Chapter 2 : The Art Of Selling Oneself

The Handsome Butler Coffee Shop offered an array of attractive beverage selections, mainly coffee of course, accompanied with various cakes and desserts.

Each item on the list was equipped with aesthetically pleasing images, making it difficult for the ladies to fix their order.

But it didn't really matter.

What really mattered was the last page of the menu.

Li Yanran, a newcomer to the coffee shop, widened her eyes in astonishment when she finally arrived at the last page.

"W-w-what is this?" She sputtered in disbelief.

On the last page of the menu was the Handsome Butler Coffee Shop's raison d'etre*.

"Esteemed guests of the Handsome Butler Coffee Shop, the coffee shop management is beyond grateful for your patronage!

If your purchase is the same amount of or exceeds 100 Yuan, you shall earn yourself a loving hug from the butler who serves you.

If your purchase is the same amount of or exceeds 200 Yuan, you shall earn yourself a loving hug and a tender kiss on the forehead or the cheek from the butler who serves you.

If your purchase is the same amount of or exceeds 1,000 Yuan, you shall earn yourself a loving hug, a tender kiss on the forehead or the cheek, and a dance routine from the butler who serves you."

Shen Jingwei had been quite lucky during his employment in the past few months. Only one drunk idiot and his group of friends ever came into the coffee shop and paid over 1,000 Yuan for him to perform a dance routine one time.

It was, not to be humble at all, probably the second worst day of his life.

Li Yanran's friends cheered from her sides.

"This is our gift for you!" They cried out.

"A hug or a hug and a kiss both? Yanran, which one do you want?"

Li Yanran, the timid and shy woman in her twenties, could barely raise her head to look in Shen Jingwei's direction.

Shen Jingwei preferred such customers, believe it or not. He knew his limits and he strictly adhered to them; unlike some customers who thought they could do anything to him as they pleased.

The young man sighed, his downcast gaze and fluttering lashes revealing a vulnerability that stirred a profound response. His exposed emotional fragility created a palpable tension, as if the very air around him held a silent plea.

"I am sorry," he said. "It is your birthday, Miss Yanran, and yet I can't give you anything for free. I feel like a failure."

Li Yanran, completely under his spell, rose to her feet and rushed to his defense.

"Not at all!" She cried out. "You have been so nice to me. No one has ever... Ever..."

Li Yanran was unable to finish her words.

It was too embarrassing.

All guys liked girls with beautiful faces and slender figures. She, on the other hand, was perfectly average.

She only knew how to put on simple make-up, she didn't know how to flirt with men, and she was too shy to wear revealing clothes. Not that she was confident with her body.

She always felt fat whatever she wore.

"Really."

Shen Jingwei took Li Yanran's hands and squeezed them.

"Those men are but fools. All I see in front of me is a delicate treasure, hidden away in the most precious corner."

They looked into each other's eyes, and Li Yanran was lost forever, body and soul.

200 Yuan later, Shen Jingwei successfully sold himself. Li Yanran was literally floating when she left the coffee shop, not without telling Shen Jingwei that she would come to visit again for sure.

Shen Jingwei sent them off. The door closed, and the Head Butler appeared behind him.

"You worked hard, Little Shen," he said. "I am sorry for calling you last minute. So glad you were available."

Shen Jingwei smiled at his superior.

"Call me up whenever you need me, I can use the money."

The Head Butler beamed at him and patted his shoulder.

"I like you a lot, but I hope you take your leave as soon as possible."

A bitter smile graced Shen Jingwei's lips as he watched the Head Butler leave.

It was no secret that the part-timers in Handsome Butler Coffee Shop were all aspiring actors, or low-tier actors who had time to spare to earn some money. They would ditch the work in no time when they landed a role, and returned when their acting careers hit a lull.

Shen Jingwei estimated around ten ex-colleagues who left the coffee shop in the past three months.

Everyone was secretly wondering when Shen Jingwei too would disappear for good.

But not Shen Jingwei.

He knew that he was stuck at the bottom.

Climbing up was difficult when one was practically forgotten.

The shift ended smoothly.

"Well then."

Shen Jingwei closed his locker and waved at his two colleagues. "I shall take my leave now."

"Good work today," Luo Chengshi and Yang Zichen said at the same time.

As Shen Jingwei walked away from the locker room, he heard the other two start talking about Jin Zhuo's audition.

"I wonder if he gets the role," Luo Chengshi said while taking a sip from his soft drink can. "It is quite a big role, right?"

"Not the protagonist role," Yang Zichen said. "The protagonist role was decided a while ago."

"What was the new C-Drama called again...?"

Shen Jingwei did not hear the answer because the music from his ear pods started flowing into his ear then.

It was 5 PM, a good time for a little walk around the park before going home. He planned to buy some dinner from the convenience store close to his apartment before going home.

It was a good day, he thought to himself. Even without acting jobs.

Just then, the music stopped playing and a call from his manager came in.

"... Hello, Old Zhu."

Zhu Dongyi, a talent manager of Beihai Entertainment, who was unlucky enough to suffer the dooming fate of managing an unsuccessful Z-List actor such as Shen Jingwei, sounded like a man on the brink of despair.

"Little Shen, I am about to jump from the twentieth floor of this building."

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Author's note :

*Raison d'etre = reason of being.