Chapter 399 You Think a Misunderstanding Can Whitewash Everything?

The next day, the wind continued to die down. Shen Lu closed her delivery app—it was time for dine-in service.

She was up bright and early, rubbing her hands together as she eagerly started preparing the chicken feet.

’Time to get started on this week’s mission.’ The bad weather over the past two days had limited her to deliveries, so her mission progress had barely budged.

’With this freaky, unpredictable weather, it’s best to get it done as soon as possible.’

While she and Deng Ying were huffing and puffing away in the kitchen, meticulously prepping the chicken feet, Sang Yue asked if she could borrow a car. She needed to go to her own shop; the renovation company was coming over today, and she had to discuss the details with them.

Shen Lu readily agreed and even had Wang Daguo drive Sang Yue over in Fu Cheng’s car.

Not long after she sat down, someone else came to the door.

Shen Lu glanced at the security monitor. The visitors were none other than President Pan, Mr. Sun, and General Manager Chen.

’Why are these three traveling together again?’

Without a second thought, Shen Lu blocked Mr. Sun and General Manager Chen’s contact info and went back to her chicken feet in peace.

"She blocked me," Mr. Sun said, turning off his Light Brain with a frustrated look.

General Manager Chen added, "She blocked me too."

"That little brat!" President Pan fumed. "Doesn’t she have any respect for her elders?"

Mr. Sun said coolly, "If she did, she wouldn’t have blocked us all."

"Why have we been waiting so long? Isn’t anyone going to open the door?" General Manager Chen slammed his hand on the main gate. "Is everyone in there deaf?"

"It must be Shen Lu. She’s not letting them open it. That girl really holds a grudge."

"It’s perfectly normal for her to hold a grudge. You did call people to rough her up."

"But nothing even happened to her!"

"That’s thanks to her own skills. It has nothing to do with you."

"Sun Liang, whose side are you on, anyway?"

"I’m just stating the facts. What’s there to be angry about, President Pan?" Mr. Sun shrugged. "If you hadn’t insisted on making a point, things wouldn’t have gotten this ugly."

"Cut the sarcasm. Don’t forget, you two are in for a third of this shipment. If we can’t deliver on time, you’ll be paying damages too!"

The three men made no effort to lower their voices, and Shen Lu heard every word crystal clear through the security system.

’So, these three are looking for me... about some shipment?’

Shen Lu deboned the last chicken foot and set it in the prepared marinade. Then, she took off her gloves and finally let in the three men who had been standing outside in the blowing sand for nearly an hour.

"So sorry, I was busy in the kitchen and didn’t hear a thing outside. Please, come in, all three of you." Shen Lu put on a fake smile, her words dripping with politeness.

The trio—President Pan, Mr. Sun, and General Manager Chen—had grim faces. They knew Shen Lu was lying, but none of them called her out on it.

They sat down in silence. Then Mr. Sun let out a sound of surprise, as if he’d discovered a new continent.

"Boss Shen, did you redecorate the place?"

A moment ago, they had been too busy secretly cursing Shen Lu and plotting their strategy to notice the interior. Only after walking in did they realize how different it was.

"Just a small change to the layout," Shen Lu said humbly.

General Manager Chen was quite intrigued. "Which renovation company did you use? This design is really well done. I’m planning to open a new store next year and I’m looking for a good company."

"So, what can I do for you three today?" Shen Lu didn’t want to answer and changed the subject.

The three men exchanged a look. President Pan sighed softly. "Boss Shen, I’m here to apologize. I was too impulsive yesterday."

"Heh." Shen Lu gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "So it was just a moment of impulse, President Pan? And here I was, thinking you held some blood feud against me, what with hiring mercenaries with Miniature Hand-held Missiles and laser cannons to silence me."

Mr. Sun and General Manager Chen both raised their eyebrows and looked at President Pan.

’Miniature missiles? Laser cannons?’

’Pan Dao Yong, you sneaky bastard. Didn’t you say you just hired a few guys to teach Shen Lu a lesson? How did things like that get involved?’

President Pan gave a dry laugh. "If I said they acted on their own, would you believe me, Boss Shen?"

Shen Lu smiled without a word. She both believed him and didn’t.

On one hand, she and President Pan didn’t have any deep-seated hatred for each other, so there was no reason to go for the kill.

But on the other hand, Shen Lu remembered that people in this world were ruthless. It was normal for them to resort to violence over the slightest displeasure, fighting to the death. So, she only believed him halfway.

President Pan secretly kicked Mr. Sun, signaling him to hurry up and smooth things over.

Mr. Sun shot him a quick glare before clearing his throat. "A misunderstanding. It was all a misunderstanding, Boss Shen. We came here today to clear it all up."

"You want to gloss it all over as a ’misunderstanding’? How about this, then? I’ll hire some mercenaries with Miniature Hand-held Missiles and laser cannons to go blow up your shops?"

"It really wasn’t my idea! I just told them to teach you a lesson, and while they were at it, to grab... I mean, invite you to my place," President Pan said.

"While I scoff at President Pan’s methods, I have to be fair on one point." Mr. Sun’s tone grew serious. "President Pan isn’t that ruthless. The Miniature Hand-held Missiles and laser cannons were most likely the mercenaries acting on their own."

General Manager Chen nodded. "Indeed. President Pan is one of the rare, decent men in the Lower City District."

Hearing them say this, President Pan suddenly froze, his eyes turning slightly red.

They had fought fiercely for the position of president of the Commerce Association. After he’d successfully won, Mr. Sun had been nothing but hostile, constantly trying to trip him up.

If it weren’t for this order from the merchant at the Shanghai Survival Base, the three of them would never have sat down to talk.

’So this is how they really see me?’

President Pan felt an urge to cry.

Mr. Sun happened to glance at President Pan’s teary, ox-like eyes and turned away in disgust. "But, at the end of the day, President Pan was in the wrong. I think he should compensate Boss Shen."

General Manager Chen nodded again. "Exactly. Boss Shen was frightened. A proper apology and compensation are in order."

President Pan was suddenly filled with magnanimity. "You’re right! When you do something wrong, you should have the courage to face the consequences. Boss Shen, I’m willing to offer a hundred thousand Star Coins in compensation. What do you think?"

Before Shen Lu could even speak, Mr. Sun clicked his tongue in disdain. "Only a hundred thousand Star Coins? When are you going to change your stingy, penny-pinching habits?"

"Do you have any idea what Boss Shen’s daily revenue is? A hundred thousand Star Coins? Are you trying to shoo away a beggar? You should at least add another zero to make it look decent."

General Manager Chen wholeheartedly agreed. "That’s right. An apology needs to show sincerity. President Pan, your sincerity is lacking."

President Pan, who had been so moved a second ago, felt his face fall.

’How could I ever have thought that dog Sun Liang was a good person?’

’My brain must have short-circuited.’

’A million Star Coins in compensation?’

’The nerve of him to say that! Since it’s not his money, he can just make outrageous demands. He’s just helping Shen Lu fleece me, isn’t he?’

Shen Lu crossed her arms, watching the three men before her with great interest.

’Frenemies’ was the perfect word to describe them.

’This is pretty interesting.’

"The restaurant opens for lunch soon, and I don’t have much time. Could you three please get to the point of your visit?"

The drama was interesting, sure, but it couldn’t get in the way of completing her mission and earning popularity and reputation value.