Once everyone had taken their seats, a maid with her hair neatly tied up approached, bowed, and placed a menu on their table. "May I ask what you would like to order?" she asked.
Since she spoke in Japanese, only Chu Lian, Inori, and Kurosaki Satsuki understood her. Chu Chu and Li Xiu'er could only look at each other in confusion.
"Please bring me a cup of Coriel coffee—make sure to add milk and sugar." Chu Lian glanced at the menu and quickly realized this place was high-end. Even the most basic coffee cost 3,000 yen—about 150 Huaxia yuan. Outrageously expensive.
But she didn't mind much. After all, they still had over a million in activity funds. During their last trip to Taian Shopping Street, Chu Lian's outfit change had caused such a commotion that they hadn't managed to buy much before being forced to leave.
After arriving here, their travel funds had automatically increased again, to the point that they all felt money was starting to lose its meaning. Or perhaps, the Zhao family really was just that wealthy. She couldn't help thinking—it might be nice to bleed them a little someday.
After all, starting a company, hiring staff, developing new products, and expanding markets—all of that required money. Even if those were things for the future, having a goal meant she needed to start preparing now. Relying solely on writing or other small income sources wasn't a long-term solution.
If Zhao Ziming knew that the money he so casually provided had caused Chu Lian to set her sights on his family for future plans, he'd probably want to cry. Though he'd only met her a few times, he knew she wasn't the kind of person to make schemes lightly. If she did, it meant what she wanted was significant.
Beside her, Inori gave her a small, helpless glance when she saw Chu Lian sink into thought again. She reached over, took the menu in front of Chu Lian, and flipped through it herself.
"Lunoir's Heart: 3,000 yen per cup; Blue Mountain Coffee: 27,000 yen; Lilith's Kiss: 24,000 yen; Coriel Coffee: 21,780 yen…" The string of high prices left even her—a person who rarely cared about money—slightly stunned.
After cramming knowledge online these past few days, she was no longer as clueless as she had been at first. She knew that the exchange rate between yen and Huaxia yuan was roughly 20:1, and she understood the difference in prices between the two countries. Still, she had never seen coffee this expensive before.
But surprise aside, Inori cared even less about money than Chu Chu did. After glancing through the menu for a bit, she ordered the same Coriel coffee as Chu Lian and then handed the menu to Kurosaki Satsuki. "You order first. After you're done, I'll pass it to Chu Chu."
Unexpectedly, the white-haired girl declined with a slight shake of her head. She didn't want anything.
Inori had her own ways of guiding others emotionally, but when it came to Kurosaki Satsuki—who showed no warmth toward anyone except Chu Lian—she was helpless.
You couldn't exactly pry open someone's mouth if they refused to talk, could you? Fortunately, Chu Lian, who had just pulled herself out of her own thoughts, noticed this and took the lead. "If everyone's drinking something but you aren't, it's a bit rude, you know? If you don't want to be lonely forever, you have to learn to compromise, young lady."
"Then… bring me the same as hers," the white-haired girl said after staring at Chu Lian's smiling face for a while, finally turning to the maid.
The maid nodded and jotted it down quickly in her notepad.
Having dealt with the proud girl, Chu Lian then turned to Chu Chu and Li Xiu'er. "You two don't seem to like bitter things like coffee, right? Would you prefer a cup, or do you want something else?"
"I can drink it, Big Sis. Don't underestimate me! I might hate bitter food, but if there's milk and sugar, I can handle it." Chu Chu immediately responded with a grin.
Li Xiu'er gave Chu Lian a timid glance, then lowered her head slightly. "I think the same as Chu Chu. Once sugar is added, coffee isn't really bitter anymore."
"Well then, about the coffee…" Since they had all spoken up, Chu Lian didn't stop them. She picked up the menu and patiently explained to the two girls what each Japanese item meant. When she finished, she asked, "Have you decided what you want?"
"Big Sis, we don't really drink coffee, so we don't know much about the flavors or effects. Could you order for us?" Chu Chu, of course, hoped that her Big Sis would order the same kind she had, but since she couldn't read the menu, she didn't say so directly.
"I ordered the Coriel coffee. It has a faint bitterness and a light fragrance—it helps relax the mind. But it's not really suitable for you two. You haven't fought or been brooding over strange things, so you don't need that kind of coffee." After thinking for a moment, Chu Lian turned to the maid. "Please bring two cups of 'Lilith's Kiss.' Make them light and sweet—no bitterness."
