Chapter 18: You Don’t Need to Come Tomorrow, Or Ever Again.
Mu Mu thought Madame Li was giving him a day off, quickly looking up at her, saying, “No need, Boss, I don’t need a day off, I can work continuously.”
Madame Li understood that it was best to speak directly to Mu Mu, the simpleton wouldn’t understand anything roundabout.
She didn’t know what was wrong with her. The words “You’re fired” felt like they were burning her mouth. She couldn’t say them, even though she usually fired employees in under a minute.
It was probably her remaining conscience.
Madame Li glanced at the time on her light brain; she had two hours left until the deadline given to her.
Logically, this was plenty of time.
Firing an employee shouldn’t take more than five minutes. Even with a difficult one, it would take only half an hour.
Yet, this time, Madame Li felt that two hours was too short, too short for her to properly prepare her words and emotions.
She tossed back the liquor, cursing inwardly, before slowly raising her gaze. When her eyes met his clear black ones, most of her anger dissipated.
Madame Li quickly averted her gaze, unable to meet his eyes, fearing her reflection in them would be ugly.
“It’s not a rest,” Madame Li coughed lightly, covering her mouth with her fist, before looking back at Mu Mu. Her expression remained cold and sharp, the most beautiful and dangerous wild rose in Liuli Star’s nightlife.
However, the wild rose’s gaze flickered; she dared not look at Mu Mu, whose aura was far less imposing than hers.
“I mean, you don’t need to come tomorrow, or ever again.”
Mu Mu didn’t immediately understand, staring blankly at Madame Li, his lips moving silently, repeating her words over and over, letting his slow brain process the meaning.
After a while, his eyes trembled, like a fawn caught in a hunter’s snare, looking at the hunter, Madame Li, in terror, his lips quivering, asking, “Boss, am I fired?”
Madame Li couldn’t help feeling guilty, seeing the innocent child looking at her with such innocent eyes.
Especially since this innocent child was her most diligent and obedient employee, who had never caused any trouble. Instead of firing him, she wanted to give him a raise, to have him work for her for the rest of his life.
But now, she could only nod cruelly, “Yes, you’re fired.”
Mu Mu, about to lose a well-paying job, no longer cared about being afraid of his boss. He took a large step forward, his eyes red and teary, looking at Madame Li with a pleading expression, begging desperately,
“Boss, why are you firing me? Did I do something wrong? Did I make a customer angry? I can apologize! Or you can fine me! Please, Boss, don’t fire me!”
Mu Mu’s voice was naturally soft, already endearing even in normal speech. Now, with a hint of crying, it was even more pitiful, and anyone hearing it would feel sympathy.
Madame Li wasn’t heartless; she felt sympathy too. But she knew that if she felt sorry for Mu Mu and kept him, the other person wouldn’t feel sorry for her, and her shop might disappear from Liuli Star.
She had already warned Mu Mu, the little fool, to stay away from that person! Why did he keep going back?!
Besides, why did that person involve her in their pursuit? Was she a part of their game?
Thinking this, Madame Li couldn’t help but feel resentment. She looked at Mu Mu, whose eyes were now even redder than a rabbit’s, and said, “It’s not that I don’t want to keep you, it’s that I dare not. Mu Mu, think carefully about who you offended.”
Madame Li spoke so plainly that even if Mu Mu were more foolish, he would understand that no matter how much he pleaded, Madame Li wouldn’t keep him.
Although, he really didn’t understand who Madame Li was referring to.
Mu Mu lowered his head, wiped his face with the back of his hand, and softly thanked Madame Li in a nasal voice before turning and quickly walking out the door.
Madame Li, seeing the small, limping figure, felt a pang in her heart. She couldn’t bear to see such an innocent simpleton being bullied, abruptly standing up.
In three quick strides, her high heels clicking loudly, she reached the door before Mu Mu.
Mu Mu looked up at Madame Li, his eyes, washed clean by tears, were shining with hope.
But Madame Li was about to disappoint him. She looked away, unable to meet his gaze, whispering, “Don’t go to other shops on this street. They won’t hire you.”
Madame Li’s well-meaning warning was undoubtedly the worst news for Mu Mu.
The light in Mu Mu’s eyes completely extinguished, his eyes even redder than before. He not only lost his high-paying job but also his chance to find work on this street.
Working as a waiter in a nightclub was the highest-paying job Mu Mu could find.
Seeing Mu Mu’s silence, Madame Li’s heart skipped a beat. Thinking he might disobey her again, she quickly added in a stern voice.
“Mu Mu, you know your situation and the situation of other shops. Except for me, no one will protect you. Don’t be foolish! Obey!”
Mu Mu lowered his head, his shoulders shrinking at her words. He nodded vigorously, his eyes behind his bangs even redder than a red-eyed white rabbit.
“I know. Thank you, Boss, for your care. Mu Mu, I, I’m going.”
He bowed deeply to Madame Li, not waiting for her to say anything more, and slipped out like a gust of wind.
Madame Li looked at the open door, clenching her fist until her sharp nails pierced her palm, causing a sharp pain before she released her hand.
“Damn it!” Madame Li covered her eyes with her hand, spinning around twice before taking out her light brain to send a message.
Mu Mu left the shop during peak hours.
The waiters scattered throughout the hall, watching Mu Mu wipe his tears as he walked out, were surprised. They wanted to gossip, wondering what happened to Mu Mu. Had he been scolded by the boss? Or fired?
But they were either carrying drinks or serving customers looking at the menu. None could spare a hand to satisfy everyone’s curiosity, only watching the small figure disappear into the dark doorway.
Mu Mu stood at the entrance of the shop, looking at the neon lights of the nightclub street, rubbing the rough seams of his backpack strap, hesitating for a while before turning towards the bus stop, his lost gaze regaining its firmness.
It didn’t matter if he couldn’t find a job on the nightclub street; he could still find other jobs. Liuli Star was different from other planets; there were many jobs he could do.
Zheng An, learning that Mu Mu had been fired, comforted him in the same way. He even picked out Mu Mu’s favorite peach-flavored nutrient solution from his fruit-flavored collection, as a gift to celebrate Mu Mu finally quitting his job on the nightclub street.
Zheng An had never approved of Mu Mu working on Nightclub Street. It was a den of iniquity, and Mu Mu, with his pretty face and simple mind, could easily become a target for bad people, devoured until nothing remained.
But Madame Li’s salary was incredibly high, and Mu Mu couldn’t refuse, nor could Zheng An. If Zheng An wasn’t so lazy and didn’t dislike night shifts, he would have applied too.
Zheng An had heard that Madame Li had a fierce reputation on Nightclub Street and had a powerful backer. Her shop was orderly, and no one dared to cause trouble there. She was also known for protecting her employees, so Zheng An let Mu Mu go.
Although Zheng An said he wasn’t worried and didn’t consider Mu Mu a friend, always telling Mu Mu to stay away, he waited for Mu Mu to come home every day before going to bed.
Now that Mu Mu was fired, Zheng An felt relieved.
Seeing Mu Mu holding the nutrient solution without opening it, Zheng An pulled a stool to sit beside him, took the nutrient solution, opened it, and fed it to Mu Mu, patting his shoulder.
“Stop crying. It’s just a job; you can still work for Fat Boss. Drink this, take a hot shower, and get a good night’s sleep. You have work tomorrow.”