...
"That was fun," Zastan said, breaking the comfortable silence. "I didn't think I'd enjoy golf this much. Thanks for coming with me, Natalia."
Natalia turned to him, her smile radiant as she nodded. "Yeah, I had a great time too. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it turned out to be really enjoyable. I never thought I'd be learning golf from a national champion either. Ms. Zhao was impressive."
"She definitely was," Zastan agreed, recalling the way Ms. Zhao expertly demonstrated each move with such ease. "And hey, you weren't too bad yourself! You caught on pretty fast."
Natalia laughed, shaking her head modestly. "You're just saying that. But thanks, Zastan. I think you were better though, especially with those putts. I swear, you made it look so easy."
Zastan shrugged, trying to downplay his own efforts. "Maybe it's just beginner's luck," he said, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "Or maybe that strengthening potion had something to do with it. Either way, I'm glad we did this. It's a nice break from all the usual stuff, right?"
Natalia nodded thoughtfully. "Definitely. It's good to step outside the usual routine once in a while. I feel like I've been cooped up in the hotel for ages, so this was really refreshing."
As the conversation flowed, the cityscape outside transitioned from upscale neighborhoods to quieter, more residential areas. Zastan glanced at the street signs, recognizing the route that led to Natalia's apartment. They were nearing her stop, and he found himself feeling oddly reluctant to end the day.
"You've got a nice place around here," Zastan commented, glancing at the passing buildings. "I hope it's comfortable for you."
Natalia smiled, appreciating his thoughtfulness. "It's cozy, and the location's convenient. Not too far from the hotel, so it's perfect for me."
The car slowed down as they reached Natalia's apartment building, a modest yet well-kept structure with charming balconies and a neat entrance. The vehicle came to a stop, and Zastan got out first, walking around to open the door for Natalia. She stepped out, her expression warm as she looked up at him.
"Thanks for today, Zastan," she said sincerely. "I had a lot of fun. You didn't have to go out of your way like this, but I'm really glad you did."
Zastan waved off her gratitude, his casual demeanor masking the satisfaction he felt from her words. "It's nothing, really. I enjoyed it too, and it was nice to have you there. Maybe we can do it again sometime?"
Natalia nodded, her eyes sparkling. "I'd like that."
Just as Zastan was about to respond, Natalia took a small step closer. Her cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, her expression shy yet determined. Before he could react, she leaned in quickly and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. The gesture was brief but enough to catch him off guard.
Zastan stood there, momentarily stunned as Natalia pulled back, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and boldness. She met his gaze only for a fleeting second before she turned away, fumbling with her keys as she hurriedly opened the door to her apartment.
"Goodnight, Zastan!" she called out, her voice slightly higher than usual, betraying her nerves.
"Goodnight, Natalia," Zastan managed to reply, still processing the unexpected kiss. His hand touched his cheek where her lips had been, a smile creeping onto his face.
Natalia gave him a quick wave, then slipped inside, closing the door gently behind her. She leaned against it for a moment, her heart racing as she tried to calm herself. The impulsive kiss had been out of character, but she couldn't help the surge of emotions that had led her to it. As she replayed the moment in her mind, she covered her face with her hands, a giddy smile breaking through despite her flustered state.
Meanwhile, Zastan stood outside for a few seconds longer, gazing at the closed door. The warm breeze brushed against him, and he felt an odd sense of contentment that hadn't been there before. It was a small moment, but it left a significant mark. He chuckled to himself, shaking his head as he turned to head back to the car.
As the car started moving, Zastan slapped his forehead lightly, a grin forming on his face. "Ah, I was going to ask her to catch a movie with me," he muttered, shaking his head at his own forgetfulness. "Guess I got too caught up in the moment."
He looked out the window, watching the city lights blur past. "Maybe next time," he said to himself, feeling a surge of determination. "For now, I've got to focus on the business, make sure everything's running smoothly." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's not just about expanding anymore; it's about keeping that momentum going. Eternal Enchantment… it's becoming more than just a business—it's turning into something people are really connecting with."
The car continued to weave through the bustling city streets, and Zastan's mind was already plotting his next steps. Over the following days, he poured an additional $5,000,000 into the milk tea business, pushing its boundaries even further. New stalls sprang up across the city, each one strategically placed in high-traffic areas to maximize visibility and attract customers. He even secured retail spaces in prominent malls, ensuring that Eternal Enchantment would be a name impossible to ignore.
Every detail was meticulously planned. Zastan wasn't just investing money—he was investing his vision, his ambition, and his drive to create something truly remarkable. He spared no expense in designing the stalls, each one boasting sleek, modern aesthetics that drew in crowds with their eye-catching LED displays with minimalistic designs. The branding was sharp, the colors vibrant, and the appeal undeniable. Customers flocked to the stalls, eager to get their hands on the latest sensation that had taken the city by storm.
