Chapter 8 The Last Cup of Original Ginger Tea 1
I rubbed my red eyes. After returning from "Xianyue House" last night, I have been studying the meaning of the decrypted texts. I didn't sleep well at all. Now I feel groggy.
The most frustrating thing is that I still have no clue!
I'm so stupid!
I lay on the bed sadly, looking at my brother's pen, hoping to get some clues from it. After staring at it for a while, I gave up, it was impossible.
Just when I was feeling depressed, my cell phone suddenly rang. Hey, it was Qiaoqiao. Is there any news about Dong Yehan?
As soon as I picked up the phone, Qiaoqiao yelled anxiously, totally unladylike: "Oh no! Xiaoxian."
Judging from Qiaoqiao's tone, could the situation be worse than it is now?
"What's the matter?" I asked, very frustrated.
"Someone attacked 'Xianyuewu' in the college forum and kept slandering and spreading rumors, saying that the drinks in the store were all made with low-quality ingredients and would upset people's stomachs, and that we were black-hearted businessmen. It's so despicable!" Qiaoqiao was very angry, and I could feel her anger even through the phone.
How could it be! Who on earth is so disgusting as to do such a thing?
"Who is that person?" I asked angrily.
"I don't know either. It's an anonymous account."
It turned out that someone was deliberately trying to discredit "Xianyuewu". This was definitely a conspiracy. The food problem that was complained about was also very strange. We clearly did not use expired cocoa powder, but it was discovered. The matter was even announced in the college, and my identity was also revealed. The person behind the scenes was really too "well-intentioned".
Who did I offend?
No, I must find out who this person is.
"Xiao Xian, are you listening to me?"
"I'm listening. Qiaoqiao, I think the person who attacked 'Xianyue House' is most likely the one who posted the anonymous letter on the bulletin board. We have to find a way to catch this person!"
"Of course!" Qiaoqiao said indignantly.
"Please send me the link to the post attacking 'Xianyuewu'. I'll see if there is anything new to discover."
Humph, I just want to see who is so evil that he is slandering us everywhere!
"good."
After a while, Qiaoqiao sent me the link. I clicked on it and saw the title of the post: Big Reveal! Unscrupulous beverage shop operates with a shady heart and actually uses inferior ingredients!
What? This is simply a false accusation!
The more I read, the angrier I got. Not only was the content of the post fabricated, but there were people who supported it, saying that the taste was not right when they drank it. Didn't they say that the drinks at "Xian Yue Wu" were delicious?
I noticed that the person who posted to discredit "Xianyue House" seemed to be very familiar with "Xianyue House".
Who is this person? Is he a regular customer? But I have only seen customers who ordered special drinks, and I have never seen anyone else.
Forget it, it's useless to worry about it now. The school notified me to suspend my studies for a week and let me deal with the "Xianyue House" matter. I thought about it and decided to close "Xianyue House". Although I was reluctant, there was nothing I could do.
After I packed up, I went out. Walking on the road, I was thinking about who did these things, and thinking about the closure of "Xianyue House", and I was in a very low mood.
Oh, how did things get so bad? This is simply the worst day of my life...
"ah!"
Suddenly, a basin of black water was poured on me. Before I could react, my whole body was soaked and I looked as miserable as a drowned rat.
Who is it? Who did such a terrible thing?
I looked up angrily and the girl in front of me looked at me arrogantly, with disgust and disdain in her eyes.
Fiame?
"Ju Xiaoxian, I didn't expect you to be such a person! You actually used inferior ingredients to make drinks and sold them to your classmates. Fortunately, I left early. If I had known you were such a person, I would have exposed you. You are really disgusting!"
After throwing dirty water, Fei Yamei pointed at me and cursed at me.
I was a little confused and couldn't believe that she was the one who did this.
"Fiamme, do you have any misunderstandings about me?"
"How is that possible! Everyone knows that you, Gu Xiaoxian, are a shady businessman. Today I will reveal your true colors in front of everyone!"
Fiame put her hands on her hips and accused me fiercely.
This scene attracted a lot of classmates to watch. After hearing her words, everyone started pointing fingers at me.
