A cup of tea can play many roles in a novel. Here are some possible examples: 1. Prop effect: A cup of tea can be used as a prop in a story to show the character's personality or as a background description. For example, a lonely old man in the story could make a cup of tea to show his loneliness and loneliness, and the taste and fragrance of a cup of tea could also reflect his taste and cultivation. 2. Description of emotions: A cup of tea can be used to express the emotions of a character. For example, in the story, a young woman drinking a cup of tea could show her tenderness and gentleness, and the fragrance and taste of a cup of tea could also reflect her taste and cultivation. 3. Symbolism: A cup of tea can be used as a symbol to express a certain meaning or convey a certain message. For example, a cup of tea could symbolize friendship and warmth, as well as wisdom and self-cultivation. 4. Scene Description: A cup of tea can be used to describe a scene to make it more vivid and interesting. For example, making a cup of tea in a busy cafe in the story could show the tranquility and leisure of the cafe, and it could also reflect the lifestyle and attitude that the author wanted to express. To sum up, a cup of tea can play a variety of roles in a novel. Different usages can show the author's different creative intentions and styles.