One afternoon, Darius called in for a status update. His voice was filled with excitement as he shared the latest reports. "Boss, the numbers are looking incredible. We've got lines forming as soon as the stalls open, and they're not dying down even though we have already announced that the official opening is tomorrow."
Zastan leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "That's what I like to hear, Darius. Any issues so far?"
Darius laughed. "Honestly, just keeping up with the demand is the biggest challenge right now. But we're managing. And hey, we've even got some influencers talking about us. Our social media presence is exploding. We've hit over a million followers across different platforms."
Zastan's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "A million already? That's impressive. People really are crazy about this, huh?"
"You bet they are. We've even started seeing some fan pages pop up. People are sharing their experiences, making it a whole event when they get their hands on a cup. The hashtag 'EternalEnchantment' is trending, and the hype is real."
Zastan chuckled, impressed by how quickly things were progressing. "Good. Let's keep that momentum. What's the feedback been like?"
"Mostly positive," Darius reported, his tone enthusiastic. "They love the milk tea, the aesthetic, everything. We've had a few minor complaints about wait times, but that's just because people can't get enough. We're working on streamlining operations to reduce those as much as possible."
Zastan nodded, tapping his fingers on the desk thoughtfully. "Good. Make sure the quality stays top-notch. No matter how big we get, we can't lose what makes us special. People are coming for the experience, not just the drink. Let's make sure they leave feeling like they've been enchanted every single time."
"Absolutely, boss. I've got the best people on it, and we're constantly fine-tuning based on feedback. I'm confident we can keep this going strong."
Zastan leaned back, allowing himself a moment of satisfaction. "Perfect. Keep me posted on any developments. And Darius?"
"Yes, boss?"
"Great work. Let's keep pushing. We've got something big here."
"Thank you, boss. Will do."
As Darius hung up, the energy in Zastan's office buzzed with anticipation. Tomorrow was the grand opening of Eternal Enchantment's expanded venture.
A day they had been meticulously preparing for, ensuring every detail was fine-tuned to perfection.
Zastan sat back in his chair, contemplating the scale of what they were about to achieve.
Every stall, every retail space, and every aspect of their operation had been optimized to ensure smooth service and exceptional quality. They had spared no expense, investing heavily in advanced technology to perfect the production process and meet the anticipated demand.
Each stall and retail space was equipped with state-of-the-art customized, automated machines, designed specifically for their business. These machines were capable of making the perfect cup of milk tea with minimal human intervention. Ingredients like powders, ice, water, and cups were loaded into the machine's designated compartments. With the press of a button, the machine would begin its seamless operation.
Zastan watched a demonstration video on his laptop, showing the machine in action.
As soon as the button was pressed, the machine started to come alive. You could see the progress of each cup through a transparent display panel on the machine's exterior. It meticulously mixed the powders with the precise amount of water, added the ice, and dispensed the beverage into the waiting cup. Once completed, the finished product emerged on the other side, ready to be handed to a customer.
"This thing's magical," Zastan muttered, admiring the efficiency of the machines. "Eight cups at a time, and it only takes two minutes for a full cycle."
Darius had explained earlier that each stall could produce up to 3,000 cups during its operating hours if the machines ran at full capacity. For the larger retail spaces in malls, equipped with multiple machines, the output could reach up to 12,000 cups a day.
In total, they had set up 15 retail spaces in various malls and 40 stalls strategically located across high-traffic areas. With these numbers, the potential was staggering. If all machines operated at full capacity, they could churn out approximately 300,000 cups in a single day.
Darius called again, his voice filled with excitement as he gave further updates. "Boss, everything's in place. The machines are set, the staff's are ready to go, and we've got plenty of inventory stocked up. We're ready to roll."
"Good to hear, Darius," Zastan replied, nodding to himself. "What's the latest on the projections?"
Darius didn't miss a beat. "With the marketing blitz we've had over the past few weeks, we've reached tens of millions of impressions across different social medias. Most of that traction is right here in Luminae. Even if we convert less than 1% of those impressions into actual sales, we're looking at around 100,000 cups sold just on opening day."
Zastan whistled softly, impressed by the figures. "100,000 cups, huh? What's that translate to in earnings?"
Darius did a quick calculation, his enthusiasm evident. "At a price of 9.99$ per cup, that's a cool million dollar in a single day. And that's just the minimum, according to our calculation. If we maintain even a fraction of that momentum daily, we're talking tens of millions in revenue each month."
...