Chapter 402: "Little Ying, Mom and Dad Are Here to Save You!

"Your Boss Shen is really..." Mo Bei pressed a hand to his forehead, completely exasperated.

The group went back and forth, finally settling on twelve dishes.

After they ordered, Mimi brought in a pot of hot water and a plate of melon seeds before leaving the room. If anyone in the private room needed service, they could press the call bell on the table.

Shen Lu received the order and immediately started cooking. Having servers at Dragon Hall was a huge help; unlike before, she no longer had to constantly go out to see the customers and could just focus on cooking in the back kitchen.

Soon, the orders for the second and third tables also came in. Both were for more than ten dishes each, so it seemed quite a few people had arrived.

Shen Lu had recently added two tables to Dragon Hall, increasing its dine-in capacity to five tables.

’It’s a bit exhausting, but to complete this week’s mission, I have no choice.’

Just as Shen Lu was fully focused on cooking, the Deng Family arrived. They slipped into the restaurant with the other customers and then suddenly began to cause a scene.

"You damn, black-hearted boss! You kidnapped my daughter to use as slave labor, working her illegally! You have no humanity!"

"My daughter! My poor daughter! You black-hearted boss, give me back my daughter!"

"You, Shen! Get the hell out here! If you don’t hand over my sister, I’ll call the police and have you arrested right now!"

Deng Jianxin secretly pinched Deng Xuan, and the little girl cried out in pain, "Big sister! Where are you, big sister?! I miss you!"

The family’s commotion quickly drew the customers’ attention. Wu Jun came over, recognized the Deng Family, and frowned. "What do you think you’re doing? Get out!"

"Your restaurant is a den of thieves that eats people alive! My daughter came home for a visit, and you stormed our house to kidnap her! You smashed our door and windows—your methods are vicious and utterly unforgivable!" Mrs. Deng wailed dramatically as she sat on the floor, looking utterly pitiful.

She tugged on Deng Xuan, forcing her to her knees. The girl’s knees hit the floor hard, and tears of pain welled up in her eyes.

Mrs. Deng hugged her younger daughter, sobbing wretchedly.

"Can’t you understand plain language?" Wu Jun rolled up his sleeves, ready to throw them out.

Deng Jianxin stood protectively in front of his mother and sister, putting on a brave act. "So what if you’re a Superpower User? Does that make you special? Just hand over my sister, and I’ll leave immediately. I wouldn’t want to be in this dump anyway! Pfft!"

He spat a thick glob of phlegm onto the floor. A diligent little cleaning robot immediately rolled over to clean it up, announcing in a flat, mechanical voice, "Please be mindful of your personal conduct. Do not spit or relieve yourself on the floor. Thank you for your cooperation."

Alerted by the system, Shen Lu watched the entire scene unfold on the security monitors.

’Normally, I’d just throw them out and be done with it.’

’But the Deng Family aren’t customers. They’re Deng Ying’s family.’

’It seems the lesson I taught them last time wasn’t harsh enough, or they wouldn’t have dared to come looking for trouble today.’

Shen Lu thought for a moment, then asked Mimi who the customers at the three upstairs tables were. After learning they were all regulars, she went upstairs to speak with them personally. She explained that she had a matter to attend to, so the food would come out a bit slower. As an apology, she offered them a ten percent discount on their bill and a complimentary fruit platter.

The customers were all very understanding, and Xue Can even asked if she needed help.

"No need. It’s not like we’re going to get into a bloody fight."

’Dealing with a few ordinary people doesn’t require a Superpower User. I could probably stun them all with one swing of my baton.’

She went downstairs and saw Deng Ying standing around the corner. Shen Lu walked over and patted her on the shoulder.

"Have you decided how you want to handle this?"

The Deng Family was here for Deng Ying, so Deng Ying’s own feelings on the matter were what mattered most.

She couldn’t make the decision for Deng Ying, but she would support whatever choice she made, regardless of whether she personally thought it was for the best.

Deng Ying’s eyes were red. She had been standing here listening for a while and had heard everything her family said.

"They’re twisting the truth and slandering you, Boss."

"That doesn’t really matter. I don’t care. What about you? What are you thinking?"

"They want to drag me back to marry that Wei Yi." Deng Ying wasn’t stupid. She knew her family no longer saw her as a person ever since the last time—when Deng Xuan had conspired with their mother to keep her at home, locking her in a room with Wei Yi in an attempt to force an irreversible situation.

’In their eyes, I’m just a bride price. With the money they’d get from marrying me off, they could finally get a wife for my brother.’

Shen Lu watched her quietly, waiting for her to continue.

Deng Ying bit her lip. "Boss, if it were you, what would you do?"

"Don’t ask me. Our situations are different, our personalities are different, and we solve problems differently," Shen Lu said gently. "Deng Ying, you have to ask your own heart."

A single tear slid silently from the corner of Deng Ying’s eye. "If I choose to cut ties with them... would that be too heartless?"

"Perhaps most people would think so. After all, many believe it’s a daughter’s duty to secure a bride price for her brother. But I don’t see it as a matter of duty, only a matter of willingness."

"Boss..." Deng Ying murmured, the confusion in her eyes gradually hardening into determination. "I’m going to go out there and make it clear to them. I’m never going back to that home again."

"Alright. And one more thing... your sister. What are your plans for her?"

"..." Deng Ying was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "If she’s willing to come with me, I’ll raise her until she’s grown. If she’s not, then that’s that."

When her sister had obeyed their mother’s orders and pestered her to stay for dinner last time, Deng Ying understood. In her little sister’s heart, her parents would always come before her.

’It wasn’t a matter of right or wrong. My sister is still young; she doesn’t understand.’

But her sister’s actions had still hurt her deeply.

’I still love my sister, but I can no longer sacrifice everything for her like I would have before.’

In the main hall, the Deng Family was still throwing a tantrum. They had been at it for a full twenty minutes. Most of the customers were quietly watching the drama unfold, but a few, unable to hold back their indignation, began to speak up for the family.

"Your restaurant has to give an explanation, right? Are you just trying to kick them out because you have a guilty conscience?"

"They’ve come all this way to confront you. Regardless of who’s right or wrong, it’s not right for the boss to just hide and refuse to say anything."

"How pitiful. Look, the little girl is crying so hard she can barely breathe."

...

Deng Ying appeared amidst the murmurs of discussion and condemnation, with Shen Lu right behind her, a solid wall of support at her back.

"Little Ying, Mom and Dad are here to save you!" Seeing that some people were taking her side, Mrs. Deng leaned even further into her performance. She stood up, still crying, and lunged toward Deng Ying.

Deng Ying sidestepped her, her expression cold. "Have you made enough of a scene? If so, then leave. And don’t ever come back."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Father Deng’s brows furrowed as he pointed at Shen Lu. "Is she threatening you? Don’t be afraid! There are so many people here watching. They’ll see that justice is done for us!"

"Sister, look, you’re hurt!" Deng Jianxin exclaimed. "Did she beat you? I knew it! These black-hearted capitalists don’t treat their employees like human beings! They just grind you down and would skin you alive if they could! Don’t be afraid. We’ll take you home right now!"