However, before they could get very far, Su Ming called them back on the phone. He then went to the bedroom and handed Gao Xiang the secret barbecue recipe rewarded by the system before letting the two of them leave.
After they left, Su Ming watched some TV for a while, then took a shower and went to bed.
The next morning, after getting up and washing up, Su Ming left the house. He had a simple breakfast and then went to his old rental place to cancel the lease. He spent the entire morning moving some necessary items back to the villa.
Taking out his phone, he was just about to ask Lin Yixue if she had eaten and whether she wanted to join him when Fan Qianqian called him on WeChat again.
"Su Ming! Have you eaten yet?" Fan Qianqian's voice came through the phone, tinged with shyness.
"I was just about to go eat. What's up?"
*She probably wants to invite me to dinner,* Su Ming thought to himself.
Sure enough!
The next second, Fan Qianqian said excitedly, "Great timing, I haven't eaten either. Let's eat together. I'm really sorry about last night's dinner fiasco. Can I have another chance today?"
"Sure! Where are you? I'll come pick you up!"
Su Ming couldn't help but admire his own perceptiveness.
"I'll be waiting at the entrance of Jiangzhou University."
"Okay, I'll be there in about fifteen minutes."
"Mm, bye!"
"See you!"
After hanging up, Su Ming drove towards Jiangzhou University. About ten minutes later, he arrived at the university's entrance and saw Fan Qianqian, dressed in a light yellow dress, waiting by the roadside from a distance.
As he approached, Su Ming couldn't help but be struck by her appearance. Today, Fan Qianqian seemed to have put on particularly meticulous makeup. Although her light yellow dress wasn't a designer brand, it perfectly highlighted her youthful charm.
"You look really beautiful today!" Su Ming parked the car and sincerely complimented her.
"Thank you!" Fan Qianqian blushed as she opened the car door and got in.
It seemed like her first time in such a luxury car, and she appeared a bit nervous.
"Relax, and fasten your seatbelt!" Su Ming kindly reminded her.
"Mm." Fan Qianqian relaxed a little, quickly fastened her seatbelt, and then said, "Su Ming, is a street food stall okay? I don't have the money to take you to a fancy restaurant, you know."
"Haha... what are you talking about? I'm just a country boy who's doing a little better now. Food is food, no matter where you eat it!"
Su Ming laughed and started chatting with Fan Qianqian as he drove.
"Really? Wow! It sounds like a story of inspiration. Can you tell me more about your life?"
"Of course, what kind of inspirational story? I'm just an ordinary person!" Su Ming thought, realizing that without the system, he wouldn't be where he was now. He might have given up on marriage because he couldn't afford the dowry and continued working somewhere else, living a less exciting life.
"Alright, alright! I won't pry anymore!"
They chatted and laughed as they left. However, they didn't know that a young man at the entrance of Jiangzhou University was staring intently at the departing Porsche 911, his eyes filled with rage.
The next moment, the young man made a decision, quickly ran to the roadside, hailed a taxi, and instructed the driver to follow them.
Su Ming and Fan Qianqian arrived at a street food stall named "Street Food Stall."
"Wow! You know this place?"
As soon as the car stopped, Fan Qianqian exclaimed.
"Yeah, I used to come here a lot when I was in school. Oh, right, I also studied at Jiangzhou University. I graduated two years ago."
"Oh, so you're a senior? Senior, can you take care of this junior in the future?"
"Sure thing!"
They chatted as they entered the street food stall. The young man, having followed in the taxi, got out and found a spot where he could see everything inside the stall.
"Fan Qianqian, I really misjudged you. You're just like those materialistic women, all ending up as playthings for rich people, relying on them for a better life!"
Watching Su Ming and Fan Qianqian laugh and chat, the young man gritted his teeth, his eyes full of anger.
Unaware of this, Su Ming and Fan Qianqian ordered their food and started chatting. The food was served quickly, and within ten minutes, a table full of dishes was laid out.
"Su Ming, feel free to eat. Don't be polite!"
"Okay, I won't be polite then!"
Su Ming smiled and started eating. Fan Qianqian, however, didn't immediately start eating; instead, she smiled and watched Su Ming.
This scene was observed by the young man outside, who clenched his fists even tighter, his anger growing.
"Eat! Why are you looking at me? I know I'm handsome, but even if you keep staring, I won't be embarrassed!"
Su Ming said, his mouth half-full of food.
"Tsk! Thick-skinned!"
Fan Qianqian blushed, spat lightly, and then picked up her chopsticks and started eating.
"By the way, Qianqian, why were you there that day? Were you job hunting?" Su Ming asked during the meal.
"Yes, I studied architectural design, and most of the construction and real estate companies are in that area, so I was going around, dropping off my resume."
"When I met you, I was on my way to Hongda, and I took a shortcut, which led me to that path, and that's how I encountered that incident."
"Sigh... if it weren't for you, I would have been robbed. Thank you so much, Su Ming!"
Fan Qianqian sighed, still feeling a bit shaken by the memory.
"No need to thank me, you're treating me to a meal, after all!"
"Have you heard anything back from any of the companies?"
"A few have called me for interviews, but I haven't heard from Hongda yet. I really hope to work there. It's a billion-dollar company, and the benefits are definitely better than those of smaller companies."
Fan Qianqian shook her head, a bit disappointed.
*Ding! Choice triggered!*
*Option 1: Help Fan Qianqian get a job at Hongda. Reward: Goodwill +20.*
*Option 2: Pretend not to hear. No reward.*
Su Ming frowned. *Damn, Fan Qianqian, are you cursed or something? Both choices involving you have goodwill rewards. I suspect you have ulterior motives, but I can't prove it.*
Despite his thoughts, Su Ming honestly muttered in his mind, "System, I choose option one!"
Then, Su Ming stopped eating and said to Fan Qianqian, "How about I help you? I happen to have a friend who works at Hongda. Maybe I can increase your chances of success."
"Really?"
"That would be great, thank you, Su Ming!" Fan Qianqian was delighted.
"Don't mention it, hold on a sec."
Su Ming took out his phone and dialed Susan's number.