Chapter 52: The weather

Two bodyguards stepped forward, and only then did the store manager arrive late.

After receiving the message, the store manager rushed over immediately; the first thing he noticed upon entering the store was Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan beside him.

But looking at the situation, he was still too late.

He broke out in a cold sweat, bowed low and said, "Young Master Yu, Young Master Gu, it's my mismanagement here! I'll throw that person out right away!"

Yu Ci had a band-aid on his face, wore a white short-sleeve shirt and black long pants, and was slender.

Hearing that, a rare hint of impatience appeared on his delicate face.

He looked at An Sheng, his expression gaining a touch of disgust.

The An family really has all kinds of people.

Yu Ci turned his head, his voice hoarse: "Get him to stay far away."

Gu Xingnan beside him naturally understood why he was so angry—An Sheng was Yu Cheng's little lackey.

"All right, all right, Young Master Yu! I'll make him scram right away!"

Afterwards, the store manager looked at the server-clad Xia Shi and said, "Miss Xia, you were frightened."

A week earlier, Xia Shi had suddenly turned up at his little shop, saying she wanted to see how the milk tea and coffee were made.

Seeing her, the store manager jokingly told her to work a few days as a staff member, since they happened to be hiring.

He hadn't expected Xia Shi to agree!

At that time the store manager didn't know Xia Shi's identity; it was only the next day, when a call said she was the eldest daughter of the Xia family, that he went pale with fright.

Afterward, whenever he had time he'd drop by the shop to check on things, worried something might happen to Xia Shi.

Just before An Sheng arrived, the store manager was still in the store; as soon as he stepped out the door, An Sheng stepped in.

So he was late.

Lin Ning heard this, lifted the leg that was stepping on An Sheng's hand, calmly withdrew his gaze from An Sheng, and turned it to Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan.

Had Yu Ci finished school?

Youbao had come out as well.

But how was he still injured?

And Gu Xingnan beside him also had a slightly reddened corner of his mouth.

Who in C Shi would dare to hurt them?

An Sheng's face went white: "Young Master Yu, Young Master Yu… I…"

"Make him kneel and apologize to the little lady." Lin Ning didn't let An Sheng finish, a sly smile appearing on his face as he spoke.

Seeing Yu Ci there, An Sheng realized Xia Shi's identity, and without hesitation rose to kneel before her, knocking his head several times.

"Miss Xia, please forgive me with your great magnanimity! It was my petty eyes that looked down on people—I accidentally bumped into Miss Xia."

After speaking, An Sheng didn't wait for Xia Shi's reply; he turned his head to Yu Ci beside him, still kneeling, and knocked his head a few times as well.

"Young Master Yu… I made too much commotion, accidentally disturbed you—please don't hold it against me… I'll leave now, not bothering you any further."

Song Ze yi and Song Ze'er were now watching this drama unfold before them.

Song Ze yi and Song Ze'er are a pair of twins.

They both have buzz cuts, mixed-blood cold faces, dress low-key in black casual wear, are muscular, exude a fierce aura, and people around them unconsciously glance their way.

Seeing the two, the store manager startled: "How did Mu Xin's personal bodyguards, Song Ze yi and Song Ze'er, get here?"

These two bodyguards, the store manager had seen them before at a Y Guo banquet while traveling abroad, and had paid extra attention to them!

After all, although Mu Xin is in Y Guo, the Mu family's roots are in C Shi.

With these two bodyguards present, it means that the young master of the Mu family, Mu Xin, who should be in Y Guo, has returned to China—and is nearby!

The store manager wanted to cry but had no tears.

He was just an ordinary rich second‑generation with a little money and a few acquaintances.

A few years ago, after graduating high school and bored, he opened a rundown shop; he never expected it to become a hit in C Shi, with many young masters and misses from West City coming by, though rarely anything happened.

Today was like going out without checking the almanac—first, Xia Shi graced the little shop with her presence!

Then came the An family's illegitimate son.

Next up were Yu Ci and Gu Xingnan!

Then he even flushed out the young master of the Mu family!

And there's also Lin Ning beside him, whose status seems anything but ordinary.

Can't afford to provoke them, can't afford to provoke them—none of them can be provoked!

The store manager prayed, hoping these young masters and misses would never utter, "The weather's turned cool—this little shop ought to close down!"