"Why did you do this? You're talking nonsense. You know the truth is not like this! Fiame, you're really going too far!"
Fei Yamei sneered, "I went too far? How could I be more excessive than you who used inferior ingredients to make dirty money? You also sold drinks to classmates at sky-high prices. Now I want to tell everyone about your evil deeds, so that more people can see your true face!"
She is simply confusing right and wrong. She really drives me crazy!
"What are you talking about? I never did it, you are talking nonsense!"
"I'm talking nonsense? The people from the Industrial and Commercial Bureau found that there are problems with your ingredients. Could it be that their inspection was wrong? You just don't want to be exposed!" Fei Yamei retorted harshly.
"I don't know why they found expired cocoa powder, but I can guarantee that the drinks prepared by 'Xianyuewu' are absolutely fine. Besides, you guys enjoyed drinking them very much and said they tasted great!"
I placed my hopes on the students who were watching. Every time they came to "Xianyuewu", they said the drinks were delicious and they would come again in the future. If you use inferior ingredients, how can you make delicious drinks?
However, everyone looked distrustful.
I felt a little powerless. I was indeed too naive.
"Don't listen to her nonsense. When I was a clerk at 'Xianyuewu', I often saw some unbranded ingredients being transported into the special drink room, and they were very mysterious. She never let me in. There must be something wrong." Fei Yamei immediately refuted my words.
I looked at her in disappointment. Why did she say that? When she worked in the store before, Qiaoqiao and I treated her well. If she hadn't betrayed us, why would we have fired her?
However, what made me even more painful was that, influenced by her words, my classmates looked at me with disgust and contempt, which made my heart sink to the bottom.
"No, that's not true. I really didn't use inferior ingredients. I only used the best ones... I didn't let Fiame in because that's the special drink room. I need a quiet and independent environment to make drinks, and I don't want to expose my identity. Please believe me!" I pleaded bitterly.
"You still want to deceive us now. Otherwise, why didn't you disclose earlier that you are the special drink chef of 'Xianyuewu'? You are just afraid of being found out and exposing yourself. Fortunately, a kind-hearted person revealed your identity, so we don't have to continue to be fools! "
"Yeah, now you're still pretending to be pitiful here!"
"By the way, she also deceived Dong Yehan's feelings. This is simply unforgivable!"
"Alas, I used to go to this unscrupulous store to drink beverages frequently. I don't know if it will affect my health."
Everyone's indifference and abuse broke my heart.
Unpleasant words kept coming from all around me. I was at a loss, and my hands fell down helplessly. Now I didn't even have the energy to explain myself. I stood alone and helpless in the crowd, like a sinner.
But, I clearly did nothing wrong!
I bit my lip in grievance.
At this time, Fei Yamei walked up to me and said arrogantly in a low voice: "Ju Xiaoxian, you are very sad, right? This is the price you pay for firing me!"
What is she saying?
I stared at her with wide eyes in disbelief: "It was obviously you who betrayed us for profit, so we fired you."
She was clearly the one who was wrong, so why did she have any reason to blame others! I didn't expect that Fiame would be such a person! How abominable!
I glared at her fiercely.
"Haha, you deserve it! Do you know how much my income has dropped without this job..."
Before Fei Yamei could vent her dissatisfaction, she was interrupted by a cry of surprise. I looked up and saw Xi Cunji walking towards her with a bright smile.
"Hey, is there anything fun here?" Xi Cunji asked curiously.
Many of the students watching were his fans. As soon as he appeared, many girls immediately surrounded him, their eyes red and chattering.
"We happened to meet Ju Xiaoxian when we were leaving school, so we wanted to teach her a lesson."
"Yes, yes. The former clerk also came to expose her true colors and seek justice for everyone."
"Xi Cunji, where are you going after school? We'll go with you."
The girls all explained the situation to Xi Cunji.
I looked at him nervously. He often went back home with Dong Yehan after school. Now that he was here, was Dong Yehan also nearby?
I looked around nervously, but didn't see Dong Yehan.
"So that's how it is." Xi Cunji showed an expression of sudden enlightenment.
