Future Pet Shop

Chapter 108: Days of Living with the Princess

’Wait a minute. What’s going on? Aren’t you here to take the princess away? How did this become you asking me to take care of her?’ Shen Yibin was suddenly anxious. "Mr. Alfred, what is all this about?"

"Here’s the situation. Her Highness Princess Sylvie has decided to choose your shop for her internship, and she has already received permission from the Royal Palace. Therefore, for the next two months, she will be staying here to work," Alfred said with a tone of resignation.

"Boss, I’ll be in your care from now on!" Sylvie glanced at Shen Yibin triumphantly. ’For the next two months, I can hug a panda every day and eat a Panda Banquet every day! This is pure bliss!’

"We’ve taken up too much of your time today. Now that the issue is resolved, we should be going. I will be staying in Yunzhong City for a while, so please feel free to call me if you have any questions." With that, Alfred handed over a business card and then left with the police officers.

"Bin, you..." Bai Yanni seemed to have something else to say, but before she could finish, she was dragged away by her colleagues. ’There are no small matters in diplomacy. You can’t just speak carelessly at a time like this!’

’Oh, shoot. I think I forgot to give Officer Bai her gift. Looks like I’ll have to find time to go and deliver it tomorrow.’ It wasn’t until Bai Yanni was far in the distance that Shen Yibin remembered.

After seeing them all off, he returned to the shop and looked at Sylvie, only to realize he’d forgotten more than just the gift. "Wait a minute, I don’t think I’ve actually interviewed you, have I? Why did you all just decide for me?"

He was right. Sylvie had arrived early in the morning asking for a job, and Shen Yibin hadn’t dared to accept. After a brief argument, they’d decided to eat first. But before the food even reached the table, the pet store was surrounded by police. They had only just left, so there had been absolutely no time to talk about an interview.

"When I was young, I raised many pets in the Royal Palace. I had two swans, three Welsh Corgis... and a thoroughbred horse gifted by the Queen of England. I believe I am more than capable of handling this job." ’Of course,’ Shen Yibin thought. ’Leave it to royalty. Even her pets are classier than the average person.’

"But working here isn’t just about taking care of pets. You also have to sweep the floors, clean up their droppings, and pitch products to customers. Can you do all of that?" Shen Yibin asked, rubbing his temples in frustration. He really did not want Sylvie to stay.

"I may be a princess, but I left the Royal Palace for boarding school when I was in middle school. We all had to clean our own dorm rooms there. Furthermore, I earned a dual degree in Politics and Business Administration from Cambridge University, so I also know a thing or two about sales. Nothing you mentioned will be a problem," the princess said with complete confidence.

"If you turn me down, I’ll be terribly heartbroken," Sylvie quickly added, seeing that Shen Yibin was still about to refuse. "And if I’m heartbroken, I’ll be sure to make some unpleasant remarks about China after I return home. That might tarnish your country’s reputation in the eyes of the Sokovian people."

Shen Yibin’s jaw dropped, and he was at a loss for words. ’This princess looks so beautiful and innocent, but who knew she was so cunning underneath?’ She had shot down every one of his excuses. After a long moment, he finally nodded. "Alright. Now I truly believe you’re a princess."

’What ordinary family could possibly raise a girl who looked so angelic but was so devious on the inside?’ Hearing his words, Sylvie beamed. "So, am I officially part of your pet store now?"

"Hmph. You can start as an intern. Salary is two thousand a month, meals are covered, and there’s no commission." ’It’s not like you care about the money anyway,’ Shen Yibin thought, indulging his stingy side. "For now, just follow Sun Qian and get familiar with the store’s operations."

"Okay, no problem." As expected, Sylvie didn’t care about the compensation. Her gaze immediately shifted to Hah’Er. "Boss, can I go brush Hah’Er’s fur now? It looks a little messy."

"No. The rule in this shop is: I cook, you wash. Now, go upstairs, clear the table, and do the dishes." ’Hmph, I’m not going to let your life be that comfortable. Go wash the dishes. If you refuse, I’ll have the perfect excuse to fire you,’ Shen Yibin thought, becoming a bit devious himself.

"I’ll go. She’s a guest, after all." Sun Qian wasn’t as audacious as Shen Yibin; she wouldn’t dare make a princess clear the table and wash dishes for her. She quickly got up, ready to take over.

"It’s okay, I know how to do all this. I’ll get it done right away." Sylvie, however, wasn’t bothered in the slightest. ’As long as I can see the panda every day, what’s a little hard work?’

And so, Shen Yibin and Sun Qian could only look at each other, dumbfounded, as Sylvie went upstairs. A few moments later, the sound of running water and clinking dishes drifted down.

"Huh. Maybe this princess isn’t as spoiled as I thought," Shen Yibin remarked, his impression of Sylvie improving considerably. "Hey, Sun Qian, you’ll have to take on a bit more work from now on. Please look after her."

"Okay, no problem," Sun Qian nodded in agreement.

By the time Shen Yibin had paid Sun Qian her commission, Sylvie had already finished cleaning the dining area. Shen Yibin went upstairs to check and found the table wiped spotless and the dishes put away neatly. ’It seems this princess really is quite capable of taking care of herself.’

After coming downstairs, Princess Sylvie finally got her wish: a chance to play with Hah’Er. Thrilled, she snapped one photo after another and immediately uploaded them to her social media accounts. The post instantly garnered a flood of shares and praise, much to the delight of the Sokovian Royal Palace’s PR team, who applauded and once again declared the trip an absolute marketing success.

Next, Sylvie noticed the guitar Sun Qian had left to the side. Seeing that the shop was empty of customers, she picked it up and performed several Sokovian folk songs for Shen Yibin and Sun Qian, earning cheers from both Sun Qian and Cheeky. With Hah’Er leaning against her, a goofy grin on its face, she had already won over three of the shop’s four core members.

During the day, she shadowed Sun Qian, learning the shop’s daily tasks. After dinner, she took the initiative to help Sun Qian clear the dishes. When they went out for karaoke, she was incredibly energetic. Even Shen Yibin found himself gradually warming up to her.

’As expected of an elite raised by the royal family,’ he thought. ’Her ability to adapt to a new environment is miles ahead of mine. Thank goodness her internship is only two months. If she stayed any longer, it’d be hard to say who the real owner of this shop is.’

But when they all returned to the shop, a new problem emerged. Princess Sylvie glanced at the layout of the second floor, then turned back to Shen Yibin. "Boss, where will I be sleeping tonight?"