Fu Linchuan picked up his phone, intending to snap a quick photo just to get it over with. But Shen Yunli pressed lightly on the back of his hand with her fingertip.
“The angle won’t look good if we take it ourselves. Let’s have that waitress take it for us.”
Smiling, she waved at Wen Yan, who hadn’t gone far. “Come take a picture for us.”
Wen Yan hesitated, her lips trembling slightly, instinctively glancing toward Linchuan.
Having spent years in the business world, Fu Linchuan quickly regained composure after a brief moment of unease. He avoided looking at Wen Yan again.
“Of course, ma’am,” Wen Yan said, taking the phone.
Shen Yunli held the bouquet and leaned into Fu Linchuan’s arms, having her take several photos.
Every second was torture for this secret couple.
He held a fiancée he didn’t love, while the woman he truly loved took their photos—what bitter irony.
Shen Yunli admired Wen Yan’s pale face, then took back the phone. “Thank you. You did a great job—I’m very satisfied.”
Wen Yan felt a wave of relief and was about to leave, but Shen Yunli wasn’t going to let her off so easily.
“I remember there’s a mural activity here. Pick one of the photos for me and have it painted and displayed on the wall.”
The “painting wall” allowed customers to select a favorite photo, have it printed, and then recreated by a staff member skilled in drawing, before being displayed for others to see.
Fu Linchuan instinctively wanted to refuse, but before he could speak, Shen Yunli had already sent a voice message to the old master about it.
Now he had no choice.
His grandfather always felt he was still too impulsive, not as steady as his uncle. Important projects weren’t fully entrusted to him yet.
Causing a scene over something like this wasn’t worth it.
Yan Yan had always been understanding—she wouldn’t blame him over something so small.
He lowered his head, took a sip of warm water, and said nothing.
That was his silent consent.
Seeing this, Wen Yan felt her heart grow cold. She turned away to print the photo.
“Do you know how to draw?” Shen Yunli asked.
“Yes,” Wen Yan nodded.
“Then I’ll leave this couple’s portrait of me and my fiancé to you,” Shen Yunli said with a faint smile.
She wanted Wen Yan to personally paint their “loving” image—stroke by stroke—and then hang it in the most prominent place in the café.
As long as Wen Yan worked here, she would have to see it every day—a constant reminder of her hidden, shameful position.
This was the first “gift” Shen Yunli prepared for her.
By the time the coffee was served, Wen Yan already seemed dazed.
As she set it down, Shen Yunli happened to be reaching into her bag. Their arms brushed lightly—and the coffee spilled.
Startled back to her senses, Wen Yan looked at the mess on the table and the stains on her clothes, panicking.
“I’m so sorry, ma’am—I lost focus. I’m really sorry. I’ll clean this up right away and make you a new one.”
Shen Yunli had always been strict with others and lenient with herself. And this woman was standing in the way of her ambitions.
Her brows darkened as she seized the opportunity.
“As a server, you can’t even handle something as basic as serving coffee? Your hiring standards must be ridiculously low. Call your manager—I want you fired.”
Despair filled Wen Yan’s heart. She was juggling multiple jobs just to get by, and this café paid well. If she lost this job—what about her mother in the hospital?
She hurriedly apologized, almost pleading.
“Ma’am, I know I was wrong. Please don’t have me fired—I really need this job. I’m begging you.”
“If you truly valued your job, you wouldn’t be zoning out at work. Can’t you understand plain language? Call your manager.”
Fu Linchuan finally couldn’t sit still. “It’s just a spilled cup of coffee. Is it really worth getting this angry? Let her remake it—you haven’t actually suffered any loss.”
Shen Yunli replied coldly, “She ruined my mood. I feel unlucky now—is that not enough? And besides—”
She looked up at him, both petulant and aggrieved, but her words hit like oil thrown onto fire.
“You’re my fiancé, yet you’re siding with an outsider. Hmph—someone might think the two of you have something going on!”
The words hit both of them like a shockwave.
Fu Linchuan was momentarily speechless, then said weakly, “Shen Yunli, what nonsense are you talking about…”
Wen Yan’s face turned completely pale.
At that moment, a gentle-looking man hurried over.
“Ma’am, I apologize for the unpleasant experience. How about this—as a gesture of goodwill, all your future purchases here will be free.”
Noticing people starting to look their way, Shen Yunli—who cared deeply about appearances—decided to let it go.
She gave a light snort, effectively agreeing.
The manager signaled for Wen Yan to go clean herself up. Tears welled in her eyes as she apologized once more to Shen Yunli before rushing toward the restroom.
Fu Linchuan, uneasy, made an excuse that some coffee had splashed on him too, and followed her.
Shen Yunli pretended not to notice. Instead, she sent a message to a private investigator:
Keep a close eye on them. Take more photos.
Previously, she only knew of Wen Yan’s existence. Fu Linchuan had protected her too well for any intimate photos to be captured.
This was a perfect opportunity.
She needed those photos as leverage for her eventual escape.
The manager returned with several plates of delicate desserts.
After studying him for a moment, Shen Yunli suddenly spoke:
“Manager Lin, I know about you. You like that waitress, don’t you? Unfortunately, your little sweetheart has already become someone else’s caged bird.”
Manager Lin stiffened. “Ma’am, I’m sorry—I don’t understand what you’re talking about. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
Unhurried, Shen Yunli took a bite of dessert.
“You think your gentle care and silent devotion will eventually win her heart. But as a fellow woman, let me tell you—no one falls for a ‘central heating system.’ We women don’t have extra eyes on the backs of our heads either. Your silent sacrifices only move yourself. They’re useless. Oh—well…”
She paused, glancing toward the restroom.
“Not entirely useless, I suppose. Maybe they just end up making someone else’s wedding dress. What a saint you are.”
He had just kindly resolved a customer dispute for her—but what was the woman he loved doing right now?
Lin Yizhi wasn’t blind. He knew about Fu Linchuan.
He knew there was a strong chance they were inside confessing their feelings to each other. His heart ached, yet he didn’t dare interrupt—worried about her feelings.
But even if he acted this way, would she ever know?
Maybe she would—but it would likely just earn him a casual, “Thank you, Manager Lin, you’re such a nice person.”
His thoughts spiraled into chaos.
Shen Yunli set down her spoon. “The desserts are good. Thank you for the treat.”
She stood up. As she brushed past him, she slipped a business card into his pocket and raised an eyebrow.
“Manager Lin—I look forward to working with you.”