No Substitution

Chapter 13

"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons."

- T. S.Eliot

Chapter 13

Sunlight seeped through the window of the cafe when Xiao Zhan woke up alone in the couch Yibo missing by his side. Zhan's eyes roamed around the cafe searching only to find Jili wiping down the counter

"Jili my best friend my coffee please"

Jili rolled his eyes went to prepare what was asked

Zhan sat up straight to massage his aching shoulder, taking a sip of his macchiato Zhan scrunched his nose "this doesn't taste like mine"

Agiated Jili scoffed at Zhan " obviously it wouldn't"

"Ah why" asked the confused Zhan

"The one that makes your order quit the job "

"Why didn't you learn how  to deliciously make them from him"

"This is how it's usually made Zhan"

"Tell who that I employee is I'll convince them to continue work"

"No thanks to you" Jili is now super annoyed

"At least ask him how it's made this delicious! If you don't call I will" Zhan said in desperation, he doesn't know anything about coffee nor what makes it taste good he would order few variety and continues buying the one that he likes, most of his orders would be coffee with that white cream on top (Frappuccino) ,caramel coffee (caramel macchiato),  bitter coffee (decaf) , to lose this coffee to Zhan would damage is system he doesn't know what makes this special but he can say that it's delicious and not usually what he gets.

"I'll come by evening I need to talk to Bo di, you find out from that person by then" said Zhan particularly ruining Jili's what supposed to be a good day.

Zhan went to his apartment to clean up and go to work. At the office Zhan looked up his current projects and started calling the clients to talk about their preferences for the design and that went on till noon. Exhausted xiao Zhan went to canteen to have his lunch.

"Zhan ge" called a soft voice next to Zhan

"Mian mian you are supposed to call me laoban" Zhan reminded his assistant once again but the stubborn young lady determined to make Zhan fall for her had to flirt one way or the other "Zhan ge let's eat at that table" looking at the crowded canteen Zhan just went along
Just the two of them at the table mian mian picked up side dishes placed it on his rice bowl and tried feeding him to not let her go overboard Zhan kept talking about projects and right then he was reminded about the cards " call Jili to talk about the cards with the customers we can make it a trial run and see if we need to do any changes to the cards personally assist the cafe since this is our idea" finished Zhan

"Alright then let's meet up for dinner I'll report how it went then Zhan ge" mian mian gave her shot

"There is no need I'll stop by the cafe later" Zhan stood up with his tray made his way to the trash can.

Mian mian was slightly upset at Zhan for rejecting her so carelessly. She feels that she is eligible to be Xiao Zhan's wife as she is pretty, smart, competent, an academic achiever and also from a good family, since she thinks this is all a woman needed to say successful to pursued xiao Zhan even if he doesn't show any concern. She is a good match but just not for Zhan but mian mian is head strong that with her persistence Zhan will like her and they will get married with that thought she rejects her possible good match. What she doesn't know is that her persistence were put in a wrong cup of tea and Zhan already has someone he likes.

At the cafe mian mian personally took up the role to explain about the card, she stood next to the counter not hindering anyone deligently worked hard a few customers seemed intrigued by the card along with the customers Mian mian also wrote a card for Xiao Zhan with pleasent words asked him to take her to a date.

When Xiao Zhan entered the cafe he saw mian mian writing it could be something but it's the proposal card he made he can recognise it alarm bell rang in his head danger~ gotta avoid that card

Zhan walked straight behind the cafe to Jili "so how did it go?" Jili can only sigh this guy goes straight to the point doesn't he no greetings a  how was your day would be nice to hear when Jili turned to the other side of the counter mian mian stood close to zhan, he turned from looking the other side came face to face with his assistant Zhan was startled a little if only she was bad at her work I would have let her go from the company but she does her tasks well " Zhan ge look I too wrote a card here for you" knowing Zhan would reject she just shoved the card to his chest moved a step back right at the time Jili brought a card too seeing this Zhan took the Jili had in hand and took the cards laid on the counter from the customers mixing everything together "Aiya look at this our first draft we gotta review I'm excited to read this eventhough I'm not supposed to ah love letters Zhan exclaimed with fake enthusiasm"

Zhan dragged Jili to a table and stared at him this really weirded his out 'why am I friends with him'

" Though I appreciate you giving me a card your opinion definitely matters *wink*  what did the barista say ?"

"Why are you like this" Jili wondered

"Ah why~ it's really important and where is Bo di " Zhan asked his other reason for coming today is talk to Yibo

"Zhan are you serious?"

"Why what" now Zhan was confused Jili doesn't make sense to him anymore asked bland questions

"Have you seen a new employee here"

"No I know all of them"

"Other than us who could have made your coffee"

"Oh my I need to find the mafia"

"Zhan you idiot listen your barista quit, no new employee Yibo is missing what do you understand from that"

"Are you serious?"

"Ding dong dang"

"Bo di made my perfect coffee wow did not see that one coming he looked like a Heir from good family nice"

Jili banged his head on the table 'he is'

"So when will he come back? Why did he come today? What was his reply" Zhan kept bombing Jili with his questions

"Zhan ge he did reply with it was the card I was holding and he won't be coming back"

"What do you mean" Zhan's lips turned down

"Zhan college exams starts this week"

"Alright then I'll see him next week"

Jili couldn't be more upset with Zhan, he really now wonders if Zhan traded his brain for a bun. After seeing everything that happened right under his nose he feels bad for Wang yibo. It was obvious for a blank face Yibo to smile at someone ain't an usual sight, Jili knew both of them for years and this blind thing really couldn't go on anymore 'if they aren't doing anything I'll do something'

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