Translator: Lynn
Sponsored chapter (3/3)
Both Cheng Ke and Jiang Yuduo woke up early on the day of the grand opening, not due to their excitement, as the opening wouldn’t require such an early start. The primary reason for their early awakening was the constant ringing of their mobile phones and the flood of incoming messages.
“You guys, I’ll see you in a bit, and if you keep up like this, you’ll drive each other crazy!” Cheng Ke buried his face in his pillow, exclaiming, “It’s just a milk tea shop opening, why are they so enthusiastic? It’s like opening a six-star hotel.”
Jiang Yuduo, with a smile, checked his phone and remarked, “Some people have already arrived.”
“Isn’t the auspicious time at eleven eighteen?” Cheng Ke sighed, “It’s not even eight o’clock yet. What are they doing? Planning to shut down the street or something?”
“Er Tu didn’t sleep at all last night; he was playing cards and dragged everyone over after the game,” Jiang Yuduo chuckled, “Foolish move.”
“Playing cards?” Cheng Ke raised an eyebrow.
“It’s alright,” Jiang Yuduo glanced at him, “That’s the situation.”
“Really?” Cheng Ke smiled.
“Absolutely,” Jiang Yuduo had already sat up, then lay back down, placing his arm around Cheng Ke’s shoulder, and whispered in his ear, chuckling, “I’m thrilled.”
“Idiot,” Cheng Ke responded with a grin.
“Are you awake?” Jiang Yuduo whispered in his ear again.
“…No,” Cheng Ke quickly realized, “Today is going to be a busy day, San-ge let me remind you…”
Jiang Yuduo remained silent and had already begun to caress his waist.
“Get off,” Cheng Ke quickly rolled over and pushed him away, retreating to the edge of the bed, “I…”
“Just get out,” Jiang Yuduo quickly rolled a couple of times and pinned his arm.
“Is there something wrong with you? Are you going to run the business after all that?” Cheng Ke complained with a raised eyebrow.
“Don’t you know what’s wrong with me?” Jiang Yuduo clicked his tongue and said, “I’m a sick person. I need to take a lot of medication when I wake up. Now you’re making me unhappy. I can see it when I go out and see people.”
“Damn,” Cheng Ke playfully patted him on the face and then asked again, “Did you see them a while ago? We’re on our way,”
Jiang Yuduo buried his face in the hollow of Cheng Ke’s shoulder, biting his shoulder, “Don’t interrupt.”
Before Cheng Ke could utter another word, Jiang Yuduo’s hand had already ventured further south.
Just as Chen Qing called, Cheng Ke and Jiang Yuduo had just left the house and were waiting for a red light at an intersection.
“We’re at the intersection,” Jiang Yuduo answered.
“Which intersection?” Chen Qing inquired.
“Just… that intersection,” Jiang Yuduo replied, casting a sidelong glance at Cheng Ke.
“Why the heck are you asking me? Did I not tell you to leave the house?” Cheng Ke leaned over to grab a glutinous rice ball and shouted, “Qing’er, we’ve just left the house.”
“Damn!” Chen Qing responded, his voice loud and frustrated. “I knew you two had just left, and you’ve returned to the intersection without specifying which one!”
Jiang Yuduo quipped, “You’re too impatient.”
“I’m not impatient! I knew you two were unreliable, so Xiao Sun and I were all set!” Chen Qing complained, “I called to remind you to get up.”
“We’re already up,” Jiang Yuduo said.
“Then I can relax,” Chen Qing replied before ending the call.
“How would you manage today’s business without the chief guardian?” Cheng Ke quipped with a grin.
“If it weren’t for him, I’d probably… be busy with other stuff this morning,” Jiang Yuduo admitted.
“Why don’t you write him a thank-you note?” Cheng Ke suggested. “Thank him for giving you the opportunity to work out in the morning.”
“Give me a bite,” Jiang Yuduo said, eyeing the rice ball in Cheng Ke’s hand.
“You just had one,” Cheng Ke replied, taking a hearty bite. “And you had soy milk.”
