"It''s no trouble at all, N. I''ve really enjoyed our shopping trip."


    Roseanne herself had found quite a few treasures.


    "Oh, there''s a little favor I might need from you," N said, her face the picture of adorable pleading.


    "What''s that?"


    "Well, I''ve been organizing a tea tasting event. It''s just a casual get-together where we sip on some tea, chat, and maybe discuss a bit about the art of tea brewing..."


    The original instructor was from the renowned Quin Tea House, and they had everything set, butst night, the instructor fell ill suddenly and had to be rushed to the hospital. He''s still in critical condition.


    "...The tasting is tomorrow, and given his condition, he obviously can''t make it. I''ve been scrambling to find a recement and remembered Leda mentioning that you know your teas and are quite the brewer, so..." N paused for effect before continuing, "I was hoping, rather boldly, that you might step in for him. Maybe share some insights on tea culture and show off your brewing skills." This event was her baby, and if it flopped, she''d never hear the end of it from everyone.


    Roseanne hadn''t seen her tea skills first-hand, only going off what Leda had mentioned. As long as she could hold a conversation about tea and brew a decent cup, it would suffice. N wasn''t expecting any master-level performance.


    "Is that so..." Roseanne pondered for a brief moment, then, seeing the hopeful look in N''s eyes, she softened, "Alright, then. Send me the address."


    "Ah! Thank you, Anne! You''re a lifesaver!"


    That evening, Roseanne asked for time off from Owen.


    Owen inquired about the reason, and she didn''t hold back, sharing the details of the tea tasting event.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    He even asked for the address.


    Roseanne forwarded it to him immediately.


    Upon seeing it was at the Bulgari Hotel, about 3 miles from theb, Owen asked about the end time, 5 pm.


    "Traffic''s a nightmare during rush


    hour. I''ve got a conference nearbet


    that ends around the same time. I can swing by and give you a dift."


    "Thanks, that''d be great."


    ...


    The day of the tea tasting arrived as scheduled.


    swne


    The who''s who of the local elite turned out,rgely out of respect for N.


    As the seconddy of the Reynolds family and a notable figure in their social circle, her influence was undeniable. Though billed as a tea ss, it was more a social gathering for them, another arena forworking and showing off.


    Before it even started, groups


    formed, gossiping about thetest circle drama or who managed to snag what from the newest luxury collection.


    As the host, N was everywhere at once.


    "Ah? Mrs. Reynolds, you made it?!"


    A voice rang out in pleasant surprise.


    N instinctively looked towards the entrance and immediately smiled in greeting, "Silver, you''re here. Please,e in..."


    Silver, the wife of Ferdinand Reynolds, was the de facto matriarch of the Reynolds family.


    N''s husband, Desmond Reynolds, was Ferdinand''s younger brother. So Silver was N''s sister-inw.


    Their rtionship, however, was...plicated.


    Upon entering, Silver surveyed the scene and couldn''t hide her disapproval, "Why choose this ce?"


    N, aware of her sister-inw''s exacting standards, replied with a smile, "The area behind here has hot springs. I thought it would be nice to rx there after our tea. That''s why I picked this ce."


    Silver snorted, "Always trying to y the sophisticate, aren''t you?"