The thought had barely flashed through Yun Manman's mind when the fluffy ball in front of her jumped down from the wind chime. With a flash of white light, it transformed into a tall youth wearing a gray and white tracksuit.
Yun Manman easily recognized him by his striking silvery-gray hair - this handsome young man was the male beastman who had helped them stop Huang Youcai in the shop a few days ago.
After pondering for a moment, Yun Manman hesitantly asked, "Yin... Qian?"
The youth's fine features remained expressionless as he replied, "Yes, that's me. You remembered my name."
Ah, well, I didn't mean to remember it.
Your name is just too easy to recall.
Yin Qian, silver money.
Who doesn't like money?
Yun Manman chuckled awkwardly, scratching her head as she quickly stepped forward to open the shop door with her iris scan. "Ah yes... I'm so grateful for your help last time! I didn't get a chance to thank you then!"
When she had left the dessert shop for the police station that day, she realized Yin Qian had already silently departed.
The young man followed her into the dessert shop, looking around to assess the environment.
Hmm, there's a back door - an extra escape route.
The windows are small, but that shouldn't be a problem for feline beastmen.
Hearing Yun Manman's thanks, he lowered his gaze to meet her sincere eyes and responded with utmost seriousness, "No need to thank me. It was my duty."
Indeed, it was his duty.
After all, it was a task assigned by Deputy Lu.
Yin Qian stood there, his posture as straight as a poplar tree.
Yun Manman couldn't help but inwardly marvel: What a serious child, truly the bright future of Kashida!
He was just a bit too tall, making her neck ache slightly.
Her height of 1.6 meters really didn't cut it in Kashida; she couldn't even measure up to the high schooler in front of her.
As Yun Manman was considering what to give Yin Qian as a token of gratitude, she heard the youth's voice:
"I'm here to apply for the apprentice position. May I have an interview now?"
"Huh?" Yun Manman was momentarily stunned, unable to react immediately.
She had posted a notice on a recruitment app yesterday about hiring an apprentice for the dessert shop, stating that interviews and trial work periods would be required. She hadn't expected someone to show up for an interview so quickly.
And it was Yin Qian, whom she had briefly met two days ago when he had helped them.
Yun Manman checked the time and figured it was still early enough to conduct an interview. So she led Yin Qian to sit down.
She actually didn't want to hire someone so young; high school students should prioritize their studies, right? Was he coming for a part-time job?
But he had helped her just yesterday, so she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
However, moments later, Yun Manman was shocked.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she looked at the resume in her hands, her emerald cat eyes filled with astonishment.
Yes, Yin Qian had even prepared a resume.
The resume had Yin Qian's photo attached, and the age listed indicated he was an adult avian, though by avian standards, he had only recently come of age.
This was the first thing that shocked Yun Manman.
She had thought he was still underage, still in high school!
The second shock came from the densely packed list of awards on the resume.
"National Mathematics Modeling Competition First Prize", "Mechanical Disassembly Contest Champion", "Weapon Design Innovation Gold Award", "Kashida Military and Mechanical University Outstanding Graduate"...
The string of "First Prizes" and "Gold Awards" made Yun Manman's head spin.
She looked up again at the handsome youth sitting upright before her, then rubbed her eyes and looked back down at the dazzling resume in her hands.
Her voice couldn't hide her shock: "This is your resume?"
Yin Qian furrowed his brows slightly: "Yes, it's mine."
Yun Manman picked up her water glass and took a sip, trying to conceal her surprise.
No way, how did she deserve to have such a science and engineering prodigy come to be an apprentice in her shop?
This was truly the bright, promising future of Kashida!
After hesitating for a moment, Yun Manman asked, "Why... do you want to be an apprentice here?"
Yin Qian replied without hesitation: "I want to learn how to make desserts."
Yun Manman pressed on: "With such an impressive background, why not pursue a job related to your field?"
Yin Qian's tone grew even more determined: "I want to learn how to make desserts."
Yun Manman: "..."
Seeing her increasingly bewildered and skeptical gaze, Yin Qian seemed to recall something and said, "My mother liked desserts."
Then he lowered his head slightly, his eyes downcast, and spoke softly: "Both my parents are gone now, but I want to learn how to make desserts, to recreate my mother's favorite flavors."
From Yun Manman's perspective, she saw the young man's dejected and sorrowful expression.
Oh dear.
Upon hearing Yin Qian's reason, Yun Manman felt a bit at a loss, thinking that her earlier doubts might have hurt the boy's sincere intentions.
She couldn't help but empathize with him; in her previous life, she too had been a child without parents.
Poor, unfortunate child.
Her gaze towards Yin Qian softened with a sense of shared experience: "Ah, it's fine for you to come and learn. But it gets quite busy here, and there will be a lot for you to do. Whether you can learn everything depends on your own efforts, though I'll do my best to teach you..."
"Also, you'll need to do a one-day trial first. I still have two more people to interview before making a final decision. I hope you understand."
Yin Qian listened attentively and nodded.
At the same time, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed Deputy Lu's advice was indeed correct.
The resume was genuine, and all the accomplishments listed were Yin Qian's own. But this version of the resume had already been heavily edited.
For instance, it omitted the fact that Yin Qian currently worked in the Research and Development Group of the Mechanical Engineering Department of Kashida's First Army.
But it was true that Yin Qian was an orphan.
When he was still an egg, he had been abandoned in the border region. It was Colonel Lan Yuxiang who found him and brought him back to hatch.
The colonel had raised and nurtured him to become the talented individual he was today.
If not for Colonel Lan Yuxiang, he would have died in the mouth of a beast-hating creature while still in his egg form.
Yin Qian had always considered the First Army his home and always listened to Lu Xi's instructions.
This time, he was following Lu Xi on a mission, with orders to secretly protect this feline beastman by becoming an apprentice at the dessert shop.
Yin Qian had obediently agreed and spent an entire night with Lu Xi rehearsing interview tactics.
Thankfully, Deputy Lu had taught him well, as it seemed the feline beastman before him harbored no suspicions.
Lu Xi had called this the "sympathy ploy," saying it was very effective against soft-hearted opponents.
Indeed, there was still much for him to learn.
Yin Qian pondered silently.
Lu Qi, who had witnessed everything while coiled on the counter, inwardly rolled his eyes.
This familiar rhetoric was clearly taught by the smooth-talking Lu Xi.
At least he was smart enough to arrange for someone to provide close protection.
Lu Qi knew about this Yin Qian kid; he had entered the R&D department straight out of university.
The R&D department wasn't a place just anyone could enter; it was full of hidden talents.
Rumor had it that the recently developed close-fitting armor was designed by Yin Qian, truly a young genius.
But it was said that Yin Qian lacked social skills, as stiff as a block of wood.
Lu Qi sized up the youth before him, seriously doubting whether this emotionally stunted block of wood could successfully complete the trial period.
Such were the thoughts of the sharp-tongued and acerbic General Lu.