Chapter 30 : Chapter 30

Chapter 30 : Red Velvet Cake

After our initial interactions, I got to know the two senior sisters a bit better.

For instance, I learned that both of them had already completed their studies at Witch Academy.

This topic taught me a lot, like the standards for completing or graduating from Witch Academy.

The academy had a standard three-year curriculum, followed by choosing a mentor and deciding on a specialization, studying under them for five years.

Then, there were two years to independently research a chosen topic.

Completing that topic within the allotted time meant you’d “completed” the program.

All in all, it took ten years!

And even if you followed the process diligently for those ten years, you’d only “complete” the program, not graduate.

To graduate, you had to achieve transcendence and become a supernatural witch.

At any stage of the academy’s three-phase education, if you achieved transcendence, the academy would immediately declare you a graduate.

If you wanted to continue studying or researching at the academy, you could stay.

In short, becoming a supernatural witch was the only condition for graduation.

Of course, that was still a long way off for me.

As for these two senior sisters, they had successfully earned their completion certificates and could continue living at Witch Academy.

If someone failed to complete their final research topic, they wouldn’t lose the supernatural energy of their magic power source, but they’d be forbidden from using it.

Even so, their life in this world would still be more comfortable than most people’s.

After all, an unusable magic power source wasn’t worthless.

Plenty of junior sisters would eagerly offer money or resources to buy it.

So, even if they didn’t graduate or complete the program, their future would still be quite cushy.

Plus, they’d have built a wide network of connections.

I had to admit, this conversation gave me a deeper understanding of this world.

At the same time, the pressure hit me hard.

I was all alone, with no resources to my name.

If I couldn’t even complete the program, that’d be too embarrassing—such a disgrace to a transmigrator like me.

Bored, I slumped at the front counter.

Still no customers.

Wasn’t this bakery worried about going under?

The only business came from the occasional delivery girls picking up orders.

I handed a packaged red velvet cake to a hurried senior sister.

Before I could say anything, she checked the order and was gone.

All that was left was me and my awkward, professional fake smile.

“Senior Tang, why’s our shop so empty?”

I asked, sidling up to Tang Yihan.

She’d just made that cake on the spot, and her skill was so impressive I could only watch in awe.

“Isn’t it nice to have fewer people? Less work,” Tang Yihan replied while cleaning the tools she’d used.

“Fair point.”

I nodded in agreement.

I was already earning money just sitting here, though it hadn’t hit my account yet.

Senior Ying said she’d help set up a payment card for me, which I could link to my academy-issued phone for mobile payments.

“Hey, Senior Tang, is our red velvet cake that popular? All the orders seem to be for red velvet cake,” I said, trying to keep the conversation going.

Otherwise, I’d just be sitting here looking dumb with nothing to do.

“That’s because our online shop only lists that one item. Popular? No way,” Ying Shiqian, who’d been idling nearby, cut in to explain.

“Huh? What?” I looked at Ying Shiqian in surprise, then turned to Tang Yihan.

“Yup, manager’s decision. Doesn’t concern me if she doesn’t want to make money,” Tang Yihan said, confirming Ying Shiqian wasn’t lying and making me feel the whims of the wealthy.

This unseen manager, Xia Li, who’d told me to come for the interview over the phone, must be loaded, right?

I definitely needed to build a good relationship with her.

She sounded like a kind, rich lady!

While I was idling, the order machine pinged again, but this time it was a crisp, distinct sound, like a special marker.

An order slip came out.

Being the closest, I quickly checked it.

As expected, another red velvet cake.

But this wasn’t for a slice or two—it was for a whole cake.

I remembered a whole cake cost over a hundred, right…

So rich.

“Big order’s here”

Ying Shiqian reacted first, far more dramatically than I expected.

She rushed forward, bypassing my job, and grabbed the order slip.

I leaned in curiously.

Even if it was a whole custom cake, was it worth this much excitement?

But the two senior sisters didn’t seem inclined to explain.

Ying Shiqian just glanced at Tang Yihan, who immediately sprang into action.

Then I saw Tang Yihan head to the kitchen and grab a bunch of ingredients…

Wait, the customer already placed the order—why start from raw ingredients?

Weren’t there ready-made cakes on display?

I wanted to chime in with a quip but didn’t know where to start.

“Um, senior sister, what’s with this ‘big order’? Why start from raw ingredients?”

I finally couldn’t hold back and asked.

“A big order comes with special steps. They paid so much—they deserve the full experience,”

Ying Shiqian said, waving the order slip at me with a smile as she passed by.

In the brief moment the slip flashed by, I caught that the notes section was filled with requirements.

And… the price was off.

Who charges ten thousand for a cake?!

Ying Shiqian seemed to notice my expression change and quickly added, “Ten thousand is the entry fee. Xiao Han, you should know that without other ways to make money, this bakery would’ve gone under long ago. But you’re just part-time, so don’t worry—you won’t deal with that side of things. Just do your job here, and we’ll pay you as promised”

Her words sent a chill down my spine.

I had a feeling I’d stumbled into something big on my first day of work…

“Okay… got it…”

I forced a smile and nodded, keeping my actions minimal.

What else could I do?

This job was so easy, practically free money.

What was wrong with a little risk?

But I still voiced my lingering concern.

I had to think about my safety—money’s only good if you’re alive to spend it.

“Um, senior sister, what are you doing… the academy allows it, right?”

“Well… it’s tacitly permitted. We wouldn’t dare cross the academy’s bottom line. Don’t worry,”

Ying Shiqian replied, unsurprised by my question, reassuring me calmly.

Tacitly permitted, not explicitly allowed?

I grumbled silently but didn’t dare say it out loud.

I was starting to understand why there were so many old staff uniforms in the changing room.

Were they waiting for me to join the pile?