Farewell to the Sunset

Shen Youning planned to meet Tang Nuo. He said he would go there at two or three o’clock, but he didn’t show up. So he should explain the reason to the other party. First impressions are very important. Shen Youning had always been sincere and did not want to appear unreliable.

He walked under the signboard and carefully studied the foreign text.

Coucher de soleil, the name of the dessert shop.

Looking through the glass door, the store was not very big. There were four or five wooden tables by the window, which could accommodate about ten people. Next to the seats stood a bookshelf, half the height of the wall. Almost half of the publications on the lower floor and the books on the upper floor were originals in foreign languages.

The lighting in the store was also like the door signboard, warm and calm, with a colour reminiscent of the sunset.

Shen Youning didn’t see Tang Nuo outside the door, so he pushed open the door and walked into the shop. There were five or six other seats next to the bar, and one of them was occupied.

It was someone’s back, probably a customer. When Shen Youning heard their conversation, he didn’t rush in, instead standing at the door so as not to interrupt.

“Sir… it’s time for us to close…”

It was Tang Nuo’s voice.

“Sweetheart, is this your first time running a shop? The customer is God. Haven’t you heard of it?” The other party’s tone was frivolous and oily. Shen Youning sounded familiar, but he couldn’t remember who it was for a while.

“Our business hours are only until 6 o’clock. How about…I pack your leftovers and give you another dessert? Is it okay?”

“No.” The man said, “Is a dessert shop or coffee shop just a place to buy things? Can’t I enjoy some service?”

“Then, do you need any more help?”

“Yes, you need to sit down and chat with me. It’s not even dark yet. When it’s dark, this bid brother will take you home.”

Shen Youning couldn’t take it anymore. He walked straight to the bar and called, “Tang Nuo.”

Tang Nuo looked over. His expression relaxed for a moment, and he greeted Shen Youning.

The people outside the bar turned their heads when they heard the sound. Shen Youning caught a glimpse of their faces and snorted in derision.

No wonder the tone was familiar. It turned out to be an old acquaintance.

Li Hui, the eldest nephew of the vice-director of R.A.’s China Region in the Administration Department. He had worked in a position for five years because he was lazy and unambitious after entering the company through nepotism. He was about the same age as Shen Youning, and his position was three levels below him in rank.

He was not only lazy but also idle and vulgar. Usually in the company, he liked to tease pretty girls and boys, but most of it was just playful banter. Most people didn’t want to cause trouble, and turned a blind eye.

He even crossed the line. Once, Shen Youning saw Li Hui had touched the waist of a male intern. As a result, he was beaten till his face was black and blue. In the end, Shen Youning had to step in to break up the fight.

Stupid, nasty, and cowardly, Shen Youning couldn’t stand people like Li Hui.

“Manager Shen?” Li Hui was used to being shameless, and greeted Shen Youning without even changing his expression.

“Why are you here?” Shen Youning furrowed his handsome brow, and said lightly: “The P6 meeting has just ended, and all departments should have new arrangements in the evening. I saw that the business manager was in a hurry to return to the office. Why don’t you hurry back and take a look?”

“Why is Manager Shen here?” Li Hui was afraid to argue with Shen Youning, but he had to say a few words. “Has the Engineering and Technology Department been free recently? Does Manager Shen have the time to buy coffee in person?”

“It’s all a big deal. How could it be free?” Shen Youning said calmly and indifferently. “After a busy day, I come down to breathe and see a friend.”

“Oh? So you two know each other?” Li Hui probably knew when he heard Shen Youning calling someone, but he still pretended to be surprised, which was very hypocritical.

“He is my friend.” Shen Youning took a step forward and stood beside Tang Nuo. Because he was half a head taller than Li Hui, he overwhelmed the other party in his aura.

“Then we are all acquaintances.” Li Hui laughed twice, and changed his address to Shen Youning, “Bro, you see that we are also very familiar, why don’t we… become friends together?”

Shen Youning immediately stood in front of Tang Nuo, and blocked Li Hui’s line of sight.

“Li Hui, since you also said that we are quite familiar, the shop is about to close. Why don’t you please leave first for my sake? Don’t embarrass my friend.”

