Song Shuixian shook her head: "I'm not that lucky. I've heard so much about you, but I've never seen you in person."
She sounded quite disappointed.
Lu Chen glanced at her. He had initially wanted to tease her, asking if she wanted to meet her crush and have a meal together. But then he thought better of it. While he had a good impression of Song Shuixian, she was ultimately willing to be sexually exploited by a director for her so-called dream. Knowing Zhuang Sicong might cause trouble.
The three chatted for a while, mostly Lu Chen and Song Shuixian talking. Guo Fuyun, quiet, just kept drinking coffee.
Suddenly, Lu Chen's phone rang. He took it out and was immediately stunned, marveling at the unpredictable nature of fate. It was like speaking of the devil and he appears!
The call was from Zhuang Sicong. In front of Song Shuixian and Guo Fuyun, Lu Chen answered the phone with a somewhat amused and exasperated expression.
Zhuang Sicong's purpose in calling was simple: Lu Chen had helped him so much last time, and he hadn't properly thanked him. He wanted to treat Lu Chen to a nice meal tonight.
"Chen, I'm not good with sweet words, but I'll remember your help forever. Let's go out for dinner tonight, it's not really a thank you gesture, just a brotherly get-together. Is that okay? Let's drink and eat, have a good time!"
Zhuang Sicong spoke very generously on the other end.
Lu Chen thought about it and, since he had nothing else planned for the evening, agreed.
The two then arranged a place.
After hanging up, Guo Fuyun stared intently at Lu Chen and said, word by word, "I'm coming too, drinking and eating!"
Lu Chen rolled his eyes at her: "We're all men, what are you going to do there?"
Guo Fuyun pouted and lowered her head, remaining silent.
Song Shuixian quickly smoothed things over, "Achen, take Yunyun with you. She's your apprentice; she can protect you!"
Uh, Lu Chen rolled his eyes. What kind of logic was that?
However, a thought struck him, and it seemed to make some sense. Besides, Guo Fuyun needed to get more out and about; it would greatly help with her autism.
So, Lu Chen nodded, "Alright, since Sister Shuixian spoke up for you, I'll take you."
Guo Fuyun looked up and simply said, "Okay!"
Around five o'clock, Song Shuixian checked her watch and smiled softly, "Thank you all for today, Achen and Yunyun. I should go back and prepare; I have a modeling show tonight. I have to go!"
"You're an actress, and you're doing a modeling show?" Guo Fuyun asked.
Song Shuixian smiled faintly, "Yes, a small-time actress like me will take any job I can get. A model can earn five or six hundred a night on the runway, plus free cosmetics. If you have time tonight, come check it out! It's at the MixC Plaza, promoting a cosmetics brand."
Song Shuixian left first. Watching her figure disappear through the door, Lu Chen felt conflicted. Should he introduce her to Zhuang Sicong?
Sometimes, Lu Chen did believe in fate. It was such a coincidence that Zhuang Sicong, the person most capable of helping Song Shuixian, called when she needed it most.
Helping this girl rise to fame would probably be a piece of cake for Zhuang Sicong.
And Zhuang Sicong would certainly do him a favor without hesitation.
Guo Fuyun suddenly turned her head and stared at Lu Chen. Her eyes held a hint of displeasure as she questioned, each word deliberate, "Why didn't you help Sister Shuixian?"
Lu Chen looked completely innocent. "I couldn't help, how could I?"
Guo Fuyun stared at him, silent, but her eyes spoke volumes: I don't believe you! I don't believe you! I don't believe you…
Lu Chen felt incredibly guilty under her gaze; two beads of cold sweat trickled down the back of his head.
Damn, could it be that my martial arts powers communicate with this girl, allowing her to see right through me?
Leaving the coffee shop, Lu Chen thought it over seriously and decided to call Zhuang Sicong.
"Brother Cong, could we change the dinner location tonight? I'd like to go to the MixC Plaza. I wonder what good food they have there?...Okay, here's the thing, I heard there's a fashion show there, I want to see the pretty girls."
"You brat, aren't you afraid I'll tell Luo Luo? But I admire you! Fine, there's a Vietnamese restaurant at MixC Plaza, it's pretty good. I'll have someone arrange a private room facing the plaza stage."
After hanging up the phone, Guo Fuyun stared intently at Lu Chen again: "Brother Cong? Zhuang...Zhuang Sicong?"
Although she hadn't said much, those who didn't speak heard most clearly.
Lu Chen rolled his eyes at her, gave her head a hard ruffled ruffle: "You brat, stop being so naughty!" Then, he strode forward.
Guo Fuyun touched her head, pouted at Lu Chen, and suddenly raised the wooden stick in her hand to poke his butt.
Of course, it was just a show.
One evening at dusk, Lu Chen called Sister Hua, saying he was having dinner out with Guo Fuyun and wouldn't be coming home. Sister Hua chuckled, "Kid, don't you dare steal Yunyun away!"
