The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 157. Transfer (Second Update)

Chapter 157: 157. Transfer (Second Update)

The woman smiled at them, bowing slightly as if to pay her respects, and Shen Qinglan followed suit with a similar gesture. Fang Tong mirrored Shen Qinglan’s actions.

On the tea table before them lay a set of tea utensils. Fang Tong was not well-versed in them and couldn’t name them, but she found them very pleasing to the eye.

The woman did not speak but picked up the teapot on the table and began to brew the tea.

Fang Tong saw that Shen Qinglan also did not speak, so she quietly sat there, watching the woman’s movements.

Her actions were graceful, flowing like clouds and water. Fang Tong had never seen someone make tea with such beautiful posture before. This was a woman whose very bones exuded a natural elegance—not the acquired elegance of high society, but that of an ancient noble lady, with an inborn nobility and grace that were etched into her bones and infused into every gesture.

A moment later, the woman handed a cup of tea to Shen Qinglan. Shen Qinglan bent her index and middle fingers of her right hand and tapped lightly on the table twice, a gesture Fang Tong knew was to express thanks, and she copied it to thank the woman.

The woman’s face still wore a gentle smile as she nodded towards them.

Shen Qinglan lifted her tea cup, took a whiff, and then sipped it gently, "Madam’s tea artistry has become more and more exquisite."

The woman chuckled, "You haven’t visited for quite a while. If I hadn’t called you, would you not have thought to come and see me?"

Shen Qinglan curled her lips slightly, and Fang Tong was surprised to discover a faint smile on Shen Qinglan’s face, absent of her usual coolness, "I had planned to come and see you before the new year, but you beat me to it."

"I remember you mentioning a year ago that it wouldn’t be bad to open a tea house like this if there was ever a chance."

"It’s rare for Madam to remember." Shen Qinglan smiled faintly, her tone warm.

The woman laughed too, and seeing that Shen Qinglan’s cup was empty, she refilled it, "But I’m not sure if you still harbor such thoughts now?"

Shen Qinglan expressed her thanks and parted her lips slightly, "I thought my intentions were quite obvious."

Fang Tong had been confused before when Shen Qinglan talked about inspecting a shop, not realizing they were actually here to visit an old friend for tea. But hearing the woman’s words, she began to understand a bit more. Weren’t they talking about opening a coffee shop?

"This is also because my husband is going abroad, and I have to accompany him. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t want to let go of this shop that my grandfather left me," the woman spoke, her tone laced with a touch of reluctance.

The tea house had been run by her family since her grandfather’s generation. She had grown up in this tea house and taken it over from her grandfather’s hands. Her affection for it was deep-rooted.

But with her husband and children set to move abroad, she couldn’t stay here alone. As much as she was reluctant, she had to let it go.

"Madam is truly at ease handing over this tea house to me?" Shen Qinglan lightly countered with a joke in her tone.

The woman chuckled, "What’s there to worry about with you? Even though we haven’t known each other for very long, it is, after all, a kind of destiny. Of all the people I know, you are the one I trust the most. Giving it to you might lessen my reluctance a little."

She and Shen Qinglan had met by chance and clicked instantly. Although Shen Qinglan seldom visited, their friendship was nevertheless solid.

Shen Qinglan smiled faintly and raised her cup to take a sip of tea.

With the formalities out of the way, the woman turned to Fang Tong, "You are Qinglan’s friend, aren’t you?"

Fang Tong nodded, "I’m Qinglan’s roommate and friend as well."

The woman smiled, "This is the first time I’ve seen her bring a friend here. In the past, she always came alone. Oh, we have some nice pastries here; you should try them."

The woman pressed a button on the tea table, and the door of the tea room opened promptly. The man who had escorted them in opened the door and peered inside.

"Bring in a few plates of pastries, nothing too sweet."

The man quickly returned, carrying a tray with several plates of delicate pastries. He arranged the pastries one by one, then retreated.

"You should try them; they are quite tasty," the woman said, smiling at Fang Tong.

For some reason, Fang Tong always felt particularly reserved in front of this woman.

"Thank you," Fang Tong said, picking up a piece of cake and placing it in her mouth. The pastries here were small, bite-sized, and she didn’t have to worry about messing up her lipstick.

The pastry was sweet but not cloying, and as it melted in her mouth, a fragrant scent emerged, probably that of apricot blossom cake. The scent of apricot blossoms spread in her mouth, and Fang Tong couldn’t resist taking another piece.

"Aren’t you going to try some?" the woman asked Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan shook her head. She didn’t like these pastries, and the woman knew this, so she didn’t insist.

"I won’t take the staff with me. If you can use them, keep them; if not, feel free to find new people without considering my feelings," the woman said.

"I’ll keep them. I trust your judgment, and I don’t have the time or energy to find new staff," Shen Qinglan replied.

The woman knew it would be so and wasn’t surprised. Instead, she took out a document, "Then I’ll explain everything to them later. This document is the transfer contract. Take a look and let me know if you have any objections."

Shen Qinglan took it, flipped through it and paused at the price, tapping her finger on it. The woman had a glance, "If you’re unhappy with it, I can reduce it a little more."

Shen Qinglan shook her head, "You’ve offered too little." The location was worth eight million as she had asked; it was practically a give-away. Even if she had asked for twenty million, there would have been a scramble for it, because the value of the courtyard alone exceeded that amount, not to mention the tea house’s renovations, which evidently had significant money poured into it.

Hearing this, the woman laughed, "Most people haggle to lower the price, but here you are, advising the seller to raise it. Now I’m somewhat worried that if I leave this tea house to you, it could close down before long."

"Very possible," Shen Qinglan said flatly, "So do you want to reconsider?"

The woman shook her head, smiling, "I choose you." It was a joke, after all, and no one took it seriously.

Shen Qinglan didn’t say anything more and took the pen the woman offered. She turned to the last page and firmly signed her name.

The woman put away the document, "I’ll have the rest of the paperwork finalized as quickly as possible, and then I’ll give you a call."

Shen Qinglan nodded, indifferent.

The woman spoke again, "I’ll also speak to the suppliers. They’ve been good friends and collaborators for many years. They’ll ensure quality for my sake; you can rest assured about that."

"I have no worries about the way Madam handles things," Shen Qinglan replied with a smile. The mild aroma of tea spread through the tea room, and suddenly, Fang Tong felt Shen Qinglan as gentle as a spring breeze.