A Double Bluff From Headquarters

“Is it that funny?” He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. “I specifically chose this song, you know.”

“You, you actually used a ‘Mother Hen Card’ to trick them?” Zhou Yi managed to swallow her pearls with difficulty.

“Why not?” Jiang Chen playfully shook his phone. “All’s fair in war. Besides, they were the ones who started it.”

“Only you!” Zhou Yi gave him a thumbs-up. “This move is truly next level!”

“You flatter me!” Jiang Chen returned the gesture with a cupped-fist salute.

Sitting opposite them, Li Yanze watched their seamless interaction and suddenly felt a little superfluous.

One would set up a joke, and the other would immediately follow through, their eyes meeting in perfect understanding.

That effortless rhythm stirred a pang of envy within him.

He touched his nose and cleared his throat softly. “Should we… perhaps continue discussing the project?”

Zhou Yi snapped back to attention, offering a soft “Mm.” “Right, while it’s still quiet, let’s go over that part of the process again.”

The atmosphere settled once more into quiet concentration.

The trio gathered around the laptop again. Jiang Chen would occasionally pose a question, Zhou Yi would promptly offer additional analysis, and Li Yanze diligently took notes.

They had barely settled into their rhythm when a sudden commotion erupted from the counter area. Involuntarily, all three paused their discussion and looked over.

A male customer was excitedly banging on the table, loudly complaining. Rushing out from behind the counter, profusely apologizing, was none other than the Manager.

The man at the counter had a voice louder than a megaphone; it was impossible to pretend not to hear him.

“I told you I’m lactose intolerant! I even specifically emphasized switching to soy milk when I ordered! How dare you still add full-fat milk? Are you trying to send me to the hospital?!”

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! It was my mistake, I’ll remake your drink right away…” The new intern’s face was pale with fright, the shaker in their hand trembling violently.

Having rushed out from the back, the Manager bowed repeatedly, apologizing to the customer. “We are truly very sorry, sir. This is entirely our responsibility…”

“Responsibility? And a simple apology makes everything fine?” The male customer grew increasingly agitated. “With this level of service, why don’t you just close down already!”

The Manager, sweating profusely, clasped his hands together and nodded profusely. “It was indeed our oversight! We can offer you a full refund, plus a lifetime 20% discount coupon…”

“A coupon? Do you think I’m a beggar?” The male customer slammed the milk tea heavily onto the counter. “Get your manager out here!”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi’s expression instantly darkened.

As an experienced employee who had worked at this very shop in the real world, she couldn’t bear to see the Manager being so humbly apologetic, only to be further harassed like this.

Moreover, the new intern’s eyes were already red with fright, and their whole body trembled like a sieve.

She slammed her hand on the table with a “Thwack!” and walked straight towards the counter without a word.

Jiang Chen was startled by her sudden action, completely baffled as to why she was involving herself in the commotion.

Before he could even react, she had already subtly positioned herself to shield the trembling new employee behind her.

“Sir, please calm down for a moment.”

Zhou Yi stood firm before the enraged customer. “I am a senior employee of this establishment, and I’d be happy to help resolve this issue for you.”

In truth, from the moment she saw the male customer banging the table and shouting, she had already sensed something was amiss. This hardly seemed like a genuine case of “lactose intolerance.”

The Manager stared in astonishment at this unfamiliar girl who had suddenly appeared, while the irate customer sneered, scrutinizing her from head to toe. “You? What could *you* possibly solve?”

Zhou Yi calmly nodded to the male customer. “It was indeed our operational error just now. We will provide a full refund and immediately remake a lactose-free version for you.”

Then, her tone shifted. “However, I must ask you to mind your language.”

The male customer was clearly taken aback that someone dared to retort so directly, momentarily stunned. “What did you…”

Zhou Yi cut him off directly. “We can discuss any solution you require; we can apologize, and we can offer compensation. However, banging on tables and personal attacks are not within the scope of our service.”

These words instantly infuriated the male customer, his entire face flushing crimson. He pointed a finger at Zhou Yi’s nose and roared, “What kind of attitude is that? A mere milk tea server dares to tell me how to speak?!”

Only then did the Manager snap back to reality, rushing forward from behind and quietly asking Zhou Yi, “Miss, you are…?”

She paused, realizing she was in a simulated world and the Manager wouldn’t know her. This had indeed been an impulsive move.

Without a change in expression, she bluffed effortlessly, “I’m a support employee dispatched from headquarters, responsible for covertly inspecting store service procedures. If there’s an issue, I handle it first.”

Hearing she was from headquarters, the Manager was momentarily stunned for a few seconds. Yet, seeing her formidable presence, he nodded blankly in cooperation despite his lingering confusion.

The male customer’s bluster slightly diminished at the mention of “headquarters,” but looking at the young girl before him, he clearly didn’t believe she could amount to anything.

He stiffened his resolve. “I’m telling you, if you don’t give me a satisfactory explanation today, I’ll expose you! The entire internet will know you almost killed someone!”

Zhou Yi maintained her professional smile. “Understood. You are, of course, free to expose us, and we will cooperate fully. However, I first need to clarify: have you consumed the milk tea you ordered? Have you experienced any physical discomfort? We can immediately call 120.”

The man’s rhythm was completely disrupted by her string of calm counter-questions. “I, I haven’t drunk it yet… but this is still incredibly irresponsible of you!”

At that moment, Jiang Chen quietly instructed the dumbfounded Li Yanze to “keep recording,” then calmly walked over to Zhou Yi’s side.

Zhou Yi looked at him in surprise, asking in a low voice, “Why are you getting involved?”

Jiang Chen leaned closer to her ear. “Aren’t we a team?”

His warm breath brushed her ear, and this sudden proximity sent shivers down Zhou Yi’s spine, making her secretly glare at him.

Jiang Chen then pulled out his phone in front of the man. “In that case, I’ll go ahead and dial 120 to ensure you’re perfectly fine.”

Seeing this, the man immediately yelled, “No need! Don’t call an ambulance!”

Customers nearby turned their heads, murmuring.

“No, we must,” Jiang Chen replied, not even looking up as he continued operating his phone.

“After all, you just said you almost died. This constitutes a major safety incident, and according to protocol, such situations must be reported and filed. We absolutely must ensure our customer’s safety.”

“I already said I didn’t drink it!” The male customer’s face flushed with urgency.

“It’s nothing, just a quick check-up. If you’re truly fine, the doctor will confirm it on the spot and leave shortly,” Jiang Chen responded unhurriedly.

The surrounding customers couldn’t help but start whispering amongst themselves.

–Didn’t that guy say he was lactose intolerant? How can he yell so much now?

–Looking at his attitude, it seems like he’s trying to extort them.

–Hilarious, he was shouting so fiercely just now, and now his face is green.

Listening to the customers’ hushed whispers, the man’s face grew increasingly unsightly. “And who are *you*?!”

“I am also a support staff dispatched from headquarters,” Jiang Chen replied, his expression unchanged. Beside him, the Manager was utterly dumbfounded.

‘Where did these *two* headquarters come from?’