Chapter 21 Invitation
Today is Saturday, another golden day for the snack cold drink cup.
In the past few days, the mysterious Tan sister has not appeared again, and instead, many young diners from outside this neighborhood have increased.
The snack cold drink cup run by the naturally beautiful sisters, Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao, has gained a considerable reputation in the surrounding areas, causing a surge in the number of single young men, while middle-aged diners have gradually found it harder to secure a spot promptly.
In the hot business environment, Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao had no choice but to opt for cooler outfits. Both wore identical denim shorts and sleeveless tops, though the details still had a somewhat conservative style, exuding a refreshing and elegant aura typical of young ladies.
Tan sister’s sudden visit last time made Jiang Yan reflect on the issue of carrying personal weapons. Most of her time is spent in the kitchen, so it’s not a big deal to tuck a dagger under her T-shirt at the lower back, but Jiang Yao, responsible for reception, clearly found it difficult to hide a personal dagger in her denim jeans and T-shirt.
Jiang Yao once suggested switching to a skirt, as not only a dagger but even a cluster of grenades could be stored inside the hem without any issues, but Jiang Yan dismissed the idea on the grounds of inconvenient reception.
In the end, both Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao decided to add a waist bag that hung at their waists, hiding their respective daggers within. This cute little waist bag, while ensuring readiness for sudden events, also enhanced their appearances significantly.
……
“Sorry, there are no outdoor tables left. How about inside?”
As the time reached past 9 PM, having just sent off a table of customers, Jiang Yao cheerfully walked over to a group of older and younger men, feeling that today’s business would surely be booming. After all, a group of men who never considered body shape and dietary health are major consumers of the cold drink cup.
Gradually, Jiang Yao came to a halt. The leader of the group of men before her turned out to be an old acquaintance, Huang Gu, whom she had once crossed paths with.
“Ha ha, little Yao, it’s been a month and a half since we last met! I heard you opened this place and it has some fame online, so I came to support. Today is my birthday, and these are all my old friends, some from D City and some former colleagues from C City.”
Huang Gu still had that typical image of a simple yet cunning worker from the lower class, while the men behind him, whether young or middle-aged, were all dressed plainly.
Jiang Yao, in front of Huang Gu, had also undergone quite a change compared to more than a month ago.
Her eyes, expressions, and demeanor were more in line with the image of a youthful and pure beautiful girl. With an outstanding appearance and figure, along with a dreamy light golden long hair, even without makeup, she could certainly stand out in a sea of beauties on the internet.
If it weren’t for the time when Huang Gu inadvertently saw her in a corner of a small western-style house in the countryside wearing a dark arrow unit combat uniform back then, it would be hard for him to connect the neighborhood girl in front of him with the group of secret killers from before.
“The indoor space is small and close to the stove; the air conditioning might not be strong enough. I’ll talk to Sister Chen from the hair salon next door about borrowing some outdoor space to add a couple of tables.”
Jiang Yan stepped out from the kitchen, greeting Huang Gu politely and calmly, then walked outside. In just a minute, she returned gracefully, signaling that it was all sorted.
Huang Gu wasn’t being polite and personally started moving tables and chairs. The group of old men and younger men quickly set up everything. Whether Huang Gu was really having a birthday was uncertain, but he was indeed generous, ordering a large quantity of food and beer, which earned him praises from all his friends and colleagues.
“Wow, Huang brother, you actually know such a beautiful girl! Why didn’t you bring us here earlier?!”
A younger man stared dreamily at the light golden-haired girl moving busily between the tables, his eyes shining as if struck by love at first sight.
“Don’t get any ideas; a beauty like that has nothing to do with us. Just eat and drink and don’t think too much…”
Another older man patted the younger man’s shoulder with a playful self-mockery.
……
Huang Gu and his group, lively and boisterous, turned out to be the last customers of the snack cold drink cup. They kept eating until after 2 AM, leaving in groups after a chaotic mix of drunkenness and food-induced burps, with only Huang Gu quietly helping the two sisters tidy up the stall.
