Chapter 46.3

Another order was successfully signed. Seeing the joyful expressions of the tea factory representatives, Ruan Mingfu couldn’t help but smile too.

In the following hours, more tea was sold, though not in quantities as large as the 4,000 pounds from the morning. Still, sales of one or two thousand pounds were achieved. Ruan Mingfu also encountered an eccentric foreigner who, like a stamp collector, insisted on buying a little of each type of tea.

He ended up with only about thirty to forty pounds in total.

The amount wasn’t much, so they conducted the transaction on-site.

But because there were so many varieties, the exhibition staff still had to help deliver the order outside.

Ruan Mingfu talked until her mouth went dry, and then she gulped down a large cup of tea.

The representatives of the tea factories that successfully sold their products were all beaming at her, showering her with compliments as if they cost nothing.

“Comrade Ruan, you’re really amazing.”

“Exactly, Comrade Ruan is truly incredible.”

“Absolutely, even my old tea from last year got sold…”

Ruan Mingfu was inwardly delighted.

But on the surface, she remained humble. “Oh no, it was a team effort.”

Hearing this, the tea factory representatives only praised her even more.

Ruan Mingfu’s heart blossomed with joy.

After a peak in foot traffic, the tea exhibition began to calm down. Since most of the tea had been sold, everyone was less anxious than they had been at the start.

For instance, the Yunwu Tea Factory representative didn’t even show up that afternoon.

No wonder—4,000 pounds was already the limit for a local tea factory. Any more orders, and they simply couldn’t fulfill them.

Ruan Mingfu understood this.

Before the exhibition even ended, half the tea factory representatives had already left.

Each factory had prepared their stock based on last year’s orders, typically no more than seven or eight hundred pounds. How far would that go? They had run out of stock on the first day.

There were still two more days to go, and they needed to call for more supplies!

As the exhibition was winding down in the afternoon, a plump and round man came over. When he saw Ruan Mingfu, who was as delicate as a crabapple flower, sitting in front of the tea exhibition, his eyes lit up and he hurried forward.

“Miss, are you in the tea business?”

Ruan Mingfu turned her head and saw Boss Zhang’s round face.

He spoke to Ruan Mingfu in a not-so-fluent mix of Hong Kong Cantonese and Mandarin.

Everyone at the tea exhibition turned to watch the commotion.

“Are you… Boss Zhang? My surname is Ruan.”

Ruan Mingfu had only met this chubby man once, and she had learned his name, Boss Zhang, from Qi Yangyan. The reason she remembered him so well was because of his physique—

He was practically as round as a ball.

Boss Zhang smiled and handed her a business card.

“So, you’re Miss Ruan,” he said with a wide grin, “Your memory is impressive. Here’s my card, please accept it.”

Ruan Mingfu glanced at the card.

A film company boss from Hong Kong? Could he be here to ask her to star in a movie?

Not just in this era—back in her own world, people frequently sought her out for roles in shows.

But she always turned them down.

Ruan Mingfu’s appearance was exceptional, and even if she were just a decorative figure, she could easily become a sensation. However, as the eldest daughter of a top wealthy family, how could she mingle in the entertainment industry? People who didn’t know better might think the Ruan family had gone bankrupt.

“Hello, Boss Zhang.”

Ruan Mingfu tucked the business card away and nodded at him.

Boss Zhang was momentarily dazzled by her smile.

Any inappropriate thoughts were quickly suppressed by reason.

This woman was personally acknowledged as Young Master Qi’s sister. He wouldn’t dare cross her. Thinking about Young Master Qi’s methods, Boss Zhang began to sweat despite the summer heat.

He smiled politely, “Miss Ruan, you’re too kind.”

He glanced around the tea exhibition. “Miss Ruan, are you in the tea business?”

“No,” Ruan Mingfu shook her head, “I’m just a translator for this event.”

Boss Zhang was a crafty old fox.

