Lingling Takes Over Blooming Beans

The sound of clinking cups and quiet chatter filled the air as Orm wiped down the counter at "Blooming Beans." Becky was perched on a stool, flipping through her phone while lazily sipping a latte. The usual morning calm was abruptly interrupted by the sharp click of designer heels on the tiled floor.

Lingling stood in the doorway, dressed to kill in a tailored suit and her signature icy expression. She surveyed the café with the same critical eye she reserved for boardrooms, making Becky choke slightly on her drink.

"Lingling?" Becky managed, setting down her cup. "To what do we owe this... ominous visit?"

Lingling strode forward, her gaze fixed on Orm, who was wiping down a table. "Orm has been coming home exhausted for weeks. The café is busier than ever, and she won't admit it's too much for her."

Orm looked up, raising an eyebrow. "I'm fine, Ling."

Lingling ignored her, turning to Becky instead. "I'm here to help."

Becky froze, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Wait. Help? You? Here?"

Lingling's sharp gaze narrowed. "Yes. Is that a problem?"

Becky blinked rapidly, trying to process this turn of events. "Problem? No, no problem at all! It's just... uh, I wasn't aware that Lingling Kwong knew what an apron was, let alone how to use one."

"I'm capable of learning," Lingling replied coolly.

Becky shot a look at Orm, who appeared half amused, half worried. "Did you know about this?"

"No," Orm said, her lips twitching into a smirk. "But this should be interesting."

"Oh, interesting doesn't even cover it," Becky muttered under her breath.

Fifteen minutes later, Lingling stood behind the counter, now wearing an apron that Becky had to show her how to tie. Her cold demeanor hadn't softened in the slightest, and Becky was already regretting her decision to let this play out.

The first customer of the day, a college student with a perpetually nervous expression, approached the counter. Lingling stepped forward, her gaze as sharp as a knife.

"What do you want?" she asked, her tone crisp and devoid of warmth.

The student froze. "Uh... j-just a latte, please."

"Size? Milk preference? Any additional requests?" Lingling fired off the questions like an interrogation.

"Uh, medium? Almond milk? No sugar?" the student stammered, visibly sweating.

"Fine," Lingling said, turning to the espresso machine with an air of command. Becky stood to the side, watching with a mixture of horror and amusement as the student practically ran to the farthest corner of the café to wait for their drink.

"You're terrifying the customers," Becky hissed.

"I'm efficient," Lingling replied coolly, handing off the latte to the next barista.

The second customer, an older man, approached cautiously. "Good morning," he said, trying to break the ice.

"What do you want?" Lingling asked again, her tone unchanged.

Becky facepalmed. "Lingling, this isn't a board meeting. Try smiling."

Lingling turned to Becky with a frosty look. "My face doesn't do 'smiling.'"

By mid-morning, the café was bustling, and Lingling's presence had become a spectacle. Becky, unable to resist, started snapping pictures and sending updates to Freen, who was stuck in the office. Freen's responses were instant and savage: "Oh, that's where our missing CEO is. Playing bartender today? Or practicing for a scarecrow audition? Either way, it's giving me life." Becky stifled a laugh as she showed Orm the messages, earning a smirk from her. Customers whispered nervously to each other, and Becky was thriving on the chaos.

"Next time," Becky muttered to herself, "I'm charging extra for the live show."

Meanwhile, Orm was watching the chaos unfold with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. She finally stepped in when Lingling's cold interrogation reduced a teenager to near tears over their order.

"Ling," Orm said gently, placing a hand on her girlfriend's arm. "Maybe you should focus on the back-of-house stuff. Inventory, maybe?"

Lingling frowned. "I came here to help you."

"And I appreciate it," Orm said with a small smile. "But you're scaring the customers."

Lingling's shoulders sagged slightly, a rare sign of vulnerability. "I just want you to have some rest."

Orm's smile softened. "You helping is enough to make me feel better. But maybe let Becky handle the front lines."

Becky leaned over, unable to resist one last jab. "Yeah, Lingling. Why don't you go... I don't know, reorganize the sugar packets or something?"

Lingling shot her a glare but relented, retreating to the back with as much dignity as she could muster.

In the back, Lingling found solace in structure. Within an hour, she had reorganized the storage room, alphabetized the syrup bottles, and created a spreadsheet detailing inventory levels. Her laser focus shifted from terrifying customers to turning the back-of-house into a model of efficiency.

When Orm checked in, she found Lingling crouched over a clipboard, her meticulous handwriting filling the pages. Orm leaned against the doorframe, a fond smile playing on her lips.

"You're in your element," Orm said softly.

Lingling looked up, a hint of satisfaction in her usually cold eyes. "It's productive work."

"And it means a lot," Orm added, stepping closer. "Thank you, Ling."

Lingling stood, brushing imaginary dust from her suit. "You don't need to thank me. It's my responsibility to take care of you."

Orm wrapped her arms around Lingling, resting her head against her shoulder. "You're amazing, you know that?"

For a brief moment, Lingling's icy demeanor melted. She returned the hug, her arms tightening around Orm. "You're worth it."

Becky, who had just come to the back to grab supplies, stopped short at the sight of the two of them embracing. She immediately put on an exaggerated expression of awe. "Wow. So beautiful. Somebody get me a tissue."

Orm laughed, pulling away from Lingling, who fixed Becky with a glare sharp enough to cut steel.

"Don't you have work to do?" Lingling asked.

Becky grinned. "I was working. I'm documenting this moment for the history books."

"Well, it better not go viral," Lingling snapped, smoothing her suit.

As the café wound down for the evening, Lingling emerged from the back with a perfectly organized inventory system and a detailed report on how to optimize operations. Orm hugged her tightly, murmuring her thanks, and Lingling seemed to relax for the first time all day.

Becky, watching from a distance, wiped an imaginary tear from her eye. "Beautiful. Just beautiful. Now, who's cleaning up?"