[ 5 Charm Points Gained ]

“A-ah, I’ll consider this as a date then, Mister Li?” A small smile curled on his secretary’s face.

He chuckled, “You did say that it was to make up for the coffee last night—and if that was a date, then this one is a date as well.”

“Right.” She scratched her cheek.

There was something bittersweet about quantifying one’s interaction with another person—but Li Yang went along with it. In its own way, this was something that affirmed his capacity to make a good impression with other people and as much as he preferred to not be under the spotlight, he understood the value. It was the primary reason why the PR Executive existed in his opinion.

Although now wasn’t the time to be thinking about work.

Ying Yue He fidgeted beside him and it wasn’t that difficult to notice along with other things—he could pick up a faint scent of something sweet and cool at the same time.. And perhaps it was appropriate to compliment that, or perhap it wasn’t? Somehow, his inability to enjoy or make light talk was still a slight deterrent for him from speaking up, instead he opted for something else. “It seems like you’re quite a regular here.”

“Oh, well, whenever this place is open—I take the chance to eat here.” Ying Yue He brushed some of her hair behind an ear. “The owner, or at least the current one who takes care of their family business—Mou Gu has another job besides owning this diner, so it opens somewhat infrequently.”

“That doesn’t really seem like a good way for a business to operate.” Li Yang pointed out with a slight frown.

Ying Yue He offered him a shrug for an answer, “Perhaps his other job pays better? I can see him doing this just to keep his parents pleased for taking care of this, although I haven’t actually talked with him that much, Mister Li.”

But that also begged for the question—’What other job would someone like him do?’ And some answers came to mind: a bodyguard, a hitman or perhaps some kind of cultivator for hire?

Living out two kinds of careers, a dual kind of lifestyle.

The man could respect that to some extent, but perhaps he was also hoping that this guy would actually turn out to be some kind of Immortal or Cultivator Chef. It might mean that there might be some simple-looking meals that actually turned out to be special, a simple egg-rice dish might contain eggs from a Divine Phoenix, rice gathered from some Heavenly Rice…

Li Yang might have been more of a ‘eat to live’ kind of person, but it didn’t stop him from appreciating good food if possible. And if they truly were some kind of Gourmet with how they prepared and served it—then based on the earlier prices stated on the menu, it might actually be worth it.

Although that may have been wishful thinking on his part.

Soon enough, the door to the kitchen opened and the man walked out with a tray of their food. An aromatic scent filled the CEO’s senses and he wondered if the Yellow Croaker Noodle Soup he had ordered would come from some special type of croaker variety—

But first he raised a brow slightly at all the food that was being placed in front of Ying Yue He. She had a big bowl of rice along with a platter of braised pork, crab soup, six pieces of dumplings and then even some fried dough sticks. Ying Yue He caught his look and flashed him a sheepish grin, “…We can share, Mister Li?”

He picked up his chopsticks and shook his head, “There’s no need, Miss He. Please enjoy your meal.”

“This might be too much for me…?”

A harried cough escaped from Mou Gu. The man might have muttered something underneath his breath that sounded like, “Not true.”

“If you don’t mind then.” Li Yang said.

A small smile curled on her lips, “Thank you. Let’s dig in.”

Li Yang took his first bite of the noodle soup and found the flavors burst in his mouth. The aroma of the broth along with the satisfying texture of the noodles urged him on to continue and it was actually good. If he had to compare the man’s cooking skills, it would be similar to the ones that he’d eaten from charity balls and event gatherings he had attended in the past.

It was delicious but that was it.

He didn’t feel a burst of qi when he ate it, no special notification screen appeared in front of him that told him that the food that he was eating was unique or had properties that were different from normal food. Li Yang was mildly disappointed, but it didn’t stop him from determining that there was something with the cook himself.

However, there was something else that he noticed.

“You have a smudge on your face, Miss He.” He motioned to the corner of his lips.

She glanced at him and copied him, “O-oh, thank you.”

[ You Have Gained 15 Charm Points ]

There really were occasions when things spiked up randomly, didn’t it?

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.

.

“Thank you for dropping by at the diner, I hope the two of you enjoyed the meal.”

Ying Yue He as she had insisted from earlier paid for the bill herself and nodded, “It was good, thanks Mou Gu.” If there was anything that she learned today—it didn’t seem like her boss had problems with her eating a lot. It was a little relieving to know.

She had been hesitant but the man had no qualms about it.

The secretary turned back to the CEO, “Mister Li shall we get going—”

“Sure. I’ll drive you home.”

“…Oh, you don’t have to. It’s walking distance.” She waved a hand at him and kept a smile on her face. She’d really rather not have the man go there at all—the off chances of meeting Madam Dongxia still made her nervous.

“Are you sure?” Li Yang knitted his brows.

Although he didn’t struggle with taking another person’s answer as it was, she did kind of wish that he insisted a bit more—but that was just her being silly. “Yeah, it’s not a problem at all.”

“If you say so—”

Someone just had to interrupt them as the cook grabbed for her boss’s elbow. Mou Gu waved a small strip of paper in front of Li Yang’s face, “Please take this, I feel like the two of us can have a… good relationship with one another.”

“Mou Gu,” Ying Yue He clicked her tongue. Why was this guy seriously trying to ruin her… her game?

“A business relationship.” Mou Gu winked at her, “If you guys have any events, I’m more than willing to cater.”

Li Yang stared at the man and reluctantly took the folded strip of paper. Even if they were giving him advances? The mere fact that they were able to manipulate the qi around them meant that this could be a person he could ask for some assistance—without the need to approach the System. Another person to verify the research that he’d gotten.

As for how they were going to discuss this however, he needed to find a way to do it. He opened the strip of paper and blinked:

‘Once Miss Ying leaves, I’d like to discuss something with you. If you’re not aware of this—I’ll explain this in simple terms. You’re on the path to cultivation. Everything that you may have considered unreal is possibly real. Don’t freak out.’