Before she even got close, Shen Lu noticed the unnatural paleness on Xue Can’s face.
Mo Bei greeted her enthusiastically. "Good afternoon, Boss Shen."
"You’re here early. Please, have a seat. I’ll get you some hot tea."
Mo Bei and Xue Can found an empty table in the dining area and sat down. Shen Lu brought over two cups of hot tea.
"Looking at you, Mr. Xue, were you injured on a mission?" Shen Lu asked.
Before Xue Can could even speak, Mo Bei started chattering away.
"Yeah, his entire left shoulder was shot through! The doctor had to put in over a dozen bone pins. You have no idea, Boss Shen, I thought he was going to die right then and there. The blood was just... GUSHING all over the floor..."
"Mo Bei," Xue Can cut in, annoyed. "Don’t you have something to do?"
’Get the hell out of here already!’
"Huh?" Mo Bei blinked. "I’m already done."
’No way, is he really that heartless?’
’Is he just going to use me and toss me aside?’
’No, I’m not leaving. I’m going to shamelessly stick around and get a free meal from Boss Shen, no matter what.’
"I don’t think you’re done," Xue Can said, enunciating every word. His tone was full of menace.
Mo Bei pouted and gave Xue Can a pitiful look.
Mo Bei: ’Boss, are you really going to be this cruel?’
Xue Can: ’Get lost.’
Mo Bei was on the verge of tears.
Mo Bei reluctantly got to his feet. "I guess I do have a few things left to do. Boss, I’ll come pick you up later. Oh, right, the doctor said you need to eat light, so don’t eat anything too sp—"
Xue Can shot him a death glare, and Mo Bei swallowed the rest of his sentence. He finished his tea and drove back to their base.
"With an injury that serious, you really shouldn’t be out and about, Mr. Xue." Shen Lu didn’t quite understand his logic. ’Shouldn’t he be at home, resting quietly?’
"My Spiritual Sea is restless," Xue Can said, his brow furrowed. "It’s unbearable."
This wasn’t an excuse. His Spiritual Sea had been injured, causing the already violent energies within it to churn even more furiously.
"I see. In that case, why don’t you have Mo Bei come and pick up dinner tomorrow?"
"It’s alright. I can come and eat here myself."
"Alright then." Shen Lu didn’t press the issue; it was only a suggestion, so it didn’t matter if he didn’t accept it. "I’m going to get busy in the kitchen. Just call me if you need anything, Mr. Xue."
Xue Can nodded.
Shen Lu went back to the kitchen, redeemed a stewing hen from the System Mall, and put it on to simmer.
A little while later, Fu Cheng and Wu Jun returned as well.
There were frequent sandstorms these days, so to make trips to the hospital more convenient, Fu Cheng had bought a car. No more getting covered head to toe in sand.
If Ye Fan were here, he would have undoubtedly screamed, "Fu Cheng, you bastard!" and grabbed him by the collar, demanding to know why he hadn’t bought a car sooner when he clearly had the money.
After all, when he’d escorted Fu Cheng before, they had walked the entire way!
Fu Cheng had, in fact, done it on purpose. It was payback for Ye Fan always filching his food. Not buying the car was his own petty, secret revenge.
A Superpower User’s perception is incredibly sharp, and Fu Cheng immediately sensed Xue Can’s noticeably weakened aura.
The two men’s eyes met. Fu Cheng’s gaze was cold, and Xue Can’s was severe.
"Since you’re injured, Mr. Xue, it would be better for you to just stay home and recuperate."
’Don’t come running here and being an eyesore.’
"Thank you for your concern."
’It’s none of his damn business.’
The employees gradually left for the day, each holding a jar of spicy pickled cabbage.
"You have to let it sit for a while before eating. Remember to check the seal every day, otherwise it will spoil easily," Shen Lu kindly reminded them.
"Thank you, Boss!" Shu Meng and the others were completely surprised to get a share for themselves. A jar of this could probably sell for several hundred Star Coins!
’Their boss truly was the most generous and kindest person ever!’
"Be safe on your way home. See you tomorrow."
After seeing her employees off, Shen Lu returned to the kitchen to make dinner.
She already had the chicken soup simmering. Besides the savory scrambled eggs with grandma’s preserved vegetables and the usual stir-fried seasonal greens, Shen Lu decided to also make a tofu hot pot and some sautéed pork liver.
It wasn’t that she was intentionally making a meal fit for a patient for Xue Can’s sake; these dishes were also great for Xiao Lang and Fu Cheng.
But when the food was served, Xue Can still looked at Shen Lu with an expression of deep gratitude.
"You’re too kind, Boss Shen."
He actually wanted to say something more, but he was afraid of being too forward with Shen Lu. The young woman’s eyes were crystal clear, without a hint of coyness.
Xue Can guessed she had probably made these dishes out of pity for him.
Even though he knew this, Xue Can felt that her willingness to put in the effort for him was a good thing in itself.
"We’re friends, Mr. Xue. There’s no need to be so formal." Shen Lu picked up the soup bowls and ladled a serving for everyone.
A chicken only has two legs. Usually, Shen Lu would give one drumstick to Xiao Lang and the other to Fu Cheng.
But today, with the seriously injured Xue Can at the table, she hesitated for a moment.
"Mr. Xue is our guest. Give it to him," Fu Cheng offered.
"Alright, I’ll do as you say."
Xue Can stared at the soup bowl in front of him, which now contained a chicken drumstick, but he couldn’t feel happy about it at all.
He looked up, his gaze meeting Fu Cheng’s.
The other man’s expression was indifferent as he elegantly sipped his soup.
In that instant, Xue Can suddenly understood Fu Cheng’s scheme.
By calling him a guest, Fu Cheng was positioning himself as a co-host, a role in which giving up the drumstick was the proper thing to do.
Besides, he was with Shen Lu every day. He’d have plenty of opportunities to eat another drumstick; there was no need to fight for this one.
Deferring, on the other hand, would earn him brownie points with Shen Lu.
’Damn it, how can this man be so petty?’
"Don’t you like drumsticks, Mr. Xue?" Fu Cheng suddenly asked.
All eyes immediately snapped to him.
Xue Can composed himself and put on a touched expression. "I just didn’t expect you to give me a drumstick, Boss Shen. I’m a little overwhelmed by the gesture."
"You need to eat plenty of nutritious food when you’re injured. It’ll help you recover faster," Shen Lu explained seriously.
Xue Can nodded and took a large bite. The chicken was stewed so tender it fell right off the bone, not the least bit dry. It was absolutely delicious.
After dinner, Xue Can asked Shen Lu if she had received President Pan’s invitation.
"You received one too?" Shen Lu was surprised. ’I thought those invitations were for merchants in the Lower City District. Are mercenaries counted as merchants?’
"Most of our missions come from merchants. Basically every Mercenary Corps in the Lower City District has a partnership with the Commerce Association," Xue Can explained.
"In your condition, is it really a good idea for you to go to an event like that?" She could see that Xue Can wasn’t in good shape. He’d remained seated for most of the evening and was clearly forcing himself.
’When you’re injured, it’s better to avoid crowded places and just rest quietly.’
"It’s fine. I just need to go and show my face." Xue Can could hear the concern in her voice. "Will you be going?"
"I haven’t decided yet," Shen Lu said honestly. "It’s just an excuse to listen to people brag and watch them suck up to each other. A small fry like me won’t make a difference whether I go or not."
"If you decide to go, just let me know. I’ll come and pick you up."
Shen Lu glanced at his injured arm. "You’re really dedicated, Mr. Xue."
’He’s this badly injured, and he’s still trying to drum up business. If he doesn’t get rich, who will?’