Chapter 418: Chapter 338 Bad Things (Seeking double monthly passes at the beginning of the month!)

Star City, Fifth Floor.

Cheng Zhu and others were having lunch at a small dining table.

Once people are in a good mood, their appetites tend to grow.

Lin Lu was in a great mood today and decided to eat a bit more than usual.

“Anyway, you can’t tell someone’s shape under all the winter clothes, so I could afford to gain just a tiny bit more.”

“When it gets warmer, I’ll cut back!” she thought.

In reality, with her figure, gaining a few pounds wouldn’t matter much–her fat always seemed to distribute itself sensibly.

But girls hold themselves to different standards.

Plus, having a bigger chest came with its own set of issues, making certain aspects of life inconvenient.

Torturing oneself to please others.

What Cheng Zhu was most worried about now was, “Little Youzi, don’t make yourself sick from eating!”

She had eaten so much pizza already, and now she was here eating like crazy with Lin Lu. He was genuinely concerned the child might harm her health.

So, he had no choice but to join the fray, eating at a whirlwind pace to compete for food.

I’ll eat like a maniac!

Let’s see what you’ve left for me to eat!

The waitstaff were dumbfounded. At first glance, the trio’s good looks were striking–a handsome daddy, a beautiful mommy, and a cute daughter. But why did they all eat as if they were starving ghosts?

After the meal, the stuffed trio sat and rested for a bit.

Leaning back in her chair, wearing the scarf Cheng Zhu had given her, Lin Lu’s eyes shone with brightness as she asked, “Cheng Zhu, does today count as our first day together?”

“What, are you wanting to consider it an anniversary?” was his first reaction.

“Of course! I have an app for that, you know? It’s for keeping track of special days,” the energetic girl answered.

“Really? Let me see what you’ve recorded.”

“No way! You can’t see!” Lin Lu immediately refused.

The last person who should be looking is you!

I’ve recorded too much stuff related to you in there. If you saw it, you’d definitely think I was silly. I don’t want that.

Cheng Zhu wasn’t particularly interested; he had just mentioned it in passing.

Actually, his mind was brainstorming and he quickly came up with the most beneficial answer, “Why not just set it on your birthday? I think we should start counting from Christmas Day.”

Girls love celebrating special occasions, meaningful days!

Christmas + birthday + anniversary, all celebrated on the same day.

Cheng Zhu was an excellent time-management master. This instant reaction was instinctive, a choice made out of habit.

“Ah? Count from that day? But you didn’t give me a clear yes on that day,” said Lin Lu.

Normally open-hearted and generous, she seemed to be quibbling a bit in this matter.

Or rather, not quibbling but needing greater clarity.

Little You, on the side, listened in a muddle, not fully understanding, but liking to listen to adults talk all the same.

“Why can’t we start from that day? That day in the park, we both…” Cheng Zhu began, only for his mouth to be covered mid-sentence.

Lin Lu immediately stood up, her body quickly leaning forward. Her scarf and the bulged part of her sweater from bending over sagged down, while her little hand firmly covered Cheng Zhu’s mouth.

She glared at him with unending indignation in her eyes.

What were you about to say, with a child present?

And now you remember our close contact from that day? Where were you yesterday?

You jerk!

Little You watched in confusion, not understanding what the older kids were doing.

Adults are like that, always doing strange things, truly confusing.

Cheng Zhu had only one thought, “Your little hand is quite soft and fragrant. Did you use hand cream?”

“Fine, we’ll count from my birthday then,” Lin Lu agreed, slowly lowering her hand.

The hopeful young girl quickly felt excited at the idea of setting the date on the same day. This way, the day’s significance was heightened.

Cheng Zhu just smiled, “Next time you can cover Little You’s ears, not my mouth.”

“See how naughty your brother is!” Lin Lu immediately said to Cheng Youu.

Clever beyond her years, Little You raised her little hands and gently covered her cute ears, then looking up said, “I can still hear with them covered!”

…

After the meal, Cheng Zhu took them around the mall for a walk, buying new clothes for Little You.

However, when it came to paying, Lin Lu insisted on taking the bill.

“Why should you be the one to pay?”

“Eh? What’s my new status? Of course I should pay!” she even bragged a bit.

Seeing this, Cheng Zhu also laughed and didn’t argue with her. After all, she had her own little treasury and wasn’t short of money.

Meanwhile, Little You, upon hearing that Sister Lu had bought her a down jacket, treasured it dearly and sweetly said, “Thank you, Little Lu Sister!”

After shopping, Cheng Zhu took them to the mall’s ground floor.

But first, he went to visit the west gate.

He had arranged to meet someone about leasing the shop space there.

Star City had two people in charge of leasing, one surnamed Wu and the other Xu.

Cheng Zhu was pretty familiar with both of them by now.

Wu was slicker and easier to deal with, while Xu was a bit harder to impress but more responsible in his work.

After some consideration, Cheng Zhu chose to approach Manager Xu, since he had managed the initial tea shop lease.

