Just as Lu Jincheng was about to leave, he suddenly seemed to remember something important.
He stopped mid-step and turned back toward Mu Yuqing, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes.
“Miss Mu,” he said gently, “I heard that you’ve been searching for a suitable shop recently. Coincidentally, I happen to own a storefront that has been sitting vacant for quite some time. The location is excellent, and the surrounding streets are lively and prosperous. If you don’t dislike it, I’d be willing to rent it to you. What do you think?”
The moment Mu Yuqing heard there was a possible shop available, her spirits immediately lifted.
“I won’t know whether it’s suitable until I see it myself,” she replied decisively. “How about this? I’ll come find you tomorrow morning, and we can go take a look together.”
Lu Jincheng smiled brightly.
“Very well. I’ll wait for you tomorrow.”
With that, he turned and strode away.
The moment they were out of earshot, Lu Qi finally could not hold back any longer.
“Master, that shop was purchased at a very high price back then! You originally intended to use it for…”
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Jincheng interrupted him with a wave of his hand.
“It doesn’t matter.”
He laughed loudly and casually.
“Even if I gave the shop directly to Miss Mu, so what? Hahaha…”
His laughter echoed through the mountain path as though the enormous expense meant absolutely nothing to him.
However, the very next second, his smile vanished.
His expression suddenly became unusually serious.
He stared directly at Lu Qi and spoke slowly and clearly.
“Lu Qi, immediately investigate everything related to my eldest brother who died on the battlefield.”
His gaze darkened.
“I want to know whether he ever married or had children while he was away. Do not overlook even the smallest clue. Investigate thoroughly. Understood?”
“Yes, Master!”
The instant Lu Qi acknowledged the order, his figure flashed away like a shadow disappearing into thin air.
Meanwhile, Lu Jincheng’s thoughts remained fixed on Chen’er’s face.
The resemblance between the child and the Lu brothers lingered heavily in his mind, preventing him from calming down no matter how hard he tried.
Back then, his eldest brother had quarreled fiercely with their parents because they opposed his marriage to a certain woman.
In a fit of anger, he had run away to join the army.
Who could have expected that single departure to become a farewell for life?
The next morning, Mu Yuqing woke up early.
After arranging the household matters at home, she brought Qingyun along and set out in the carriage.
By the time she arrived at the Hongfu Restaurant, Lu Jincheng had already been waiting for quite a while.
He instructed Manager Fang to take care of the carriage in the back alley while they walked the rest of the way.
As they strolled through the street, Lu Jincheng asked curiously,
“What kind of business are you planning to open, Miss Mu?”
As he spoke, he walked ahead leisurely before glancing back toward her.
Sunlight streamed across his handsome features, outlining his face with warm golden light.
Following behind him, Mu Yuqing smiled lightly.
“I plan to open a deli.”
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she explained.
“The shop doesn’t need to be very large. A modest storefront with a small backyard will be enough. The front can be used to sell prepared foods, while the back can serve as the kitchen and storage area.”
As she described her plans, her gestures became increasingly animated.
Listening to her explanation, Lu Jincheng suddenly thought of another property that suited her needs even better.
“That’s quite the coincidence,” he said. “I actually know a place that would fit your requirements perfectly.”
Then he turned around and led her back toward the vicinity of the Hongfu Restaurant.
After walking a short distance, he stopped in front of an old storefront.
“Miss Mu, take a look at this place.”
As he spoke, he reached out and slowly pushed open the sturdy wooden doors.
The moment Mu Yuqing stepped inside, she immediately felt an indescribable sense of comfort.
Her gaze swept across the spacious front hall, silently praising the practical layout and open design.
After carefully estimating the size of the shop, she found it more than adequate for displaying goods and receiving customers.
Just the first impression alone already left her highly satisfied.
Soon afterward, she walked toward the backyard.
The moment she stepped inside, a towering pear tree came into view.
The tree spread outward like a giant canopy, its thick branches carrying the weight of many years.
Mu Yuqing slowly walked closer.
Above her, the branches were covered with snow-white pear blossoms.
As the breeze drifted past, flower petals fluttered gently through the air like falling snow.
Beneath the pear tree sat an ancient stone well.
The rim of the well had been polished smooth by time, while the water inside looked crystal clear and cool.
Beside the well stood two simple rooms.
One served as a kitchen, while the other functioned as a bedroom.
Although the rooms were plain, they were exceptionally clean and carried a warm, lived-in feeling.
After inspecting the entire courtyard carefully, Mu Yuqing returned to the front hall and smiled at Lu Jincheng.
“Master Lu, may I ask whether this shop is for sale?”
A trace of hesitation immediately appeared on Lu Jincheng’s face.
After a brief pause, he asked instead,
“Miss Mu, why are you determined to buy it? Would renting it not work just as well?”
Mu Yuqing smiled patiently.
“Young Master Lu may not understand this, but there’s a tremendous difference between renting and owning.”
Her tone grew more serious.
“If I purchase the shop, then it will truly belong to me. I can renovate it however I wish and manage it according to my own ideas. But if I only rent it, no matter how long I use it, it still won’t feel like home.”
Lu Jincheng looked at her thoughtfully.
“And what business does Miss Mu intend to run there?”
Mu Yuqing answered honestly without concealment.
“I intend to open a deli specializing in prepared foods.”
Lu Jincheng blinked curiously.
“What exactly is a deli?”
Today, he seemed almost like an endlessly curious child.
Fortunately, Mu Yuqing did not mind his endless questions.
“Prepared foods are ready-to-eat dishes,” she explained patiently. “For example, sliced cold chicken, soy-braised chicken, braised duck, roasted duck, and similar dishes.”
Hearing that, Lu Jincheng narrowed his eyes slightly.
“So Miss Mu intends to compete directly with my restaurant?”
Although he had never tasted the dishes she described, he already knew they would certainly be delicious.
Mu Yuqing instantly became annoyed.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
Her cheeks puffed slightly with irritation.
“The new recipes I provide to Hongfu Restaurant every month absolutely will not appear in my deli. Besides, even if they did, it still wouldn’t affect your business because our target customers are completely different.”
Seeing her angry expression, Lu Jincheng suddenly found her unexpectedly adorable.
The more she glared at him, the more he wanted to tease her.
Almost unconsciously, he stepped closer.
The moment Mu Yuqing noticed him approaching, she instinctively retreated two steps backward.
However, instead of stopping, Lu Jincheng continued advancing leisurely toward her.
One retreated while the other advanced.
Before she realized it, Mu Yuqing had already backed herself against the wall with nowhere left to escape.
At that moment, Lu Jincheng stood extremely close to her.
So close that she could clearly feel his warm breath brushing softly across her cheek.
“Lu Jincheng, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Mu Yuqing widened her eyes and glared fiercely at him, though her voice carried the slightest tremble.
She truly could not understand this man at all.
The outside world described him as ruthless and cold-blooded, yet the man standing before her now looked nothing like that.
Instead, he appeared elegant, refined, and dangerously flirtatious.
Finally, Lu Jincheng curved his lips into a rogue-like smile.
“Fine. I’ll sell this place to you cheaply.”
Then he slowly stated his condition.
“But in exchange, you must cook for me one hundred times.”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“That request isn’t too excessive, is it?”