Give Her a Chance to Flirt! - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Although it was called Iced Black Tea, the version from Lin Jiu’s hands was more akin to a traditional Hong Kong-style iced lemon tea.

Iced lemon tea favors a base of Ceylon black tea with a heavy aroma, brewing a tea soup with a rich fragrance and a bitterness that is slightly heavier than average drinks.

But it is precisely because of this astringency that the texture of the drink has more layers. Compared to purely sweet and cloying drinks, it has more “tea character.”

People in this world favored various types of pure tea and didn’t care much for fancy tea-based beverages. Previous attempts by others had resulted in poor taste, so the research had been abandoned, and thus, Iced Black Tea did not exist here.

At this moment, the gazes directed at the drinks cart were varied.

Some were curious, some were eager to try, but most were skeptical.

Zhao Chun looked left and right and was the first to show support:

“Let me have a taste.”

Lin Jiu asked, “You prefer tea with a refreshing taste, if I remember correctly?”

Zhao Chun nodded. “Why do you ask?”

Lin Jiu was very satisfied with Zhao Chun’s role as the “straight man” in this performance. She pointed to the Iced Black Tea on the cart, which had three different straw colors, and introduced them in detail:

“There are three types of Iced Black Tea here. Their difference lies in the brewing method.”

“The first type is hot-brewed with boiling water. The high temperature allows the tea polyphenols and other substances to be fully released. The tea flavor is mellow and intense, and the astringency is heavier. This would suit you, Uncle Xu.”

As she finished, Lin Jiu aptly picked up a cup and handed it to Xu Feng.

Xu Feng had been under control for a long time and was getting older; he wasn’t in a great state. Lin Jiu felt a surge of sympathy for this frequently appearing, reused “tool man.”

Even though Xu Feng’s face was written with refusal, Lin Jiu’s tone remained as cordial as a sales assistant:

“Uncle Xu, please try it and see if it suits your palate.”

Seeing Xu Feng reluctantly take it, Lin Jiu continued:

“Where there is hot brewing, there is cold brewing. Hot brewing takes only five minutes for extraction, while cold brewing requires 6 to 8 hours, extending the extraction time.”

“At low temperatures, the tea components won’t fully precipitate, but the sugar components will, making the taste sweeter…” Lin Jiu turned and picked up another cup, handing it to Zhao Chun. “This one suits you better.”

“Hot brewing and cold brewing are common enough, but what about the last one?” a new supporting voice asked.

“It’s Sun Tea.”

Lin Jiu picked up the last variety:

“The production of this one depends on good weather. Summer isn’t over yet, and the sunlight temperature is around 35 degrees Celsius, which is most suitable for making this tea.”

“Placing it under the sun for about 3 to 5 hours yields a cup of Sun Tea. The taste is between hot and cold brewing—it has a rich tea flavor but isn’t overly sweet. Personally, it’s my favorite.”

It sounded quite good.

Quite a few people picked up the Iced Black Tea.

Other waiters carried trays of Iced Black Tea to distribute everywhere. The recognition banquet instantly transformed into a mall promotion scene for free samples.

Xu Feng figured since he had already taken it, he might as well have a sip. As a result, once the black tea hit his throat, a “truly fragrant” review escaped his mouth:

“The taste is actually quite good? Are there lemons and mint inside? Those two have very strong flavors, but this… Iced Black Tea? The tea flavor is still very rich. Not bad.”

People nearby nodded in agreement one after another.

“So cold, so cool, so refreshing.”

“It has the tea flavor, the sweet and sour, and the crispness of mint. The sweetness is just right. It’s really good!”

Some people tried the cold-brewed one first and were unsatisfied, only finding their “true love” in the hot-brewed version after trying all three, drinking half a cup in one go without stopping.

By the time Old Lady Lin and the Old Master made their appearance, the farce had ended, and they arrived just in time for the Iced Black Tea tasting.

The Old Lady took a sip of the Iced Black Tea and shivered. Just as Lin Jiu was worried the elderly woman couldn’t handle the cold shock, she saw her take a second sip, and then a third.

Beside her, the Old Master held a cup of cold-brewed Iced Black Tea, his eyes squinting into little crescents as he drank, looking very pleased.

Upon learning this tea was developed by Lin Jiu, the Old Lady’s eyes widened, and she whispered to Lin Jiu to explain later when exactly this happened.

Standing beside the Old Lady, the family of the Second Uncle, who worked at the Tea Research Institute, was also very interested in the Iced Black Tea.

Surrounded by family, Lin Jiu had to stay by the elders’ side and act like an obedient, sensible girl. Taking advantage of a moment when the Old Lady wasn’t looking, her eyes drifted toward Yu Yihan. She stole a glance and quickly withdrew her gaze before the Old Lady turned back.

A waiter walked up to Yu Yihan and said respectfully:

“Would you like to taste the Iced Black Tea?”

Xu Feng had already finished three cups. Seeing that Yu Yihan hadn’t picked up a cup of “happiness” yet, he urged her:

“Drink up! How will you know it’s not good if you don’t try it?”

He assumed Yu Yihan simply didn’t like this kind of drink.

What he didn’t know was that a week ago, Yu Yihan had already tasted the Iced Black Tea sent by Lin Jiu.

Lin Jiu had even said that, besides herself, Yu Yihan was the very first person to taste it.

The “First Person,” Yu Yihan, looked at the Iced Black Tea with a very indifferent gaze.

She preferred the taste of the hot-brewed version, but after a slight pause of her fingertips, Yu Yihan chose the Sun Tea that Lin Jiu had just mentioned was her favorite.

