"Please, come in. Let's talk inside." Muge invited us into the consultation room.
The consultation room was cozy and spacious, with warm-colored furnishings and decor.
I thought we were going to talk there, but Muge kept walking farther in, so we had no choice but to follow.
Beyond the consultation room was an entryway. The space beyond it was laid out much like an ordinary home, complete with a living room, kitchen, and dining room.
In the dining room, a little girl of about five or six was eating from a cute, colorful bowl. When she saw us, her round eyes widened, and she hurriedly swallowed the food in her mouth.
"This is my daughter, Mu Ai." Muge stroked the girl's head and introduced her to us.
Mu Ai spoke in a voice far more pleasant than her father's. It was an adorable child's voice, soft enough to melt anyone's heart.
"Hello, big brother and big sister."
"Hello."
"Sorry to interrupt your meal," Chen Xiaoqiu said.
Muge kept smiling. "It's all right. I was expecting you, so I prepared extra. Please join us."
We'd bought hamburgers on the way over and eaten them in the car.
But Muge's invitation was hard to refuse.
Somehow, I found myself sitting at his dining table and picking up a bowl and chopsticks.
Mu Ai was sitting right across from me. Her bright, round eyes were fixed on me.
When our eyes met, she asked, "Big brother, are you the person Daddy said could save Mommy and me?"
I froze and looked at Muge.
His expression didn't change. He said calmly, "I can more or less guess what Mr. Lin is capable of. The things that have happened in Minqing lately are astonishing. If I'm not mistaken, they're all thanks to you, Mr. Lin,