Chapter 53
Tan Yucheng’s hand paused for a second while pouring tea, then continued without changing his expression. There were eight people in the spacious tea room, and Chen Fei, sitting nearby, observed his expression.
Knowing that brother Tan wasn’t indifferent was enough.
To be honest, Chen Fei had seen Ji Ting several times during college—sometimes at their project competitions and sometimes at dinners. She was beautiful, graceful, and gentle. They all had a good impression of her. At first, they thought she was brother Tan’s girlfriend, but later learned she was just a high school classmate, which they found a bit disappointing. A beauty like her was only a high school classmate? Brother Tan really was something.
Ji Ting placed three cups of coffee on Long Kong’s table. Long Kong immediately reached out to help serve them and asked with a smile, “Are you still busy this afternoon?”
Ji Ting set down the coffee and, holding the tray, replied, “Not too busy.”
“Then come sit down and chat? It’s rare for Jiang Li and Asang to come to Li City,” Long Kong invited. Ji Ting met Asang and Jiang Li’s smiling eyes and nodded.
She pulled up a chair and graciously said, “Sure.”
She handed the tray to a passing Xiao Zhou, who took it away. Ji Ting sat down nearby, her hair styled in a bun with stray strands framing her face. Her delicate features were even more striking than they had been at the party last night. Asang and Jiang Li couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly time had passed and how long it had been since they’d seen Ji Ting.
Seeing her again made them realize her beauty even more.
No wonder Long Kong had taken an interest, they would have been interested too. Asang asked Ji Ting, “What made you decide to open a coffee shop?”
Leaning against her chair, Ji Ting answered, “It’s close to home.”
Asang responded with a smile, “Right, your parents run a supermarket in Li City.”
“That’s great, having your parents around and being able to do what you love,” Jiang Li said with a grin, sipping her coffee. Ji Ting nodded, and Long Kong asked her, “Has the alcohol worn off?”
Ji Ting replied, “Long ago.”
Long Kong smiled, “That’s good.”
After a while, Zhang Yang came out of the room to look for Ji Ting. After Ji Ting informed them, she got up with a tablet and walked toward the warehouse door. Zhang Yang looked at the numbers on the tablet in her hand, and Ji Ting slid the tablet for him to see. The three men continued their conversation, occasionally glancing at the busy Ji Ting, who worked gracefully and with calm composure.
Asang and Jiang Li felt a bit regretful about not being in Li City.
Meanwhile, Long Kong was browsing a flower shop on his phone.
A black SUV emerged from the underground parking garage and had to pass by the Sunset Café. The window rolled down, revealing Long Kong and the others sitting by the window inside the café.
The black SUV sped by.
Around five o’clock.
Ji Ting was checking the orders at the counter.
Long Kong, Asang, and Jiang Li left the coffee table and approached the counter. Long Kong looked at Ji Ting and invited her, “Why don’t we go out for dinner? There’s a restaurant nearby.”
Ji Ting had just printed the order and was about to respond when the doorbell rang. The private chef from upstairs came in, carrying dinner and placing it on the counter. He said, “Boss Ji, your dinner.”
Ji Ting was momentarily surprised.
Seeing the food, Long Kong was taken aback and then regretfully asked too late. He noted the restaurant’s name and then said to Ji Ting, “Looks like we’ll have to go out for dinner another time.”
Ji Ting regained her composure, looked at Long Kong, and smiled, “Sure, we’ll go together next time.”
Long Kong smiled and left with Asang and Jiang Li. Asang and Jiang Li felt a bit regretful. After they left, Ji Ting’s orders suddenly increased. She pulled off several orders, and when Xiao Wan took over, she noticed the private chef’s order had a phone number on it. Ji Ting glanced at it and recognized it as Tan Yucheng’s number.
Xiao Wan said, “It’s another order from Brother Tan Yucheng for you.”
Ji Ting nodded.
The afternoon had been relatively quiet except for the inventory, but suddenly having more orders made things busy. She instructed Xiao Wan to take the food and place it by the table and began processing the orders at hand.
Xiao Wan complained, “The worst is when orders come in during meal times. The noodles I ordered are going to be cold.”
Ji Ting smiled, “I’ll get you a replacement later.”
