Chapter 369: I

"No rush, it's almost noon. I'll treat you all to a meal!"

"Oh? Making money really makes a difference, huh!" Gu Lianxing's spirits instantly lifted upon hearing this. "Four thousand a day—that's catching up to the annual profit of a small-to-medium enterprise. We absolutely must have a feast!"

"No problem, you pick the place!"

Shen Ci and Lianxing didn't stop her. Usually, they were very proactive about not letting Pili spend money. Sometimes, even when Pili took the initiative to offer a treat, they would choose "Lily's Stir-fry" at the snack street behind the school.

This time, Pili had rare confidence, and it was indeed something worth celebrating. A feast was in order.

"Lou Shang Hui Guan."

Shen Ci and Yan Wenxi had eaten at this place once before. It was a high-end Hong Kong-style hot pot restaurant with excellent quality, specializing in fish maw chicken soup, which was then used to poach premium seafood.

Who would have thought that just as they reached the entrance, they would be stopped by the restaurant staff.

"Excuse me, everyone, it's not convenient to receive guests right now. Could you please wait a moment?"

The staff's words were somewhat baffling; asking them to wait implied the restaurant was still in operation.

But it was temporarily inconvenient to receive guests?

"Has something happened inside?" Shen Ci asked subconsciously.

Before the other party could answer, they saw a large group of people suddenly walking out in a grand procession.

Those people were aggressive, moving in pairs, with one person being escorted in the middle.

The situation was already very obvious—were the police making arrests?

Somehow, seeing this scene, Shen Ci's heart tightened subconsciously. Her gaze was fixed straight on the person being escorted, terrified of seeing Yan Wenxi's figure.

"Excuse me, everyone, please make way. The police are handling a case."

In her distraction, Shen Ci was pulled aside by a staff member to avoid the crowd. Those being arrested all had calm expressions, showing no ripples of emotion.

Not until these people were escorted into vehicles by the police and Yan Wenxi's figure was nowhere to be seen did Shen Ci slowly let out a sigh of relief.

Lianxing exclaimed, "What's going on? Were these people taken away while eating here? Was there a fight?"

Pili shook her head. "No fight. These people and their clothes didn't have a single tear. They must have committed some offense and were taken away by the police."

"Sorry about that, everyone. Not letting you in just now was because we were afraid there might be unexpected situations inside. Now, you can dine as usual."

This small interlude didn't affect Lianxing and Pili, but the unease in Shen Ci's heart didn't completely dissipate.

She made an excuse to go to the restroom first and called Yan Wenxi.

The phone rang for a long time before it was answered. "Hello, A-Ci?"

"Brother, what are you doing?" Shen Ci's tone was still normal.

"I'm at the company. What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"Nothing, just that I'm having lunch with classmates at Lou Shang Hui Guan and suddenly remembered I haven't seen you in quite a few days. When are you free? Shall we have a meal together?"

After this sentence, there was a long silence on the other end of the line.

"Brother?"

Not until Shen Ci called out again did Yan Wenxi respond. "I have a lot to deal with lately, I might not have time."

Shen Ci paused, then said, "I see. Alright then, if you have time, give me a call and we'll set another date?"

"Sure, I'm hanging up now."

The call ended, and the unease in Shen Ci's heart became even more pronounced.

Because every time she asked her brother out, he had always agreed without hesitation.

Busy—how busy could he be? Was there not even time for a meal?

Her mind recalled what Duanduan had told her—that her brother had told his subordinates to keep a low profile lately...

And there was also what Tang Song said about the current "Special Campaign to Sweep Away Organized Crime and Root Out Local Evils" being carried out in Longcheng...

Then, connecting it to her brother's recent abnormal behavior...

Shen Ci only felt her scalp go a little numb.

And just at this moment, her phone rang again—Yan Wenxi had called her back.

Shen Ci hurriedly answered. "Brother?"

"A-Ci, how about next Monday?"

"Sure, then at Shui Yun Jian?"

"Fine, see you next Monday."

The call ended again. Shen Ci took a deep breath; she felt she must ask her brother to clarify everything next Monday.

Evening, at the entrance of the Second Middle School.

"Boss, how much for the starch sausages?"

"Four 'yuan' each."

Jin Dao and his two companions stood in front of a fried skewer stall, opened WeChat, and glanced at the balance inside.

"How about three for one 'li'?"

"Can't do that, kid. My starch sausages are good sausages, super authentic—not a bit of meat in them. If you find even a bit of meat, come back and find me!"

Monkey, standing to the side, caught a glimpse of Jin Dao's WeChat balance and said, "Brother Dao, don't you still have money on WeChat?"

"Isn't that being saved to buy cigarettes later?"

"Oh."

The three of them stared at each other. Originally, they all had a bit of income every month from Brother Kai, but because they kicked a bicycle, Brother Kai had fined them two months of pocket money. Now, they couldn't even afford cigarettes.

"Forget it, I won't eat. You two eat." Jin Dao said, looking at the boss. "Then give us two!"

"Eat, I'll treat you."

Shen Xing didn't know when he had appeared behind Jin Dao. He spoke suddenly, and although his voice was soft, it gave Jin Dao a start.

Turning his head, he saw Shen Xing straddling a bicycle, looking at him expressionlessly.

"N-no need." Seeing it was Shen Xing, Jin Dao subconsciously refused.

Seeing Shen Xing now, all he could think of was Brother Kai's fists. He was scared to death—how could he dare let him treat them to food?

"Don't be polite. You helped me out that day; it's only right."

"You've already said thank you to us." Jin Dao shook his head with an unnatural expression. "Really, no need, brother."

"A verbal thank you doesn't count. Let me treat you to something; order whatever you want."

Monkey looked at Shen Xing, then secretly glanced at Jin Dao, and whispered, "Brother Dao, I want to eat..."

Jin Dao glared at him, scaring Monkey into lowering his head immediately.

Shen Xing got off the bicycle, parked it, and walked to the stall. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the pot of black oil that didn't know how many days it had been since it was changed.

He frowned.

After struggling for a moment, he still shook his head. "Don't eat this. I'll treat you to something else."

"Brother!"

Jin Dao grabbed Shen Xing. Seeing Shen Xing look up, he hesitated before speaking. "Really no need, we... we kicked your bicycle. Brother Kai said we were supposed to pay over ten yuan, but you didn't even ask us to pay."

"But didn't you get beaten up by Brother Kai? My sister said the beating you took offset the compensation, so the bicycle matter ended that day."

"I'm treating you to food now because of the matter at the school gate that day. One thing is one thing."

Hearing Shen Xing say this, Jin Dao actually felt a rare sense of guilt. "We..."

"Let's go. My mom isn't home today, and I was going to eat out anyway. Just consider it keeping me company!"

?? Babies, the last three days of the month, double monthly ticket event. If you have monthly tickets, vote for me! They'll expire and be wasted at the end of the month!

? (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 370 =====