Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Shen Yuan was very pleased with Ji Xingwang's reaction.

He smiled and said, "What if we set up a table and chairs in the teahouse and get someone to sit there and tell stories? Do you think the customers would love it, Manager?"

Ji Xingwang nodded without hesitation. Wouldn't they love it?

Not only would they love it, but they'd also be left hanging, dying to know what happens next.

Right now, his head was full of images of the cliffside cave during the heavy rainstorm.

He kept thinking about a woman trying to drag an unconscious man into the cave by his legs. No matter how strong she was, could she really manage it?

Then again, maybe she could.

Auntie Sanhua, who roasts tea leaves year-round, has incredibly strong hands. If she had strength like Auntie Sanhua's, she might just be able to drag him to safety.

Thinking this, Ji Xingwang mentally dismissed the idea again.

It was pouring, and the ground was slick. She probably still couldn't save him.

Ji Xingwang's mind was racing with guesses about what happened next, but Shen Yuan wasn't telling.

It was driving him crazy.

Perhaps using this story to attract customers and increase their numbers really could work.

Realizing it was almost time for the appointment with Ji Ping'an, Ji Xingwang could only push down his anticipation for the story's continuation. He led Shen Yuan to wait ahead of time at the entrance of the teahouse.

Ji Ping'an showed up right on time. He was dressed in a well-fitted black officer's uniform, a saber at his hip, and a black gauze hat on his head. All in black, he was very easy to spot.

"Young Master." Ji Xingwang and Fang Zaoshang, who was in the teahouse's main hall, bowed respectfully to Ji Ping'an.

Shen Yuan also used the social skills from his previous life in the entertainment industry. Without thinking, he reached out and patted Ji Ping'an's arm. "Brother Ping'an, long time no see. You've gotten even more handsome."

Ji Xingwang wasn't sure about the exact relationship between Shen Yuan and Ji Ping'an. He watched quietly, assuming the two were very familiar.

He completely forgot about Shen Yuan's outgoing personality.

If you asked who was the most popular and had the most friends in the entertainment industry of his past life, it was undoubtedly Shen Yuan.

He could greet even mere acquaintances with enthusiasm, and before you knew it, they'd actually become friends.

Enter a filming set with Shen Yuan, and you'd come out with a bunch of friends.

Wherever Shen Yuan went, he brought life to the place.

Besides being naturally sociable, there was another point: he seemed not to care about how others treated him.

Right now, Ji Ping'an's expression turned cold, his eyes warning Shen Yuan not to be so chummy.

Shen Yuan acted like it was nothing.

Ji Ping'an couldn't help but take a couple more looks at Shen Yuan. After a few days apart, he'd changed quite a bit.

The first time they met was on Shen Yuan's first day carrying sacks. Ji Ping'an had taken an extra look then too, feeling this person seemed downcast and lifeless.

Meeting again, this person seemed like he had changed completely. The lifelessness was gone, but now he was bursting with energy.

What happened later left an even deeper impression on him.

It also solidified in Ji Ping'an's mind the image of Shen Yuan: messy, filthy, dressed in rags, and skinny as a rail.

Now, Shen Yuan was wearing a new, rough-spun short jacket and pants, his hair neat. Although still thin, he had much more color in his cheeks.

Even like this, you could easily see Shen Yuan was quite good-looking.

Ji Ping'an was clearly annoyed. They had clearly agreed before that he shouldn't act so familiar anymore. Shen Yuan had settled in at the teahouse, and the moment his back was turned, he'd forgotten his promise.

Shen Yuan didn't flinch at Ji Ping'an's cold look. He was very happy to see Ji Ping'an again and very grateful that Ji Ping'an was willing to give him a chance to listen to his ideas.

"Brother Ping'an, let's talk in the private room."

Ji Ping'an's expression was unpleasant, but his body was honest; he didn't move at all.

He could have easily avoided it by just pulling his arm back slightly, but he stood stiffly as if paralyzed, only knowing to glare at Shen Yuan with his big eyes.

Only when Shen Yuan moved closer, more intimately, and pulled him by the arm towards the private room on the second floor, did he lower his head and whisper with a dark face, "Do you not remember what was said? Why are you still acting so familiar with me?"

That's what he said, but Ji Ping'an made no move to push Shen Yuan away, allowing himself to be pulled upstairs.

Towards people he didn't dislike, Shen Yuan always kept the conversation going.

He offered a symbolic defense for himself. "I do remember what was said. Acting familiar isn't like this, so I'm not acting familiar right now."

"Then what is this if not acting familiar?" Ji Ping'an raised his arm slightly, indicating the arm Shen Yuan was pulling.

Shen Yuan shook his head, candidly saying, "This is treating Brother Ping'an as a friend, not acting familiar. I think Brother Ping'an, you've been very good to me. I just can't help but want to be close."

Ji Ping'an froze.

He had been so harsh, so irritable with Shen Yuan, and yet Shen Yuan still thought he was good?

Was this kid stupid, mistaking bad treatment for good?

For the latter half of the walk, Ji Ping'an didn't say a word. He just leaned slightly, somewhat awkwardly, in Shen Yuan's direction.

Ji Xingwang, following behind, watched the two ahead with their heads practically together. He felt extremely relieved that he hadn't done anything bad to Shen Yuan before. He never expected that the young master, who always disliked people getting close and avoided making friends, would have such a close friend.

And this person wasn't even from a scholar-official family, just an ordinary person.

But Shen Yuan really was likable. Even the teahouse customers liked him.

Sitting down in the private room, Ji Xingwang poured tea for the two of them. Shen Yuan jumped right in and explained his ideas to Ji Ping'an.

