Life Is A Cabaret

Under the scorching noon-day sun, the small café hummed with activity as the bustling customers sought refuge from the relentless heat. A lone figure left an indelible mark on the polished floor, a solitary shoe-print leading a trail to the bustling counter. There, amidst the clinking of cutlery and the soft whir of the ice-cream churn, a customer, unfazed by the oppressive weather, ordered a refreshing glass of ice-cream from the composed Liu Yemui, the seasoned guardian of the cash register.

In the backdrop of this scene, Soo-Ah, her sleeves rolled up, tirelessly worked her way through the choreography of the afternoon. With meticulous diligence, she meticulously attended to each dish, wiping the tables with a quiet determination that seemed impervious to the scorching temperature. As the afternoon sun blazed, seeping through the windows, She didn't complicate things, she remained composed. She was as cool as a cucumber.

"There have been quite a lot of customers making their way through the bustling streets lately," remarked Manager Claire, her voice carrying a touch of warmth as she sat adjacent to the counter. "I can't quite discern if it's the scorching heat or perhaps your undeniable charm, Liu Yemui."

Liu Yemui's cheeks flushed slightly at Manager Claire's words, even though a few groups of girls had approached him earlier, requesting pictures and comparing his appearance to that of a celebrity. Their attention had left him feeling somewhat uneasy about engaging with others.

For him, it was better not to draw attention to his appearance, a sentiment he quietly resolved to keep to himself.

Soo-Ah, her movements unhindered by the conversation, glanced up from her task, her smile gentle yet knowing. "Manager Claire, you always manage to tease Liu Yemui, but I've reassured him several times that he needn't fret over such matters."

"Oh, why not? Liu Yemui is undeniably striking, akin to a bona fide celebrity, wouldn't you agree?"

"Absolutely," Soo-Ah chimed in, nodding in agreement.

"Then, I'll make sure to invite him to the party tomorrow. He has quite the following among the girls in the vicinity, you see. His presence could draw significant attention to our establishment, perhaps even serving as a living advertisement," Manager Claire proposed with a knowing twinkle in her eye.

Soo-Ah nodded in agreement and playfully asserted, "No, he's mine, and mine only." With a composed smile, she resumed her diligent work, seemingly unaffected by the banter.

Amused, Manager Claire chuckled softly, meeting Soo-Ah's gaze before giving her a playful wink. "Well, that's good to know."

As Soo-Ah continued attending to the table, her eyes momentarily met Manager Claire's, and in a hushed whisper, she cautioned, "Don't you dare breathe a word of this to him. I won't let you snatch him away from me."

In that moment, Liu Yemui, catching a faint murmur, turned towards Soo-Ah and inquired, "Did you say something just now?"

Soo-Ah's cheeks flushed as she met Liu Yemui's gaze, her expression a mixture of bashfulness and a coy smile. "No, not at all," she replied softly, her words barely audible amidst the bustling ambiance of the cafe.

With an odd tone in his voice, Liu Yemui remarked, "Oh, okay, I'm going to wash my hands in the back." He then started to make his way towards the rear of the café.

As he leaned over the sink, he was suddenly captivated by the holographic screen of the Quy system. It displayed a message:

[Congratulations on completing the daily quest. As a reward, my dear host, you have the choice to pick one of these Mystery Gifts. Please select carefully, and thank you again! You have three minutes to decide, or your decision will be cancelled, and another gift will be sent to you. Once you choose a gift, there will be no return nor refund, so please be careful!]

The holographic display beckoned with a sense of intrigue, presenting the following options:

─ Mystery Box 1

─ Mystery Box 2

─ Mystery Box ???

In the dimly lit room, each label on the screen seemed to shimmer with the promise of the unknown. Yet, despite his anticipation, this particular item section remained an enigma, marked only with a cryptic "???." Liu Yemui's curiosity got the better of him, and he gingerly placed his hand on the screen's display bar, trying to unlock the secrets hidden within this mysterious question mark box.

To his frustration, the screen displayed information, but it was far from what he had expected. The contents were unsettling, off-centre, and far from what he could accept. A frustrated "Tch-Ch" escaped his lips as he felt anger welling up within him. What had appeared to be a tantalizing discovery had turned into a disappointing revelation, nothing more than a regular ticket.

With a heavy heart and a sense of deception, Liu Yemui let his head drop in disappointment. It felt as if the Quy System was playing tricks on him, or perhaps this was just another form of punishment for his actions. The promise of the unknown had turned into a frustrating ordeal, leaving Liu Yemui to ponder the mysteries of this bewildering situation.

Overwhelmed by confusion and a sense of loss, Liu Yemui found himself struggling to gather his thoughts. Frustration bubbled up within him, and he couldn't help but curse the Quy system, feeling as though it had deliberately led him astray. The weight of his disappointment hung heavy in the air.

As Liu Yemui resolved to click on Mystery Box 3 with unwavering determination, an unexpected twist interrupted his intention. Out of nowhere, a fly zipped through the air, colliding with his face. Startled, Liu Yemui instinctively lifted his head, blinking rapidly to restore his vision. A swarm of minuscule flies enveloped his face, creating a persistent buzz around his nose.

"Ugh...

Little did he know, in the midst of this chaotic moment, Liu Yemui inadvertently pressed on The Mystery Box ???, triggering an unexpected turn of events. The screen flashed to life, resembling a lottery in motion, and unveiled a resplendent golden box. Liu Yemui, harboring a desire for a Mystery Gift box, remained oblivious to the fact that he was unwittingly participating in this peculiar lottery.

In the end, the abrupt and intense reaction left Liu Yemui gasping for breath, while the swarm of tiny flies seized the opportunity to make their hasty escape. The convergence of the unexpected and the mysterious continued to shape Liu Yemui's unforeseen adventure.

It was something like a movie of mysterious, be seemily to be hint from the something that was not expected, it could be unanticipated enigmatic.