The storefront near the old street corner was almost completely dark at this hour, and in front of the snack cold drink cup, apart from a light swarmed by moths, the area had long since fallen silent.
“Thank you, Uncle Huang, for taking care of our business. Today’s consumption will be at 20% off. Would you prefer cash or a scan?”
After tidying up the kitchen, Jiang Yan walked over and handed him the bill.
“No need to thank me; we’re all in the same boat… Business is business, and friends are friends. The discount can be waived; it’s not easy for you too.”
Huang Gu glanced at the bill, then scanned the QR code on the table with his phone, entering a four-digit amount.
“We still need to thank you. Luckily we know you; Sister Wan and Zhong Jing have helped us a lot.”
Jiang Yan waved her hand behind her, and Jiang Yao approached with two packs of expensive cigarettes.
Huang Gu no longer held back, tearing open the packaging, pulling out a cigarette worth over ten each, lighting it up, and taking a deep drag, revealing a contented smile.
“Miss Jiang, after observing these days, on behalf of Sister Wan, I’d like to invite you and little Yao to join us.”
After a few puffs of the cigarette, Huang Gu’s expression became serious.
Join? It seems like Sister Wan is their leader—not a true bloodline clan, but more like an organization that unites some decent and trustworthy stray blood kin, a group seeking warmth together.
Looking at Huang Gu’s earnest face, Jiang Yan simply shook her head: “Thank you for your trust, Uncle Huang. Little Yao and I are doing fine now; we don’t have any reason to change our current situation.”
“You can truly live like a normal person.” Huang Gu chuckled.
“Do we not look normal now?” Jiang Yan replied with a smile.
“More people, more power; it can be safer!” Huang Gu emphasized every word.
“And the cost? Would it make me and little Yao freer than we are now?” Jiang Yan grew increasingly calm.
“You could grow faster! With your potential, Sister Wan would definitely invest significantly in your training!”
Huang Gu glanced at Jiang Yao, who was silent on the side, and lowered his voice.
“Why grow? After challenging the knight, do we challenge the baron next? Then the viscount, the earl… a power won’t just let us have too many benefits for no reason.”
Jiang Yan shook her head, her tone flat and tinged with a hint of helplessness: “There is a landed knight here; she’s been at the knight level for many years, has her own family, isn’t competitive, and there’s been no secret battles. I’d rather accept this kind of life.”
“I think when you asked Uncle Huang to drive us near here that day, he considered this. You must have sized up the existence of that landed knight and know she won’t make things difficult for me and little Yao.”
“…” Huang Gu suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
“Uncle Huang, little Yao and I are really satisfied with our current lives. What you said, I’ll think about it. Come by for a visit when you have time, next time is on the house!”
Jiang Yan switched back to a smile, extending her hand, waiting for his response.
“Hmm, Miss Jiang, you can think it over some more…”
Gently shaking the girl’s hand, Huang Gu felt a few strands of gentle warmth in his rough fingers, then turned and walked into the dimly lit street.
“Brother…” Jiang Yao leaned a bit closer at this time.
“Can’t change? Just call me sister. If you call me wrong again next time, I’ll really hit you.”
A taxi passed by the street corner, and Jiang Yan sighed with annoyance.
“Oh, sister. Why refuse him… that old hag looks fierce; isn’t having a big backer a good thing? When the sky falls, it won’t be up to us two small fries to hold it up…”
Jiang Yao played with a lock of long hair, looking puzzled.
“The higher the price they offer, the more dangerous it is; it’s just a matter of when it will be cash in. A group of stray blood kin sticking together is fine, but once it becomes an organization, you can’t escape conflicts and even battles with the outside world…”
Turning around, Jiang Yan watched Jiang Yao playing with her hair, smiled gently, and draped her hand over her shoulder: “Little Yao, since I became a member of the dark arrow unit, I’ve known I might never escape a circle in my lifetime. I simply don’t wish to jump into another circle again; that’s all.”
The last light went out, the shutter was pulled down, locking it all up.
The dark-haired girl and the golden-haired girl, one after the other, slowly vanished into the night.