“Thanks, Sister Ting.”
When Xiao Zhou finished his shift, only Ji Ting and Xiao Wan were left at the counter. They both got busy. A delivery person came in to wait for the orders, and after about twenty minutes, the delivery orders were completed and handed over.
Ji Ting rubbed her neck, and Xiao Wan’s noodles had indeed gotten cold.
Xiao Wan was frustrated by the table. Ji Ting used her phone to order a new portion for Xiao Wan and then went to open the meal, which was from Yonghe Private Kitchen—vegetable salad and steak, which were light and Ji Ting’s favorites. Xiao Wan smelled the steak and swallowed, “Brother Tan Yucheng always seems to know exactly what you like.”
Ji Ting cut the steak and shared it with Xiao Wan.
Xiao Wan exclaimed, “Thank you, Sister Ting.”
After a while, Xiao Wan’s and Zhang Yang’s deliveries also arrived. Ji Ting ate her meal and then checked the inventory with Zhang Yang again. She went back to her apartment to rest, took off the warm yellow sofa cover, changed into her pajamas, and went to take a shower. Afterward, while applying body lotion on the sofa, she noticed the marks left on her legs.
He had left them.
Ji Ting paused, noticing some marks on her neck as she applied body lotion. After finishing, she covered the lotion and took her computer to input the inventory data. Exhausted from the previous night, Ji Ting finished her work early and went to bed.
The next day.
When Ji Ting arrived at the shop, she noticed it was much quieter. Starting today, the large-scale vacation period has begun. As soon as she walked in, Xiao Wan presented her with a bouquet, saying, “Tada! Fresh flowers.”
Ji Ting was surprised.
It was a bouquet of champagne roses. She asked, “Who sent these?”
Xiao Wan handed her a card, saying, “From Long Kong.”
Ji Ting took a look at the card.
Good morning, Tingting
—Long Kong
The handwriting was Long Kong’s. It was nice, not as sharp as Tan Yucheng’s, but still good. After receiving the flowers, Ji Ting went inside, took a photo with her phone, and sent it to Long Kong.
Ji Ting: ?
Long Kong: Received it? Do you like it?
Ji Ting: It’s so beautiful, who wouldn’t like it? But what’s with this gesture?
Long Kong: I passed by a flower shop this morning, bought two bouquets for the company, and ordered one for you. How’s that? Do you like my handwriting?
Ji Ting: … It’s quite nice.
Long Kong: As long as it’s nice, and you like it, that’s good.
Xiao Wan’s eyes lit up as she peeked at Ji Ting’s phone. “What did Long Kong say?”
Ji Ting put away her phone and replied, “He bought it while passing by.”
“Wow!”
Xiao Wan took the flowers and placed them in a vase. Although Long Kong occasionally sent Ji Ting small gifts, flowers were relatively rare. The champagne-colored roses were indeed beautiful. Xiao Wan placed them in a vase with some water droplets.
Ji Ting was about to put down her phone when Long Kong sent another message: Asang and Jiang Li took the high-speed train back this morning.
Ji Ting replied: Hmm.
Xiao Wan, impressed by the beauty of the flowers, took a few photos with the bookshelf in the background and posted them on her social media. She posed with a peace sign, her round face looking very cute.
At that moment.
In the meeting room, the long table was filled with people. As the holidays approached, the meetings increased, especially with the expansion plans for the new year. Tan Yucheng, with his sleeves rolled up and dressed in a black shirt, stood at the front of the table, leading the presentation.
Chen Fei, sitting at the lower left corner of the table, discreetly scrolled through social media and happened to see Xiao Wan’s post. He liked the post and, unable to resist, inquired: Such beautiful flowers? Who sent them, Sister Xiao Wan?
Xiao Wan quickly replied: They weren’t for me, they were for Sister Ting from brother Long Kong. Aren’t they beautiful?
Chen Fei’s hand trembled slightly.
Taking advantage of Tan Yucheng’s brief pause, Chen Fei subtly pushed his phone forward while Tan Yucheng glanced at it. Tan Yucheng saw the message: “Brother Long Kong sent them to Sister Ting.”
His expression remained unchanged as he tapped the touchpad, switching the data on the screen, and then looked up to continue the discussion.