Li Yundong and the others were still immersed in the triumphant and lively opening celebration, yet they had no idea that what awaited them soon was a scene where customers were as rare as phoenix feathers.
Although some officials from Tiannan City trickled in intermittently to offer congratulations, these people were not actual patrons; they offered gifts, exchanged pleasantries, and then promptly departed.
Li Yundong’s brow furrowed deeply. “What is going on? Why are there no customers?” He turned to Ziyuan, asking, “Did something happen?”
Ziyuan pondered for a moment, then shook her head. “We don’t know yet.”
Li Yundong looked toward Zhou Qin. “Miss Zhou, do you know anything?”
Zhou Qin shook her head, trying to console him. “Master, don’t worry. Business waits for no man, but there’s no need to rush this moment.”
Li Yundong chuckled. “What you say isn’t wrong, but to have no customers at all? Many notable figures from all walks of life showed up for the opening, yet not a single paying customer—what kind of situation is this?”
Liu Fei’er suddenly raised her hand and announced loudly, “Who says there are no customers? Am I not a person? Waiter, quickly bring the tea!”
Li Yundong turned, smiling at Su Chan. “She’s calling you, go serve the tea quickly.”
Su Chan replied obediently, gracefully approaching Cao Kefei’s table. With a charming, bright smile, she asked, “Three older sisters, what kind of tea would you like?”
Liu Fei’er, wanting to tease Li Yundong, deliberately put on a stern face. “You’re not the waiter; send the waiter to pour the tea.”
Su Chan blinked, glanced back at Li Yundong, and then looked at Liu Fei’er.
Li Yundong burst out laughing, realizing the girl still held a grudge. He huffed, “There is no waiter here!”
Under the table, Cao Kefei secretly kicked Liu Fei’er and whispered with a low laugh, “Hey, stop causing trouble.”
Liu Fei’er pretended not to notice, still holding her chin high with an air of self-possession, and drawled, “Ah, no one here knows why business is slow except for me. It’s quite embarrassing, really.”
Hearing this, Li Yundong immediately scurried over to Liu Fei’er, bowing and scraping with an ingratiating smile. “Esteemed guest, your waiter is here. What can I get for you?”
Everyone burst into laughter. Ruan Hongling laughed and scolded him, “You’re the shop manager, and you’re this shameless!”
Li Yundong turned, adopting a fierce look. “What nonsense are you spouting? I’m working hard to earn money for this bunch of spendthrifts!” He then turned back, plastering a beaming smile on his face. “Esteemed guest, please ignore this person. What would you care to drink? I’ll prepare it right away for you.”
Liu Fei’er struggled to suppress her laughter. After thinking, she said, “I’ll have Oolong tea!”
Li Yundong laughed, saying with a touch of pride, “We have Da Hong Pao, Tie Luo Han, Bai Jiguan, and Wuyi Rougui—these are all Oolong teas. Which one do you prefer?”
Liu Fei’er opened her mouth, exclaiming in surprise, “You actually have Wuyi Da Hong Pao here? That’s a fine tea!”
Li Yundong glanced at Ziyuan and smiled, “Ziyuan is the one who acquired these; this is all her contribution. I dare not take the credit.”
Liu Fei’er’s eyes darted around. She said seriously, “Very well, then I’ll have… the kind of Oolong tea they have downtown!”
Li Yundong’s smile froze. He thought to himself: This girl is clearly messing with me!
Cao Kefei, standing nearby, laughed to smooth things over. “Alright, stop fooling around, just tell him what you want!”
Yin Mengfan also smiled. “Indeed, an empty till on the first day is not a good omen.”
Liu Fei’er chuckled and said, “Want to know why no one is coming?”
Li Yundong smiled. “Star, don’t keep us in suspense!”
Liu Fei’er giggled, “Because you just said with your crow’s mouth that there were no customers, and now it’s come true!”
Su Chan and the others immediately roared with laughter. Li Yundong was caught between laughter and tears. “Am I really that much of a jinx?”
Su Chan teased, “Yundong, you shouldn’t have called me a jinx; you ended up being one yourself, didn’t you?” The other little foxes chimed in with agreement: “Exactly, exactly!”
Li Yundong felt a headache coming on from their teasing. Just as he was forcing a wry smile, he heard an old woman’s voice from the doorway: “Oh, so this is the place. Have people already left? Little miracle doctor, I’m afraid I’m late. My apologies, my apologies!”
Li Yundong turned to look and saw an elderly woman standing at the entrance, dressed in a blue padded jacket with white lining and wearing black cloth shoes with layered soles. She looked spry, her face beaming, carrying a gift basket of fruit. It was none other than Old Madam Xu, whose chronic illness Li Yundong had previously cured, and who had helped him secure this storefront.
Li Yundong immediately smiled. “Oh, it’s Old Madam Xu! Please, come in, come in!”
Zhou Qin also smiled and ushered Old Madam Xu into the teahouse. “Grandma Xu, why are you arriving in the afternoon?”
