Chapter 405: 325

At the end of 2014, Youu Tea became the first upscale, nationally-renowned milk tea shop in the country.

Before Cheng Zhu was reborn, the domestic market for high-end internet-famous milk teas had already reached a developmental impasse, and many brands had begun to lower their prices in a bid to save themselves.

That is to say, he had witnessed firsthand the rise and fall of numerous upscale internet-famous milk teas.

Moreover, as he had wandered among a variety of companions, changing girlfriends frequently, he had tried every marketable product along with the women.

On special days at the company, he would also treat the entire company to milk tea.

Therefore, he knew crystal clear which products sold well and which new products were poorly received by the public after they were launched.

Therefore, before Youu Tea officially opened, he could have launched a variety of new products.

But that was completely unnecessary.

“Even if you have a stack of bomb cards, you need to play them one at a time.”

“Don’t foolishly turn your bombs into airplanes and use them all at once.” This was Cheng Zhu’s strategy.

Showing the capital investors Youu Tea’s innovative ability and precise market grasp was one aspect.

After all, venture capitalists invest in the future.

On the other hand, he was well aware that the “competitors” would inevitably copy them like crazy.

Only a fool would release all their products at once, letting you guys copy them all in one go.

Then what’s the point in playing?

Cheng Zhu picked up a cup of grape fuit tea and even put a sleeve on it.

After grabbing a straw casually, he promptly strode toward the Starbucks across the street.

As soon as he entered the coffee shop, the manager, Richard Lei, and staff member Cindy Wang’s attention immediately converged on him.

“Why has he come here?” the employees at Starbucks wondered.

Since Youu Tea had opened, this was Cheng Zhu’s first visit to this Starbucks.

He walked up to Lin Lu and whispered softly, “I’m done, let’s go.”

Actually, many people noticed Lin Lu as soon as she entered the shop.

Manager Lei Zi’s eyes brightened when he saw her.

Lately, the internet had been abuzz with marketing images of beautiful women lining up at Youu Tea.

Indeed, that was the reality–Hang City was home to many beautiful women, and numerous internet celebrities would visit specifically to check in.

Lei Zi had also seen this online.

But upon seeing Lin Lu, he had only one thought: “What’s the use of quantity? The key is quality!”

“Look, look at this beauty! She totally outshines those in your line!”

“And besides, your shop is packed full. The women in the line buy their drinks and leave, unlike her, who I guess will sit in my shop for a long time, becoming a glamorous highlight.”

And now…

Lei Zi: Damn, I really give up!

Fuck, this beauty is your friend, right? She was waiting for you to finish up, right?

Your own shop has no seats, so you let her sit in my shop and wait for you, huh?

Okay, okay!

Cheng Zhu was completely unaware of Lei Zi’s inner turmoil. He just smiled, handed the grape fruit tea to Lin Lu, and left with her, leaving only a handsome silhouette behind for Lei Zi.

…

…

“It’s so tasty!” Lin Lu followed behind Cheng Zhu, trailing him by half a step, and took big sips of the fruit tea.

“But my alcohol really did wear off, Cheng Zhu, I really don’t have a hangover.” She lifted the grape fruit tea and shook it slightly.

Cheng Zhu had told her during dinner that grapes could relieve alcohol effects, and she seemed to have misunderstood a bit.

“I know, I know, it just so happens that the new product is grape.”

“Oh oh!”

“Where are we going now?” Cheng Zhu asked.

“I don’t know,” Lin Lu replied.

“Huh? Didn’t you arrange everything?”

“I only thought about what to eat for lunch and dinner and we have a movie tonight. I didn’t plan anything else.”

Cheng Zhu: “…”

I thought you were going to have everything arranged for me today. It turns out you left some room for me to add my input.

“Come on, let’s head to the parking lot now and go straight to Wanxiang City,” Cheng Zhu eventually said.

The restaurant they were heading to for dinner was in the Wanxiang City mall, so the movie tickets were also for a cinema there.

“Go to Wanxiang City, and then?” Lin Lu was curious.

“Do you know how to skate?” he looked at Lin Lu.

“Ice skating?” Lin Lu initially asked, then realized, “Oh! Not rollerblading, there is an ice rink in Wanxiang City!”

“That’s right, we have free time, let’s go skating.”

“Sure, sure!” Lin Lu immediately became excited.

When they arrived at Wanxiang City’s ice rink, it was crowded with people.

Since today was a holiday, many people took the opportunity to go out in the afternoon.

If it had been the weekend, there would have been many children at the rink.

These places usually offer coaching services, and some parents buy lessons for their children.

Lin Lu leaned on the railing, her eyes sparkling as she watched the skaters gliding gracefully across the ice.

This young girl had apparently deeply immersed herself into the scene.

When they went to get the skates, Cheng Zhu reminded her, “The shoes here are oversized, it’s better to take a size smaller.”

“Okay.”

