Qingfeng Tea House.
The firecrackers outside went on for a long time.
The tea house was also packed with people, making it extremely noisy.
Lu Feng decided to just go upstairs and into his office in the tea house.
Yang Ming, Da Fei, and the others followed him, as did Chen Bo.
To the onlookers, this scene said a lot.
It meant that this Boss Chen and Brother Ming had truly joined forces.
In the past, people from Xianlin Town always spoke with more confidence in Youcheng, because they were indeed doing better for themselves. This was especially true for the big boss, He Jin. In Youcheng, even powerful figures like Brother Ming and Boss Chen couldn't compete with him.
Now, it seemed this Young Master Feng could.
Inside the office, Da Fei reported, "Young Master Feng, it's the grand opening today. All the brothers showed their support. Basically, everyone bought some tea to keep here at the tea house."
"Mm," Lu Feng nodded.
The price of the tea they bought wasn't important. What mattered was the gesture—it showed they would be coming to the tea house to drink tea from now on, and they would bring others. This would be their regular gathering spot.
It also represented the tea house's status among their group.
Chen Bo then asked, "Young Master Feng, you said a shipment was coming in a few days. How much will there be, exactly?"
Yang Ming and the others immediately looked at Lu Feng, their faces full of anticipation.
They knew exactly what Chen Bo was talking about.
"I don't know the specifics either. Just wait for news." How could Lu Feng know the exact amount right now? He was still waiting for Lin Jiao and Xu Bin to find the Gold shop.
Just as he was speaking, Lu Feng received a WeChat message from Yang Qingxue. His expression soured the moment he read it.
"Xiaofeng, what's wrong?" Yang Ming noticed and asked, puzzled.
Lu Feng didn't hide it. He sighed and said, "It's about Qingxue. Her best friend has been trying to set her up with her boyfriend's buddy, and Qingxue's mom is behind it too. They're on a blind date right now at a cafe in the square."
Yang Ming patted Lu Feng's shoulder. "But didn't Qingxue tell you about it? That shows you're the only one in her heart. Besides, it's normal for a mother to not want her daughter to suffer. And you're not the same as you were before, are you?"
"Yeah," Lu Feng nodded. He certainly had more confidence now.
But Da Fei chimed in, "Young Master Feng, seeing how eager your girlfriend's best friend is, I bet that guy is interested in your girlfriend too. He's probably given that best friend plenty of perks—treating her to meals is the least he'd do."
Lu Feng nodded. He wasn't an idiot.
When a man likes a woman, the easiest way is to have a mutual acquaintance bring her out or make an introduction. It's normal to ask that mutual acquaintance for help and offer them benefits or treat them to meals.
A fair lady is a gentleman's desire, isn't that right?
If a guy doesn't even know to do that, he deserves to be single.
Still, it was infuriating that someone was making a move on his girlfriend.
Seeing Lu Feng's displeasure, Yang Ming whispered a few words to Da Fei. Da Fei nodded and immediately left the office.
While Lu Feng was still puzzled, Yang Ming said to him, "What are you standing around for? Qingxue is calling for help. Aren't you going to go?"
"Oh!" Lu Feng snapped back to his senses, got up, and left the office as well.
'Qingxue must be in a very awkward situation right now.'
Meanwhile, Yang Ming called over to Ah Lin and Ah Pao, and followed them out with a smile.
Wind Fragrance Cafe in Zhongmin Square was very well-known. It did great business, and many couples would come here for dates. Many best friends and groups of friends would also arrange to meet here.
Yang Qingxue was indeed in a very awkward position. She had absolutely no interest in that Chen Yong. The crucial point was that she already had a boyfriend, yet Chen Yong was pursuing her aggressively.
"Chen Yong, what are you waiting for? Order something for Qingxue, will you?" Lin Jiajia said, playing wingman after getting Yang Qingxue seated.
She was very satisfied with her boyfriend's friend. He owned his house outright, drove a BMW, and earned 20,000 to 30,000 a month—an income that was truly top-tier in a county town like Youcheng.
Many people worked their fingers to the bone for 10 hours a day in factories and only made a few thousand, like that Lu Feng, for example.
She had no idea how he had managed to trick her best friend into dating him.
Chen Yong took the hint and said enthusiastically to Yang Qingxue, "Qingxue, Jiajia told me you like Mixue pudding, so I ordered one for you."
He had very high standards for a girlfriend. First, she had to be beautiful. Then, she needed a good personality and had to be docile. His buddy's girlfriend's best friend completely fit his criteria.
That was why he had begged his buddy to have his girlfriend make the introduction.
And with her best friend Lin Jiajia playing wingman, he was confident his pursuit would be smooth sailing.
Of course, he knew Yang Qingxue had a boyfriend. But upon learning the guy just worked at a steel mill, he couldn't care less. Poaching a girl like that would be almost too easy.
Lin Jiajia's boyfriend was named Chi Cheng. He also chimed in to help, "Qingxue, see how thoughtful Chen Yong is? Jiajia only mentioned it once, and he remembered."
A slight smile played on his lips as he spoke.
Chen Yong had promised him that if he helped him win over Yang Qingxue, he would invest 100,000 in a project he had recently come up with.
Just as Chi Cheng was thinking about this, he noticed a girl with a great figure and a beautiful face suddenly walking toward their table. Crucially, she walked straight up to his side.
