The NO.1 Food Stall in the Wasteland

"My mother is busy today, so I came alone." Shen Lan stood up straight, looking down her nose at Shen Lu. "I’m here to deliver an invitation."

Shen Lan took a gold-dusted invitation from her bag. "I had an access pass made for you as well. It’s tucked inside. The day after tomorrow at six in the evening. Don’t forget."

Shen Lu stared at Shen Lan for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled and accepted the invitation. "Alright. I’ll be there on time."

’In the past, she would have never accepted.’

’Shen Lu had no patience for getting mixed up with people like Shen Lan, but what choice did she have? She’d accepted a hidden mission.’

’Attending the banquet was just a pretense. Her real goal was to use the opportunity to investigate the pharmaceutical company.’

Shen Lan seemed certain she would agree and flashed a smug, "I-knew-it" smile. She glanced at the stall being packed up, her concern laced with thick arrogance. "Running a street stall isn’t exactly respectable. When you see Father and Mother this time, you should give them a proper apology. For old times’ sake, they might give you some money. At least then you could live a slightly better life in the Lower City District."

"Is that so?" Shen Lu gave a half-smile. ’Last time, the look in Mrs. Shen’s eyes made it seem like she wanted to flay me alive. And now, a simple apology is supposed to make her all nostalgic?’

"Of course. Father, Mother, and Brother are all such good people. As long as you sincerely repent, they’ll forgive you." Shen Lan flicked a piece of dust from her skirt. "You should stop running this stall. Sell your things and buy a decent formal dress. There will be important people at the banquet; try not to be an embarrassment."

’Shen Lan is completely contradicting herself.’

’If they’re so worried I’ll be a disgrace in front of important people, then why invite me at all? It’s not like I wanted to go in the first place.’

’But here she is, going out of her way to deliver an invitation and insisting I come. If there wasn’t something fishy about this, Shen Lu simply wouldn’t believe it.’

"Anyway, I have to go. You should get ready over the next couple of days. Oh, and this invitation only has your name on it, so don’t bring any of your riffraff with you."

With that, Shen Lan turned and walked toward her car.

Just as she was about to get in, Shen Lu called out to her.

"Shen Lan."

She turned her head. "Hm? What is it? If you’re going to ask to borrow money for a dress, don’t bother."

"No, I’m not going to ask you for money. Just a friendly reminder." A flash of ridicule crossed Shen Lu’s eyes. "Don’t wear high heels next time. They don’t suit you. You honestly look like a monkey that’s just learned how to use its legs."

Shen Lan’s face went pale with anger. She shot Shen Lu a venomous glare, got into the car resentfully, and slammed the door shut.

After ridiculing Shen Lan, Shen Lu felt a great sense of satisfaction. ’Hah, what a joke. Thinking she could act all high and mighty in front of me with that level of skill. Just wait, I’ll tear that fake face of hers to shreds.’

Sitting in the car, Shen Lan was seething with rage.

She really wasn’t used to high heels, but they made her look more imposing. She had only worn them so she could look down on Shen Lu.

Apparently, it hadn’t gone as planned.

From the moment she arrived, Shen Lu had been sitting in her chair, casual and languid, showing no sign of being intimidated by her presence at all.

Hmph!

’Just you wait. At the birthday banquet the day after tomorrow, I’ll definitely make Shen Lu pay!’

Shen Lu opened the invitation and glanced at the access pass.

The access pass was a magnetic card. They came in long-term and short-term versions, and the one in her hand was short-term, valid for three days.

"So stingy. Only a three-day pass? Couldn’t they have spared a few more days?"

The cost of an access pass was calculated based on its validity period. Long-term passes were the most expensive, and the shorter the duration, the cheaper it was. The one Shen Lan had given her probably cost around 1,000 Star Coins.

She put the access pass and invitation into her inventory, and Cai Su came over to say that everything was packed up and they could go back to the rental house.

"We’re not going back to the rental. We’re moving directly into the new place." Shen Lu stood up. "Come on. I’ll take you to see your future workplace."

Shen Lu and Cai Su pushed the food cart and the malatang machine, while Wang Daguo was in charge of pushing Fu Cheng. The four of them arrived at the end of Gold Street.

The setting sun slanted through the shop’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows, creating a beautiful Tyndall effect inside.

Cai Su’s eyes widened. "Th-This is Boss Shen’s new shop?"

It was so new and beautiful, so spacious, bright, and clean. It was the most impressive shop she had ever seen.

Wang Daguo was also surprised. Shen Lu’s shop was so new it didn’t seem like something that would exist in the Lower City District. It was also much larger than he had imagined. ’How much must this have cost?’

"That’s right. This is my new shop. Come on, let’s go inside."

Shen Lu opened the main door, and the lights inside turned on automatically.

Once they were inside, Wang Daguo and Cai Su’s surprise grew even greater. The shop was even decorated with expensive wood, and the back kitchen was unbelievably spacious.

Shen Lu had Wang Daguo carry Fu Cheng and led them up to the second floor.

They entered the living quarters, and she had Fu Cheng placed on the bed in the secondary bedroom.

Wang Daguo looked around curiously, remarking from the bottom of his heart, "Boss Shen, your home is really nice."

A new house, new furniture, and so much space. His own family of five was still squeezed into a small, twenty-square-meter house where he had to sleep on the floor in the living room every night.

Shen Lu said, "There’s a staff dormitory. You can move in if you want."

The staff dormitory was a three-bedroom, one-living-room unit. Each room contained a bunk bed. The living room was communal, but all other spaces were private.

Wang Daguo shook his head. "No, thanks. It’s better for me to stay at home."

His family was all women. If he wasn’t home, his grandmother, mother, and sisters wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly.

Besides, he couldn’t just abandon his family to come here and enjoy himself.

Shen Lu turned on the air conditioner in the secondary bedroom, straightened Fu Cheng’s blanket, and even moved the television from the living room into his room.

"Just rest here and don’t worry about anything. Watch TV if you get bored, and rest if you’re tired. I need to go downstairs and get busy." Shen Lu gave him these instructions and went downstairs with Wang Daguo.

Fu Cheng’s left hand lifted slightly in the direction Shen Lu had gone, then clenched into a fist.

’More than staying here alone, he wanted to be by Shen Lu’s side.’

’But there was nothing he could do. He could only obediently follow her arrangements.’

His gaze fell upon the television screen, which was currently broadcasting a breaking news report from the front lines.

Watching the scenes of raging artillery fire, Fu Cheng felt a sense of surreal dislocation, as if from another lifetime.

’Have I really been useless for this long?’

’So long that I’ve even forgotten what it felt like to kill mutant beasts on the front lines.’

The scene on the screen flashed from outdoors to indoors, where a military officer was sitting ramrod straight for an interview.

This officer was none other than Fu Cheng’s good friend, Li Zenan.

"...Yes, this beast tide attack was sudden, but we’re always on high alert, so we responded with ease."

Fu Cheng’s expression softened. He glanced at the insignia on Li Zenan’s shoulder. ’It’s only been a few months, and he’s already a lieutenant.’

Reporter: "Lieutenant Li, we hear that your time is usually very tight, and the signal on the front lines is poor. You probably haven’t been in contact with your family for a long time, have you? Would you like to take this opportunity to let them know you’re safe on camera?"

"Alright." Li Zenan dipped his chin slightly and looked at the camera. "Father, Mother, Sister, I’m doing fine. Please don’t worry. Also, Fu Cheng, don’t give up on yourself. Sometimes, willpower is more important than any treatment!"