After changing, Cheng Zhu looked at her, “You don’t look like you can skate.”

“I can rollerblade; isn’t it somewhat similar?”

“It’s still different,” Cheng Zhu waved his hand dismissively. “Do you want me to get you a coach?”

“No,” Lin Lu immediately refused.

She wanted Cheng Zhu to teach her.

“Alright then, Coach Cheng will leave you to it,” he teased with a smile, pretending to stand up and head into the rink alone.

“Ah? I want it, I want it!” Lin Lu quickly realized he was referring to himself.

Once inside the rink, Lin Lu clung to the railing, terrified.

She was someone who was afraid of pain.

And even more afraid of making a fool of herself in front of Cheng Zhu.

If she fell on the ice, he would definitely laugh very loudly!

Yes, Cheng Zhu would.

He skated ahead quite elegantly for a while, circled back, and then looked at Lin Lu, starting off by caring, “Is it a bit cold?”

The mall had the heating on, but this girl was particularly sensitive to cold.

“It’s okay, not too cold,” said Lin Lu wrapped in a black scarf.

“That’s good, now I’ll teach you how to skate, let me share some tips.”

“First, you need to…”

He was just starting when Lin Lu interrupted him.

“Ah? You’re just going to teach me like this?” Lin Lu looked at him, slightly pouting her lips.

The next second, she smiled and voluntarily raised her arms forward.

She held her arms towards Cheng Zhu with a continuous smile, her small dimples appearing on her face.

Cheng Zhu sighed internally, moved a bit closer, and grabbed both of her wrists.

–It seems, this is the only way to teach now.

…

…

An ice rink makes a great dating spot if you really know how to skate and the girl doesn’t.

She’ll need your support and guidance.

And if she isn’t careful, she might even stumble and fall right into your arms.

Several times, Lin Lu had skated right into Cheng Zhu.

“Foul! That’s too much of a foul!” he thought to himself.

Even though they were on a frigid ice-rink, their interactions were exceptionally warm.

The unavoidable close physical contact allowed Cheng Zhu to feel her softness even through their winter clothing, revealing how substantial Little Lu’s assets were!

“Cheng Zhu, am I a bit clumsy?” she asked, almost falling again, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Hilarious, which normal man wouldn’t wish you were even clumsier?

Come on, fall right here into my arms!

“It’s okay, this thing is just hard at the beginning, you’ll pick up speed later,” Cheng Zhu said.

Later on, Lin Lu could skate a bit, though it was a stiff glide.

“Shall I let go of your hand then?” Cheng Zhu slightly loosened his grip on her wrists.

“No!”

When Lin Lu saw him letting go, she immediately grabbed his wrist.

Cheng Zhu had been skating backward, leading her all this while.

After thinking it over, he then said, “How about this, I’ll hold one hand, and you try skating a bit by yourself, okay?”

“Okay.” Lin Lu agreed.

She had noted that many of the couples around them were holding hands while skating.

Little Lu felt a bit envious.

“It doesn’t matter, several times when I almost fell, he held me. If I round it off, he has hugged me,” Lin Lu thought.

As mealtime approached, she was getting the hang of it.

Cheng Zhu, holding her wrist with one hand, allowed her to follow him far on the ice.

But overall, her movements were still very stiff and ungraceful.

However, because she was cute, her slight clumsiness added a touch of charm.

“We can probably go to eat now,” Cheng Zhu noted the time.

“No, let’s skate a bit more!” Lin Lu was hooked.

Typically, people who aren’t good are more addicted.

This meant they were a bit late going to dinner.

Moreover, the restaurant was packed that day, causing the food to be served a bit slowly. By the time they finished eating, they made it to the cinema just in time.

Just as they walked into the cinema, the lights inside the hall dimmed.

“Be careful where you walk, don’t almost fall like last time,” Cheng Zhu said.

The last time they watched a movie together, as they were leaving, Lin Lu almost had a little stumble.

He even teased her for being flat-footed.

Lin Lu was about to get upset when she felt her hand being grasped.

Though that day Cheng Zhu also held a denim shirt in his hand, so his grip on her hand was through the shirt, using it to gauge the force he applied.

But at this moment, as Cheng Zhu was preparing to continue walking towards the last row in the dim cinema, someone tugged at his sleeve.

He looked back in surprise and under the bright screen in the otherwise dark cinema, he saw Lin Lu repeating her earlier gesture.

Just like on the ice rink, she raised her arms towards him.

–Cheng Zhu, hold my hand.

At least there was the excuse of not knowing how to skate then, so now her heart was beating very fast, nervous and somewhat shy, but still maintaining that proactive stance.

That is Lin Lu.

Cheng Zhu looked at her intently and sighed internally again.

In the dark cinema, he didn’t go for her wrist again.

–Cheng Zhu held her hand.

…

(ps: First update, I feel the need to adjust the update time, it’s getting too sporadic.)