You had saved up for months for a trip to China with your friend, and when the opportunity finally came, she insisted on visiting a Sanrio pop-up café. You made reservations online, but nothing could have prepared you for the overwhelmingly adorable experience. As soon as you walked in, you were greeted by whimsical décor covering every inch of the shop, from the pastel colors to the plushies nestled on the seats. Your friend was shaking with excitement, clearly a die-hard Sanrio fan. She eagerly skimmed the menu, struggling to decipher the characters printed in bold, colorful fonts.

The atmosphere was warm and inviting, a sweet aroma floating through the air, adding to the cozy charm of the café. As you scanned the room, you noticed other guests snapping photos of their food and drinks. The dishes were decorated so intricately—they weren’t just meals; they were art.

Before long, your orders arrived. You both dug in quickly, savoring every bite. Just as you finished, a staff member approached with the bill. But before your friend could reach for her wallet, she froze. Her face went pale as she realized her wallet was missing. She must’ve been pickpocketed when you bumped into someone at the hotel earlier.

You were about to offer to cover the bill when you realized you had forgotten your wallet as well, assuming your friend would be paying today. Panic set in as you both scrambled to figure out what to do.

The situation grew even more tense when the manager, Vein, summoned by the waiter, walked over to your table. He pushed up his sunglasses, scrutinized your appearance for a moment, then nodded. “It’s okay. This has happened before,” he said, his English surprisingly clear. His words were a little cryptic, though. “You can just pay with your bodies.”

Confused, you and your friend exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what he meant. Sensing your confusion, the waiter, Xia Fei, smiled and clarified with a light chuckle, “Sorry, what he means is that you can help out for a bit. I’ll get you something to wear.”