at the shop having lunch while watching TV. They would occasionally chat with Xiao Yu's group."You guys are also from the north, right" The boss suddenly said to Xiao Yu's group."Yes! Is the boss too"...Chapter 147: Treats

Therefore, Zhang Shaohua decided that he had to change his strategy towards Xiao Yu. As soon as he dropped off the Secretary Chu after work, he came here to wait for Xiao Yu.

The fact that he was having dinner with some friends was true. He wanted his small circle of people to know about Xiao Yu; he didn't expect them to become close friends but hoped they wouldn't offend him!

"Brother Zhang, I won’t intrude on your dinner with friends!" After thinking it over, Xiao Yu still refused the invitation. This might also have something to do with Xiao Yu's personality as he wasn't used to such social gatherings.

“No way! Young Brother Xiao, there’s no one else, just our buddies. Let’s join them and enjoy ourselves!” Upon hearing Xiao Yu reject his invitation, Zhang Shaohua quickly got out of the car to say this. The reason why Zhang Shaohua invited him was precisely to build a relationship with Xiao Yu. If he didn’t go, what would be the point

“Brother Zhang, forget it! Another day, another day I’ll treat you!” Xiao Yu said awkwardly.

"No can do, absolutely not okay. How about this I'll cancel my dinner with friends and we'll go eat together!" Seeing that Xiao Yu was really unwilling to go, Zhang Shaohua suggested this instead.

Zhang Shaohua now considered befriending Xiao Yu his top priority. Besides, those few friends of his might have some clout, but he had become their leader in recent times; thus, canceling on them wouldn’t matter much to him.

Xiao Yu always remembered the two favors Zhang Shaohua had done for him. While the first one was at someone else's request, it was still a favor; and the second time he suffered so much just to help Xiao Yu. So, Xiao Yu felt that he owed Zhang Shaohua.

Upon hearing Zhang Shaohua willing to cancel his dinner with friends to join him, Xiao Yu suddenly felt like he was being overly picky. He thought to himself that although he wasn't used to social gatherings, sometimes they couldn’t be avoided.

"How about this Brother Zhang, I’ve always wanted to treat you to a meal as a thank you. So today, let me treat both you and your friends!" After some consideration, Xiao Yu decided that if such events were inevitable, he might as well go with the flow.

“This……...okay then! Haha, since Brother Xiao is treating me, I’ll choose a place!” Zhang Shaohua hesitated for a moment before agreeing. Regardless of who was treating whom, what mattered most now was to build good relations. It would be even better if he could treat him next time as an excuse to repay his kindness.

“Haha, sure! Brother Zhang, you can choose any place!” Xiao Yu replied cheerfully.

Xiao Yu wasn’t short of money and thus didn't care where Zhang Shaohua chose to go for dinner.

"Alright, I'll give them a call!" Zhang Shaohua took out his phone and said.

Zhang Shaohua hung up the phone and said to Xiao Yu: "Come on, Xiao brother, we're going somewhere quiet today."

Xiao Yu got into Zhang Shaohua's car and arrived at a small restaurant by the seaside. Xiao Yu and Zhang Shaohua got off the car, with Xiao Yu standing outside the restaurant looking at it. Although the restaurant wasn't big, quite a number of expensive cars were parked outside, indicating its popularity.

"Let’s go! Xiao brother, don’t be fooled by the size; this is one of the most famous seafood restaurants in Shenzhen. The environment here is great too, so many important figures like to eat here!"

Seeing that Xiao Yu was standing outside looking at the restaurant, Zhang Shaohua explained.

Zhang Shaohua brought Xiao Yu into Seafood Family. As they entered through the door, a woman in her early forties greeted them with a smile and said: "Director Zhang, Director Li and Director Wu are already here waiting for you at Jadeite Pavilion."

"Haha, Miss Jin, I’m worth being invited to Jadeite Pavilion" Zhang Shaohua chuckled, though his words revealed some dissatisfaction.

"Haha, Director Zhang is joking. You’re a guest that we can’t even invite......" The young woman said with a smile, then she leaned over and whispered something in Zhang Shaohua's ear.

"Forget it, let’s go to Jadeite Pavilion then!" Zhang Shaohua sighed when he heard the young woman.

Xiao Yu looked at the young woman who was around forty years old. She wasn’t particularly young or beautiful, but she had a mature charm about her. Dressed in a cheongsam that accentuated every curve of her body as she walked with graceful swaying steps.

The young woman felt unfamiliar with Xiao Yu and asked Zhang Shaohua: "Director Zhang, who is this"

"Haha, let me introduce you. This is Xiao Shao!"

"Brother, this is Miss Jin, the owner of Seafood Family."

Zhang Shaohua chuckled and introduced them to each other.

"Mr. Xiao, hello! Welcome to our little shop!" The boss lady extended her hand and said in a soft, gentle voice.

"Boss lady, hello!" Xiao Yu shook hands with the boss lady.