Even though Ruan Mingfu said this, he didn’t show the slightest hint of contempt.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, smiling like the Buddha. Someone who didn’t know him might have thought he was a great philanthropist.

“To be a translator at such an international event, Miss Ruan, you’re truly young and capable. If my daughter were even half as smart as you, I wouldn’t have to hire a tutor for her every day.”

Ruan Mingfu just smiled in response.

“Boss Zhang, you’re too generous.”

Boss Zhang didn’t speak for a moment. After a pause, he extended an invitation.

“Miss Ruan, do you know much about tea?”

“I know a little.”

“Great!” Boss Zhang’s eyes lit up. “My old man loves tea, but he’s been drinking Biluochun for decades. Miss Ruan, could you recommend something different? I’d like to bring something new for him.”

As he spoke, he laughed at himself, “Sometimes it’s good to change things up for the old man.”

Boss Zhang didn’t speak any foreign languages, so he could directly communicate with the tea factory representatives. Since he had already made this request, Ruan Mingfu couldn’t refuse, so she replied.

“Follow me.”

“If the old man is used to drinking Biluochun, a good alternative with a similar flavor would be Dahongpao, or perhaps Longjing.”

Ruan Mingfu thought for a moment. “If you want something that’s truly different, Wuyi rock tea would be a good choice.”

Boss Zhang curiously observed the teas she introduced.

He took a sip from the tasting cup, “…The freshness of green tea combined with the richness of black tea… Excellent, truly excellent.”

Biluochun was a green tea, and if they were to change up the flavor, Wuyi rock tea was the best option.

While Dahongpao was also a good choice, its flavor was too similar to Biluochun, so someone who drank Biluochun regularly would find it novel but not too different.

As for Longjing, it wasn’t even worth considering.

Boss Zhang was very pleased. “I’ll take… thirty pounds.”

The tea factory representative nodded repeatedly.

Though the quantity was a bit small, even a little business was still business.

Boss Zhang smiled warmly at Ruan Mingfu, “Miss Ruan, you truly are a tea connoisseur. I’ll have to rely on your expertise in the future. As expected of Young Master Qi’s sister, you even know a lot about tea.”

After saying that, he fixed his gaze on Ruan Mingfu’s face.

But she responded naturally, “It’s all thanks to my brother’s teaching.”

There wasn’t a trace of false modesty in her words.

With their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ruan, always busy with work, she and her brother were practically inseparable. When he found out she enjoyed drinking tea, he even hired a tea-tasting expert to teach her.

Hiring a teacher for her… could practically be considered him teaching her personally.

Hearing this, Boss Zhang grew even more wary of Ruan Mingfu.

“Well, Miss Ruan, I’ll be on my way.”

Ruan Mingfu nodded, “Take care, Boss Zhang.”

Once he was out of sight, Ruan Mingfu finally let out a sigh of relief.

Talking to people like him was exhausting; every word felt like a trap.

She rubbed her face.

Even playing the role of an innocent, naive girl required some skill.

Gu Qingsong quietly snuck over, “…Comrade Ruan, that chubby guy doesn’t seem like a good person. Don’t fall for his tricks.”

“I’ve heard that the TV companies in Hong Kong are quite chaotic. Don’t let them fool you.”

It turned out that Gu Qingsong had caught a glimpse of the business card when Ruan Mingfu accepted it.

He’d also heard from someone that no matter how famous actresses in Hong Kong were, they’d still have to accompany men for drinks when required—unless they had the backing of a powerful figure. But even then, powerful men had plenty of mistresses, and once they got bored, these actresses would still end up accompanying people for drinks.

Gu Qingsong didn’t want his goddess to stray down the wrong path.

Ruan Mingfu understood this all too well.

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

If she’d wanted to get involved in the entertainment industry, she would’ve done so long ago.

Gu Qingsong breathed a sigh of relief and awkwardly scratched his head.

“I hope Comrade Ruan doesn’t mind me meddling in your affairs.”

