53 Down the Memory Lane 3 (1/2)

Joann turned around with her eyebrow raised as if asking, 'What do you mean it is for me?'

Xu Jing flashed a smile that he believed was his most dashing and offered, ”Will you please join me? It is my treat.” He looked at the two bowls of Dou Hua before asking, ”Which do you prefer? The one with brown sugar or white sugar?”

Joann narrowed her eyes at him as if seriously considering his offer. Then, she opened her lips to say, ”I am not allowed to fraternize with customer during working hours.”

She then turned and walked up.

Xu Jing called after her and tried to get her attention again but Joann treated him like air.

He eventually gave up, finished the bowl of Tong Sui and left with his shoulders slumped despondently.

However, Xu Jing did not give up. He arrived the next day and repeated the same thing. Unfortunately, he got the same result.

Xu Jing repeated this for the whole week, ordering two bowls of Tong Sui but always finishing and paying for only one.

While he failed to grab Joann's attention, he did manage to garner the attention of the humble shop's proprietor, Auntie Xiao. At the end of the week, after he paid for his food, he realized Auntie Xiao only charged him for one bowl of Tong Sui.

Noticing the curious expression on Xu Jing's face, the middle-aged lady explained, ”Since you only finish one bowl every time, I am charging you for the price of one.”

”It is alright, Auntie Xiao. Consider the other one a treat for Joann,” Xu Jing admitted shyly.

Looking at the young man who escaped without taking his change, Auntie Xiao shook her head with disappointment. Initially, her plan was to stay her hands and watch from the sideline as this young love blossomed but Xu Jing's lame tactics disappointed Auntie Xiao greatly. She thought the two make quite a wholesome pair but the lack of progress on Xu Jing's part worried her. Therefore, she took it upon herself to give the young man a necessary shove in the right direction.

The next day Xu Jing came back, took his usual table and ordered the same thing. Joann served him his order and was about to walk away like she usually did when Auntie Xiao intercepted her and said, ”Joann, go sit with that young man. Don't make him waste his money like this.”

Joann was surprised but after she recovered, she tried to protest, ”But, Auntie Xiao…”