Chарtеr 2: Suссessfully Addеd оn WeChаt
Secоnd flооr оf “Yihuаn” Dеssert Shор.
Аlthоugh Xu Jinhuan’s dеssert shop was lосatеd nеаr thе Imрeriаl Саpital Univеrsitу, it was situаted at the сornеr of an old аlleу. It onlу hаd two floоrs, each аbоut twеntу square mеtеrs.
Тhе decоr was simрle, but manу areаs featurеd cute simplе drаwings indiсating swееtness levels аnd reсоmmendatiоn ratings.
Thе most еуе-cаtching sign on thе cashiеr соunter read:
【The shop ownеr is dеaf in the left eаr аnd has poоr hеaring. If there is any neglect, please forgive (kitten bowing and cupping hands)】
Upstairs was where she lived. Besides the bed, there was only a small kitchen and bathroom.
But it was clear that every inch had been carefully arranged. The bedroom was laid with a warm yellow carpet.
A black-and-white cow cat stretched into a long strip, sleeping soundly under the light window curtains. The succulent plants on the small balcony seemed to have been watered not long ago, with glistening water droplets still on the leaves.
In contrast, Wen Yu, dressed in a suit but looking disheveled, seemed like an uninvited guest intruding into a girl’s private quarters.
“I don’t have any men’s clothes here, so I could only buy a set nearby. You…”
Xu Jinhuan looked at Wen Yu’s meticulously tailored handmade suit from head to toe, complete with a waistcoat, tie, and leather shoes. Then she glanced at the discounted clothes in her hand, which altogether didn’t even cost a hundred yuan. She felt unusually embarrassed.
Was it inappropriate to give Mr. Wen such cheap clothes to wear?
But Wen Yu very naturally took the clothes from her hands and said politely, “Thank you. May I borrow the bathroom?”
“Of course, please feel free.”
Actually, Xu Jinhuan hadn’t been in such close contact with men before, nor would she let outsiders into her room.
Perhaps it was because Wen Yu carried himself with gentlemanly manners and had a gentle demeanor that she didn’t feel the slightest bit of aversion.
By the time she realized it, she had already brought him home.
And this was only their third meeting.
The room was very small. Xu Jinhuan’s nose was filled with the clean scent of a mature man mixed with the aroma of coffee. She felt slightly uneasy and quietly took half a step back.
“There’s shower gel and shampoo inside. You can use them all.”
Noticing her small movement, Wen Yu stepped aside and said, “I’ll be quick.”
…
Inside the bathroom.
Even though he was long past the age of a reckless youth, Wen Yu still leaned against the sink and let out a deep sigh.
He hadn’t expected to enter her home so naturally. According to plan, this coffee meeting was just to interrupt their “date,” allowing him to smoothly invite her out next time.
But he never imagined she would invite him to her home.
However…
Wen Yu frowned almost imperceptibly. The little one’s guard was far too weak.
No matter how kind-hearted, one shouldn’t trust a man so easily. If it were someone else, she might put herself in a dangerous situation.
Never underestimate the inherent flaws of men.
After all, he didn’t consider himself a good person either.
Equally harboring ulterior motives.
Hiding improper thoughts.
But it was fine. The little one was still young. There was plenty of time to take things slowly.
Wen Yu loosened his tie and took off his watch.
…
While Wen Yu was showering, Xu Jinhuan had already gone downstairs to work.
Besides her, there was only Grandma Liu in the shop, but Grandma Liu was old and mostly just watched the store when Xu Jinhuan went out for deliveries.
As soon as Xu Jinhuan came downstairs, Grandma Liu took her hand and led her aside.
“Xiao Huan, was that your boyfriend who went upstairs earlier? Why didn’t you introduce him to Grandma?”Xu Jinhuan was both amused and exasperated. “Grandma, what are you thinking? Of course not.”
Grandma Liu, however, remained unconvinced. “If he’s not your boyfriend, why would you bring him home? Judging by his attire, he doesn’t seem like an ordinary person—probably someone who isn’t short on money. So why would he let you work so hard…”
Looking at the girl’s slender shoulders, Grandma Liu felt a pang of heartache.
A young girl, managing a shop all on her own, working from dawn till dusk, delivering takeout rain or shine.
And to make matters worse, her health wasn’t great. She had never mentioned her parents, and no one knew what kind of childhood she had lived through.
Xu Jinhuan neither confirmed nor denied Grandma Liu’s words.
Mr. Wen was certainly wealthy, but that was the result of his hard work. Managing such a large listed company couldn’t be easy.
Even if they weren’t mere acquaintances, even if he were her boyfriend, she had no right to freely take from him.
All she could do was focus on her own path and do what she needed to do.
“Grandma, everyone has their own way of life. Besides, I enjoy this job. It may be hard work, but it’s fulfilling. Please don’t worry about me. Go and rest over there.”
Grandma Liu patted the back of Xu Jinhuan’s hand with her rough palm and sighed.