"Understood. Your coffee will be ready shortly, please wait a moment." The maid bowed and turned to leave. The swaying of her black-and-white maid skirt, paired with the matching stockings and black heels, made her quite eye-catching. No wonder so many men chose to relax here. Still, there were plenty of women as well—it seemed they liked this calm, elegant atmosphere.
On the surface, Chu Lian appeared to be watching the maid leave, but secretly she was observing the surroundings. Everything matched what Zhao Ziming's Akihabara Travel Guide had described. That meant today must be the café's once-a-month "Maid Day."
"Big Sis, what did you order for us?" Chu Chu couldn't help but ask curiously, though what she really wanted to know was which coffee Chu Lian had chosen.
"'Lilith's Kiss.' It's a very unique coffee. At first sip, it tastes sweet, then slightly bitter, then faintly astringent, and finally it turns into a deep, rich bitterness in your mouth. Its flavor shifts through several stages in a short time—just like the tragic love of a woman: sweet, painful, bitter. The end of love—that's where the name 'Lilith's Kiss' comes from." Chu Lian's explanation left Chu Chu and Li Xiu'er both looking puzzled. That didn't sound like something suitable for them at all.
Seeing their expressions, Chu Lian smiled knowingly. "Of course, the original flavor isn't right for you. But once you stir in milk and sugar, it skips those first three transitions and goes straight to the final one—a subtle, gentle sweetness."
"If a woman's love, after tasting sweetness, sorrow, and bitterness, is once again embraced by gentleness and warmth—then she'll find eternal happiness. Is that what it means?" Li Xiu'er asked softly, her tone thoughtful.
"As expected of you, Xiu'er—you're always so observant. My other sister here, though, is hopeless." Chu Lian blinked playfully, praising Li Xiu'er while teasing Chu Chu at the same time, making Chu Chu pout in protest.
Their soft chatter passed the time quickly. Soon, the same maid returned with four others, each carrying a tray. They approached the table, and the leading maid carefully placed each cup before them, saying, "Here are your coffees. Please enjoy."
Chu Lian nodded in acknowledgment, approving of her professionalism. But just as the maid turned to leave, Chu Lian spoke up: "Excuse me, could you stay for a moment? I have a few questions I'd like to ask."
"Of course," the maid replied, unruffled and smiling as always.
"Could you tell me—are all the waitresses here required to wear maid outfits because of the café's style, or is there another reason?"
"Well, most of the time, our café's theme is quite proper and elegant. Only on this day each month does the owner have us wear maid uniforms to greet our guests," she answered smoothly, clearly accustomed to this question.
"Why do you all dress like this today?" It was clear that the other girls had been listening to their conversation. Even Chu Chu and Xiu'er, who didn't understand Japanese, had caught the gist through Inori's translation. So when Chu Lian asked this question, everyone shared her curiosity.
"Our boss is a collector," the maid explained. "On this day each month, she displays one of her prized collectibles. Only today, those who work as maids in the café and receive unanimous praise from customers can earn that item."
"Ah? So others can also participate as maids today?"
"Yes. The event starts at three o'clock in the afternoon and runs until three-thirty. After that, no one else can join. During that time, we regular staff step aside, and the participating ladies act as servers. Each time they serve a customer well, they can receive a rating in the customer's scorebook. The event ends at six o'clock, and only the one with the highest number of positive evaluations and top ratings can claim the young lady's collectible."
The maid's slip of the tongue had revealed something—earlier she'd said "boss," but now she said "young lady." It seemed this "Miss Sakurako's Café" truly belonged to Miss Sakurako herself.
"Oh, the most ratings and the highest score—they aren't always the same person, are they? I suppose few have ever won Miss Sakurako's treasures."
Realizing her mistake, the maid froze. Chu Lian's calm expression gave nothing away, but the maid still worried she might be punished later.
"This event has been held for three years now," the maid admitted after a pause. "So far, only three people have managed to obtain Miss Sakurako's collectibles. Each of them is unique and irreplaceable—something truly special for those who appreciate them."
"And what's the item this time?" Chu Lian asked, though inwardly she was already certain—this must be what the system's quest had led her to. To give her options like this… it was maddening.
"The sword of the last head of the Shun Prison Sword Style…"
The moment those words left her mouth, the cup in Kurosaki Satsuki's hand shattered, spilling coffee across the table. The sudden sound made the maid jump in fright.
"I'll get it back for you—don't worry." Chu Lian's calm voice cut through the tension just as the white-haired girl was about to draw her blade to reclaim her mother's heirloom by force.
At that exact moment, the system quest refreshed once more…