Part 2The Intimacy Trap

I pushed myself up, taking a hesitant step towards him. The next second, scalding bubble tea, laced with furious curses, splattered all over me.

“Only a partial refund, huh? You’re threatening me? You work in a fancy office building but you can’t even pay for your own damn bubble tea? If you can afford it, drink it. If not, go to hell!”

Cup after cup, the hot, sticky liquid drenched me, stinging my face and skin. My colleagues made a move to intervene, but the merchant’s next words nailed them to their spots: “You scam me out of perfectly good bubble tea? This isn’t over!”

The sheer, burning humiliation made me tremble. I fumbled for my phone, my voice shaking as I tried to call for help. “I’m calling the police! This is defamation…” As I tapped open the delivery app, I saw a notification: my account had been logged in from another location. I logged back in, only to find Victoria’s chat history with the merchant, ending with her last message:

“If you don’t refund, I’ll report you to the consumer protection agency! Why can’t I refund bubble tea I haven’t even drunk? Try shutting down your business if you dare!”

The order page blared “Partial Refund Successful.”

The merchant let out a cold, chilling laugh. He landed a brutal punch square on my face, roaring, “Call the cops! I’ve got nothing to lose, buddy! Even if my shop closes today, I’ll make you pay!” The blow sent me sprawling to the floor, my mouth instantly filling with the coppery taste of blood, my ears ringing violently.

All eyes in the office were on me. A deathly silence stretched, then whispers erupted. “Freeloading on bubble tea? That’s so embarrassing…” “I swear, I knew Aaron was cheap, but I never thought a grown man could have such terrible character!” “Someone like that deserves a promotion and a raise? What a joke! He’s a total embarrassment to the company!”

The swirling accusations made me feel naked, every contemptuous word piercing me. I swallowed the blood in my mouth, my face pale, and apologized to the merchant. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know about the partial refund. I’ll transfer you the money for the bubble tea.” “I’m truly sorry.”

The merchant gave me a cold once-over, then pulled out his payment QR code. My face was tight with shame as I scanned it. But after several attempts at inputting my password, the screen kept flashing “Insufficient Balance.” Just then, a message from Victoria popped up. “Did the bubble tea taste good? (smile smile)”

My Family Link allowance showed zero. I stood frozen, staring at the “payment failed” screen, my heart sinking into a freezing abyss. “What? No money to pay? Damn it, if you can’t pay, just die!” “Used to freeloading, are you? Think I’m running a charity?” Amidst the merchant’s impatient curses, I numbly opened a loan app, borrowed four hundred dollars, and transferred it to him.

He received the money, spat on me, and then stalked off, muttering insults. Looking at the ninety dollars left in my balance, I suddenly felt utterly pointless. I don’t know how I walked back to my desk. My mind was blank, countless gazes burning into me. Each one stung like a needle.

Victoria sent another message: “Happy about your promotion? Still celebrating?” For the first time, I didn't reply. I just sat there, my expression empty. My suit shirt was soaked through with bubble tea, clinging to my skin, cold and sticky.