Page Thirty-Nine Happy Children’s Meal
[November 21st, Thursday, 11:20]
Only after Miss Fànnī returned from parking did we take the elevator out of the underground parking lot. As soon as we stepped onto the pedestrian street on the first floor, Little Qínglán, who had been bouncing along, suddenly stopped. Pointing at a KPC advertising poster beside her, she exclaimed to Sister Wēi, “Sister Wēi, I want to eat that!”
She acted like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum at her mother. Whether it was due to regression in spirit or intentionally taking advantage of her status as a child, Wū Qínglán was indeed somewhat eccentric.
By the way, what she pointed at wasn’t food but a small toy included with the meal—a Colonel Muscular Chicken.
This man-shaped chicken-headed monster with six-pack abs was KPC’s mascot. I couldn’t understand why such a tough guy mascot would be popular, especially among children.
Mother struggled to hold back Little Qínglán at the KPC entrance, looking just like a young mother at a loss.
She asked, “It’s rare for Miss Fànnī and Miss Maki to go out together. Are you planning to have fast food for lunch?”
The distinctive maid outfits worn by Miss Fànnī and Miss Margaret attracted attention. If they were moving, it might have been overlooked, but standing still made them easy targets for onlookers. This was the busiest pedestrian street, so they could easily be mistaken for maids handing out flyers, which could irritate Miss Fànnī greatly. As a professional maid, she hated being treated like that.
But Little Qínglán clung to Mother’s arm at the KPC entrance, refusing to budge like a stubborn Shiba Inu.
“Come on! It’s okay to try something different sometimes! Besides, there’s no Colonel Muscular Chicken anywhere else!”
Was she really that eager for that plastic toy?
That chicken-headed tough guy?
Due to the subtle porcupine-like relationship between Old Dad and Xiǎo Kǎi, Mother lacked experience dealing with spoiled kids. She looked to Miss Fànnī for help, who reluctantly agreed.
“Hamburgers and fried chicken are high-calorie foods, and Maki usually doesn’t make these… Well, let’s do this once in a while.”
I suddenly felt that Miss Fànnī was more like a mother.
Miss Margaret, with her imposing yet quiet demeanor, was like the father. Together, they seemed like a family.
“Wow! There are so many people!”
Even though it was Thursday at noon, KPC was bustling. Almost every four-person table was occupied.
“There are so many people… Should we find another place?”
I only suggested it, but Little Qínglán charged off. Her actions answered my question.
Using her petite frame, she darted through the crowd and secured a window seat when a group left. She stood on the chair and waved at us.
“Over here! Oh? Eh!”
She was picked up.
“Oh? Ling, isn’t this Sister Mèng?”
Coincidence or fate?
We unexpectedly met Xiàlù here. I didn’t particularly like her. Despite being the legitimate lady, she acted like a gang leader. Even under the guise of “maintaining the peace in the commercial area,” wrong remained wrong.
“Wah! It’s Sister Xiànà!”
Recognizing who was holding her, Little Qínglán blurted out.
But Xiàlù didn’t recognize Little Qínglán. The unfamiliar child calling out her nickname made her feel embarrassed, her face flushing.
“Why does such a little kid know me!”
Snatching Little Qínglán away, I complained, “I should ask you! Why is Miss Xiàlù at this平民 restaurant and even competing for seats with such a little kid?”
“Look at what you’re saying. I’ve been waiting here for several minutes! How could I give up my spot to a child running in?”
Xiàlù looked self-righteous, as if she wasn’t lying.
“It’s a four-person table… Shall we squeeze in?”
While suggesting, I handed Little Qínglán to Mother.
Xiàlù glanced behind me and commented, “Hey, you guys are already five. Where’s the space to squeeze… And what’s with those two maids with such strong professional vibes?”
Why was she wary of Miss Fànnī and the others? Was it because of their competitive spirit as maids… Did she value that part-time job so much?
I patted Little Qínglán’s cheek and explained, “They are her maids.”
“She’s still a lady? That’s not obvious at all!”
“I think you’re the least qualified to say that.”
Xiàlù’s outfit today was quite striking—black turtleneck sweater with a short leather jacket, shoulder studs with unclear meanings, a skull silver necklace, earrings, and multiple rings. To highlight her unique personality, these flamboyant accessories were necessary, but…
“Your necklace, are you cosplaying Sha Heshang?” I couldn’t help but comment.
“That’s fashion, Sister Lingmeng. You look great, but you don’t understand fashion at all!”
If it were about Xiǎo Kǎi, I might have let it slide, but as a stylist, I couldn’t stand being underestimated by such a punk girl.
