Chapter 134: Sweeter than Milk Tea

“Building our own delivery system is too much trouble.”

Cash on delivery with an advance payment model would be more cost-effective.

The forum’s combination punch can only reach Linchuan. Beyond that, costs rise, so we need to expand ahead of time.

Small-scale things are easier, but once it grows, all sorts of problems will emerge.

On a mildly sunny afternoon, the shop gradually quieted down. Manager Fang Xiaoxuan gazed admiringly through the glass window at the boss and his wife sitting under the awning outside.

The boss was writing on a piece of paper, muttering to himself.

His wife wore large sunglasses that hid her face, lounging in a deck chair, her stockinged feet swinging.

Every so often, she’d hand her milk tea cup to her husband for a sip.

Then she’d offer it again for another sip.

Sometimes the boss wouldn’t take it, complaining it was too sweet. His wife would grumble and push it closer until he relented with a sip.

“Ah, sweeter than the milk tea I make.”

Fang Xiaoxuan felt the boss was unusually serious and mature for his age, unlike other college students. Whether his gaze or tone, he lacked the vibrancy and aspirations of youth, instead exhibiting a depth and sharpness of an adult.

But whenever his wife appeared, the boss reverted to normal.

Indeed, only his wife could tame this peculiar creature.

“C’mon little rich girl, let me show you around.”

After a while, Jiang Qin put his pen down, folded the paper into his pocket, and decided to inspect Room 502.

Feng Nanshu made a sound, rising to put on her shoes. Suddenly, her petite foot was gently grasped by a warm hand, and by the time she realized, one shoe was already on.

“Helping others is the source of happiness.”

Jiang Qin muttered in a righteous manner, then seriously grasped her other stockinged foot, rubbing it before putting on the other shoe.

“All set, let’s go!”

Feng Nanshu stared blankly at her shoes. “Jiang Qin, you didn’t tie the laces.”

“I’m not good at that,” Jiang Qin shrugged.

“?”

Fang Xiaoxuan smacked the door frame, thinking the boss just wanted to touch his wife’s stockinged feet. He got his way, so he should properly tie her laces too!

From Xitian Milk Tea Shop to the Comprehensive Building’s Room 502, incessant keyboard clicking filled the lively work atmosphere.

Dong Wenhao was briefing some team leaders on handling the crucial conversion phase to prevent a drastic drop in active users after the event.

Everyone had their tasks, brimming with youthful energy in this classroom.

However, when Feng Nanshu entered with Jiang Qin, many couldn’t help but pause.

The University of Science and Technology team had many new recruits from the main campus who didn’t recognize Feng Nanshu, or even Jiang Qin in some cases.

At that moment, the newcomers had one thought:

“Wow, what a beautiful girl.”

But when the little rich girl cast her cold gaze over them, that thought changed to: “Wow, what an aloof girl.”

Only when veteran teammates warmly greeted the “old lady boss” did they realize who she was. They quickly averted their eyes, straightened their backs, and refocused on work.

“The old lady boss is treating you all to milk tea. Someone will be over with it soon. Wenhao, make sure to distribute it.”

Jiang Qin called out after entering.

“Got it, boss.”

Dong Wenhao replied, thinking the boss visited eight times a day, but they never even saw a straw, only the old lady boss.

Soon, two university student part-timers under Fang Xiaoxuan arrived with loads of milk tea.

The newcomers learned from veteran teammates that the wildly popular Xitian downstairs was the old lady boss’s shop while sipping their milk tea.

Truly, outstanding people are drawn to each other.

One running a forum, the other a milk tea shop – a perfect pairing of the Condor Heroes!

“?”

Feng Nanshu stared blankly at the pile of milk tea. “I don’t recall treating them to milk tea.”

“It’s about making an impression. I’m usually a cold, aloof boss, so I need to show some humanity from time to time. In their eyes, the old lady boss and boss are family.”

Jiang Qin explained, but felt the little rich girl probably didn’t understand.

As promotion continued, the team would only grow, especially across different campuses where the impact would gradually fade.

Thus, Jiang Qin had to be somewhat cold and aloof to command respect within the team.

But too much intimidation would weaken their sense of belonging, so occasional gestures were needed – a common corporate tactic.

“Then I’ll have Xiaoxuan send over some ice cream too!”

The little rich girl didn’t understand, but upon hearing “family,” her eyes lit up as she took out her phone, eager to show off her generosity!

“No, once is enough. Don’t randomly copy others.”

