The Master's Mask Unveiled Again

Chapter 384: Chapter 383: Why Has Another Group Come to Compete for Him?

“Auntie Guo, there’s no need, I’m not short of money…” Lu Mian quickly shook her head.

She was not short of money; she was just somewhat paranoid about it and liked to earn money, that’s all.

The other party was very sincere, “That won’t do, Auntie is still worried you might not have enough to eat.”

Lu Mian looked at Xiao Qimo with a pleading gaze.

Xiao Qimo smiled helplessly, “Mrs. Guo, there’s no need for a red envelope. She can donate twenty million to the school by herself; she is not short of money.”

“This…” Li Shuyun also remembered this matter, her son had even asked her for five million to donate to the school too.

“Mom, Mian Ge is embarrassed, you should accept it,” Fat Hao also chimed in.

Lu Mian breathed a small sigh of relief; she wasn’t very good at handling these interpersonal relations.

Li Shuyun, with mixed feelings, could only accept it, “Let’s go to the dining room, I’ve finished cooking over here.”

“Okay.”

Five people gathered around the round table.

Perhaps it was the proximity of the New Year that added a sense of reunion. Lu Mian, while laughing, silently sent a message to the small group of five.

[I will be going to Jinjing in three days, let’s meet up before I leave.]

The three active members in the group all gave her their confirmations.

Only that grey avatar remained still, without any messages.

Lu Mian expected this and quietly put away her phone, turning towards the table.

The table was laden with dishes, appealing in both color and fragrance, and utterly tempting.

Li Shuyun was a typical Sichuan woman. Even though she had tried to control the spice levels in her cooking, it was inevitably spicy.

Lu Mian tried a few bites; indeed, it was quite delicious.

But she noticed that Xiao Qimo was frowning slightly and not really picking up his chopsticks.

She remembered the words Mo Nie had said before and understood that today’s dishes probably didn’t suit his palate.

Maybe he was too embarrassed to speak up, or perhaps he didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere, so he just sat there, silently sipping tea, occasionally chatting with Commissioner Guo, quite subdued.

She shook her head secretly and smiled at Li Shuyun, “Auntie Guo, may I use your kitchen?”

“What’s wrong? Don’t like the food?”

Guo Shuitian, being a man, wasn’t as observant; he always thought his wife’s cooking was the best.

“I’ve been having some stomach pain these last few days, and I can’t really eat spicy food…”

Li Shuyun exclaimed in dismay, standing up apologetically, “It’s my oversight. I’ll make a few different dishes for you right away.”

“No need, I can do it myself…”

“How could that be?!”

Li Shuyun was insistent, and Lu Mian didn’t say anything more.

Xiao Qimo glanced at the girl beside him, a pleasurable light slowly brewing in his eyes.

This little rascal, it seems, does have a bit of conscience.

Li Shuyun quickly returned with four light dishes. After Lu Mian tasted them, she found the flavor great, worthy of the woman who had fattened up Fat Hao and Commissioner Guo.

She gave Xiao Qimo a look; the man then picked up his chopsticks and began to help himself to the dishes.

Between the two of them, a thread of tacit understanding and warmth flowed gently.

None of the others noticed.

Guo Shuitian took a sip of tea and began affectionately, “Miss Lu, if you’re free during the winter break, why not join us on our trip to Spring City? I’ve booked a place there; we can go to relax our minds.”

Guo Shuitian knew about Lu Mian’s relationship with the Lu Family, which is why he invited her to join them for a getaway.

Li Shuyun also happily agreed, “Yes, come with us. I’ve always wished for a daughter to travel with me. I think it would be much more enjoyable than following the two of them.”

Lu Mian was aware of the Guo Family’s warmth and concern.

Xiao Qimo was aware of their intentions, but he still struck out unexpectedly, feeling even more threatened.

Why were there suddenly so many people trying to take Lu Mian away from him!

He had just managed to trick her into going to Jinjing!

