Half an hour later, Zhang Jingdong hugged Chu Yi contentedly as they left the kitchen.
Back at the dining table, Chu Yi served Zhang Jingdong a bowl of chicken soup.
"I haven’t really made this before, taste it and see how it is? Don’t lie to me, if it doesn’t taste good, I’ll work on improving it."
Zhang Jingdong took it, tasted a sip, savored it carefully, then said, "Mmm, your cooking skills are genuinely impressive!"
Seeing his sincere reaction, Chu Yi’s face immediately lit up with joy.
At this moment, her phone on the living room coffee table suddenly rang.
Zhang Jingdong’s heart moved: "Could it be President Jiang?"
Chu Yi, discerning his implication, walked over to the coffee table and glanced at her phone.
Zhang Jingdong immediately chuckled: "Then answer it quickly!"
Chu Yi promptly did as told and picked up the call: "Hello..."
"La... oh no, did you wake up?"
"Do you need something?"
"I went home yesterday. Mom made your favorite mung bean cake to bring to you. I’ll drop it off on my way to work later, but don’t worry, I’ll leave it at your door and go, I won’t bother you at all."
"I didn’t come back with you this time, what did you tell mom?"
"I told mom you’re preparing for the National Supervision Certificate exam. Haven’t you been preparing all along? There’s just over a month left until the exam, how’s your preparation?"
"I don’t want to take the exam anymore."
"I don’t want to work anymore."
"You don’t want to work anymore!? Then... what do you want to do?"
"I want to open a coffee shop."
"A coffee shop? Why did you suddenly think of opening a coffee shop?"
"No reason, it just occurred to me. Work is uninspiring, and even going hiking doesn’t feel engaging anymore, so I want to do something interesting."
"I love drinking coffee and know how to make it. When I open a coffee shop, if there are customers, I’ll make coffee for them; if not, I’ll drink it myself. That seems like a fun idea to me."
"But... you’ve never done business before, and while running a coffee shop sounds good, starting it up requires a significant investment."
"Plus, you... you don’t like toil and aren’t fond of socializing, it will definitely be difficult, and if it loses money..."
Chu Yi immediately became anxious: "Even if I lose money, it’s my own, it has nothing to do with you."
"Honey, that’s not what I mean, I... I’m just worried about you..."
"You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll do what I want to do, and even if it doesn’t succeed, I’m willing to take any consequences,"
"Alright, I’m off for my morning exercise, no more chatting!"
Before Jiang Feng could finish, Chu Yi hung up the phone.
Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door from outside.
"I’ve left the things outside for you!"
Chu Yi glanced at Zhang Jingdong, who nodded, and then she responded: "Got it."
Jiang Feng pleaded almost desperately: "I was wrong, I won’t say anything more, you do whatever you want, whether you need money or need me to do anything, just say the word, I absolutely won’t make a fuss!"
"Just stop, I don’t need your help. I can do it on my own."
"I was wrong... I really was!"
"Just give me another chance, I promise I won’t ever..."
"Alright, alright... don’t be angry, I’m going, I’m going..."
After tidying up a bit, Zhang Jingdong snuggled with Chu Yi on the balcony lounge chair.
"Do you really want to open a coffee shop?"
Chu Yi paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yeah, I want to find something to do."
"Right, it’s not good for people to always be idle."
As he spoke, Zhang Jingdong picked up his cell phone and called Liu Zongheng.
"Hello, boss... ugh, who is this at this hour?... shut up..."
Hearing a female voice, Zhang Jingdong immediately said: "Are you in the middle of your morning exercise? Are ten minutes enough?"
"No need, no need... boss, whatever orders you have, just tell me!"
"I want to open a coffee shop at Jiangwan Square, can you find me a good place?"
"Shouldn’t be a problem, shall I call you back later?"
Seeing him hang up the phone, Chu Yi quickly said: "Jingdong, you don’t have to help me. Jiangwan Square is incredibly expensive, I’m afraid..."
Zhang Jingdong smiled and shook his head: "Since we’ve decided to open a coffee shop, let’s do it happily, comfortably, and ultimately, make it meaningful."
"My idea is to open a top-notch coffee shop there. You’ll be the boss. When you’re in the mood, you can make a couple of cups of coffee for the customers, and if not, let someone else do it. You can just enjoy the view from the rooftop."
Seeing Chu Yi still somewhat hesitant, Zhang Jingdong tenderly tousled her hair: "I want you to do what you enjoy, but I don’t want you to overexert yourself."
"I don’t want to interfere with your life, but I believe that having me as your man, I have the responsibility to make you happy, to help you achieve whatever you want to do!"
After his last words, Chu Yi was deeply moved and said with emotion: "Jingdong, you really spoil me so much, you’re going to spoil me rotten!"
Zhang Jingdong kissed her cheek: "Who else should I spoil if not my own woman? I want to spoil you to the heavens, so you can never leave me, and you’ll always be by my side!"
Unable to restrain herself, Chu Yi passionately kissed Zhang Jingdong: "Even if you hadn’t said that, I would always be with you. After all, you’re the world’s best teacher!"
Just then, Zhang Jingdong’s phone suddenly rang. Seeing it was Liu Zongheng, he immediately answered: "Hello..."