Yan Heng first went to the back to change into his work uniform. By the time he returned to the counter and started preparing to make Zhu Yaya's milk tea, the store manager squeezed over. "Girlfriend?"
He was referring to Zhu Yaya.
The tips of Yan Heng's ears turned red, but his expression remained calm and unruffled. "Not yet."
"Haha, don't tell me you haven't managed to win the girl over yet!"
Yan Heng shook his head. "We're still students. It's not at that stage yet. I'm waiting for her to finish the college entrance exams."
Students? The store manager wondered why he hadn't remembered he was a student back when he got into that fight.
The manager clicked his tongue. "Aren't you afraid someone might snatch your girl away?"
"Not afraid." At this, Yan Heng's expression suddenly softened. "She said she would always stay by my side."
The store manager felt stuffed by this unexpected dose of affection and walked away shaking his head, muttering as he went, "The new generation surpasses the old!"
Yan Heng knew Zhu Yaya loved sweets, so while preparing the milk tea, he deliberately used less tea, minimizing the bitter taste and letting the richness of the milk shine through. Considering Zhu Yaya was still young, he also went light on the fermented rice wine component, adding extra tapioca pearls and mochi for her instead. While he was abusing his position for personal favor, the store manager watched from the side with a meaningful gaze.
It wasn't until Yan Heng said, "Deduct it from my pay," that the manager left, satisfied.
Perhaps Yan Heng had added too little of the fermented rice. Zhu Yaya couldn't even taste the osmanthus rice wine flavor and briefly wondered if Yan Heng had remembered wrong. However, she was very satisfied with the generous amount of toppings in her milk tea.
As it turned out, Xu Chun had indeed overheard her conversation with Yan Heng.
The next day, while still practicing her "health preservation arts" in bed, a drowsy Zhu Yaya received a call from Yan Heng. On the other end, Yan Heng told her that Xu Chun had already come to apply for a job at the "Once in a Lifetime" milk tea shop. She was receiving training from the manager in the morning and would officially start in the afternoon.
Zhu Yaya lazily yawned and said listlessly, "Got it, thanks."
Hearing her yawns through the phone, Yan Heng chuckled softly and softened his voice. "Sleep well, Yaya."
"Mhm. Hanging up now!"
"Okay."
After the call ended, a coworker nearby joked, "Wow, no wonder you seem to be in such a good mood lately. So you've got a girlfriend."
The softness vanished from Yan Heng's face, and he reverted to his usual cool demeanor with the coworker. "No."
"No what?"
"She's not my girlfriend yet."
"Oh~," the coworker drew out the syllable, "so it's the future girlfriend."
This time, Yan Heng didn't refute it.
After hanging up, Zhu Yaya slept straight until noon. Zhu Jianjun and Zhao Jing had long since left for work. Breakfast and lunch were left on the table. There was no way she could finish it all by herself. Anyway, she planned to go to "Once in a Lifetime" after lunch to keep an eye on Xu Chun and Murong Beichen, so she might as well bring some for Yan Heng.
So, she sent a QQ message to Yan Heng, telling him not to go for lunch too soon as she would bring him food.
Yan Heng replied with a simple "Okay."
Worried Yan Heng might get hungry, Zhu Yaya heated up the food and decided not to eat lunch at home either. She packed two lunch boxes, one for Yan Heng and one for herself.
Yan Heng was right. When Zhu Yaya arrived at "Once in a Lifetime," she saw Xu Chun at the front counter serving customers. Yan Heng and a few other staff were busy behind the counter.
Since customers were placing orders, Zhu Yaya didn't want to interrupt and waited quietly to the side.
The store manager spotted Zhu Yaya before Yan Heng did. He nudged him with his elbow and, to avoid embarrassing the girl, whispered, "Hey, your future girlfriend is here."
Hearing this, Yan Heng looked up and saw Zhu Yaya smiling at him, making his heart soften.
Zhu Yaya waved the two takeout boxes in her hand at him.
The manager said to Yan Heng, "I wondered why you didn't go get the boxed lunch today. So someone brought you lunch. Take her to the staff break room."
Yan Heng nodded and thanked the manager.