The word “embarrassment” was used skillfully, cutting off Li Hui’s attempt to say that he was just joking, and Shen Youning made it very obvious: what you did just now was not a joke.

Li Hui’s smile froze. He didn’t expect Shen Youning to be so straightforward.

“Manager Shen is serious. I’m hanging around. How could I embarrass your friend?”

“Then please go back first.” Shen Youning said: “There are only two months until the end of the year, and you should start preparing the grade evaluation materials.”

Li Hui choked for a moment and didn’t speak.

“By the way, remember to build a good relationship with other managers. After all, it is a one-vote veto system. It is no use being only familiar with me.”

The words were full of hidden thorns. While mocking Li Hui’s low status, he also used his own job level to suppress him. In other words, Shen Youning had always been a modest gentleman, otherwise it would be a shame to have someone else say this.

In the end, Li Hui’s face was livid, knowing he couldn’t beat Shen Youning, and he was wronged in the first place. Even if he couldn’t swallow this insult, he could only endure it. It was useless to stay here. So, Li Hui found a way out for himself and left with a dry smile.

Shen Youning didn’t move in a hurry. He waited until Li Hui pushed the door open, walked away and disappeared. Only then did he move away from Tang Nuo and retreat to a suitable distance.

“Thank you.” Tang Nuo didn’t return to his senses for a moment. He said thank you, but his eyes were full of worries, and he kept glancing at the door.

“Don’t mention it.” Shen Youning and Tang Nuo looked out the door together. Shen Youning said, “Our company has some scoundrels who always like to harass others.”

“You don’t have to worry too much. That person is quite timid, and he won’t dare to do anything serious.” Shen Youning comforted the other party, and suddenly asked: “Is there any paper and pen?”

“……What?”

“Paper and pen.” Shen Youning repeated.

“Yes, I have.” Tang Nuo crouched behind the bar and bent down to find a pen and paper. He had a slender figure and was tightly blocked by the bar. From Shen Youning’s perspective, only his dark brown hair could be seen.

“I said I’d come over this afternoon, but I’ve been in a meeting that just ended.” Shen Youning naturally changed the subject and said: “But my colleague came instead, and everyone said your coffee was delicious.”

Tang Nuo poked his head out from behind the bar and handed the pen and paper to Shen Youning. His mood changed with the conversation and he said with some joy, “Really… Which customer was it?”

“A tall, strong boy,” Shen Youning gestured. “He bought two cups of latte and one cake. I heard you also gave him ice cream.”

Tang Nuo tilted his head and thought for a moment before lifting his eyes.

“I remember him. It turns out to be your colleague.” He said in a very soft voice, “It just opened recently, and all products are buy-three-get-one-free.”

“En.” Shen Youning lowered his head and wrote two lines, pretending to ask casually: “Are there any more leaflets? Many people in our department are interested in your shop. The company’s pantry is too ordinary. Everyone has been talking about it for a long time that there is no coffee shop nearby.”

“Yes.” Tang Nuo’s eyes lit up, and he unconsciously raised his voice, “…I’ll get them for you.”

He disappeared behind the bar again. Shen Youning stared at the fuzzy his head. His lips were bent imperceptibly.

Shen Youning was good at reading people, and had been in contact with different types of people. Tang Nuo could be considered very introverted. Shen Youning noticed that he didn’t like socializing and talked less to strangers. But with this kind of character, how could he work in the service industry?

Perhaps because he made delicious desserts? The boss didn’t want to hire more people and let him do the work of two people alone?

Shen Youning felt that he was interesting. He obviously didn’t like to talk, but he still had to put on a brave face for the customers. That’s why he didn’t speak loudly, which may be a sign of avoidance.

“How many do you want? Five…is that enough?”

Well, there was also obvious restraint and being overly polite. It could be seen that he was not good at getting along with others.

“Give me five for now. If it’s not enough, I’ll come back to you.” Shen Youning took the leaflets and suppressed the doubts in his heart.

He was too interested in Tang Nuo, but the two had just met for a day, and there were many questions he couldn’t ask. It would be impolite, immature and inappropriate to do so.

“This is for you.” Shen Youning handed him a note he had just written.

“The first line is the company’s security office, and the second line is my phone number.”

“I will say hello to the security guard. If you encounter any trouble, you can find the security guard or me.”