Li Feng had already gone through nearly a third of the reports when the office door opened again.
Madam Chen stepped inside, carrying two cups of coffee. "You've been quiet," she said, placing one cup on the desk. "I was beginning to think you fell asleep in here."
Li Feng gave a small smile. "If I did, it would be because of your paperwork."
Madam Chen laughed. "So? Found anything?"
Li Feng tapped the stack of papers lightly. "A few things. Inventory loss, uneven staff scheduling, and several menu items that are probably costing you money."
Madam Chen's eyebrows lifted. "You figured that out already?"
"The records are fairly detailed," Li Feng said. "Once you line up the purchase logs with daily sales, the patterns become obvious."
Madam Chen studied him for a moment, clearly impressed. Then she seemed to remember something. "Actually… there's something I wanted to ask you."
Li Feng leaned back slightly, tilting his head up toward her. "And what's that?"
Madam Chen took a sip of her coffee before setting the cup down. "Well… the thing is, I have a niece." She paused briefly. "My favorite niece, actually."
Li Feng waited.
"She's studying business at university," Madam Chen continued. "But lately she's been struggling with some of her courses. Financial analysis, business reports… things like that." She gestured toward the stack of papers on his desk. "Seeing how quickly you understood all this… I thought you might be able to help her."
Li Feng raised an eyebrow slightly. "You want me to tutor her?"
Madam Chen nodded. "Just if you're willing. I know you're already working here, so I didn't want to push." She added quickly, "If you're too busy, forget I mentioned it."
Li Feng considered it for a moment. "Does she want the tutoring?"
Madam Chen chuckled. "She doesn't want it. Her parents want it."
That made Li Feng smile faintly. "I see."
"I'll give her your number," Madam Chen said. "If you're free, you can talk to her directly and work out the details."
Li Feng nodded. "That's fine."
"Good," Madam Chen said with clear relief. "You might be the first tutor who can actually help her."
---
Later that afternoon, Li Feng's phone rang. The number was unfamiliar. He glanced at it briefly before answering.
"Hello."
A young woman's voice came through. "Is this Mr. Li? My aunt gave me your number."
"Yes."
"I'm her niece."
Li Feng leaned back slightly in his chair. "Madam Chen mentioned you."
The girl sighed. "Good. Then she probably told you I'm struggling with my business courses."
"She said you needed help with financial analysis."
"That's putting it nicely," the girl replied dryly. "I've had several tutors already and none of them worked out. My parents have given me an ultimatum — if my grades don't improve this semester, they're cutting my allowance in half." Her tone carried more irritation than panic. "So I need someone who can actually explain things properly."
"I can help with that."
"Good." She sounded satisfied. "When are you available?"
"Evenings."
"Perfect. Let's do online classes from eight to ten."
"That works."
There was a brief pause. "Oh, and about the tutoring fee." Li Feng waited. "My previous tutors charged quite a lot," she said. "But since I'm not sure yet whether you'll be different from them, I'd prefer to start smaller."
"Smaller?" Li Feng asked calmly.
"Yes. ¥12,000 for now."
Li Feng blinked once.
Before he could respond, she added quickly, "If your teaching actually helps me improve, I'll increase it later."
Li Feng was silent for a moment. Then he nodded. "That arrangement is reasonable."
The girl sounded relieved. "Great. Then we'll start tonight."
The call ended.
Li Feng placed the phone on the desk and leaned back in his chair. For a brief moment he stared at the ceiling.
Then a quiet chuckle escaped him.
First the café job. Now a tutoring student.
He shook his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips.
*It seems the heavens really are lending me a hand.*
He straightened in his chair and turned back to the stack of reports. Pulling his laptop closer, he began recording the café's data into a spreadsheet — purchase logs, daily sales numbers, inventory records, everything organized carefully, structured in a way that made the patterns easier to see. The quiet tapping of keys filled the small office.
An hour later the chaotic stack of paper had become neat digital records.
Just as he finished, the office door opened again.
Madam Chen stepped back inside. "You're still at it?" she asked, sounding slightly surprised.
Li Feng turned the laptop toward her. "I've recorded the reports into a digital format. It'll make future tracking easier."
