Restless Heart (2)

"That Mei Wei Xuan has a full five stories, not only is the space spacious, but the location is also excellent. It can be said to be the best spot by Xuanwu Lake, perfectly meeting your requirements, young master," Dong Ren De said.

"Such a great location, and the owner is willing to transfer it?" Lin Wanrong asked doubtfully. Xuanwu Lake was considered a prime area in Jinling, and owning a shop there would undoubtedly make one a millionaire.

Dong Ren De nodded. "The location is indeed good, but the owner of Mei Wei Xuan is a stingy and unpleasant person. He's greedy, unwilling to share profits, and utterly unscrupulous. The food quality is poor, yet the prices are exorbitant—it's no wonder he can't keep the business afloat. His son served as a county magistrate elsewhere and reportedly made a fortune, so the old man is eager to retire and enjoy his wealth.

"So that's how it is. The old man was a shrewd and miserly merchant, utterly obsessed with money. No surprise there.

"How much does he want?" Lin Wanrong asked directly.

"I heard it's seven thousand taels," Dong Ren De replied.

Seven thousand taels? That was no small sum. If he took over the restaurant and renovated it according to his vision, adding equipment and staff, it would cost at least eight or nine thousand taels. The five thousand taels he had on hand were barely half of that.

Lin Wanrong thought for a moment and said, "Alright, Uncle Dong, tomorrow we'll go together to talk to the owner of Mei Wei Xuan and try to negotiate the price down. I'll figure out a way to cover the remaining silver."

"Big Brother Lin, tomorrow the Xiao family's servant selection begins, you—" Dong Qiaoqiao kindly reminded him.

Lin Wanrong slapped his forehead. "Oh no, how did I forget about that?" He smiled at Qiaoqiao. "

Thanks for the reminder, Qiaoqiao."Dong Qiaoqiao looked at him and asked, "Big Brother Lin, are you really going to become a servant for the Xiao family?"

Dong Qingshan chuckled oddly beside them. "Big brother, you're not really interested in the Xiao family's eldest miss, are you?"

Dong Qiaoqiao glanced at Lin Wanrong, then lowered her head without saying a word.

"Interested in her? Nonsense!" Lin Wanrong laughed and cursed, though inwardly he felt helpless.

He had made a promise to Old Man Wei and had to keep it. He could play tricks on others, but not on the old man who had saved his life—otherwise, he'd despise himself.

Though he was reluctant to become a servant, Lin Wanrong wasn't keen on going into business either. He'd seen too much hypocrisy and cunning in the business world and felt deeply weary of it. His plan to let Dong Qiaoqiao and her father handle the business was rather shameless: they'd do the work while he merely offered ideas, far more leisurely than getting directly involved.

Of course, he couldn't voice such a despicable thought aloud.

Seeing him fall silent, Dong Qiaoqiao assumed Dong Qingshan had guessed his intentions. She sighed softly and, after a long pause, gritted her teeth and said, "Big Brother Lin, with your extraordinary talent, Miss Xiao will surely recognize your worth. You two are a match made in heaven. Whatever you want to do, just go ahead and do it. I—we all support you."

Even Dong Qiaoqiao thought so, leaving Lin Wanrong both amused and exasperated. "Qiaoqiao, stop teasing me. Honestly, I'm lazy and don't want to do much, which is why I've left the business to you. As for becoming a servant at the Xiao family, it may not sound prestigious, but it has its perks. At the very least, with the Xiao family backing us, no one will dare bully us in the future."

Lin Wanrong spun a tale, and Dong Qiaoqiao didn't press him further. The group discussed the matter thoroughly.

Dong Qiaoqiao was concerned about the two-thousand-tael shortfall, but Lin Wanrong smiled and said they'd negotiate with the owner of Mei Wei Xuan tomorrow and then figure something out.

Dinner was, as usual, at Old Dong's house. By now, Lin Wanrong felt more at ease there than in his own rundown little shack.

After dinner, Lin Wanrong pulled Dong Qingshan aside and discreetly handed him twenty taels of silver. Dong Qingshan looked puzzled. "Big Brother Lin, what's this for?"

Lin Wanrong patted his shoulder. "Qingshan, to win over your brothers, loyalty alone isn't enough—this is more practical. Remember, interests always outweigh loyalty. Only by giving them enough benefits will they stay loyal. Relying solely on brotherhood might work for a while, but not forever. In the end, you'll be the one who falls."

Though only fifteen or sixteen, Dong Qingshan was sharp. He accepted the silver, his face brimming with gratitude. "Thank you, big brother. Your guidance will benefit me for life. Big brother, I want to do something tomorrow afternoon—do you have time?"

Lin Wanrong thought for a moment. "Tomorrow, the Xiao family's servant selection starts, and I need to go with your father to discuss the restaurant. I might not have time."

A flash of disappointment crossed Dong Qingshan's face. "Then forget it, big brother. Your business comes first."

Lin Wanrong patted his shoulder again. "Qingshan, if it's something you believe in and want to do, go for it boldly. I'll definitely support you."

"Yes, I understand, big brother," Dong Qingshan replied, his face lighting up with joy, as if Lin Wanrong's words had given him the courage and confidence to succeed.

After discussing the silver's use with Dong Ren De and his son, they decided to avoid delays and went to the bank that night to exchange it for banknotes.

As they left, Lin Wanrong, exhausted from the day, was about to bid farewell and head home when Dong Qiaoqiao called out, "Big brother, wait a moment—"

Lin Wanrong looked at her curiously. Blushing, Dong Qiaoqiao said, "Sit down for a bit. I'll get something for you."

Lin Wanrong sat on a stool, and soon Dong Qiaoqiao emerged from the inner room holding two items. She walked over, gently squatted before him, and slowly removed his worn cloth shoes.

Seeing Qiaoqiao crouching in front of him—her delicate eyebrows trembling slightly, her lovely cheeks flushed as if with rouge, nervously biting her lip, her full chest rising and falling as she tried to suppress her shyness—Lin Wanrong hurriedly said, "Qiaoqiao, what are you—"

Not daring to look up, Dong Qiaoqiao whispered, "Big brother, these are new shoes I made for you. See if they fit."

Lin Wanrong watched as she put the shoes on him. Her hair fell over her forehead, obscuring her beautiful eyes, and her jade-like face betrayed a hint of shyness.

A faint fragrance wafted from her, and her full chest nearly brushed his calf. Waves of heat traveled from her chest to his leg and then to his heart, igniting a fire within him.

No stranger to such temptations, Lin Wanrong felt his heart race at the enticing sight. His lower body reacted instantly, desire surging through him.

Dong Qiaoqiao finished adjusting the shoes and was about to look up when her lips brushed against something hard. Glancing up, she realized she'd touched Lin Wanrong's crotch, where his aroused member strained against the fabric.

"Ah!" Dong Qiaoqiao yelped, her face burning with embarrassment. With a cry, she spun around, bolted into her room, and slammed the door shut.

Leaning against the door, her heart pounded wildly, the flush on her face lingering.

"So embarrassing," she thought, recalling the moment. Her body weakened, and she quickly covered her red face, unable to speak for a long while.

Lin Wanrong, ever the rascal, merely chuckled awkwardly after she fled. "Natural reaction, purely accidental, just this once, won't happen again."

But his arousal didn't subside easily. He gave his member a hard smack. "You're making me lose face. I'll punish you—no action for three months."