SES Chapter 13 V2

Cao Yanhua: “Exactly. Money’s not the issue—it’s gotta be creative. Gotta have a hook.”

Yi Wansan: “I got you. First thing—at the entrance, inlaid gold on the floor, spelling the word ‘Dou.’ Know what that means? Raking in buckets of gold!”

Cao Yanhua: “Damn! That’s genius! Bro, with your brain, you should be a creative director at an ad agency!”

…

Mu Dai’s face twitched in disbelief. One of them was a con man, the other a thief, and between the two, they probably didn’t have $200 to rub together. Yet here they were—talking about raking in millions and starting a business.

Just as she couldn’t take it anymore, Huo Zihong nudged her from behind. “Mu Dai, that table by the window’s been sitting there a while. Go take their order.”

Gritting her teeth, Mu Dai grabbed a drink menu and jogged over. “Hi there, would you like to—”

She stopped cold.

Luo Ren took the drink menu from her hand, flipping through it slowly. “Any recommendations?”

No response. He looked up at her.

Her face was shifting from pale to flushed. She held a click-pen for taking orders, her slightly curled hair tucked behind one ear, revealing the delicate curve of her neck, now flushed with tension.

“Shouldn’t waitstaff tie their hair back? If it gets in the drinks, that’s not very sanitary.”

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Isn’t this a bar? Came to drink.”

He spoke casually, glancing around—until his eyes landed on Huo Zihong.

Mu Dai noticed immediately and quickly shifted her body to block his line of sight.

“As long as I’m here, don’t even think about going near my Auntie Hong.”

Luo Ren grinned. “Really?”

Mu Dai opened her mouth to respond, but Luo Ren suddenly reached out, grabbed her arm, and pushed her aside. “Boss lady?”

Huo Zihong turned at the sound. “Yes? Who are you?”

She came over, smiling. “Something wrong?”

Luo Ren stood up. “Thought I’d say hi to a fellow Laomahu native. Small world.”

Huo Zihong blinked. “That’s a coincidence. I haven’t been back in years. But since we’re hometown folks—drinks are on me.”

Luo Ren smiled deeper. “Doesn’t matter how long it’s been. I remember—we were neighbors. If I’m not mistaken, you lived at No. 12 Chenqian Alley.”

Bull. Now he’s from Laomahu too? What’s next—the whole damn planet?

Before Mu Dai could say anything, Luo Ren made a gesture to Huo Zihong. “Shall we chat somewhere more private?”

What?! Mu Dai panicked. “Auntie Hong!”

That finally reminded Luo Ren that she was still there. He turned to her. “This kind of talk isn’t for outsiders.”

Huo Zihong smiled and gently patted Mu Dai’s arm. “It’s okay, Mu Dai. Stay here. We’ll just be behind the bar—you can still see us. Plus, Yi Wansan and Mr. Cao are right there too.”

There were enough people around. Luo Ren wouldn’t try anything, right?

Mu Dai kept glancing toward the bar. Luo Ren had his back to her, while Huo Zihong occasionally looked her way with a reassuring smile. Nearby, Yi Wansan and Cao Yanhua were practically bonding like blood brothers.

She was worried, but also confused. Was Luo Ren really from Laomahu? Was he Auntie Hong’s former neighbor? Why did everything lead back to Laomahu?

That’s when it happened.

A sudden scream from Huo Zihong sent a jolt through Mu Dai. Without thinking, she hurled two dessert forks straight at the back of Luo Ren’s head. At the same time, she vaulted onto a table, flipped midair, landed behind the bar, shoved Cao Yanhua’s head down, and used the momentum to slam into Luo Ren.

He shoved Huo Zihong aside and barely dodged the forks—but not Mu Dai. She barreled into him, knocking him off balance. But he quickly recovered, bolted two steps, yanked open the back door, and before slipping out, turned and flashed Mu Dai a cocky grin.

Huo Zihong sat on the floor, shaken but unhurt.

Mu Dai clenched her jaw. “Yi Wansan, take care of Auntie Hong!”

Before he could even respond, she was already gone.

The bar fell into a momentary hush. Everything had happened so fast that by the time anyone thought to film the chaos for social media, it was already over.

Huo Zihong coughed softly, clutching her neck. Yi Wansan scrambled from behind the counter, helping her up. “Boss lady, you okay?!”

People began crowding over.

Only Cao Yanhua stood there, stunned.

Then slowly, he reached up and touched the spot where Mu Dai had just slammed his head.

One thought filled his mind:

—Damn. I gotta become her disciple.