"Yeah, yeah, she even lied to you and joined the investigation team. How despicable!"
"No!" I retorted quickly. Others could misunderstand me however they wanted, but not them. I had already treated them as good friends. It was wrong of me to conceal my identity before, but I really didn't mean to lie to them.
I looked at him pleadingly, don't believe them!
" I also know that Xiaoxian is the owner and specialty drink chef of 'Xianyuewu', but even if she did something wrong, you can't throw dirty water on her." Xi Cunji said to me with some dissatisfaction as he looked at me who was soaking wet.
I didn't expect that he would speak up for me. I looked at him in surprise and he smiled at me.
"Ah, Cunji, don't get me wrong, it wasn't us who splashed the water, it was that girl who did it." The girls pointed at Feiami.
"That's right, I poured it on her! Who told her to sell inferior drinks? I'm here to expose her evil deeds!" Fiame was still fierce.
"Oh, weren't you the clerk who worked at 'Xianyue House' before? I remember that you left 'Xianyue House' because we bribed you. Did you want to take the opportunity to take revenge on Xiaoxian, so you ran out to throw dirty water on her?" Xi Cunji narrowed his bright eyes and looked up and down at Fei Yamei, as if he had seen through her purpose.
"You, you're talking nonsense! I'm just trying to give everyone justice!" Fiamei retorted loudly, looking guilty.
"Really? I still remember that if it weren't for your help, we wouldn't have been able to enter the 'Xianyue House' so smoothly? Of course, we already know that it was wrong and have reflected on it. However, you seem to have been holding a grudge." Xi Cunji looked at Feiyami with a meaningful smile.
"So I think you are deliberately slandering Xiaoxian, deliberately throwing dirty water on her, and taking revenge maliciously. You don't really want to seek justice for everyone. Am I right?"
For a moment, the girls all looked at Fiame with suspicion.
"You, you are slandering me! I am only thinking about everyone else..."
"You're so angry after being exposed? Humph, you just told me that you wanted to take revenge on me, why don't you dare to admit it now?"
How could Fei Yamei be so shameless! She slandered and spread rumors everywhere for her own selfish desires, just like the poster on the college forum, talking nonsense without distinguishing right from wrong.
Thinking of this, my heart skipped a beat. Maybe the poster on the college forum was her. Besides Qiaoqiao and I, she was the only one who knew the inside story of the "Xianyuewu" store.
"Whatever you say. Xianyuewu is a black-hearted business anyway, and that's a fact that will never change!" Feiyami said angrily, then glared at me fiercely and turned away.
Looking at her fleeing figure, I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Xi Cunji appeared in time to help me out today.
"Senior Xi, thank you." I thanked him sincerely. I was really touched that he could stand by me and support me at this time.
"Don't thank me, I'm not that kind. I was so mad at you for deceiving me." Xi Cunji said helplessly.
Huh? Then he saved me just now...
I stared at him in confusion with wide eyes.
"Han and I passed by here just now and saw you being surrounded by girls. He watched quietly for a while and then asked me to come and help you out. It's strange that he asked me to help you even though you had deceived him."
"Yes...Did Dong Yehan ask you to help me?"
Hearing that Dong Yehan still cares about me, a warm current surged in my heart. I remembered that Qiaoqiao said that as long as I apologized sincerely, he would forgive me.
"Is he still there?" I asked nervously.
Xi Cunji shook his head: "After he saw me coming, he left. Xiaoxian, you really shouldn't have lied to Han. He is a person who will not change once he makes up his mind. We can all see that he likes you very much and trusts you, but you have been lying to him. Once some damage is done, it is difficult to repair." Xi Cunji looked at me with some disappointment.
I lowered my head in guilt.
"I also know that this is wrong. I didn't hide it on purpose, but I just haven't found a chance to speak up." I said frustratedly. Knowing that I hurt Dong Yehan, I really want to find a chance to make amends.
"You know, as a friend, I am also very angry about your deception, not to mention Han. You...you'd better take care of yourself." After Xi Cunji finished speaking, he turned and left.
Woohoo, it turns out that lying is wrong.