“Just give me a bite!” Jiang Yuduo raised his voice.
Cheng Ke sighed and handed the rice ball to Jiang Yuduo, saying, “Fine, here you go.”
Jiang Yuduo took a bite and nodded with satisfaction.
“You could sell rice balls here,” Cheng Ke suggested, “and enjoy them while working.”
“I actually thought about it, but the store is too small,” Jiang Yuduo glanced at the rearview mirror, where Meow was snoozing on the back seat. “There’s not much room, and the machines are taking up most of the space. We can consider it in the future.”
“Well, with the three of you as employees now,” Cheng Ke said, “do you plan to hire more?”
“Not yet, usually it’s just the two of them, and I fill in when they’re off,” Jiang Yuduo explained, “or the two of us.”
“…Will you pay me?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“No,” Jiang Yuduo replied, “You’re an investor; what do you need a salary for? You get a share of the profits, don’t you?”
“Okay, then how about a dividend?” Cheng Ke asked.
“Let’s discuss it,” Jiang Yuduo said, “It depends on how the business goes.”
“You’re a tough negotiator,” Cheng Ke teased.
Jiang Yuduo’s phone rang in his pocket, and Cheng Ke retrieved it for him. He glanced at the screen and said, “It’s a call from Lu Qiang.”
“Let me hear it,” Jiang Yuduo said. “She’s been traveling with her grandmother these past few days, so she can’t make it to the opening.”
Cheng Ke held the phone to his ear.
“San-ge! Congratulations on your grand opening! Wishing you prosperity! I can’t make it today, but I’ll bring someone over to support you when I return!” Lu Qiang’s voice sounded joyful. “Hey, you’re on the path to success; don’t forget to designate me as a VIP! Keep this red envelope; it’s my way of saying thank you for all your help over the years. Thanks, brother.”
“Did she transfer the money to me?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“Yeah,” Cheng Ke glanced at the phone. “It’s thirty-eight thousand eight hundred.”
“That’s quite a sum,” Jiang Yuduo remarked.
“Are you going to accept it?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“I will,” Jiang Yuduo grinned, “If I don’t, she’ll scold me, and she usually gives me red envelopes during Chinese New Year, which is like a year-end bonus.”
“You’ve been here for so many years,” Cheng Ke remarked, “Lu Qiang has given you a lot of money. Where has it all gone?”
“I have no idea,” Jiang Yuduo pondered for a while. “I really don’t know. I treat my friends to meals, help out if anyone’s short on cash… I’ve never really thought about saving money. I spend when I have it and don’t spend when I don’t, so I’ve been living day by day.”
“We should start keeping track of our finances from now on,” Cheng Ke suggested.
“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo nodded. “Can you manage my money for me?”
“…I can’t even keep track of my own spending,” Cheng Ke chuckled after a moment’s thought. “We’re both not very reliable when it comes to money.”
“Forget it, I’ll handle it. At least I won’t randomly give expensive watches to people I don’t even know,” Jiang Yuduo said.
Mentioning the watch, Cheng Ke suddenly drifted into thought.
That day, Jiang Yuduo had appeared before him with a determined and audacious expression.
“If you don’t take it back, I’ll make things difficult.”
Jiang Yuduo’s words and demeanor had been crystal clear when he said this.
However, Cheng Ke had never expected that the person who could utter such audacious words would be as innocent as a three-and-a-half-year-old child.
But now, things were far from that simple.
“What are you thinking about? You’re grinning like a rascal,” Jiang Yuduo remarked beside him.
“Was I smiling?” Cheng Ke snapped back to reality and touched his own face.
“You were laughing, looking like a fool,” Jiang Yuduo clicked his tongue.
“Where’s my watch?” Cheng Ke smiled and turned to look at him.
“Didn’t you give it to me?” Jiang Yuduo responded.
“I’m just asking,” Cheng Ke replied. “What happened after I gave it to you? Is it still with you?”
“Yes,” Jiang Yuduo affirmed. “Why, do you want it back?”
