CHAPTER THREE - MONEY & MANIPULATION

Mrs Wang is sitting with the other housewives.

We continue.

The Fifth sister "oh wow sister, your skin is glowing this morning, you must have enjoyed your sleep last night"

The First sister "really, thank you and yes I did sleep well" she chuckles.

The Third sister "by the way sister I want to bring something to your notice"

The First sister "oh, what is it"

The Third sister "it's about that part timer girl you hired, she is irresponsible and isn't working at all"

The Fourth sister "are you sure you want to keep on wasting your money paying her, it is obvious she doesn't deserve this job or her salary"

The Fifth sister "I feel you should let her down"

The Third sister "that would be a good lesson"

The Fourth sister "she absolutely deserves that"

The First sister "what about you second sister, what do you suppose I do to her"

The Second sister who has been, quiet and absent minded since then spoke "umm...I don't know she works for you; you do what you want with her"

The First sister smiles "ok I'll talk to her"

Lian walks in almost immediately

Lian storms into the café "good morning" breathing heavily and trying to catch her breath. She looks to her side and bows her head nervously to greet the aunties, but they didn't respond. She goes to counter and gives Yichen the I'm I in trouble look and Yichen shakes his head slightly, meaning no. He then gave the tray with what the aunties had ordered to Lian, for her to take it to their table. Lian takes a deep breath, collects the tray, goes to their table and starts to serve them.

Lian "good morning" she greets again nervously, but no reply. She finishes serving them and turns to go.

Mrs Wang (The First sister) "Lian" she called her with a strict tone.

Lian "yes" she turned back, to face her.

Mrs Wang "I do not appreciate your behaviour these days"

Lian "I'm sorry ma'am, it was my land lady, she was..."

Mrs Wang cuts her short "that is none of my business, whatever the problem is, sort it out and let it not affect my business, have I made myself clear"

Lian "yes ma'am"

Mrs Wang "now get to work"

Lian "Thank you ma'am" she hurriedly goes to the counter and puts on her apron. "phew"

The Fifth sister "that's it"

Mrs Wang "yes, that's it"

They are all quiet and the third sister fakes a cough. The second sister picks up her Capuchino and takes a sip, the other 3 follow along.

Mrs Wang smiles "so sisters I was thinking, why don't we change our routine today"

The Fourth sister "ok, so do you want us to like shuffle, so instead of going to second sisters place after we could...Umm...." thinking of what to say "come to mine" she blurts it out

Mrs Wang "no, I'm saying we should go to entirely different places"

They all stop eating.

The Second sister "what are you saying sister"

The First sister "I'm saying let's go to other places for a change, go to other boutiques check what they sell, go to other restaurants and taste want they serve, you know new stuff....so what do you guys say"

The Second and Fifth sister said "sure" although they didn't seem so happy about it.

The Fourth and Fifth sisters were stingy with their words and mumbled their answers.

Mrs Wang didn't really care and went on telling them her plans and the places she wanted to visit, and after about an hour they all left.

Lian "thank God that's over, was getting impatient for them to leave. Those ladies are super weird, right?"

Yichen ignores her.

Lian "I mean don't they feel stupid walking around like a group of high school students and bossing people around...I mean who do they think they are...they are just housewives with very rich husbands"

Yichen doesn't say anything and is taking the order of a customer.

Lian feels very awkward and folds her hands together and presses her lips to hide the embarrassment. Yichen and Lian have been working together for a month now, but she still hasn't accepted the fact that Yichen does not want anything to do with her.

Lian got a notification on her phone, it was a text message. She read it and laughed "what is up with this dude" pause and thinks "umm...Yichen excuse me for a while, have to go meet someone, will be back soon"

Yichen "mm-hmm"

Lian steps out

Yichen wants to prepare the order of a customer but there were no more coffee beans at the counter, he then goes to the backroom/kitchen to get some. He goes to kitchen and through the widow saw and overheard the conversation between Lian and Mrs Wang's son.

Bowen "pls Lian, accept my feelings for you"

Lian "but I don't want to, time in and time out I have told you that there is nothing I want from you, I don't want you, understand" about to walk out on him.

Bowen "but at least let me present my gift to you"

Lian stops "what"

Bowen "I got you that necklace you said you really liked last time, when we were still a couple"

Lian "oh my goodness.... ugh, why are you bringing that up...I never dated you ok...I never dated this...any of it...pls never say that outside...goodness" places her hand on her head.

Bowen "then what were we"

Lian "Dude to be honest...I was dating your money...ok. And since you've stopped giving me that, we have no relationship, we never did either way...so accept it"

Bowen "well then please go on another date with my money, and I do have a gift for you"

Lian looks at him from head to toe "sure, pick me up at 8, Friday night and be early" she walks out. She enters the backroom/kitchen from the back door and sees Yichen, shocked "Chen...ho...w... how...how long have you been here" stutters a little.

Yichen "just got here...there were no more coffee beans" raises the bag of coffee beans

Lian looks at it and loses her suspicion "oh, ok" she goes back to the counter.

Yichen looks outside at sad Bowen and shakes his head in disappointment.

Yichen's shift ends at 2pm and after that he goes to the academy to teach violin to the kids, from 2:30 to 4:00, and by 5pm he goes to the local bar where he works. Fast forward to 9:30pm, Yichen just got home, he prepares his dinner, a lightweight meal, eats it and does some push ups and crunches. He takes a bath and opens his laptop to update his books. After which he goes to bed, at around 12am.