"Welcome to Sweet Bean, what can I get started for you—" 

He instantly choked on his words the second he saw the person in front of him. He practically wanted to speak but nothing came out of his mind. 

The person standing on the other side of the counter was breathtakingly handsome, possessing a sharp, refined beauty that immediately drew the eyes of everyone. He looked less like a casual cafe customer and more like a high-fashion model stepping off a runway.

He was strikingly tall, with a broad, athletic build that gave him an effortless, commanding presence even while dressed in simple casual clothes. He was wearing a crisp, oversized dark gray hoodie with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, revealing sculpted forearms, paired with perfectly tailored black cargo trousers. Every piece of his outfit looked deceptively simple, yet screamed high-end luxury.

His face was a masterpiece with all sharp features. He possessed a fiercely defined, sharp jawline and a high, he had a perfect nose that gave his profile a cold, statue-like perfection. His skin was flawless—smooth, radiant, and completely unblemished, which was glowing faintly under the warm lighting of the cafe.

Perfect for his face. He had thick, midnight-black hair, styled in a messy yet perfectly calculated curtain cut that parted slightly down the middle, a few stray strands falling over his forehead. Beneath those dark strands were a pair of piercing, deep-set almond eyes. His eyes were intense, shaded by thick, long black eyelashes that cast soft shadows on his cheek. His lips were naturally full and carried a faint, naturally rosy tint, though they were currently pressed into a tight, indifferent line. 

The boy was looking serious, surrounded by an untouchable aura that practically screamed 'do not disturb.' He was completely unbothered by the sudden silence that had fallen over the cafe, or the way every single girl in the room had stopped breathing. His sharp gaze was locked entirely on the screen of his smartphone, his long, elegant fingers were scrolling on the screen with a look of pure focus.

He didn't even look up as he stepped closer to the register, completely unaware of the absolute chaos his mere presence was causing in Yan Shou's mind. After a few seconds he slowly looked up.

Then the boy leaned against the counter, tapping his fingers against the polished wood with a look that was entirely too confident. As the girls in the corner booth began whispering even louder, Yan Shou finally managed to force his brain back into gear.

"What can I get for you?" Yan Shou asked, his professional customer-service voice slipping just a fraction. Beneath the counter, he gripped the wooden edge, bracing himself. His heart was beating far too fast to control, but he forced himself to maintain his professional smile.

Given his luck over the past forty-eight hours, this gorgeous stranger was either a hidden player in the university drama, another elite from high society, or a brand-new disaster waiting to unfold. 

"I want three cups of black coffee and three packs of pastries," the boy ordered, his voice remarkably smooth, before immediately looking back down at his phone.

Yan Shou nodded in response and turned around to prepare the order.

As he worked, he couldn't help but take a few sneak peeks at the person in front of him. The stranger was simply too handsome to look away from. Suddenly, distracted by his staring, a splash of hot coffee spilled right over Yan Shou's hand. He desperately wanted to scream out loud, but he forced himself to hold it in. He took a quick glance at the boy, who was still staring intently down at his screen. Yan Shou quickly turned toward the fridge, grabbing some ice to press against his stinging skin, and then hurriedly finished packing the order. 

"Here you go. You can scan and pay right there," Yan Shou said, putting on his usual professional smile.

The boy nodded, scanned to pay the money, and then picked up his order to leave the cafe. Yan Shou watched the boy's retreating figure as it slowly disappeared through the door. The moment he was fully gone, Yan Shou crouched down behind the counter and screamed in his head.

His hand was burning with pain, but his heart was still beating far too fast, and he could feel a very heat rushing all the way up to his cheeks.

’Oh God, please help!’ he screamed internally. 

After his working shift was over, Yan Shou made his way straight back to his dormitory building. Upon entering his room, he threw his bag onto the couch and went straight to take a quick shower.

He came out a few minutes later, drying his hair with a fresh towel. He sat down on the couch and picked up his phone from the coffee table. As he was looking through his notifications, his gaze suddenly locked onto the date flashing on the screen.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Tomorrow was the exact weekend he had been waiting for. Tomorrow would be his one and only chance to fight back against Feifei and take his revenge.