Old Madam Xu laughed. “Not at all. I came this morning, but when I saw so many official cars parked here—and rather high-ranking officials at that—I, a commoner, didn’t dare interfere, so I went back. I figured I’d come back in the afternoon.”
As she spoke, Old Madam Xu smiled at Li Yundong. “Little miracle doctor, you truly hide your light well. I never realized you were such an influential figure; even the Provincial Party Secretary’s car showed up. Impressive, very impressive!”
Li Yundong smiled and pointed to Zhou Qin. “That’s all thanks to her influence. I certainly don’t have the power to summon such a great dignitary.”
Old Madam Xu took Zhou Qin’s hand and chuckled. “I knew you weren’t an ordinary girl. You must be the daughter of a prominent family; your mannerisms are different from ordinary people. It seems I was right after all, hehe.”
Zhou Qin smiled and gently took Old Madam Xu’s arm, inviting her to sit. “Grandma Xu, please sit down. What tea would you like?”
Old Madam Xu waved her hand and smiled. “I won’t sit; I have to rush off to watch an opera soon.”
Li Yundong pressed, “Old Madam Xu, now that you’re here, please have a couple of cups. At least let me get some business started today!” As he spoke, those around him let out soft chuckles.
Old Madam Xu looked puzzled. “What’s wrong? Are there no customers for tea?”
Li Yundong gave a wry smile. “Yes, we don’t know why.”
Old Madam Xu slapped her thigh and laughed heartily. “You don’t know why? Hah, your establishment is too grand, too high-class! And with so many high-ranking officials and dignitaries here this morning, what ordinary person would dare step inside? Besides…”
Old Madam Xu pointed from Zhou Qin to Su Chan, then to Ziyuan, and finally landed her gaze on Liu Fei’er and Feng Na and the others. She said with a smile, “Look around you—is there a single person here who isn’t a great beauty? Though your teahouse is small, it’s filled with too many immortals. How would ordinary folk dare come in for tea?”
Li Yundong looked utterly bewildered and said, “Isn’t it the age of the beauty effect and the eyeball economy these days? How can having too many beauties be a bad thing?”
Old Madam Xu laughed so hard her mouth couldn’t close. “But you have far too many! Let me count—one, two, three… Wow, good heavens! Eighteen stunning, breathtakingly beautiful women! With so many beauties, wouldn’t an ordinary man’s legs tremble the moment he walked in? They’d think: ‘My lord, so many beauties! How much does a cup of tea cost in this place? I can’t afford it, definitely can’t afford it!’”
Old Madam Xu’s single sentence dispelled all of Li Yundong’s doubts. He threw his head back and laughed heartily, clapping his hands. “Truly, the bystander sees things more clearly than the person involved!”
Li Yundong turned to Ziyuan, smiling. “Even you, the living goddess, didn’t anticipate this outcome, did you?”
Ziyuan pursed her lips and smiled. “Indeed, the older the ginger, the spicier it is!”
Old Madam Xu smiled. “I won’t stay! Little miracle doctor, this old woman wishes you boundless wealth and booming business. I’ll bring some friends for tea another day, and you must give me a discount!”
Li Yundong smiled broadly. “Absolutely, definitely!”
Li Yundong watched Old Madam Xu leave with a smile. He turned, gave it some thought, and waved his hand dismissively. “Forget it; we won’t bother today. The opening ceremony was lively enough. We can’t expect to make a fortune on the very first day, right? Let’s go, everyone, we’re wrapping up for the day!”
Liu Fei’er whispered to Cao Kefei, “Is there anyone in the world who runs a business like that? Closing up shop in the afternoon?”
Cao Kefei also laughed. “Is there anyone in the world like you, actress, who disappears mid-performance?”
Liu Fei’er pouted. “Sister Cao, are you helping me or him?”
Yin Mengfan, who hadn’t spoken much until now, suddenly chuckled. “Of course, she prioritizes romance over friendship! Didn’t you notice that since she arrived, she barely talks to me, only staring at her dream man?”
Cao Kefei’s cheeks flushed red. She shot both of them a playful glare of annoyance. “Hey, what are you two saying? Say one more word and I’ll turn hostile!”
Yin Mengfan picked up her small bag and smiled. “I’ve sat with you all day. That’s enough for me; I’m heading out!”
She gracefully rose and went to Zhou Qin’s side, smiling. “Zhou Qin, I’m leaving first. Call me if you have time later; I’m always available.”
Zhou Qin smiled faintly and said to Li Yundong, “Master, I’ll see her out.”
Li Yundong nodded, smiling. “Yes, you should see her out. Director Yin set a wonderful precedent for us today.”
Yin Mengfan’s heart stirred upon hearing this. She seized the opportunity, smiling widely. “Since you say that, I’ll ask Young Master Li for a favor another day. You can’t refuse!”
Li Yundong noticed she had started calling him Young Master Li—the day’s spectacle had clearly had a profound impact on her. He secretly marveled at the power of status and influence, then smiled. “Whatever help you need, just ask.”
