"So, you just joined Anteiku like that?"
He Xi Qian Yu, while carefully wiping a glass in his hand, looked up at Nishio Nishiki, who had already put on an apron, and raised his eyebrows playfully, "Tsk, tsk, tsk… Someone was warning me to stay away from the manager and them before…"
"This is for Kimi!" Nishio Nishiki immediately emphasized, his tone resolute, "If it weren't for her, I'd rather die than get involved with these guys!"
When mentioning the others in the coffee shop, his face revealed unconcealed disdain.
"When Jin Mu received the message, he rushed over without a second thought," He Xi Qian Yu put down the cup, walked to Nishio Nishiki's side, patted his shoulder lightly, and lowered his voice, "He could have waited for me to come back; that would have been safer."
Nishio Nishiki was instantly speechless, his eyes flickered, and he avoided He Xi Qian Yu's gaze.
"Actually, in your heart, you've already changed your opinion of them, haven't you?" He Xi Qian Yu's lips curved into a teasing smile, "It's just that someone can't bring himself to admit it."
Nishio Nishiki opened his mouth, as if still wanting to argue.
"Alright, alright," He Xi Qian Yu's smile became more sincere, interrupting him, "Anyway, Nishiki, welcome to Antique."
Nishio Nishiki looked at his friend's knowing expression, his lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing.
"No more nonsense," He Xi Qian Yu put away his smile and said seriously, "The manager instructed me to familiarize you with the work."
Next, He Xi Qian Yu began to teach Nishio Nishiki how to take orders, record them, deliver food, and some basic coffee shop etiquette.
After a period of instruction, although Nishio Nishiki's movements were still a bit stiff and unpracticed, he could handle daily reception without a problem.
Just then—
"Hinami… Hinami just wants to be with her father!"
A childish voice, tearful, full of grievance and longing, suddenly rang out. It wasn't loud, but it instantly attracted the attention of the entire coffee shop.
He Xi Qian Yu looked in the direction of the sound, only to see little Hinami in a corner seat suddenly push her chair away. Like a startled fawn, she rushed out of the open shop door without looking back, her slender legs bursting with astonishing speed.
"Hinami!" Mrs. Di Kou exclaimed, standing up abruptly, watching her daughter's disappearing back, her heart clenching tightly.
Noticing that everyone's gaze in the shop was focused on her, Mrs. Di Kou suppressed the panic and sadness in her heart, a apologetic smile appearing on her face: "I'm sorry… This child… misses her father…"
Her voice was gentle, trying hard to maintain composure, but the unconcealed sadness deep in her eyes betrayed her true emotions—it wasn't just Hinami; how could she not worry day and night, fearing that her husband had met with misfortune? But in front of her child, she had to remain calm.
"Qianyu Jun," Mrs. Di Kou turned to He Xi Qian Yu, with a plea in her eyes, "Could I trouble you to bring Hinami back? She… probably doesn't want to see me right now…"
"Leave it to me, Mrs. Di Kou." He Xi Qian Yu nodded immediately without hesitation.
"Jin Mu!" He turned and called out.
Kaneki Ken, who was taking an order for a customer, looked up at the sound.
"Continue to familiarize your senior with the work," He Xi Qian Yu spoke faster, pointing to Nishio Nishiki, "I'm going out for a bit."
"Oh, alright!" Kaneki Ken quickly responded.
He Xi Qian Yu no longer delayed, turned and pushed open the door of Anteiku Coffee Shop, his figure quickly blending into the hustle and bustle of the street outside.
The street was crowded with pedestrians and flowing traffic, and Hinami's tiny figure had long disappeared into the vast sea of people.
"Tsk… What a troublesome brat… Where did she run off to…" Slaughter's hoarse voice, filled with unconcealed annoyance, echoed in He Xi Qian Yu's mind.
"Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and help me find her," He Xi Qian Yu whispered in his mind, his gaze sweeping around.
The nearby park? A children's playground? Or the bookstore she usually likes to go to?
"What's the rush…" Slaughter's voice sounded, with a hint of certainty, "The scent on that little brat… I'm very familiar with it… Follow me…"
He Xi Qian Yu quickly walked in the direction of the scent perceived by Slaughter. He crossed two streets and turned into a relatively quiet park.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the sparse branches, casting dappled shadows. A few elderly people sat scattered on benches, basking in the sun, and the environment was much more serene than the noisy street.
"She's right there… behind that biggest tree… by the bench… the source of the scent… she's crying…" Slaughter precisely locked onto the target.
He Xi Qian Yu lightened his steps, walked around the moss-covered stone path, and headed towards the old tree with lush branches deep in the park. Sure enough, behind the tree, by an old wooden bench, a small figure was curled up in a pile of fallen leaves.
Hinami hugged her knees, her entire head buried in her arms, her thin shoulders uncontrollably heaving, and intermittent sobs were exceptionally clear in the quiet corner of the park.
Her small body was huddled into a ball, her golden-brown hair somewhat disheveled by the wind, and a few withered yellow leaves clung to her hair and clothes.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting flickering light spots on her trembling back, and that heavy sadness seemed to merge into the cool air.
He Xi Qian Yu's heart softened instantly. He took a deep breath of the cool, grassy air in the park, trying to soften his voice and movements, slowly squatted down a few steps away from her, and gently called out: "Hinami?"
The small body trembled violently, and the sobs ceased abruptly. Hinami slowly raised her head, her adorable little face covered in tear stains, her eyes red and swollen from crying, her long eyelashes wet with tears and matted together, looking both disheveled and heartbreaking.
When she saw it was He Xi Qian Yu, a hint of panic and grievance flashed in her eyes, and she instinctively shrank further into the shadow of the bench.
"Qian… Qianyu Gege…" Her voice was heavily nasal, timid, like a startled small animal.
"It's me." He Xi Qian Yu maintained his squatting posture, keeping his gaze level with hers, his tone unprecedentedly gentle, "If you hide here and cry by yourself, the wind will hurt your eyes, you know."
Hinami sniffled, and tears uncontrollably rolled down in large drops again. She shook her head vigorously, choking out, "I'm… I'm sorry… Hinami didn't mean to… Hinami… Hinami really misses her father so much…"
When she said the words "father," her emotions collapsed again, her small mouth puckered, and it looked like she was about to burst into loud sobs.
He Xi Qian Yu reached out, his fingertips gently brushing away a few fallen leaves clinging to Hinami's hair, and then gently placed his warm palm on her small shoulder: "I know, I know Hinami misses her father very much. Mrs. Di Kou also misses him a lot; she was so worried just now."
He tried hard to produce a warm and reassuring smile, looking directly into Hinami's tear-filled eyes: "Hinami, be good. Gege will take you to find your father, okay?"