Madam Chen leaned forward slightly, studying the screen. Rows of numbers and organized columns filled the display. "You did all this already?"
"It didn't take long." Li Feng tapped a few keys and brought up another sheet. "Based on what I've seen so far, the biggest issue is inventory tracking. From now on I'll personally handle the daily records and adjustments based on this analysis."
Madam Chen blinked. "You'll handle it yourself?"
"For the time being." He looked up at her. "Your role will be simpler."
Madam Chen folded her arms. "Oh? And what do I need to do?"
"Follow the instructions I give," Li Feng said evenly. "If we stick to the system consistently, the problems will correct themselves within a few weeks."
Madam Chen stared at him for a moment. Then she laughed softly. "Looks like hiring you really was the right decision."
---
The café closed at five.
Customers slowly filtered out and the staff began cleaning tables, wiping counters, stacking chairs. The lively noise of the day faded into the quiet clatter of the close. Inside the small office Li Feng was still working, carefully finishing the last of the day's sales records. When he finally pressed save and closed the file, the clock read 6:02 PM.
The office door creaked open. Madam Chen stepped inside, stretching her shoulders before dropping into the chair opposite him. She let out a long tired sigh. "Ah… what a day."
Li Feng closed his laptop and placed it neatly on the desk.
Madam Chen chuckled lightly. "A bachelor's life must be nice. You don't have to worry about kids or house drama." She rubbed the back of her neck. "My husband and the kids will definitely be waiting for me. And I still have to go home and cook for them again."
Li Feng paused for a moment. "Actually," he said calmly, "I'm married. I have a child as well."
The room fell silent.
Madam Chen blinked. Then she stared at him. Li Feng looked twenty-four, twenty-five at most. Tall, composed, with a face that still carried the calmness of youth. And frankly, quite good-looking.
Too young, she thought.
"You're… married?" she asked slowly. "And you have a child?"
"A daughter."
Madam Chen leaned back in her chair, clearly surprised. "Huh." She studied him for another moment before shaking her head with a small laugh. "You really don't look like someone with a kid."
Li Feng smiled faintly. "Appearances can be misleading."
Madam Chen chuckled again, though the curiosity in her eyes remained. "Your wife must have gotten lucky then."
Li Feng said nothing to that. He gave a small nod and left the café.
---
The evening air was cooler now as he walked home, the fatigue from the long day settling slowly into his shoulders. When he finally reached the apartment he pushed the door open.
A warm aroma greeted him immediately.
He paused.
Zhao Lihua stepped out of the kitchen when she heard the door. Things were still a little awkward between them. "Welcome back," she said quietly. "I… made dinner."
Li Feng was slightly surprised. He had told her earlier she could cook if she wanted, but he hadn't been sure she would actually do it. His eyes moved across the room. Li Xian was sitting at the dining table, playing quietly with her toys. He looked back at Zhao Lihua.
"Good," he said simply. "I'll come eat after I settle down."
He walked into the bedroom and closed the door. The day had been longer than he expected. He removed his work clothes, feeling the tension slowly leave his body, then washed quickly and changed into a loose long-sleeve shirt and joggers.
Much more comfortable.
A few minutes later he stepped back into the living room. Zhao Lihua had already prepared his plate at the dining table. She seemed less tense than before when he was around — not relaxed, but less braced. She gestured lightly toward the plate. "Here."
Li Feng looked down at the food and took a bite.
Lemon chicken with rice. Simple, but good.
Across the table Li Xian was already eating. After a moment she looked up at him. She still seemed shy, but she gathered herself and spoke in a tiny voice.
"Xian… likes Daddy's cooking more."
The table went very quiet.
Both Li Feng and Zhao Lihua looked at her.
Li Feng was stunned. But at the same time a warmth spread through his chest — quiet and unexpected, the kind that arrived before you could prepare for it. It was the first time she had spoken to him like that.
He smiled gently. "Really?" he said softly. "Then Daddy will make something really delicious tomorrow."
Li Xian nodded happily and returned to her food.
Li Feng glanced at Zhao Lihua for a moment. Neither of them said anything. He simply picked up his plate and carried it back to the bedroom.
The door closed softly behind him.