The main hall of Wenlong Tea House went completely quiet.
The head clerk froze, his brush stopping over the paper. His smug smile vanished, replaced by pure shock as he stared at Yimei.
"Y-You..." The clerk stammered, his voice shaking. "How do you know the owner is on the second floor?"
Yimei did not answer him. Her dark eyes remained cold and calm as she looked at the counter.
"You knew exactly who I was the moment I walked in," Yimei said in a clear, sharp voice. "You claimed a fresh shipment arrived less than half an hour ago—the exact time my manager was turned away at the market. And your high price is meant to force me into a corner, not to do honest business."
She raised her head, looking past the clerk toward the thin bamboo screen on the second floor.
"The person who bought every small stall in the market didn’t do it to make a small profit," Yimei added smoothly. "He did it to bring me here. And since the owner went to so much trouble to set up this meeting, leaving me to speak with a simple clerk is quite rude, isn’t it?"
Behind the bamboo screen on the second floor, Xiao Jun let out a soft laugh. He set his teacup down on the low table and stood up. His guard, Ah Hei, looked at Yimei with wide, surprised eyes.
"She knew you were watching the whole time, Young Master," Ah Hei whispered.
"She is very smart," Xiao Jun said, a curious smile on his handsome face. "Most women would have cried or argued over the high price. But she called me out directly."
Xiao Jun walked slowly down the carved wooden stairs. His purple silk robes moved softly as he stepped into the main hall.
Qinqin held her breath, stepping close behind Yimei.
Yimei stared at the handsome young man approaching them. ’Nine,’ Yimei asked in her mind, calling out to her system. ’Who is this man?’
Immediately, Nine’s electronic voice rang in her head: [Target identified: Young Master Xiao Jun. Son of the Minister of War. He is the secret owner of Wenlong Tea House and controls the largest ingredient supply network in the capital.]
Xiao Jun stopped a few steps away from the counter and looked directly at Yimei with a lazy smile.
"I bought all the ginger and honey in the market to prove a point," Xiao Jun explained in a simple, direct tone. "Small street stalls will always run out of supplies. But my shop, Wenlong Tea House, has all the rare herbs and dried fruit you need. I want to be your only supplier."
Yimei looked into his eyes without any fear. "You want to sell me supplies at three times the normal price. That is not a business deal. That is stealing."
Xiao Jun chuckled softly. He turned his head toward the stairs and gestured with his hand.
"Follow me to the private room upstairs," Xiao Jun said calmly. "We can talk about the real price up there."
Yimei took a step forward, but Qinqin quickly grabbed her sleeve, her face pale. "Miss, no! It is not safe!"
Xiao Jun held up his hand, looking at Qinqin. "Your maid stays down here. You come alone."
Qinqin shook her head, terrified. "Miss, please don’t!"
Yimei gently patted Qinqin’s hand, loosening her maid’s grip. "Wait for me down here, Qinqin. Sip some tea and stay calm."
Without another word, Yimei turned and followed Xiao Jun up the wooden stairs into the private second floor, ready to drive a hard bargain.
Yimei followed Xiao Jun into the private room on the second floor.
The room was grand and quiet, warmed by a brass heater burning scented charcoal. A low mahogany table sat near the window, decorated with soft silk cushions and a silver tea set.
Xiao Jun walked over to the window, turned around, and leaned back against the wooden frame. He crossed his arms, looking Yimei up and down with a lazy, teasing smirk.
"You really are a strange girl, An Yimei," Xiao Jun said, his voice light and rude. "A concubine’s daughter who just married a helpless cripple, yet today you walk around the city like you own the place. Tell me, does your disabled husband know his new bride is out making deals with other men?"
Yimei’s face remained as still as water. She did not get angry, nor did she flinch at his rude words. She simply pulled out a wooden chair and sat down across from him.
"Young Master Xiao," Yimei said calmly, looking straight into his eyes. "My husband’s health is none of your business. We are here to talk about tea ingredients, not my marriage."
Xiao Jun chuckled, tilting his head with an amused grin. "Look at you, acting so proud when you don’t have a single root of ginger in your shop. You need my dried fruits, my honey, and my herbs to make your little winter drinks. Without me, your tea house is just an empty building."
He walked over to the table and poured himself a cup of warm wine, taking a slow sip before looking down at her.
"I can give you the supplies," Xiao Jun continued, his smile turning sharp and clever. "And I can give them to you at the lowest market price."
Yimei raised an eyebrow. "And what is the catch?"
"The catch is simple," Xiao Jun leaned down slightly, resting his hands on the table, his eyes shining with mischief. "I don’t just want to sell you ingredients. If you want my low prices and my unlimited stock, I want to become a business partner in your East Market Tea House."
Yimei narrowed her eyes. "A partner?"
"Yes," Xiao Jun said smoothly. "I supply all the high-quality ingredients for free, and in return, I want forty percent of the profits from your new winter menu. That way, your success is my success."
He sat back in his chair, tapping his fan against his palm with a smirk. "So, Young Madame Bai... do we have a deal, or do you want to walk out that door with empty hands?"
Yimei sat quietly, her mind working rapidly.
’Nine,’ she called out internally. ’Analyze the supply costs and profit margins if I accept a twenty percent partnership versus paying full market price.’
[System Analysis: A 20% profit share with zero upfront ingredient costs yields a 35% higher net margin than buying stock independently. Additionally, Young Master Xiao’s supply chain guarantees rare seasonal herbs.]
A cold, clever smile touched Yimei’s lips. She looked up, her dark eyes pinning Xiao Jun with absolute calm.
"Forty percent is a dream, Young Master Xiao," Yimei said, her voice dropping into a smooth, steady tone. "You provide raw materials, but I provide the secret recipes, the management, and the labor. You risk nothing; I risk everything. The highest I will go is twenty percent."
Xiao Jun raised an eyebrow, about to scoff, but Yimei didn’t give him the chance to interrupt.
"And that twenty percent comes with conditions," Yimei continued, leaning forward. "First, Wenlong Tea House must guarantee priority delivery—my shop gets the freshest batch of herbs before anyone else in the capital. Second, if any stock arrives spoiled or late, you cover the loss entirely. Third, you will sign a non-compete clause: you cannot sell these specific fruit and herb blends to any other tea house in the central district."
Xiao Jun’s teasing smile faded slightly, replaced by genuine shock. He stared at her, stunned by how thoroughly she had tied up every loose end in a single breath.
"You are relentless," Xiao Jun muttered, a rich chuckle escaping his lips. "You take my ingredients, slash my profit demand in half, and force me to guarantee your losses?"
"Take it or leave it," Yimei replied simply, folding her hands in her lap. "If you refuse, I will simply adapt my recipes using local grain teas. You will have a mountain of bought-out market ginger sitting in your warehouse doing nothing."
Xiao Jun tapped his fan against his palm, thoroughly impressed. "Fine. Twenty percent, with all your conditions."
He leaned back, his eyes dancing with a new idea. "Since I am now your partner, I suppose I should help you market these drinks properly. My younger sister, Xiao Ruyan, is getting married in two weeks. The Minister’s estate will hold a massive engagement banquet for the entire capital’s noble family."
Yimei’s gaze sharpened. "You want my winter tea served there?"
"Not just served," Xiao Jun smirked, leaning in. "I will make sure your East Market Tea House brand is placed directly on every table. If the grand ladies of the capital taste your tea at a Minister’s banquet, your shop will be booked solid for the next three years."
Yimei rose smoothly from her chair, holding out her hand. "Then we have a deal, Partner Xiao."