As dusk settled, the pedestrian street began to transform, its thoroughfares bathed in the multicoloured glow of lights, making it appear as bright as day.
The dinner rush had passed, and the street slowly filled with more pedestrians, the calls of various shops growing louder.
Ye Qin Xiang also welcomed a group of familiar customers: the Bin Da teachers. There weren't many, only about ten, all of whom taught Li Hao Chen and his classmates.
As teachers, it was only right to support their students when they succeeded. Glancing at the fifteen yuan price tag, their expressions varied, and after a moment of internal debate, they could still afford to buy one.
A discount? Free? They could take advantage of such small perks, though that was their initial thought.
With so many people watching, could they do something that would save face? Hmm… if there was no one around…
"Wow, this tastes amazing!"
"No wonder business is so good!"
"It's just a little bit expensive…"
"Huh…?"
The booming business of Ye Qin Xiang truly surprised them. As they drank the coconut juice, they rambled on, muttering about working hard and staying true to their original intentions, praising their students, their voices almost drowning out the loud music from outside.
Good heavens, how did they not notice this talent during class?
Among these teachers, the most prominent was their homeroom teacher, Luo Bin. He was beaming with pride and flushed with joy, laughing heartily as if he were afraid others wouldn't know he was Li Hao Chen's homeroom teacher.
They sipped their small young coconuts as if they were buckets. This group of teachers lingered by the shop entrance for a good half hour. Li Hao Chen gifted each of them two coconut hearts before they finally left, satisfied. During the process, they clutched their bags, repeatedly saying they didn't need them, and offered words of encouragement before departing.
"Phew~ Finally got rid of them."
Chen He chuckled wryly, "Indeed. Fortunately, Hao Chen was perceptive; otherwise, we might have been standing here all night."
"Alright, building good relationships doesn't hurt. We might even have to thank these two coconuts later."
At eight in the evening, it was the busiest time on the pedestrian street. The crowds were dense, with tourists filling the wide street to the brim. All the shops radiated excitement and joy.
Li Hao Chen's shop was no exception. Although not yet famous, it had gained some renown. Many came specifically after seeing it on social media. The four boys and four girls were incredibly busy. If not for Miss Dong's efficiency, they would likely have ended up drenched.
At nine o'clock, the tourists on the pedestrian street cycled through, yet the crowd never thinned. Not only did it not decrease, but it even grew. However, most were young men and women; young people's lives were just beginning.
"Boss, two young coconuts, iced please."
"Coming right up, please wait a moment."
Soon, the young coconuts were sold out again. Li Hao Chen checked the time; it was only nine-thirty. After thinking for a while, he decided not to restock because everyone was showing signs of fatigue.
Despite the exhaustion, the excitement in their eyes was undeniable. They had sold 1,600 young coconuts in a single day, a figure they had never dared to imagine.
"After deducting the 3.5 cost, we made almost eighteen thousand today?"
Liang Min Feng furiously typed on the computer and stared at the numbers on the screen, momentarily stunned, before looking at Liu De Hui beside him with a bewildered expression.
"Second brother, am I dreaming?"
Liang Min Feng’s face darkened. "Ai ya, Gui Fang, why are you pinching me?"
"Does it hurt?"
"If it doesn't hurt, why would you try to..." He swallowed his words mid-sentence.
Zhang Gui Fang proudly retracted her hand, which was still in mid-air. "If you know it hurts, then why are you dreaming?"
Zhang Gui Fang looked at the string of numbers with heartfelt joy. After all, she was the legitimate boss's wife.
What woman wouldn't want her man to succeed? Mu Rong Yan Ran was naturally overjoyed by the shop's success. Li Hao Chen, as the major shareholder, was also generous.
He took out four envelopes from the drawer, placing three hundred in each. It wasn't much, but it wasn't little either. Based on current part-time wages, it was equivalent to three to four days' income.
"To the four lovely ladies, thank you for your support today. A small token of my appreciation."
Mu Rong Yan Ran accepted it without looking. This was the first salary she had received in her life, and she was so happy and sweet about it that she planned to lock it away and keep it forever.
Liang Min Feng snatched one and playfully handed it to Zhang Gui Fang. The scene of the boss giving a salary to his wife was quite amusing, so he accepted it grandly.
However, Ruan Shan Shan and Zhang Qian Qian felt a bit embarrassed to accept.
Li Hao Chen winked at Chen He and Liu De Hui, and the reaction of the two single men was swift, as if transmitted by sound waves.
Each took one, then grabbed their hands and tucked the money in, seizing the opportunity to hold their hands, which made them grin from ear to ear, their hearts filled with joy.
The two girls blushed deeply, giving them a few exasperated eye-rolls. Their expressions captivated the two dazed fellows, and the little deer in their hearts leaped with such delight.
The work ethic of the two girls was evident, and the shop was short-handed. Moreover, since those two simpletons had feelings for them, and they were working part-time anyway, it was a win-win situation not to be missed.
Li Hao Chen's mind whirred. He pulled Mu Rong Yan Ran aside. The angle was perfect, resembling a scene from a kiss shot, a deliberate positioning.
Incredible! The sight made the guys behind them exchange wide-eyed glances, snorting with heavy breaths, and all of them gave Li Hao Chen a thumbs-up. Impulsive, uninhibited, and true to himself – a model for them all.
The few young girls flushed crimson, covering their eyes but not forgetting to peek through their fingers. Their palms were sweating, and they were so nervous, as if they were the ones in the situation.
"That's how it is, Yan Ran. Go talk to Shan Shan later."
"Mm, this is good too, since you're familiar with each other."
As Li Hao Chen and Mu Rong Yan Ran finished their conversation, they turned to look, and the scene unfolding before them was as if they had just witnessed a street performance art.
Li Hao Chen and Mu Rong Yan Ran looked at each other, utterly perplexed, exchanging glances. "Are their eyes twitching?"
"Mm, probably."
"Then… let's stay away from them, don't want to catch it."
Mu Rong Yan Ran walked over, took Ruan Shan Shan and Zhang Qian Qian's hands, and led them aside. "Shan Shan and Qian Qian, I have something to tell you…"
Meanwhile, Li Hao Chen was cornered by the three mischievous men in the inner room. Their gazes were chilling, as if they were looking at naked beauties.
"Third brother, tell us, what did it feel like?"
"Yeah, yeah, was it sweet?" Liang Min Feng was also full of envy. Although he had been with Zhang Gui Fang for some time, it was limited to a few shy hand-holds. His itching heart had long yearned for more. He was a model student of Teacher Cang's class, with excellent grades.
"What feeling?" Li Hao Chen scratched his head, looking utterly bewildered.
"Here…"
The three turned their eyes like fish scales and gave Li Hao Chen a universally understood gesture.