Humiao Town, South Town Street.
Xue Chuchu looked at Jiang Ning, who had stopped in his tracks. Thoughtfulness reflected in her eyes. Could Tongtong have messaged him?
Mingming had come to Humiao Town yet kept it from Tongtong. Xue Chuchu could not shake the faint sense that something was off.
She was not worried Tongtong would find out. Jiang Ning could fool Tongtong senseless with just a couple of casual words.
The next moment, she saw Jiang Ning suddenly turn back and buy a skewer of sugar-coated haws.
Though Xue Chuchu found it strange, she tactfully did not ask.
Jiang Ning sampled the sugar-coated haws Geng Lu had treated him to as he strolled down South Town Street.
"Chuchu, big brother, I'm at my classmate's house." Xiao You pointed to a rolling shutter door by the street.
After dropping Xiao You off, Xue Chuchu continued pushing the electric bike toward the banquet hall in silence.
She already knew Jiang Ning had made up his mind. There was no turning back.
Still, thinking of Boss Ma's longstanding local influence, Xue Chuchu could not help worrying. After all, Jiang Ning was alone.
Jiang Ning finished the sugar-coated haws cleanly, leaving only a bamboo skewer. He had meant to toss it into a roadside trash can, but after thinking of something, he kept it.
A few minutes later, Jiang Ning stood before the luxurious banquet hall and commented, "Better than the one in our town."
The young hostess at the entrance forced a smile when she heard him. "Hello, do you have a reservation?"
At the same time, a boy keeping watch upstairs spotted Xue Chuchu and hurried back to the private room. "Jiale, Xue Chuchu is here!"
Ma Jiale was smoking. His face lit up at the news. "Just as expected."
Then