Chapter 16 A Fine Beauty

• "Which year are you in?" Ben started to light up the charcoal.
• "Do I look like a student?" The girl pointed at herself. She was happy. Females generally prefer it when others say that they look young. A nineteen-year-old girl would be happy, too, if one told her that she looked eighteen.
• "Are you not? Are you a teacher? You wouldn't be. I've never seen a young teacher."
• "I'm… in my fourth year." The girl rolled her eyes at his remark and asked Ben, "Do you sell skewers here every day?"
• "Look here. Operating hours are from six in the evening till one in the morning. No off days." Ben pointed at the signboard once more. He laughed and continued, "Doesn't my signboard look professional? Better than the others, at least."
• The girl could not help but smile. She asked, "Do you not rest on the weekends? Don't you feel tired working every day?"
• "Girl. This is life. It might be easy to breathe, but life will not be easy. No one lives an easy life. Is this your first time here?"
• "Well, yes."
• "Then you have come to the right place. I sell the best skewers in this area. I am also the most handsome stall owner here. You'd be able to satisfy your taste buds and your eyes by eating here. You can feast your eyes on a handsome man here while having skewers. It's worth it." Ben sold himself as he continued lighting his charcoal up.
• "You know how to sell yourself." The girl smiled.
• "This is life. You have to learn to enjoy whatever you do. When you are happy, the people beside you will be happy too. Isn't it a good thing? Come, girl. I will give you a few lamb skewers for free. I have marinated it with my secret recipe. Pretty girls always get a discount when they come here to eat. But you are different. You are a rare beauty, so I will give it to you for free! Give me a minute. It will be done right away." Ben did not stop talking. He had practiced his charismatic skills by chatting with these college students daily as he sold his skewers.
• The girl blushed when she received Ben's compliment. No one has ever complimented her so blatantly.
• "Do you… stay nearby?" The girl continued to ask.
• "Me? No. I live far away. The rental here is too high due to the high demand from college couples."
• "Oh. Then… Did you hear about the house that caught fire a few days ago?" The girl asked Ben.
• "Fire? Yes, it was an old apartment that caught fire at midnight. I happened to pass by that night when it caught fire. I stay just nearby, so I pass by every day after work. The fire was so big that the whole building was completely burnt down. Luckily, everyone escaped, and no lives were lost." Ben recalled what happened that night as he continued cooking.
• "Were you there that day?"
• "Yes, I happened to pass by when it caught fire."
• "I heard that one person rushed into the fire to rescue a girl from the fire even though it was dangerous. Was it true? If that was the case, that person was heroic." The girl asked.
• "I think he can't be considered heroic, though. Anyone with a little conscience would have done the same thing if they were there. It was just a coincidence that he had saved her. Being called a hero would be an exaggeration. I would just say that that person is a good man." Ben sprinkled some seasonings on his lamb skewers.
• "But, that man is the girl's savior. If he hadn't rescued her, she would have died in that building." The girl spoke with reddened eyes.
• "Yes. There are still many kind-hearted people in this world. Have a taste, girl. This is the only lamb skewer you can find in this area cooked by a handsome man. Try it and see how it tastes." Ben handed the lamb skewer to the girl.
• "Thank you. How much is it?" The girl hurriedly took her wallet out.
• "Well, this stall gives beautiful girls discounts. And it will be free of charge for absolute beauties like you. This is free." Ben sat on his stool and lit up his cigarette with a smile.
• Ben thought the girl would leave after taking the barbequed skewers. He did not expect the girl to continue to stand in front of this stall.
• "Thank you. My name is Tilly Glamshaw. What about you?" The girl stretched her hand out towards Ben after introducing herself.
• "My name is Ben Walton. Forget the handshake. My hand is oily. I don't want to ruin your fair and clean little hand. What else would you like? I will make it for you. I'm unoccupied anyway. I don't have many customers today." Ben laughed heartily.
• "This is enough. I will eat later. By the way, are you… married?" The girl asked Ben.
• "Married? Are you kidding me? Who would want to marry a man who makes skewers for a living?"
• "Why do you speak of yourself this way? Do you have a fiancée or a girlfriend then?"
• "Aren't you asking the same question?"
• "Then, have you ever… bought a ring?" Tilly continued to ask.
• "Why would I buy a ring? Firstly, I don't have a wife. Secondly, I don't have a girlfriend."
• The girl hesitated when she heard this. She reached into her bag and touched the diamond ring in her bag.
• Tilly wanted to ask Ben some more questions, but a crowd started coming. They seemed like students.
• "Brother Ben, as usual, five chicken wings and twenty lamb skewers… For takeaway."
• "Alright. Then I shall give you five lamb skewers for free as usual. That will make it twenty-five lamb skewers." Ben immediately started his preparing his skewers.
• His business got better gradually. Ben took order after order. He did not have any time to stop and rest.
• After some time, Ben raised his head to see if Tilly was still there. To his surprise, she was still standing right in front of his stall, looking at him. She did not seem like she was going to leave anytime soon. This made Ben curious. He asked, "Beautiful girl, would you like to order anything? I can make yours first."
• "It's fine. I'm full. You can go on. Just ignore me." Tilly answered.
• Ben gave this beautiful girl a puzzled glance. He did not know what she wanted to do. She refused to order more food, yet she wasn't leaving. She just watched him.
• However, Ben could not deny that he did enjoy being watched by a beautiful girl. However, he was too preoccupied to enjoy her attention.
• More and more people came. Ben was always busy at this time of the day. Because his business was good, people had to queue up to buy his barbequed skewers. He had to do all the cooking and packing all by himself. He did not even have time to collect payments from his customers. Luckily, most of them pay him through e-wallet, but without Ben checking. Some who paid by cash got their change from an old box on the shelf next to his grilling pit. It was the same box used for payment. The customers did everything themselves. Ben knew that his earnings were lesser that way, but he could not help it. He was alone, and his business was thriving. He could not do everything.
• "I'll help you collect payment." Tilly suddenly offered. Then, she started to stand in front of the box and helped Ben collect payment.