25. Group Photo
Flower Language Coffee Shop.
It was like a steamer just yesterday, but today’s Zaoc City experienced a sudden drop in temperature, and even rare cold winds began to blow.
“Xiao Zhi, what happened to your hand?”
Noticing that Jiang Zhi’s hand was covered in band-aids, Jiang Ruyan couldn’t help but cover her mouth in surprise.
“This…”
Jiang Zhi sighed helplessly, continuing to wipe the table as she told Sister Jiang about her attempts to cook yesterday.
“You should have said you wanted to learn how to cook,” Jiang Ruyan said confidently to Jiang Zhi, “Do you need me to help you, sister?”
“Sister Jiang, you can cook?”
Jiang Zhi was genuinely surprised this time. She thought Sister Jiang, looking like a young lady, was the type who didn’t even touch the water for cooking, but unexpectedly…
“I can’t, but I can ask my aunt to teach you. She cooks very well.”
“…That’s not necessary.”
Okay, she thought too much.
Is this the legendary rich lady? Seriously, cooking is hard work too! Let me try to be independent, alright!
But despite feeling discouraged, Jiang Zhi was still not planning to give up easily.
She thought that if she practiced more, one day she would be able to cook meals that wouldn’t kill anyone?
“By the way, Sister Jiang, can I ask a question?”
“You speak.”
Jiang Zhi hesitated for a few seconds, turning to look at Jiang Ruyan, who was eight zhang away from her.
“Are you deliberately avoiding me?”
Jiang Ruyan choked slightly: “Cough cough… Huh? Is that so? I didn’t notice, did you overthink it?”
“Sister Jiang, you really can’t lie.”
“Ah, this…”
What to do, what to do?
Jiang Ruyan’s brain was spinning rapidly at that moment.
How should she explain? She can’t say, “Xiao Zhi, don’t blame me for keeping my distance; I’m genuinely afraid you like me!”
Since finding out that Jiang Zhi liked girls, her feelings have been very complex.
The key is that she usually just talks casually, and isn’t actually into girls, nor has she ever encountered one, yet it turns out that one of her own employees is into girls. She honestly didn’t know how to face Jiang Zhi now.
So Jiang Ruyan decided to change the topic: “By the way, Xiao Zhi, there’s news about what you asked me to do.”
“Huh?!”
Fortunately, this tactic worked well, and surprise flashed across Jiang Zhi’s face as her attention was immediately diverted.
She looked at Jiang Ruyan with anticipation.
Earlier, in order to help Qian Qian have a school to attend, she had asked Jiang Ruyan, who has connections, to get some information. She assumed that the news Jiang Ruyan mentioned was related to this.
Sure enough, Jiang Ruyan said, “I have a friend who knows a principal. He said that the other party has quite a lot of say in this matter.”
“Really?!” Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi nearly bounced with joy: “Thank you, Sister Jiang! Thank you so much!”
Not satisfied yet, Jiang Zhi cheerfully stepped forward, opened her arms, and gave Jiang Ruyan a big hug.
Jiang Ruyan was taken aback.
Perhaps her brain really short-circuited; when Jiang Zhi hugged her, her first thought was—
What to do? Could it be that Xiao Zhi is finally making a move on me?
It wasn’t until she saw the excited expression on Jiang Zhi’s face that she realized it seemed like it was the first time she had seen Xiao Zhi show such open emotions.
This girl…
Truly loves her daughter…
So Jiang Ruyan finally moved, slowly raising her hand and gently patting Jiang Zhi’s back.
Jiang Ruyan boldly said, “What kind of relationship do we have? As my employee, of course, I have to take care of you!”
Once her mood calmed a little, Jiang Zhi released Jiang Ruyan and shyly took a step back.
She realized she had indeed been a bit too excited; now that she thought about it, it seemed she might have acted… inappropriately?
After all, Jiang Ruyan didn’t know she used to be a man.
“Don’t celebrate too early.”
Jiang Ruyan said to Jiang Zhi, “The specifics have to wait for you to talk face-to-face. It’s still uncertain if it will work out.”
Jiang Zhi smiled: “Then I must thank Sister Jiang.”
