Chapter 497

Min Tong nodded and said, "I'm not in a hurry. If I'd known, I should have just booked a hotel closer to where she works."

Lu Xiaoya laughed, "Yo, starting to accommodate her already, are you?"

Min Tong touched his hair in embarrassment. Suddenly, he said to Su Xinghui, "Xinghui, you are not allowed to call me Fatty today!"

Su Xinghui was taken aback. In truth, ever since Min Tong arrived at Menghuling, he hadn't called him Fatty. That was because, before his rebirth, he had already grown out of the habit of using classmates' nicknames. After all, they were both decades old now; he had almost forgotten the nickname "Fatty" entirely.

He said to Min Tong, "Don't you worry. When Chen Xiaomeng arrives later, I absolutely will not call you Fatty."

Min Tong nodded, "That's a good buddy."

Su Xinghui laughed, "At most, I'll call you Little Fatty!"

Min Tong froze for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Xinghui, where did I offend you?"

Su Xinghui and Lu Xiaoya were already laughing until they were doubled over. Seeing their expressions, Min Tong started laughing too.

After laughing for a while, Su Xinghui straightened his expression and said, "Min Tong, don't be too nervous. Look, aren't you doing just fine like this? Relax a bit. If you're too nervous, the girl won't like it."

Only then did Min Tong realize that Su Xinghui had been joking on purpose to dispel his nervousness. He nodded, moved, and said, "Mm, I know."

At about six minutes past six, Chen Xiaomeng appeared at the hotel entrance. Min Tong had been keeping an eye on the entrance the whole time. Seeing Chen Xiaomeng, he hurriedly stood up to greet her, and Su Xinghui and Lu Xiaoya followed suit.

Chen Xiaomeng was as cute as her name suggested; she was a darling girl. She wasn't exactly a great beauty, but she was petite and exquisite, with a slight plumpness, a round face, and dimples whenever she smiled—she couldn't have been more adorable. In that era, this type of girl was quite popular, so it was no wonder Min Tong was so attentive to her.

Chen Xiaomeng smiled and said to Lu Xiaoya, "Xiaoya, you guys sure arrived early."

Lu Xiaoya stepped forward and took Chen Xiaomeng's arm, saying, "My workplace is close to here. Come on, let's go in."

The group entered the hotel and went into the private room Min Tong had booked in advance. Seeing that the waiter hadn't come in yet, Chen Xiaomeng whispered, "Why are we eating here? Isn't it too expensive?"

Lu Xiaoya laughed, "A big spender is treating us today, so don't you worry about the cost."

Chen Xiaomeng couldn't help but look at Min Tong; it was obvious who the big spender was.

Lu Xiaoya said, "Xiaomeng, do you still recognize him?"

Chen Xiaomeng said hesitantly, "Is he Min Tong?"

Lu Xiaoya nodded, "That's right. Didn't I tell you about him before? Didn't you say you had an impression of him?"

Chen Xiaomeng said, "I do have an impression, but he's dressed like this today, it makes me a bit afraid to recognize him."

Lu Xiaoya laughed, "So, is he handsome dressed like this?"

Min Tong looked at Chen Xiaomeng expectantly. Chen Xiaomeng glanced at him, then whispered a few words into Lu Xiaoya's ear, and both women burst into laughter. Their laughter left Min Tong feeling uneasy. Su Xinghui smiled encouragingly at Min Tong, which gave him a little more confidence.

At this moment, the waiter entered and asked Min Tong, "Mr. Min, may I take your order now?"

Min Tong nodded and let the waiter hand him the menu. He asked Chen Xiaomeng, "Chen Xiaomeng, what would you like to eat?"

Before Chen Xiaomeng could speak, Lu Xiaoya feigned anger, "Well, Min Tong, you only know to ask what Xiaomeng likes to eat; aren't you going to ask what we like to eat?"

Min Tong was instantly embarrassed, not knowing what to say. Su Xinghui laughed, "Min Tong, it's fine, just go by Chen Xiaomeng's taste. Xiaoya is just teasing you."

Chen Xiaomeng didn't say what she liked to eat either. She laughed, "Yo, big talent, you're already calling her 'Xiaoya'—do you two have something going on?"

Xiaoya laughed and started playfully scuffling with Chen Xiaomeng, "Stop talking nonsense."

Su Xinghui coughed, and both women looked over. Su Xinghui said, "The waiter is still waiting. Chen Xiaomeng, what do you like to eat? Tell the waiter quickly."

The waiter was quite professional; seeing the two women playing around, she didn't laugh or rush them, maintaining a smile throughout. From this, one could see that the White Rose Hotel was indeed the best hotel in Jiangcheng.

The waiter said with a smile, "It's fine if I wait a moment."

Chen Xiaomeng was also a very well-mannered person. Of course, she wouldn't let the waiter wait too long. She told Min Tong two dishes she liked, then said to Min Tong, "For the rest, just order what Xiaoya and the others like."

Neither of these two dishes was expensive. Min Tong ordered them, then ordered a few more expensive dishes according to Lu Xiaoya and Su Xinghui's tastes, before saying to the waiter, "Please serve the food as quickly as possible."

The waiter nodded in agreement and left with the menu.

After ordering, Min Tong didn't know what to say again. He rubbed his hands together, looking shy.

Chen Xiaomeng, however, asked naturally, "Min Tong, it's been over a year since I last saw you. I remember you were fatter than you are now, right? And you're darker than before too."

Speaking of this, Min Tong opened the floodgates, "This year, my dad and his friends invested in building a beverage factory in Menghuling Township, Shangjun County. From the start of the investment and construction, I've been guarding the place, soaking in the construction site every day. Of course I've gotten thinner and darker."

Chen Xiaomeng said with some surprise, "You can endure such hardship?"

Min Tong said, "I wouldn't call it hardship. I'm getting more and more used to life there now."

As Min Tong talked about his life in Menghuling and his current work, he was radiant, as if he had become a completely different person. Chen Xiaomeng listened with great interest; as she listened, she rested her hands on the table, cupping her chin, listening intently.

Seeing this scene, Su Xinghui smiled knowingly at Lu Xiaoya.

It looked like there was still a chance for these two.

They kept talking until the waiter started serving the food. Only then did Min Tong stop, opening a bottle of beverage for Chen Xiaomeng and Lu Xiaoya each. Since he had to drive, he opened a bottle of beverage for himself as well, only opening a beer for Su Xinghui.