Chapter 377: Get 2 to Try

Chapter 377: Chapter 377: Get 2 to Try

Then, thinking back on what she had just said, she explained, "I was thinking, since I’m by myself, I wouldn’t be able to keep up. My plan was to make a lot this morning, get it all set out, and then open for business in the afternoon!"

’It’s not that I want to be lazy...’ Rhonda Kane squeezed the tongs tightly, afraid Lily Hart would get the wrong idea.

Lily Hart had helped out at the cake shop before, so she knew it was a bit difficult for one person to handle everything.

You have to plate the desserts in the work area, then bring them out to arrange on the display shelves, and on top of that, manage the cash register.

It really was a lot to ask.

She glanced around. The shelves against the wall were for cookies.

Right now, they were filled with flat bamboo baskets, each containing neatly stacked cookies of various kinds, freshly baked and still crispy.

The three-tiered display stand was more than half full. Rhonda Kane had just been stocking it with bread.

The refrigerated display case was still completely empty.

When Rhonda Kane saw Lily Hart’s gaze fall on the refrigerated case, she immediately explained, "I figured since the cream melts easily, I’d make those items last."

Hearing the slight tension in her voice, Lily Hart’s expression softened. She smiled and said, "Why are you so nervous? I’m not going to blame you. You don’t have to be so timid."

As she spoke, she gave Rhonda’s arm a friendly smack. "When you’re with me, just relax!"

Luckily, Rhonda Kane had a firm grip, or everything would have fallen to the floor. But it did help ease her tension a bit.

She put down the tongs and tray and wrung her hands. ’I was just afraid that if I made Boss Hart unhappy, she wouldn’t let me run the shop anymore...’

’But Boss Hart is actually really easygoing, and she has such a beautiful smile~’

"Okay~ I’m very relaxed now!" Rhonda Kane declared, standing at attention with a completely serious expression.

"Pfft... Alright, alright, relax." Lily Hart burst out laughing.

Then, remembering the matter at hand, Lily Hart made a sincere suggestion. "Why don’t you buy a few robots to help you?"

Robots?

An image instantly flashed through Rhonda Kane’s mind: tall, powerful, hyper-masculine robots bent on world destruction.

As a result, when she saw the small but nimble robots at the breakfast shop, she had a hard time shaking that stereotype.

"So, what do you think? They can help you with the register, arranging desserts, and all that. You’ll only have to operate the fully automatic baking machine!" Lily Hart said, crossing her arms.

Seeing is believing, so she had specifically brought Rhonda Kane to the breakfast shop to see for herself.

Rhonda Kane nodded dazedly. "Yeah, okay. Let’s get two and try them out."

So Lily Hart quickly ordered two robots for her: one to handle the cash register and one to stock the shelves.

Lily Hart helped Rhonda Kane set up the two robots and even watched them work for a bit before leaving, carrying two large bags.

As before, she went to the clinic first, passing several other shops and ignoring the calls of their owners without going in.

SLAM—Lily Hart dropped two large bags of bread onto the counter.

The noise startled Roman Rowe, who had been napping with his head on the counter.

He shot up, ready to curse them out. ’Who the hell is it? Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep?!’

But then he met Lily Hart’s smiling eyes. His anger instantly fizzled out, and he deflated, slumping back into his seat.

But then he decided that wasn’t right. He quickly got up, came around from behind the counter, pulled Lily Hart over, and settled her into the chair.

"What brings you here?" Roman Rowe asked, leaning against the counter in a roguish pose with his head propped on one hand.

Lily Hart glanced at the two large bags on the counter. "Here. I brought you something to eat."

As soon as he heard that, Roman Rowe’s eyes lit up like flashlights. "Whoa, is this all for me?!"

As he spoke, he hugged the two large bags to his chest, looking extremely protective of his food.

Lily Hart was just about to lean back and test out the new boss’s chair when she saw his bandit-like move.

Speechless, she stood up and pushed him aside. "They’re not."

She then rummaged through the two bags and pulled out a palm-sized strawberry tart and a mango mille-crepe cake.

She also took out a box containing two egg tarts and another box with six small golden pastries.

"These are yours!" Lily Hart said, tying the two large bags shut and pushing them aside.

Roman Rowe: "Hmph!" He carefully set the four items aside, planning to have them for afternoon tea.

’It might not be two whole bags, but four items is plenty. And this strawberry tart is gorgeous!’

Roman Rowe held it in his palm, admiring it from every angle. ’What am I going to do? It’s so pretty I can’t bear to eat it.’

After tying the bags, Lily Hart sat back down in the boss’s chair and tested it out. ’Not bad at all. Great lumbar support.’

She looked up and saw him gazing lovingly at the cake. "If you’re going to eat it, then eat it. Why are you just staring at it?"

"Don’t you think it’s beautiful? The strawberry is so big and red, I just can’t bring myself to eat it!" Roman Rowe said earnestly.

"Then just put it on display as a good luck charm," Lily Hart said mockingly, her arms crossed.

Roman Rowe snorted softly and covered the strawberry tart’s box with one hand. "We’re not listening, that’s just hate. Something this beautiful deserves to be eaten with reverence. That’s the only way to show it true respect."

"Exactly~ And there’s plenty more where that came from at the bakery~" Lily Hart said.

She chatted with him for a while longer, observing the clinic’s operations all the while.

Ever since they had designated a Treatment Pod specifically for emergency cases, arguments among customers had decreased significantly.

Patients who were near death or severely injured were now sent directly to the emergency Treatment Pod.

"Alright, I’m heading out. I still have to get to the next place," Lily Hart said, getting up.

Roman Rowe waved obediently. "Bye-bye, Boss Hart! Come again soon, and don’t forget to bring more tasty treats!"

"Eat, eat, eat, that’s all you ever think about!" Lily Hart said, rolling her eyes at him.

’Then again... I’m kind of the same way.’

Roman Rowe pretended not to hear her, returning to his dilemma of which treat to eat first.

The next stop was the hotel.

There wasn’t much to inspect here. Leo Colby had always been reliable, and he kept the hotel running in perfect order. ℯℯ𝘭.

The lobby was spotless, and a vending machine selling drinks and daily necessities had been added for guests’ convenience.

She walked in, swinging the bags in her hand, and looked around with great satisfaction.

’As I thought, there are some advantages to an older man.’

’Mature and reliable.’

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Lily Hart pictured Simon Keane and immediately dismissed it. ’Not always. There are exceptions.’

Usually, Leo Colby would notice her the moment she walked in, but this time, she was almost at the reception desk and he still hadn’t realized she was there.

She walked closer and saw Leo Colby looking down, his fingers flying across his Light Brain.

He seemed to be chatting with someone. Since it was a private matter, Lily Hart felt it wouldn’t be right to pry.

She simply placed the bags on the counter to get his attention.

Leo Colby looked up, his brow tightly furrowed and his eyes filled with a deep sorrow. Upon seeing it was Boss Hart, his expression subconsciously softened a bit. "Boss Hart," he said softly, "what brings you here?"

Even though it was an employee’s private matter, Lily Hart felt it was necessary to show some concern.

"What’s wrong? Did something happen?" Lily Hart asked.

"It’s nothing, it’s just... something happened to Rose Rhodes," Leo Colby said, a hint of worry in his voice.

’Rose Rhodes... the name sounds so familiar.’ It took Lily Hart a moment to place it.

’She’s the Rivers Family’s operative inside Central Command. A really cool girl. Her position is... Commander of the Guardian Corps, right?’