NOVPUBChapter 122 Lu Qin is Making Milk Tea—How Should One Respond?
Fang Ya’s face lit up with excitement, as if this was the moment she had been waiting for all along.
For a few seconds, the atmosphere seemed to freeze. Shen Muyan withdrew her hand from Lu Qin’s shoulder, turned around, and sat properly, her expression calm and indifferent.
Lu Qin rubbed his nose awkwardly.
Lu Xiyao blinked her curious eyes and asked, “Big Sister Fang Ya, what are you talking about? My mommy and daddy have been sitting in the living room together this whole time. What do you mean ‘back together’?”
Fang Ya waved her hand, laughing.
“Sweetheart, don’t interrupt. What you mean by ‘together’ isn’t the same as what I mean.”
She then looked at Shen Muyan and Lu Qin, her face full of a knowing look that said, Just admit it already.
Shen Muyan, the formidable CEO, giving Lu Qin a shoulder massage?
Even before their divorce, such intimate gestures were rare between them.
Fang Ya could never figure out why these two had always been so polite and formal with each other—were they just friends?
“It’s just a shoulder massage. Don’t overthink it,” Shen Muyan said as she stood up.
“It’s getting late. I’ll take the little one back to the villa.”
Fang Ya clicked her tongue.
“Oh, come on. My eyes don’t lie. Whether I’m overthinking it or not, you both know the truth.”
Fang Ya pointed a finger at both Shen Muyan and Lu Qin like a playful referee but said no more.
If there’s progress, it’s a good thing, she thought, deciding to hold back and wait for more sweet moments to unfold.
Shen Muyan held Lu Xiyao’s little hand, preparing to leave.
“But I still want to drink Daddy’s Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea,” the little girl said, her bright eyes brimming with anticipation, as if chanting silently—Daddy, milk tea, milk tea, milk tea…
“Osmanthus Oolong?” 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
The three adults’ eyes lit up, their faces full of excitement and anticipation.
Lu Qin’s mung bean smoothie had already proven itself leagues ahead of any milk tea on the market. Now that he was making milk tea, what could they do but surrender?
Lu Qin tousled the little girl’s hair and said, “You never forget anything about food and drink, do you?”
The little girl giggled, “Daddy, you always call me a foodie. In a foodie’s world, it’s all about eating and drinking!”
Lu Qin gently tapped her nose.
“You’ve got a whole set of excuses ready, huh?”
“Daddy, hurry up—milk tea, milk tea, milk tea…”
Fang Ya joined in, “Lu Qin, come on—milk tea, milk tea…”
Both turned to Shen Muyan with a look that said–Join the team.
But Shen Muyan ignored them.
“I don’t like milk tea. Can you make it with coffee?” She asked.
Fang Ya teased.
“Shen Muyan, how picky can you get? Milk tea is already good enough.”
Lu Xiyao chimed in, “Mommy, milk tea is sweet and delicious. Coffee is bitter.”
Lu Qin nodded.
“It’s possible to add coffee. I can also use milk, coconut milk, or rice wine. Osmanthus Oolong can be customized with many flavors.”
Hearing this, Lu Xiyao and Fang Ya’s hearts skipped a beat.
“Daddy, I want one with milk and one with coconut milk, so I can try both,” the little girl said excitedly.
Fang Ya added, “I’ll take one with milk and one with rice wine, so I can try both too.”
Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea, Osmanthus Oolong Coconut Delight, Osmanthus Oolong Rice Bliss—were they about to achieve ultimate milk tea freedom?
Lu Qin burst their bubble.
“I didn’t buy coconut milk or rice wine. We only have milk and coffee.”
“…”
Osmanthus Oolong tea had already been steeped, with hot brewing for winter and cold brewing for summer. Cold brewing enhanced the aroma and flavor, making it perfect for the season.
Each pound of tea could make about 50 cups. For his late-night food stall tonight, Lu Qin planned to limit sales to 100 cups. Not because he couldn’t make more, but because the space in his freshness-locking thermal box was limited and needed to store other food as well. Storing the prepared tea in an ordinary container would compromise its flavor and aroma, which was unacceptable.
Lu Qin went into the kitchen, took out whole milk and coffee beans, and began preparing. Milk tea required more than just milk—it also needed a certain proportion of light cream. The coffee beans were ground to the perfect consistency, as the particle size greatly affected the extraction speed and flavor.
While brewing the Osmanthus Oolong and coffee, Lu Qin carefully controlled the temperature, knowing it directly impacted the taste.
As Shen Muyan watched him work, she couldn’t help but admire his focused and meticulous demeanor—it was captivating. Meanwhile, Lu Xiyao leaned over the back of the sofa, her chin resting in her hands, eyes sparkling with anticipation. It was as if her gaze could summon the milk tea faster. Fang Ya, too, was waiting eagerly. As a self-proclaimed milk tea addict, she had tried countless brands but was confident this would be the best.
Ten minutes later, Lu Qin brought out four cups of Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea. One of the cups was made with skim milk and coffee—a coffee-flavored drink with Osmanthus Oolong as the base, lightly sweet and wonderfully unique.
The enticing aroma of tea, milk, and coffee filled the room as the three waiting companions couldn’t help but swallow eagerly.
“Daddy, milk tea, milk tea, milk tea!” Lu Xiyao exclaimed, reaching out with her small hands.
Each person received a cup, their ice and sweetness levels predetermined by Lu Qin for optimal taste.
Sip…
Sip…
The tea was rich and smooth, the osmanthus’s floral notes perfectly complementing the oolong’s mellow depth. It was a harmonious dance of flavors—tea infused with aroma, aroma enriched by tea—truly exquisite.
The four of them lit up with delight, their eyes sparkling as if illuminated from within. The refreshing, creamy drink soothed and comforted, leaving them all in awe. It was amazing!
For Lu Xiyao, this was her first time tasting the milk tea she had long dreamed of, and it was her father’s masterpiece. It was so good it made her feel like she was flying! Her little legs swung happily under the table, her mouth open in a bright smile, revealing her pearly white teeth.
Fang Ya, usually talkative, was silent as she drank, fully immersed in the experience. If there were a benchmark for milk tea, this was it—it outclassed every other brand.
Shen Muyan sipped hers slowly, savoring the moment.
“This Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea is completely different from anything outside. It’s rich, sweet, and incredibly delicious. Milk tea shops often have stronger tea flavors, but they don’t come close to this,” Shen Muyan said, analyzing it objectively.
Lu Qin smiled and explained, “It’s all about the quality of the tea. Milk tea shops rely on mass production and can’t control the quality of the tea leaves. If the tea aroma isn’t strong enough, they add artificial flavoring—the so-called ‘magic of modern science.’ But the artificial aroma can never compare to naturally high-quality tea leaves.”
Shen Muyan nodded thoughtfully.
“You’re a true professional.”
“Daddy is amazing!”
Lu Xiyao declared proudly, even if she didn’t fully understand what he said. To her, her dad knew everything and could do anything.
