Chapter 145: A Simple and Direct Way to Soothe Someone

After watching Lu Beiqin leave, Shen Chutang couldn't help but wonder if she should arrange another job for him, perhaps as a driver for Senior Brother Ling You.

That way, she could openly provide him with a higher salary. The more she thought about this idea, the more feasible it seemed. She pulled up her quilt and drifted off to sleep, feeling at ease.

The next morning, having stayed up late the night before, Shen Chutang slept in for once. It was ten o'clock by the time she opened her eyes. She washed up, stepped out, and tentatively knocked on Lu Beiqin’s door. There was no response; he must have already gone out. Just as she was wondering what to have for breakfast, she discovered a sandwich and milk left on the table, accompanied by a note:

[I’ve gone to work. Heat the milk before you drink it.]

Shen Chutang nodded to herself. Not bad, not bad at all—he knew how to show gratitude.

After finishing the sandwich, Shen Chutang returned to the lab. Classes were starting the next day, and she still had to prepare her special tea for the students. She busied herself all day and didn't start resting until dusk.

After checking what time Lu Beiqin would be home, she used her spare time to prepare dinner. Once he returned, they sat down to eat, and she took the opportunity to bring up the idea of him working as a driver for Ling You.

To her surprise, Lu Beiqin refused immediately. "No need."

Shen Chutang was puzzled. "Why not? The salary for driving him is no less than what you get from Shi Shaojun, and it might even be double."

Lu Beiqin’s dark eyes were deep and inscrutable. Could he really let this man named Ling You be the one driving, only to watch him and Shen Chutang spend all their time together? He refused again without a second thought, "I’m perfectly fine as I am."

Shen Chutang was at a loss. He wasn't just a man of few words; he was stubborn, and once he made up his mind, no one could change it.

After dinner, Lu Beiqin silently picked up the dishes to wash them, casting a glance at Shen Chutang on the sofa. He certainly knew she had good intentions, but given his situation, he couldn't hide his identity well if he worked for anyone other than Shi Shaojun. He wondered if she was angry because of his blunt refusal.

Seeing her sitting motionless on the sofa, he couldn't tell if she was sulking. After finishing the dishes, he walked over and sat down beside her, silently handing her a lollipop.

Shen Chutang couldn't help but find it amusing. "What’s this for?"

"For you."

The man’s simple and direct way of soothing her put Shen Chutang in a good mood. She took the lollipop and unwrapped it—it was her favorite orange flavor.

"I’m used to working for the Shi family, and it’s not convenient for me to change, but thank you anyway."

Shen Chutang replied, "It’s my fault for not looking at it from your perspective. You’ve been working at the Shi family for so long, so you must feel comfortable and satisfied there. It wouldn't be appropriate to just push a new position on you. But please, don't go out driving at night anymore; it’s tiring and dangerous. Maybe I should just join you at your street stall instead!"

Lu Beiqin’s brow twitched. "A street stall?"

The more Shen Chutang thought about it, the more she liked the idea. "Yes! The news says that running a stall at the night market earns pretty good money these days. Should we give it a try? We could sell cold drinks and small snacks!"

Although she could earn a decent income just by selling a single medicinal pill, Lu Beiqin didn't know about that, and even if he did, he certainly wouldn't accept it. Selling things at a stall to earn him some pocket money seemed like a good idea. Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, Lu Beiqin found it hard to refuse her kindness again, so he nodded.

"Alright then. We can prepare tomorrow and go give it a try."

"Great."

The next day, after being dropped off at school, Shen Chutang carried twenty drinks into the office and placed them in the refrigerator. A colleague noticed and couldn't help but ask, "Teacher Shen, do you like drinks that much? Why buy so many?"

Shen Chutang explained, "They are for the students."

Chen Jing, sitting nearby, heard this and remarked, "Be careful not to spoil the students. Since when does a teacher buy drinks for their students every day?"

The other teachers nodded in agreement.

"I didn't buy them; I made them myself. The weather is getting hotter, and some students get drowsy in class. Plus, since they are seniors in high school, they are studying constantly and lack exercise. This special tea can help boost their immune systems."

Zhu Yongmei scoffed, "Those who know better call it 'special tea,' but those who don't might think it’s some kind of miraculous elixir. You made it yourself? Are you really that capable?"

Everyone knew that Zhu Yongmei and Shen Chutang didn't get along, so they didn't say much. Shen Chutang looked at Zhu Yongmei and countered, "Can’t you do it?"

Zhu Yongmei’s smile stiffened for a moment. "How could I possibly know how!"

Shen Chutang thought for a moment and nodded. "Fair enough. I just assumed you were a Ph.D. in medicine like I am; otherwise, it would be hard to whip something like this up so easily."

Unable to refute this, Zhu Yongmei lowered her head and glared resentfully at her textbook. Shen Chutang acted as if nothing had happened and sat down at her desk.

When it was time for her class, she called over three boys—Luo Shencheng, Lü Wendong, and Xu Gaoyuan—and had them each carry the drinks to the classroom. Everyone had been drinking this special tea for a few days now; it tasted good, but more importantly, it was genuinely refreshing without causing the insomnia that coffee did, so they all loved it.

However, Shen Chutang noticed that Luo Shencheng didn't drink his right away, but instead stood up and walked outside.