After several days of "in-depth visits," Yang Yi and Mo Fei finally settled on a private kindergarten for Xixi, located on the other side of the mountain, near the villa area where Yang Yi often went grocery shopping.
It catered to children from wealthy families, so naturally its facilities and conditions were a cut above those of ordinary kindergartens. Yang Yi was particularly satisfied with its strict management of preschool teachers and the emphasis on their professional ethics.
Mo Fei also approved of this kindergarten. As the brochure showed, although it didn't offer its own interest-based tutoring classes, it invited local calligraphers, painters, musicians, and other professionals to give demonstrations almost every week, sparking the children's inner interests through playful artistic activities.
Moreover, every month, the kindergarten organized the children to learn and rehearse plays, both in Chinese and English. At the end of the term, they held a party inviting parents to participate, letting the children perform and showcase their talents.
This was perfect—learning through play without burdening Xixi with heavy academic pressure at such a young age. Both Mo Fei and Yang Yi were very pleased.
...
After enrolling Xixi, Mo Fei's most important task for the holiday was accomplished, and her return-to-work date was gradually approaching.
This annoyed Mo Fei: "Why is it that I've mentally prepared myself to go back and fully focus on the new album, while you, you big jerk Yang Yi, can still laze around at home every day?"
So, Yang Yi was forced by Mo Fei to open the shop downstairs.
"You need to get busy before I do, got it?" Mo Fei leaned against the counter, watching Yang Yi helplessly wipe the coffee cup over and over again, and let out a proud snort.
Yang Yi exchanged a smile with his daughter—his was a helpless one.
Xixi's was a smile of amusement. She didn't yet understand that her parents' little squabbles were another form of affection, but she loved seeing her dad get teased by her mom, just like how she sometimes teased him.
For instance, once, Xixi wrapped herself in a bedsheet, suddenly jumped up, and flailed her arms. Her dad was startled for a moment, then put on a scared face.
"Giggle, Daddy got scared!" Xixi laughed uncontrollably, but the little one still ran over to comfort him, "Daddy, don't be scared, it's just Xixi."
Since the shop was open, customers were inevitable, though rare. But if Mo Fei's identity were exposed, that would be bad.
So, whenever a customer came in, Mo Fei would cleverly pull Xixi to sit in the farthest booth, pretending they were also customers.
Like now, Xixi, with the sharpest eyes, saw a few girls walking together, rounding the flower bed toward the shop. She quickly ran over: "Mommy, Mommy, let's hurry and hide! Some aunties are coming!"
Mo Fei and Xixi quickly returned to their seats, where Xixi's toys were. But this time, the customers were a few vibrant, pretty girls, chattering like a flock of songbirds. Mo Fei couldn't help sneaking a peek and eavesdropping.
Yang Yi stood as usual behind his counter, expressionless, without any intention of greeting them.
The girls pushed open the door but didn't come in right away, chattering at the entrance.
"Is this the place?"
"Seems like it!"
"Should we go in? Standing outside looks weird!"
So, they all poured in, their bright, lovely faces making Mo Fei sigh from a distance: "Ah, youth is wonderful!"
They were all young girls, but once inside, they didn't think about ordering coffee. Instead, they unabashedly sized up Yang Yi, who even felt a bit creeped out by their stares.
"What... would you like to drink?" Yang Yi finally spoke.
"Boss, is this shop called 'The Corner Coffee Shop'?" After some nudging, a girl with waist-length hair was pushed forward, mustering the courage to ask Yang Yi.
"Yeah... that's right," Yang Yi paused, then said, "We are a coffee shop."
He repeated it, hoping to make their intentions clear—if you're in a coffee shop, you order coffee, why stare at me?
Behind the long-haired girl, the others couldn't help whispering, close enough for Yang Yi to hear.
"I think it's very possible. Look at this shop, there are so many records on the shelves. You can tell the boss loves music!"
"Loving music doesn't mean you can write songs, right? I like listening too, but I don't write any!"
"Come on, you?"
"What do you mean 'come on'? Look at the boss, big and burly, then look at me. Who do you think looks more like it?"
"Pfft, spare me. You're a girl, he's a guy."
"She's a tomboy." Ouch, that stung.
"Look at that piano. I think it's very likely! If he didn't know music, why would he have a piano in the shop?"
"You're so naive. Let me tell you, high-end coffee shops all have pianos, and they even hire people to play, super romantic!"
"Alright, alright, stop arguing. Let's just ask!"
After a round of discussion, the long-haired girl was pushed forward again. She smiled at Yang Yi. She was quite pretty, with regular features and fair skin, probably used to charming young men with her smile. But that trick didn't work on Yang Yi...
"Hi, are you the owner of this shop?"
Yang Yi was still confused by their conversation but sensed something off. Still, he didn't dwell on it and nodded.
"So, are you Mu Zi'ang?" The long-haired girl looked at him expectantly.
Yang Yi finally realized what was wrong, but he firmly shook his head.
Behind him, Mo Fei couldn't help quietly laughing at their conversation: "Oh my, they think Yang Yi is Mu Zi'ang? How did they make that connection?"
Exactly, Yang Yi wanted to know too. Calmly, he took a record from the shelf behind him and said, "The Mu Zi'ang you're talking about is the lyricist and composer of that song on this record, right? Why would you think it's me?"
"Boss, you like his songs too? We're all fans of Chen Yijie. The song he wrote for Chen Yijie, 'Long Time No See,' is really amazing!" A girl with a streak of dark red in her hair said, her eyes lighting up. "Yesterday, Chen Yijie accidentally revealed on a show that Mu Zi'ang runs a shop in Jiangcheng, so we came looking! Your shop's name is 'The Corner Coffee Shop,' right? We guessed it might be you!"
So that was it.
Yang Yi calmly shook his head and said, "How could that be? I changed the sign later because I really like that song."
"Then, boss, is your last name Li?"
"No, it's Yang."
Mu Zi'ang—the name should be Li Ang, right? With the surname Yang, it wasn't him. Yang Yi's denial dispelled their suspicions, though they hadn't been too convinced he was Mu Zi'ang anyway.
Despite their disappointment, the girls politely bought coffee to go. As they left, they muttered, "Told you it didn't seem like him! Mu Zi'ang must be a handsome, slim young man with a story..."
Yang Yi shook his head with a wry smile. When he turned around, he saw Mo Fei staring at him with a burning gaze. His heart skipped a beat, and he worried he might have been exposed.