Qing Mian's heart skipped a beat. She quickly averted her gaze from Chi Yu.
"Alright, tell me what you want to drink. I'll make it for you. Stop teasing the kid," Wang Lan interrupted their conversation. She had never seen Chi Yu like this before.
Taking this opportunity, Qing Mian slipped into the restroom.
Wang Lan pushed the freshly brewed Gesha coffee in front of Chi Yu. Looking directly into his eyes, she said, "Didn't you tell me she's your friend's sister? Aren't you afraid she'll go back and tell her brother if you keep teasing her like this?"
Chi Yu picked up the coffee. The image of Shen Yu'an's cold face flashed through his mind. He scoffed, "I'm actually looking forward to it."
Wang Lan studied Chi Yu's expression. A thought popped into her mind, and her eyes widened in shock. "Don't tell me..."
Chi Yu looked at her but neither confirmed nor denied.
Wang Lan shook her head. "Going after your friend's sister? Are you even human?"
"I've never thought of her as my sister," Chi Yu quickly retorted.
"A professor? More like a beast!"
Instead of getting angry, Chi Yu seemed to enjoy the comment. His voice was filled with amusement. "Thanks for the compliment, Boss Wang."
"No wonder you suddenly asked me to find a part - time job for someone. You had this in mind all along," Wang Lan said.
She was surprised when she received Chi Yu's call. He had sent her a girl's information and asked her to find a part - time job for his friend's sister. Without much thought, she had sent a message to Qing Mian.
Wang Lan's shop wasn't big. One person, like Shu Yi, was enough. But since it was the first time Chi Yu had asked her for a favor, she couldn't say no.
"My place is perfect. It's close to both your home and school. You've got a head - start, haven't you?" Wang Lan joked.
Hearing this, Chi Yu's smile froze. He glanced at Shu Yi, who was wiping the tables in the distance. His eyes turned cold. "I would have had a head - start if it weren't for that nuisance."
Wang Lan followed his gaze.
"Shu Yi? You're overthinking it," she said.
"He just met Qing Mian today. It can't be love at first sight."
"Humph. It's not his first time seeing her. Love at first sight? More like lust at first sight," Chi Yu sneered.
Chi Yu knew exactly what was on Shu Yi's mind. On the day of the freshmen's registration, the way Shu Yi looked at Qing Mian wasn't the innocent look of a senior looking at a junior. It was a man looking at a woman.
"Find an excuse to fire him," Chi Yu tilted his chin towards Shu Yi and said to Wang Lan.
Wang Lan rolled her eyes. "You're crazy."
She decided not to fire him. Instead, she might even promote him. She had never seen Chi Yu lose in matters of the heart, and she was quite curious.
Back in school, Chi Yu was the ideal partner in everyone's eyes. But he never dated anyone during his four - year college life. Soon after, the news of his going abroad spread.
Who would have thought he would fall for his friend's sister...
Wang Lan's curiosity was piqued.
...
Meanwhile, in the Qingyuan residence.
Shen Yu'an was holding a cat food bowl and walking towards the cat houses in the yard. Uncle Wang quickly stepped in front of him. "Sir, please don't go. Let me do it. Your allergy is no joke."
Shen Yu'an gently pushed Uncle Wang aside. "It's okay. It's just a minor problem. I'll take some medicine."
Uncle Wang sighed worriedly. Shen Yu'an was severely allergic to cat hair. Although he had gotten better with regular medication, he still couldn't be around cats too much.
"Erbao is back recently, and there are more cats in the yard. We need to stock up on cat food. Those cat houses are getting old. Find some time to have some new wooden ones built," Shen Yu'an instructed Uncle Wang as he placed the cat food bowls in the wooden houses.
As soon as he finished speaking, he started coughing violently.
Uncle Wang quickly went into the house and came out with the medicine. "Sir, please don't do these things anymore. We'll take care of them. If Miss finds out you're allergic, she'll be worried."
Shen Yu'an stood up and took the pills and the water cup. The warm water slid down his throat into his stomach, but he didn't feel warm. His eyes were fixed on the kittens in the wooden houses. "She won't be worried..."
Uncle Wang sighed, feeling sorry for the dejected Shen Yu'an.
"Uncle Wang, do you think... I shouldn't have sent Erbao abroad back then?"
Uncle Wang's old face showed a complicated expression. "Sir, please stop blaming yourself. No one wanted what happened back then. If it weren't for Miss An... sigh."
Shen Yu'an's mind drifted back to that night. He was shocked when he received Wei Jianguo's call. The An family wanted Qing Mian to pay with her life. They wanted her to experience what An Ya had gone through.
He had no choice. He had to do everything he could to protect her. He sent her abroad overnight. He had arranged everything perfectly, so why did Qing Mian still look at him with the same cold and distant eyes as she did on that snowy night three years ago?
Shen Yu'an sensed that something was wrong.
He dialed Tan Si's number. "Check Qing Mian's exact whereabouts in Mexico in the past three years."
Tan Si was confused. "Didn't Mr. Lawrence give you all the information?"
Shen Yu'an's face darkened. His eyes were cold. "I suspect he tampered with it."
Tan Si's expression on the other end of the phone immediately turned serious. "Yes, sir. I'll check right away."
Shen Yu'an hung up the phone and walked into the house.
...
When Qing Mian came out of the restroom, Chi Yu and Wang Lan had already left. Only Shu Yi was left in the shop. "Has Sister Lan left?"
"Yeah. Sister Lan usually only stays for a short while."
"Did they leave together?"
Shu Yi smiled and replied, "Yes, they did. Professor Chi must be Sister Lan's boyfriend. It's the first time I've seen Sister Lan bring a man here."
As soon as he said this, Qing Mian remembered what Chi Yu had said at the bar. Her ears turned red. She quickly replied, "Maybe."
Shu Yi didn't notice her uneasiness. He continued gossiping, "I think Sister Lan and Professor Chi are a good match. What do you think?"
Qing Mian didn't want to talk about this anymore. She replied casually, "Yeah, they are."
Then she took out her phone and started scrolling aimlessly.
At nine o'clock in the evening.
As soon as Qing Mian walked out of the shop, she saw the black Maybach parked under the tree.
"Qing Mian, where do you live? Do you want me to give you a ride?"
Shu Yi's voice came from behind her.
Qing Mian waved her hand. Before she could say anything, Shen Yu'an's voice sounded above her head.
"Erbao, it's time to go home."
Shu Yi followed the voice and saw Shen Yu'an standing not far from Qing Mian, holding a shawl in his hand. The man's sharp eyes were fixed on him, making him shiver. Although his voice was not loud, it clearly reached Shu Yi's ears. He could feel the non - negotiable tone in the voice.
Qing Mian turned around and looked at Shu Yi. "Thank you, Senior Shu. My brother is here to pick me up. I'll leave first."
Then Qing Mian walked towards Shen Yu'an.