“Miss Zhuge, could you pass me the finalized documents?”
“Here you go!”
While the funeral of the deceased Ma Yang-baek was in full swing, I was handling the backlog of work with Miss Zhuge.
Normally, it would be customary for relatives to keep vigil, but even though my relationship with Miss Zhuge was publicly recognized, I wasn’t formally acknowledged as her betrothed in the Zhuge family, which made my presence a bit awkward.
Moreover, because Miss Zhuge was the kind of person who felt burdened in crowded places, I was allowed to return to the mansion under the permission of her aunt, who instructed her to take care of her nephew.
“Miss Zhuge, do you have something to say?”
Why is she still standing next to me after handing over the documents? As I looked at Miss Zhuge, she opened her mouth cautiously.
“Isn’t it better for you to take a rest?”
What was she talking about? The second exam had ended, so did I look like I was working too much?
“When I’m deep into writing, I sometimes sleep for only two hours and get right back up. This is fine.”
“Two hours?!”
“I had to manage the bookstore during the day and write at night.”
“I had no idea ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ was such a tough novel to write!”
Miss Zhuge stared at me, surprised.
Truthfully, it was closer to my experiences as a part-time writer back in modern times.
When I operated the Yichang Tea Bookstore, it wasn’t that I hadn’t done the same, but if I didn’t sleep, Hwa-rin wouldn’t sleep either, so I had to compromise and get some rest.
“Now that you’re helping me, it’s all fine.”
The business had grown, and while there was more to do, responsibilities were well divided, so I smiled as if saying there was no need to worry too much.
“…”
She still looked worried. I could see a hint of discontent in Miss Zhuge’s eyes as she glanced at me, even though she urged me to take a break.
“Of course, when I have free time, I want to stretch out and not get up right away, just roll around in my room, eat the snacks I crave, and spend the day doing my favorite hobbies…”
“Oh no!”
Miss Zhuge’s eyes fluttered in surprise.
“Huh?”
“I-I-I’m sorry!”
“Haha! That’s not what I meant. Miss Zhuge, you help me so much! I’m just trying to prepare so I can focus.”
I had no intention of criticizing her for resting, but was Miss Zhuge feeling a bit guilty for no reason?
“Focusing?”
“I don’t know what kind of exam Man Geum-jeon will give next. So I’m trying to get everything done in advance. I need to become Man Geum-jeon’s successor, so that…”
I could also act as Miss Zhuge’s fiancé, after all.
When I looked at her with that unspoken thought, she seemed to understand as her lips twitched.
“Um… Is there something you’d like to drink?”
Well, something to drink…
“I would like a nice cold iced Americano.”
When working hard, that’s definitely the potion of the office worker.
“I’ll get it for you!”
“Thank you!”
As Miss Zhuge’s footsteps pattered out of the office, they seemed unusually lighter than usual.
“Is there no coffee beans left?”
“I-I’m sorry! The person in charge wasn’t able to come to work for a few days due to illness, so we got behind on checking!”
Si-bi fidgeted, constantly bowing to Zhuge Hyang.
If it had been someone else, I would have given a stern talking-to as the owner of the mansion. However, Zhuge Hyang seemed too shocked to hear that there were no coffee beans.
“There are no coffee beans?!”
Master Kang is working hard without rest for himself. How could he ask for a glass of iced Americano and we don’t have a single one to bring him?
Zhuge Hyang imagined what Kang Yoon-ho, who would respond with a cold expression, would say.
“I’m working hard for my little lady, yet Miss Zhuge can’t even bring a cup of coffee?”
“N-No, that’s not it! It’s just that we have run out of beans, you see.”
“While Im Ha-yeon just has to sit quietly and serve tea and snacks, Miss Zhuge has become the owner of the mansion and didn’t even check if we have beans or not?”
“I-I’m sorry!”
“It seems so. It really seems that the real successor is Miss Im Ha-yeon. I hope she comes soon.”
“Please no!”
My heart is breaking! Just hearing Master Kang’s cold remark makes my heart crumble!
“I’m so sorry! I’ll quickly bring out some other tea or anything!”
Si-bi said in panic at Zhuge Hyang’s outcry.
“It’s okay.”
Zhuge Hyang turned as if she had made a resolution.
“Huh? Then what are you going to do, Miss Zhuge?! Where are you going?”
Si-bi called after her, but Zhuge Hyang didn’t bother to respond.
The beans had run out.
Master Kang couldn’t have his coffee. She would fail Grandfather’s test. She wouldn’t be acknowledged as his fiancé.
She couldn’t let such a worst-case scenario happen. With burning determination, Zhuge Hyang made a big decision.
“I’ll go buy the beans myself!”
———
“Miss Zhuge, we’ve arrived at the market… Are you really sure about this?”
“I can do it by myself. Maybe.”
With a trembling voice, Zhuge Hyang nodded to the driver.
As the mistress, it’s natural to take care of the household matters. I have to take responsibility. She took a deep breath to calm her quivering heart.
“There’s no need to overdo it.”
“I have made full preparations, so it’s fine.”
“Preparations?”
Zhuge Hyang hesitated to wander outside.
It’s not that she avoided going out because she was too happy spending the day lounging around, eating her favorite snacks, and indulging in hobbies.
Of course, that carried weight too.
With her striking silver hair and blue eyes, pleasing looks that stunned others, her fair complexion made her look like a noble lady at first glance.
When interacting with others, practically everyone would strike up a conversation upon seeing her.
But today, she had come well-prepared.
“I brought the veil that Im Ha-yeon used.”
Zhuge Hyang proudly took out the veiled hat.
Im Ha-yeon also had a similar appearance to Zhuge Hyang, so whenever she went out to cover her identity, she would wear the veil; it would surely help today.
“As it turns out, there’s an inn right up ahead, so I’ll have the carriage wait there.”
Zhuge Hyang nodded and then stepped down from the carriage.
People briefly paid attention to who had just stepped out, but upon seeing her in the veil, they immediately turned their heads away.
As expected, no one was paying attention like usual. A confident smile blossomed on Zhuge Hyang’s lips hidden behind the veil.
‘Now that I can converse well with Master Kang, I’ll easily be able to buy items at the shop.’
She finally had someone besides family and servants she could truly talk to. Buying things at the store would surely go well.
What if things went wrong? Perhaps a brief practice wouldn’t hurt. She spotted a puppy caught in her gaze.
“Hello there, puppy.”
“Woof woof!”
“Hehe, that tickles.”
She said without shaking and spoke well. Zhuge Hyang felt a sense of success in today’s endeavor as she felt the puppy’s fur against her palm.
“Our white dog seems to like you. It definitely looks like a painting!”
Until the shopkeeper behind her decided to chime in.
“Eh!”
“Wow! This one is three months old, and it’s the first time I’ve seen it like someone so much.”
‘What am I supposed to say now?’
A completely unexpected interruption. Chats with someone she had never seen before was a challenge way beyond her level.
“If you like the puppy, come inside and take a look. And if you see anything you like, even better.”
“W-well…”
“Ugh!”
“Hey? Are you feeling alright?”
No, I was trying to refuse, but the words just slipped out. Zhuge Hyang couldn’t voice that.
What do I do? To Zhuge Hyang’s eyes, the inside of the shop looked like the entryway to hell.
She gazed at the happily wagging puppy for a moment before bowing her head to the store owner.
“I’m really sorry!”
“Customer? Customer!”
A tactical retreat! Zhuge Hyang vanished from the store owner’s sight in an instant.
—–
“That was a close call.”
I almost got into big trouble. Who would have thought that talking to a puppy would lead to a challenge even harder than buying something?
Zhuge Hyang imagined what could have been.
Surely she would have been dragged into the store, touched the items the owner suggested, and when she said she wouldn’t buy, the owner would glare at her. And then she’d have to concede and say she’d buy it, and the store owner would smile and suggest more items.