“No, I was just curious,” Cheng Ke clarified.
“It’s still in my possession, in the closet, in the same box where I keep my underwear,” Jiang Yuduo disclosed. “Don’t take it back; I’ve already figured out what to use it for.”
“What are you planning to use it for?” Cheng Ke was taken aback.
“Regardless, you don’t need to worry about it too much. It was a gift from Cheng Yi, but if I dismantle it and create something new, it’ll have a different meaning,” Jiang Yuduo explained.
“Dismantle it?” Cheng Ke was still surprised.
“Yes, I plan to take it apart and craft a little surprise for your birthday next year,” Jiang Yuduo revealed. “How does that sound?”
“Do you even know what a surprise is?” Cheng Ke couldn’t help but quip.
“It’s something unexpected, huh? I surprised you out of the blue,” Jiang Yuduo remarked.
“Yeah! I’ll know about next year’s birthday surprise now,” Cheng Ke replied, sounding a bit frustrated. “So, next year on my birthday, you’ll still be secretive about it? What’s the point?”
“Hmm,” Jiang Yuduo glanced at him. “Yes?”
Cheng Ke let out a sigh.
“But not knowing what it is can also be a surprise, right?” Jiang Yuduo suggested.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Ke felt like he was reliving his recent birthday. He rubbed his temples and said, “From now until the moment you give me my birthday present next year, you’re not allowed to mention a single word about it.”
“Okay, I got it,” Jiang Yuduo nodded solemnly.
The opening of Meow was much simpler compared to the opening of Cheng Ke’s restaurant. Jiang Yuduo had invited all his friends, primarily to create a lively atmosphere.
However, as soon as they turned into the small street leading to the mall and approached the store, Cheng Ke sensed that something extraordinary was happening.
“Weren’t you expecting fifty people over the course of three days?” Cheng Ke remarked, observing the crowd standing in line three steps away from the street, handing out meow cards. “There are more than fifty people just distributing cards!”
“It’s fifty per day for three days,” Jiang Yuduo chuckled as he looked out the window. “Damn, if people don’t know the context, they might think this entire mall floor belongs to Meow.” After parking the car, Cheng Ke looked again and saw that there were only ten beautiful flower baskets at the entrance, but they were all crowded, with quite a few people even standing across the street.
Once Jiang Yuduo stepped out of the car, a chorus of shouts erupted in their direction.
Among the indistinct chatter, the words “San-ge” were clearly audible.
“San-ge’s business is thriving!”
“San-ge is raking in the money!”
“San-ge’s business is booming!”
“San-ge has a bright future!”
As Cheng Ke got out of the car with Meow in his arms, he even heard someone say, “San-ge is lucky”…
“Hurry up!” Jiang Yuduo waved to Chen Qing. “Is it almost time?”
“Five minutes,” Chen Qing rushed over and turned to Sun Qinqin, who was following him. “Have them prepare the firecrackers.”
“Oh, right!” Sun Qinqin seemed a bit nervous, possibly because of the intimidating-looking group of people nearby.
“San-ge, can you make a speech?” Chen Qing asked.
“Get lost!” Jiang Yuduo retorted in surprise. “I’m not in the mood for speeches! Let me know when it’s time, and I’ll light the fireworks. Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Once the time is up, it’s showtime,” Chen Qing responded.
“Good enough,” Jiang Yuduo said, glancing at Cheng Ke. “Where are you going to stand?”
“I’ll watch from here,” Cheng Ke replied, standing beneath a parasol and preparing to take photos with his phone.
“Alright,” Jiang Yuduo nodded.
The surrounding area was teeming with people, and even the neighboring shops’ patrons joined in to witness the excitement. It seemed that no small shop on this street had managed to block the sidewalks entirely.
When Xu Ding emerged from the crowd, Cheng Ke was surprised. “Did he invite you here?”
“If he did, then I must have been invited,” Xu Ding replied with a smile. “This shop has some connection to me. I helped secure the lease.”
