Future Pet Shop

Chapter 105: An Unexpected Applicant

"We’re still hiring," Shen Yibin replied without looking up, continuing to count his money. ’Sun Qian could leave at any time, and the store will always need someone to look after it. It’d be great if I could find a suitable person now.’

’Huh? That voice sounds a little familiar. Where have I heard it before?’ Hah’Er, who was beside him, also seemed excited by the sound. It climbed onto the back of the sofa and waved its paws at the door, as if to welcome the visitor.

"Boss Shen, I believe I meet the requirements. Might I apply for the position?" The voice grew closer, accompanied by the sound of light footsteps. "Hah’Er, long time no see."

’Hm? Who could that be? And they know Hah’Er so well?’ Shen Yibin quickly turned his head. When he saw who the visitor was, his jaw dropped in shock. "Syl... Princess Sylvie, what are you doing here?"

Hah’Er, not understanding the significance of Sylvie’s appearance, enthusiastically extended a paw to shake hands with the princess. It had a rather good impression of Her Highness.

"Princess?" Sun Qian was utterly confused by the title. ’Why is he calling her that? Is she the boss’s girlfriend? Is Princess just a nickname? Or is there some other reason?’

"Hello, I am Sylvie, from Sokovia. It’s a pleasure to meet you." Princess Sylvie extended a hand and gave Sun Qian’s a gentle shake. "Are you an employee at this store? Excuse me, but are there any requirements other than what’s written on the hiring notice?"

"She’s a member of the Sokovian royal family, a genuine princess. Why would she deign to come to our humble little shop?" Shen Yibin quickly warned Sun Qian not to say the wrong thing. Then he stretched his neck to look behind Sylvie. ’Huh, where’s Alfred the Butler? He was inseparable from the princess that day.’

"Alfred the Butler has no idea I’m here. I snuck out all by myself." Princess Sylvie gave a triumphant smile. It had taken quite a bit of planning to escape from the embassy.

"Then you just wait here. I’m sure they’ll come looking for you in a little while." ’This isn’t the last century,’ Shen Yibin thought. ’You need to show ID for plane and train tickets. There’s no way Princess Sylvie’s movements could escape their investigation. They must have already found out she came to Yunzhong City by now.’

’And what in Yunzhong City could possibly attract Her Royal Highness? Nothing but pandas. So, they only needed to think for a moment to know she would end up here at my shop.’

"Sigh, I’ll look up the number for the Sokovian embassy and give them a call. Better let them know before they get too worried, and before they come looking for me to cause trouble." Shen Yibin sighed and pulled out his phone. ’I can’t handle these willful kids. I just hope I don’t get arrested over this.’

"Hey! It took me so much effort to sneak out, just to enjoy a rare moment of freedom, and you don’t have a shred of sympathy?" Princess Sylvie was infuriated by Shen Yibin’s actions and snatched the phone out of his hand.

"You’re a princess! How could my humble little shop dare to take you in?" Shen Yibin said with a pained expression. He didn’t dare snatch the phone back from Princess Sylvie, and the two of them reached a stalemate.

"I’m a junior in college this year..." Sylvie suddenly changed the subject. Before Shen Yibin could ask, she continued, "According to royal custom, I’m required to complete an internship at a company or other organization. I’ve chosen to do my internship here. You are hiring right now, aren’t you?"

"I’ve changed my mind. I’m not hiring anymore," Shen Yibin said helplessly. ’Who would dare hire this VIP? If anything happened to her, I’d never be able to afford the consequences.’

"How could you do that?" Now it was Princess Sylvie’s turn to feel helpless. She had been overjoyed when she saw the hiring notice, thinking she would soon be able to spend her days with the panda. She never expected Shen Yibin to be so cold. "I went through so much trouble to sneak out just to see Hah’Er! Why won’t you accept my application?"

Moved by her plight, Sun Qian started to feel sad for her as well. In just a few moments, her imagination had already spun an eighty-episode court drama, casting Sylvie’s life as an incredibly tragic tale. So, she chimed in, "Boss, it’s not safe for Her Highness to go anywhere else right now. Why don’t you just let her stay here for the time being? We can worry about the hiring later."

Hah’Er also reached out a paw, as if wanting to wipe away her nonexistent tears. Cheeky, meanwhile, tilted its head and asked, "What kind of place is Sokovia? Do they have any tasty fruit?"

Princess Sylvie had clearly done her homework before arriving. She wasn’t the least bit surprised to hear Cheeky speak and even nodded in response. "Sokovia’s blueberries are the most delicious in the world. I can have some sent over for you to try."

"Bin, just let her stay for now," Cheeky squawked. Great. The moment food was mentioned, Cheeky switched sides.

"I haven’t eaten since I got on a plane in the wee hours of the morning, and I forgot to bring my wallet when I left," Princess Sylvie said, trying to win Shen Yibin’s sympathy.

However, Shen Yibin, who wasn’t always the quickest on the uptake, was unusually sharp at this moment. He retorted without a second thought, "If you don’t have your wallet, how did you get here from the airport? Oh, you still have your phone, so there’s no problem. Just use it to order some takeout. It’s very convenient; it’ll be here in no time."

In a flash, Cheeky, Hah’Er, and Sun Qian all turned to look at him, their gazes filled with reproach. ’Couldn’t you show a little sympathy?’

"Alright, alright." Shen Yibin threw his hands up in surrender. "It’s lunchtime anyway. You can stay and eat. I’ll go cook for you all now. But let’s get one thing straight: after lunch, you have to let me call the embassy."

"Fine," Princess Sylvie conceded. She knew that even if Shen Yibin didn’t make the call, Alfred and his people would find her soon enough.

"Then today, we’ll have a Panda Feast!" To entertain his foreign guest, Shen Yibin pulled out all the stops. Before long, an enticing aroma began to waft from the kitchen.

Unfortunately, just as he finished cooking and before he could even bring the dishes to the table, there was a sharp screech of tires from outside. It was followed by the sound of numerous approaching footsteps, and then Bai Yanni entered the shop, leading a team of police officers who were escorting Alfred.

"Your Highness, we’ve finally found you," Alfred said, breathing a small sigh of relief.

Bai Yanni, on the other hand, glared at Shen Yibin, who had just appeared at the top of the second-floor staircase. ’Well now, you’ve got some nerve, kid. I don’t see you for a few days, and you come back with a kidnapped princess? Where did you go, Sichuan or Europe?’