"Look at how many messages I sent you and how many times I called. At least send me a reply when you have a moment."
Xiao Zhu sounded a little resentful. "You could've at least said you were busy..."
"What reason did he give the company for taking leave?"
The shop manager stared at the phone Xiao Xiao held out to him and repeated the question verbatim.
He had put the call on speaker.
That way, Master Xiao could hear the other person's answer too.
"Reason?"
Xiao Zhu was stumped.
"I don't know."
"Why would I go out of my way to ask him that?"
"...But he took annual leave."
After a pause, Xiao Zhu answered anyway.
He'd only found out because another coworker had casually asked their manager why A Zhe hadn't been in for so many days.
"A Zhe used up all his annual leave."
"With the weekends, he's got seven days off."
"Today's the fourth day. He'll be back at work next week."
"...Maybe he went on a trip with his girlfriend..."
Xiao Zhu curled his lip. "Must be nice..."
Meanwhile, he'd spent the past few days fretting over his argument with his parents.
He'd wanted someone to talk to, but just couldn't get ahold of anyone.
That little punk.
He'd forgotten his friends for a girl!
"You didn't know?"
The shop manager sounded surprised.
So he was the first person Mr. Dan had confided in?
Once he realized that, the shop manager felt even more responsible for Mr. Dan's situation.
"Know what?"
Xiao Zhu was confused.
"Mr. Dan has been troubled by his girlfriend."
When it came to knowing Mr. Dan, Xiao Zhu surely knew him better than he and Master Xiao did.
Maybe Xiao Zhu knew something.
So the shop