

This girl was absolutely doing it on purpose!

Feng Miwan continued her performance, her voice trembling with a sob.

“I’m sorry! Sir! I’m really sorry! It wasn’t on purpose! How much were your pants? I… I’ll compensate you!”

“Compensate? Can you even afford it?!”

Director Wang’s face turned red with rage, his thick neck bulging. The wet trousers clung uncomfortably to his legs.

“Get your boss over here! Right now!”

“Right away, sir! Please wait just a moment!”

Feng Miwan pulled out a walkie-talkie and pressed the talk button.

“Boss, boss, there’s a customer in the third-floor outdoor dining area who needs you to come over. It’s a bit urgent…”

Moments later, Zhao Shutong arrived, dressed in a champagne-colored dress and high heels, her face showing professional concern.

“Hello, I’m the owner here. My surname is Zhao. What happened to make you so angry?”

Zhao Shutong struggled to control her expression, but her peripheral vision caught Feng Miwan’s “pitiful” appearance and the twitching corners of Xiong Yibai’s mouth, nearly breaking her composure.

Director Wang, as if finding an outlet for his rage, pointed at Feng Miwan and angrily listed her offenses.

“You’re the boss, Zhao? What’s with this server of yours?! First, she drops bones into my colleague’s wine glass, then she splashes water all over me!”

“These pants cost several thousand yuan! Clumsy as hell, stupid too! Is this how you train your staff?”

Zhao Shutong listened, her facial muscles twisting from the effort to hold back laughter.

She took a deep breath, turned to Feng Miwan with a stern face, and began scolding her.

“Little Lin! What is wrong with you?! How many times have I told you—service requires care and attention! Why do you keep messing up?! Your bonus for this month is deducted in full!”

Feng Miwan kept her head down, her shoulders shaking even harder—clearly struggling to contain her laughter.

To outsiders, it just looked like she was silently sobbing from the injustice.

“I’m sorry, boss. I’ll be more careful next time…”

Xiong Yibai also lifted her water glass, pretending to drink to hide the uncontrollable curve of her lips.

After the scolding, Zhao Shutong felt the act had gone far enough. To appease the furious customer, she made a grand gesture for the finale.

“We can’t afford to keep an employee like you! You’re fired! Pack up and leave now!”

Feng Miwan looked up, her eyes actually glistening with tears (from laughing). With a choked voice, she said,

“Boss… then, could you at least settle my wages?”

Zhao Shutong almost broke character.

“Wages? After causing such a huge loss to a customer, you still want wages? Not a single cent! Get out!”

At that, Feng Miwan went all out, covering her face and letting out a wail as she burst into fake tears. She turned and ran off, her shoulders heaving dramatically as if heartbroken.

Only then did Zhao Shutong turn to the ashen-faced Director Wang, forcing a serious expression.

“Director Wang, are you satisfied with this resolution? For the damage to your pants, our restaurant is willing to…”

Before she could finish, Xiong Yibai stood up and said,

“Owner Zhao, no need to fire her. I don’t think the girl meant it—she’s crying so hard. Besides,”

She glanced at Director Wang and said flatly,

“After all this commotion, I’ve lost my appetite. Sorry, Director Wang, everyone, I’ll take my leave first.”

With that, ignoring Director Wang’s attempts to stop her and the stares from her colleagues, she grabbed her bag and walked unhurriedly in the direction where Feng Miwan had run off crying.

Director Wang stood there, pants still wet, face a mix of shock and frustration, surrounded by dumbfounded colleagues.

Zhao Shutong watched Xiong Yibai’s departing figure, her goal achieved, and inwardly burst with joy.

Xiong Yibai passed through the restaurant corridor and pushed open the slightly ajar door to the staff break room, colliding right into Feng Miwan, who had changed back into her own clothes and was about to come out.

Their eyes met.

Feng Miwan’s face showed no trace of the earlier tearful sobbing—only the triumphant grin of a successful prankster.

Xiong Yibai looked at her, and the smile she’d been suppressing finally broke free.

No words were needed; everything was understood without saying.

“No more gathering?” Feng Miwan asked, tilting her head playfully, already knowing the answer.

Xiong Yibai shook her head. “No mood for it.”

“Perfect, then.” Feng Miwan’s smile widened. She reached out, grabbed Xiong Yibai’s wrist, then slid her hand down to clasp hers.

“Come with me!”

Xiong Yibai felt a sudden warmth on her wrist, followed by her entire palm enveloped in a hot hand.

The sensation was unfamiliar and abrupt, making her heart skip a beat. Instinctively, she wanted to pull away—a reflex from years of calm self-control.

But when Feng Miwan turned back to look at her, those eyes sparkling with light and laughter held a magical pull, gradually dissolving her faint resistance.