After Transmigrating as a Man-Eater Omega, I Got the Protagonist Shou - Chapter 7

Qiao Xingyin’s words became a self-fulfilling prophecy; the “destiny” he spoke of arrived very quickly. Once his transfer procedures were completed, he received his own student ID number and campus network credentials. Upon logging into the anonymous campus forum, he happened to spot a specific thread:

[SHOCKING! Guess who I just saw at Xingyu Coffee?]

The content read: “I went to Xingyu to buy a coffee, and I actually saw Qi Yan wearing an apron and mixing drinks. It is the one on the corner of Wenhua Road with the whale logo on the glass. Sure enough, even Qi Yan’s supervisor looks down on him; her attitude toward him is appallingly bad.”

The comments below were far from kind. The general consensus was that Qi Yan usually acted so aloof and noble, yet here he was working as a waiter. The users labeled him as pathetic and poor. Qiao Xingyin’s fingertips paused for a moment before he tapped rapidly on the keyboard:

[4L: What is the problem with earning money with your own two hands? On the other hand, some people rely on nothing but their good backgrounds. What else can you do besides gossip in an anonymous forum?]

One could easily guess how much of an onslaught this comment would trigger once posted. Qiao Xingyin closed the forum and ignored it. At the very least, he now knew what Qi Yan’s other part-time job was.

That day after school, Qiao Xingyin took a detour across three streets and found the café nestled under the plane trees. It was not Qi Yan’s shift that day, so he returned the following day. Evening at Xingyu Coffee was busy and orderly. Qi Yan stood before the espresso machine. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and his posture was upright. The black apron strings were tightened at his waist, outlining a lean waistline. Whenever a customer ordered, he would lift his eyes slightly. His pitch-black eyes were like obsidians soaked in ice water: cold and clear.

Qi Yan was undoubtedly the most striking scenery in the coffee shop, but he was also a thorn in the side of certain people.

“Qi Yan, prepare an Americano for Table 7. Hurry up,” the shift leader, Sister Lin, commanded him overbearingly.

Qi Yan was focused on finishing the latte in his hand. A perfect tulip latte art pattern was blooming on the surface of the milk foam. It was the best cup he had made all day. He did not look up, giving a slight nod to indicate he heard her.

“I said Table 7 is the priority. Are you deaf?” In the next second, Sister Lin appeared behind him unexpectedly and bumped his elbow with significant force. In an instant, half the latte spilled, and the exquisite latte art was ruined. Qi Yan’s fingertips tightened slightly.

“Redo it,” Sister Lin sneered. “Do you know how much this cup costs? It is coming out of your wages.”

Qi Yan’s expression remained indifferent. He silently cleaned the counter and began the process again. This kind of bullying was not the first occurrence. Ever since Qi Yan rejected Sister Lin’s “special care” two weeks ago, this woman had been finding every possible way to make trouble for him.

Just then, the café welcomed a new customer.

“Welcome to Xingyu Coffee.”

Sister Lin switched to her professional smile to greet the newcomer, but she froze when she saw who it was. The person was a youth wearing a white shirt, possessing a clean temperament and a beautiful face. He wore a luxury haute couture shirt with two priceless, exquisite cufflinks pinned to his cuffs, manifesting his noble status. The shirt’s tailoring fit his frame perfectly, and the hem was casually tucked into black trousers, accentuating his slender waist and long legs. His skin was porcelain white, and his features were so delicate they did not seem real. Every movement exuded an air of elegance.

Qi Yan did not make eye contact with Qiao Xingyin. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Qiao Xingyin choosing a seat by the window. That position provided a clear view of the entire bar.

“Qi Yan, why are you spacing out while working? Is the coffee for Table 7 not done yet?” Sister Lin tapped the counter impatiently.

Qi Yan finished the coffee and handed it to a server. He intentionally kept his back to Qiao Xingyin’s table, hoping the other would not notice him. However, fate clearly had its own arrangements.

“The waiter in this café is so handsome, but he is so cold. I do not even dare go up and ask for his contact information.”

“That female shift leader looks so mean. Why is she so mean even to a handsome guy?”

The surrounding patrons whispered. Everyone’s gaze, intentionally or not, was fixed on Qi Yan. Qiao Xingyin noticed that Sister Lin was constantly glaring at Qi Yan with an unkind expression, and she never stopped talking.

“Table 3 complained the coffee is too bitter. Redo it.”

“I really do not know why the manager keeps you when you cannot even make a cup of coffee properly. If this continues, get ready to leave.”

Table 3 consisted of the cronies of Beicheng No. 1 High School’s bully, Pei Yi. Having seen the forum post, they had come here specifically. Pei Yi had been making trouble for Qi Yan for more than a day or two; Qi Yan was someone they felt they could bully at will.

Qi Yan pressed his thin lips together, took the cup, and began brewing. Qiao Xingyin noticed a band-aid still stuck on the webbing of Qi Yan’s hand. His injury clearly had not healed yet. Qiao Xingyin walked straight to the bar.

“How can I help you?” Sister Lin’s face-changing technique was masterful.

Ignoring her, Qiao Xingyin spoke directly to Qi Yan: “I would like a pour-over Gesha, water temperature at 87°C, grind size 4.4, and an extraction time of 2 minutes and 28 seconds.”

