IHOEAYSTTTIW Chapter 26

“No!” Cheng Que, upon hearing the bad news, had a mental breakdown and jumped up.

Cheng Que’s shout was loud enough that everyone looked over. He belatedly realized he had lost his composure and, with a light cough, regained his usual refined demeanor.

“Young Master Lin, please reconsider, redecorating is no small matter.” Cheng Que advised kindly, while frantically winking at Gu Zhan.

Gu Zhan received the signal, Gu Zhan ignored the signal.

He had done plenty of unconventional things like this. When the neighbors complained to his parents, they would say they would teach him a lesson when they got home, and then nothing would happen.

Regarding painting the shop green, Gu Zhan not only agreed but was also ready to cheer it on.

“Lin Yan…”

As soon as he uttered those two words, two cold glares shot towards Gu Zhan. He shivered and quickly changed his tune, “If Young Master Lin doesn’t have enough money, I have some savings of my own.”

The envoy he sent had defected to the enemy, and Cheng Que almost choked. The envoy was still trying to persuade him, “Good A-Que, just trust me this once, my intuition is always right…”

“You…” Cheng Que wanted to retort, but then remembered his current status, and his already small flame of anger instantly died down. He obediently lowered his head, and his words were humble and respectful, “Husband, don’t say such things, I can’t bear it.”

Cheng Que never used to be like this. Gu Zhan also noticed Cheng Que’s unusual behavior, but thought he was just angry. Gu Zhan patted his chest and confidently assured him, “It’s okay, if the shop doesn’t do well, I’ll take responsibility.”

Cheng Que nodded, not insisting further. He looked down at the accounts, and inadvertently glanced at Yun Qi listening to Lin Yan’s future plans with a doting expression.

He didn’t understand what Lin Yan was saying, he even felt that no one could support Lin Yan’s wild ideas, but Yun Qi was listening with a doting expression, occasionally adding a few words.

Such unconditional indulgence was something he had never experienced, or even dared to imagine.

Cheng Que tried to shift his attention away from the two of them, focusing on the money in the accounts.

He should be content. Not everyone was as lucky as Lin Yan. He didn’t have to sell himself for the shop, nor was he married off to an old man in his seventies or eighties by his second mother. Even the Gu family was very good to him, and they didn’t even make him sign a contract of indenture when they bought him… He was already lucky enough and shouldn’t ask for more.

Bad news: the Cheng family’s shop was decorated beyond recognition.

Good news: although Lin Yan was a “soul painter,” his aesthetic sense was still online.

The green Lin Yan chose wasn’t a high-saturation fluorescent green (mainly because he couldn’t mix it), but a more sophisticated blue-green. Moreover, it wasn’t a large-scale flat application, but just some touches in conspicuous places. The cups, plates, tables, and chairs in the shop were also replaced with new ones, all bearing the signature color.

In half a year, Yun Qi had been fed taller than Lin Yan, so he naturally took over the job of painting high up. Lin Yan stood below, helping Yun Qi hold the ladder.

Yun Qi held the brush and gestured at the carvings on the beams, “Is this position okay?”

Lin Yan gave a thumbs up, “Absolutely perfect.”

Praised, Yun Qi was full of energy. The characters on the beams were also written with a unique style that couldn’t be achieved without at least a decade of practice.

Gu Zhan, who was coloring the patterns, was attracted. Although he didn’t recognize many characters, he knew good from bad. He tilted his head and looked for a long time, muttering in a muffled voice, “Brother Mo’s handwriting is beautiful.”

A warning bell went off in Yun Qi’s mind.

He had been so carried away by the praise, only wanting to show Lin Yan his best side, constantly flitting around him like a peacock. He had forgotten that many things weren’t things he should know, like the elaborate traditional characters on the beams.

Yun Qi hurriedly looked in Lin Yan’s direction, only to see Lin Yan nodding in agreement, his face full of pride. He breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled self-deprecatingly.

He was overthinking it. Lin Yan was very carefree and might not have noticed the slip-ups he had made. Even if he did, he would quickly convince himself otherwise. His fragile disguise was still indestructible.

Gu Zhan was so busy looking at Yun Qi’s handwriting that he didn’t notice his purse was caught on the ladder’s handrail. By the time he noticed, the purse had already been pulled off and was barely hanging on the handrail, about to fall. He scrambled to catch it, only managing to grab the drawstring. The silver notes in the purse fluttered down.

Pies don’t fall from the sky, but silver notes do.

Lin Yan was momentarily stunned when he saw the silver notes suddenly floating into his hand. Then, he heard Gu Zhan’s voice from above, “Young Master Lin, please pick up those silver notes for me.”

“I was just saying the weather was good today, and it’s finally raining silver notes.” Lin Yan raised his eyebrows and bent down to pick up the scattered notes. These notes were very accurate. Except for the one in Lin Yan’s hand, most of them had fallen into the paint bucket. Lin Yan shook them a couple of times, regretting to find that the paint had soaked into the notes. He hastily counted them and handed them to Gu Zhan, “Can these still be used?”

“Just have to make do, as long as the purse is okay.” Gu Zhan stuffed the paint-stained notes haphazardly into his pocket, carefully tucking the purse into his arms.

Was this a new version of buying the casket and returning the pearl? Besides, I didn’t even ask about your purse.

Lin Yan looked up at Gu Zhan, his face full of bewilderment.

“You’re asking about this? I think it’s pretty too.” Gu Zhan took out the purse, flaunting it in front of Lin Yan, then carefully put it back. “Cheng Que sewed this for me when he was only seven years old.”

Very good, Cheng Que gave it to him, so it’s okay.

After showing off, Gu Zhan felt embarrassed. He pointed to the wooden carving in the corner, awkwardly changing the subject, “The logo you wanted, I’ve carved it for you, does it look right?”

Ordinary raw wood was carved with exquisite patterns, in the middle of which was a majestic tabby cat holding the character “Xiang.”

Lin Yan walked out with the LOGO in his arms, shaking his head as he looked at White sleeping soundly in the corner, “Who would know this mascot is just this fat cat.”

“Big Brother, let me install it.” Lin Yan had just reached the door when Yun Qi snatched the job again. Yun Qi went to install the signboard, and Lin Yan made a mess of things below, so he was quickly chased away in annoyance.

After messing around all day, Master Lin finally didn’t accomplish anything. However, he soon found a new job.

Lin Yan scribbled furiously on a piece of paper, quickly drafting a menu.

“Check out my new menu.” Lin Yan handed the list to Cheng Que, who was staring blankly at Gu Zhan.

Storefront signs, various side dishes, seasonal fresh vegetables, creative desserts, specialty drinks…

Lin Yan felt that he was very comprehensive, proudly wagging his non-existent tail.

Cheng Que felt a headache coming on. It was one thing for the shop’s decor to be unconventional, but even the menu was unheard of.

He had to find a way to dissuade him, or this shop would fail sooner or later…

Lin Yan waited for a long time but didn’t receive the praise he wanted. His wagging tail gradually drooped, and the flame of excitement began to extinguish.

Yun Qi, who had just entered the room, sensed that the atmosphere was not right. He peeked at the menu in Cheng Que’s hand, and without asking anything, immediately praised, “Very good, great, very comprehensive.”