Yu Ningmeng came upstairs with Yan Wei. Seeing a group of girls sitting beside Xia Yu, Yan Wei did not approach but chose a nearby seat instead.
“Wei Jie!” You Xue pulled Yin Ling to sit beside her.
After You Xue and Yin Ling left, a seat next to Xia Yu became free, and Yu Ningmeng took it.
Taking a sip of her milk tea, Yu Ningmeng lightly frowned; the tea tasted ordinary.
Putting the tea down, she glanced around, her eyes pausing for a moment on Liu Manman.
Yu Ningmeng knew Liu Manman. She was someone who had attended the Mid-Autumn Festival gala with Xia Yu last time—his senior at school and an heir to the Liu family. However, she seemed to have no real competitiveness and would probably be sidelined once she reached a certain age.
Passing over Liu Manman, Yu Ningmeng looked toward Yan Wei.
She didn’t know Yan Wei personally, assuming she was just someone who came with You Xue. Yet, her gaze lingered on Yan Wei for quite a while.
This was because of the magnificent view on display from Yan Wei’s chest.
Yan Wei had intentionally worn loose clothing to keep a low profile, but as she leaned forward onto the table, the depth of the table edge pressing into her clothes created a stronger visual impact.
Looking down at herself briefly, Yu Ningmeng felt a touch of sadness.
Trying to find some comfort by comparing herself to others, she scanned the room and found someone she considered worse off—Yin Ling.
Even though she had found someone less fortunate than herself, Yu Ningmeng’s mood only grew heavier.
Had she really sunk so low that she now had to compare herself with an elementary schooler?
Grabbing the nearby milk tea, Yu Ningmeng drank deeply, wishing at that moment the cup contained alcohol instead of tea.
Finishing the tea, her mood slightly improved. Putting the cup down, she noticed the brand name on it.
It looked familiar.
She read the text printed on the paper cup again.
—”Bu Yi Ding” (Not Necessarily)
“…”
Wasn’t this the milk tea brand from that company that had just gone bankrupt?
She had come here after seeing a post on the Hua University forum that the maids had discussed. She had also learned that this tea shop was co-owned by Xia Yu and someone named Duan Yi.
So, this shop was partly Xia Yu’s.
Investing in a tea brand from a company that was about to collapse—what was he trying to do?
Yu Ningmeng thought for two seconds and a spark of realization flashed in her mind.
She went downstairs again and ordered another cup of milk tea. While ordering, she asked, “Who is Duan Yi here?”
Duan Yi responded upon hearing her question.
Yu Ningmeng sized up Duan Yi. Her figure was okay, her face was okay, her demeanor was okay. She didn’t seem to have any special skills, just an ordinary pretty girl—the type usually considered a goddess by otaku guys.
Carrying the milk tea upstairs, Yu Ningmeng said to Xia Yu, “Are you trying to bankrupt that woman and then keep her?”
“Cough cough cough.” Xia Yu choked on his milk tea.
Xia Yu quickly glanced around. Yan Wei’s table was far enough away and hadn’t heard. However, An Siyao and Liu Manman beside them had.
Especially Liu Manman, who looked at Xia Yu with complete shock in her eyes.
“Don’t say things like that randomly,” Xia Yu whispered to Yu Ningmeng.
“How am I making things up?” Yu Ningmeng’s voice remained at a normal level.
Xia Yu pressed his palm down, signaling her to lower her voice.
He explained, “She decided to invest in this tea shop on her own initiative, even before I acquired that company. How was I supposed to know it was about to go bankrupt?”
“Oh.” Yu Ningmeng nodded, understanding. “So you’re just waiting by the tree, hoping Duan Yi would run into it and fall down unconscious, so you can pick her up.”
“Don’t make it sound like that,” Xia Yu said, slightly annoyed. “I just felt that if I warned her, she wouldn’t get the real experience of entrepreneurship. Failure is also a necessary part of the process!”
“And then let her experience a bit at your house?” Yu Ningmeng narrowed her eyes.
“You’re so shallow.”
“So you’re saying you want something deeper?” Yu Ningmeng scoffed.
She knew Xia Yu wouldn’t let his partner walk down a doomed path without some ulterior motive.
Looking at the thoughtful An Siyao and the terrified Liu Manman, Xia Yu realized he needed to provide a reasonable explanation, or his reputation would be ruined.
He had no choice but to reveal the truth: “Actually, I wanted to start a company together with Duan Yi. I’d come up with the ideas, and she would handle the public side.”
Yu Ningmeng placed both hands on the table, listening to Xia Yu’s plans.
“I plan to gather a group of Hua University students to develop a mobile game together. But since I don’t want to run around everywhere, I hoped she could help me. Her capabilities and charisma are actually quite good,” Xia Yu added necessary details.
Yu Ningmeng nodded. She had sensed earlier that Duan Yi’s image and demeanor were indeed impressive.
“But she doesn’t want to work for me. She prefers to start her own business. Now you understand what happened next,” Xia Yu concluded.
Yu Ningmeng and Liu Manman nodded in understanding, while An Siyao tilted her head in confusion, not grasping the point. Having never worried about money or experienced intrigue, An Siyao couldn’t comprehend such convoluted motives.
Liu Manman’s fear disappeared. She had initially thought Xia Yu was the type who deliberately bankrupted others and forced their family members to pay debts. Now it seemed his heart wasn’t entirely black.
Yu Ningmeng shook her head. “One milk tea shop might not drain her completely. You should get her to invest more.”
Xia Yu had expected some criticism but hadn’t anticipated Yu Ningmeng encouraging him to be even harsher.
“The bankruptcy announcement for that company should come any day now. Just hope that woman never finds out you’re behind it all,” Yu Ningmeng smiled, fully approving of the idea of watching others fall and then stepping in to rescue them, thereby gaining their loyalty.
“I’ve never appeared at the company. How could she possibly figure it out?” Xia Yu shrugged it off confidently, showing no sign of worry.
Now all that remained was waiting for Duan Yi to go bankrupt and come to him.
As dusk approached, Xia Yu remembered their previous arrangement and stood up, heading backstage to work as a server.
An Siyao followed behind him, also changing into staff clothing.
Liu Manman found it amusing and put on a uniform too.
You Xue saw this as a good opportunity to bond and joined in, with Yan Wei sneaking in behind.
Thankfully, the weather had cooled down, and the staff uniforms were jackets that could be left open at the front. If they had been T-shirts, Yan Wei definitely wouldn’t have fit into one.
Meanwhile, photos of the girls taken earlier were now circulating on the university forum. After half an afternoon of discussion, the topic had gained massive popularity.
The hottest post on the forum at that moment was about this very situation:
“SHOCKING! Music College’s truant goddess An Siyao, guzheng idol Liu Manman, Vice Dean’s granddaughter Yan Wei, Hua University Affiliated High School beauty Xia Youxue, Hua University Affiliated Elementary beauty Yin Ling, and an unknown stunning auntie—all gathered in this milk tea shop with one man!”
“Is this a loss of morality or a collapse of humanity? Welcome to today’s Hua University Gossip…”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage