Xia Qingqiao and her best friend Xu Man co‑opened a tiny dessert shop of less than twenty square meters. Xia Qingqiao took charge of kitchen research, development and production, while Xu Man handled front‑desk work, livestreams and account operations. After their shop gradually became popular thanks to their pistachio Basque cake, Xu Man handed Xia Qingqiao a salary contract of only 2,800 yuan, forcing her to switch from business partner to ordinary kitchen staff. For the first time, Xia Qingqiao realized that the flavors she had created with her own hands were being seized by the person she trusted the most.
