Chapter 13

The glass doors of "Corner," which had been closed for half a month, were finally pushed open again, and a "Open for Business" sign was hung up. Everything inside was the same as before; the sunlight was still warm, and the aroma of coffee filled the air again, but there seemed to be an indescribable silence lingering in the air.

Lin Xiaotang lowered her head and calculated the accounts for the past two weeks, her brows furrowing more and more as she did so. Expensive ingredients that had been disposed of in advance, zero income for two weeks, but the rent, utilities, and property fees hadn't been reduced at all... A rough calculation showed that not only had she not made any money, she had actually suffered a small loss.

She put down the calculator, rubbed her temples, and felt a tightness in her chest. Others might be "love-struck" and neglect their careers, but what was she doing? She hadn't even seen a glimpse of love, and yet, because of some inexplicable, fickle man, she'd lost so much real money. Thinking of Bai Sinian, that inexplicable irritation and disappointment crept back into her heart, like the damp fog on a cloudy day, refusing to dissipate.

She shook her head, forcing herself to stop thinking about it. Life had to go on, and the shop had to keep running.

Just then, Xiao Wei, who was wiping the display case nearby, suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Sister Xiao Tang! Look!"

Lin Xiaotang looked up and saw Xiao Wei holding up her phone, her eyes wide open, her face beaming with barely suppressed excitement: "A huge order! A super huge order!"

"How old?" Lin Xiaotang was infected by her emotions and temporarily put aside her depression.

"Just received an order! One hundred chestnut cupcakes for tomorrow at 3 PM! They must be delivered to the 28th floor of the Jin Mao Tower!" Xiaowei's voice rose with excitement. "Oh my god, one hundred! Now we can make up for the losses from closing down!"

"One hundred? The 28th floor of the Jin Mao Tower?" Lin Xiaotang was stunned. She quickly got up and went over to check the order details. After confirming that everything was correct, a huge wave of joy instantly dispelled the gloom in her heart.

The Jin Mao Tower is a renowned top-tier office building in the city, housing only the wealthiest and most powerful companies. For a small shop like theirs, such a large order is like a windfall!

"That's great!" Lin Xiaotang finally showed her first genuine smile in half a month, and her eyes regained their sparkle. "Quick! Let's go check if we have enough chestnuts, and we need to restock the cream and other ingredients as soon as possible! We have to get to work at full speed tomorrow morning!"

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Wei nodded vigorously, full of enthusiasm. "I knew it, Sister Xiao Tang! Good luck always comes! Closing down is nothing, we'll get big orders as soon as we open! Our 'Corner' is about to turn our luck around!"

The two smiled at each other, the gloomy atmosphere of the past two weeks swept away by this sudden good news. The shop was once again filled with a busy and hopeful atmosphere, and even the roar of the mixer and oven seemed to sound particularly pleasant.

Lin Xiaotang tied on her apron and deftly began checking the materials, mentally calculating the time and procedures. One hundred meticulously crafted cupcakes—it was no small task, but the thought of the generous reward made all the hard work worthwhile.