Wait, Zhu Yaya suddenly remembered that Yan Heng and Xu Chun lived in the same building.
She could go find Yan Heng.
So, just as Yan Heng, having finished his meal and about to head out for a part-time job, opened his front door, he saw Zhu Yaya's face beaming with an ingratiating smile.
"What's wrong?" After confirming Zhu Yaya wasn't hurt, Yan Heng asked.
Zhu Yaya gave an awkward laugh: "Hahaha, Yan Heng, where are you going?"
"To a part-time job." Yan Heng sighed lightly, "Come on in!"
"No, no, aren't you going to work soon? You won't have time to entertain me! Is it a winter break job?" Zhu Yaya declined and then asked, "Where is it?"
"A bubble tea shop."
What!
A bubble tea shop!
Wasn't she just about to find a bubble tea shop to lure Xu Chun over?
"Where is that shop? What's its name? Do you have a flyer?" Zhu Yaya's eyes sparkled.
"On Wanqi Street in the East District. It's called 'Once in a Lifetime'. Yes, I do."
Zhu Yaya was amused by Yan Heng's obedient, sequential way of answering, her eyes curving into crescents as she laughed. He looked so serious while replying.
As Zhu Yaya laughed, Yan Heng's lips also curved up into a smile. He went back to his room to get a flyer and handed it to her as soon as he came out.
Zhu Yaya took it and noticed the flyer's design was quite good. She had seen bubble tea flyers before, but most were garishly colorful, whereas the one in her hand had a minimalist style. She remarked offhandedly, "This flyer is designed quite well."
Then, she noticed Yan Heng's expression looked a bit odd: "What's wrong?"
She glanced at the flyer in her hand, then at Yan Heng, and said suspiciously, "Don't tell me you designed this flyer?"
Yan Heng coughed lightly into his fist: "I once at..."
It was that familiar opening again.
Zhu Yaya cut him off, sounding somewhat resigned: "Alright, I get it."
My Brother Yan is capable of anything through his part-time jobs.
Well, the issue of finding the bubble tea shop was solved. Now, all that was left was how to lure Xu Chun there.
Seeing her staring intently at the bubble tea shop flyer, Yan Heng thought Zhu Yaya wanted to drink bubble tea: "Let's go."
He walked out of his home and locked the door.
"Go? Go where?" Zhu Yaya was confused by Yan Heng's sudden statement.
Yan Heng patted Zhu Yaya's head and chuckled lightly: "I'll treat you to bubble tea."
Zhu Yaya: !
So tempting!
Seeing Zhu Yaya's delighted little expression, Yan Heng thought for a moment and added, "I'll make it for you."
Zhu Yaya: !!
"Okay! Let's go!" Zhu Yaya, her resolve wavering, declared decisively.
The mission could be pushed to tomorrow! She believed Xu Chun wouldn't find a winter break job that fast!
She even found Yan Heng walking too slowly, deliberately going behind him to push him along: "Yan Heng, hurry, hurry, hurry!"
Her tone was spoiled and willful, not at all like the bootlicking she used to do to become Yan Heng's lackey.
"Okay."
Yan Heng's eyes were full of laughter.
Just as the two reached the corner of the stairwell, they ran into Xu Chun head-on.
Xu Chun didn't expect to see Zhu Yaya here. After glancing at the somewhat intimate actions between Zhu Yaya and Yan Heng, she quickened her pace, lowered her head, and brushed past them.
Zhu Yaya also didn't expect to run into Xu Chun just as she had given up.
This was a perfect opportunity! Not to be missed!
A clever idea struck Zhu Yaya. She cleared her throat and deliberately raised her voice: "Oh! Yan Heng, aren't you working a winter break job at that 'Once in a Lifetime' bubble tea shop in the East District? Are they still short-staffed?"
As she spoke, she kept winking at Yan Heng.
"Yes. They're very short-staffed, and the pay is good." Yan Heng immediately caught on to Zhu Yaya's meaning, "And the shop environment is quite nice too."
Zhu Yaya secretly smiled and gave him a covert thumbs-up for his cooperation.
Xu Chun's footsteps paused.
Zhu Yaya even deliberately dropped the "Once in a Lifetime" bubble tea shop flyer Yan Heng had given her earlier on the ground before leaving with Yan Heng.
Only after she and Yan Heng had left did Xu Chun slowly walk over to where Zhu Yaya had dropped the flyer, pick it up, and ponder thoughtfully.
After walking out of the residential building, Zhu Yaya gently nudged Yan Heng and said with a grin, "Not bad, you're quite in sync with me!"
Yan Heng chuckled softly, reached out his hand, and smoothed Zhu Yaya's hair: "Did you come looking for me because of Xu Chun?"
Zhu Yaya felt a bit guilty: "O-of course not."
She looked at Yan Heng with an innocent expression, but soon faltered under his seemingly all-seeing gaze.
"Okay, that was part of the reason," Zhu Yaya muttered quietly, "but... I also partly wanted to see you."
Wanted to see you.
The tips of Yan Heng's ears flushed bright red. He felt somewhat awkward, his hands unsure where to place themselves. He tried hard to suppress the surge of joy rising in his heart, forcing an air of calm.
"But," Zhu Yaya asked, displeased, "does Xu Chun live on the same floor as you?"
"Mhm. She lives right across from me."
"What? Across from you?" Zhu Yaya's voice suddenly grew louder, and she felt even more displeased, "So you see each other day in and day out?"
Yan Heng's mind was still replaying Zhu Yaya's "wanted to see you" and didn't notice her displeasure: "Not really."
Zhu Yaya nudged Yan Heng with her elbow, testing the waters: "Yan Heng, what do you think of her?"
That nudge jolted Yan Heng back to his senses a bit. He touched his warm earlobe and shook his head: "Not much."
Only then did Zhu Yaya's mood improve slightly, letting out a soft humph.
The bubble tea shop where Yan Heng worked was located on Wanqi Street in the East District of the capital, quite close to the Times Square invested in and built by the Murong Group, so business was very good. Moreover, the shop's decor was very artistic and trendy, attracting many girls to come check it out.
It was currently noon, so the shop wasn't too crowded.
Zhu Yaya curiously looked around the shop. She had expected the owner to be a gentle young woman, but it turned out to be a man with a somewhat mature appearance. He even had a bit of stubble on his chin, clearly a man with stories. If Yan Heng was like perennial ice on a snowy peak, then he was like a mellow, aged vintage wine.
Zhu Yaya was still young, essentially not yet out of campus life, and didn't really like men with stubble. She tugged on Yan Heng's sleeve: "Don't ever grow a beard later. I don't like it."
Yan Heng bent down to her level, listening to her words seriously: "Okay."
The mature man saw Yan Heng and Zhu Yaya and grinned: "Oh, brought a girl along!"
Yan Heng nodded, led Zhu Yaya to an empty seat, and handed her a menu: "What would you like?"
There were many drinks on the menu. Zhu Yaya agonized over the choices for a long time before finally stammering, "I... I want shaved ice."
"No." Yan Heng's face darkened slightly.
Zhu Yaya pouted. I knew you wouldn't agree.
She looked over the menu several more times and finally settled on the Fermented Rice Glutinous Rice Ball Bubble Tea.
Just as Yan Heng was about to leave, she added, "And a soy milk cheese cap on top."
Yan Heng turned back and gave her an OK sign.
