Chapter 441 - 440: A Shop on Xinghua Street

It dawned on Yun Zijin. No wonder. She’d always said Qin Sitong wasn’t the type to wise up so easily.

She never would have guessed that was the story behind it all.

Wait a minute!

"Tongtong ran into thugs? Is she okay? Where are those men now?"

Yun Zijin had almost been sidetracked by Fu Ze. The important thing wasn’t that they got together because of this incident—it was that Qin Sitong had run into thugs!

And she, as Qin Sitong’s best friend and business partner, had known nothing about it!

"She’s fine. I went over and dealt with them before they could make a move."

Fu Ze was also extremely relieved. After realizing Qin Sitong often worked late, he had started escorting her home every day.

Otherwise, he didn’t dare to imagine what might have happened that night.

"So what about those men? Where are they now?"

Yun Zijin had some idea of how young masters like Fu Ze taught people a lesson. She knew that even though Qin Sitong was unharmed, Fu Ze wouldn’t have let them off easily.

The men were surely still in Fu Ze’s hands; she just didn’t know what state they were in.

"I’ve already made them pay the price they deserved. You don’t need to get involved."

He could protect his own woman; he didn’t need anyone else to interfere.

On this point, Fu Ze was a bit of a male chauvinist.

Otherwise, having Yun Zijin around for comparison would make him, the boyfriend, seem rather useless.

Yun Zijin raised an eyebrow. "Fine. I’ll let you be the hero this time."

"One more thing. I asked Lu Yunque, and he said your family... that your mother would rather you marry a daughter-in-law from a family of equal social standing."

"Until you’ve won your mother over, I expect you to keep her in check."

"If she dares to come looking for Tongtong to pull some humiliating drama, like offering her a check to leave you, then don’t blame me for not showing you any courtesy."

Between Fu Ze and Qin Sitong, Yun Zijin would never hesitate in her choice.

Speaking of his mother, Fu Ze did indeed feel a headache coming on.

He wasn’t sure who had been putting her up to it lately, but she was constantly trying to arrange blind dates for him. She hadn’t let up even after he told her he had a girlfriend.

For the first time, Fu Ze felt that his and his mother’s values were seriously incompatible.

"Your mom isn’t already making moves behind the scenes, is she? I’m telling you, if Tongtong suffers any grievances from your mother, I will absolutely settle the score."

This was a blatant threat from Yun Zijin, but Fu Ze could only take it.

A girlfriend’s best friend was a creature one could never afford to offend. Otherwise... his love life would definitely become much, much rockier.

"It’s nothing. She’s just worried I won’t be able to find a wife, so she’s been busy arranging blind dates for me."

"But rest assured, I haven’t gone to a single one!"

It was precisely because of this that Fu Ze’s reputation had recently plummeted, and many of Dijing’s high-society debutantes had a love-hate relationship with him.

After all, in all of Dijing, basically no one could hold a candle to the heir of the Fu Family.

But marrying into such a prestigious family was never an easy feat.

"If you had gone to one, you and I wouldn’t be sitting here face-to-face today."

If Fu Ze had dared to go on a blind date while dating Qin Sitong, Yun Zijin wouldn’t have even needed Qin Sitong to step in; she would have rolled up her sleeves and run him off herself.

Hearing Yun Zijin’s slightly threatening words, Fu Ze was actually quite pleased. He was happy for Qin Sitong, that she had such a true friend.

"I just need a straight answer from you. How are you going to convince your mother to accept Tongtong?"

When a couple is together, having their parents’ blessing makes a world of difference.

"I already have a plan in motion, but it will take some time."

Fu Ze had been laying the groundwork ever since he confirmed his feelings for Qin Sitong. Before they were official, his plan was to take things slow.

Now that they had confirmed their relationship, Fu Ze had started to speed things up.

"As long as you have a plan. But if I hear that Tongtong has been wronged in any way, just wash your neck and wait."

Fu Ze wasn’t angered by Yun Zijin’s words, because he knew she was just backing Qin Sitong up.

Just then, Qin Sitong finished up a task, handed off her work to someone else, and started walking toward Yun Zijin and Fu Ze with a Wangyou Milk Tea in hand.

Yun Zijin and Fu Ze quickly plastered on smiles. "Tongtong, you’re here!"

The two spoke in unison. Qin Sitong gave them a suspicious look. "Since when did you two get so in sync?"

Yun Zijin and Fu Ze both shot each other a look of disgust. "What sync? It was just a coincidence."

"While I do give you two my blessing... don’t you think you need to explain to me why you’re staying until closing all by yourself?"

Hadn’t she said it before? She invested in the shop to help improve Tongtong’s financial situation, not for her to work herself to death.

Even though they only had a few classes a week now, that was no excuse for her to be working so late.

Qin Sitong hadn’t expected Yun Zijin to know about her working late, and she immediately looked at Fu Ze.

Fu Ze’s eyes darted away, avoiding her gaze.

’It was for her own good,’ he thought. ’A little lecture from Yun Zijin might convince her to break this habit of staying late.’

"I... It’s only occasionally. I don’t stay late every day."

Qin Sitong tried to make an excuse, but Yun Zijin’s expression just screamed: ’Try me. See if I believe a word you’re saying.’

Qin Sitong shot Fu Ze a glare. She knew he must have been the one who tattled on her.

"I haven’t stayed late at all these past few days, I swear!"

Qin Sitong gave Yun Zijin her most earnest look.

"Your body is your own. I just hope that before you do anything, you think of yourself first."

"I know. I’ve just been busy with opening the new branch. Things will get better once this is over."

Ever since Yun Zijin brought it up, Qin Sitong had started observing her employees, finally settling on a young woman who was conscientious in her work and very patient and attentive with customers.

The young woman only had a high school diploma, but she loved drinking milk tea and, by extension, was passionate about making it.

The reason Qin Sitong had been staying so late was to teach this young woman the steps and methods for making Wangyou Milk Tea.

The system didn’t reject the person Qin Sitong had chosen, which meant her character was at least acceptable.

She was a bit of a slow learner, but after a period of repeated practice, she was finally about ready to "graduate."

"You’ve decided to open a new branch? So the person you’re leaving to run this store has learned how to make Wangyou Milk Tea?"

"Almost. Another two days of practice, and she should be ready."

It was one thing to say she was opening a new branch, but Qin Sitong still hadn’t figured out where to actually locate it.

Many people came every day, drawn by the shop’s reputation—customers from Dijing and from out of town.

So, choosing a location for the new branch was proving to be quite difficult.

"I have a few storefronts over on Xinghua Street. I think one of the tenants’ leases is up, and they aren’t renewing. Want to go take a look?"

"Xinghua Street?"

Qin Sitong was surprised. She hadn’t realized Yun Zijin owned commercial properties.

But this Xinghua Street... why did it sound so familiar?

"If the shop isn’t too busy, we could go take a look right now."