"Pretend to be my boyfriend!" Shao Mei'er said, getting straight to the point.

"What?" Lin Xiao thought he had misheard.

"Stinky dad, listen to me. Didn't I pick up a friend at the airport last night?"

"So, he likes you?"

"Yeah, he does!"

"Mei'er, look, since you've finally found someone you like, don't be so picky. Just go for it!" Lin Xiao said with a mischievous smile.

"Stinky dad, you're the worst! I'm not talking to you anymore! You know perfectly well that the person I like is you. Even if you don't accept me, you don't have to push me into someone else's arms!"

From the other end of the line came Shao Mei'er's voice, sounding as if she were on the verge of tears.

This girl must be utterly annoyed by the guy's persistence. But because of his family background, she can't just lash out at him. That's why she turned to me for help. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so upset when I teased her about refusing.

Lin Xiao chuckled. "Alright, I was just teasing you. I can agree to help, but I'm not free for lunch."

Shao Mei'er's mood immediately turned from cloudy to sunny.

She asked with a flirtatious smile, "Stinky dad, when are you free then?"

"I'll be free after lunch."

"Then call me when you're done, and I'll pick the place for us to meet!"

"Okay."

"Stinky dad, love you! Heart, air kiss!"

Her flirtatiousness spurred Lin Xiao to quickly hang up the phone.

He Yonghong arrived very quickly, carrying dozens of bags filled with ingredients, all of them premium products. To be honest, these ingredients weren't from Hidden Dragon Villa. He Yonghong had paid for them out of his own pocket. He simply wanted to ingratiate himself with Lin Xiao. It was that simple.

What Lin Xiao hadn't expected was that He Yonghong had not only brought ingredients but also a four-person team of chefs.

"You've gone to a lot of trouble," Lin Xiao said, looking at the mountain of groceries.

He Yonghong replied respectfully, "Mr. Lin, you're too kind. It's my honor to be of service to you!"

This guy is pretty sharp.

"Alright. Contact Xiao Shixiong later and see if he has any business that might suit the He Family."

Upon hearing this, He Yonghong was so moved he looked like he wanted to kneel before Lin Xiao. He knew that Lin Xiao was a man who valued loyalty and righteousness.

"Mr. Lin, thank you, I really mean it! If there's anything you need in the future, just say the word!" He Yonghong said eagerly.

Lin Xiao nodded. "I will."

After He Yonghong left, the four chefs immediately got to work. Lin Xiao had intended to show off his own cooking skills, but He Yonghong hadn't given him the chance. However, Lin Xiao didn't insist. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

Su Qingning's grandparents and mother witnessed the entire exchange. Her grandparents didn't have much of a reaction, but her mother's was intense.

She recognized He Yonghong. She knew he was the Second Master of the He Family, a second-tier powerhouse in Jinling City. Yet, He Yonghong's attitude toward Lin Xiao was so incredibly respectful. This was enough to prove that her son-in-law's means were far from ordinary. He clearly had no significant background, but now he was flourishing in Jinling City. Meanwhile, the other suitors for Su Qingning she had previously favored had long since vanished!

Thinking of this, Su Qingning's mother once again felt ashamed of her previous attitude toward Lin Xiao.

The chefs He Yonghong brought were quite remarkable. After just over an hour of work, they had placed eight dishes and two soups on the table. Although no one had tasted them yet, the presentation alone was enough to make one's mouth water.

The food was, indeed, excellent.

Su Qingning's grandfather was in high spirits and insisted on drinking with Lin Xiao. Everyone else was worried, but Lin Xiao patted his chest and said confidently, "Don't worry, you've all seen my medical skills!"

Hearing this, everyone felt relieved.

The meal was a joyful one. Truly joyful. It was the happiest meal Lin Xiao had eaten since arriving in Jinling City.

Lin Xiao craved the warmth of a family. An orphan from a young age, he was raised by those old geezers. While he lacked for nothing material, the one thing he had never experienced was the love of a family. It was what he desired most. Now, he was finally experiencing it here in Su Qingning's home. How could he not be happy?

After the meal, the four chefs reappeared at the perfect moment, cleaned the kitchen until it was spotless, and quietly departed.

Lin Xiao sat on the sofa, chatting with Su Qingning's grandfather. Su Qingning sat right beside him, as docile and gentle as a kitten. It was rare to see her like this.

"By the way, wifey, I have to go out for a bit. Shao Mei'er called at noon saying she needed my help with something."

"Then you should go," Su Qingning said generously. After spending so much time together, she trusted him completely.

"Alright. You and Jing Zhe be careful on your way back later."

Su Qingning obediently nodded.

Lin Xiao stood up to take his leave, and the family saw him to the door. He really wanted to give Su Qingning a hug, but in front of her family, even with his thick skin, he didn't dare.

Leaving the car for Su Qingning and Shen Jingzhe, Lin Xiao hailed a cab and headed for Wangjiang Tower. This was Xiao Shixiong's territory. He had tea here with him once before and had been impressed by the view, so he chose it as the meeting place.

Once he was on his way, Lin Xiao called Shao Mei'er and told her the location. She was delighted and said she'd be right there.

By the time Lin Xiao arrived at Wangjiang Tower, Shao Mei'er was already waiting. Standing beside her was a young man with a commanding presence. Though the young man was plainly dressed, he was impossible to overlook. His aura was simply too exceptional. One could tell at a glance that he had been raised by a major clan and was certainly no ordinary person.

"Lin Xiao, you're here!" Shao Mei'er smiled sweetly.

Lin Xiao nodded and asked deliberately, "And who might this be?"

"Oh, this is my friend, Shang Tuo," Shao Mei'er quickly explained.

Shang Tuo?

Lin Xiao was slightly startled. Of course, he knew of this person. His father was the head of the Northern War Zone, and he was known to the world as the Princely Heir of the North. He supposedly lived in the Tianshan Mountains year-round. Rumor had it that he possessed an eidetic memory and extraordinary talent. He had broken through to the Heavenly Realm at the age of six and surpassed the Martial King Realm by eleven—a true child prodigy. Lin Xiao had no idea what his current realm was.

However, he had once heard his First Master say that if there was anyone in this world who could contend with him for supremacy, Shang Tuo would undoubtedly be one of his most powerful rivals. His First Master was always harsh in his judgments of others, but his praise for Shang Tuo was uniquely high.

No wonder Shao Mei'er had to beg me to put on an act for her. With the Shao Family's background, they truly wouldn't dare to offend Shang Tuo.

Lin Xiao smiled and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Shang Tuo nodded and took his hand, then broke into a radiant smile. "Dragon Lord. It's an honor to finally meet you."

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