Chapter 244：The Challenge (19)

Even though technically the workers were forced there by their boss, they ended up having a scrumptious meal. This was a testament to Mrs. Xiu's cooking. When she was overwhelmed, Xiu Ling also entered the kitchen to help her mother.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of seating, some of the workers were not served immediately. Some of them waited patiently since they had nowhere else to rush to. The other option was to return to the office to work, and in that case, majority of them preferred to wait at Jia Jia for the seats to open up.

Of course, some of them who had important work to attend to would leave first. However, at the very least, they could pack up some of Auntie Xiao's dessert that could be purchased separately. That way they did not need to wait in line for that long.

Xiu Ling was thankful of the support shown by Lin Kang's company employees even though she knew it might not be voluntary. They left her restaurant feeling full, happy and satisfied, that was the most important thing.

Yi Nian stayed until the end of the service. Perhaps he was tasked to look after the people by Lin Kang. Xiu Ling did not know. When she walked towards him, Yi Nian stood up and handed Xiu Ling a cheque for a fee that was way higher than the cost of the food.

Xiu Ling immediately rejected it, saying she could not accept such an exorbitant amount of money. Yi Nian explained, "Miss Xiu Ling, this is front payment. The employees will coming here for lunch break for the rest of the week so the payment is for the total 7 days and not just today only. I've already made the calculation with finance and the amount here is about able to cover everyone, give or take a few thousand dollars."

After handing Xiu Ling the cheque, Yi Nian left to return to the company, however, with that parting smile, Xiu Ling had a feeling this was not the last of the surprise she might receive that week.

...

When Xiu Ling arrived the next morning, she was surprised by the thing that she saw. They were not yet open for business but the place was already bustling with activity. There were people moving around, setting up what Xiu Ling believed to be a film set. There were cameras and lights. She did not remember renting her place out for such a purpose so she wondered what was happening.

Xiu Ling asked to meet the person responsible and she was directed to a middle-aged man who had a script in his hand. Before Xiu Ling could say anything, the man saw her and informed her in respectful tones, "Miss Xiu Ling, do not worry, we will finish the shooting before noon so as to not interrupt your operating hours."

That only confused Xiu Ling even further. She was about to ask the man for clarification when something caught the man's attention and he stomped off, yelling angrily, "Hey, watch that camera. The equipment is worth more than your life!"

Xiu Ling was trying to catch up to the man when she felt someone's palm on her shoulder. "Let's not disturb the director. He has something important to do. I'll explain everything to you."

She turned around and a friendly face was smiling at her. "Lee Mu!" Xiu Ling greeted the man happily. She had not seen the man since the whole debacle with him framing her best friend, Joann. Technically speaking, Lee Mu was Joann's friend but through that incident, Xiu Ling had become friends with Lee Mu as well. Xiu Ling found Lee Mu to be kind and understanding so she was glad to have him as a friend. Lee Mu had the same impression of Xiu Ling and she had helped him secure a contract with Lin Corps that was worth possibly millions so how he not be appreciative and friendly towards her.

Xiu Ling gave Lee Mu a quick hug and asked the man to explain the statement that he had given earlier. What did he mean by saying, he would explain what was happening to her?

"This is to shoot an advertisement," Lee Mu explained plainly but it did nothing to clear the confusion in Xiu Ling's mind. "An advertisement? But why?"

Lee Mu scratched his head with embarrassment, realizing he was not as good as an explainer as he thought. Thankfully, his boyfriend and manager came over then to save the day.

"Why would you ask the blockhead anything about work?! It's baffling to think that you'd expect him to know anything." Zao Ming said jokingly as he wandered over to put his arms around Lee Mu's waist. Then, he nodded at Xiu Ling by way of greeting.

"The blockhead who is your boyfriend and soon to be fiance." Lee Mu delivered a counter and they all laughed. Xiu Ling was glad to immerse herself in the happy atmosphere but she needed to have some answers. Zao Ming delivered on that front. "Miss Xiu Ling, this is a commercial to promote your shop."

Xiu Ling was confused. "That is a nice gesture but I did not ask for this service."

Zao Ming smiled. "You did not but someone else did." Xiu Ling had a brief idea who this someone was. Zao Ming continued his explanation, "Do you still remember the contract that we have signed with Lin Corps?"

Xiu Ling nodded.

"It is stated in the terms that we are required to do promotion and advertisement for any of the company's new real estate project."

Xiu Ling was about to ask how was that related to her when it hit her. Since the shop was given to her by Elder Lin, it technically counted as Lin Corps' property and that was how the contract with Lee Mu came into effect.

"Even so, you shouldn't have done something like this..."

Lee Mu cut Xiu Ling off, "Of course we should. It's only fair that we pay back the kindness that has been shown to us. We would not have been together if not for you, Miss Xiu Ling, so of course we said yes when Mr. Lin Kang contacted us to do this. We would have done this for free but he even offered to pay us, so how could we ever say no?" Lee Mu winked at Xiu Ling.