Chapter 72 New Products

"Hurry down, the third freezer on the left of the display case on the first floor has the new matcha mille-feuille and lemon tart, your favorites, and that sea salt cheese roll too, save one for me. Take whatever you want, it's on me today." She waved her hand generously and added, "Go sit in the tasting area and wait for me, the new treasure will be ready soon."

Jiang Yining couldn't help but chuckle, knowing that Xiao Xiao's obsession with the cleanliness of the kitchen was comparable to that of a laboratory, and nodded in agreement: "Yes, Chef Xiao."

Back on the first floor, Jiang Yining lingered in front of the freezer Xiao Xiao had specified. The matcha mille-feuille had paper-thin, emerald-green pastries and delicate cream layers; the lemon tart had a golden crust with a filling of bright, sun-kissed lemon curd; and the sea salt cheese roll was a fluffy cake roll wrapped around slightly salty cheese cream…

She picked one of each, then thought for a moment and added a cute strawberry puff.

Reaching the self-service checkout, she deftly scanned the code to pay. Although Xiao Xiao had said he would treat her, she didn't want to eat and drink for free. She also grabbed a bottle of chilled fresh milk before carrying the full tray to the tasting area by the window.

Sunlight streamed through the large French windows, falling on the natural wood tabletop. Jiang Yining used a small silver fork to cut off a piece of matcha mille-feuille and put it in her mouth. The tea aroma was rich and slightly bitter, the cream was light and delicate, and the mille-feuille skin was thin yet chewy. The rich layers of flavor made her squint her eyes in satisfaction.

Sure enough, anything made by Xiao Xiao is bound to be of high quality. No wonder the business is so good. She ate her food in small bites while observing the shop with great interest.

In the open kitchen, pastry chefs worked swiftly and attentively; in the DIY area, children clumsily but earnestly piped frosting onto cookies, while their parents smiled and took photos; at the cashier, the queue moved in an orderly fashion, and the staff smiled sweetly…

Xiao Xiao's dream has been successfully managed, which is wonderful. Just as she put the last bite of the lemon tart crust into her mouth and licked the lingering sweet and sour taste from the corner of her lips, she heard light footsteps coming from the stairwell.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, my little Ningning." Xiao Xiao had changed out of her uniform and was wearing a beige casual shirt and jeans. Her hair was casually tied in a ponytail, looking refreshing and neat.

She held a delicate white bone china dish in her hand, on which lay a small, exquisite pastry. The outer layer was a soft, light apricot-colored mousse, topped with a small, dewy rose petal and a few crystal-clear raspberries; the design was simple yet exuded a sense of sophistication.

"Ta-da! 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Have a taste." Xiao Xiao pushed the plate in front of Jiang Yining like a treasure, sat down opposite her, rested her chin on her hand, and looked on expectantly.

Jiang Yining picked up the accompanying small spoon and carefully scooped out the delicate mousse. The filling was layered: light pink raspberry jam, pale yellow passion fruit curd, and a slightly crispy crust.

The cool, silky mousse melts instantly in your mouth, with the sweet and sour freshness of raspberries hitting your taste buds first, followed by the passionate and exotic aroma of passion fruit, and finally a subtle rose fragrance lingering in the air. The layers are distinct yet perfectly blended, and the taste is so light that it feels like there's no burden at all.

"Wow—" Jiang Yining's eyes instantly lit up like they were filled with stars, and she gave a thumbs up without hesitation, "Amazing, Xiaoxiao. This is definitely going to be a bestseller!"

Xiao Xiao was overjoyed, happier than if she had won the lottery. Watching Jiang Yining enjoy her meal, she naturally changed the subject: "By the way, has it been quiet at school lately? I heard that President Xie has almost cleaned out the pests from the Foreign Languages ​​Department for your sake."

She winked mischievously. "Tell me quickly, what exactly happened with Su, the school beauty? The rumors outside are really outrageous."

Jiang Yining put down her spoon, picked up her milk, and took a sip to moisten her throat. When the matter was brought up, her face remained calm, even showing a hint of pride. She vividly described how she had used leverage to her advantage in the stairwell that day, how she had precisely staged a collision, and how she had "shed tears" to attract onlookers and get the teacher to intervene and uphold justice.

"...Then I pushed them away and rushed out, yelling 'Help! School bullying!'" Jiang Yining imitated her tone perfectly.

Xiao Xiao was stunned, and after a long while, she burst out laughing, almost choking on her own saliva. She pointed at Jiang Yining, laughing so hard she almost fell over:

"My God... Jiang Yining, your tea skills... are simply unparalleled. Hahaha, Xie Shiyan... how on earth can he stand you? Was Hou Mingyu from high school also expelled by you in the same way?"

Mentioning this long-forgotten name, Jiang Yining couldn't help but laugh out loud, her bright smile shining especially brightly in the sunlight.

“Hou Mingyu? Hahaha,” she seemed to recall an extremely comical scene, “That idiot… he’s actually a coward.”

The floodgates of memory suddenly opened, and time flowed back to the innocent days of high school.