“What kind of fashion is this? Edge culture?”
“…You seem more sarcastic than usual today.”
After a long discussion around the table, we still hadn’t sat down. Xiàlù scratched her head and sighed, “Forget it, I’ll find another seat. You guys sit first.”
“Hold on!”
Perhaps feeling guilty, Mother called out to her.
“Miss, if you’re alone, you can join us. The seat is wide enough, three people can sit in one row!”
Xiàlù shrugged.
“Unfortunately, I’m not alone. I’m that desperate…”
Before she finished, a voice came from the counter.
“Lù, haven’t found a seat yet… Who are these people?”
It was Lín Zǐyè, or rather, Líng Xiǎoyè now. Her light maid uniform instantly triggered Miss Fànnī’s “fake maid” radar.
Xiàlù glanced at me and introduced, “This is Sister Lingmeng. We had some minor friction before, but now we’re sort of friends.”
Kidnapping is just described as “minor friction”?
“Oh, I remember.”
Since she had met Lín Zǐyè once, hearing my name made her seem enlightened, but she didn’t want to reveal herself as Lín Zǐyè, so she said, “Uh, Lù mentioned you. She said you’re the prettiest girl she’s ever seen. Truly a sight for sore eyes.”
Her eyes kept drifting to Miss Fànnī and Miss Margaret, making her praise seem insincere.
“Since you’ve already picked up your meals, sit down…”
She held a tray with cola, fries, milkshake, chicken legs, mini burgers… and the Colonel Muscular Chicken.
My left eye twitched. I couldn’t help but comment, “You ordered a children’s meal?”
Xiàlù picked up the Colonel Muscular Chicken toy and boasted, “Because I wanted this! Don’t you think KPC’s mascot is cool?”
“No, not at all.”
A white chicken-headed monster with six-pack abs, such a comical design had nothing cool about it.
“You really can’t appreciate it. Indeed, Sister Lingmeng’s taste isn’t great.”
…Is she trying to provoke me?
“Stop chatting! Come over here!”
Turn back.
Unbeatable in securing seats, Little Qínglán claimed another corner sofa. She was waving at us from her chair.
This time, she took off her shoes.
—
“Little Wū did well.”
Mother stroked Little Qínglán’s head, causing her to laugh happily. Her mental regression didn’t change her overwhelming affection for Mother. Any physical contact excited her, like a clingy little fox.
Seeing this, Xiàlù asked with a milkshake spoon in her mouth, “I wanted to ask earlier, does this child resemble Commander Xiao Wū? Sister Lingmeng should know her, right? The one who often dresses as a boy to shop, since she has money, Manager Shenyang sees through it but doesn’t say anything…”
Wū Qínglán’s true gender was indeed seen through by the Turtle Immortal.
“Oh, you finally noticed?”
Instead, Little Qínglán interrupted her and crossed her arms, accepting it.
“Wū Qínglán is my sister. I’m Wū Qíngfēi!”
She casually made up a name, and Xiàlù didn’t doubt it.
“So you’re Commander Xiao Wū’s sister. No wonder you know about me.”
I reminded Xiàlù again.
“But don’t mention working at the maid cafe when Miss Fànnī and the others arrive!”
“Huh? Why?” Xiàlù asked in confusion.
“After all, they are graduates from a professional maid training institution in London, serving the British Royal Family. Being a maid is something they take pride in, so they don’t want unqualified people wearing maid uniforms.”
My explanation upset Little Qínglán, who added, “Even if they’re graduates from the bottom of the class, they’re still excellent! Although Miss Fànnī has a fiery personality, her anxiety shows she cares for her master. Miss Maki is strict with me, but she cooks well, so she’ll surely make a great daughter-in-law!”
Líng Xiǎoyè next to Xiàlù had a look of yearning.
“Professional maids… Is there an age limit to join that training?”
“Hey, are you thinking of joining?”
Her statement startled her fiancé.
“I want to become a maid worthy of this uniform!”
Why abandon being a wealthy young master to become a maid? This person was beyond hope.
“Speaking of which… Xiàlù, you haven’t introduced him yet.”
I pointed to Líng Xiǎoyè, and she reacted, supporting her chin, “Oh, this is Líng Xiǎoyè, my fiancé… the maid working at the store.”
“Eh! Sister Xiànà already has a man!”
Little Qíngfēi was shocked, almost shouting.
Like learning Aide Lou was married, like finding out a favorite VTuber graduated, like discovering someone you had a crush on was actually a guy.
Her reaction was heart-wrenching, but Xiàlù didn’t care.
“It sounds strange, but I do have a fiancé.”