She was very clear in her heart; if she had to do this herself, she wouldn’t know how long it would take. Jiang Ruyan giving her this opportunity had already helped her a lot.
“I’ll send you that principal’s WeChat, and you can communicate the rest with them.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Zhi sent a friend request to that principal, the note written as Jiang Ruyan had instructed, and inexplicably, she felt a bit nervous.
After all, she was only twenty-two…
How many people her age are like her? Aren’t they all happily surrounded by girls they have crushes on and roommates they tease, with their biggest worries being what to eat in the morning, afternoon, and evening?
And her?
She was already making plans for her child’s schooling.
Speaking of which, being so young, if the other party asked about Qian Qian, how should she answer?
Jiang Zhi shook her head, temporarily pushing these unnecessary thoughts out of her mind. Worst case, just deal with whatever comes; there are always more ways than difficulties.
In the following time, she focused on her work.
Actually, there wasn’t much to focus on; it was just cleaning where it was dirty. For some reason, the coffee shop felt exceptionally quiet today.
Brother Gu didn’t come either…
Jiang Zhi secretly glanced at Jiang Ruyan, who, surprisingly, wasn’t playing games, sitting in her chair aimlessly watching videos.
I wonder why?
So hard to guess~
“Clang clang—”
The crisp sound of wind chimes rang through the air, and the yawning Jiang Zhi perked up, thinking finally some customers have arrived!
She quickly put on a standard and friendly business smile, her eyes shining as she looked at the figure pushing open the shop door and walking toward the front desk.
The next second, her smile froze.
It was… it was…
The man she had spilled coffee on a few days ago!
What was he doing here?
He couldn’t possibly be here to find her, right?!
But he said back then that everything was fine, right? As a public figure, he shouldn’t go back on his word, right?
Moreover, she had brought him the coffee she remade afterward, and even covered the cost with Jiang Ruyan!
Jiang Zhi wanted to smooth things over.
But she didn’t dare.
The man had already reached in front of her, and they were separated by a small bar. Jiang Zhi steeled herself, saying, “Hello, welcome.”
The man nodded slightly: “A cup…”
“Ah—!!” Jiang Ruyan beside her let out a loud scream.
Jiang Zhi: ?
Su Yan: ?
Jiang Ruyan: !
Jiang Ruyan suddenly stood up, looking at Su Yan in disbelief, her voice trembling: “God of L?!”
God of L?
Could it be that he is very famous?
Jiang Zhi looked confused, her gaze shifting back and forth between Jiang Ruyan and the man. She realized the man was tightening his lips, completely silent.
Su Yan nodded: “Hello.”
“I’ve liked you for a long time, God of L! I’ve watched every game you played, um, um…”
Jiang Ruyan’s face turned red, and after a long time, she shyly said: “Can I take a picture with you… just one…”
Jiang Zhi: 😦.
No way, this is still the Sister Jiang I know? No matter who you are, get out of Sister Jiang’s body!
Su Yan answered: “Sure.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!”
Then Jiang Ruyan handed her phone to Jiang Zhi, saying while grinning, “Xiao Zhi, make sure to take a good picture!” She walked out from behind the counter, naturally wrapping her arm around Su Yan’s.
Jiang Zhi clearly saw the man shudder slightly.
Her lips couldn’t help but twitch, thinking that Jiang Ruyan looked way too much like a fangirl now. Luckily Brother Gu wasn’t here today; seeing this scene might make him faint from anger.
After taking the photo, she said: “Alright, Sister Jiang… you can let go now.”
Returning the phone to Jiang Ruyan, while she checked the photo, Jiang Zhi raised her eyes and offered a shallow smile of apology to the man across from her.
Su Yan glanced at her, remaining silent.
He hadn’t forgotten the purpose of his visit; tapping the table, he said: “Now you can bring me…”
“Ah! Xiao Zhi, you should take a picture too!”
Jiang Zhi: ?
Su Yan: …
Jiang Zhi was completely baffled. What does her idol have to do with her? By the time she realized she should refuse, she had already been pulled next to the man by Jiang Ruyan.
They were standing very close together.