Page Fourteen Aunt Lin (Part Two)
I couldn’t help but ask, “Why? Sister A doesn’t have a job yet, right? Modeling isn’t full-time work, and even though Tony Yang has introduced some jobs, wouldn’t there be no income if they stop?”
AJ scratched her cheek, implying, “Well… the café always stays open very late.”
“Huh?”
“If we go back too late, I won’t be able to take care of Sister Yǐjī.”
Is that the reason?
Aunt Lin asked, “Are there any other people you need to take care of?”
“Yes, there’s a person who can’t be left alone, someone who can’t manage without me.”
The person who couldn’t live without Sister Tāo before can now say such things… Indeed, after leaving Sister Tāo, AJ has grown a lot. The decision she made back then seems correct now.
—”Hmph, you’ve become someone who can’t live without Lǐn Huā, haven’t you?”—
Hey! That’s too harsh!
AJ scratched her head and said, “And finding a part-time job… I’m not in school anymore.”
“You look under twenty, right? Did you leave high school early to find work because of family difficulties?”
“Mmm…”
Actually, I didn’t even graduate from high school… AJ couldn’t bring herself to say this.
“Don’t ask so much, Big Aunt. Sister A has various reasons, but at least she has moved forward.”
Aunt Lin glanced at me with a smile, “You’re quite mature for your age. I remember kids your age wouldn’t dare drink coffee.”
“It’s just coffee, I drink it often.”
As I spoke, I cautiously took a sip of the latte AJ handed me. The coffee was smooth and warm, but it exploded with a strong bitter taste on my palate.
“Wow, it’s so bitter! Though there is a hint of sweetness…”
But it was really too bitter!
Unable to speak, I could only stick out my tongue like a dog, even the saliva was bitter.
From afar, Cherry Sauce sent a teasing laugh.
—”I warned you not to order coffee from this place. With your young taste buds, you’re definitely going to find it unbearable…”—
Why didn’t you tell me sooner!
Most chain cafes compromise on flavor to cater to the masses, so the bitterness shouldn’t be this intense.
“Mm, even though I saw Sister A adding so much milk, why is it still so bitter?”
Finally adjusting to the bitterness, I had to face Aunt Lin and AJ stifling their laughter.
Aunt Lin introduced, “This girl, our Espresso is quite authentic, but it’s not just bitter. If you taste carefully, you’ll find a sweet note too. Although our café isn’t as large as those chains, we guarantee the quality of our coffee beans.”
“What does ‘El psy…’ mean?”
Seeing I didn’t understand, AJ explained, “‘Espresso’ means Italian concentrated coffee. What’s called Americano is just Espresso diluted with water… If you want a lighter taste, you can dilute it up to ten times.”
In other words, Americano is also an espresso-based drink.
Aunt Lin brought another cup of coffee topped with foam, compared to the latte, this small cup had more air injected into its foam, making it fluffier and softer.
Then, she handed me a piping g*n filled with dark red transparent liquid.
“Do you want to try drawing something? It’s not latte art, but you can write something with caramel syrup on top. It’s like making a wish.”
Caramel Macchiato.
This is the coffee AJ ordered.
“On coffee, you make a wish?”
Although the rim was small and the tip of the piping g*n was fine, barely enough for writing, yes, like the maid café uses tomato sauce to ‘cast spells’ on omelet rice.
[May Mom come home soon]
Though I wanted to write this, there wasn’t enough space.
So, I finally wrote [Mother].
This surprised Aunt Lin, “Oh, is this about missing your mother?”
“No, actually, I’ve never seen her… So this is my wish.”
“Early-maturing children often have stories. Looks like you’re no exception.”
Aunt Lin lit a cigarette but didn’t light it, instead, she held her chin and stared at me intently.
“Girl, you’re half-Chinese, half-European, right?”
“Huh? Can you tell?”
Even though I’m mixed, my black hair makes it less obvious.
“There are some features. Your eyes are beautiful… So, your mother is European, and she left you behind when she returned home?”
Aunt Lin seemed to imagine some dramatic love story.
“No, it’s not that complicated. My mother is also mixed.”
AJ sat back at the counter, taking away the latte I had tasted, and pushing her caramel macchiato towards me.
“Though it’s still based on Espresso, it has a lot of syrup, so the caramel macchiato is very sweet. You should be able to accept it. Let’s share.”
“…Thanks.”
AJ’s thoughtful gesture was unexpectedly charming.
