Returning to the counter, Jiang Shining once again observed the movements of Gu Yan and Qin Wang in the corner.
This time, however, the two remained silent.
One was looking at his phone, while the other gazed at the scenery outside the window.
After about ten minutes, Qin Wang stood up, and at that moment, Gu Yan answered a phone call.
Jiang Shining had just breathed a sigh of relief.
In the next moment, Gu Yan, who had been drinking coffee, lost his grip, and the coffee in his hand splashed directly onto his cuff, staining his silver-gray suit with coffee marks.
Drip, drip—coffee droplets fell onto the table.
Qin Wang glanced over, his eyes filled with mockery. “It seems you’re not as composed as you appear.”
With that, he stood up and walked away from his seat.
She headed toward the aisle of the coffee shop.
In the aisle, Qin Wang and Jiang Shining, who had hurried over, brushed past each other.
“I’ll pick you up after work.”
Leaving these words behind, Qin Wang walked out of the café.
Jiang Shining paused in her steps.
Watching Qin Wang push open the door and leave, she turned and walked back toward the corner of the coffee shop.
She pulled a few tissues from the table and wiped the coffee stains from Gu Yan’s suit sleeve.
“Mr. Gu, be careful.”
The tissues were stained with coffee.
On the silver-gray suit, the dark patch stood out prominently.
A high-end custom suit cost at least five figures, and with this spill, the garment was likely ruined.
Jiang Shining, who could only work part-time every day, felt a pang of sympathy. “Mr. Gu, there’s a laundromat nearby. Should I take it there for you?”
“No need.”
Gu Yan’s attention was entirely elsewhere at the moment.
He was still mulling over the information his subordinate had just relayed.
Jiang Shining came from a single-parent family.
That meant her mother had raised her alone.
Raising a child alone, with the father absent.
Jiang Shining: “Mr. Gu?”
Gu Yan snapped back to reality. “It’s nothing.”
He looked at Jiang Shining, who was wearing an apron, and thought for a moment. “Do you have time later?”
“I haven’t thanked you for last time.”
Jiang Shining stared blankly at Gu Yan.
“Uh… I still have to work.”
Business was booming today, and Jiang Shining estimated she might have to work overtime.
Not to mention, Qin Wang had just made plans with her.
Gu Yan shook his head dismissively. “It’s fine, these are just minor matters.”
Jiang Shining didn’t understand what Gu Yan meant.
But less than half an hour after returning to the counter,
the coffee shop owner rushed back in a hurry.
Jiang Shining was surprised. “Boss?”
She stared blankly at the owner, who had hurried back.
The coffee shop owner didn’t even glance at her. Instead, he headed straight for the corner of the coffee shop, wearing a fawning expression as he stood beside Gu Yan.
After exchanging a few words, the coffee shop owner returned to Jiang Shining.
“Just go out and chat with that gentleman. I’ll handle things here.”
With that, he took the milk frother from Jiang Shining’s hands and effortlessly created latte art with one hand.
Seeing Jiang Shining still frozen in place,
he said impatiently, “What are you still standing around for? Go out with Mr. Gu.”
In the middle of her shift, her boss had taken over her work.
Gu Yan: “Shall we go?”
Jiang Shining turned around.
By now, Gu Yan had taken off his suit jacket and was wearing only a shirt. The Patek Philippe watch on his wrist was dazzling and eye-catching.
Was this the power of money?
Jiang Shining felt a bit nervous.
Looking at Gu Yan waiting by the door, she nodded woodenly.
A Maybach was parked at the entrance.
Watching the bodyguard open the passenger door, Jiang Shining nervously got in.
Half an hour later,
the car stopped in front of a building with an antique charm.
Jiang Shining stepped out of the car.
The antique-style decor, the pavilions and towers of traditional Chinese architecture—yet it was built right in the center of Z City, with a rock garden and an old-fashioned fountain placed at the entrance.
This was Qinghe Ji, and Jiang Shining was no stranger to it.
Gu Yan said, “This is my first time in Z City. This teahouse has pretty good reviews online.”