Yin Mengfan smiled. “It’s a deal then!” With that, she left with Zhou Qin.
Cao Kefei, still in the shop, also stood up, glancing at Li Yundong with a complex expression. She said, “Hey, we’re leaving too. Come have tea another day!”
Li Yundong smiled faintly. “Good. Thank you all for coming to support us today.”
Suddenly, Liu Fei’er laughed. “Sister Cao was actually filming in Hainan; she heard you were opening the shop and immediately flew back!”
Cao Kefei immediately glared at Liu Fei’er, her ears bright red, and shot Li Yundong another indignant look. “Whose fault is it that this scoundrel didn’t tell me the news?”
Li Yundong managed a wry smile. “So, are you rushing back today?”
Liu Fei’er, quick as ever, blurted out, “Nope, we’re staying at the Emperor Hotel tonight. Want to come over and play? Sister Cao misses you!”
Cao Kefei frantically covered her mouth, hissing under her breath, “Will you die if you don’t talk!” She then dragged Liu Fei’er toward the exit, not daring to look at Li Yundong again. Li Yundong noticed that Cao Kefei’s entire neck was flushed deep red.
Liu Fei’er struggled while turning back, playfully shouting, “Hey, Immortal Li, come visit!”
Li Yundong watched them leave, caught between tears and laughter. When he turned back, he saw Su Chan looking at him with suspicious eyes, her pupils darting around. The others also wore ambiguous expressions.
Li Yundong frowned, annoyed. “Why are you all looking at me? I’m innocent!”
Ruan Hongling drew out her words, saying meaningfully, “Oh! You’re innocent! Hmm, I believe you were innocent once!”
Li Yundong roared, “What do you mean ‘were innocent once’? I’m always innocent!”
Li Yundong turned to the little foxes. “Hey, say something fair!”
The little foxes immediately responded, “Sect Leader, we believe you are innocent, completely innocent!”
Li Yundong looked at them with a strange expression. “Why do I feel like you’re saying the opposite?”
Ruan Hongling burst out laughing and spoke in a sarcastic tone, “You’re just guilty conscience talking!”
Li Yundong felt himself on the verge of a breakdown. Suddenly, Su Chan happily looped her arm through his, saying sweetly and coquettishly, “Yundong, I believe you are innocent!”
Li Yundong’s heart warmed instantly. He smiled. “My little girl is the best! Hmph, little girl, tonight I’m taking you out for the best food and drink. I’m not taking the others out to play!” With that, he wrapped an arm around the young girl and strode out the door.
Ruan Hongling froze, then quickly called out, “Hey! What about the shop?”
Li Yundong didn’t turn back. “You all figure it out!”
Ruan Hongling stamped her foot. “Ugh, this man is infuriating! Such a hands-off manager! Sister Ziyuan, what should we do?”
Ziyuan smiled, turned around, and sauntered out the door. “We’ll figure it out!”
Ruan Hongling was stunned. She looked at her senior sister, thinking: Did I see that right? When did Sister Ziyuan start acting shamelessly? Could it be proximity corruption?
She quickly chased after them. Only the members of the Fox Zen Sect remained, staring blankly at each other.
Just then, Zhou Qin returned. Seeing Li Yundong’s retreating figure, she asked in confusion, “Where are they going?”
At this point, the little foxes and the three Senior Uncles finally caught on and rushed out. Only Zhou Qin was left, calling out in bewilderment, “Hey, where are you all going? Hello? Are you abandoning the shop?”
Zhou Qin stamped her foot in frustration, quickly locked the door, and hurried after them.
After the group had eaten their fill outside, they finally returned home. Back in his room, Li Yundong meditated, circulating his energy to clear his mind, before beginning to contemplate the events of the day.
What baffled him the most was why the heavenly lightning had struck when he and Zhang Ling were battling in the sky. Logically, with not a cloud in the sky, there shouldn't have been any lightning. Could someone have been coveting the situation nearby?
If so, who could it be? And if this lightning was man-induced, why didn’t it strike immediately? Was it a show of force, meant to make him and Zhang Ling cease their fight?
These questions swirled in his mind, leaving Li Yundong feeling as though he were lost in an endless, misty swamp. He let out a soft sigh.
As he wrestled with these confusing thoughts, he heard a distinct tapping on his door.
Li Yundong said in a deep voice, “Come in.”
With a creak, the door opened, and a tall, alluring woman entered—it was Zhuang Yating, the Third Senior Aunt of the Fox Zen Sect.
Li Yundong was surprised. “Third Senior Aunt, is there something you need?”
Zhuang Yating had a surprisingly stern expression. She said, “Sect Leader, I have something very important to tell you.”
Li Yundong smiled. “Can’t this important matter wait until tomorrow?”
Zhuang Yating shook her head. “Sect Leader, I know who the mole is within our Fox Zen Sect!”
Happy Year of the Rabbit to everyone, haha! U