Stirring The Pot

Back at Blooming Beans, Orm and Becky were taking a well-deserved break, leaning against the counter while they sipped their coffees. Orm, clearly frustrated, stared at her phone, scrolling through her messages from Lingling—or rather, the lack of them.

"Ugh, Becky, what is going on with Lingling? She's been so cold lately!" Orm groaned dramatically, tossing her phone onto the counter.

Becky raised an eyebrow, unable to hold back a smirk. "Oh, honey, it's like you've been trying to thaw the Ice Queen with a hairdryer, and we all know that doesn't work."

"I'm not trying to thaw her, I just... I don't know. She's so... distant," Orm huffed. "It's like one minute, she's all formal CEO, and the next, she's acting like she doesn't even want to talk to me."

Becky snickered, taking another sip of her coffee. "Well, what do you expect? You've got this woman with an icy exterior, and suddenly you're playing with her emotions. Don't act surprised that it's confusing. You've got her tangled up in knots."

Orm rolled her eyes. "I don't know, Beck. She's complicated. I can't tell if she likes me or just wants to throw me off a cliff. It's exhausting."

Becky leaned back and grinned. "What can I say? You've met your match. But hey, nothing gets Lingling more interested than the idea that she might lose something she's got her eye on."

Orm shot her a sidelong glance. "Are you suggesting I be... bold?"

Becky chuckled, waving her hand. "Bold, smooth, daring—call it whatever you like. But something's gotta give, or else you'll be stuck in this perpetual 'I-need-to-pretend-I-don't-care-but-I-really-do' phase forever."

Before Orm could respond, a new customer walked in. And just like that, Orm's mood shifted from frustration to amusement.

The woman who entered the café was stunning—tall, confident, and with an aura that instantly commanded attention. She was the kind of woman who seemed to glide effortlessly across the room, drawing eyes with every step.

"Hi there," the woman greeted Orm, flashing a dazzling smile. "I couldn't help but notice how absolutely gorgeous you are."

Orm blinked, caught off guard, but maintained her composure. "Thanks. I'm Orm. What can I get you?"

The woman leaned on the counter, smiling even wider. "How about I take you out for dinner sometime? A lady like you deserves more than just coffee."

Becky raised an eyebrow and whispered to Orm, "Well, someone's got game."

Orm, never one to shy away from playful banter, leaned forward slightly, amused. "You're persistent. I'll give you that. But I'm pretty busy, you know?"

The woman didn't back down. "Come on. A little time for some fun wouldn't hurt, right? You work hard. You deserve a little break."

Orm smiled, half-amused, half-curious. "Maybe... but dinner? We'll see. I'm not a fan of long commitments on a first date."

The woman laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Fair enough. How about a drink, then? Let's see where it goes."

Becky leaned back in her chair, watching the interaction with a grin on her face. "Look at you, Orm. Someone's already trying to win you over."

Orm smirked, finally handing over the woman's order. "I'm used to it. No big deal."

The woman paid and, with one last flirtatious smile, left the café, leaving Orm to process the encounter. She didn't mind it—it was fun, lighthearted—but her thoughts quickly drifted back to Lingling.

Just as she was about to return to the counter, she heard the sound of the door opening again.

Lingling walked in, but she wasn't alone. Her eyes instantly locked onto Orm, and her gaze—cooler than ever—was followed by an unexpected turn of events.

Lingling's expression froze when she saw the exchange between Orm and the woman. Something in her chest tightened at the sight of Orm casually flirting with someone else, and it made her feel... jealous? No, it couldn't be that.

"Lingling," Orm greeted her casually, her voice warm. "You came by for coffee?"

Lingling stood by the door for a moment, silent, before walking toward the counter with her usual poise. "Just needed a break," she said, though her eyes still lingered on Orm for a moment longer than usual.

Becky watched the interaction with amusement. She knew Lingling had her pride, but she could almost feel the tension hanging in the air.

Lingling barely glanced at the woman who had just left, but it was clear she wasn't happy about the whole situation. She narrowed her eyes, but her voice was cold. "So... this is what you're doing now?"

Orm blinked, slightly taken aback by Lingling's tone. "What do you mean?"

"You know, flirting with random customers? I didn't know you were that type," Lingling replied, her voice tight.

Orm raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by Lingling's sudden icy demeanor. "It's just a drink and some casual conversation, Lingling. No harm done."

Lingling let out a small scoff, crossing her arms. "If you say so."

Before Orm could respond, Becky couldn't resist. "Someone's jealous," she teased with a grin, looking at Lingling.

Lingling's face flushed, and she quickly turned away, her pride too strong to let her admit what was clearly going on.

"Don't you have a meeting to run off to, Lingling?" Orm asked, trying to lighten the mood, though a teasing smile played at the corner of her lips.

Lingling huffed and, with a final glance at Orm, turned on her heel. "I have better things to do than waste time here."

As Lingling walked out, Orm and Becky exchanged a look, both of them silently acknowledging the obvious.

"She's totally jealous, isn't she?" Orm said, grinning.

Becky smirked, raising her cup. "Oh yeah, and you're absolutely going to use that to your advantage."

Orm chuckled, leaning against the counter. "Maybe. Or maybe I'll just keep her guessing."