Middle-aged tycoon: Twins come knocking on his door when he goes home for Chinese New Year

Li Ze followed Bai Qianyue into the shop called Yueze Coffee.

After entering the store, Li Ze looked around and found that the decoration team here was indeed very professional.

The air inside the shop was very fresh, without any of the unpleasant smells that come with newly renovated shops. Instead, it had a pleasant coffee aroma.

As soon as they walked in, a person in work clothes ran over to Bai Qianyue to report that the store's renovation work was all completed and the store had been cleaned.

Immediately afterwards, a man in a gray suit walked over.

This person is the manager of this coffee shop.

He walked up to Bai Qianyue and said respectfully, "Boss, we can officially open for business now."

Bai Qianyue nodded.

She pointed to Li Ze beside her and said to the store manager:

"This gentleman is our first customer of the day. You must treat him with the utmost care."

Upon hearing the boss's instructions, the store manager immediately turned around and gave Li Ze a very warm smile.

He reached out his hand and guided Li Ze to sit down at a table by the window.

After Li Ze sat down, the shop manager took out a menu and began to introduce the shop's coffee to him.

The store manager pointed to a busy foreigner at the bar and said with great pride:

"Sir, that's a barista our boss specially hired. He's a champion who won first place in an international coffee competition. And the coffee beans we use in our shop are top-quality ones, bought directly from the best estates abroad."

Listening to the store manager's introduction, Li Ze thought to himself that these titles did sound quite impressive.

But whether the coffee tastes good or not, he doesn't know now.

So, Li Ze said directly to the store manager:

"Since your barista is so skilled, then give me a cup of your signature coffee so I can try it."

The store manager happily agreed and immediately turned to the counter to make the arrangements.

After the store manager left, Bai Qianyue pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Li Ze.

Looking at the store's decor and then at the prices on the menu, Li Ze couldn't help but make a joke.

He said to Bai Qianyue:

"Qianyue, the champion barista you hired must be paid very well. And those top-grade coffee beans you bought definitely weren't cheap either. But looking at the prices on your menu, a cup of coffee only costs around 100 yuan. Are you sure you can break even on the cost of opening the shop at that price?"

Bai Qianyue smiled slightly after hearing Li Ze's words.

She looked into Li Ze's eyes and answered calmly:

"For me, whether I can make back my investment by opening this store is not important at all."

"Then what's important?" Li Ze asked casually.

Bai Qianyue replied:

"The important thing is that as long as this shop is here, it can fulfill one of my wishes."

Li Ze smiled slightly upon hearing this.

He didn't reply, because he knew perfectly well what Bai Qianyue's wish was.

At that moment, the waiter brought over a steaming cup of coffee and gently placed it in front of Li Ze.

Li Ze picked up his coffee cup, lowered his head, and took a sip.

I must say, this coffee actually tastes pretty good.

Both the taste and aroma are very authentic.

Li Ze thought to himself, "As expected of something created by a master who has won first place, it is indeed of high quality."

However, after drinking this cup of coffee, Li Ze decided to make things clear.

He was a middle-aged man in his forties, and he knew that matters of the heart could not be delayed and had to be made clear at once.

This time, he was determined to make it very clear to Bai Qianyue that he truly did not want to have anything to do with her anymore.

Li Ze put down his coffee cup, looked at Bai Qianyue across from him, and his expression became very serious.

He spoke directly:

"Qianyue, I understand what you're thinking. I also know you have feelings for me."

"But that's been a full eighteen years. Besides, back when we were seniors in college, didn't you already decide to stop contacting me?"

Li Ze continued:

"My only purpose in returning to China is to make amends to Ruoran and rebuild our lives together. Since that's the case, why waste your time on me and continue to pester me?"

Upon hearing the word "entanglement," Bai Qianyue's expression immediately changed.

She gave a cold laugh, looked at Li Ze, and asked in a chilling voice:

"Li Ze, in your heart, do you really think that my 21 years of love for you (starting from our sophomore year in college) was just a kind of entanglement?"

Li Ze quickly shook his head in denial, saying:

That's not what I meant. I know you're a good girl. It's just...

Before Li Ze could finish speaking, Bai Qianyue interrupted him.

Bai Qianyue stared at him and asked loudly:

"Just what? Just that you and Zhang Ruoran are still husband and wife?"

Bai Qianyue's tone became very direct:

"Brother Li Ze, stop lying to yourself. You two have been legally divorced for over a decade! She's not legally your wife anymore!"

"Since you've been divorced for so long, why are you still dwelling on Zhang Ruoran, a woman from the past?"

Bai Qianyue took a deep breath, her tone becoming somewhat urgent:

"Why can't you treat me, Bai Qianyue, as a completely new woman? Why don't you just see me as a new woman who's trying to win you over? Wouldn't that be better?"

Seeing Bai Qianyue's somewhat agitated expression, Li Ze shook his head firmly.

He said:

"Shānyuki, you don't understand."

"Back then, I left home and went abroad, and I haven't been gone for so many years. If she was alone at home and couldn't find me, she had no choice but to file for divorce from me in court."

"This is not her fault at all; it's all my fault."

Li Ze looked at the coffee on the table and continued:

"Moreover, although our marriage certificates are legally invalid, it absolutely does not mean that our feelings for each other have disappeared. In my heart, she will always be my wife."

"What's more, I have two grown children with her. They are the fruit of our love, a blood relationship that can never be severed."

After hearing what Li Ze said, Bai Qianyue remained silent for a moment.

She picked up the coffee cup in front of her, lowered her head, and took a big gulp of coffee.

Then, she turned her head and looked at the street outside the coffee shop.

The outside was bustling with people, but there wasn't a smile on her face.

After a while, Bai Qianyue slowly turned her head back and looked at Li Ze again.

Her voice sounded somewhat low, and she looked into Li Ze's eyes, asking very seriously:

"Brother Li Ze, can you tell me what I need to do for you to truly accept me?"