After Boss Zhang’s interruption, nothing else happened.

Gu Qingsong organized his things and said to Ruan Mingfu, “Comrade Ruan, the teacher has arranged a car for you. Come with me.”

Before she could respond, a voice interrupted, “No need, I’ll take her home.”

Turning around, Ruan Mingfu saw Qi Yangyan.

Gu Qingsong looked at him in confusion, “And you are?”

The man stood tall in a sharply tailored suit, exuding a heavy air of authority.

Seeing this, Ruan Mingfu frowned.

Why hadn’t he left yet?

And now he says he wants to take her home?

If he really meant well for her, he would not be offering to take her back.

Ruan Mingfu forced a smile and introduced, “This is my brother, Qi Yangyan. This is Comrade Gu.”

Qi Yangyan’s sharp gaze fell on Gu Qingsong.

Under his intense pressure, Gu Qingsong dared not meet his eyes, lowering his head and taking a step back.

Qi Yangyan’s eyes held disdain.

Is this… really someone worthy of pursuing his sister?

In just a glance, Qi Yangyan had decisively judged Gu Qingsong.

“Hello… Hello.”

Gu Qingsong, still a student, was no match for the calculating Qi Yangyan.

Qi Yangyan nodded slightly and then turned to Ruan Mingfu.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

“Umm… no, it’s really not necessary,” Ruan Mingfu said, steeling herself under Qi Yangyan’s gaze. “They’ve already arranged a car for me, so you don’t need to make another trip.”

Gu Qingsong also nodded, “That’s right. Comrade Qi needn’t worry. We will ensure Comrade Ruan gets home safely.”

“Yes, brother,” Ruan Mingfu continued, “Since someone is already taking me, it would save you the trouble of going back and forth.”

Gu Qingsong agreed with a nod.

Although he couldn’t understand why the siblings had different surnames, he trusted Ruan Mingfu’s words.

Moreover, he wanted to ask her a few questions on the way back.

Qi Yangyan was not someone who easily swayed.

“No, it’s not going to work.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Her brother was still her brother, firmly rejecting her request.

Suddenly, an idea struck her. “I have things to attend to. To avoid wasting your time, brother, why don’t you go on with your own business?”

“Oh?”

Qi Yangyan frowned, looking at her with curiosity.

Ruan Mingfu touched her face, and asked with a puzzled expression, “Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

“I’m wondering why you’re so resistant to me taking you home.”

Upon hearing this, Ruan Mingfu’s heart almost leapt into her throat.

“How could… there’s nothing to worry about!”

Qi Yangyan’s gaze was still skeptical.

Ruan Mingfu felt like crying.

Having such a perceptive brother could be quite troublesome…

Qi Yangyan stared at her, commanding, “Come with me.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

What else could she do?

“Comrade Ruan…”

Gu Qingsong had just begun to speak when Ruan Mingfu cut him off, “Please thank Professor Hu for his kindness, but let my brother take me home today.”

“…Alright, I will pass on the message.”

Ruan Mingfu waved weakly at him and followed behind Qi Yangyan.

Now, she was anxious.

She couldn’t believe it—what if Qi Yangyan found out about her marriage and had a fit? While Mrs. Ruan might break her legs, her brother would not only break the legs of the man but also break the couple apart.

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Afraid, hugging my weak and innocent self.jpg

She wracked her brain, coming up with countless excuses along the way, but none of them worked. By the time they reached the gate of the exhibition, she still hadn’t come up with a viable excuse.

Damn it!

Why couldn’t this road be a bit longer?

Ruan Mingfu grabbed Qi Yangyan’s arm, forcing a polite but awkward smile.

“Brother, just drop me off here. My place is not far from here and I’ll be there soon.”

Qi Yangyan squinted. “In that case, why not invite me to your home?”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Her mind raced, trying to think of an excuse when a deep, slightly magnetic voice interrupted.

“Mingfu?”