That day, Warm Land was unusually busy. Customers stood in a line outside the cafe, waiting for a table as though the place had suddenly become one of those famous cafes people visited because of some signature dessert or limited-edition coffee.
Warm Land had never been that kind of place. It was a comfortable cafe, familiar to its regulars, busy enough during certain hours, but never so crowded that people waited outside with impatient faces and phones in their hands.
By six in the evening, Cixi was exhausted enough to stop caring about how people were lining up outside the cafe to get a place. Was the other branch of the cafe this busy as well?
Her shift had finally ended, and her feet ached from standing too long. Lily had taken a half day and left earlier, which had made the last few hours feel even longer.
