Chapter 193: Don’t You Find It Absurd?
Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Don’t You Find It Absurd?
If Lei Li hadn’t tasted the food from this shop, she would have been almost certain that he and Shen Lu had something going on, just from seeing Xue Can walk in at this hour.
Xue Can wasn’t someone with a strong appetite; he would never go out of his way to come here for lunch just to fill his stomach.
However, after eating at Shen Lu’s shop, Lei Li could understand.
She might even become a regular herself.
After walking into the shop, Xue Can didn’t go straight to the fast-food section to eat like he usually did. Instead, he walked right up to Shen Lu.
"Boss Shen."
Shen Lu handed the stamped card to a customer. "Hm? Oh, it’s Mr. Xue."
"I have something to discuss. Can we speak privately?"
Seeing his serious expression, as if he had something important to discuss, Shen Lu nodded and had Wang Daguo cover for her as usual.
The two went to the booth area, which wasn’t officially open yet. Lei Li was too preoccupied to eat her meal and stood up immediately.
’Don’t tell me I’m going to eat my words this fast.’
’One second I was certain there was nothing going on, and the next they’re getting cozy?’
Lei Li bit her lip and walked over anyway.
Shen Lu and Xue Can were standing right by the entrance to the area, so Lei Li could see them easily.
’Phew... At least they’re standing a normal distance apart.’
’I just wish I knew what they were talking about.’
After a moment’s thought, Lei Li flicked a small, soybean-sized ball from between her fingers.
Wings sprouted from the ball in midair, and it fluttered over to a wooden partition shelf next to Shen Lu and Xue Can.
At first glance, the device looked like an inconspicuous fly, but it was actually the latest model of reconnaissance robot on the market.
It was capable of both eavesdropping and filming. Lei Li had just bought it two days ago and hadn’t had a chance to use it yet. This was the perfect opportunity to give it a try.
Afraid of exposing herself, Lei Li returned to her original seat, opened her Light Brain, and set it to private mode so that only she could see the video and hear the audio transmitted from the reconnaissance robot.
"Mr. Xue, you were looking for me?" Shen Lu asked, cutting straight to the chase.
Xue Can didn’t beat around the bush either. "Boss Shen, when do you think your original ingredient supplier will be able to resume normal shipments?"
Shen Lu tilted her head. "I don’t know about that. It might be a very long time."
It was obviously a brush-off.
Xue Can shot Shen Lu a sideways glance. "It seems the mutant beast attack has left your supplier in a real bind."
Shen Lu shrugged. "It can’t be helped. No one wanted this to happen."
"If the supplier is finding it difficult, I can help." Xue Can lowered his chin slightly. "In your name, Boss Shen. I can take some men over to help the supplier deal with the mutant beasts. What do you think?"
Shen Lu: ’I think it’s a terrible idea!’
"My relationship with my supplier isn’t as good as you think, Mr. Xue. It’s just a normal business arrangement." A faint smile touched Shen Lu’s lips, and if one looked closely, it seemed to carry a hint of mockery. "Besides, business is fine right now. I don’t see any need to go to all that trouble."
She might not have seen the need, but Xue Can certainly did.
He had never given up on finding the source of Shen Lu’s ingredients. For him, this was a golden opportunity.
"Don’t you want to foster a closer relationship with them, Boss Shen? Your business will only grow, and you’ll need more and more ingredients. If you have a good relationship, they’ll surely prioritize your needs, won’t they?"
Xue Can’s tone was calm and even, giving the impression of someone patiently offering guidance.
In reality, he was trying to trick her.
"You’ve been getting your recent produce from suppliers in the Lower City District, haven’t you? Their vegetables are all leftovers from the Upper City District, but the price isn’t discounted at all. And the Upper City District suppliers would never sell their top-quality ingredients to people from the Lower City District. If you don’t believe me, Boss Shen, you can ask around and see if what I’m saying is true or not."
Shen Lu pursed her lips, her brown eyes staring quietly at Xue Can, as if trying to see into his very soul.
For some reason, Xue Can felt a little flustered. He blinked, his tone becoming even more earnest. "Boss Shen, we’ve had quite a few dealings. You must have some understanding of the kind of person I am. You might think I have ill intentions for saying this, but I genuinely want to become your partner."
"Oh, I don’t ’think’ so," Shen Lu said softly, a hint of a laugh in her voice. "I’m certain you have ill intentions."
After she started mixing in local ingredients, Shen Lu had wondered which Superpower User would be the first to approach her.
She had guessed it would be Xue Can. He was the one who ate here most often, was her number one customer, and was also the Superpower User who discovered her food could soothe the Spiritual Sea.
But she never expected that Xue Can would have the audacity to propose a partnership.
’Isn’t that absurd?’
He had tried to kill her twice. She might do business with him, but that didn’t mean she held no grudge.
Xue Can’s expression froze at her retort. He hadn’t expected the seemingly sweet and gentle Shen Lu to be so direct and aggressive when it came to business.
"I might be young, and I don’t have a superpower, which might give you the false impression that I’m easy to fool. But, Mr. Xue, you’ve tried to kill me twice. I haven’t forgotten that. No matter how stupid I might be, I wouldn’t easily trust someone who’s wanted me dead more than once."
Shen Lu lifted her chin slightly. "You want to partner up? Fine. Show me some sincerity. Mere words aren’t enough to make me trust you, Mr. Xue. I won’t partner with someone I can’t control and who isn’t sincere. The risk is too great, and I can’t afford it."
Xue Can’s gaze grew heavy, taking on an icy quality.
Shen Lu was protected by a privilege that reflected 100% of all damage, so she wasn’t afraid of him. Besides, Xue Can was the one who wanted to cooperate with her; she held the upper hand. As long as he wasn’t a complete idiot, he wouldn’t try anything.
After all, in the entire Imperial City, and even on the entire planet, she was the only one who had ingredients capable of soothing and healing the Spiritual Sea.
If Xue Can angered her, Shen Lu could simply stop selling him any food.
For Shen Lu, it would just mean losing one customer. But for Xue Can, the implications were entirely different.
Shen Lu understood these pressure points, which was why she’d abandoned her previous tactful and polite approach and confronted him head-on.
’If you have the chance to show your strength, you should take it. Holding it all in just makes you sick.’
The atmosphere froze. After a long moment, Xue Can spoke slowly, "Boss Shen is right. I was indeed inconsiderate."
’He actually yielded?!’
That actually made Shen Lu think a little more highly of him. Someone who knew when to yield and when to push forward was truly capable of great things.
She flashed a brilliant smile. "Don’t mind me, Mr. Xue. I’m young, so I tend to be a bit willful in my words and actions. Just take it as the unfiltered honesty of a child."
He had given her an out, and Shen Lu naturally took it, using a few playful words to lighten the mood.
Xue Can felt both helpless and frustrated. This wasn’t the first time he’d been thwarted by Shen Lu.
If it weren’t for...
If it weren’t for those treasures she possessed, even if Xue Can didn’t kill her, he would have made her suffer.