strictlysupreme Chapter 560 - 548: Big Sister Got into Trouble!
Chapter 560 - 548: Big Sister Got into Trouble!
「Starbucks.」
In a café that countless materialistic women regarded as a pretentious hotspot, Qin Fan and Jiang Yino sat facing each other. The warm coffee wafted a milky aroma through the air. For Jiang Yino, who had never been able to stomach bitterness, coffee absolutely had to have milk and sugar.
However, their doubly sweetened coffees attracted quite a few sidelong glances, all of which were filled with contempt.
Great, another couple of pretentious kids. They probably scraped together a few hundred yuan from their parents to come splurge on milk and sugar at Starbucks.
Facing their disdainful looks, Qin Fan remained completely unfazed. With his current state of mind, such trivial things could no longer affect him.
With a naturally elegant motion, Jiang Yino took a sip of her coffee and set the cup down. "Over thirty yuan a cup, and it’s not even that good," she commented. "It tastes pretty much the same as instant Nescafé, so why does it cost so much? Are all these foreign companies operating in Huaxia on the principle that we’re a bunch of rich idiots?"
"Being rich idiots is a factor, but it’s not the deciding one," Qin Fan said with a light chuckle, slowly explaining his point of view. "There’s a saying that foreign monks chant the best scriptures. But in the minds of most people in Huaxia, the only true ’holy monks’ are the ones who can chant well *and* charge outrageous fees.
"Starbucks isn’t the only one that’s figured this out; many foreign companies have. For example, if Starbucks only charged a few yuan per cup, would it still have that pretentious vibe? Without that, would all the posers still show up? It’s just like you said—it tastes similar to instant Nescafé. How many people who come to Starbucks actually know anything about coffee? True coffee aficionados buy their own beans and grind them themselves.
"So, when you get down to it, Starbucks isn’t selling coffee. It’s selling a pretentious effect. The customers aren’t buying a drink; they’re buying a status symbol. It’s that simple."
This was a view he had held in his previous life as well.
He vaguely remembered a viral video from his past life. The video featured two cups of instant coffee—one served in a Starbucks cup, the other in a plain milk tea cup. Starbucks customers were then asked to taste both and describe the difference. The result was that every single person scoffed at the coffee in the plain cup while lavishing praise on the one in the Starbucks cup. Some even spat out the coffee from the plain cup, exclaiming, "How can anyone drink this?" while they looked utterly blissed out sipping from the Starbucks cup. Little did they know, both coffees had been poured from the same pot. It was a stark demonstration of how severe this ignorant pretentiousness had become. Whether it was Starbucks or other luxury brands, the primary factor for success in the Huaxia market was satisfying this need for a pretentious effect. Many foreign companies had succeeded in this, and consequently, a large portion of the population had earned the title of ’rich idiots.’ Money wasn’t the problem; the problem was the lack of things to be pretentious about.
"That’s true. It’s actually quite funny when you think about it. It’s just a cup of coffee, yet they’ve managed to brand it as the standard for their bourgeois lifestyle," Jiang Yino agreed with a laugh.
It had to be said, their philosophies often aligned perfectly. Otherwise, a ’fresh flower’ like Jiang Yino wouldn’t have ended up planted in ’cow dung’ like Qin Fan in their past life.
BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.
BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.
Just as Jiang Yino finished speaking and Qin Fan was about to respond, his phone vibrated on the table. He paused, picking it up to look at the screen.
The name "Big Sis" was displayed.
"Qin Fan, who is it?" Jiang Yino asked quickly when she saw him freeze.
"Big Sis," Qin Fan replied.
"Well, answer it! What are you waiting for?" she urged.
Hearing that, Qin Fan nodded and, with a smile, swiped to answer.
"Hey, Big Sis, what’s up? Don’t tell me you’re waiting for me at school right now."
"Wait for you? In your dreams! Fan, your sis is in trouble! I’m giving you a chance to prove yourself!" Ji Yi’s voice came hurriedly from the other end of the line.
In trouble?
Hearing Ji Yi’s unusually rapid speech, Qin Fan’s brow twitched. "What happened?" he asked.
"I was just passing by and saw a guy in a Mercedes beating up an elderly sanitation worker, calling him a ’tangerine peel dog’ over and over! I immediately started recording a video, then went over to help the old man and demand justice. But now the guy’s targeting me. He wants me to hand over my phone, or he won’t let me leave. He’s already on the phone calling for backup! I could run, but if I do, the old man will be left to suffer!" Ji Yi said in a rush.
As she finished speaking, a stream of curses could be heard from her end. "You fucking bitch, you think you can run? If you manage to get away without handing over that phone and deleting the video, I’ll chop off my own head and give it to you for a stool!"
"Fan, did you hear that? I’m in real trouble. Looking around Jinling, you’re the only one I can turn to," Ji Yi said again, yet her tone held no trace of fear. In fact, it carried a hint of playful mockery.
She knew that the little brother who could make even big shots like the boss of the Dragon Palace of the East Sea and Chang Yuanyi bow his head and call him ’Master’ would come. He would teach this scumbag a lesson and make him question his entire existence.
"Where are you?" Qin Fan asked, his voice low.
"Jinling Avenue, heading toward the Confucius Temple!" Ji Yi replied. Then, before he could answer, she added, "Fan, the guy drives a Mercedes! He thinks having a fancy car gives him the right to bully people! I just don’t get it. Does driving a luxury car really mean you can treat people however you want?"
"Fuck you! Selling this old geezer wouldn’t even pay for one of my wheels," another voice roared from the other end. "He dirtied my car, and you expect me to pay him instead of beating his ass? You fucking bitch, just you wait! It’s not just the old man; you’re not getting away either! Fuck you! You dare to slap me? Just wait, if I don’t fucking ruin you, I’ll take your last name!"
On the side of Jinling Avenue, a man in his thirties hung up his phone and continued to roar at Ji Yi, his face contorted with rage.
First, this damn street sweeper had brushed his wheel with that filthy broom. Then this meddling bitch had not only slapped him but had also recorded him hitting the sanitation worker. He was already choking on his anger.
And now she actually dared to call for help? Fine, let’s play for keeps! He refused to believe this out-of-town bitch could rally any serious backup. When it came to calling for reinforcements, if a Mercedes driver in Jinling couldn’t outmuscle some girl from out of town, then he’d be a disgrace to his car’s emblem and his premium Jinling license plate.
"Okay! Big Sis, you just wait. I’m on my way now! Keep the line open. Don’t hang up!" Qin Fan said, his face dark with indignation.
"Alright!"
"Good. I’m just going to make another call."
With that, Qin Fan put the call on hold and searched his contacts for Chang Yuanyi’s number.