"No need," Miss Tong said dismissively to her superior. "Your skills are terrible. I'd rather brew it myself."
The young woman, referred to as Miss Tong, showed no deference to her superior, even criticizing his tea before tasting it—a rather cutting remark. Baldy Zhang could only offer an awkward smile; he dared not object. The job offered decent compensation, and as long as he kept his position, he didn't care about anything else.
"Don't take it personally," Miss Tong continued, laughing without restraint at his meek demeanor. "I'm just being honest." Despite appearing a full decade older than her, he showed no hint of anger.
"I wouldn't dare," Baldy Zhang replied, though irritation simmered beneath his placid facade. Had she simply made the remark and moved on, he could have dismissed her as a spoiled heiress lacking social grace. But her relentless emphasis revealed a difficult temperament, foreshadowing trouble ahead.
His mind drifted to Jiang You. Jiang You probably isn't having an easy time either. I wonder how assertive he is. Being too assertive could cause conflict, but it's not all bad—he's young and can always find another job. If he's too timid, though, his life here might be even worse than mine.
"Heh, no wonder this place is so close to him. It's all so... respectable."
Miss Tong continued to laugh brightly, her eyebrows arching into a bewitching crescent shape like a moon. "Now you're getting angry! That's more like it. A man with no temper gets bossed around by his wife, right, Manager Zhang?"
Baldy Zhang's eyes darted away, embarrassed. Miss Tong was right; his wife was indeed more assertive, and he felt exposed.
"Don't worry about losing your job. Actually, I'm quite pleased about this. Handle your marital affairs as you see fit. As for the tea issue, I'll take care of it. As his manager, you're a respectable figure, after all. These disposable cups are beneath you. After all... don't we have a tea culture here? You should learn about it. Dad, send him a proper tea set."
President Tong glanced at his daughter but remained silent. Tea sets ranged from inexpensive to luxurious, but he wasn't concerned about the cost. What puzzled him was his daughter's intense focus on this matter. Describing a department manager as a "respectable figure" seemed a bit exaggerated, and her emphasis on "him," the young man named Jiang You, stirred a vague unease in him.
"Please, Dad! You wouldn't want your own daughter to be seen as a cheapskate, would you?" Miss Tong pleaded, tugging at President Tong's hand and swaying it gently.
President Tong felt his heart melt. His daughter had never been particularly close to him growing up, but now that she had returned from studying abroad, their relationship had actually improved. He immediately agreed to her request.
"Oh, right, Dad! You have that meeting to attend, don't you? You'll be late if you don't leave now."
As soon as her father agreed, Miss Tong almost simultaneously glanced at her wristwatch. Even Baldy Zhang found the timing a bit too deliberate, but President Tong, his face beaming like a blooming chrysanthemum from being called "Dad," didn't notice.
"You're right... but are you sure you'll be alright here alone?"
President Tong remained concerned about his daughter being taken advantage of. This was precisely why he had always wanted her to work at his company, where his connections could ensure she was well-protected. She had stubbornly refused before, but now that she had finally relented, how could he not worry? However, she had declined the invitation to join the General Office, instead choosing this lower-level department. While the computer-based work aligned with her specialization, he still felt somewhat dissatisfied.
"You worry too much," Miss Tong said, kneading President Tong's shoulders. "I've been living alone overseas for years. What could possibly happen to me right under your nose?"
"Alright," President Tong relented, no longer pressing the matter since his daughter seemed so confident. As he left, he patted Baldy Zhang on the shoulder.
"Work hard. I'll have the tea table and tea set delivered as soon as possible. Please keep an eye on her for me."
"You can rest assured, sir," Baldy Zhang replied.
He understood this was a golden opportunity, but he couldn't quite figure out Miss Tong. She gave off a strange, unpredictable vibe—hot one moment, cold the next, almost ethereal. Moreover, her beauty was otherworldly, almost unreal.
When Baldy Zhang turned back, he saw Miss Tong pulling out a tea bag from his desk. He dared not comment on this blatant breach of etiquette, merely wondering how this pampered young lady had managed to avoid a beating all her life. And she studied abroad? How did she avoid getting shot?
"Such low-grade tea," she remarked, examining the bag. "Ten yuan a bag? Or twenty?"
Actually, it was fifty yuan. Baldy Zhang remained silent; the price difference hardly mattered.
"Once the table arrives, throw this junk away and use this instead!"
As she spoke, Miss Tong produced an exquisitely crafted iron canister and flicked its airtight lid with her fingertip. The lid sprang open, instantly filling the reception room with the rich, fragrant aroma of tea.
"Anxi Tieguanyin! I don't really know much about this stuff, but it's quite famous, so I brought it along."
(Spy- Anxi Tieguanyin(Iron Goddess of Mercy) is a premium, tightly rolled oolong tea from Anxi County, Fujian Province)
"!"
Baldy Zhang's shock wasn't about the tea's quality—he wouldn't know good tea if it slapped him in the face. His astonishment stemmed from where Miss Tong had pulled such a massive canister from, considering she hadn't brought any bags or luggage. He quickly regained his composure, knowing he should politely decline. However, given her personality, refusing might offend her. "Such precious tea! You shouldn't have gone to such expense. I'll start learning how to brew it properly right away. Next time, I'll treat you to my own brewing. I promise you won't be disappointed."
"Don't mention it," Miss Tong replied. "Just ask if you need more."
Miss Tong exuded a naive charm, seemingly unaware of the daily grind. In reality, her monthly salary, after living expenses, could barely afford a few kilograms of this premium tea.
"There's no need for that. I'll handle the supplies."
Baldy Zhang wiped the sweat from his brow. This young lady has no sense of money at all!
"If you're too polite, you'll end up losing out, you know?"
For her, tea was just a matter of copying and pasting. If this guy insisted on paying, he'd be in for a rough time. Still, watching him try to put on a brave face was rather amusing.
"Isn't buying this tea a bit of a strain on your salary?"
You know that too?! Baldy Zhang's forehead glistened with even more sweat. It seemed everything he said in her presence was wrong—how troublesome! How am I going to survive the coming days?
"Leader Zhang, I'm here."
Just then, Jiang You arrived, rescuing him from the awkward situation.
"Xiao Jiang!"
Baldy Zhang's eyes lit up visibly. At last, he could pass this hot potato to someone else.
"We've been waiting for you! Come, come."