“Struggling this much, and President Jiang didn’t even react—he even said she did well.”
“Does he not have a sense of taste?”
Tsk.
She had originally been expecting to see a different expression on his face.
Yan Sui wasn’t stupid.
On the contrary, she had an almost instinctive sharpness when it came to sensing people around her.
Of course she could feel that Jiang Yuan’s attitude toward her was strange.
And his intentions were questionable.
Vague, uncertain, hanging unresolved in the air.
That subtle sense of loss of control made her oddly restless.
It was as if she was looking at him through cold seawater—his outline blurred, everything else behind him heavy and suffocating like an abyss.
She kind of wanted to peel away his disguise.
Like a dissection—see his heart, his veins, his bones.
“What’s wrong?” Yan Sui tilted her head innocently. “Sister, how is it?”
Zhou Yue forced a smile.
“It’s not bad.”
If President Jiang didn’t say anything, she naturally wouldn’t either.
After all, whatever Yan Sui made would only be for him anyway.
“Really? That’s great.”
The girl’s face lit up with genuine happiness.
“One chocolate latte, and one grape Americano.”
A voice came from the entrance.
Yan Sui responded dutifully and sweetly, “Welcome~”
It was an acquaintance.
The same Gu Xin who once encouraged her to drink Long Island Iced Tea at a bar—now walking in arm-in-arm with Lin Ran.
Both of them froze when they saw Yan Sui.
Lin Ran only looked surprised, but Gu Xin immediately showed a teasing smile.
“No way, isn’t this Yan Sui? You’re working here? Anyone would think the Lin family is mistreating you.”
Yan Sui blinked.
“That’s right. The Lin family does mistreat me.”
Gu Xin froze.
But the girl quickly smiled again.
“Just kidding. How could my dad and aunt possibly mistreat me?”
“They’re very good to me—especially Auntie. She takes great care of me. I just wanted to experience life a little, so I came to work here~”
She politely gestured toward a seat by the window.
“Please wait a moment, it’ll be ready soon.”
Gu Xin’s eyes swept over her from head to toe, finally landing on her face.
“So you’ve found your place.”
She remembered how, at the bar, the guy she liked had praised Yan Sui for being cute. Ever since then, she couldn’t stand her.
Now that no one else was around, she stopped pretending.
“Yan Sui, you’re suited for this kind of job. Smiling for money.”
Yan Sui’s smile turned stiff. She bit her lip, inhaled deeply, and lowered her head with reddened eyes.
Clearly humiliated—but she said nothing.
Lin Ran patted Gu Xin’s arm, changing the topic.
“Xin Xin, didn’t you ask me out to talk about your upcoming competition?”
Gu Xin immediately shifted her attention.
“Yes. I’ve prepared for the Peach Leaf Cup piano competition for so long—first place is definitely mine.”
“Of course it is,” Lin Ran said. “I’ve always said you’re the best.”
Gu Xin lifted her chin proudly.
“I heard all the shareholders will be there. I refuse to believe President Jiang won’t notice me.”
Lin Ran tucked her long curly hair behind her ear, offering just the right emotional support.
“He definitely will. Who wouldn’t like someone as beautiful, talented, and well-mannered as you? If I were a man, I’d chase you obsessively.”
Gu Xin laughed smugly.
“I think so too.”
Then she glanced at Lin Ran.
“By the way, Lin Ran, why do I feel like you don’t have any reaction toward this Yan Sui at all?”
“A random outsider suddenly becoming part of your family—you’re not bothered?”
“More importantly, wasn’t your father originally in love with your mother? And this girl’s mother broke them up?”
“The unloved one is always the third party. She’s basically the daughter of a mistress. If it were me, I’d never let her show up in front of me.”
Lin Ran smiled faintly.
“It’s unnecessary. No matter what happened in the past, she’s innocent.”
“Lin Ran, you’re really kind.”
“Oh right, the mentor I asked you to help me find—I already got my father to arrange it.”
“That’s great!” Lin Ran’s tone finally changed slightly. “Thank you, Xin Xin!”
Gu Xin sighed.
“I don’t get you. Studying financial analysis and even minoring in law—just looking at those makes my head spin.”
“I’m just interested,” Lin Ran said.
Because of her family background, Gu Xin had more academic resources than Lin Ran. That was why they had become close friends after entering school.
The coffee was ready.
Gu Xin stood up and walked over.
She stopped in front of Yan Sui.
“Miss?”
Lin Ran sighed and looked down at her.
Her curled chestnut hair softened her otherwise sharp features.
“Don’t take what she said to heart.”
Yan Sui nodded obediently.
“I know.”
Lin Ran took the coffee, then couldn’t help adding,
“Don’t always endure things like this. Enduring only makes people push further. Being too soft isn’t good anywhere.”
“And if you’re struggling financially, you can tell me.”
Yan Sui blinked, slightly surprised.
Lin Ran had already returned to Gu Xin’s side.
Was that… concern?
The girl thought with interest. She had assumed Lin Ran would tell her to stay away from home more, or avoid provoking He Wan.
Soon, more customers arrived.
Almost every one of them paused when they saw Yan Sui’s face.
A new BJD-doll-like waitress?
Too pretty.
A few boys secretly took photos and posted them on the campus forum.
[New girl at Echo café entrance—super cute!]
But one second after posting, the thread was deleted.
The poster was confused and couldn’t think of any violation.
So he posted again.
And then his entire account was banned.
The beautiful girl is cursed!
Meanwhile, Jiang Yuan’s face was dark.
He looked at the backend photos sent by his assistant, saved them, and ordered all related topics blocked.
He wanted to hide her.
He wanted no one’s gaze to ever reach her.
An extreme desire.
But still only desire.
At most, he would do some dark, unseen things as long as they didn’t disturb her.
Otherwise—how would he be any different from his father?
Holding the printed photos, he stared at them without moving.
The wounds on his knuckles and wrists had already scabbed over. He hadn’t hurt himself for two days.
His fingertip traced the girl’s face in the photo.
She was smiling sweetly, greeting customers.
Jiang Yuan’s throat trembled.
After a long moment, he stood and walked to the bookshelf.
He pressed a hidden protrusion.
The bookshelf slid aside, revealing a concealed room.
A sensor light flickered on.
In the dim light, she flooded into view.
A wall—completely covered with her photos.
Densely packed. Endless.
And still increasing.
The small room had only display cases besides the wall.
Inside the glass cases, like museum-grade exhibits, were things she had used:
a strand of her hair,
her hand towel,
the cup she drank from,
a rose that once bloomed on her windowsill but had already withered.
And now, one more item was about to be added.
The coffee she had personally made.
A small amount remained, ice fully melted. He still couldn’t bring himself to finish it.
He stood there for a while before finally tilting his head back and drinking the last sip.
An indescribable bitterness spread across his tongue.
Was it always this bitter? Or only because it was gone?
He licked the final drop from his lips.
Sweet as nectar.