Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Everyone was completely captivated by the discussion.

"Nola, the instructor you've got this time is pretty impressive. Where did you find her? Why have we only had old guys before?"

The book club had seen several meetings, each orchestrated by a different lady of the group.

This time, it was Nola's turn, and just as luck would have it, the usual instructor had suddenly fallen ill, prompting her to call in Roseanne as a last-minute replacement. The previous meetings had never seen such a "mishap."

Upon hearing this, another lady eagerly agreed, "Exactly! Why haven't we had such a charming young woman before, instead of always having old men? This session is so much better!" "She's a feast for the eyes and the ears."

"This lady really is something. Her voice is so soothing."

The moment Millie and Beverley laid eyes on Roseanne, they were gobsmacked.

Then, watching her comfortably take the stage, eloquently speaking about the art of tea, citing references with such ease, they were floored.

Millie took in all the compliments being showered on Roseanne-how wonderful, how beautiful, how elegant she was-all praise!

Why? Why did everyone like her so much?

She clearly didn't know the first thing about tea. What gave her the right to stand up there, acting all knowledgeable in front of these ladies? What was her deal?

Jealousy, clear and rampant, flickered in Millie's eyes.

"Hold on a second." Standing up, she interrupted Roseanne, instantly drawing all eyes to her.

Beverley didn't have the chance to stop her.

Nola frowned.

Roseanne calmly asked, "Do you have a question?"

Millie smirked, "Instructor, you're

here to talk about tea culture, but are you even a certified tea sommelier? Aren't you'a bit young? And why does everything you say sound so

unprofessional? You're ing

from documentaries."

This remark sparked murmurs among the crowd.

"Yeah, why did we switch instructors?"

Those who had attended multiple sessions knew the usual instructor was an older gentleman over sixty. Suddenly, they were listening to a young woman...

Seeing the shift in mood, Nola stood

to explain, "Here's the thing, the original instructor fell ill the day before yesterday, so I arranged for a new instructor for us. And I assure you, her knowledge in tea is beyond reproach."

Millie raised an eyebrow, "Then may I ask, what level of certification does our instructor have?"

Not to say Millie hadn't done her homework. She had spent the previous night diving into the subject, fiercely cramming the information.

Understanding that tea sommelier certification comes in different levels, each with a certificate recognized and issued by the national board, and that passing an exam is required.

And this wasn't an easy exam; it necessitated systematic study of tea knowledge and skills.

Millie's roommate had attempted the entry-level certification, even enrolling in a prep course, and had to take the test twice before passing. So, Millie knew how difficult it was to earn such a certificate. Even if Roseanne had a smattering of tea knowledge, Millie doubted she held a tea sommelier certificate.

Nola was caught in a bind.

On one hand, she was annoyed with Millie's tactless attempt to undermine the situation; on the other, she herself was uncertain.

She knew Roseanne was proficient in brewing tea and had some knowledge of tea culture, but whether she was certified was another matter.

Worried, Nola glanced at Roseanne,

who offered a reassuring lookMaterial © NôvelDrama.Org.

.né

before turning her attention to Millie, speaking deliberately, "You just mentioned I wasn't professional Could you please pinpoint where exactly I lacked professionalism?"