The waitress had just unwrapped the orange paper packaging when Jiang Shining glanced at it briefly before looking away.
“Liu’an Guapian.”
“One of the ten famous teas, listed as a tribute tea during the Qing Dynasty. Made from single tender leaves, it carries a rustic charm with a unique roasted chestnut orchid fragrance, offering a fresh, mellow taste with a lingering sweetness.”
This time, even Gu Yan’s eyes held a trace of surprise.
She had answered correctly twice, and with such ease.
His interest deepened, and he continued, “Keep unwrapping.”
Without hesitation this time, the waitress continued to unwrap the packaging.
As the waitress kept unwrapping, Jiang Shining kept answering.
Until they reached the sixth package.
Seeing the orange packaging, Jiang Shining’s eyelids twitched. Before Gu Yan could react, she lunged forward to stop the waitress.
“Sister Qing, don’t open it!”
Gu Yan turned his head toward her, curious. “What, finally stumped you?”
She shook her head. “No.”
Jiang Shining looked at the orange-packaged tea, her expression pained.
“It’s just that the tea is getting more expensive with each unwrapping.”
“This is Phoenix Dancong, one of the six major teas. It costs a million per kilogram. This is such a waste.”
Such precious tea, just being unwrapped like that.
Jiang Shining felt her heart aching as if bleeding.
Gu Yan hadn’t expected Jiang Shining to give this answer and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
The private room echoed with Gu Yan’s hearty laughter.
Jiang Shining held the orange-packaged Phoenix Dancong, looking puzzled at the wealthy father across from her.
“Jiang Shining, you’re just too amusing.”
Gu Yan looked at the young woman before him, who bore an almost identical resemblance to his first love in her youth.
Though strikingly similar in appearance, their personalities were entirely different.
“Go ahead and open it.”
Gu Yan glanced at the tea indifferently. “Your Uncle Gu isn’t short on money.”
Since her wealthy father had said so, Jiang Shining didn’t hold back.
Looking at the tea set on the table, an idea struck her, and she tentatively asked, “Can I brew this tea?”
Brewing a million-dollar tea.
This was a luxury she had never experienced before.
Gu Yan’s eyes once again held a hint of surprise. “You know how to brew tea?”
Jiang Shining nodded. “I learned a bit a few days ago. I’d like to give it a try.”
Gu Yan waved to the waitress standing nearby.
The original Sister Qing exited the private room.
Jiang Shining’s eyes lit up.
She picked up the tea set from the table, rinsing it with hot water.
At Qinghe Ji, for a rare part-time job paying four hundred a day, she had naturally memorized the tea-brewing process.
The higher the pay, the harder she worked.
The sound of the guqin flowed steadily.
Jiang Shining followed the steps: placing the tea, pouring hot water, skimming off the foam, pouring the tea, and finally, the finishing touch.
Then, unhurriedly, she lifted the teapot, slightly pressing her wrist, allowing the water to spiral and pour out.
The sandalwood fragrance in the private room was now overshadowed by the aroma of tea.
“Uncle Gu, please.”
Gu Yan took a sip, his throat moving slightly, then leisurely set the teacup down.
He asked, “How long have you been learning this tea-brewing skill?”
Jiang Shining thought for a moment.
“I watched others brew tea for about a week. As for brewing it myself… maybe only three times.”
She gave an awkward, embarrassed smile.
Having brewed tea only three times, yet now, thanks to her wealthy father, she was brewing million-dollar tea.
“Not bad.”
Gu Yan looked at her. “Whether it’s coffee or tea, you handle it with ease. You’re very clever.”
For a male lead in a novel—
someone who could inherit the family business in his twenties, comparable to a Wall Street wolf—such praise made Jiang Shining quickly wave her hands in modesty.
“I don’t deserve such praise, I really don’t.”
I simply grew up relying on the kindness of many families, working hard to study and earn money—that was my way of survival.
“No need to be modest, you truly are outstanding.”
