Ye Chen knew he couldn't let Xia Yingluo hesitate; he had to strike while the iron was hot.
"We have to open a new branch fast. Think about it—once our business booms, copycats will swarm in. Hot Pot tastes pretty much the same everywhere, there's no technical barrier."
Ye Chen's words were mostly bluff, but they still made sense.
Business is like war: the moment people see you're making money, they'll rush to imitate. We have to build our brand fast if we want to stand firm.
Xia Yingluo heard him and nodded in innocent agreement.
She felt every word Ye Chen said was spot-on.
Her admiration for him grew even stronger.
Because everything he thought of was something she'd never considered.
Still, she didn't agree immediately. "Opening a new branch needs lots of prep. We're not ready yet, and the National Higher Education Entrance Examination is right around the corner."
Ye Chen nodded in agreement.
As long as Xia Yingluo had the idea, that was enough.
Ye Chen might have been bluffing, but the logic was solid.
After all, a Hot Pot Restaurant that settles for small profits will never go far.
Right now, though, the conditions weren't ripe.
Choosing a location and hiring staff both take time.
At the moment, the top priority for Ye Chen, Xia Yingluo, and Li Sitong was the National Higher Education Entrance Examination!
That evening, after tutoring Xia Yingluo and Li Sitong at home, Ye Chen produced two cups of lemonade.
One with sugar, one with ice.
Xia Yingluo's was sweetened but ice-free; Li Sitong's was chilled and sugar-free.
Both girls were secretly curious.
They'd never mentioned their preferences—how did Ye Chen know?
Every tutoring session, he prepared lemonade for them.
They'd already grown used to his flavor.
The three of them together felt a little odd, yet inexplicably cozy.
Ye Chen treated them both exceptionally well.
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo both knew the other liked Ye Chen.
They were rivals in love, yet they got along splendidly.
Though they'd agreed to compete fairly, they'd never once bickered over him.
The two girls sat on the sofa sipping their lemonade.
Ye Chen gazed at them, a trace of tenderness flickering in his eyes.
He pulled out two test papers and slipped them into their bags.
"These are your homework; remember to finish them."
"Mm."
Both girls nodded in unison.
Ye Chen grinned. "Is my lemonade good?"
"Delicious," they chorused.
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo looked adorable as they drank.
When Xia Yingluo smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons; Li Sitong's smile was bewitching.
Ye Chen felt that being reborn and dating two such beauties was pure bliss.
Although he sensed Su Xiaonuan liked him too, his heart only had room for these two girls—no space for a third.
Ye Chen chuckled. "Then how about drinking my lemonade every day?"
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo froze.
Both their pretty faces flushed red.
Every single day?
Was that a confession?
But which of them was he confessing to—or was it both?
The girls' cheeks burned even brighter.
Ye Chen seemed to read their minds and laughed. "I meant I'll bring lemonade to school for both of you every day, so you can drink it there too."
"Oh… that's all?"
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo realized they'd misunderstood and lowered their crimson faces.
They wished the floor would open up and swallow them.
So embarrassing.
Seeing their expressions, Ye Chen smiled faintly.
He was wondering too—both girls were treasures; how should he choose?
"It's late; we should head off."
Flustered by the awkward atmosphere, Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo got up to leave.
Ye Chen walked them to the door.
Turning back, he saw Mother Ye staring at him.
"Mom, what are you looking at?"
Mother Ye smiled. "Ye Chen, both girls are pretty and lovely—don't you dare two-time them."
"Mom, what are you saying? I'm in Senior Year of High School—no time for messy stuff. All I care about is studying hard and getting into my dream University; everything else can wait."
With that, Ye Chen went inside.
Mother Ye stood at the door, stunned.
Wasn't that supposed to be my line?
The next day, a light drizzle fell outside.
Ye Chen arrived at the Sprint Class.
The first period was math.
In the back row, Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo were chatting away.
He noticed the two of them were getting closer and closer.
It gave Ye Chen a headache.
Because if he teased one, the other would immediately jump to her defense.
He walked toward his seat.
Passing Wu Bin, he caught the venomous glare Wu Bin shot at him.
Ye Chen ignored the hostility completely, not even sparing him a glance.
Wu Bin felt awful, as if he'd punched cotton with all his might—utterly frustrating.
Ye Chen stopped in front of Xia Yingluo and Li Sitong and produced two cups.
"Here—your drinks: one sweetened, no ice; one iced, no sugar."
Seeing the cups, warmth filled their eyes.
They'd thought he was only being polite, yet he'd actually brought them.
Ye Chen smiled. "From now on, give me your cups after school and I'll bring lemonade for you every day."
"N-no need," Li Sitong hurried to say.
She clutched her cartoon thermos, cheeks pink.
"It's fine; I'll get tired of drinking it every day," she murmured, blushing.
"Yeah, me too. Once in a while is enough," Xia Yingluo added, head lowered.
Ye Chen simply smiled. "You'll never tire of it."
His words left both girls stunned.
Shock flickered in their eyes.
How did he know…? Of course Ye Chen knew.
In his previous life he'd bought them Lemon Tea.
One wanted sugar, no ice; the other wanted ice, no sugar.
Back then he'd asked if they'd ever get tired of Lemon Tea.
They'd answered in unison: "Never."
The memory was crystal clear.
The two girls were considerate; they declined because they thought preparing lemonade daily would be exhausting for him.
But to Ye Chen, bringing them lemonade every day wasn't tiring at all—it was bliss.
He hadn't had the chance in his past life; now that he did, he would cherish it!