“What’s it like mingling with these youngsters?” Cheng Ke inquired.
“It’s quite enjoyable,” Xu Ding answered. “A simple sense of satisfaction.”
“Let’s have a drink later before you go,” Cheng Ke suggested.
“Sure, the third guy’s friend, Chen Qing, recommended their signature milk tea, so I have to try it,” Xu Ding said with a smile.
“Signature milk tea? Who’s the mascot?” Cheng Ke inquired.
In Jiang Yuduo’s shop, all the milk teas were called “meow,” not just “milk tea.”
“It’s the one with fresh milk and ginger juice,” Xu Ding explained.
“That sounds cute…” Cheng Ke smiled and playfully pinched Meow’s ears. “Are you ready to order?”
Meow shook its head playfully and slipped its ears from Cheng Ke’s fingers.
Before Cheng Ke could tease it further, Jiang Yuduo set off the firecrackers nearby.
The firecrackers exploded amidst cheers and whistles, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Cheng Ke immediately grabbed Meow’s paws, worried that it might get scared and run away.
However, Meow, being the one featured on the signboard, handled it surprisingly well. After a brief flurry of activity, it settled down and fixated its gaze on the sparks erupting from the ground.
Jiang Yuduo removed the red cloth covering the signboard and rushed over, covering his ears, and shouted to Cheng Ke, “It’s so damn loud!” He seemed a bit excited and got a bit too close, almost touching Cheng Ke’s nose.
Surprised, Cheng Ke stepped back and exclaimed, “Seriously! Anyone who didn’t know might think you were about to kiss me…”
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Yuduo leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips.
“Damn it!” Cheng Ke was taken aback and quickly looked away.
Fortunately, everyone’s attention was focused on the firecrackers, and it seemed that no one noticed their brief moment. However, Xu Ding had likely seen it. When Cheng Ke turned to look, Xu Ding was gazing at the firecrackers on the ground with a knowing smile.
After the firecrackers had been set off and the red cloth removed, the store officially opened for business. Chen Qing and Sun Qinqin began working behind the bar.
Jiang Yuduo gently placed the cat in the cat nest next to the climbing frame, securing it with a small strap. Surprisingly, the cat remained calm and didn’t attempt to escape.
Chen Qing gestured for the group of young men crowded into the room to leave, saying, “Give the customers some space! Don’t come in here to join the fun! I’ll prepare for you later when it’s less crowded!”
Due to the discounts and the lively atmosphere, customers were lining up to buy milk tea at this moment. Jiang Yuduo sat under the parasol at the entrance, unable to contain his laughter. “Business is booming,” he exclaimed.
“It’s a great start,” Cheng Ke agreed.
“I’ll make two cups for you,” Jiang Yuduo stood up and offered, “I’ve learned from Xiao Sun, so I can prepare a signature cat for you.”
“San-ge, don’t bother. They’re already busy enough,” Xu Ding chimed in with a smile.
“I insist. Wouldn’t you like to try the milk tea I make?” Jiang Yuduo responded. “I doubt I’ll have the chance to make it in the future… And if I do, no one will drink it…”
The ginger juice and fresh milk meow was quite complex to prepare. Jiang Yuduo struggled for a while behind the counter before reaching for the juicer. However, Sun Qinqin immediately intervened.
“San-ge, what are you doing?” She asked nervously.
“I want to make a signature cat,” Jiang Yuduo explained.
“Please, let me do it,” Sun Qinqin pleaded, growing even more anxious. “I’ll handle it. You should go greet your friends.”
“Who’s the boss here?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“You are,” Sun Qinqin responded, handing him the fresh milk. “Hurry up and make it. The machine is very busy right now.”
Jiang Yuduo reluctantly took the ingredients to a table near Miss Lucky Cat and spent quite some time crafting two cups of signature Meow.
“Give it a try!” He placed the two Meow drinks in front of Xu Ding and Cheng Ke.
“Thank you, Boss Jiang,” Xu Ding said, taking a sip.
