[-] I don't think I can bother the boss with something like this. I'd better ask Manager Ume what she thinks first. I apprehensively dial her number.
[player] ...Right, so basically, I came to discuss the partnership and now I have a tea competition on my hands!
[Ume] Just go along with what the tea association wants.
[player] I'll just tell them we can't... Wait, what?
[Ume] This is a good thing. All you have to do is wait and see.
[player] But... what if Magical Dream loses?
[Ume] I'd be more concerned about the report you'll be writing later if I were you.
[player] Besides, you shouldn't underestimate Magical Dream. Only those with real talent can make it on Champion Street.
[player] But...
[Ume] For other matters, contact customer service.
[-] Beep... Beep... Beep... And with that, the call is callously ended...
[-] Now that I really think about it, Fuuka Minami was the one who should have come to discuss the partnership in the first place... I should take it up directly with her!
[-] Upward management skills level up! Go me!
[-] I apprehensively dial Fuuka Minami's number. When she answers, I give her the rundown of the situation...
[Fuuka Minami] Hehe... Nicely done. Your social skills far exceeded my expectations.
[player] Social skills? More like the situation forced my hand!
[Fuuka Minami] I'm referring to Yuan Feng. Did you notice how polite the tea association was to him?
[-] Thinking back on San Niang's conduct, that does seem true...
[Fuuka Minami] Rumor has it that Kazuha Saionji's retainer can divine the will of heaven. It was his heroic efforts that rescued Nishiha Dojo from the verge of ruin back then. But... hehe, apart from Kazuha Saionji, no one else can sway him.
[player] Ms. Minami, did you...?
[Fuuka Minami] Hehe, what was that?
[player] Sorry, I forgot what I was going to say. Please, continue.
[Fuuka Minami] But this works too. This way, you owe Yuan Feng a favor, but I don't owe Kazuha Saionji one. Next time I encounter her while playing mahjong, I don't worry about squaring up--I'll just go for it.
[player] Honestly, I sacrifice too much for this job...
[Fuuka Minami] Come now! It just goes to show how capable you are. I'll give you an anniversary bonus. Besides, your social skills are a testament to your ability. I wouldn't have trusted you with such an important task otherwise.
[Fuuka Minami] As for the tea competition... the tea association has said their piece. All we have to do now is wait and see.
[player] Huh? But what if Magical Dream loses?
[Fuuka Minami] Loses? Hehe... then that would mean that Mr. Fei Ming isn't worth his salt.
[Fuuka Minami] Anyway, I want you to watch this tea competition closely. After all, this will decide who Bamboo Cloud ultimately partners with.
[-] Having received the go-ahead from my superior, I gather my thoughts, go back over to the tea association members and exchange glances with Yuan Xiao, who has already returned.
[player] Bamboo Cloud has expressed its support of the tea competition. We trust in Magical Dream's ability, but we will accept a more suitable partner should they emerge.
[Yuan Xiao] As for Magical Dream...
[Yuan Xiao] If the moths insist on flying into flames, let them.
[player] Yuan Feng, do some divination, quickly--I think Yuan Xiao's been possessed...
[Yuan Xiao] ...I was just repeating my boss's words the way he said them!
[Mr. Zhao] Everyone hear that? Magical Dream has agreed to the tea competition! You can all bear witness when the time comes!
[Tea Drinker A] Seriously? Magical Dream's well-established, but they always carry the same stuff. New Moon, on the other hand--they have secret recipes for new teas that even tea experts haven't cracked yet. Magical Dream? More like a pipe dream.
[Tea Drinker B] Wow, you could really be onto something! Magical Dream has a third floor, and we have no idea what kind of teas they're concocting up there! Do you really think Fuuka Minami's tea came from the same menu as ours?
[-] Rubber-necking and gossiping are in humanity's nature, and the tea drinkers are no different as they begin discussing the competition. Among them, however, are a few dissenting voices...
[Loyal Tea Drinker A] How could Fei Ming of all people accept a competition like this?
[Loyal Tea Drinker B] Tea is meant to clear your mind and ease your troubles. Wouldn't this competition undermine its original purpose by creating more conflict?
[Loyal Tea Drinker C] Honestly... Fei Ming's thought process is as opaque as the steam from this tea.
[-] Before I can hear any more gossip about Fei Ming, Yuan Xiao has served the "guests" from the tea association and rushes over to shake my hand.
[Yuan Xiao] Thank you! Thank you! If you hadn't...
[player] I'm sure you could have chucked them all out without any problem...
[Yuan Xiao] If you hadn't stopped me, er, helped me, Magical Dream might have had its first homicide!
[player] So, your skills have already reached that level...
[Yuan Feng] Point is, I hope you'll come and watch tomorrow's competition! You too, Mr. Yuan! There's no way Magical Dream is losing to people like them!
[-] I think about what my boss said to me earlier.
[player] Of course, I'll be there.
[Yuan Feng] I wouldn't miss it.
[-] Yuan Feng and I say our goodbyes and leave. I gaze at the setting sun and the silhouette of Magical Dream lit by the afterglow...
[-] Sign, I thought I was just coming here today to exchange pleasantries, sign a contract, and finish work for the day. I never expected that my negotiation work here would only just be beginning...
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