Urban Soldier Young Master

Chapter 931 - 930: Taking You to a Nice Place

"Dad, can you stop talking to your daughter like you're giving a speech? Do you even believe what you're saying?""Tingting, how can you talk to your father like that?"

Silence, a deep silence across the phone between father and daughter.

In the same silence, there were different expressions and emotions. Mu Chongyi wore a smile, full of certainty, while Mu Xiaoting frowned, her mind restless.

"Alright, I got a bit emotional earlier, my mistake. But I assure you, from a professional gamer's perspective, there's nothing wrong with Chu Ge's game or company. Also, I hope you don't forget, Chu Ge is my savior, you mean to say..."

"Tingting, stop right there. You should know that as a public servant, my principle has always been to support reason, not personal connections."

Mu Xiaoting was interrupted by Mu Chongyi halfway through her speech, leaving her clutching her phone with two words caught in her throat, unable to speak.

"Tingting, you should trust the perspective of professionals. I believe they would never wrongfully accuse any group or individual, nor would they mistake essence for worthless or vice versa."

"Alright, I understand. Dad, I'm tired. You should rest early too."

After saying this, Mu Xiaoting hung up the phone, bit her lip hard, forced a smile, and walked out of the room, greeting Mu Lingshan's parents before leaving her home.

Mu Xiaoting's bodyguards had all returned to their respective resting places, leaving her walking quietly alone.

When she was sure she was far enough from Mu Lingshan's house that her voice wouldn't reach Lingshan's parents, she shouted out loud towards her tightly clutched phone the two words she had been suppressing.

"Hypocrite!"

Indeed, even though she had known for a long time about many things, she refused to acknowledge them. But today, she was truly angry, exceptionally angry, no longer wanting to deceive herself.

From childhood, Mu Xiaoting had always admired her father. She thought he was the epitome of a gentleman, always so courteous and composed, with a righteous aura that commanded respect wherever he went.

Until she met Chu Ge, a peculiar man who at first piqued her curiosity, then her aversion, and now left her with confusing feelings.

Unconsciously, many of her thoughts were shaken, even overturned. Especially at this moment, she suddenly realized that compared to her father, Chu Ge's crudeness, arrogance, shamelessness, roguishness, with a bit of childishness and carefreeness, made him seem more like a real, living person!

She rubbed her forehead, pressed her pounding temples hard with her thumbs, and resisted the urge to throw her phone on the ground, taking a long and deep breath.

Even in such an emotionally charged state, Mu Xiaoting maintained enough rationality. Breaking the phone would mean buying a new one tomorrow; it might give her a brief moment of satisfaction, but it ultimately held no real meaning.

And yet, as she suppressed this impulse and gradually calmed down, she couldn't help but dislike this rational self.

"Forget it. I'm calling him for Shanshan, so she won't worry, and to avoid unnecessary trouble. This is definitely the right thing to do, yes, definitely."

Talking to herself, Mu Xiaoting dialed Chu Ge's number. Although she hadn't figured out what to say yet, she had an overwhelming urge to contact Chu Ge immediately.

And this urge, she didn't want to stifle, really didn't.

The first call, Chu Ge didn't answer. Mu Xiaoting called again, and Chu Ge still didn't answer. She chuckled at herself — was she really that annoying to Chu Ge?

Normally, Mu Xiaoting wouldn't make a second call, let alone a third. But now, she unhesitatingly dialed for a third time.

"Beep... beep... What's up?"

Although it was just an impatient-sounding phrase, hearing "What's up?" in her ear made Mu Xiaoting inexplicably happy, and all her frustration evaporated instantly.

"Yeah, I have something. I want to invite you to dinner."

"Annoyed, no time."

"Wait, don't hang up."

"What now?"

"I'm just annoyed too. Maybe if we meet, two negatives will make a positive, and we won't be annoyed anymore?"

"Are you crazy?"

"Alright, enough with the nonsense. Be straightforward, are we meeting or not?"

Hearing Mu Xiaoting talk like this, Chu Ge was a little taken aback. This style... wasn't like her, was it?

"You silly girl, what kind of shock did you get?"

"Probably. Either I've got delayed adolescence or early menopause. Either way, I'm feeling lost in this long life. Can our merciful, generous, big-hearted President Chu grant me this favor?"

Chu Ge laughed, "What do I get out of seeing you? Just a meal and you want to dismiss me?"

"Then what else do you want to do? I'll go along with anything, I'll agree to it all, okay?"

