Chapter 348: – Part Time Job
Lin Jin found herself a fairly easy job.
She was a ticket seller at a cinema, the type of temporary job that just stands behind a counter selling tickets.
Since it was only a part time job, she basically only worked five hours a day, from five in the evening to ten at night. The pay wasn’t high either, less than fifty a day. Thankfully, even though commuting by bus for half an hour was a bit of a hassle, this type of not physically demanding job suited her quite well.
The only issue was that it pushed Lin Jin’s bedtime to nearly twelve at night. Lately, she has been feeling more and more sleepy. Sleeping from twelve until seven thirty for class, then she would need another two three hours of sleep in the afternoon to feel rested. If she happened to have something in the afternoon, then she could only pass the day in a daze.
Taking the bus to Wanda Cinema, Lin Jin quickly went to the women's locker room, changed into her uniform, and then headed to the counter to start her work.
The counter usually stationed three people on duty. One handled the snacks and two handled the tickets. Though during peak times, the three people weren't enough and they would be so busy their feet barely touched the ground. From time to time, they would even need the ticket checking guy to come lend a hand.
The other two ticket sellers were also girls. One was a twenty three year old who began working before she even graduated highschool. Full time, average looking. But she was good at getting along with people. On Lin Jin’s first day, she had treated Lin Jin to snacks and such. It was said that she had been an employee since this Wanda Cinema first opened three or four years ago. If the manager was out, she would be in charge. The second girl was also a part timer in her third year of college. Slightly chubby, but looked extremely friendly when she smiled.
Well, it was only Lin Jin’s second day at work, but she had already become acquainted with these two colleagues.
"Sister Xu" Lin Jin walked straight to the counter area and greeted the full time girl.
"You’re showing up so early on your second day." Xu Jie briefly glanced down at her phone and smiled. "There’s still half an hour before you start."
"It’s okay, there’s nothing to do at home anyways."
Today, the flow of people in the cinema wasn’t that high and the few people at the counter could easily handle it.
Since it wasn't quite her shift yet, Lin Jin was idle and casually helped sell a couple tickets. Most of the time, she just sat behind the counter playing on her phone. It wasn’t until half an hour later when it was time to switch shifts and two colleagues took off that Lin Jin officially started working.
"Lin Jin, Wang Qi’s not here yet?" Sister Xu stood on her toes and peered towards the locker rooms but didn’t spot the college student named Wang Qi.
"I don't know, I'm not too close with her" Lin Jin shrugged, skillfully handling the ticket sales and popcorn. Despite her wearing a plain uniform, her waist long black hair still attracted many curious glances. Coupled with her pretty face, she had to deal with some boys trying to flirt with her while working at the counter.
"I'll go call and ask, you hang on for a bit." Since they weren't allowed to use their phones during work hours, Sister Xu hurriedly ran to the locker room to make the call.
But with her gone like this, all of the work immediately fell on Lin Jin. Facing two lines with five six people each, Lin Jin’s face darkened, feeling like her life was covered in darkness.
Simultaneously selling both tickets and snacks, she was extremely busy. Before Sister Xu could return, Lin Jin suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"Lin Jin? Why are you here?"
"What?" While scooping popcorn, Lin Jin looked up only to find Liu Shengqi standing in front of the counter.
"Didn’t you leave?" Lin Jin casually asked, having no time to pay attention to him. She ducked her head back down to continue with her work. The customers were decent enough. Although the efficiency was low with just one person, not many people openly complained.
As she was busy with the work, Sister Xu finally returned. She jumped right back into her duties and casually chatted with Lin Jin: "She’s not coming anymore and didn't even say anything. Students these days, none of them stick around for long."
"Yeah" Lin Jin nodded in agreement.
Standing beside the counter, Liu Shengqi was a bit confused. Lin Jin had clearly just asked him a question, yet now she was suddenly ignoring him.
But ignoring him was pretty good too. Liu Shengqi scanned Lin Jin up and down, realizing that maybe because Lin Jin had changed into women’s clothing today, she appeared more feminine today. Before, even if Lin Jin dressed in cute, girly clothes, it would just be her outer appearance that was cute. As soon as she spoke or did anything, her tomboyish nature would be revealed. But today, whether in conversation or in actions, she was noticeably softer and more girlish.
This Liu Shengqi fellow was quite patient. After waiting until all the guests bought tickets and snacks, Lin Jin finally noticed his existence again. When Lin Jin finally noticed him again, a smile appeared on his face and he greeted her with a warm smile.
That smile almost made Lin Jin sick. She could only step forward, facing him from across the counter.
Liu Shengqi then answered her earlier question: “Recently, my dad squeezed me into a high school. I’m in the twelfth grade now, preparing to get on the college entrance exam bus.”
“That works?” Lin Jin looked around, saw no other customers and decided to continue the conversation. She had time anyway. “You’re in twelfth grade and still have time to come watch movies?”
“I’m just messing around anyways.” Liu Shengqi said with an indifferent expression. “I was supposed to meet an online friend tonight, but she insisted we watch a movie.”
“Oh?” Lin Jin’s eyes lit up.
Could this person have started using message in a bottle type apps to pick up girls? In that case, aren’t I saved?
Liu Shengqi immediately noticed that Lin Jin seemed to have misunderstood something and hurriedly explained, worried about leaving some misunderstanding in Lin Jin’s heart: “It’s a friend I played online games with, been two to three years. Just a few days ago, we realized we actually lived pretty close. I only found out she was a girl after we decided to meet up, I had no idea before.”
"Really? Where's the girl?" Lin Jin clearly looked skeptical.
He immediately turned and waved behind him, and a girl who looked no older than fourteen or fifteen ran up.
"Brother Liu, what’s wrong?" The girl spoke with an overly cutesy loli voice, so sweet it was nauseating.
Holy f*ck, this girl was definitely acting cutesy on purpose!
Lin Jin's impression of her instantly became that of an underaged attention seeking b*tch.
"It's nothing, my friend just wanted to meet you." Liu Shengqi flashed a big brotherly smile, patted the girl on the head, and introduced her to Lin Jin, "This is Xiao Meng, high school student, seventeen years old, just looks a bit younger that’s all."
"Oh, no wonder."
No wonder she knows how to use that loli voice to hook guys, so that’s it.
"Hello sister~" Xiao Meng sweetly smiled.
Sister my ass! If you're not maliciously pretending to be cute, then this lady will take on your last name!
Lin Jin's eyelids twitched twice, too annoyed to speak.
Translator’s Note: Xiao Meng (曉萌), a different Xiao from the xiao 小 used for little. But the 萌 Meng does mean cute.