Chapter 46 Su Pu's Dog?
The extracted coffee liquid is poured into a pre-prepared freezer container by a pair of clean, slender hands.
In this way, the aroma of the liquid can be further locked in. At the same time, Su Pu took the milk out of the refrigerator and began to test the temperature.
Ouyang, mimicking his gestures, continued his speech: "The milk we've chosen this time is Bingboke, which has a sweet and refreshing taste, as well as a light texture. Please imagine with us the large, fluffy clouds floating above the rose field."
Press the timer, and Su Pu will start frothing the milk.
With superb technique creating a dense and smooth milk foam, Su Pu began to officially prepare and taste the milk for the judges.
The cooled coffee fills two-thirds of the glass, topped with a thick layer of creamy milk foam.
Su Pu's movements were fluid and decisive, his expression focused, already immersed in his own coffee paradise.
His technique is precise, his touch is excellent, and the liquid he pours is always just right—a result of both talent and hard work.
The tasting cup in front of me was quickly prepared, with the milk foam and coffee liquid clearly layered and connected together to form a straight and precise line.
The judges, noticing this detail, all smiled in unison.
Now, the "flower soul" has been born and awaits to be witnessed.
Ouyang announced: "Now that it's late autumn, the soil holds the soul of the flower goddess within, and the drifting white clouds protect her... We want to pay tribute to the autumn that has lasted until now, to the roses in full bloom, and to the soil that nurtured her—"
"Please join us in appreciating the roses at night and the 'soul of flowers' in autumn!"
Ouyang's voice trembled slightly due to nervousness, but this only made it sound more devout, in line with the theme of the work.
The judges put down their evaluation forms, took some coffee, and began to enjoy it.
To be honest, most coffees on the market that are based on floral aromas add dried flowers or flower jam to the drink to further emphasize the floral fragrance.
The young barista in front of me took a risk by choosing to preserve the original aroma of the coffee beans to a great extent, while the sweet taste came from the milk foam on the palate.
Isn't this a tribute to the goddess of flowers?
Your beauty needs no mythical embellishment or the admiration of the world; your beauty should be your true self, just as the charm of coffee should be its true essence.
Rather than those fancy gimmicks added on top of it.
"Um, although I'm not a judge, may I have a drink?"
The question came from the crowd.
From the very first note, Su Pu abruptly looked up at the person sitting out of place in the crowd.
Li Jichuan sat leisurely in his wheelchair, a smile playing on his lips, staring intently at the barista.
Normally, he hates attending public events and hates being watched.
Now, however, he is willing to attract the attention of those around him just to ask for a cup of coffee.
There's no way around it; coffee has a natural appeal to him.
Those who make coffee are even more so.
He couldn't think of any reason not to try, and he felt even more sorry for the time that had slipped away, which he should have enjoyed as soon as the coffee was made.
Flower Soul Coffee.
He's a muse!
A layer of sweat instantly appeared on the tip of the little mute's nose. He didn't seem flustered while making the coffee, but after the coffee was finished and served, he started to feel shy.
Strangely enough, the man in the wheelchair was so handsome that he was mesmerized.
Dressed in a suit and tie, with an outstanding demeanor, he seemed to put the world beneath his shoes.
His smile made Su Pu's heart flutter.
There was just one cup of coffee left over from the tasting session. Su Pu held the cup and walked step by step, bypassing the crowd, toward him.
Li Jichuan took the coffee, and their fingertips touched lightly, conveying each other's warmth.
Their eyes met, and Su Pu quickly looked away, while Li Jichuan stared straight at him, certain that he would blush.
The coffee is incredibly smooth to the taste.
It's like having the world's most precious rose petal between your lips; the milk foam bursts quickly, leaving a sweet and refreshing floral fragrance in your mouth.
Li Jichuan recalled that night, the air was damp and cool, he ran all over the city’s flower shops, and together with Anderson, he carried large bouquets of roses and moved them into the car.
It turns out that all of this was a way of paying homage to the Flower Goddess and the Flower Spirit.
Although Su Pu was moved, she did not confine this feeling to one person projecting kindness onto another, but rather saw the Flower Goddess spreading love throughout the world.
The blooming of every flower is a blessing from the goddess of flowers.
Li Jichuan savored the moment and chuckled softly.
"You certainly know how to use someone else's flower to curry favor!" the man whispered.
Afterwards, the young barista returned to the work station with a bright red face to thank the audience and judges.