However, even the caramel macchiato couldn’t mask the pure bitterness of the coffee.
Through coffee art, AJ began to inquire about Aunt Lin’s situation.
“Sister, how long have you been running this café?”
AJ’s question made Aunt Lin think for a moment.
“About ten years, I guess?”
“That’s quite an old café.”
That’s why it has good reputation and regular customers.
AJ took a sip of the latte and said thoughtfully, “Your coffee tastes too authentic. While I can appreciate it, don’t you think about catering to the market? Relying solely on regulars won’t expand your business.”
“Haha, you have ideas. But I didn’t start this café to make money.”
Indeed, she didn’t seem short on cash. Even though she didn’t get along with Lin Yuhuang, they were still considered family.
AJ pressed further, “Is it because of your interest? Do you love coffee?”
Aunt Lin looked towards the stairs and said solemnly, “More importantly, I wanted to give a child a home.”
“Huh? Child?”
It seemed like a key clue, AJ wouldn’t let this opportunity pass.
“If you have a child, they should be around my age, right?”
Following Aunt Lin’s gaze, AJ asked, “Does she live upstairs?”
“No, my own child doesn’t live here, but there’s another child staying here. She lost her mother just like this girl…”
Ling Shaojie’s existence clearly wasn’t a secret; regular customers probably knew, so it wasn’t a taboo topic.
I reminded them, “My mother isn’t dead!”
“I didn’t say she was.”
“…Oh?”
Could Ling Shaojie’s mother not be dead?
It didn’t match what we heard yesterday.
“There seems to be a heavy story behind this. If you don’t mind, could you tell us?”
AJ’s curiosity was dampened by Aunt Lin.
“No, it’s family business, not something to be talked about casually.”
Even AJ couldn’t pry more out of her.
It made sense; Ling Shaojie and Lin Yuhuang’s relationship wouldn’t allow them to casually reveal details to just anyone they met.
The atmosphere cooled until Aunt Lin brought a slice of chocolate cake.
“Girl, your tiramisu.”
“Oh, thanks.”
This cake was very sweet but had a slight bitter taste… What’s going on? Is everything here bitter?
AJ stretched lazily and asked, “Are you going to the Balance Commercial District this afternoon?”
“Yeah, I have something to investigate, but you reminded me. I haven’t contacted Sister Shān yet.”
I pulled out my phone to message Sister Shān. AJ sipped her coffee and asked, “What are you investigating?”
“Another café.”
“Are you doing market research?”
To avoid Aunt Lin noticing my investigation of Lin Yuhuang, I replied, “Sort of. Sister A, you know a lot about coffee. Could you spend the afternoon with me?”
AJ seemed troubled.
“Um, I can’t. I have to go back after lunch, or someone might starve at home.”
… Does Sister Yǐjī have zero self-care skills?
Sister Shān showed high enthusiasm in her reply, sending a quick response.
[12:30 PM, meet me at the entrance of the pedestrian street. I’ll come after I eat.]
But a minute later, she added another message.
[Father insisted on coming too]
[Can’t refuse, she’d roll on the ground if I didn’t take her]
Rolling on the ground… Sister Léiluó’s thinking has been completely childified.
“We’ll meet at 12:30 PM. It’s already past eleven, and considering the time to walk back… It’s troublesome to find somewhere to eat, so let’s have lunch here.”
“No problem, but you’ll have to pay for lunch.”
“Since you’re tight on cash, let me treat you to lunch.”
“Thanks!” AJ responded, then told Aunt Lin, “Sister, we’ll have lunch here!”
She tapped the menu board behind her.
“I only have plain fried rice and curry. Soup is borscht. Is that okay?”
“No problem, it’s a café, eating isn’t the main focus, as long as it fills the stomach.”
Although the counter also serves as a kitchen, with only Aunt Lin working, the menu options are limited. However, cakes and coffee are bitter. Would the curry and fried rice be bitter too?
“I’ll have beef curry rice.”
“The curry is ordered from a restaurant and hasn’t arrived yet.”
“No rush, we can wait.”
During the wait, a few more guests came in. It was Wednesday, so students were unlikely to be seen. Most were older patrons.
Then, a man with a markedly different presence entered.
Aunt Lin said, “You’re here.”
The middle-aged man replied, “I’m here.”
He looked to be in his forties or fifties, wearing a suit that didn’t look particularly warm, with a stern square face and symmetrical white hair at the temples, exuding a fierce aura.
His aura resembled Aunt Lin’s.
