The Chef Rules the Last Days
Chapter 223 - 221: Encounter

Chapter 223: Chapter 221: Encounter

"These steamed meatballs are delicious!" Su Mo served one to Ling Ye, "Go on, try it."

Seeing her eat so heartily, the atmosphere livend up, and when Zhao Changsheng met her foxy eyes, they began to shine, "Let’s all have a drink! Today, we’re not going home until we’re drunk!"

Even the usually reserved Li Qian was poured a glass of wine by her, and he, smiling gently, didn’t refuse.

"This rascal should have some too," Zhao Changsheng said, reaching to pour into the small cup in front of Ling Ye.

Su Niang quickly reached out to stop him, "He’s still so young, don’t make a mess."

On the side, Su Mo laughed till she couldn’t, "Yeah, don’t cause a stir, go and ask the waiter to bring up a bottle of milk."

"I can drink," Ling Ye felt looked down upon and moved the cup towards Zhao Changsheng with his little hand.

In the end, it was only after Li Qian used a bit of superpower that he finally behaved.

When the cup in front of Ling Ye was filled with wine and placed in front of her, Su Mo stopped laughing, "Forget it, my alcohol tolerance might not be too good."

Li Qian voluntarily picked up his cup and took a slow sip, leaving Su Mo with no choice but to pick up her glass, "Then let’s clink glasses!"

"Cheers!"

The group was lively, and Su Mo downed a big gulp of wine, smacked her lips, and finding the flavor not bad, looked back at Zhao Changsheng’s expectant eyes and drank another mouthful, "I finally understand why you love drinking so much."

"Haha, Baby Mo, tonight’s bill is on Young Master Zhao, drink to your heart’s content," Zhao Changsheng, buoyed by the compliments and Su Mo’s return, started feeling on top of the world.

Li Qian pressed down on her a bit and advised, "Don’t drink too much."

"Away with you," Zhao Changsheng swatted his hand away and continued to clink glasses and drink with Su Mo.

Su Mo didn’t at all feel like she was being led astray and even started playing a hand game called ’rock, paper, scissors’ in the vast restaurant, taught by none other than Zhao Changsheng.

"Bros are awesome, six six six, top dog,"

Su Mo clapped her hands, pointing at Zhao Changsheng’s nose, "You lost!"

Zhao Changsheng, with a chuckle, picked up his wine and downed it in one go.

The hall was bustling with excitement, and in a luxurious private room at the far end sat two men with proud postures, their door half-open and facing the scene outside.

Hu Ding was close to breaking out in a cold sweat, his mind turned to mush. He had seen that face the moment he entered, and he could never have anticipated Su Mo’s return to life; this was troublesome. Elder Jiang had always thought she was dead and had merely silenced everyone. Now that these two had met again, trouble was probably brewing for the Jiang Residence.

Lu Chen swirled his drink, his phoenix-like eyes slightly narrowed, "Why aren’t you eating?"

How could Hu Ding have any appetite? He moved his chopsticks and forced food into his mouth, "Eating."

...

After barely eating any food and having her stomach bloated from drinking, Su Mo couldn’t drink anymore. She stood up, "I’m going to the restroom."

After excusing herself, she leaned against the wall as she headed to the restroom. All the service staff she passed by seemed to double, and she shook her dizzy head, muttering to herself, "That hit me harder than I thought."

Feeling dizzy after using the restroom, Su Mo hung her head low, her face turning red as she walked out of the bathroom. She didn’t notice the person standing in front, and she bumped into him, "Ouch!"

Retreating two steps while holding her head, the collision made her even more dizzy, but she didn’t forget to apologize politely to the person in front of her, "Sorry, sir."

She walked past him, stumbling and using the wall for support on her way back.

Lu Chen stood there, withdrawing the hand he had briefly extended, his expression inscrutable.

By the time she returned to her seat, the meal was drawing to a close, and Su Mo was the only one with a flushed face and a dazed look.

Li Qian sat in his chair, puzzled, "Why did you get her drunk?"

Zhao Changsheng pinched Su Mo’s cheek, "For fun."

Ling Ye burped after eating too much. Su Niang handed him a tissue, and once he’d wiped his mouth, she said, "You should take her back now; it’s getting late."

"Sleep at my place tonight," Zhao Changsheng declared as he picked up Su Mo, cradling her horizontally.

"Doesn’t Xiaoqiao live there?" Li Qian stood up.

"I can share with her."

Trapped between two large blobs of flesh, Su Mo squirmed, her eyes growing clearer, "No, I don’t want others to get the wrong idea. Go get me a room; I have the right to stay now."

Zhao Changsheng put her down, his eyes tinged with regret, "Xiaoqiao and I are nothing."

Li Qian hoisted Su Mo onto his back and said softly, "You brought her here, so you ought to take care of her. I’ll go arrange her accommodation."

"Hmm..." Zhao Changsheng sighed. When he heard the news of Su Mo’s death, he ran into Xiaoqiao in the Outer Ring. He had been good to her because, well, everyone knew why.

Back at the tower, Li Qian carried the still woozy Su Mo to arrange her accommodation.

Inside the military vehicle outside, the air was thick with smoke.

Choking, Hu Ding began to plead, "Daddy Lu, stop tormenting me; what are you trying to do?"

He had nearly choked to death on his meal, and now it felt like he was about to be choked by smoke.

"You should go back," Lu Chen took a puff and flicked the cigarette out the window before stepping out of the car.

Watching the man walk away, Hu Ding scratched his head and realized something was wrong. After pondering for a while, he decided to keep the matter to himself for now. Elder Jiang had always believed the person was dead and probably wouldn’t pay too much attention to Lu Chen; the old man had more important things to deal with right now.

Since waking up, his comrade had been smoking five or six cigarettes a day. He wouldn’t understand the pain of forgetting a loved one, but now that she was back, he didn’t want to see Lu Chen continue this way; it might be best to let things take their natural course.

Feeling more alert after a blast of cold air outside, Su Mo clutched the identity card and key Li Qian had arranged, lost in thought.

"Twenty-sixth floor, I’ll take you up."

"No need to. Just head back on your own floor; I can manage," Su Mo said.

Li Qian gave her several scrutinizing glances, "Are you sure?"

"Don’t worry, it’s just some alcohol," Su Mo laughed, and aside from her flushed face, she seemed pretty normal.

"Alright then, come to me if you need anything. The room has all the basic facilities. Tomorrow I’ll take you to get your new identity card," Li Qian helped her into the elevator.

"Got it."

Li Qian left at the twenty-first floor. When Su Mo reached the twenty-sixth floor, she staggered out of the elevator.

Rubbing her eyes, she focused on the key card; it looked like 209 was the room number. She stumbled toward it.

The hallway was quiet, but it took her a long while to reach the door. Trying to insert the key, she missed several times, "What kind of junk is this, the hole’s so narrow."

She kicked the door, her patience nearly exhausted.

Suddenly, a pair of cold hands reached from behind, guided hers with the key, and slid it into the lock.

With a click, the door opened.

Her head still spinning, Su Mo breathed in the strong smell of cigarette smoke, "Thanks a lot."

Without looking up, she stumbled inside leaning against the wall.

"Damn it!"

Her foot hit the threshold, and she lurched forward, but strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back in time.

Su Mo, saved from a nasty fall, suddenly began to struggle, "Let go of me! Let go—I’m going to throw up!"