One year later.
The capital.
On the busiest commercial street, a young shop assistant lit firecrackers and turned to run. The crackling sounds, along with a lion dance troupe, drew cheers and applause from the crowd.
Amidst the enthusiastic applause, Lu Youling held scissors in one hand and red silk in the other, smiling brightly at the man beside him. With a “snip,” he cut the ribbon.
The red cloth covering the sign above their heads was pulled away, revealing the shop name.
“The ribbon-cutting is complete! Gong Lu Chain Tea Restaurant is now officially open—”
The young assistants, their faces flushed, began to shout.
“Grand opening special! Grand opening special!”
“All items at Gong Lu Tea Restaurant are 20% off, and the second cup is half price! Bring your family and girlfriends to try our milk tea!”
“Our new location not only offers delivery service, but customers who become members today will also receive a free toy—”
One after another, novel marketing phrases for this era poured out. As the assistants called out, the gentlemen and ladies who had been waiting eagerly rushed into the restaurant like a school of fish.
“I want to become a member! Give me that toy!”
His daughter had been begging for days, saying all her friends at school had one. He wasn’t about to disappoint his precious girl.
“Me too!”
“Give me a peach milk tea—”
Amidst the lively commotion, Gong Ze looked up at the sign of their second tea restaurant, featuring a stag logo with branching, antler-like horns.
“I hope some future company called Luckin doesn’t sue us…” Gong Ze teased.
[This world isn’t really Earth anyway~] The system waved its little chicken wing and quipped.
There were too many people. After all, their milk tea flavors were novel, their marketing was fashionable and ahead of its time, and there were also garlic chicken feet… Gong Ze gave special praise to those, since they were his favorite.
Every single item was a powerful tool for making money and triggering people’s urge to spend.
The shop was packed with business. The assistants were overwhelmed, so Lu Youling and Shuisheng—who had become the manager of their first shop and had rushed over to help—joined in.
They were busy taking money, making milk tea, and maintaining order.
“Congratulations, Boss Gong.”
Several friends and fellow shop owners they had made over the past year walked over to offer their congratulations.
The teasing look on Gong Ze’s face instantly transformed into a warm, modest smile, and he began chatting with them amiably.
It wasn’t until the tall, imposing Feng Xueping appeared in his military uniform that Gong Ze was rescued from the obligatory business pleasantries.
Feng Xueping pulled him aside, took off his own military jacket, and draped it over Gong Ze’s shoulders. Looking at the man’s smiling face, he frowned unhappily.
“If you don’t want to talk to them, then don’t. There’s no need to stand with them in the cold, listening to their useless nonsense. And why did you have to open on a rainy day? Couldn’t you have picked a sunny day? And Lu Youling dared to let you out, knowing you start coughing as soon as it’s overcast?”
“I’m a businessman. How can a businessman keep a cold face all day, staying aloof and silent? I have to socialize.” Gong Ze found his sour expression amusing. “As for opening on an overcast day—today was an auspicious date. No one knew it would drizzle when we picked it. What does that have to do with Youling?”
“Besides, Youling has been helping me nurse my health back for a long time already. The damage from back then… no longer makes me feel unwell on cloudy days.”
“Say whatever you want. You’re always defending him anyway.” Feng Xueping’s tone was cold, but it betrayed a subtle petulance.
“Heh…”
“You two have been at odds for so long now. Why are you still targeting each other?”
“Hmph~ Targeting him? I can’t be bothered.”
“Alright, you’re not.”
The elegantly handsome man chuckled softly. His pale complexion and long, narrow dark eyes drew the attention of those around him.
Beside him, the tall Feng Xueping stood straight as a spear, his posture imposing. He half-turned, watching as Gong Ze wore his military jacket, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction in his heart.
“Celebrating tonight at the Peace Hotel?”
“Yes, I’ve invited all the shop owners on this commercial street.”
“I’m not talking about business socializing.”
Feng Xueping lowered his voice. “My grandfather and a few elders will be there, as well as Professor Dong, whom Lu Youling saved before. Just our own people, getting together. Weren’t you the one who said you wanted to send Lu Youling to medical school?”
Gong Ze had mentioned this before with a worried expression. Feng Xueping had kept it in mind. He had specifically asked his grandfather for help and gone to great lengths to invite several influential figures.
Gong Ze was momentarily stunned, then looked at Feng Xueping. The delight in his gaze made Feng Xueping—who had been running around visiting senior scholars for this very purpose—feel that everything had been worth it.
“Thank you, Xueping,” Gong Ze said, visibly moved.
“It’s nothing. A small matter.”
The man’s expression and tone made it seem insignificant, but the corners of his mouth curled up more than just a little.
“Next time the weather is nice, let’s go fishing again,” Feng Xueping invited, pretending it was casual.
“Of course.” Gong Ze smiled gently and nodded.
Yes. I win!
Feng Xueping mentally pumped his fist.
Meanwhile, after Lu Youling finished helping the shop assistants deal with several customers—all the while worrying about the drizzling rain outside and Gong Ze’s health—he squeezed his way out of the crowd.
And there he saw that insufferable man who was always monopolizing his boyfriend, chatting and laughing with his Gong Ze.
Lu Youling’s delicate face immediately darkened. He charged over, aggressively grabbed Gong Ze’s arm, bared his teeth at Feng Xueping, and said with heavy sarcasm, “Here comes that annoying guy again.”
Feng Xueping saw Lu Youling, and the smile on his lips instantly turned into a cold sneer as he activated his mocking mode. “I didn’t come to see you.”
Lu Youling’s head nearly burst into flames. “Coming to see Gong Ze isn’t allowed either!”
Feng Xueping shot back, “Why not? Gong Ze isn’t yours alone.”
Lu Youling: “!!”
Arrrgh, this guy is driving him crazy!
The two of them, like a pair of fighting cocks, went back and forth at each other across Gong Ze.
Gong Ze, caught in the middle, tried his best to mediate with his good-natured disposition. Finally, he was silenced by both of them shouting angrily: “Gong Er, don’t you dare take his side!” and “You’re always defending him!”
The system: …
The system watched the two red-faced arguers in amazement. [Who would have thought that in the original story, these two were supposed to be a couple?]
Now, these two were bickering furiously over the dark-hearted big shot, like a pair of kindergarten kids fighting over who was the teacher’s favorite.
[Truly terrifying.]
The man, his head aching from the noise, said, “I agree.”
The system’s metaphorical mouth twitched. [I was talking about you.] The mortal enchantress. The demonic pervert.
Gong Ze didn’t bother to refute its slander.
A lot had happened that year.
For example, Lu Youling had confessed to being male. After they moved in together in the capital in the second month, how could two people sharing a bed every night resist doing more than just kissing?
Gong Ze was curious to see how long Lu Youling would wait before telling him. As it turned out, that clever little rascal waited until Gong Ze was already inside him to speak up.
Either continue.
Or leave.
Maintaining his persona, Gong Ze chose the latter…
“But you already did this to me, you know,” Lu Youling said tearfully, clutching his clothes.
Gong Ze could have sworn he must have rubbed onion on his hands—those tears were just a little trick to guilt-trip him into turning.
This little rascal really isn’t afraid of me losing my erection at a critical moment.
Caught at such a pivotal time, Gong Ze laughed inwardly with exasperation. Then, following his character, he took responsibility and… turned, just like that.
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