Gu Yan set down his teacup, observing Jiang Shining.
The more outstanding she was, the more curious he became about Jiang Shining’s father, and he couldn’t help but recall the person from his memories.
“Your mother was also outstanding; we were once classmates.”
Here it comes.
Mentioning Jiang Wan, Jiang Shining immediately sat up straight.
But the next moment, Gu Yan swirled his teacup and smiled bitterly, “However, after all these years, those past matters are all in the past now.”
Jiang Shining: “?”
Her curiosity, which had just been piqued.
Gu Yan pretended to ask casually, “By the way, how is your mother doing now?”
When Jiang Wan was mentioned, Jiang Shining could see the worry and lingering affection in Gu Yan’s eyes.
Even though he already knew his first love was there, he still didn’t dare to meet her.
This damn push-and-pull dynamic.
“Her—”
Jiang Shining lowered her head, appearing somewhat desolate.
“She fell ill and was injured recently.”
Hearing this, the composure on Gu Yan’s face instantly vanished. “What? Is it serious? How was she injured?”
Jiang Shining sighed, “My mother’s health isn’t good, and we live on Obsidian Street. The security there is quite chaotic. She was injured by some thugs while setting up her stall alone.”
Jiang Shining spoke unhurriedly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Gu Yan’s reaction.
Gu Yan’s hand, which had been holding the teacup, tightened, and his entire demeanor gradually darkened.
Jiang Shining looked up, “Uncle Gu, what’s wrong?”
Gu Yan suppressed his emotions, “It’s nothing.”
He continued to ask, “What about your father?”
Although Gu Yan didn’t want to bring up this topic, some things still had to be asked.
“My dad?”
Jiang Shining sighed again.
“My mother only mentioned before that he was a former classmate. I’ve never met him since I was born. Uncle Gu, since you were classmates with my mother, do you know him?”
The question was thrown back to Gu Yan.
Gu Yan began to speculate based on the information in Jiang Shining’s words, but he still had no answer.
Just then, a knock sounded at the private room door.
Gu Yan said calmly, “Come in.”
A man in black pushed open the door. Jiang Shining recognized him as the bodyguard who often acted as Gu Yan’s driver.
“Mr. Gu.”
The bodyguard placed a silver box on the table and then left the private room.
Jiang Shining examined the box, somewhat curious.
Gu Yan, however, directly opened the box and pushed it toward Jiang Shining.
“I left in a hurry last time we met. This is something Uncle Gu bought for you on the spur of the moment.”
The Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet was dazzlingly beautiful.
Although Jiang Shining didn’t know which model it was, she knew it must cost at least six figures.
Such an extravagant gift at their first meeting.
She pretended to decline, “Uncle Gu, how could I accept this?”
Gu Yan: “Give me your hand.”
Jiang Shining slowly extended her hand.
Just as Gu Yan took the bracelet and was about to put it on Jiang Shining, his movements paused when his gaze fell on the cinnabar bracelet on her wrist.
“What is this?”
Jiang Shining looked at her wrist and only then noticed she had extended her right hand.
On her right hand was the cinnabar bracelet Qin Wang had given her.
She explained awkwardly, “Someone gave this to me. They said the cinnabar from Putuo Mountain is very effective for warding off misfortune, so I’ve been wearing it.”
“Uncle Gu, what’s wrong?”
Gu Yan wasn’t looking at the cinnabar but at the ruyi lock charm at the very bottom.
“It just feels a bit familiar.”
Gu Yan felt as if he had seen it somewhere before, but for a moment, he couldn’t quite recall.
“Maybe all cinnabar bracelets look the same?”
Jiang Shining thought the cinnabar from the temple probably didn’t make much of a difference.
“If Uncle Gu likes it, I can go to Mount Putuo another day and buy you one too?”
Seeing Gu Yan putting the bracelet on her, Jiang Shining thought he might be interested in it.
“No need.”
Gu Yan shook his head with a smile, “I’m not really interested in these things.”