The Female Lead of the Abusive Novel Can Hear My Heart's Voice - Chapter 31

Xia Mucai went to find the manager to ask where to get the mascot costumes and the flyers.

The manager glanced at her, took a cigarette from his bag, lit it, and took a puff before speaking: “Didn’t that girl just tell you?”

He blew out a smoke ring and said, “If you don’t mind, go into that clothing store and get a set from Sister Li. If you do mind, then go buy one yourself.”

He pointed towards the clothing store, which was diagonally opposite.

Xia Mucai looked over; the rolling shutter was old and worn, the sign above the store was rusty, the shop was small but packed full inside.

She nodded blankly, then turned back to the man, “Got it, thanks.”

The man flicked the ash from his cigarette and reminded her, “Looks like you just entered the workforce, huh? Always keep your wits about you.”

“Mm, thanks.”

He continued, “If it gets hot, find a shady spot to take off the headpiece and cool down. Don’t get heatstroke. Remember to find a secluded place, and don’t say I told you.”

Xia Mucai nodded.

She went to the clothing store to find Sister Li. Li was only about 30 years old, with faded ash brown hair tied back in a simple ponytail with a hairband.

When she arrived, Li was busy attending to customers a mother and daughter, seemingly out shopping.

Seeing Xia Mucai, Li thought she was another customer and came to greet her.

“Little sister, here to look at clothes? You’re so pretty! There’s a piece that would suit you perfectly.”

Xia Mucai hurriedly shook her head, “I’m here for mascot costumes and to get flyers.”

Hearing she wasn’t buying clothes, Li’s face lost some enthusiasm.

She thought it was a pity; someone with Xia Mucai’s figure not modeling was a waste.

Her heart still a bit unwilling such a beautiful girl, letting her feast her eyes on her was good enough.

“Come over, try the clothes for me. I’ll just give you a new one.”

“Try clothes?”

Though the shop was small, it had many items inside.

Most were made by Li herself.

Before Xia Mucai could react, Li shoved a red hanfu dress into her hands. She felt helpless holding the garment.

Li pushed her, “Pay first, pay first. Try it on, I’ll take a photo and give you the mascot costume and some money. I’m begging you, sister!”

“This…” Xia Mucai could buy the mascot costume if she wanted, or tolerate the dirtiness of secondhand clothes. Why drag her into doing something she disliked?

“Little sister, just wear it. You’re so pretty. Maybe you can be a model here in Li Xiaomei’s shop someday.” The aunt with a wrapped-up hairdo chimed in.

Because Xia Mucai was really pretty, like a celebrity. If she wore the clothes and took photos to post online, it would definitely make the shop popular.

Xia Mucai: “…I don’t want to.”

She handed the hanfu back to Li.

Li felt disappointed and confused why she didn’t seize such a good opportunity.

“Wear it, little sister. You’re so pretty. How about I hire you as a model? I’ll pay you.”

Xia Mucai still shook her head and refused, “I’m just honestly handing out flyers. I won’t stay long.”

“Why? Heaven’s putting food in your mouth and you refuse to eat?”

The shop owner couldn’t understand. With Xia Mucai’s face, becoming an internet star was inevitable, no way she’d stay in this small town.

“I just don’t want to!”

Xia Mucai began to get annoyed. Xia Chi was watching her, and her foster parents were keeping an eye on her. If she behaved like this, it would tell them where she was and that she wasn’t doing well.

“Whoa”

The fitting room curtain was pulled back, and out stepped someone wearing a brown bear mascot costume, quite tall, with no way to tell if inside was a man or a woman.

The bear scanned everyone in the shop, finally fixing her gaze on Xia Mucai.

The owner thought better of it. If things got out of hand, her business would be ruined.

She pulled the bear over and introduced, “This is your flyer partner. She just started today too. The two of you working together will watch out for each other. Don’t worry, she’s a girl too.”

Xia Mucai looked at the bear mascot costume it was so cute.

She even felt an urge to hug and pet it, especially the little bear ears, wondering if it was soft inside.

“Okay,” she replied absentmindedly.

The bear didn’t speak but didn’t look cold either.

She stepped aside, seemingly waiting for Xia Mucai to choose her costume and go into the fitting room.

Kind of… well-behaved…

Like the polite, good natured Xia Chi she first met.

Xia Mucai didn’t dare waste time and after some choosing, she picked the cat costume. She rushed into the fitting room to change and came out.

The moment she put on the headpiece, the air felt stuffy. She couldn’t believe how hard this job was.

She took the head off after just a second. How could people wear this?

She thought she could put it on later at the location.

She pulled back the curtain; the bear was waiting. Seeing the bear still wearing the headpiece, she reminded, “It’s hot, you can’t keep that on all the time.”