She took the tea in her hand and took a sip through the straw. The orange-red liquid traveled up the straw. Her red lips left the straw as she glanced at Xu Feng, who was gulping his drink down:

“Iced Black Tea is ‘cold’ in nature. Know your limits.”

“I know,” Xu Feng said. “I don’t know why, but I just can’t stop drinking. It’s a bit addictive.”

“But honestly, after drinking this tea, I feel like my body is a bit more comfortable. It must be an illusion. You’re right, I shouldn’t drink any more.”

Body feels more comfortable?

Yu Yihan didn’t feel any specific change.

After all, she had been feeling quite comfortable ever since she “inhaled” Lin Jiu, so she didn’t quite understand Xu Feng’s distress.

As that graceful figure moved further away with the Lin family, Yu Yihan withdrew her gaze.

Turning back, she saw that the empty cup in Xu Feng’s hand was full again.

“Last cup, I promise. This is absolutely the last cup.”

“…”

Quite a few people had already come forward to probe for information regarding the sales model for this new product. Yu Yihan brushed them off with a few words, only stating that an announcement would be made soon.

She walked out of the hall, finding a quiet place.

Looking up, she saw someone sitting on a bench.

The night light was dim. It took Yu Yihan a few moments to recognize who it was:

“Lin Wen.”

“Hmm?” Lin Wen turned her head. “Ah, it’s you.”

“Not going in?”

“They aren’t missing one person.”

“True.”

Lin Wen let out a “tsk.” “Do you even know how to hold a conversation?”

Yu Yihan said calmly, “I’m probably better at it than you.”

Lin Wen was speechless.

Tinkering with tea leaves in a factory was indeed no match for the tactical skills Yu Yihan had honed.

She went silent for a moment, then suddenly remembered something.

“I heard that lately, you and Xiao Jiu have been getting very close?”

Yu Yihan did not deny it.

Lin Wen said, “I wouldn’t have expected her to be willing to be close to you.”

Yu Yihan, who had been somewhat distracted, looked up at Lin Wen and said:

“We get along quite well.”

As she spoke, sounds of laughter accompanied by approaching footsteps signaled others coming out to chat.

The newcomers noticed Yu Yihan and Lin Wen and naturally struck up a conversation. Someone eventually brought up:

“…I wish I were like A-Wen, having a sister like Xiao Jiu. A ‘sister-con’ is so cute—always talking about her sister, no one else can even compare. Just thinking about it is adorable.”

“But Xiao Jiu is grown up now. She won’t say childish things like ‘There’s no way Yu Yihan can compare to my sister’ anymore, even though both of you are excellent.”

As those two sentences landed, the expressions of the two people in front of them turned quite sour.

The atmosphere froze.

Seeing this, the speaker realized they had made a mistake and immediately slipped away, leaving Lin Wen and Yu Yihan alone.

Finally, it was Yu Yihan who broke the silence.

She turned and went to a nearby small bar to grab a cup of Iced Black Tea:

“All the drinks tonight were handmade by Xiao Jiu.”

Lin Wen gave a cold snort. “Why would I need you to introduce something my sister made?”

Yu Yihan nodded. “It seems you’ve tried it then?”

She made a move to take the cup away.

Lin Wen snatched it back, the Iced Black Tea sloshing in the cup and the ice cubes clinking.

She took a sip.

Lin Wen had been making tea since childhood and preferred traditional, classic tea soups. She only took one sip of the novel Iced Black Tea and didn’t continue.

She commented: “It’s passable. She usually fools around all day, but this time she’s finally managed to achieve something.”

It sounded like a put-down, but it was actually laced with an affectionate tone. It felt like a thorn in Yu Yihan’s ears, and she suddenly lost the desire to deal with Lin Wen.

Lin Wen didn’t want to deal with Yu Yihan either.

But the person they both least wanted to ignore was Lin Jiu.

Speaking of Lin Jiu, here she came.

Lin Jiu walked over from a distance, her long limbs and slender waist particularly eye-catching.

She arrived and said:

“Sister, why don’t you go inside?”

Lin Wen said calmly, “I haven’t relaxed in the small garden for a long time. Just came to take a look.”

Lin Jiu nodded and pointed to the cup in Lin Wen’s hand:

“Is the Iced Black Tea good?”

Lin Jiu’s eyes were sparkling, and the smile on her lips was sweet. Her whole being seemed to glow.

Lin Wen stayed silent for two seconds, then looked away and said:

“It’s very creative.”

“That’s great! Grandmother was just telling Second Uncle that if we get Sister’s approval, we won’t have to worry about the market or anything.”

Yu Yihan watched coldly from the side.

Lin Wen, when I asked you just now, that wasn’t how you answered.

Didn’t you stay out here because they “aren’t missing one person”?

Wasn’t the Iced Black Tea just “passable”?

Heh, hypocritical sisterhood.

Yu Yihan couldn’t even be bothered to look another second.

President Yu turned to leave, leaving behind a resolute back.

After taking two steps, Lin Jiu’s voice came from behind:

“Yu Yihan, where are you going? Are you coming back later?”

President Yu stood still for two seconds, then turned to look at Lin Jiu.

She felt like Lin Jiu was looking at her expectantly, almost as if she were acting spoiled.

“…”

A strange wave of tenderness suddenly surged in Yu Yihan’s heart.

Her feet refused to move.

Her voice was as deep as usual, as she tried to sound indifferent:

“Hmm. I’m not leaving.”