Chapter 30 Velvet Cake
After the initial contact, I had gotten to know these two seniors a bit.
For example, these two seniors had already completed their studies.
Regarding this topic, I learned quite a bit, such as the graduation standards of the Witch Academy.
Currently, the Witch Academy conducts a standardized three-year unified curriculum, after which students select an instructor, determine the direction they want to pursue, and follow that instructor for five years. Finally, there are two years for self-selected topic research, and once they complete their chosen topic within the stipulated time, they graduate.
This whole process takes a total of ten years!
Moreover, merely going through this ten-year process means just graduation.
To truly graduate… one must achieve the extraordinary, becoming an Extraordinary Witch. In all three stages of teaching at the academy, if a student achieves the extraordinary at any stage, the academy will directly announce that the student has graduated. If the student wishes to continue studying or researching within the academy, they can remain there to continue their education.
In short, achieving the extraordinary is the only condition for graduation.
Of course, that distance is still quite far for me, while these two seniors had successfully obtained their graduation certificates and could continue living at the Witch Academy.
If, in the end, one fails to complete their final research topic, then unfortunately, although their Magic Source—their extraordinary energy—will not be stripped away, they will be prohibited from using it. Even so, their subsequent life in this world would still be much more comfortable than the average person’s.
It is worth noting that not being able to use the Magic Source may have rendered it useless to them, but it hasn’t lost its value. Many junior students would rush to offer money and resources to buy these Magic Sources, so even though they didn’t graduate from the Witch Academy, their lives in the second half would definitely be comfortable.
Additionally, the connections they forge will be vast.
I must say, this conversation has indeed given me a better understanding of this world.
At the same time, the pressure suddenly increased; I was all alone, without resources, and if I didn’t manage to graduate, that would be quite embarrassing—too much of a loss for a traveler.
I slumped a bit bored at the front desk; at this point, no one was coming in. Doesn’t this bakery fear going out of business?
The only customers were the occasional delivery person coming to pick up their orders.
I handed a packed piece of red velvet cake to a hurried senior, and before I could say anything, she verified the information and disappeared.
All that was left was me, with an awkward professional smile on my face.
“Senior Tang Yihan, why are there so few customers in our store?” I leaned closer to Tang Yihan, asking. The cake I just handed over was made by this senior on-site, and her skill level was simply something I could not compete with.
“Isn’t it good that there are fewer people? The workload is less,” Tang Yihan replied while handling the tools she had just used.
“That’s true,” I nodded in agreement. Just then, I had money coming in, though it hadn’t reached my hands yet. Senior Ying Shiqian said she would help me set up the card for receiving payments. Once it’s linked to the phone given by the academy, I could pay directly with it.
“Hey, Senior Tang, is our store’s red velvet cake really that popular? The orders that came in seemed to all be for red velvet cakes,” I continued looking for a topic to talk about, for if I stayed silent here, I would really look dumbfounded, and besides, there was nothing to do.
“That’s because our online store only has this item for sale. How could the red velvet cake be called popular? It’s impossible,” Senior Ying Shiqian, who was doing nothing nearby, directly interrupted to explain.
“Huh? What?” I looked at Ying Shiqian with slight surprise, then turned back to Tang Yihan.
“Well, it’s the store manager’s decision. She doesn’t want to make money; it has nothing to do with me,” Tang Yihan confirmed Ying Shiqian didn’t lie to me and also made me feel the capriciousness of the wealthy.
That store manager I had never met must be quite rich, right?
From our earlier conversation, I learned that the store manager’s name was Shali, the same person who called me for the interview.
I must build a good relationship with this wealthy lady if I get the chance!
As I continued to do nothing, the order machine made a sound again, but it was different this time—it gave a clear chime, a bit like a special mark?
Then I saw an order spit out.
I was closest to it, so I quickly looked at the order information, and it was still for a red velvet cake.
This wasn’t just a slice or two; it was a whole red velvet cake.
I remembered that such a cake seemed to cost hundreds…
Really rich.
“A big order has come in~”
Upon hearing that sound, Ying Shiqian was the first to react, even more exaggerated than I imagined, as she quickly stepped forward, bypassing my work tasks to grab the order.
Curiously, I leaned in to watch. Even if this was a custom whole cake, it shouldn’t be this dramatic, right?
But the two seniors seemed uninclined to explain. Ying Shiqian merely glanced at Tang Yihan, and she immediately began to take action.
Soon, I saw Senior Tang Yihan going to the kitchen to grab a bunch of ingredients…
No, why are they starting from the ingredients when the customer has already placed an order?
Aren’t there ready-made ones in the display?
I wanted to interject and complain, but I didn’t know where to start.
“Um, Senior, what is this big order? We still have to start from the ingredients?” In the end, I couldn’t hold back and asked.
“A big order naturally has special steps. Since others are spending so much money, there should be a sense of ceremony,” Senior Ying Shiqian walked past me, shaking the order in her hand and smiling.
However, when the order flashed before my eyes, I also caught the notes filled with requirements.
Also… the price was wrong.
Which bakery dares to sell a cake for ten thousand?
Ying Shiqian seemed to notice the slight change in my expression and continued to explain, “Ten thousand is the threshold fee. Xiao Han, you should know that if this bakery doesn’t have other sources of income, it will definitely go out of business. But you’re just a part-timer, don’t worry; you won’t be involved in these matters. Just do your job well here, and we’ll pay you properly~”
Listening to Senior Ying Shiqian’s words, a chill ran down my back. I could sense that I was encountering something extraordinary on my first day as a part-timer…
“Okay… alright…”
I smiled and agreed, without any extra actions.
What else can I do? Doing such an easy job is like lying down to earn money; what’s wrong with taking a little risk?
However, I did finally voice one of my worries because I had to think about my safety as well. After all, you can have money, but you also need the life to spend it.
“Um, Senior, what you’re doing is allowed by the academy, right?”
“Well… it’s kind of tacitly accepted. After all, we wouldn’t dare to cross the bottom line of the academy; you can rest assured about that.”
Ying Shiqian wasn’t surprised by my question; she simply calmed me down.
So it’s tacit acceptance and not permission!
I silently complained but didn’t dare to express it out loud. I began to understand why there were so many former employees’ uniforms in the changing room, waiting for me here?