Feng Nanshu looked at him, somewhat puzzled. “Every day then?”

“Just this once. Every day would be too arrogant and overdo it.”

After speaking, Jiang Qin approached Guo Zihang, who was staring intensely at his screen, keyboard clattering. “Old Guo, how’s the on-campus part-time job feeling?”

“Master, I feel capable again!” Guo Zihang exclaimed excitedly.

“Really? What makes you say that?”

“I’m helping manage forum posts for you, deleting personal attacks and highlighting good ones. I feel like I control the entire school’s discourse!”

Jiang Qin patted his shoulder. “That’s a crucial job. Without you, this forum would collapse.”

Guo Zihang paused. “It’s not that serious, is it?”

“Confidence is key. Old Guo, you lack confidence, always lashing out online. You need to transfer that confidence to the real world. That senior girl who brought you milk tea earlier, why didn’t you even say thanks?”

“I was debating whether to say it, but she left.” Guo Zihang seemed regretful.

“Some things, if you hesitate, it’s too late. Here, practice thanking the little rich girl who brought you milk tea.”

Jiang Qin stepped aside, revealing the adorable girl whose gaze had been fixated on him.

Guo Zihang felt his master was just messing with him, but had no proof. Yet looking at the nearby girl, he felt an unreal sensation.

He remembered in high school, during lunch breaks, many boys would lean out the windows to watch the black winged sedan slowly pull up. Feng Nanshu would emerge in the dazzling sunlight, striding coldly into campus like a moonbeam, unseeing as she passed through.

The wind would usually rustle her skirt at that moment.

That scene seemed to enchant the years and gently caress countless youthful hearts.

After entering the teaching building, some bold boys would pretend to use the restroom just to steal another glance at her, feeling immensely satisfied.

But Feng Nanshu was aloof towards everyone, sitting silently at her desk until class began. After, she’d leave with the black sedan, mysterious and lonely.

That pure youthful sight now meekly followed Jiang Qin like a cat, her gaze glued to him wherever he went.

Surreal, truly surreal.

Confidence…

Yes, maybe I lack only confidence compared to my master.

“Thank you, Feng… classmate.”

“You’re welcome.”

Feng Nanshu’s aloof aura radiated through her reply, immediately sapping half of Guo Zihang’s confidence.

No, I may lack more than just confidence compared to my master.

Seeing Guo Zihang’s timidity, Jiang Qin felt somewhat resigned, thinking forging iron relies on self-hardening. Hopefully Old Guo would toughen up one day. Then he left the Comprehensive Building with the little rich girl and returned to his car.

His visit wasn’t especially purposeful, merely taking Feng Nanshu out for a stroll and relaxing his mind. It seemed to work well.

“You didn’t seem happy when others thanked you, but you had no reaction to Guo Zihang’s thanks?”

“He didn’t call me old lady boss,” Feng Nanshu stated matter-of-factly.

Jiang Qin paused. “So you wanted to hear ‘old lady boss,’ not ‘thank you’?”

“Mmhm.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

Feng Nanshu’s tone was gentle, her eyes sparkling.

…

Time passed to 8pm when Cao Guangyu sent an address with two words: “Come quickly.”

While Jiang Qin saw “Come quickly,” his brain automatically translated it to: “I can’t wait to show off!”

Ten minutes later, the black Audi arrived at Juxian Building.

A renowned restaurant in Linchuan, its pure Chinese decor exuded an ancient charm inside and out. Entering felt like arriving at a wealthy mansion’s courtyard, with a winding stream, towering landscape tree, and misty rockery constantly spraying like the Queen Mother’s Peach Banquet.

Upon checking, Jiang Qin saw the average cost was three hundred yuan – a considerable expense nowadays.

After parking, Feng Nanshu went to the restroom while Jiang Qin entered the private room first.

Through the door, Cao Guangyu sat in the main seat, a purse on the chair beside him.

Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao had dejected expressions, clearly victimized and still reeling.

“Old Jiang, you’re here? Take a seat!”

Jiang Qin sat beside Ren Ziqiang. “Old Cao, where’s your girl?”

Cao Guangyu grinned. “Getting the food. She’ll be right back, heh heh.”

“You’ve already met?” Jiang Qin glanced at Ren Ziqiang.

Ren Ziqiang nodded. “You’ll never guess – Old Cao’s girl is the one who vowed to bash him online. Damn it, who knew cursing could lead to romance? I’ve never seen anything so absurd in my life!”

“?”