Just simply making her jealous wouldn't be enough for him. He was going to thoroughly humiliate her—so completely that she wouldn't ever want to show her face in public again. 

Yan Shou opened his eyes, staring at the black reflection of his screen with absolute determination. 

Suddenly, the screen lit up, showing an incoming video call from both Lin XiaoXi and Shen Yu. Yan Shou’s expression softened as he slid the button to answer. Lin XiaoXi was still hanging around his practice studio, while Shen Yu was hard at work in his showroom.

"Hi! How are you? I missed you so much, you know!" Lin XiaoXi said in a cute, exaggerated voice. Yan Shou could only smile helplessly at his friend's puppy-dog face.

"We practically parted ways just this afternoon," Yan Shou pointed out with a grin. "It has barely been five or six hours."

"Yeah, but I still miss you too much!" Lin XiaoXi insisted, dramatically pretending to wipe away fake tears.

"Let him be, he's always like that," Shen Yu interrupted from his side of the screen, his focus shifting momentarily as he pinned a piece of fabric.

"So, what's the reason for the call? You both seem pretty busy," Yan Shou asked.

"The call was my idea," Lin XiaoXi said, pausing to take a few sips of water. "I actually wanted to check in and confirm that you're definitely coming tomorrow, right?"

Yan Shou nodded in response.

"That's great! Because in the evening, Yu will be the one to pick you up directly from your dormitory," Lin XiaoXi announced cheerfully.

"Hey! You guys really don't have to do that. I can make my own way there," Yan Shou quickly insisted.

"Don't start acting stubborn at this stage," Shen Yu interrupted sharply, looking directly into the camera. "This isn't child's play. We are both well aware of how your family works their way around you. That performance gala is a massive event, and going there alone will do you absolutely no favors." 

"Yes! Shou, Yu is right. You have already been bullied two times in front of me. I don't want anything to happen to you after I have invited you to this gala." Lin XiaoXi said. 

Yan Shou stayed silent for a few seconds. He was planning to go there purely for revenge, an objective he felt he had to accomplish alone. If he stayed glued to these two the entire night, he wouldn't be able to move freely and achieve his goals.

"Hey, don't make that face. I know exactly what you're thinking," Shen Yu said. Even though he wasn't looking directly at the camera, anyone could tell he wasn't joking. "We can be your perfect shield at the event if you need us to be. But more than anything, we just want you to stay safe."

"You can act alone if you want to, but both of us just want you to think twice before you do anything there," Lin XiaoXi added, his usual playful tone turning uncharacteristically serious. "This isn't a small gathering like the others. There are going to be powerful people there from the most famous backgrounds, so being extremely cautious is very important."

Yan Shou couldn't help but smile at the two people on his screen. He had never expected anyone to truly understand his struggles, let alone offer to help, but these two already knew the exact weight of the reasons driving him to that gala.

A wave of genuine warmth filled Yan Shou's chest. In this life, things were completely different. He finally had two incredibly important friends standing right by his side, looking out for him. 

"Yes! Yes! I understand. I will take care of myself," Yan Shou said with a reassuring smile.

"Then everything else is perfect!" Lin XiaoXi beamed. "Oh, guys, I have to get back to practice. I'll meet you both tomorrow at the hotel. Bye-bye, good night!" Saying this, Lin XiaoXi cheerfully hung up.

"I also have some work to finish up here. I will come straight to your dormitory tomorrow evening to pick you up," Shen Yu said.

"Okay, then. See you tomorrow!" Yan Shou replied. "Good night!"

With that, they both ended the call. After eating a quiet dinner, Yan Shou lay down on his bed. Today, he was feeling genuinely happy and profoundly grateful for this second chance at life. The persistent warmth in his chest made him feel completely at peace, and for the first time, he was truly excited for what the next day would bring.

Tomorrow, the Yan family was going to get a thoroughly bitter taste of reality.