Thinking of that, the store manager nervously patted his face, then hurriedly ordered someone to throw An Sheng out and tell the onlookers to disperse.

Only then did he approach Song Ze yi and Song Ze'er and ask, "Is the young master of the Mu family here?"

"He's over there, he finds it noisy." Song Ze yi pointed to the sofa blocked by the wall ahead and said.

Although it had already been confirmed…

But hearing that, the store manager wore another expression.

He actually came back to the country.

Hiss, how come there's not a whisper of wind outside?

The store manager said respectfully, "All right, all right! I won't disturb the young master!"

After the two bodyguards, Song Ze yi and Song Ze'er, left, the store manager hurried over to Xia Shi's side to make amends.

Xia Shi's expression didn't change.

Gu Xingnan and Yu Ci were just passing by the milk tea shop.

Seeing the matter settled, Gu Xingnan turned his head and said, "A Ci, let's head back first."

Yu Ci responded with a sound, then waved at Lin Ning, "Ningning, I'm leaving first."

However, her expression remained sunk; she still seemed unhappy.

Gu Xingnan also politely nodded at Lin Ning; his face showed no particular emotion.

Lin Ning waved her hand, and saw Yu Ci pull Gu Xingnan away without hesitation.

Afterwards, waiting for the manager to get busy, Xia Shi also lost interest in work.

She ordered two cups of milk tea, and pulled Lin Ning to sit on the nearby sofa.

Xia Shi stared at Lin Ning with her pure, harmless big eyes, "Miss, you're so cool! Can I add you on WeChat?"

Lin Ning didn't refuse; the two sat face to face and quickly became friends.

Xia Shi began to introduce herself, her voice clear: "Hello, miss, I'm Xia Shi—Xia as in summer, Shi as in 'picking up lost property and not keeping it.'"

"What a nice name."

Lin Ning saw Xia Shi's admiring gaze, smiled slightly, and said, "Hello, Xia Shi younger sister, I'm Lin Ning—Lin as in double wood, Ning as in three dots water."

Xia Shi let out a wow, her voice sweetly asking, "Lin older sister, are you a high school student?"

"Yes." Lin Ning answered with a smile.

Xia Shi thought back to when Lin Ning had just heard An Sheng say he was from the An family, his calm demeanor indicating his identity was not ordinary.

She thought of the Lin family, ranked second among West City's aristocratic clans, which happened to have a young miss—though she had never seen her.

Besides, Young Master Yu had just called her!

So, she boldly asked, "Lin older sister, are you the Lin family's young miss?"

Her words were full of confidence, as if she were certain her guess was correct.

Lin Ning looked at Xia Shi in surprise, "You figured it out that quickly?"

She lifted a smile on her face, not thinking of lying, and lightly laughed, "Xia younger sister, you're really smart."

At that moment, the two cups of milk tea Xia Shi had ordered arrived; she handed one to Lin Ning, "Lin older sister, here."

"Thank you, Xia younger sister."

Lin Ning finished speaking, generously took the milk tea, inserted the straw, took a light sip—it was sweet and delicious.

It was the flavor this kind of young girl likes.

Hehehehe.

Xia Shi looked at her with sparkling eyes, let out a wow, and said, "I was saying! Lin older sister's aura is exactly what a wealthy young lady should have!"

"Right… Lin older sister, you study at Nan Feng?" Xia Shi's mouth curled into a smile; although phrased as a question, she was certain, smiling at Lin Ning as she awaited her reply.

Xia Shi was in ninth grade, while her brother studied at Lan Lin; she therefore joined the Lan Lin campus network, sometimes dropping by to browse.

She had never seen Lin Ning at Lan Lin; the scions of wealthy families in C City either study abroad or attend Lan Lin or Nan Feng.

Seeing Lin Ning's demeanor, she didn't seem like someone who had just returned from abroad.

Lin Ning didn't think it was a bother for such a cute girl like Xia Shi to ask more, and answered frankly, "Yes."

Xia Shi nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly seemed to recall something, her eyes sparkling as she stared at her, "Right! Lin older sister, you were just so cool! That An Sheng was so scared by you he couldn't even speak."

"No big deal, I just happened to be here; that kind of person only bullies the weak and fears the strong."