Chapter 38 Mr. Shang, may I come in?
The warm water washed away the lingering tear stains and smell of alcohol from last night.
When Yan Shuang walked out of the bathroom while drying her hair, a set of neatly folded clothes was already laid out on the bench at the foot of the bed.
It's all in her style, but the quality is better than what she bought herself.
Yan Shuang picked up the sweater tag; it was from an Italian luxury brand.
There was a gentle knock on the bedroom door, and a kind, older woman's voice came from outside: "Miss Yan, breakfast is ready."
Yan Shuang opened the door and saw a middle-aged woman with slightly graying temples carrying a tray with steaming honey lemon water on it.
The woman smiled and handed her the tray. "I'm Aunt Zhou. I'm usually in charge of cleaning and cooking."
"Thank you, Aunt Zhou." Yan Shuang took the glass, the warm glass comforting her palm. "How long have you been working here?"
“It’s been almost ten years.” Aunt Zhou led her downstairs. “It started when Mr. Shang moved into this house.”
The restaurant was bathed in sunlight.
Yan Shuang stood at the restaurant entrance, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of the elaborate breakfast spread out before her.
In the center of the three-meter-long dining table sat a celadon vase with crackled ice patterns, containing several white roses glistening with morning dew.
Divided by the vase, on the left is authentic Chinese breakfast: a steamer basket of crab roe xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), next to which is a clay pot of chicken and scallop congee, accompanied by eight small side dishes...
To the right of the table was an elegant Western breakfast: freshly baked croissants with flaky layers, Eggs Benedict on a porcelain plate; and a fresh fruit tart piled high with blueberries, raspberries, and golden kiwis...
"Miss Yan, please have a seat. Mr. Shang has gone for his morning exercise. Please eat first."
Yan Shuang sat at the dining table and slowly finished the last sip of soy milk. Aunt Zhou's cooking skills were indeed impeccable.
However, when she picked up the coffee that Aunt Zhou had just brewed and took a sip, her brows furrowed slightly involuntarily.
The coffee has a good aroma, but the acidity is a bit high after tasting, the bitterness doesn't fully develop, and the finish even has a slightly burnt taste.
Yan Shuang put down her cup, lost in thought.
"Miss Yan, is the coffee not to your liking?" Aunt Zhou asked, noticing her subtle expression.
Yan Shuang quickly waved her hand: "No, no, it's delicious! It's just..." She hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell the truth, "Aunt Zhou, what kind of beans do you usually use to make coffee?"
Aunt Zhou smiled and said, "It's the one Mr. Shang often drinks, imported from Italy, what's it called... Arabica? I don't really know."
Yan Shuang suddenly realized.
Shangqiu Zhu's pickiness about coffee is well-known in the company.
But now it seems that even an old maid like Aunt Zhou may not have fully figured out his tastes.
Yan Shuang blinked, and suddenly had an idea.
"Aunt Zhou, how about... I teach you a little trick? I guarantee the coffee will be more fragrant and delicious, and Mr. Shang will definitely like it."
Aunt Zhou was taken aback for a moment, then beamed with joy: "Oh, that's wonderful! Mr. Shang is a picky eater, and I'm always afraid he won't be satisfied with the coffee I make."
Yan Shuang stood up and followed Aunt Zhou into the kitchen.
She took out coffee beans from the cupboard, weighed and ground them skillfully, explaining as she did so: "Mr. Shang prefers dark roast beans, which are bitter but have a good aftertaste, so the water temperature can't be too high, otherwise it will be over-extracted and taste astringent..."
Her movements were fluid; her fingertips gently manipulated the filter cup, hot water was slowly poured in, the coffee grounds gradually expanded, and a rich aroma filled the air.
Aunt Zhou stared in astonishment: "Miss Yan, your technique is even more skilled than a professional barista!"
Yan Shuang smiled sheepishly: "I only learned a little bit before."
After the coffee was brewed, Yan Shuang poured a cup and handed it to Aunt Zhou: "Would you like to try some?"
Aunt Zhou took a sip, her eyes lighting up: "Wow, this taste...it's really different! It's fragrant and smooth, with just the right amount of bitterness!"
Yan Shuang smiled and said, "Actually, the key is controlling the water temperature and the steaming time."
Shangqiu Zhuxialou heard a burst of cheerful laughter coming from the kitchen.
He walked toward the kitchen.
Yan Shuang had her back to him and was sitting with Aunt Zhou in front of the coffee machine. They were talking about something when she suddenly laughed.
Shangqiu Zhu leaned against the door frame without making a sound.
Aunt Zhou spotted him first and quickly greeted him, "Mr. Shang is back? Miss Yan just taught me how to make coffee, please come and try some!"
Yan Shuang turned around upon hearing this, her smile still lingering, her eyes crinkling.
But as soon as she saw him, her expression immediately became more composed, and she subconsciously straightened up, reverting to her "perfect secretary" demeanor as if by conditioned reflex.
"Good morning, Mr. Shang," she said softly, her tone respectful, though the tips of her ears were slightly red.
Shangqiu Zhu stared at her for two seconds, then walked over.
My gaze swept over the freshly brewed coffee on the counter, its rich aroma wafting through the air.
He didn't say anything, but simply picked up the cup and took a sip.
"It's alright," he commented casually, putting down his cup.
Yan Shuang's lips curled up slightly, then she quickly pursed them, feigning composure as she said, "Then... we can have Aunt Zhou cook it this way from now on."
Shangqiu Zhu hummed in agreement and turned to walk out.
He had just finished showering and was drying his hair with a towel when there was a gentle knock on the door.
"President Shang, may I... come in?" Yan Shuang's voice came from outside the door, tinged with a hint of probing.
He frowned, intending to refuse, but the words that came out were: "Come in."
The door was pushed open, and Yan Shuang walked in cautiously.
He stood in front of the full-length mirror, slowly and methodically fastening his cufflinks.
Yan Shuang's reflection appeared in the mirror, sitting to the side, looking hesitant as if she wanted to say something.
She clasped her hands together in front of her, glancing at him every now and then.
She was crying like an abandoned cat last night.
“Yan Shuang,” he suddenly spoke.
"Yes, sir!" She immediately looked up, like a soldier ready to be deployed at any moment.
Shangqiu Zhu pulled a dark blue tie with subtle patterns from the drawer and casually handed it to her: "Tie this."
Yan Shuang was stunned.
She did learn how to tie a tie specifically for her secretarial work, but Shangqiu Zhu always took care of it herself and never let her touch it.
This is the first time.
"You don't?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, I will." She quickly took the tie.
Shangqiu Zhu watched her flustered appearance with a calm demeanor, deliberately not bowing her head to cooperate, and maintaining her upright posture.
Yan Shuang had to stand on tiptoe to wrap the tie around his neck.
She had learned the Windsor knot and the half Windsor knot, but at this moment her mind was blank, and she could not even tie the simplest four-in-hand knot properly.
She forced herself to concentrate.
She crossed her tie and ran her fingers through the silk fabric.
Shangqiu Zhu looked down at her.
She bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushed a light pink, and even her earlobes were a translucent red.
Yan Shuang finally finished tying her tie and was about to step back to check if the bow tie was straight.
I looked up and was met with a pair of deep, dark eyes.
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