After the competition ended, during the judges' voting period, the contestants had to complete media interviews and take photos, keeping them very busy.
Li Jichuan and Anderson found a quiet corner, took out their laptops, and focused on their work.
Anderson was typing on the keyboard when he suddenly burst out laughing.
Li Jichuan frowned, knowing that this person was not going to let him go.
"If you're busy, go ahead... If you're not busy, go ahead too."
Anderson always had a cold demeanor, but he reserved all his frivolity for his unfortunate old friends.
“No, I want to stay and get to know you better,” he said, looking at Li Jichuan with interest. “How many more surprises do you have that I don’t know about?”
Li Jichuan grabbed the tablet beside him and threw it over, yelling, "Get lost!"
"Excuse me, I'm doing several jobs today, including being your driver."
Anderson calmly caught the "hidden weapon," looking at him with an expression that said, "You're finished, you've fallen in love."
Li Jichuan ignored him and simply buried his head in his work, focusing even more intently.
Soon, an announcement came from the main stage that the award for best barista would be revealed.
Anderson immediately stood up, pushed Li Jichuan's wheelchair, and moved him directly to the front row, away from the stage.
All the contestants came to the stage, and the organizers began to announce the awards.
Li Jichuan sat there, his mouth dry, and loosened his tie several times, feeling that his clothes today were strange.
They all seemed much smaller, making it hard for him to breathe.
He regretted it a little. To hell with fairness! He should have acted like the biggest sponsor and given Su Pu a trophy instead.
Otherwise, how could we do justice to the little mute boy's tireless practice day and night, and his increasingly thin body?
Su Pu works so hard, God and the Goddess of Flowers should be on his side, giving him favor and love...
Li Jichuan held his breath and waited silently—
Finally, Su Pu and Ouyang's names rang out throughout the venue. The organizer handed the certificate to Ouyang, then turned around, took the runner-up trophy, and handed it to Su Pu.
"Hua Hun won first place unanimously, chosen by the judges. However, a barista's skill is not only reflected in the technique of making coffee, but also in the interaction and communication between the barista and the customer. In this aspect, this barista is still lacking..."
The "Best Barista" award is ultimately a competition of comprehensive abilities, and Su Pu accepted the trophy with an expression of disbelief.
Aside from giving a speech, he never imagined he could achieve such a high ranking and receive so much recognition!
The second prize was 30,000 yuan, and Su Pu shared half of it with Ouyang.
Ouyang Cheng retreated in fear and waved his hand in refusal.
“I can’t take that much. I was only responsible for a very small part. Besides, you wrote all my speeches. I just read them aloud. This is really too much, Brother Su…”
Su Pu frowned, her stubbornness kicking in, and insisted on shoving herself into his arms.
[For Grandma!]
Ouyang's grandmother was in poor health and raised him all by herself, which was no easy feat. Therefore, even though Ouyang was receiving a national scholarship, he still persevered in working part-time and regularly sent money to his grandmother every month.
The grandfather and grandson are both working hard for each other, which is the kind of family affection that Su Pu longs for and yearns for.
“I don’t need this much milk either…” Ouyang’s movements softened.
Seeing this, Su Pu shoved the envelope into his arms.
"Keep this; I have things to do."
Ouyang clutched the money, his palms burning hot. "Is there anything else you need?"
The game is over...
Su Pu smiled, waved to him, and went to find her husband.
[Wait for me here, I'm going out to buy something, I'll be right back.] He typed to Li Jichuan.
Li Jichuan was already planning to head home when he saw the message and paused, "What do you want to buy? Does it cost money?"
Su Pu waved his hand.
No, no.
Wait here, don't go, wait for me!
The little mute boy ran away quickly, leaving Li Jichuan with only his back view.
After a long while, he felt helpless and confused. He was happy even when the little mute boy was there for a short time.
The little mute boy told him to wait, and he was happy about it.
Li Jichuan made a phone call to Anderson, who was moving the car outside.
"Come back first, why aren't you leaving now?"
There was a two-second silence on Anderson's end. "Why? If I go back, I won't have a parking space left."
“Su Pu told me to wait for him, so I’m not leaving.”
Li Jichuan hung up the phone, took out his laptop again, and suddenly felt his neck tighten again.
He was distracted, and an inopportune, strange thought popped into his head.
Do you think those dogs tied up at the supermarket entrance by their owners feel the same way he does?
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