Invitation

Before long, the dishes they had ordered were brought over.

They tasted genuinely good.

"Brother Changsheng, try this."

Ma Qiao kept placing food onto Mu Changsheng's plate.

Mu Changsheng ate with great relish. Ma Qiao was rather hungry too, but in order to appear reserved, she only took a few bites.

While they were eating, a soft chuckle came from nearby. "Deputy Director... you're here too?"

Mu Changsheng raised an eyebrow and looked up.

When Ma Qiao saw the newcomers, she immediately smiled. "Liu Tianhao, Xia Yan, you're here?"

At the mention of those names, Mu Changsheng's eyes narrowed.

Mu Changsheng did not believe this was a coincidence.

With his hands in his pockets, Liu Tianhao walked over and examined Mu Changsheng for a moment. "So this is... the new boyfriend the deputy director found? Pretty handsome."

Ma Qiao looked slightly bashful and said nothing.

"Oh, right, Deputy Director. The day after tomorrow is Saturday, and it's Xia Yan's birthday. Be sure to bring your boyfriend along and honor us with your presence."

Liu Tianhao said with a cheerful smile.

Blushing, Ma Qiao said, "Well, I need to... ask him first."

Hearing that, Mu Changsheng finally understood. So this was where the trap lay.

Liu Tianhao chuckled. "Oh, hello. My name is Liu Tianhao, and this is my friend, Xia Yan."

"We used to work with the deputy director, so we were pretty familiar with her before. Handsome guy, don't misunderstand."

"My friend's having a birthday party the day after tomorrow. You should come too, handsome guy. We can get to know each other then."

Liu Tianhao said, patting his chest.

Mu Changsheng rubbed his chin. "The day after tomorrow... I might have something to do."

At that, Liu Tianhao's gaze darkened. You have something to do...? How could that be? This gathering had been arranged specifically for you.

Liu Tianhao narrowed his eyes and smiled. "What business do you have, brother?"

"Delivering food."

Mu Changsheng answered calmly.

Those three words nearly made Liu Tianhao stumble. He smiled awkwardly. "Brother... you really work hard."

"How about this? As long as you come with Ma Qiao, I'll give each of you a big red envelope. How does that sound?"

Liu Tianhao said with a smile.

Inside, he sneered. What a poor bastard.

Mu Changsheng put on a thoughtful expression. "All right, I'll think about it..."

Upon hearing that, Liu Tianhao's face twisted with frustration. This bastard...

Still, Liu Tianhao kept smiling as he stood up. "Haha... all right, then. We won't disturb you two while you eat."

Ma Qiao looked at Mu Changsheng and asked softly, "Brother Changsheng... are you really not coming with me?"

"Liu Tianhao and Xia Yan's families are quite wealthy. It would be helpful for us to make friends with them."

"Oh?"

Mu Changsheng looked surprised. "They're very rich?"

Ma Qiao hurriedly nodded. "Yes. Maybe when we go looking for work, if we mention it to them, they might even help us."

"They're good people, too."

"All right... since they've invited us so warmly, I'll go with you."

Mu Changsheng said with a chuckle.

Ma Qiao's eyes lit up. "Great!"

Outside, Liu Tianhao irritably ground out his cigarette beneath his shoe. "Who does he think he is? Just some poor bastard. We called him handsome a couple of times, and now he's acting all high and mighty?"

Leaning against the car, Xia Yan said, "Hey, are you sure your Ma Qiao will work?"

"That guy really is good-looking. Don't let Ma Qiao get swept off her feet."

Liu Tianhao shook his head. "Don't worry. I know Ma Qiao. She's nothing but a money-grubber."

"Then that's fine."

Xia Yan nodded.

Inside the restaurant

Mu Changsheng sent Xi Chunpeng a message. Not long after, Mu Changsheng's phone rang.

Mu Changsheng answered and deliberately turned on the speakerphone. "Old Mu, hurry up and help me! Something happened!"

Mu Changsheng's expression changed as he asked gravely, "What happened?"

"Ah, I can't explain it clearly right now. Hurry over."

The voice on the other end was full of urgency.

Mu Changsheng looked apologetically at Ma Qiao. "Um, I'm really sorry, but my friend..."

Ma Qiao nodded, looking very understanding. "Then go on ahead. He's your friend, after all!"

"All right. Keep eating. I'll be right back."

With that, Mu Changsheng hurried out.

Ma Qiao watched his departing back without thinking much of it.

But he was gone for an hour and a half.

Ma Qiao had sat there so long that she was nearly numb.

"Miss, we're about to close. Since you've finished eating, would you like to settle the bill?"

A waiter came over. Ma Qiao's expression turned strange as she glanced at the messages she had sent...

There had been no reply at all.

Ma Qiao felt somewhat annoyed. He had no gentlemanly manners whatsoever. He had left without even paying.

"How much is it?"

Ma Qiao stood up, preparing to scan the code.

"The total is 129 yuan."

After paying, Ma Qiao left the restaurant with a cold expression.

A gust of cold wind blew over, making Ma Qiao shiver.

"And I still have to take a taxi... Seriously."

Ma Qiao checked the time. If she did not get back soon, the doors would be closed.

"I've never taken such a loss in my life!"

Meanwhile, Mu Changsheng was delivering food. As for that phone call, Xi Chunpeng had naturally made it all up for him.

After all, being around Ma Qiao made him feel very uncomfortable.

Mu Changsheng stretched and checked the time, planning to deliver orders until midnight before finding a hotel to rest in.

But when Mu Changsheng rode his electric bike past Ruishi Hospital in Tannan City, he spotted an acquaintance standing there.

Mu Changsheng stopped his electric bike and narrowed his eyes. "Kenning...?"

Lin Kenning was feeling miserable at that moment... How had twenty thousand yuan been spent so quickly?

But her younger brother's illness could not go untreated.

Lin Kenning was close to breaking down. The immense pressure was making it hard for her to breathe.

Just as Lin Kenning was fretting, a soft call made her slender body tremble.

"Kenning?"

Lin Kenning shuddered. That familiar voice eased the turmoil in her heart considerably.

Lin Kenning slowly turned around and saw Mu Changsheng standing behind her.

The instant Lin Kenning saw Mu Changsheng, her eyes inexplicably blurred, and her rims gradually reddened.

Mu Changsheng stepped forward and frowned. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Lin Kenning suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Mu Changsheng's waist. Mu Changsheng froze at once... but seeing the woman in his arms quietly sobbing, he could not help raising a hand to stroke her silky hair.

"What happened? Tell me..."

"Maybe I can help you."