“Director Guo, Mrs. Guo, Lu Mian can’t make it,” the man spoke up with a frosty tone.

“Why is that?” Li Shuyun didn’t understand, “Miss Lu is a classmate of Zihao, and I quite fancy her as well. It would be fun to go out together.”

“Because she has to return to Jinjing,” Xiao Qimo said indifferently.

The Guo couple paused, not comprehending.

Lu Mian quickly explained, “It’s like this, I’ve entered a physics competition and I have to go to Jinjing for training during the winter break, so I can’t join your trip.”

“I see…” Guo Shuitian was not very reassured, “Jinjing isn’t like Wucheng, how about letting Zihao go with you? At least you’ll have someone with you, and you can consult each other if anything happens.”

Guo Zihao, who was gnawing on chicken feet, looked up.

Before he had a chance to say anything, he felt a chilly glare directed at him from a certain direction.

Ah, was his dear dad trying to throw him into a pit of fire!

Unfortunately, his biological parents seemed oblivious, and Li Shuyun was very much in favor of this suggestion.

“Right, let Zihao accompany you! Having a boy by your side is safer! To keep away those with ulterior motives who keep bothering you,” Li Shuyun was genuinely concerned for Lu Mian’s well-being.

Lu Mian didn’t mind, “Sure, I get along quite well with Fatty Zihao.”

Then, it seemed like the temperature in the dining room dropped even further.

Fatty Zihao: Brother Mian, can you please look back at Director Qimo beside you?

“Zihao, say something! Will you go or not? Miss Lu has already spoken!”

“I…”

Shouhao, aware of the situation, quickly wiped his fingers clean and made the excuse of needing to use the restroom to bolt out, shivering on the toilet as he took out his phone to send a message in the CP fan group.

[Help! My parents want me to accompany Brother Mian to Jinjing for training during the winter break! But Director Qimo seems unhappy about it, what should I do? Waiting online, very urgent!]

Most people in the group knew that Director Qimo and Lu Mian were dining at Fatty Zihao’s place today.

Fatty Zihao even said he would sneakily take pictures of them together.

Shouhao was the first to reply, with a ‘lighting a candle for you’ expression.

Fatty Zihao: [Don’t joke, please save me. Brother Mian agreed to let me go, but Director Qimo hasn’t said anything. So, should I go or not?]

[Wow, you’ve encountered a dilemma of the century. On one side is Boss Lu Mian, and on the other is Director Qimo. I’ll light a candle for you too.]

[Let me analyze this. If you refuse Lu Mian, he might be unhappy, and if Lu Mian is unhappy, Director Qimo will be unhappy, and then you, the instigator, will be in trouble. If you agree to go with Lu Mian, Director Qimo will be unhappy. If Director Qimo is unhappy, you will still be in trouble. Ah, lighting a candle.jpg.]

Fatty Zihao: [Crying.jpg]

None of these CP fans could offer any useful advice; they were all just there for the drama.

But there was a group member named “Only Mian Won’t Marry” who cleverly suggested, [If I were you, I wouldn’t go to Jinjing.]

Fatty Zihao quickly typed: [Bro, why?]

Only Mian Won’t Marry: [Is it fun being a third wheel?]

Fatty Zihao: […]

He was a bit puzzled; this fan of Mian seemed even more anxious than him, a fan of the CP.

But it was the only suggestion he got, and he thought it made a lot of sense.

He returned to the dining room with heavy steps, eyes already brimming with tears when he arrived, giving his parents a pitiful look.

“Dad, Mom, are you planning on having a second child?”

Guo Shuitian: ???

Li Shuyun: ???

“You don’t want me to go on the trip with you, do you think I’m a burden? Are you planning to indulge in a second honeymoon and maybe make a little brother or sister on the way?” he said, growing more heartbroken, “I’ve been working so hard, I’ve improved by ten ranks this time! Do you really not want me anymore?”