His voice carried a perfect touch of laziness. His fingertips tapped lightly on the menu. His nails were trimmed round and clean. The entire bar went silent instantly. This level of professional ordering should not come from the mouth of an ordinary high school student. Qi Yan’s hand faltered, nearly spilling the coffee.

Seeing Qiao Xingyin’s extraordinary and noble aura, and staring at the brooch on his chest—which was conservatively estimated to be worth at least seven figures—Sister Lin’s expression stiffened slightly. “And you are?”

Qiao Xingyin smiled naturally and pulled a black card from his wallet. “I am a specially dispatched customer from headquarters. Recently, we have received multiple complaints regarding this branch, specifically concerning employee bullying.”

He lifted his chin slightly, revealing the beautiful curve of his neck. His exquisite collarbones were faintly visible at the shirt collar. The “Young Master” aura was incredibly strong. His identity seemed obvious: he was the child of a high-ranking executive at the Xingyu Coffee headquarters.

Sister Lin’s face turned deathly pale. “There must be some misunderstanding here.”

“Is that so?” Qiao Xingyin held up his phone. “I just captured some quite unusual footage. For instance, I saw you intentionally knocking over a coffee made by an employee and then humiliating them in public.”

“Those were all accidents,” Sister Lin explained hurriedly. She even tried to put a hand on Qi Yan’s shoulder. “Xiao Qi and I have a very good relationship. Is that not right, Xiao Qi?”

Qi Yan avoided Sister Lin’s touch without a trace and said in a low voice to Qiao Xingyin, “Your pour-over Gesha will be ready shortly.”

Qiao Xingyin glanced at Sister Lin and nodded. “Good.”

Sister Lin took the opportunity when no one was looking to duck into the back room, not daring to come out and find trouble again. Qi Yan focused on brewing the coffee, his movements as smooth as flowing water. Qiao Xingyin leaned on the bar, watching entranced. When Qi Yan worked, he always furrowed his brows slightly, and his thick eyelashes cast a shadow under his eyes. Occasionally, a stray lock of hair would fall over his forehead, but he did not brush it away, letting the few strands of black hair sway gently with his movements.

Sometimes a bit of coffee grounds would get on his high nose bridge, yet he remained completely unaware. His long fingers steadily held the pour-over kettle, and the veins on the back of his well-defined hands were slightly protruding. They were a pair of sexy and beautiful hands.

Eventually, Qi Yan spoke in a low voice. “How did you know those parameters?”

“I did some homework before coming,” Qiao Xingyin snapped back to reality. “Has that Sister Lin always bullied you like that?”

Qi Yan did not answer but pushed the brewed coffee in front of him. “The coffee is ready.”

The coffee aroma was rich, and the amber liquid rippled in the glass cup. Qiao Xingyin took a sip, and a light welled up in his beautiful eyes. “It is really delicious. It is even better than the Xingyu flagship store.”

The corners of Qi Yan’s mouth turned up imperceptibly.

Recalling the incident, Qiao Xingyin was still full of joy. “That ‘mysterious customer’ thing I said earlier was actually just to trick her. That card is just a bus card. Do not mind it.”

“I know,” Qi Yan replied briefly. “Your acting was terrible.”

Qiao Xingyin’s smile was full of youthful energy. “No way! She was clearly scared to death.”

After speaking, he held his coffee and returned to his seat by the window. He chose to treat this place as a study room. He stayed until he saw Sister Lin leave after her shift ended and the coffee shop entered a quiet period.

“Need help?” Qiao Xingyin closed his book and leaned toward Qi Yan, who was cleaning the espresso machine.

“No need.”

“Do not be polite. I often help my brother clean the espresso machine at home.” Qiao Xingyin proactively rolled up his sleeves. “This filter needs to be taken off and washed, right?”

Qi Yan did not stop him and handed over a specialized brush. “You are always helping me,” he said softly.

“Because we are friends,” Qiao Xingyin said with a frank expression. “And I feel that no one should be treated like that.”

Qi Yan was slightly stunned and remained silent for a long time. He stayed silent for so long that Qiao Xingyin thought he would not respond. Then, he heard a nearly inaudible “Thank you.”

Qiao Xingyin could not help but laugh. “You are not allowed to say those two words to me in the future. Do you hear me?” He pulled a paper bag out of his backpack. “I brought you dinner. I figured you definitely would not have time to eat. Remember to heat it up in the microwave.”

Qi Yan froze slightly.

“Take it. It is a sandwich I specifically learned how to make from my brother. It is very good.” Qiao Xingyin forced it into his hands.

Qi Yan’s voice was a bit strained. “Your brother?”

Qiao Xingyin replied naturally, “Yes, I live with my brother. My brother is a great cook. I am trying my best to learn as much as I can from him.”

Qi Yan’s long eyes lowered slightly. Could the Alpha he saw standing side-by-side with Qiao Xingyin that day be his brother? He finally took the paper bag.

His fingertips accidentally touched Qiao Xingyin’s hand, and he retracted them quickly as if burned. The icy wall he had built in his heart for years seemed to have a crack scorched into it as well.

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