Chapter 12

Chen Tianming opened his eyes and glanced at the clock. Oh, it was almost ten o'clock. He had come home late last night, randomly grabbed something to eat, and watched a movie, so he had gone to bed very late and only woke up now.

He touched his empty stomach and decided to go out for breakfast, as his mom's breakfast would have gone cold by now.

Chen Tianming went downstairs and headed towards a small restaurant across the street called "Hao Lai Xiang." He had heard from others that this place was new and had good food. 

He remembered that there was a "Hollywood" in America, which was a giant in the film industry. He wondered if this "Hao Lai Xiang" could be a leader in the local food scene.

"Boss," Chen Tianming called as he walked in.

"Coming! What would you like to eat?" A middle-aged woman came out from the back and smiled at him.

"I'll have a five-yuan bowl of pork offal soup noodles," Chen Tianming said.

"You must not shop for groceries often. Pork is so expensive now. How can there be a five-yuan bowl of pork offal soup noodles? It's six yuan," the woman said.

"Six yuan? That's a bit expensive!" Chen Tianming was unhappy. Just a few weeks ago, it had been five yuan at another place down the street!

"Really, there's no way around it."

"Are you trying to rip people off? Is this a black shop?" Chen Tianming raised his voice, feeling emboldened since the other party was a woman, and even slammed the table.

"Mom, what's going on?" A young girl came out from the back and asked the woman. Needless to say, she was the woman's daughter.

Chen Tianming looked up and was stunned. The girl in front of him was the fairy-like beauty he had seen last night. He couldn't believe his luck; he had been wondering how to see her again, and here she was. Fate was unstoppable!

The fairy-like girl also recognized Chen Tianming as the scoundrel from last night. She quickly pulled her mother aside and whispered, "Mom, don't argue with him. He's a thug. I saw him with some knife-wielding thugs last night."

"Really, Ning?" the woman asked softly.

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."

Although the girl and her mother spoke softly, Chen Tianming still heard them. He thought, "It can't be. Last night I was threatened by thugs, how did I become one of them?"

"Boss, five yuan is fine," the woman, alarmed by her daughter's words, quickly changed her tone.

"It's okay, ma'am. Pork is expensive now, and business is hard. Six yuan is fine," Chen Tianming said, trying to sound generous. He thought it was important to show some magnanimity, especially in front of Ning. It was just a yuan; he should be generous.

"Five yuan."

"No, I can't let you lose money. Six yuan," Chen Tianming insisted, smiling as he spoke.

"Five yuan."

"Six yuan," Chen Tianming shouted.

"Alright, whatever you want," the woman said, quickly pulling her daughter back into the inner room. She had noticed that Chen Tianming's eyes hadn't left her daughter, which made her even more scared.

"Ning, you must stay inside," the woman cautioned her daughter. "I think that guy is not just a thug, but a pervert too!"

"Mom, you noticed it too," Ning said happily.

"Of course, mom's eyes are sharp!"

"Mom, you don't know, but that thug was following me last night. Luckily, I shook him off," Ning said, proud of her cleverness.

"That's right. You mustn't come out," the woman repeatedly told her daughter.

"I know, mom. You be careful too," Ning said.

"Boss, here's your pork offal soup noodles," the woman placed a bowl in front of Chen Tianming.

"Ma'am, was that girl your daughter?" Chen Tianming asked, looking around for Ning.

"Boss, eat quickly before it gets cold," the woman pretended not to hear him. She had dealt with many lechers before; it couldn't be helped since her daughter was so beautiful and had too many suitors.

"Is your daughter still studying?"

...

"Is your daughter helping you out today since it's Saturday?"

...

"Ma'am, your pork offal soup noodles are delicious."

...

"Ma'am, your business is doing well!"

...

"Ma'am, I'm a decent person. You don't have to worry."

...

Seeing that his words were falling on deaf ears, Chen Tianming realized she had misunderstood him. He decided to stop talking. At least he now knew that "Hao Lai Xiang" was Ning's family restaurant. He could come here often in the future, and eventually, his persistence would pay off.

"Ma'am, here are six yuan." After finishing his meal, Chen Tianming paid and left.

Compared to this fairy-like girl, other women paled in comparison. Even He Tao wasn't quite on the same level.

Sigh, such a beauty was really out of place here.

But what could he do? He was just a poor teacher. To put it bluntly, he could barely support himself, let alone provide a good life for a fairy-like beauty. Chen Tianming walked down the street, deep in thought.

Such a beauty should marry a rich, handsome, and successful young man. As for himself, he might fit the last two criteria, but definitely not the first two. He couldn't even compare.

Even He Tao wouldn't be interested in him, not to mention Ye Dawei's constant surveillance. If he had any improper thoughts about He Tao, Ye Dawei would never let him off.

Thinking about how Ye Dawei had people ambush and warn him, Chen Tianming was filled with anger. But what could he do? In terms of money, he only had a few thousand yuan. In terms of people, he was alone with just his two fists, and he might only be able to handle Ye Dawei by himself.

Damn, why wasn't he a rich boss or born to high-ranking officials? Why was he just a poor teacher? Chen Tianming asked himself.

"Poor teacher, is that you?" a voice suddenly called out ahead of him.