No way! No way at all. Zhuge Hyang praised her own wits a moment ago as she surveyed the market.
‘Thank goodness I came here.’
In front of her stood numerous stores selling coffee beans and teas. The only problem was how popular these shops were — they were bustling with people.
‘It’s a misconception that I can’t enter a busy shop.’
If there are people, they won’t have much time to pay attention to me. That’s a good thing.
Zhuge Hyang quietly began to scan the stores and choose a place to enter. A busy shop wasn’t a problem. The key factor in choosing a store was something else.
‘I need to find a shop where the door is already open without it creaking.’
The sound of a door creaking and an owner spotting her would be the end of her. Zhuge Hyang surveyed the stores with nervous eyes.
‘There! I found one!’
Finally, she found it.
“Welcome! Huh? I think someone just stepped in.”
Sasha-sash. It was important to enter before the shop owner finished their greeting. Zhuge Hyang quickly moved, but soon realized someone was in the shop owner’s sight.
“Can I help you find something?”
The store clerk asked.
“Um, just browsing.”
“Yes. If you’re looking for something, feel free to ask.”
Zhuge Hyang inwardly cheered at the clerk’s response, which lacked enthusiasm. Half of her mission was successful. Now it was time to look at the coffee beans.
As the owner of the Wuhan Tea Bookstore, she’s well aware of the market and quality of coffee. She quickly spotted some high-quality beans.
‘It’s one of two options.’
What should she choose?
“Would you like a recommendation?”
Just as Zhuge Hyang was contemplating, the sharp voice of the shop owner flew in from behind her like a hawk after prey.
The owner had approached Zhuge Hyang.
What should I do? Zhuge Hyang didn’t panic; she had already anticipated this much.
“It’s for receiving customers.”
Zhuge Hyang’s mechanical reply slipped out without hesitation.
‘I don’t intend to be had.’
No matter how clumsy she might be in dealing with people, being taken advantage of was not welcome.
If she asked for something expensive and ended up being tricked, that was not an option. A recommendation for a customer. It was a plan Zhuge Hyang devised.
“Oh! So it’s for receiving customers! In that case, how about the Blue Mountain coffee that just came in yesterday? It has a bright, fresh acidity and a silky-smooth sweetness, making it perfect for entertaining guests. The only downside is it’s a bit pricey, but if you’d prefer a more economical option…”
“I’ll take that.”
“Excuse me?”
Zhuge Hyang nodded instantly, and the store owner seemed surprised by the response.
“Please give me the one you recommended.”
As the owner of the Tea Bookstore, her eye for high-end products was sharp. The selection the owner had chosen was certainly worth purchasing without hesitation.
“Ah! Yes! I’ll pack that for you right away! You are really getting a wonderful gift!”
Almost there! Zhuge Hyang walked toward the counter with a pleasant step.
Now, all that was left was to pay and serve Master Kang his coffee.
— Miss Zhuge, how could you have brought such delicious coffee?
— Master Kang has been working hard, you know. This coffee just came in yesterday!
— Thank you for taking such good care of me. You truly are the real successor.
— I’ll make sure to prepare a café latte topped with chocolate chips for you next time.
— I can’t wait to meet the head of the Zhuge family.
“Hehehehe.”
“Uh, customer?”
“Yes? Yes, indeed?!”
Zhuge Hyang snapped back to reality at the startled voice of the shopkeeper.
“I’m surprised a customer could recognize these beans right away. I’ve gathered them with great care, and I didn’t expect you to purchase so readily. You seem to have a deep understanding of coffee—how do you intend to drink it?”
How to drink it? Obviously, it would be according to Master Kang’s preference!
“I plan to have it as an iced Americano.”
I want to wrap up this adventure and head back. Zhuge Hyang answered instantly.
“Customer! Are you going to desecrate coffee?”
The shop owner, with a profound love for coffee, was prepared to begin explaining how to enjoy it properly without realizing it.