He repeated what he had said earlier to Ji Xingwang. Sure enough, Ji Ping'an also frowned with a similarly puzzled look.

But he didn't refute Shen Yuan. He just said, "Even if the teahouse is sold, I will arrange another job for you, a better one. You don't need to worry about your livelihood afterward."

So, this crazy money-making scheme... you should just drop it.

However, that last sentence, the one he most wanted to say, Ji Ping'an didn't actually voice.

For some reason, he was afraid saying it would upset Shen Yuan.

How strange. What did it matter to him if Shen Yuan was upset?

Ji Pingan was battling with his own thoughts, which made Ji Xingwang, standing nearby, extremely anxious.

He looked at Shen Yuan pleadingly, fearing that Shen Yuan would really nod in agreement.

Of course, Shen Yuan couldn’t agree—he was gearing up for something big!

“Tell you what, Brother Ping’an, let me give you a sample.”

Fifteen minutes later, Ji Xingwang promptly handed Shen Yuan a cup of cool tea to soothe his throat.

Ji Pingan pressed him anxiously, “And then? Was the person saved?”

Seeing Ji Pingan’s reaction, Ji Xingwang breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Yuan gave the same response as before, “The rest will be told during the official performance.”

Ji Pingan was speechless. “!!!”

“That’s where you stop?”

Shen Yuan smiled, “So, Brother Ping’an, what do you say? Should we go for it?”

Getting back to the matter at hand, Ji Pingan composed himself.

Although this story only had a beginning, it truly piqued one's curiosity about what would follow.

However, just this by itself wouldn’t attract too many people.

At the very least, it wouldn’t bring a major turnaround to the teahouse’s business, though it might give it a slight boost.

Seeing Shen Yuan looking at him hopefully, Ji Pingan couldn’t help but massage his temples.

There were many shops to sell this time; removing the teahouse from the list and replacing it with another shop that was doing just as poorly would work.

He didn’t expect Shen Yuan’s method to make much money—his only request was, “Quit giving me that look in the future.”

Shen Yuan was puzzled, “What look?”

Ji Pingan frowned, somewhat irritated, “Never mind, you wouldn’t get it. The teahouse won’t be sold for now—have at it.”

If he tried and tasted the bitterness of failure, selling it later wouldn’t be too late.

With Ji Pingan’s words, Shen Yuan’s face lit up, and he threw his arms around him, “Brother Ping’an! I knew you were a good person!”

Taken by surprise, Ji Pingan was hugged tightly. Sitting in his chair, he went rigid, unable to understand how a grown man like Shen Yuan could still be so childish.

Even children wouldn’t jump on someone this way. Since he was five, he hadn’t even held his nanny’s hand, let alone thrown himself at someone and hugged them.

“Let go of me now,” Ji Pingan said, his body tense and his tone serious.

Shen Yuan let go with a laugh—he was truly overjoyed!

Ji Pingan shrugged, uncomfortable. Seeing Shen Yuan still grinning at him nonstop, he couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Are you really that happy?”

It was just agreeing to a trial run with the teahouse—was it worth being this happy? Anyone unaware would think he’d been given a mountain of gold.

Shen Yuan nodded, “Of course I’m happy! Brother Ping’an, just wait and see—I’ll turn the teahouse into a goldmine!”

Ji Pingan still had to sell shops and didn’t have time to stay longer. He stood up, shot Shen Yuan a sidelong glance, and said, “Let’s be clear first: if you don’t make money, don’t cry in front of me. When the time comes, I’ll arrange another job for you—and no backtalk.”

Shen Yuan truly hadn’t expected Ji Pingan to have his back like this, planning an alternative path for him even if things went wrong.

He spread his arms and hugged him again, exclaiming, “Brother Ping’an, you’re such a good person! I really like you!”

First time’s chance, second time’s a pattern. Ji Pingan reflected on why, as a yamen officer, he hadn’t been able to avoid Shen Yuan even once since meeting him.

With such poor reflexes, it seemed he really wasn’t cut out for this line of work.

Ji Pingan’s face was wooden, and so was his body.

Shen Yuan let go quickly, and Ji Pingan left even faster. Although he appeared unwilling to talk to Shen Yuan and wanted to keep his distance, before leaving, he still instructed Ji Xingwang to contact his personal servant if anything happened.

After Ji Pingan left, Shen Yuan discussed with Ji Xingwang exactly how to proceed.

That morning, Ji Xingwang’s nerves had been frayed. Now, whatever Shen Yuan said, Ji Xingwang followed without question.

He had never seen the young master be so close to anyone before, but upon careful thought, it seemed no one had ever been close to the young master either.

Regardless, he knew the young master and Shen Yuan were truly good friends, and everything regarding the teahouse was for Shen Yuan’s sake. This was Ji Xingwang’s lifeline, and he didn’t dare treat it carelessly.

When Shen Yuan suggested finding someone literate to record the story and compile it into a book, Ji Xingwang didn’t dismiss it as Shen Yuan being overly enthusiastic.

But finding such a person was truly difficult.

Those with literary talent were all people of status. Even if the Ji family could afford to hire them, it would cost a considerable amount.

Since the Family Head wanted to sell the teahouse anyway, he certainly wouldn’t be willing to spend that much money.

Ji Xingwang racked his brains until they felt dry, but still couldn’t think of a candidate. They needed to settle this quickly and start telling the story as soon as possible. After much deliberation, he tentatively asked Shen Yuan, “What about someone with no literary talent, who can only write but doesn’t recognize some characters—would that work?”

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