Over the past few days, Lu Chen had been staying in the guest room at the Guo family home, and he and Sister Hua had become quite close. He was used to this kind of joke; it had happened more than once, perhaps a dozen times.
Sister Hua was practically looking for a son-in-law in Lu Chen; calling her Guo Fuyun's godmother wouldn't be an exaggeration.
However, Lu Chen was quite apprehensive.
Unbeknownst to him, Sister Hua had secretly told Guo Xifeng one day, "Ah Chen is a pretty good young man. He's not much older than Yunyun, maybe six or seven years older. It would be a good match. Why don't you play matchmaker?"
Guo Xifeng shook her head, "They...aren't suitable."
Lu Chen didn't call Guo Xifeng. Director Guo had just secured a large investment and was very busy. Lu Chen's ten million investment also entangled Dong Qingqing.
Now, Dong Qingqing is not only the deputy director of the gynecology department at CITIC Hospital, but also one of the board members of Angel Kindergarten. In fact, Guo Xifeng even gave her an appointment letter: kindergarten supervisor and head of the health department.
At first, Dong Qingqing complained about Lu Chen for a while, but after a few days, she quickly got used to her new role and threw herself into it. However, she's been incredibly busy.
In her words, she's so busy she's practically kicking her own backside.
Of course, Qingqing only tells this to her younger brother.
Actually, Lu Chen realized that Dong Qingqing and Guo Xifeng are similar—both are very career-oriented women. Therefore, Angel Kindergarten is a perfect fit for her to showcase her talents, at least better than being a deputy director of gynecology.
Lu Chen plans to have Dong Qingqing resign from her deputy director position once she's fully competent.
However, it's still a bit early to say that.
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Lu Chen first took Guo Fuyun to a sporting goods store, intending to buy her a convenient weapon.
It looked rather unsightly for a girl to always be carrying around a meter-long rattan stick. Therefore, she needed something more discreet.
At the martial arts equipment section, Lu Chen picked out a three-section staff for Guo Fuyun.
This three-section staff was made of high-strength alloy, making it extremely hard. The sections were linked together with chains of the same material, allowing it to be extended into a longer staff by simply connecting the three sections and twisting them tight.
Even when connected, it was about 1.5 meters long, slightly shorter than the original rattan stick, but perfectly usable.
Guo Fuyun loved it. She immediately discarded her rattan stick, twisted the three sections together, and began to wield it. Her staff techniques were simply impenetrable!
The sharp gust of wind from the staff made the shopkeeper and staff quickly dodge, shouting, "Heroine, there's a training ground over there! Go practice there! Oh my god, don't smash my things!"
Luckily, there was a training ground for customers to practice with weapons, and Guo Fuyun was able to restrain herself, careful not to hit anything. Otherwise, hmph, that would have been a female Monkey King causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace!
Watching Guo Fuyun practice with the staff, feeling the flow of her Martial God's power within her, Lu Chen suddenly had a thought.
Could it be that her Martial God's power, through some strange method, allowed Guo Fuyun to quickly master such a sharp and ruthless staff technique because she had been holding a staff at the time?
If that's the case, then…
Lu Chen shouted, "Yunyun, stop!"
Then, he had Guo Fuyun disassemble the long staff into three sections and try it again.
At first, Guo Fuyun was confused and just swung the three-section staff haphazardly, accidentally hitting her own shoulder and grimacing in pain. But soon, Lu Chen's martial arts ability underwent a strange change, clearly guiding Guo Fuyun in practicing the three-section staff's techniques. After ten minutes, the random sparring transformed into a rhythmic and methodical style.
Her moves were ruthless, each swing revealing the skill of a master.
The surrounding guests curiously gathered around to watch, applauding and cheering enthusiastically.
Lu Chen was excited! "Damn it," he thought, "this martial arts ability is amazing! It can teach martial arts based on the weapon you wield!"
After a moment of excitement, Lu Chen felt a little resentful. "Something's not right," he thought, "the martial arts ability is supposed to reside within me, why isn't it letting me use it, instead of using it on others?"
But then he thought again, "Actually, this is quite good!"
Restaurant owners can't cook, cultural bureau chiefs aren't necessarily cultured, and bosses with nice cars don't drive them themselves. As for me, I don't need to fight myself when I encounter enemies; I can just let these masters with martial arts superpowers handle it! From this perspective, what Song Shuixian said earlier was indeed true—Guo Fuyun is my bodyguard!
Unfortunately, it seems not just anyone can sense his martial arts superpowers.
When they came out of the sporting goods mall, the rattan cane was gone, and Guo Fuyun was carrying a very thick canvas crossbody bag. Inside were a three-section staff and a rubber two-section staff.
The metal three-section staff is quite powerful, especially in the hands of a master like Guo Fuyun; it could smash an enemy's head in a matter of minutes! Therefore, unless it's a life-or-death enemy, the rubber two-section staff is sufficient.
Around 6:30 PM, the two arrived at Vientiane Plaza.