Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Of course the celebration banquet is KFC.
Soon after, He Qiang joined him.
"Moriko!"
He Qiang's face had gotten even darker from the summer sun, but he looked extremely excited, "Did you really make a hundred thousand, kid?"
Last night, He Qiang had received the news. Somewhat a witness himself, when he found out that Xu Musen had made over a hundred thousand in just half a month, he was even more excited than Xu Musen and had trouble sleeping.
"Would I lie to you?"
Xu Musen laughed heartily and took an envelope out from his chest, pushing it directly into his hands.
"What's this?"
"Paying back your money."
"This... doesn't seem right though."
He Qiang weighed it in his hand, it was just a small bundle, and he saw that it was a standard bundle of ten thousand yuan.
"Ten thousand?! You didn't count it wrong, did you?"
"I didn't count wrong, I told you I wouldn't leave you at a loss when I made money."
Xu Musen spoke with a smile.
He Qiang swallowed, "That's not right, I just want my eight thousand back, the rest you should keep..."
Xu Musen patted his shoulder, "Keep it, I owe a lot of my startup capital to you. This is just a dividend, be a man and don't act like a fussy woman."
He Qiang was moved inside and also truly admired Xu Musen.
They were all high school students, usually spending only about ten or so yuan a day, and even hesitated a while when deciding whether to add an egg to their instant noodles at an internet cafe.
Yet here was someone who simply typed on a keyboard, wrote some code, and in half a month's time, he had made a hundred thousand yuan!
That was enough to buy a small car!
The disparity was just too huge.
"Moriko, you're so awesome. From now on, I'm following you, and you better remember to pull your good brother up too!"
"Forget it, you can keep that 'thing' to yourself."
"?"
Tucking the money away, He Qiang felt like a man with ten thousand yuan to his name, and slapped Xu Musen on the shoulder generously.
"How about we don't go home tonight? My treat, let's go to Dahe Fengqing for a foot bath. They have these intense Thai massages there, done by sisters around twenty who bare their feet to walk on your back..."
He Qiang excitedly wrapped his arm around Xu Musen's shoulder.
Unexpectedly to Xu Musen, this guy turned out to be such a dark horse, "I never would have guessed, you're into that sort of thing?"
"Actually, I just see my cousin doing it..."
He Qiang snickered with a grin and turned his head, but suddenly froze, the somewhat sleazy expression on his face instantly stuck.
Xu Musen also turned around, only to meet a pair of bright and clear eyes that were seriously listening to their conversation.
"Nuannuan... when did you get here?"
Xu Musen cleared his throat and, facing those pure eyes, he and He Qiang both felt a bit sleazy about their previous conversation.
An Nuannuan tilted her head and said, "Since you guys mentioned 'black silk beautiful legs, and sisters baring their feet'."
"..."
"Forget about all that."
Xu Musen spoke seriously.
An Nuannuan looked at him blinking indeed.
Today, An Nuannuan was wearing a little dress with some scattered floral patterns, her fair arms and the bit of leg that was exposed shone in the sunlight as if they could reflect it.
Moreover, she was wearing a pair of semi-transparent sandals today, her delicate insteps and each little crystal bodhi-like toe were visible.
The whole person looked just like a 'three noes' girl who walked out of a 2D world.
However, Xu Musen felt she was more like Origami from Date A Live, looking monotonous and reticent, but once she opened her mouth, it was all risqué talk.
"Ahem, it's almost noon now, come with me first to get some documents done."
Xu Musen walked over to help An Nuannuan with her wheelchair, while He Qiang followed on the side, getting a closer look at An Nuannuan's visage.
He was also surprised, and whispered to Xu Musen, "Moriko, you gotta tell your brother, are you having impure thoughts about her?"
Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan's stunning but slightly dazed appearance, shaking his head.
"Don't talk nonsense, we're just innocent friends."
"Tsk..."
Xu Musen had business today too; he was planning to register a company of his own.
Although relying on a large company is beneficial, one always has to plan for their own future.
Now the country is also encouraging individual entrepreneurship, and for just ten yuan they can handle your license, so today he went to submit the paperwork.
At the same time, he took the opportunity to send in legal documents like previously registered domain names for authentication.
The three had just left.
In the corner of the square, the window of a black business car slowly lowered, and the woman watched An Nuannuan being wheeled away.
She had a resigned smile on her face: "The first time hanging out with friends, hope she has fun..."
...
By the time they finished their business, it was already noon.
The three walked on the bustling street in the city center.
On the weekend, the streets were filled with young people walking in pairs, and the Erqi Business Street was also a check-in spot in this city that hardly had any scenic spots.
Xu Musen remembered that there were a few nice restaurants around.
"It's lunchtime, what would you like to eat? Today's my treat!"
"Hehe, this time I'm going to make you pay dearly."
He Qiang rubbed his hands eagerly, his eyes dazzled by the numerous shops around, his choice paralysis kicking in.
An Nuannuan looked around as well; since she had taken to the wheelchair, she seldom went out. She was drawn to a few kids bouncing around with toys.
She turned her head and tugged at Xu Musen's sleeve.
"Have you decided what you want to eat?" Xu Musen asked her with a smile.
"Here."
An Nuannuan followed the direction the kids had gone.
Three shiny red letters.
KFC!
"Come on, I'm offering to treat you to a big meal and you want to eat at KFC?"
It's not like it's Crazy Thursday with discounts.
"Actually, KFC's fried chicken is not bad."
He Qiang chimed in.
"Don't you have a fried chicken shop right in front of your house?"
"Don't even mention it, eating at that chicken shop could ruin you for three days; last time I nearly ended up stuck in the toilet."
He Qiang shook his head, visibly shaken by the memory, and then he lowered his voice to tease: "Besides, I'm just creating an opportunity for you, bro."
Xu Musen gave him a speechless look.
But when he looked down at An Nuannuan, who was looking at him eagerly with puppy-dog eyes, he nodded anyway.
He could understand that for many children from rural villages or poor families, being able to eat a meal at a Western fast food place like KFC or McDonald's was already a treat.
Xu Musen recalled how, when KFC first opened in Zheng City, he had saved up a full thousand yuan before he dared to spend it there.
He then discovered it was really just so-so, after all KFC's standing abroad was not much different from that of local snack shop chains back home.
"Alright, just don't regret it later."
Xu Musen pushed An Nuannuan inside to find a seat first and handed her the menu to choose.
An Nuannuan curiously held the menu, her eyes sparkling at the sight of items like fried chicken.
"What are Popcorn Chicken?"
"They're little fried balls made of chicken."
"Oh... then what does 'Finger Lickin' Good' mean?"
"It means it's so tasty that it makes you want to suck on your fingers."
"And the Colonel's Chicken? Was this chicken a soldier?"
"Of course not, a chicken less than two and a half years old can't enlist..."
Xu Musen was already fond of having such conversations with An Nuannuan.
There was nothing shameful about it, just like some people never drink coffee and would also be puzzled the first time they hear terms like 'iced Americano' or 'cubes of sugar'.
He Qiang couldn't help but ask: "So, you've never been to KFC before?"
An Nuannuan looked up at him, nodding her head, "Yes, my grandma wouldn't let me eat these things."
He Qiang silently nodded and didn't continue the conversation.
He felt a tinge of pity.
Meanwhile, right next to the KFC store, in a luxury cosmetics shop, the tall and elegant Yao Mingyue was browsing back and forth with her best friend...