Mu Xiaoting said casually, and as soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt her heart start to race a bit and her cheeks began to heat up.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course...sure!"

Mu Xiaoting felt somewhat guilty, as if she was vaguely expecting something, yet also a little scared of something. Her cheeks seemed to get a bit hotter—it was a very complicated feeling.

"Hehehe..."

A burst of laughter from Chu Ge came through her ears, sounding three-tenths teasing and seven-tenths wicked. Mu Xiaoting instinctively swallowed.

"What are you laughing at...what the heck are you laughing at! Are you a man or not? Can you just come out and say something directly, or are you going to die?"

Actually, Mu Xiaoting initially wanted to say "laughing your head off," but she suddenly felt that wouldn't have enough impact, so she added a bit of profanity to give herself more confidence, although she didn't even know why she was feeling guilty in the first place.

"Hahaha...are you really Mu Xiaoting? Are you sure you're not Mu Lingshan?"

Chu Ge laughed again, and this laughter made Mu Xiaoting feel awkward all over.

"Fine, forget it then, you lunatic! Go to hell!"

Although Mu Xiaoting really wanted to shout those words out loud, in reality, she just bit her lip tightly and said weakly, "Alright then, since you figured it out, there's nothing I can do—I am Mu Lingshan."

"Okay, stop fooling around. Since you're being so sincere, just name a place. Where should we meet?"

"I'm not from Lidu, how would I know where's where? You say, I don't know what you like to eat either. Just pick a place you often go to."

"Then just...come to Bright Moon Square first. There's a Bus No. 9 stop here. I'll be waiting for you at the stop."

"Alright, I'll be there soon."

A dozen minutes later, Mu Xiaoting got out of the taxi and arrived at the arranged location. She saw Chu Ge standing there lazily, still that familiar casual and nonchalant style she knew.

"Let's go, I'll take you to a good place."

Chu Ge said and then turned around, walking towards a bustling food market on his own. The place he chose was where the Tianjiao Group's security guards had taken him to eat after their pay raise.

Mu Xiaoting frowned. To be honest, she really disliked the environment here. There were people everywhere, and it was noisy everywhere.

Numerous square wooden tables were lined up into two long rows, with a few tables belonging to one stall, and the stall owners, speaking in various accents, were constantly shouting, giving Mu Xiaoting a headache. The sound of meat skewers being slid off iron skewers made Mu Xiaoting feel an ache in her gums.

The air was filled with a mix of beer, cigarettes, oden, edamame, grilled skewers, seafood, stinky feet, sweat, cheap perfume—various odors. To Mu Xiaoting, this smell was definitely not pleasant.

Some of the people here were in their thirties or forties, dark and rough-skinned, gesturing with cigarettes, the glowing red tips tracing crimson arcs. They weren't just loudly talking; they were laughing as if no one else was around, and swearing came out of their mouths at any moment.

Others clearly looked like students, awkwardly pretending to be mature, talking about self-important ideals or jokes, their every move showing a self-perceived swagger and nonchalance.

Two rows of street lights were located behind these stalls. Mosquitoes, gnats, and some bugs Mu Xiaoting couldn't name flew around wildly, occasionally bumping against the bright bulbs. Some insects fell to the ground and wobbled back into the air.

Occasionally, small insects would fly into the cups on the table. Some customers casually flicked the bugs away and continued drinking, while others, perhaps drunk or unaware, simply drank the insect-laden liquid.

All of this looked awful to Mu Xiaoting. My god, how could this possibly be a place fit for eating?

Chu Ge stopped, looked back at the conflicted expression on Mu Xiaoting's face, and amidst the noise, smiled and asked, "Silly girl, what do you like to eat?"

"I...whatever, anything's fine."

Mu Xiaoting originally wanted to ask if they could go somewhere else, but she quickly realized that Chu Ge was doing this on purpose. Although she didn't know why Chu Ge was doing so, she didn't want to show weakness. She straightened her chest and gave a noncommittal answer.

"Then this place will do."

Chu Ge curled his lips and sat down by a table that, illuminated by the streetlamp, clearly reflected grease stains. He crossed one leg over the other and skillfully started ordering from the vendor beside him, who looked delighted, as if having gained five million for getting one more customer.

A middle-aged woman in her forties, wearing a blue apron and running another stall, glanced at Chu Ge and Mu Xiaoting with a slightly bitter look, obviously regretful that the two didn't choose her table.

Mu Xiaoting was even more puzzled and confused.

This guy...was this necessary? Why was this place like this? Why on earth did Chu Ge bring her here?