55 This Is Tea?
The next morning, Noah woke up feeling refreshed.
After brushing his teeth, he headed downstairs, mentally making a note to himself that he still hadn’t bought groceries for the house.
The small details of daily life still needed tending, even amidst the chaos.
As he stepped into the kitchen, he greeted his family. “Good morning, Mom. Morning, Dad.”
His father, David, was already by the counter, preparing to brew his usual morning tea. Emily, his little sister, sat at the table, noticeably avoiding Noah’s gaze. Smirking inwardly, Noah immediately understood what had happened—”So it was this little rascal who let it slip, not the neighbours”, he thought.
He knew she had a big mouth, but he wasn’t mad. In fact, he was looking forward to giving her a little teasing on the way to school.
Acting as though nothing was amiss, Noah flashed her a friendly smile. “Good morning, Em. How was your sleep?”
Emily nodded, but her voice was low as she answered, “It was good,” avoiding direct eye contact.
Noah’s smirk deepened. “She’s definitely GUILTY”, he thought, amused. “That’s good to hear,” he said cheerfully.
Turning to his father, Noah decided this was the perfect moment to test out the magical tea. “Dad, wait,” he said, noticing David about to brew his usual morning tea. “I want you to try something different today. I have a special tea I want you to taste.”
David raised an eyebrow in mild surprise but extended his hand. “Alright, pass it over.”
“Hold on, I’ll get it from my room,” Noah said, quickly heading upstairs.
Once in his room, he opened his system and purchased 100 grams of the magical tea leaves. The transaction was swift, and the money was automatically deducted from his bank account.
Noah pulled the tea bag from his inventory, smiling to himself. The packaging was immaculate, like it had just come from a high-end tea shop. “Good thing it’s already stored in a proper bag,” he thought, “otherwise I’d have to walk down there with loose leaves in my hand.”
Back downstairs, Noah handed the bag to his father. “Here, try this.”
Caroline, his mother, glanced at the bag curiously. “Noah, where did you get this tea? Is it any good?”
Noah grinned mysteriously. “It’s a secret, Mom. You’ll find out if it’s good soon enough. Dad, make tea for everyone—even Em.”
Emily, sitting at the table with wide eyes, shook her head vehemently. “No, I don’t drink tea. Tea is yucky.”
Noah turned his attention to her, his grin widening. “Not this one, Em. You’ll like it.”
Emily’s face paled, and she seemed horrified by his words. Her mind raced. H”e’s trying to take revenge for what I said about him and that girl! He’s definitely plotting something! I should’ve kept my mouth shut.” She groaned inwardly, already regretting her actions as her mind spiraled in silent despair.
Meanwhile, David began brewing the tea. The moment the water hit the leaves, a heavenly aroma filled the room. It was a fragrance so rich, so alluring, that it caused everyone at the table to pause.
David, Caroline, and Emily all exchanged puzzled glances. It didn’t smell like any tea they had ever brewed before. The scent alone was like a warm invitation, a promise of something extraordinary.
As the tea steeped, David poured it into four cups. Noah took a seat at the table as the food was served: egg on toast, grilled halloumi cheese on the side, and olives. Breakfast was simple but hearty, it’s taste was immaculate as usual.
David took a bite of toast, then reached for his cup of tea. Noah’s eyes followed his every movement with keen anticipation, smirking ever so slightly.
As soon as David took his first sip, his hand stopped midway to putting the cup down. His eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, he just sat there, motionless, the cup still hovering above the table.
Noah could see it—the light flickering in his father’s eyes, the way his expression changed from surprise to astonishment.
David slowly set the cup down with extreme care, as though he was afraid of spilling even a drop. He glanced at Noah, whose smirk had now turned into a full-blown grin.
“How was it?” Noah asked casually, though he already knew the answer.
David blinked several times, staring at the cup as if it held some kind of magic—which, unbeknownst to him, it did. “Noah…where did you get this tea?” he asked, his voice quiet, almost reverent. “This tea is… it’s otherworldly. Its price must be… unbelievable.”
Caroline, sensing the weight of David’s words, turned to him in confusion. “How come, David? What’s so special about it?”
David took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “The taste,” he began, “it’s sweet but not too sweet, and so light on the tongue. It’s as if my tastebuds are harmonizing with the flavor. It’s not just about taste, though. With just one sip, I felt the fatigue lifting from my body. I’m not exaggerating. I felt more awake, more energized—like the exhaustion I didn’t even realize I had was melting away.”
Caroline and Emily looked at David with wide eyes. Even Emily, who had been dreading the tea, seemed curious now.
Noah leaned back in his chair, satisfied with his father’s reaction. “I told you it was good, didn’t I?” he said, his voice filled with playful pride.
David nodded slowly, his hand still resting near the cup as though he was ready to take another sip but too amazed to move. “Good isn’t the word, Noah. This tea is beyond anything I’ve ever tasted. It’s… it’s like it’s made from something more than just tea leaves. Are you sure this isn’t from some high-end, exclusive shop?”
Noah chuckled. “It’s a little secret, Dad. But let’s just say… there’s more where that came from.”
As David stared at the cup in awe, Caroline decided to try some, clearly intrigued.
Noah watched as his mom took a sip. The same expression of amazement crossed her face, and she looked at Noah with newfound appreciation. “This… is incredible, Noah. It’s like nothing I’ve ever tasted.”
Emily, who had been silently watching the whole exchange, finally spoke up, her voice small and tentative. “Maybe… I’ll try some too.”
Noah’s smirk grew wider. “Gotcha,” he thought.
David poured her a small cup, and when Emily finally took a sip, her eyes widened in pure shock. “It’s… not yucky,” she muttered, as if she couldn’t believe the words coming out of her own mouth.
Noah chuckled. “Told you.”
With the magical tea leaving everyone at the table speechless, Noah sat back, his plan already forming. His father’s reaction had confirmed it—this tea wasn’t just good. It was going to be the key to something bigger.
As David savoured the last sip of the magical tea, Noah couldn’t help but watch the astonishment still lingering on his father’s face. His plan was coming together perfectly, and it was time to present the next part of it.
“Dad,” Noah began casually, glancing at his cup, “what do you think? If a tea house were to open with this tea, do you think it would do well?”
David looked at him, setting the cup down slowly. “Of course, it would do well, Noah. It wouldn’t just do well—it would dominate the market. Heck, this tea would destroy all the competition.”
He chuckled at the thought but then added with caution, “But it depends on the price. If this tea is too expensive, only a small, high-end clientele could afford it. You’d be targeting a niche market, and that makes it harder to sell consistently. You’d need regular customers, not just the wealthy ones.”
Noah leaned forward, a grin spreading across his face. “It’s cheap, Dad,” he said, the excitement barely contained in his voice.
David raised an eyebrow. “Cheap? What do you mean by cheap Noah? The word ‘cheap’ depends on the person speaking.”
“Just $3 for 100 grams of the tea leaves you just drank,” Noah said, watching as his words sank into David’s mind.
David’s reaction was immediate—his eyes widened, and he stood up so abruptly that his chair screeched against the floor.
“What? How is that even possible? Noah, tea of this quality… there’s no way that’s possible,”
“You are telling me, this costs only $3 per 100 grams!” as he held Em’s cup of tea, with a shocked look on his face.
This was meant to be uploaded tomorrow, but I’m very happy with the support from you guys. Sp I decided to celebrate with you and upload another chapter!
Risaliyah