How could it not be good?
Jiang Shining swallowed as she looked at the Chinese-style teahouse.
This restaurant was located in the heart of Z City, usually reserved for wealthy businessmen to negotiate deals.
“It’s still early for dinner. This teahouse is quieter.”
Gu Yan glanced at Jiang Shining beside him but noticed something different in her expression.
“Why that reaction?”
He thought for a moment and guessed, “Have you been here before?”
Jiang Shining nodded. “Yes.”
“Last month, I took a part-time job and covered a few shifts for one of the staff here.”
Since arriving in this world, Jiang Shining had been working frantically every day.
During busy times, she even took on two jobs a day.
Gu Yan hadn’t expected that answer from Jiang Shining and couldn’t help but laugh.
The two of them walked into the teahouse.
The hostess in a cheongsam was taken aback when she saw Jiang Shining but quickly composed herself.
“Right this way, guests. The private room is over here.”
The hostess turned and led the way forward.
Gu Yan naturally noticed the hostess’s reaction and looked curiously at Jiang Shining. “Do you know her?”
Jiang Shining nodded.
She whispered, “Sister Qing went back to her hometown at the time, and I covered her shifts.”
The part-time waitress had now become a guest.
Gu Yan chuckled. “What a coincidence.”
How could it not be a coincidence?
Jiang Shining hadn’t expected Gu Yan to choose this place either.
The two went straight to the third floor.
Qinghe Ji only had three floors in total.
The first floor had small private rooms, suitable for catching up with old friends.
The second floor had elegant seating, ideal for negotiations.
The third floor was a refined private room specially set up by Qinghe Ji to receive distinguished guests.
As a former waitress, Jiang Shining knew it was extremely difficult to reserve.
The wooden door swung open, and the scent of sandalwood incense wafted out.
In the corner of the room sat a woman dressed in a modern Chinese style, playing the guqin. The lingering notes of the music filled the air. Qinghe Ji didn’t have air conditioning; instead, two porcelain jars were placed on either side, using dry ice to bring a coolness that soothed the summer heat.
Jiang Shining immediately squinted her eyes in comfort.
So elegant.
Gu Yan looked at Jiang Shining standing at the door. “Not coming in?”
Jiang Shining snapped out of it and stepped into the private room.
She sat across from Gu Yan while Sister Qing, who was nearby, arranged the tea snacks and prepared to brew tea.
Jiang Shining glanced around the room, also watching Sister Qing as she fetched the tea leaves.
Gu Yan looked at her curiously. “Weren’t you a waitress here? Why do you still seem so fascinated?”
Jiang Shining shook her head.
“It’s not the same.”
“I was only part-time before. I could only go to the first and second floors. I wasn’t qualified to come to the third floor.”
Part-time employees weren’t even as good as outsourced staff, let alone allowed on the third floor.
Thinking of this, Jiang Shining looked at the wealthy father sitting across from her and smiled, her eyes curving. “This time, I’m only able to experience this higher level thanks to Mr. Gu.”
Gu Yan couldn’t help but laugh again.
Every time he met Jiang Shining, she seemed to surprise him, and she often exceeded his expectations as well.
Looking at Jiang Shining before him, he felt a playful urge to tease her.
“Do you recognize this tea?”
Jiang Shining looked at the red tin Sister Qing had opened. “Anxi Tieguanyin.”
“Legend has it there are two versions: the ‘Wei Theory’ and the ‘Wang Theory.’ It has a pure, rich flavor with a distinctive Guanyin charm. After brewing, it releases a strong orchid fragrance and is praised as ‘still fragrant after seven infusions.'”
She readily described the distinctive features of the tea leaves.
“Alright.”
Gu Yan turned to the waitress and said, “Change it to another variety.”
Sister Qing paused while holding the tea leaves. “Mr. Gu, the tea has already been opened.”
Once the tea leaves were unsealed, according to Qinghe’s rules, they could not be returned or exchanged.
Gu Yan replied calmly, “It’s fine. I’ll pay for it. Please change it to another variety.”