Next to the studio, there was a private custom coffee shop which served regular clients and merchants of the villa area.
On rainy days, clients were halted in their tracks, and the coffee shop became a quiet sanctuary.
Shen Chaoxi walked ahead, lifting the bamboo wind chime door curtain that tinkled with the breeze.
The owners were a southern couple; the man had recently returned to his hometown, leaving only the lady owner.
"Is Teacher Yao here? Long time no see, your belly has gotten so big, like a balloon, but you're still so thin!"
Her southern accent was soft and sweet, retaining its delicate tone even after many years of living in the north.
An elderly gentleman followed Shen Chaoxi inside, and she greeted him politely.
Noticing that there was a matter to discuss, the lady owner asked if they wanted to go to a private room on the second floor.
Shen Chaoxi glanced at the empty first-floor hall and pointed to a booth by the window.