Secretly Stirring Up Trouble

Shen Fangli paused midway through pouring the tea.

The heavily made-up woman across from her said disdainfully,

"Fangli, why are you so clumsy? You can't even pour tea properly. How will you ever get married?"

Shen Fangli frowned.

She had never had any dealings with this second aunt of hers.

Her aunt had suddenly invited their family out for a meal today. If her parents had not yet arrived, she would not have been left here alone to face her second aunt.

She set the teapot down heavily on the table.

It made a dull thud.

"Then don't drink it."

Shen Fangli's second aunt was no longer young.

With such heavy makeup caked on her face, not only did it fail to conceal her wrinkles,

it instead made her look even older.

When she scrunched up her face, Shen Fangli nearly thought the powder on it would fall straight into the teacup.

Better not drink that tea at all.

"How can you speak to an elder like that?" "When your mother gets here, I'll have a proper talk with her about your manners."

"I've met so many girls, but never one as rude as you."

Shen Fangli had never been one to suffer in silence.

She replied breezily, "The way Second Aunt puts it, I'd think she was a madam."

Without waiting for her to respond, Shen Fangli stood up on her own. "I'm going to the restroom."

Shen Fangli's second aunt had a mouthful of fury lodged in her chest, unable to rise or fall.

In the end, she could only slam her teacup down on the table.

A server immediately came over. "Ma'am, is there something unsatisfactory about the tea set in the waiting area?"

Shen Fangli's second aunt was just about to make trouble.

When she heard someone behind her—

"Uncle Yan, Auntie."

"Brother Yan, little Xian Jue."

"Fatty Bro!" The moment Yan Xianjue saw him, he enthusiastically went up to greet him.

[Fatty Bro really hasn't slimmed down at all.]

Mother Yan smiled and nodded. "Thank you for the trouble today."

Fatty Bro waved his hand. "No trouble, no trouble." "When my restaurant first opened, Yan Ci even invested a little in it."

"I'll be cooking personally. Uncle and Auntie, feel free to make any requests."

Father Yan said heartily, "Then we won't stand on ceremony."

Yan Xianjue draped an arm around Fatty Bro's shoulders.

He led him inside in a familiar, affectionate manner. "Hey, Fatty Bro, did my second brother reserve the table?"

"The usual spot. I'll take you straight in."

Halfway there, Yan Xianjue suddenly turned back.

He said to the woman still in the waiting area, "Ma'am, every tea set here comes as a complete set."

"If you break even one piece, you'll have to compensate us for the price of the entire set."

"You..." Shen Fangli's second aunt froze, then quickly realized Yan Xianjue was speaking to her.

Fuming, she raised a finger and pointed it at Yan Xianjue.

She opened her mouth, ready to lecture him.

Yan Yi'an casually swept his gaze over her.

"He's right."

Fatty Bro frowned.

Every customer here booked in advance. They were either regulars or acquaintances.

Even first-time customers were usually brought by someone familiar.

This was the first time he had seen this woman.

He asked politely, "Ma'am, where is the person who brought you here?"

"Didn't they tell you the rules of our restaurant?" Shen Fangli's second aunt was stunned.

How would she know? Shen Fangli's mother had made the reservation.

What kind of restaurant had so many rules?

Just then, Shen Fangli returned from the restroom after composing herself.

She saw her second aunt pointing a finger at Yan Xianjue.

Her vision immediately went dark.

She hurried over.

Before she even got close, she heard Yan Xianjue's thoughts.

[I knew it. Shen Fangli looked down on Lin Shi so much—how could she have ended up engaged to him later?]

[This old witch must have been behind it.]

The Yan family all pricked up their little gossip-hungry ears.

If it was someone else's gossip, then they were wide awake.

"Little Xian Jue, take Uncle and Auntie inside first. I'll handle this."

Fatty Bro said awkwardly.

Yan Ci's parents had run into something like this on their first visit to eat here.

He felt terribly embarrassed.

Though the quality of his customers was not something he could control.

Father Yan patted him on the shoulder.

"This isn't your fault either. When you run a business, not every customer is reasonable. That's perfectly normal."

Father Yan did not lower his voice.

Everyone nearby heard him loud and clear.

Shen Fangli's second aunt felt as if everyone around her was sizing her up, whether openly or covertly.

Even the server who had bent down to ask her what was wrong seemed to be looking at her with disdain.

Over the years, she had arranged marriages for quite a few girls into wealthy families.

When had she ever not been flattered and treated with utmost courtesy?

When had she ever been humiliated like this!

For a moment, she even suspected that her foolish younger sister had deliberately chosen this place just to embarrass her.

Otherwise, how could she explain why that couple had still not arrived?

They had sent an utterly ill-mannered high school student to entertain her!

And now that girl was gone too.

Shen Fangli's feelings were complicated.

Logically, she should have stepped forward and helped her second aunt out of the situation.

Aside from not wanting to offend the restaurant owner, it was also basic courtesy toward a guest.

But Yan Xianjue's thoughts had plainly pointed out that her engagement to Lin Shi had been arranged by this second aunt.

And for some reason, her parents had agreed to it as well.

Today, her second aunt had indeed been the one to call her mother first, saying that the sisters had not seen each other in a long time.

She wanted to meet for a meal. Her mother had always been easily persuaded.

She had initially not wanted to agree, but after Second Aunt said a few things over the phone,

her mother had agreed and even deliberately booked such an expensive private restaurant.

So her second aunt was trying to pimp her out?

Once Shen Fangli thought of that, she had no desire at all to step forward and rescue her.

Taking advantage of no one noticing her, she quietly backed away two steps.

"Fatty Bro, go ahead and get busy. Since Second Brother hasn't arrived yet, we can wait for him here."

Fatty Bro hesitated. It was not his first day knowing Yan Xianjue.

The words "watching the show" were written across his left cheek, and "adding fuel to the fire" across his right.

He was truly afraid that the moment he turned around to crack open the steamed crab, Yan Xianjue would tear his restaurant apart too.

But Uncle and Auntie were here, and reliable Brother Yan was here too.

Probably, maybe, surely... nothing would happen, right?

He tried to persuade him. "What's so interesting about standing at the entrance? How about I have a server perform a tea ceremony for you?"

Yan Xianjue:

[Isn't that just fancy water-pouring? What's there to watch? If I want to see it, I can watch it later.]

Father Yan and Mother Yan nodded along. Exactly. They had seen tea ceremonies countless times.

Quite a few businessmen who liked to put on airs enjoyed doing this before discussing business.

Yan Yi'an had only been in power for a few short years, yet he had already seen it who knew how many times.

Tea ceremonies were common; gossip was not.

They instead urged Fatty Bro, "It's fine, Fatty Bro. Go get busy first. When Yan Ci arrives, we'll go in together."

"Fine, then." Fatty Bro said hesitantly.

Then he pointed to the server who had just attended to Shen Fangli's second aunt. "You'll be responsible for this table."

Knowing the owner was helping her out of the situation, the server nodded repeatedly.

She had also been frightened by Shen Fangli's second aunt's manner.

After working here for so long, this was her first time encountering such a customer.

Still especially worried, Fatty Bro turned to leave. Before going, he specifically told Shen Fangli's second aunt, "Ma'am, if you're dissatisfied with our establishment, you may leave directly. But the deposit here is nonrefundable."

[Hiss!]

[When an honest person talks, it's terrifying. How could Shen Fangli's second aunt not explode now?]