Chapter Four: The Poison of Love

My Fiery Girlfriend
Chapter Four: The Poison of Love

Bai Sheng cleared his throat and said seriously, “I’ll tell you the solution, but you have to keep your word, all right?”

“Of course.” I replied with a calm smile, trying to appear even more sincere. I gestured for him to proceed, inviting him to speak.

“Winter is the off-season for the cold beverage industry. Compared to other sectors, ours is one of the most sensitive to seasonal sales. But if you’re going to run this business, you have to take that into account—or else you’re just a naive boss.” Bai Sheng briefly outlined the current situation, then looked at me, as though waiting for my response.

I nodded but didn’t comment. Such simple truths were obvious to me; what I wanted to hear was something beyond this.

“So, to make a change, we need to address the root. We must ensure that cold drinks, as popular food items, can be well-promoted and sold even in winter.” Bai Sheng showed no dissatisfaction with my attitude, still smiling confidently as he continued, “My suggestion is straightforward, two points—first, open an online channel so more people know about and understand ‘Xun’; second, start a delivery service, transforming the traditional storefront model, bringing cold drinks right to the door, so people who don’t want to brave the cold can enjoy them in the warmth of their beds.”

Listening to Bai Sheng, I felt a sudden revelation. Indeed, I had focused too much on the growth of the store and neglected the operating mode of this industry. Our goal wasn’t to make the cold drink shop bigger and stronger, but to establish the ‘Xun’ brand. No matter where or when, whenever people mention cold drinks, the first brand that comes to mind should be ours—not just the shop in Yichun.

“So, in other words, we open up online orders and utilize the store’s downtime during the off-season to boost online platform sales?” I pondered, rubbing my chin. “Though online promotion is simple and effective, once it’s running, it’s a considerable undertaking. To be honest, our shop can barely handle the usual customer flow. If online sales open up, we simply don’t have enough staff.”

“Delivery is just like courier service. The people you need are only for delivery, not for production or quality control... Do you see what I mean?” Bai Sheng pushed up his glasses and looked at me seriously.

“So, I could hire people just to deliver cold drinks, not as regular employees? Is that what you’re saying?” I thought it over before answering. Hiring delivery staff instead of new employees sounded a bit unconventional, but it was certainly worth trying.

“That’s about right.” Bai Sheng nodded, then his expression shifted, as if he had tossed all those ideas aside. With a cheerful smile, he asked, “I’ve finished my suggestions—simple but practical. If you try them, you’ll see good results. Now, can you tell me about Xiaoyu?”

I smiled kindly. “Of course. Ask away, what do you want to know?”

“Xiaoyu... does she have a boyfriend?” Bai Sheng unconsciously leaned closer, his delicate, scholarly face making me feel amused.

“No idea.” I shrugged and replied honestly. “I really don’t know. Even though she’s my...”

Bai Sheng frowned, eyeing me skeptically for a moment, perhaps searching for any hint of deception. When he found none, he continued, “Has she ever dated anyone?”

“No idea.” I laughed and shook my head.

“I...” Bai Sheng seemed quite frustrated, pointing at me but unable to speak for a while. I was surprised—if it were me, I’d have cursed already. Intellectuals really are different...

“You’re a shrewd businessman!” Bai Sheng finally managed to say, his finger trembling as he pointed at me.

“I truly don’t know. Those are her private matters. Why do you assume I’d definitely know?” I glanced at the barely cracked door to the back room and continued, unhurried, “I can’t accept being called a shrewd businessman. Our shop is honest and fair, treating every customer with sincerity. It’s a totally conscientious business—how does that make me a shrewd businessman?”

“You’re still a shrewd businessman... I told you all my ideas and plans, yet you’ve told me nothing!” Bai Sheng angrily shoveled cold drink into his mouth and glared at me.

“I never claimed to know everything. If you ask what I know, I’ll answer without hesitation!”

“Fine!” Bai Sheng put down his spoon, thought for a moment, then said, “So, tell me what you do know, then.”

“She’s called Yang Xiaoyu, nineteen years old, loves making cold drinks and cosplay. Her dream is to have money to spend, freely.”

“That’s it?” Bai Sheng stared at me, eyes wide.

“That’s it.”

“Damn, everything you said is useless! None of it helps me at all!” Bai Sheng slapped the table in frustration.