Cheng Zhu called Xu, letting him know he had arrived.

Before Xu reached them, Cheng Zhu asked Lin Lu to take Little You into the electronics store for a look.

“I’ve got a meeting about business. It’ll only take a few minutes. You take her in there to look around, but don’t buy anything!” he said.

“Okay, Little You, let’s go! Sister will take you in for some fun!”

Kids find electronics stores intriguing with their myriad gadgets.

Manager Xu came down quickly in the elevator, far more enthusiastic than when they first met.

To be exact, he viewed the young man with increased admiration and respect.

Initially, he thought Cheng Zhu was just someone who had gotten the lease through connections. But who would’ve guessed, a single tea shop had increased the mall’s foot traffic!

Youu Tea’s arrival in Star City was managed by Xu, which counted as a major accomplishment for him.

It seemed like a rule-breaking move at first, but it ended up being a crowning achievement–talk about absurdity!

When he learned that Cheng Zhu wanted to lease the shop, Xu’s face showed difficulty.

“Boss Cheng, to be honest, I’d also prefer you renting this space, but Mr. Shen’s family had already talked to me and Wu, insisting on getting this shop,” Xu explained, spreading his hands.

The son of Mr. Shen, of course, would be the industry’s death god, Shen Minglang.

Whatever he touched seemed to fail, which was a talent in its own right.

“This is no problem; I’ve talked to him and he’s backed out,” Cheng Zhu said.

“Really?” Xu was skeptical, knowing Shen Minglang was a stubborn man.

“Yeah, he might compete with anyone for a shop space, but not with me. If Manager Xu doesn’t believe it, you can call him,” Cheng Zhu boasted confidently.

Surprisingly, Xu actually did make the call.

Cheng Zhu: “6!”

Being this efficient right in front of me, huh?

After the call, Xu was puzzled. Mr. Shen’s prodigal son had indeed given up as soon as he heard Cheng Zhu wanted the lease, instantly saying, “Give it to him, give it to him.”

Odd! Pretty odd!

“So Mr. Cheng, what kind of store are you planning to open?” Xu asked.

“Another store aimed at the younger demographic. It’s quite new, can’t describe it in a few words. I’ll send over a document later on,” Cheng Zhu said.

“Okay.”

The two had only met to discuss preliminary terms, so they didn’t talk much, and Cheng Zhu didn’t delve into details.

In fact, he figured that even if he explained, Xu wouldn’t understand.

After their conversation, Cheng Zhu entered the electronics store to see the two ladies tinkering with a tablet.

“Let’s go,” Cheng Zhu said.

“Go where?” Lin Lu asked.

“To the shop to take a look,” Cheng Zhu replied.

Lin Lu was puzzled; hadn’t they just been to the tea shop before eating? Why go again now?

“I’m telling you, I can’t drink anymore, okay? Don’t tempt me with tea, I’ve already overdone it on calories today,” Lin Lu said while walking.

After speaking, she glanced at Little You, adding, “And Little You can’t drink anymore either. It’s not good for a child to have so much tea in one day.”

“Flatter yourself, who said I was going to take you to drink more tea?” Cheng Zhu said. “I’m taking you to see the excitement.”

“Excitement?” The spirited young girl was curious, but Cheng Zhu wouldn’t say why.

“You’ll know when we get there.” He played coy.

When they arrived at Youu Tea, Cheng Zhu and Wang Wei exchanged glances.

Manager Wang Wei pointed towards the mall’s entrance, signaling that the excitement was outside.

Cheng Zhu nodded and led Lin Lu and Little You outside.

Before exiting, he specially crouched to help his sister zip up her jacket right and have her put on her little fleece hat.

Watching the considerate Cheng Zhu, Lin Lu asked with a smile, “What about me, Cheng Zhu?”

Standing up, Cheng Zhu then playfully grabbed her hand, as he did on their snowy walk before, and stuffed her hand along with his into his coat pocket.

Outside the mall, a female reporter was interviewing a man, with cameras capturing the moment.

From their angle, they could clearly see the long queue for Youu Tea.

“Cheng Zhu, a reporter is interviewing customers at the tea shop!” Lin Lu got excited.

“Listen more closely,” Cheng Zhu suggested.

After hearing more of the conversation, Lin Lu realized the interviewed man was actually a “scalper” lurking around Youu Tea!

“Why are they exposing scalpers, Cheng Zhu? Won’t this reflect badly on the tea shop?” Lin Lu asked.

Scalpers were universally loathed.

“Of course it will make an impact! Haven’t you noticed the reporter’s questions are very pointed? It’s obvious she came prepared, like someone sent her for this,” Cheng Zhu began to analyze.

“Yes, now that you say it, it does sound like that,” Lin Lu said irritably, “Who would be so mean to send someone to interview scalpers?”

On hearing this, Cheng Zhu pointed at himself and answered, “Me.”

“Eh?” Little Lu was baffled.

(p.s.: Second update. The beginning-of-the-month struggle is fierce; I need double monthly tickets!)