“How is it?” he asked immediately.
Xu Ding gave him a thumbs up while sipping through a straw.
Feeling victorious, Jiang Yuduo turned to Cheng Ke. “What do you think?”
Cheng Ke took a few sips, leaned back in his chair, and burst into laughter, unable to stop.
“Why are you laughing so hard?” Realizing that something might be off, Jiang Yuduo grabbed a cup and took a sip.
The taste was indeed a bit unusual. Perhaps he had misremembered the recipe?
“You’re such a hypocrite,” Jiang Yuduo teased Xu Ding. “You wouldn’t give me a thumbs up just for the taste, would you?”
“If you ask Cheng Ke to make a cup and we compare them, I’ll definitely give you a thumbs up,” Xu Ding replied with a smile. “He goes to great lengths to squeeze juice at his restaurant.”
“Brother Xu, Brother Ke,” Sun Qinqin approached with two cups of milk tea, “This is our signature milk tea, fresh milk with ginger juice, Meow. Give it a try.”
“What’s the catch?” Jiang Yuduo questioned.
“Brother Qing asked me to make it and bring it here,” Sun Qinqin explained with a smile before returning to the shop.
Jiang Yuduo glanced inside the store and saw Chen Qing standing behind the bar, waving at him.
“I’ll walk you out,” Xu Ding offered, holding two cups of milk tea. “I still have to go back to the company. I’m going on a business trip tomorrow, and I have a lot to prepare.”
“You’re a busy man,” Cheng Ke remarked.
“San-ge, your business is thriving,” Xu Ding congratulated Jiang Yuduo.
“Thank you,” Jiang Yuduo replied. He had heard that phrase numerous times today, but each time it brought him joy and novelty. Hearing it from a prominent figure like Xu Ding made him particularly satisfied.
After Xu Ding departed, Jiang Yuduo continued to ponder.
“Boss Jiang,” Cheng Ke said while fiddling with his phone, “think of a caption.”
“What?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“I’m posting this on Moments, ‘Meow opened Jiugongge,'” Cheng Ke explained. “What caption do you think would be catchy?”
“Ask me?” Jiang Yuduo pointed to himself. “I don’t usually post on Moments, and if I did, it would probably be nonsense… Let me see what photos you have.”
Cheng Ke placed his phone on the table, and Jiang Yuduo leaned over to take a look.
There were several pictures, including some of him goofing around, the Meow signboard, customers queuing up for milk tea during the firecracker show, and a close-up of the Meow Milk Tea signboard.
“This is quite an advertisement,” Jiang Yuduo observed.
“It’s not just an advertisement,” Cheng Ke grinned. “It’s more like… a spectacle.”
“What kind of spectacle?” Jiang Yuduo inquired.
“A showcase of my happiness,” Cheng Ke said, clearing his throat. “Sounds a bit cheesy, but that’s what it is.”
“That’s fine,” Jiang Yuduo laughed, looking at the pictures. “Otherwise, ‘happiness’ wouldn’t suffice as a caption.”
“…You used the wrong word,” Cheng Ke pointed out.
“Regardless, it conveys the meaning,” Jiang Yuduo replied, clicking his tongue. “Hurry up and post it.”
“Sure thing,” Cheng Ke nodded, added a smiley face, and sent the picture.
Jiang Yuduo swiftly retrieved his phone and tapped the “like” button.
“You’re so positive,” Cheng Ke remarked with a smile.
“Yeah,” Jiang Yuduo replied as he put away his phone and gazed at Cheng Ke.
“Why?” Cheng Ke suddenly seemed a bit anxious. “There are fewer people around now, and everyone can see what you’re doing!”
“I didn’t intend to do anything,” Jiang Yuduo maintained his gaze, “I just wanted to say…”
“Hmm?” Cheng Ke looked at him expectantly.
Jiang Yuduo hesitated, feeling somewhat embarrassed even though he was still filled with excitement.
“I love you.”
Cheng Ke was taken aback, and it took a moment before he softly responded, “I love you too.”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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