My Neighbor Is A Freeloader

Chapter 11 [Don't Smile At Me]

Sana originally thinks that she is going to be fired. But Jung Yeeun gathers all the staff for a speech and only talks about general stuff and how everyone should to continue to work hard. As an encouragement to those who has performed well, he is also going to reward those who have performed well.

Yeeun raises his hand to stem the round of applause at the word “reward”. He has given the cash to the various department heads for disbursement, but he wants to use this opportunity to point out some shortcomings he has observed in the office, as well as commend a staff whom he thought has shown outstanding performance. Firstly, the person he wants to comment is….

Here he goes, Sana thinks, and shoots him a woeful look. She looks so much like a homeless dog who has not eaten for 3 days that Yeeun nearly chokes. Biting his teeth to regain his composure, he says solemnly. "An Yu Qing.”

An Yu Qing is the head of Customer Service. She has mistaken a “service call” for a “complaint” and has not kept the incident confidential, leading to loss of company image before the customer and low staff morale. As a punishment, she will lose 1 month bonus and has to submit a report to reflect on her mistake.

An Yu Qing is deeply embarrassed by the open criticism but she dares not voice any objection. It is true she has not acted professionally and is guilty of everything as charged because she is jealous of Sana’s popularity in the office – especially when the guy she secretly likes also likes Sana too. She had planned to embarrass Sana but who would have guess Big Boss would have chosen this month to survey the company and catches on to her misdeed?

Yeeun continues. “I am going to compliment another staff next. I have approached this sales staff under the guise of a customer and she has serviced me sincerely. Not only is she knowledgeable of our products, more importantly, she has successfully resisted the temptation of a pretty face and money. This person is none other than Sana Minatozaki.”

Sana is shell-shocked and can only stare at him as the room break into another round of applause. Mr Wang finally cannot stand it anymore and beckons her to go to Jung Yeeun on stage. Wearing a dazed smile, she takes a red packet from Jung Yeeun – surely it should contain at least eight or ten thousand dollars– and said: “Thank you Boss Jung.”

“You have done a good job, please keep up the hard work.”

Everyone clap once more and that marks the end of this dream-like gathering. Many of her colleagues gather around her after the event to ask for the secret of her success, and Sana thinks dazedly over her few interactions with Yeeun. Frankly, she has not done anything differently from any normal customer. If he has questions, she will try her best to answer them. But if the occasion calls for it, she will not bend over backwards to please a customer (including dumping him in the city outskirts).

Come to think of it, Sana acknowledges that Boss Jung is pretty magnanimous and does not let private matters mix with business. She has wondered before why he keeps pestering her when he is so good-looking and rich? So there is indeed a reason behind it… Maybe he was testing her professionalism.

Their group disbands with a promise from Sana to buy dinner and she sends Tzuyu a message.

Sana: My job is safe!!! \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\(≧▽≦)/~ Yaya!!

Tzuyu: Congrats.

Sana: Do you want to eat anything? My treat!

Tzuyu: Tonight?

Sana: No, not tonight. I’m buying my colleagues dinner.

Tzuyu: Ok.

Since he did not say what he wants, Sana decides she shall ask him when she gets home.   When their shop closes for the day and everyone is getting ready to leave for dinner, Sana runs into Yeeun at the gate.

He nods at her. “Going for dinner with your colleagues?”

Sana replies diplomatically. “Yes we are. Would Boss Jung like to join us?”

Yeeun puts on his do-I-know-you-very-well look and shakes his head. “I’m sorry but I have something on.”

Sana breathes a small sigh of relief and leaves with her colleagues. She believes Yeeun has not forgotten a single thing but luckily for her, he has enough good manners not to erupt on her in public.

As the next day is still a working day, everyone drinks in moderation and does not linger after dinner By eight, everyone is ready to go home. One the way to the train station, Sana sees an old man selling cotton candy. Wait, cotton candy?

She buys a stick and when the peddler tries to sell her an animal hair band – he has cat ears, mickey mouse ears, and giraffe ears – Lan Shan gamely buys a squirrel ear hair band for herself.

She attracted many curious looks in the train with her toy ears and giant candy. As the train is not so crowded at that time of the night, Sana manages to bring home her cotton ball without squashing it. When she reaches her landing, she hides the candy behind her and knocks on Tzuyu’s door.

When he opens the door and sees her strange ears, he nearly gets a shock.
Sana squints at him and smiles. Perhaps it is because she has drunk some wine earlier so her face is more rosy than usual and her eyes glistens like crystals.
Sana shows him the surprise she has kept behind her back.

“Dang-dang-dang-dang! This is for you!”

Tzuyu is started by the present but he quickly warms up to it. Taking the cotton candy from her, he says “Thank you.”

“No need for thanks! Who are we to need thanks?” Sana taps his shoulder with her right fist.

And then Tzuyu smiles. He looks really good when he smiles, just like a flower blossoming in spring. Sana shakes her head out of her reverie.

“You better stop smiling at me in future.”

“Why?”

“Because you are so... cute when you smile heee heee"

Sana says while squeezing his two cheeks, smiling like an idiot. Tzuyu is shock because of her sudden attack and his big ears became red. Thanks God that Sana is unaware, if not she will be teasing him nonstop for sure.

"Did you drink!?" He asks.

"Yes, but it is just a little... Hee hee"

Sana puts her two fingers together as a small gap showing how little she drunk.

"What!? Are you going to scold me!?" She asks while glaring at him as if she is challenging.

Wearing the cute squirrel hairband, and pouting her lips, the drunken Sana is so cute in Tzuyu's eye. He didn't answer her, and just stared with unblinking eyes at her without noticing by himself. 

"Okay okay... I am going to sleep now. Bye bye my baby sis, see you tomorrow"

Tzuyu watches Sana disappearing into her door. And as soon as the door is closed, a gentle smile appears on his lips again.

"You said I am cute. But you don't know you are thousands times cuter"

XxxxxX
To be continued>>>