Two weeks after Golden Leaf Tea's launch, Zhang Rui noticed something strange again.
Their shop had recovered quickly.
Customer traffic remained strong.
In fact… stronger than before.
Some customers who tried Golden Leaf Tea returned complaining about long wait times and inconsistent quality.
Zhang Rui should have been relieved.
But instead, the same uneasy feeling returned.
Late at night he reviewed supply reports again
Sweet Time Milk Tea's deliveries were still unusually smooth.
Too smooth.
Meanwhile several other shops reported occasional shortages.
The pattern looked familiar.
Almost identical to what happened weeks earlier.
Zhang Rui stared at the documents silently.
Someone was still manipulating the supply network.
For the first time, he didn't dismiss the strange thought that appeared again.
Chen Mo.
It still sounded ridiculous.
But Zhang Rui remembered something.
Chen Mo had always been unusually calm.
Too calm.
As if he knew something others didn't.
Across the city, Chen Mo's phone vibrated.
Fear +19
Suspicion +16
Chen Mo glanced at the notification briefly.
Someone was getting closer to the truth.
Interesting.
That would generate even stronger emotions.