Girlfriend?

It wasn't just Jiang Cheng and Su Wan who were stunned; everyone present was taken aback.

"You..."

Su Wan and Jiang Cheng didn't know what to say for a moment.

Their eyes were filled with confusion. They did feel a sense of familiarity with this girl, who was impossibly beautiful and clearly from a prominent background.

But what was the meaning of calling them "Big Brother" and "Sister-in-law" right off the bat?

"My name is Gu Jingshi, I was Shen Qing's high school classmate," Gu Jingshi said with a gentle, generous smile, "and I am his girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?"

The two were even more stunned, their eyes widening. Since when did Shen Qing have a girlfriend, let alone a wealthy young lady?

Had they misheard?

And if this was his girlfriend, then... what was the relationship with the girl staying at Shen Qing's house?

Su Wan instinctively looked at Jiang Cheng, who was equally bewildered.

"Holy crap, that girl from the Gu family..."

Xie Chong opened his mouth, his expression becoming vivid as he sensed a good show was about to unfold. Just as he was about to chime in, he was frantically signaled by Chen Chen, who was hiding by the door enjoying the drama.

He forced himself to swallow his words.

"I didn't expect such a coincidence, meeting Big Brother and Sister-in-law here."

Gu Jingshi smiled, "I had originally planned to find an opportunity to pay a formal visit..."

"No, there's no need to be so polite."

Su Wan replied instinctively, only to realize something felt off afterward—after all, they didn't even know each other.

Gu Jingshi continued, "It's just that the occasion isn't quite right today, so I'll just say hello and won't disturb you any further."

"Big Brother, Sister-in-law,"

She looked at Jiang Cheng and Su Wan, then turned to Father Xie, "Uncle Xie, I'll be going now. I'll take care of the bill."

"I had no idea you were Little Shen's girlfriend, niece. He is indeed very outstanding."

Father Xie waved his hand, his tone gentle but firm, "As for the bill, there is no need. How could I let a junior pay? Besides, I am the one hosting this meal."

Jiang Cheng also hurriedly declined.

Seeing this, Gu Jingshi did not insist. She gave a slight smile and turned to leave, her footsteps gradually fading away.

It really seemed as if she had only come to say hello.

Around the corner of the hallway, Su Xiaoxiao poked her head out, her mouth forming an "O" shape as she watched Gu Jingshi.

"You..."

Gu Jingshi ruffled her hair and said calmly, "I told you there was no need to worry. I've already met the family; does he think he can run away now?"

She was certain that the back she had seen earlier was indeed Shen Qing's.

But knowing his personality, she knew she couldn't be too forceful. She had intended to stage a chance encounter, but it just so happened that his "Big Brother" and "Sister-in-law" were there.

That made things even easier—a flank attack.

It was a pity that the unreasonable mother and son had already been intimidated by Uncle Xie, otherwise, she could have grown even closer to his Big Brother and Sister-in-law.

Gu Jingshi thought to herself.

However, Shen Qing actually knew the Xie Family?

Her little boyfriend seemed to be more than he appeared.

"Alright, let's go."

Su Xiaoxiao nodded, typing on her phone as they walked.

"Hmph, you even told me to give up, saying Jingshi and Shen Qing were from different worlds. Well, let me tell you, I met the parents today!"

Looking at the chat box with her boyfriend Chen Xu, she felt a little smug.

Chen Xu had been on her side before, even helping her come up with ideas, but he had suddenly flipped in the last two days, claiming the two were from different worlds and weren't a good match.

She was determined to prove that they were perfect for each other!

On the other side, in the hallway.

The Su family, who had been ignored the entire time, went from being aggressive to completely at a loss. Su Yao stammered:

"Xie, President Xie..."

His mind was a complete mess. Not only was Jiang Cheng, whom they looked down upon, suddenly valued by Mountain River Heavy Industry, but the director seemed to know his deadbeat younger brother.

And there was even a wealthy girlfriend—what kind of joke was this!

Father Xie finally glanced at him, "By the way, you all seemed to be arguing earlier. Is something the matter?"

"No, nothing." Su Yao shook his head vigorously, his smile looking more painful than crying as he fawned, "Just a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."

There was no need for any deliberate face-slapping; a casual question was enough to make them fold.

He hurriedly apologized to the waiter, giving the young girl quite a fright.

Father Xie nodded and asked, "You've all finished eating, right? I'll just pay the bill for everyone."

"Mr. Jiang, see you next time."

With that, he turned and left.

"Oh, no need, President Xie, I'll handle it."

As Su Yao spoke, he ran toward the lobby, nearly tripping over his own feet, while Zhang Cuifang's face turned a shade of green and purple.

"Still eating? Let's go!"

In the end, she could only shout at the middle-aged man inside the private room before walking away with a guilty, unsteady gait.

She was wicked, but not stupid; if she kept making a scene, her son's hard-earned job at Mountain River Heavy Industry might be ruined, and then she would have nothing left to brag about.

The hallway finally fell silent.

Jiang Cheng and Su Wan were at a loss for what to do; the meal was over and they were about to leave, but Xie Chong blocked their path.

"Big Brother, Sister-in-law, you probably didn't get to eat much earlier, why don't you join us for a bit more?"

Xie Chong looked eager, adding, "Qingzi is here too."

"Qingzi?"

The two looked toward the end of the hallway where Gu Jingshi had disappeared and nodded.

The door to the private room pushed open, and Shen Qing stood not far from the entrance, waving awkwardly.

"B-Big Brother, Sister-in-law."

He offered a dry greeting. After Chen Chen had secretly left the door ajar, he had heard the commotion outside and originally intended to go out.

He hadn't expected to run into his Big Brother and the Su family here.

But then Gu Jingshi had suddenly appeared, and her calling him her boyfriend had completely stopped him from stepping out.

They had clearly broken up, so what exactly was she playing at?

"What was the deal with that girl earlier?"

Jiang Cheng and Su Wan stared at him with the intensity of an interrogation, "You have a girlfriend and didn't even tell us?"

"Heh heh."

Xie Chong stood to the side, looking like he was enjoying the show, whispering to Chen Chen every now and then.

It made Shen Qing glare at them fiercely.

"It's not..."

Shen Qing stammered for a moment, especially since his Big Brother had also seen Shen Qingtang; he felt like he couldn't explain himself clearly.

Just then, the phone on the table vibrated.

"Big Brother, hold on a second."

As if granted a reprieve, Shen Qing looked down to see a message from the base, sent by someone with a cat avatar.

"Demons have appeared on Jingu Street in the Peace District. Energy fluctuations are at F-rank, with no fewer than five entities. This is an F-rank incident. Coordinates have been synchronized."

Once a demon was detected, logistics personnel would sync the location to their phones and notify them.

However, since Xie Chong was on leave today, it had been sent directly to Shen Qing.

Before he could even check the coordinates, the phone rang again—it was a call from Officer Wang Yu of the Public Security Bureau.

"Big Brother, I'll tell you the specifics when I get back; it's a call from the Public Security Bureau."

"I forgot to mention, last time I was out shopping, I performed a heroic deed and was told there would be a reward. It must be the bonus money; they want me to go over there."

"Really, if you don't believe me, ask Chen Chen. Don't worry about me, keep eating."

He spoke hurriedly and ran out in a flustered state to answer the call, his expression turning serious.

"Big Brother, let's continue."

Xie Chong tried to play host, but with Shen Qing gone, Jiang Cheng and Su Wan naturally had no desire to stay.

Chen Chen asked, "Are we still eating?"

"Why?"

"I haven't been on a mission yet, have I?"

"Waiter, please pack this up!"