Xiao Yu was about to release his grip when he suddenly felt a soft finger pinch him twice. He immediately blushed and quickly pulled back his hand.

“Hahaha……” Seeing Xiao Yu’s expression, the boss lady burst into laughter like silver bells, looking at him teasingly.

Zhang Shaohua also saw Xiao Yu's reaction and knew what had happened. He smiled and said to the boss lady: "Hehe, Miss Jin, don't tease my brother anymore. My brother isn’t like us."

"Alright... Alright... Hahaha..." The boss lady responded repeatedly but laughed again when she thought about Xiao Yu's expression.

The boss lady was in her early forties and ran a restaurant that attracted mainly wealthy or influential patrons. Despite the small size of her establishment, she knew very well how such people behaved. Coming across someone as sincere as Xiao Yu was extremely rare for her, akin to winning a large lottery prize.

The boss lady led Zhang Shaohua and Xiao Yu into Jadeite Pavilion. As they approached the entrance, they heard voices inside. Zhang Shaohua pushed open the door and entered.

"Little Brother Zhang, you’ve got us old guys worried sick!" Upon entering the private room, several people stood up. A man in his fifties reproached Zhang Shaohua but there was no trace of displeasure on his face; instead, he wore a smile.

“Old Li, you’re really putting me down! Alright then, I’ll drink three cups as punishment!” Zhang Shaohua said with a smile.

"Alright, alright, that's fair enough. But don't blame it on me when you have to do it!" The man in his fifties named Li responded.

“Fine... I won’t blame our Li Director! I just want to drink myself! Alright then” Zhang Shaohua stretched out the last word.

Xiao Yu took a look around and saw four men inside. The youngest-looking one seemed to be in his forties, while Zhang Shaohua was obviously the youngest among them. However, it appeared that Zhang Shaohua led this group.

The four men did not sit at the main seat but on either side of it, leaving the main seat empty. Their ranks were higher than Zhang Shaohua's, yet they left him to take the chief position, showing their respect for him as a close confidant of Secretary Chu, while they could be considered peripheral officials.

Although everyone was looking at Xiao Yu, Zhang Shaohua didn’t introduce him but instead walked towards the main seat, pulled out a chair and said to Xiao Yu, “Little Brother Xiao, come here and sit down!”

The originally smiling men instantly turned stunned upon seeing Zhang Shaohua’s actions, while even the boss lady standing by the entrance looked astonished.

Who was Zhang Shaohua Although his position wasn’t high, as the secretary to the city party chief, he could be considered the top secret agent in the deep sea. Moreover, many times, his attitude represented that of Party Secretary Chu.

Their gazes towards Xiao Yu changed once more; when Zhang Shaohua told them on the phone that he was going to introduce an important guest to them, although they were curious as to who this person could be that earned such status from Zhang Shaohua, when Xiao Yu entered their sight, some disappointment arose within their hearts.

Seeing how young Xiao Yu appeared, despite the aura emanating from him, which was indescribable and unclear, it wasn’t the aristocratic air of an heir of a noble family. That was why they felt free to make jokes with Zhang Shaohua.

The boss lady felt even more so; as someone who managed this restaurant, she had seen all sorts of people. At first, seeing Xiao Yu’s innocence upon meeting him, she thought he must be the one asking for help from Zhang Dami [nickname for Zhang Shaohua].

"Big Brother Zhang, just sit here instead! I sitting here is fine!" After taking in everyone's expressions, Xiao Yu refused to take his seat and sat at a lower seat.

"No no, Little Brother Xiao, today you’re the main guest!" Seeing that Xiao Yu was seated on a lower seat, Zhang Shaohua hurriedly said.

"Haha, Big Brother Zhang, you’re wrong. Didn’t we say earlier that I’m hosting this meal So, as the host, it’s only right for me to sit here!" Xiao Yu lightly laughed and said.

“Alright, alright! You win, I’ll sit here too!” Zhang Shaohua then sat down beside Xiao Yu.

"Big Brother Zhang, you order the dishes please!" Since he was treating them to a meal, Xiao Yu had to act like one. He picked up the menu and handed it over to Zhang Shaohua.

“Alright, I’ll do this...” Zhang Shaohua wasn’t very familiar with Xiao Yu’s situation and wouldn’t order expensive dishes for fear of causing embarrassment when there was not enough money.

After Zhang Shaohua finished ordering, Xiao Yu handed the menu to the others. Since they often ate here, they were naturally aware of the prices of the dishes. Upon hearing what Zhang Shaohua ordered, they quickly said, "Seven or eight dishes will be sufficient. With just us few people, it would be a waste if we order more!"

The boss lady felt disdainful upon hearing their words and thought to herself, Don’t you guys always have a full table of food here no matter what Then wasn't that wasteful too When others treat guests, they pick the best and most expensive dishes. But now...he needed to vent, to release the grievances and fear suppressed within her over these past three years.About twenty minutes later, the woman finally stopped crying, wiped her face, and stood up. She...