Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Without being a sycophant, you won't have weaknesses.

Afternoon.

It was time to head back.

He Qiang held his fishing rod, feeling it was even better than grabbing a wealthy lady's thigh.

He couldn't wait to go home and cast a few times.

"People forget friends at the sight of beauty, you forget friends at the sight of a rod, Musen teased with a smile.

He Qiang let out a chuckle, winking at him, "Isn't this also creating an opportunity for you two? I won't get in the way, I'll go first!"

He Qiang chose to hop on the bus and leave.

Xu Musen and An Nuannuan exchanged glances.

"Are you in a hurry to get home?"

"Aunt Xiang said I can't stay out overnight."

"..."

Xu Musen was speechless for a moment, did he really look like someone who would invite a girl to stay over night upon just meeting her?

At most it would be just a bit of touching.

"The food stalls are about to open, do you want me to treat you?"

"Sure!"

Xu Musen's mouth curved into a smile as he strolled with An Nuannuan through the bustling food stalls.

"Musen, I want to eat that meatball."

"That's called takoyaki."

"How is that person eating chicks?"

"Those are balut eggs, want a taste?"

Xu Musen felt as if she had never eaten anything before, An Nuannuan craved the scent of the balut eggs, but after seeing the embryos, she shook her head in the end.

Xu Musen laughed and bought a bowl of black stinky tofu from the stall. Searᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Musen, why are you eating shit?"

The scent made An Nuannuan subconsciously tug on his sleeve.

Those around them waiting to buy stinky tofu were taken aback, and the stall owner's face turned dark.

Good gracious, who leaked my secret recipe?

"...This is called stinky tofu, it smells bad but tastes delicious, want to try?"

Xu Musen couldn't help but laugh and pushed her to the side. Despite the smell, An Nuannuan pursed her lips, quite suspicious about the dark stuff.

"It's really tofu, I'll try one first."

Xu Musen put it in his mouth and chewed, the fragrance of the tofu inside, once he broke the skin, still made An Nuannuan's nose twitch.

"Want a taste?" Xu Musen offered it to her again.

An Nuannuan's small face twisted in conflict, but watching Musen savor it so much, she held her breath and slowly opened her tender little mouth.

Xu Musen gently brought the black morsel to her lips, An Nuannuan cautiously took a small bite, and then her eyes brightened.

"Tasty!"

"Told you."

Xu Musen and she each had a piece, eating delightfully.

At this moment, at the square, Aunt Xiang, whom Nuannuan mentioned, was secretly watching from a corner.

Following An Nuannuan devouring so many street foods, she couldn't resist taking out her phone to make a call.

"Dr. Liang, Nuannuan is still with that boy."

"Is there a situation?"

"Nothing of the sort, it's just that the boy is taking Nuannuan to eat a lot... street foods, and it's not healthy."

There was silence on the other end for a second or two, then a kind smile, "It's rare for Nuannuan to have contact with the outside world, an occasional treat is fine."

"Alright, I understand."

The woman nodded, put away her phone, the greasy smells and various spices of the street food making her a bit uncomfortable.

Actually, many of these things, she had hardly ever touched herself.

Passing by the stinky tofu stall, she noticed the pot of oil that she couldn't tell how often was changed, and the black tofu emitting a strange smell.

Could this stuff really be eaten?

She thought for a moment.

"Boss, give me a serving..."

Having eaten their way through, both of them felt full-bellied.

They arrived at a spot in the square, where the setting sun fell on the girl, casting a golden gleam even on her long eyelashes.

She was really beautiful, possessing a naïve yet lively charm that was uniquely hers.

"Musen, I had a lot of fun today."

An Nuannuan turned to look at Xu Musen, the sunlight making his tall figure endearingly reliable.

"I had fun too."

Xu Musen smiled back, as they slowly watched the afterglow of the sunset.

An Nuannuan, holding the stuffed toy in her arms, "Musen, can we still go out like this in the future?"

Xu Musen looked at her, seeing the purity and longing in the girl's eyes.

"Of course."

An Nuannuan happily stretched out her finger, "Then, pinky promise..."

"Okay."

...

It was time to go back.

Xu Musen originally wanted to escort An Nuannuan home, but An Nuannuan said someone was already coming to pick her up.

In the corner of the square, Xu Musen pushed An Nuannuan there in the wheelchair.

A woman, dressed modestly but very neat and proper, waved at An Nuannuan.

"Aunt Xiang."

An Nuannuan greeted, and Xu Musen also looked over.

So this was the Aunt Xiang who had said behind his back that he was a "lick dog" with no bad intentions?

"This must be the good friend Nuannuan always talks about, hello."

Aunt Xiang greeted with a standard smile, and Xu Musen nodded, "Hello, Auntie."

"Thank you for taking care of Nuannuan."

"It's nothing, we're friends after all."

Xu Musen smiled at An Nuannuan.

This girl, who rarely showed much expression, now hugged the stuffed animal in her arms slightly.

Really, how can the setting sun still burn one's face so...

Xu Musen watched Aunt Xiang's proper demeanor and felt that his previous assumptions about An Nuannuan's background might have been wrong.

But it didn't matter anymore, such things were meaningless between good friends.

They waved goodbye.

Xu Musen took the bus to go home.

Meanwhile, by the roadside, An Nuannuan sat in the business car, watching the bus disappear into the distance.

"Aunt Xiang."

"What is it, Nuannuan?"

"I want to, well, take the bus to school from now on, is that okay?"

"This..."

Aunt Xiang didn't quite know how to answer, but looking at Nuannuan's hopeful expression, she still smiled helplessly, "Let's go talk to your grandparents about it and then decide."

"Oh."

...

When he got home, after a day out, Xu Musen felt unusually relaxed.

This was the life that belonged to him.

At the fork in the road at the entrance of the housing estate, Xu Musen looked up at Yao Mingyue's villa.

Being rich may be good, but the taste of freedom is even sweeter.

"Beep beep..."

At that moment, the sound of a car came from behind.

"Xu Musen?"

A female voice called out, tinged with irritation, "It really is you!"

Xu Musen turned around, and there before him were Yao Mingyue and her best friend, Liu Ruonan.

Only, Yao Mingyue now had bandages wrapped around her foot, and she needed support to walk.

It seemed to be a serious injury.

But there wasn't a trace of pain on Yao Mingyue's face, just a cold, hard stare fixed on him.

That look, it brought Xu Musen some unpleasant memories.

"You! Didn't you see Mingyue got hurt, it's all your fault, and you still aren't hurrying over to help her?"

Liu Ruonan looked at Xu Musen as if he were a scumbag.

Xu Musen was completely baffled.

How was it any of his business?

"You're still standing there when, because of you going out with some other..."

Liu Ruonan was about to stand up for her best friend, but Yao Mingyue cut her off coldly, "It's fine, I don't need his help!"

Yao Mingyue's rage was no less than anyone else's, or rather, she was beyond angry at this point.

It was her last bit of pride and persistence that made her not want outsiders to meddle in her issues with Xu Musen.

She would settle the score with him properly.

Xu Musen looked at the two of them, especially Yao Mingyue's eyes that seemed to be turning dark.

He nodded his head.

"Alright, if you don't need help, then I'll be going."

With that, Xu Musen turned and walked away.

Huh, a man who refuses to be a sycophant, is indeed this carefree.