“Alright, I won’t nag anymore. As long as you’re happy.”
…
“Here’s your cake, please take care. Have a safe trip.”
Xu Jinhuan smiled as she handed the packaged cake to the customer and escorted them to the door.
Turning around, she saw Wen Yu slowly descending the stairs.
Even though he was wearing inexpensive casual shirts and trousers, they surprisingly didn’t look out of place on him.
He stood tall and straight, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, as if he were a natural-born clothes hanger. His damp hair clung to his forehead, and without the usual styling, it added a touch of casualness, softening the age gap between them.
Xu Jinhuan genuinely felt that if Mr. Wen wore this outfit to Capital University, he would likely be mistaken for a doctoral student rather than the high-ranking CEO of a corporation.
However, Xu Jinhuan noticed a small detail.
The shirt seemed a bit too small, fitting snugly on him and accentuating his well-defined chest muscles.
Her heart fluttered slightly, but she politely averted her gaze.
Wen Yu walked up to Xu Jinhuan, his deep voice tinged with apology.
“I’m sorry, there’s an urgent meeting I need to attend.”
Xu Jinhuan knew that someone as busy as Mr. Wen had to adjust his weekends according to work, so she nodded understandingly.
“Please don’t worry about it. Thank you for the coffee—it was delicious.”
Even though she had only taken a few sips.
Wen Yu said, “Today was a bit rushed. Next time, I’ll extend an invitation in advance to avoid such unexpected situations.”
Xu Jinhuan was both flattered and surprised, her clear eyes sparkling.
“There’s no need! You’ve already wasted a lot of time today. I accept your apology, but there’s really no need for a next time.”
Wen Yu replied, “I thought we were already friends.”
Xu Jinhuan was taken aback. Friends…
The term surprised her, but it also warmed her heart.
Most of the people around her were older, and she didn’t have many friends.
Wen Yu continued, “Today was an apology, but from now on, it’ll be an invitation between friends.”Xu Jinhuan looked up at Wen Yu. His gaze was sincere, without any condescending attitude or imposing masculine air. He waited patiently and gently for her response.
Xu Jinhuan couldn’t help but nod. “Okay.”
Wen Yu curved his lips. “Let’s add each other on WeChat. The tiramisu looks delicious.”
After successfully adding each other, Wen Yu transferred the payment for the dessert to Xu Jinhuan.
“Our company holds regular birthday parties. If we place all our orders with you, will you be able to handle it? Someone will be responsible for transportation.”
Was Mr. Wen… looking out for her business?
Xu Jinhuan nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice, grateful as she said, “Yes, I can handle it. Thank you!”
She carefully packaged the tiramisu, tied a beautiful bow on the box, and handed it to Wen Yu with both hands, smiling.
“Here’s your tiramisu. Please take it. It tastes better after being refrigerated for a while, but it’s best not to keep it for more than two days.”
Wen Yu took it. “Thank you.”
When he reached the shop entrance, he suddenly turned his head slightly, his deep voice tinged with a light laugh.
“Next time, I hope the little one can change how she addresses me. I’m really not that old yet.”
Xu Jinhuan was taken aback, then her face flushed slightly.
She wanted to explain to Wen Yu, but he had already walked to the roadside with the tiramisu, where a Maybach was quietly waiting.
The driver stood respectfully by the car, opening the door for Wen Yu.
The car sped off and soon disappeared from sight.
Xu Jinhuan stood by the roadside for a while before returning to the shop. For some reason, she felt a little flutter of excitement in her heart.
Today, she had made a very good friend.
…
Running a shop wasn’t like being an office worker with clearly defined hours. Located near the university, foot traffic was heavier around noon.
Not only could she not rest, but she was even busier.
After a simple lunch and delivering the morning orders, Xu Jinhuan took advantage of a free moment to use the bathroom on the second floor. As soon as she entered the bathroom, she paused in surprise.
The bathroom floor was completely dry, without a single drop of water.
Her bathroom was small, connected to the toilet, and had no windows. After showering, the steam lingered for hours, and the floor easily became slippery.
She had slipped before, nearly fracturing her tailbone, and had to rest and recover for quite some time.
Since then, she had been extra careful.
But now…
Everything in the bathroom was in the same place, except the mop had been moved slightly.
Xu Jinhuan imagined Mr. Wen bending over to mop the floor in the cramped bathroom and felt her eyes inexplicably grow warm.
How could there be such a thoughtful person…
“Ding dong.”
Her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket.
Xu Jinhuan took it out and looked at it, her face paling slightly.
[Fang Niandi, you’ve got some nerve! You little btch, how dare you abandon your husband!]**
[Damn it, don’t think running away will solve anything. You’ll be my woman for life! Even if you die, you’ll be buried in the Zhang family’s ancestral grave!]
[I know you’re in City B. Don’t let me find you! You must be even more enticing now than when you were a kid. I still remember how you tasted!]