“How should I know what’s useful to you or not? That’s all I know.” I struggled to keep from laughing as I watched Bai Sheng scratching his head, secretly delighted—making a civilized person swear is surprisingly satisfying!

“I’m seriously starting to doubt if she’s really your sister!”

“She is.”

“You, as her brother, don’t care about her at all? You don’t even know if she has a boyfriend?”

“No idea.”

“Damn it!”

“Though she’s my sister, you don’t need to remind me of that. But if you curse me, I will really hit you!” I smiled innocently at Bai Sheng, who was nearly losing his mind.

I hadn’t lied to him. Yang Xiaoyu calls me ‘Boss Yang’ every day, sometimes ‘Brother Yang’. I’m older than her, and calling her ‘sister’—what’s wrong with that? I haven’t deceived him. Blood sister, cousin, sworn sister—they’re all sisters, aren’t they?

“All right, I surrender. You’re ruthless. You win!” Bai Sheng finally finished his cold drink, looking completely defeated.

Deep down, I thought—even if I wasn’t her real brother, I couldn’t just give Xiaoyu away like this. First, I don’t know what you do; today’s meeting was just a brief acquaintance. Second, I don’t know what kind of person you are—who knows if you’re some kidnapper trying to con me? Don’t think I’ll trust you just because you look refined!

As I considered probing Bai Sheng further, his phone rang at the worst possible moment. He answered, exchanged a few words, then fell silent before hanging up.

He seemed suddenly anxious, hurriedly put on his coat, and said, “Something came up, I have to go,” before rushing out.

Watching Bai Sheng rush off, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing, as if a crucial step had been skipped.

As I pondered what exactly was missing, Bai Sheng suddenly ran back, stood before me, slapped a hundred yuan on the table, and said urgently, “Keep the change, give me the phone number.”

I casually pocketed the money and recited my phone number. To my surprise, Bai Sheng muttered angrily, “I want Xiaoyu’s number, not yours!”

I realized he wasn’t giving up and decided to refuse his request after some consideration. “Sorry, I can’t give you Xiaoyu’s contact information. Whether she’s my employee or my sister, I have to consider her safety… Besides, don’t you think such a rash approach would just make her uncomfortable?”

Bai Sheng pondered this, eventually compromised, and left only with my number, then hurried away.

I stared blankly at the snowflakes drifting past the window, my mood—recently improved—once again turning cold. Unconsciously, I wondered where she might be at this moment, what she was doing, whether she was now walking into another cold drink shop with that handsome stranger, and in her happy moments, telling the server, “One more cup of pineapple flavor!”

I lay on the table clutching my chest, motionless, as tears once again dripped onto my trousers. I couldn’t understand why she treated me like this—was everything between us just like the snowflakes, beautiful for a moment and then gone without a trace?

I took out my phone, found Luo Qing’s number, and pressed my finger to the call button, but couldn’t bring myself to dial. I didn’t even know what to say if I got through. Should I apologize? But what did I do wrong? Should I get angry? But who am I to her?

Alone, I sank into the corner by the window, indifferent to the customers coming and going, unable to muster the strength to offer Yang Xiaoyu any apologetic words. My life felt empty and meaningless. Maybe a person can live just fine without love, like Zhao Kewen, like Sister Rose, like so many others hurt by love. But I simply can’t do that. I’m an ordinary person—I need love to encourage me, to inspire me to seek a woman who can stay by my side for life. Yet the more I chase it, the more I get hurt. I’ve been trapped in love’s purgatory for so long. A year ago was like this, and a year later, it’s still the same. Through the changing seasons, what am I doing? My heart is riddled with wounds, feeling as if it could break at any moment.

Dazed, I felt a warmth on my cheek. I looked up instinctively to see the source of that warmth.

Bright, beautiful eyes. A flawless face. A mischievous, adorable smile. Soft, dazzling waves of long hair. At this moment, she was so beautiful—just like when we first met, a sight I could never forget.

Was it Luo Qing? I rubbed my eyes and laughed at myself—was I hallucinating?

“Idiot, why didn’t you go to the hospital…” Luo Qing’s delicate white hand gently stroked my tear-stained cheek, her voice soft and trembling. “Silly… does it still hurt?”