To be honest, this girl was gorgeous. She knew how to do her makeup and dress up. She was, at the very least, better-looking than his girlfriend, Lin Jiajia.
Before he could think any further, Xiaoyao had already picked up the lemonade from the table and violently splashed it in his face.
Chi Cheng was completely stunned. The lemonade stung his eyes, making them so uncomfortable he couldn't open them for a good while.
Seeing her boyfriend get splashed, Lin Jiajia shot to her feet and demanded of Xiaoyao, "Why did you splash my boyfriend?"
"Your boyfriend?" Xiaoyao suddenly put on an angry act and retorted, "He told me he didn't have a girlfriend!"
That single sentence left Lin Jiajia dumbfounded.
Any woman would be stunned in that situation.
But Xiaoyao quickly walked out of the cafe without a backward glance, giving Chi Cheng no chance to explain and Lin Jiajia no chance to investigate.
"..." Chi Cheng was also completely bewildered. The moment his eyes recovered and he was about to blow up, he discovered the girl had already left the cafe and disappeared.
'What the fuck...'
The other customers in the cafe were drawn in by the scene and began to gossip, unafraid of stirring up trouble:
"Another two-timing drama. The guy messed up big time!"
"Definitely. That other girl was obviously prettier. He was pursuing her behind his girlfriend's back. Men are all trash."
"Yeah, and he lied about not having a girlfriend. If he'd succeeded in chasing her, his current girlfriend would have become his ex-girlfriend!"
Hearing these comments, Lin Jiajia's face turned ashen. She lost all reason and confronted Chi Cheng, "Chi Cheng, you bastard!"
"Jiajia, it's not what it looks like! I don't know that woman!" Chi Cheng explained frantically.
The sudden turn of events made his head spin.
"Do you take me for an idiot?" Lin Jiajia said angrily. She refused to listen and stormed out of the cafe.
Chi Cheng panicked and hurried after her. Who the hell was he supposed to complain to about this?
Lu Feng had just entered the cafe when he was met with the baffling sight of two people running out, one after the other. He naturally recognized Lin Jiajia.
Yang Qingxue had been about to use the chaos as a chance to leave with Lin Jiajia—she had even picked up her bag. But when she saw Lu Feng arrive, her face lit up with joy as she went to greet him. "Lu Feng."
As she spoke, she casually linked her arm with Lu Feng's, leading him to sit down across from Chen Yong. She didn't forget to make the introduction, "Chen Yong, this is my boyfriend, Lu Feng."
"..." At that moment, Chen Yong felt as disgusted as if he had swallowed a fly.
Who the hell wouldn't feel awkward when, in the middle of pursuing a girl, she sits down across from you with her arm linked through her boyfriend's?
However, he had his own confidence. He naturally had to shift this awkwardness onto Yang Qingxue's boyfriend, so he asked, "So you're Qingxue's boyfriend. And where is it that you have a high-paying job?"
He, of course, knew the other guy worked at a steel mill. This was the source of his superiority. Once the guy said it out loud, he would have a way to use his own superior standing to make him uncomfortable.
If you want to poach someone's girlfriend, you have to crush your rival.
But the words had barely left his mouth when he was stunned to see a group of brawny, tattooed men walk into the cafe and sit down at the tables surrounding theirs.
The crucial part was, why were all of them staring at him?
That's right. He realized they were all staring at him with hostile, predatory gazes, making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles. A wave of fear washed over him.
'I haven't offended anyone recently, have I?'
'What is going on?'
Looking at Lu Feng's faint, unreadable smile, he seemed to understand.
Chen Yong felt his face burn with embarrassment. It seemed he had misjudged his rival. He quickly stood up, grabbed his phone, and left.
"What a coward," Da Fei couldn't help but mock when he saw this.
He was, of course, the one who had arranged the incident with Xiaoyao. Since Young Master Feng's girlfriend's best friend loved arranging blind dates so much, he figured he'd arrange something for her too!
No woman could remain calm when faced with something like that.
Yang Ming, meanwhile, sat down across from Yang Qingxue and Lu Feng. "Qingxue, what do you want to eat? My treat."
"Cousin!" Yang Qingxue had recognized Yang Ming long ago. After all, she had met her boyfriend's cousin more than once or twice.
"Let's go. Back to the tea house!" Da Fei called to the others to leave. After exiting the cafe, however, he received a phone call. It was from his childhood friend, Huang Yuan.
It was thanks to his help before that the people attending the commerce department symposium had come to the tea house to buy Qingfeng Tea.
So, he quickly answered, "Huang Yuan, what's up?"
Huang Yuan immediately said, "It seems the higher-ups found out about the help I gave you. A deputy county head suddenly came to ask about it."
Da Fei's brow tightened. "Why would someone like that ask about such a small matter? Is there a problem?"
"Not sure. Just giving you a heads-up. Stick to the story that it was a sponsorship," Huang Yuan said before hanging up and walking toward his boss's office.
He didn't get it either. Why would a deputy county head suddenly pay attention to such a trivial matter? Did he have nothing better to do?
Huang Yuan quickly entered his boss's office, only to see his boss brewing tea for the deputy county head. And on the tea table was none other than Qingfeng Tea.