The bear just stood there blankly, not reacting, as if she didn’t hear.

But she wasn’t deaf this was almost rude.

Xia Mucai shook her head and gave up. Maybe she was too pampered to tolerate any discomfort.

Li gave them both a batch of flyers, pointed out the direction, and told them where to distribute.

“Keep walking forward, just below the commercial building. Lots of people there. A bit further is the pedestrian street.”

That spot was perfect for handing out flyers.

One or two hours would be enough to finish, the biggest difficulty being the scorching sun.

Xia Mucai and the bear arrived there, working separately without bothering each other.

The mascot costumes soon soaked through with sweat, hair drenched, feeling like they were swimming in oil uncomfortable everywhere.

Some children saw them and thought their costumes were cute, wanting to hold their hands and take pictures, some even hugged their legs and rubbed their heads.

Nothing untoward happened; they just focused on finishing the flyers.

Finally, before 5 PM, they finished.

Xia Mucai hurriedly took off the cat headpiece; the cool breeze felt like a new life, fresh air was the best.

Passersby glanced at them, including the bear.

Seeing Xia Mucai sweating so much, the bear went to a nearby small supermarket to buy an ice cream cone and two bottles of water.

The bear never spoke, at least not in front of Xia Mucai.

She offered the ice cream and water, hands stretched out, silently.

Xia Mucai looked at the ice cream and water, unexpectedly feeling warm inside—being cared for was so nice. Her coworker was really kind.

“Thank you, I’ll treat you next time.”

The bear shook her head, meaning no need, she would treat next time.

Xia Mucai wasn’t that shameless; she took the ice cream and water, patted the bear’s shoulder, “I said next time, so next time.”

“By the way, won’t you take off the headpiece? It’s really hot.” She patted the bear’s shoulder and tried to lift the bear’s headpiece.

The bear was startled and instinctively pressed down on her headpiece.

Okay, that was rude of her she just wanted to care if the bear was overheating.

She reminded, “Take care, don’t get heatstroke.”

The bear nodded repeatedly as if saying, Got it, got it.

Xia Mucai thought to herself, The bear is really pitiful. Disabled people working out there must get bullied a lot.

The bear: “…”

Xia Mucai thought she was mute. Well, she would just pretend to be mute and keep her company.

Not far away, Xu Qin had already taken off her mascot costume and was barely sweating. She walked over and grabbed Xia Mucai’s arm.

“Cai Cai, want to come with me to the bar tonight? I’ll protect you, nothing will happen.”

Xia Mucai was really short on money now. Going to the bar should be okay.

“Sure.” She scratched her face, “But I need to go home and shower first.”

“Okay, I’ll send you the address when it’s time. Just come directly.”

“Alright.”

“I’ll go now. Remember to dress nicely, that way more people will like you.” Xu Qin couldn’t help but touch Xia Mucai’s face again. Xia Mucai was uncomfortable and turned away to stop her.

Seeing Xia Mucai not happy, Xu Qin didn’t get mad, just blinked and said, “With a face like yours, you look good in anything. Makes people jealous.”

Xia Mucai watched Xu Qin leave, then headed home herself. She greeted the bear, “I’m going back. You be careful on your way. See you tomorrow.”

The bear nodded and waved.

For some reason, she felt the bear was a little reluctant to part with her.

They just met today and barely spoke, and mostly Xia Mucai was the one talking.

Her coworker really was pitiful being mute must be tough.

She thought she’d take better care of her bear coworker in the future.

Xia Mucai’s figure slowly disappeared into the distance. The bear then took off her headpiece.

It was Xia Chi.

Her face was flushed, lips pale.

She staggered to the side and leaned against the wall, squatting down. She twisted open the water bottle and gulped down large mouthfuls, her throat making gulping sounds.

The plastic bottle crumpled under her grip, making cracking noises. She finished a whole bottle in one breath, still feeling thirsty.

Her head turned toward the direction Xia Mucai disappeared, smiling lightly.

The fatigue on her body vanished thinking about being able to get so close to Xia Mucai again tomorrow.

After a short rest, she struggled to stand, leaning on the wall unsteadily.

She still needed to get back to the hotel before Xia Mucai.

Her room was right next to Xia Mucai’s, number 801.

If Xia Mucai knew how close they were, she’d definitely scold Xia Chi for being a weirdo.

Xia Chi hurried back ahead of Xia Mucai, quickly showered, changed clothes, then lay outside her door listening.

She heard Xia Mucai say she was going to the bar, which was so dangerous how could she let Xia Mucai get hurt?

When she heard Xia Mucai agree to go with a stranger girl, she wanted to stop her.

But then thought better of it if Xia Mucai knew the bear was her, she’d definitely run away scared.