After Le Tong and Lawyer Fan finished their al, Lawyer Fan had to leave in a hurry due to so urgent matters. Seeing that there was still over half an hour before work, Le Tong decided to stroll around the comrcial center downstairs of the eatery.
It wasn’t because she had any specific thoughts, but rather, as Lawyer Fan ntioned, the biggest contributor to winning this case wasn’t Lawyer Fan, but Ji Rui.
Now, with her relationship with Ji Rui being so tense, it was naturally inappropriate to invite him to a al. Even if she did, Ji Rui would certainly refuse. So, Le Tong thought of buying a gift for Ji Rui instead.
Ji Rui, being the kind of person who seems uninterested in everything, would be hard to buy a gift that aligns with his preferences.
Indeed, after nearly twenty minutes of browsing, Le Tong still hadn’t found a suitable gift.
Just when she was about to give up, amidst the various brand specialty stores, she stumbled upon a small and quaint coffee nook.
Le Tong walked inside, greeted by a rich and llow aroma.
Before working at the Ji Family, Le Tong didn’t drink coffee or know about it, but after becoming the secretary of President Ji, she researched extensively about coffee.
She learned that the type of coffee Ji Rui often drank was Brazilian coffee, which had a lower acidity, complented by its bittersweet taste, smooth upon entrance, and had a slight grassy aroma. It was refreshing with a hint of bitterness, smooth and palatable, leaving a pleasant lingering aftertaste.
When Lin Ling was handing over the work to her, she specifically ntioned that President Ji only drinks this type of Brazilian coffee.
However, Le Tong felt that, just like all the delicacies in the world, coffee should be varied occasionally to experience different flavors.
Le Tong approached the counter and asked the handso man, who seed to be the owner.
"Sir, may I ask what kind of coffee you’re brewing now?"
The handso man was very hospitable, turning around to take a bag of coffee beans displayed on the shelf behind him and handing it to Le Tong. He said, "Miss, this coffee is Mandheling coffee, also known as Sumatra coffee. It has a very rich flavor, aromatic, bitter, and full-bodied, with a hint of sweetness. Would you like to try it?"
Le Tong then ordered three take-out cups, "Do you sell these coffee beans?"
She was very fond of this coffee’s flavor, instinctively feeling that President Ji would also like this taste.
"Yes!"
Even though it was quite expensive, Le Tong gritted her teeth and bought the coffee beans. The handso man, being very considerate, asked if it was a gift. Seeing her nod, he took it upon himself to package the coffee as a beautifully wrapped gift box.
When Le Tong returned to the company with three take-out coffees and a box of coffee beans, it was only five minutes until work started.
She first placed a cup of coffee on Yang Sheng’s desk downstairs, then went back, holding the gift box in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, and knocked on the door of the president’s office.
"Co in!"
Le Tong pushed the door open and walked to the desk.
"President!"
Ji Rui lifted his head from a pile of docunts and found a cup of take-out coffee in front of him.
"This coffee tastes good, you should try it!"
Ji Rui glanced at the logo on the coffee cup, quite surprised.
This coffee shop had quite a few branches in R City. Although the stores were small, because the coffee was authentic, it beca the first choice for many coffee connoisseurs. Additionally, the coffee from this shop was five to ten tis more expensive than your standard coffeehouse.
"Did you go there for coffee?"
Le Tong nodded, "Yes, I passed by there and slled the coffee which was quite aromatic, so I bought a few cups back for you to try."
As she spoke, Le Tong silently berated herself for her actions, even though she had just promised herself in the morning not to warm up to this man who always gives her the cold shoulder, yet she had already forgotten her resolution.
"A few cups?"
Ji Rui’s initial feeling of subtle joy was dampened by the word "few," suggesting she had bought many cups for her colleagues to drink and possibly only brought him one as an afterthought.
Thinking that he might not be the sole recipient, but rely one of many, Ji Rui felt uneasy.
"Yes, three cups. One for you, President, one for Special Assistant Yang, and one for myself."
Consud by self-reproach, Le Tong didn’t notice Ji Rui’s reaction and answered him honestly.
Ji Rui’s slightly furrowed brows relaxed gently. Apparently, it wasn’t just a casual purchase, but intentional. Realizing how expensive this coffee was, she, being a frugal person, wouldn’t just casually distribute it.
"Go ahead and try it!" Le Tong urged a bit impatiently.
Because, after buying the coffee beans, she regretted it a bit.
President Ji seed like a stubborn person who probably had specific preferences for what he used and consud. It was likely that he really liked the coffee he drank daily. Otherwise, Lin Ling wouldn’t have specifically inford her.
If President Ji didn’t like this flavor, then the box of coffee beans would be a wasted purchase.
Therefore, she wanted to see Ji Rui’s acceptance of this coffee before deciding whether to give him the coffee beans.
Under Le Tong’s urging, Ji Rui removed the lid, picked up the cup, and took a small sip.
With just one taste, he was captivated by the coffee’s rich aroma. The coffee was slightly bitter, yet its aroma was full-bodied with a hint of sweetness. This taste was likely Sumatra coffee, judging by its richness, the coffee must be quite pricey.
"Hmm, it’s very good!"
Ji Rui put down the cup, lifting his gaze to Le Tong.
Le Tong exhaled a long sigh of relief and then revealed the gift box hidden behind her, offering it to Ji Rui with both hands.
"President, this is a little token of mine, please accept it with a smile."
Ji Rui felt a slight stir in his heart, but his face remained calm and unperturbed.
"What is this?"
Le Tong’s palms were sweaty, "Just so coffee beans..."
She was regretting it imnsely. Le Tong, you fool! Knowing how proud this man is, he might not even care for the gift you give.
"Why suddenly give such expensive coffee?"
He figured the box probably contained the sa variety of coffee he had just tasted, and considering the cost, it must have been a significant expense for her.
Actually, Ji Rui felt secretly happy, but being habitually guarded, he raised his eyebrows slightly and his sharp eyes glimred, making Le Tong feel she could read from his gaze: Why are you giving this gift?
Not knowing what her actions had been misinterpreted as by him, Le Tong hastily explained.
"President, regarding the thug incident, the ruling ca out this morning. Thank you for your help!"
Ji Rui initially thought Le Tong gave him the coffee purely because he enjoyed drinking it, and his heart was ward by Le Tong’s thoughtfulness. But upon hearing her detailed explanation, his face involuntarily grew stern.
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