Saturday afternoon, at No Name Restaurant.

“Come, this way.”

Pei Qian smiled as he led Bao Xu to the largest private room in No Name Restaurant.

Bao Xu had shrunk into himself, trembling slightly, looking somewhat like someone about to attend a dangerous banquet.

He sensed something wasn’t quite right!

Why had Mr. Pei suddenly thought of inviting him to dinner?

He didn’t want to come at all, preferring to stay home and play games.

After all, he’d been busy with the Food Market affairs recently, so busy that he barely had time for gaming. Now that the Food Market project was finally wrapped up, shouldn’t he catch up on all the recent games he’d missed?

But when Mr. Pei invited him to dinner, he couldn’t refuse.

He just hoped to get through the meal quickly and go back to continue his gaming.

After sitting down, Bao Xu realized that in this spacious private room, there were only himself and Mr. Pei. Watching one delicious dish after another being served, he couldn’t help feeling anxious.

Something felt increasingly off!

Bao Xu had always been low-key and cautious, afraid of exposing himself to everyone’s attention and being voted the second-best employee again, which would result in having to travel.

Later, he discovered that after keeping a low profile, he was misunderstood as doing nothing, and still had to go traveling. Only then did he decide to find something to do.

But finding something to do didn’t mean doing something earth-shattering!

Wouldn’t that mean going right back to being voted the second-best employee and having to travel again?

So Bao Xu’s goal was to let everyone know he was busy, but not so busy as to achieve any significant results.

But now, why was Mr. Pei treating him to dinner? And just him alone?

This kind of special treatment was rarely seen!

Did this mean that his help with the Food Market had gone a bit too far?

The more Bao Xu thought about it, the more anxious he became. If the food hadn’t been so delicious, he wouldn’t have had the appetite to pick up his chopsticks.

Seeing that they were almost finished eating, Pei Qian felt the timing was about right.

“Bao Xu, you’ve been a veteran employee at Tenda for many years now, working diligently all this time. Thank you for your hard work!”

“I have a commendation letter here. Take a look, are you satisfied with it?”

Pei Qian smiled as he handed the printed commendation letter to the waiter, who passed it to Bao Xu.

The table was quite large, and they were sitting at the furthest positions from each other, so it couldn’t be handed directly and required the waiter’s assistance.

When Bao Xu heard the words “commendation letter,” he was shocked. After a moment’s pause, he put down his chopsticks and tremblingly accepted it.

After reading it from beginning to end, Bao Xu trembled even more.

He knew very clearly that if this commendation letter was sent to everyone at Tenda, he would immediately have to start booking flight tickets!

Seeing Bao Xu’s expression, Pei Qian smiled slightly.

Good, the objective had been achieved.

“Bao Xu, I plan to distribute this commendation letter to all departments at Tenda. What do you think?”

Bao Xu was shocked: “Mr. Pei, I don’t think that’s appropriate!”

“Actually, regarding the Food Market, I was just helping out within my capabilities. It’s really nothing deserving of merit. This commendation letter is too exaggerated—I don’t deserve it!”

Pei Qian nodded slightly. Hmm, it’s good that he knows to be afraid.

“Alright, since you insist on not wanting me to send this commendation letter, I won’t send it for now. I’ll just remember your contributions in my heart.”

Pei Qian paused briefly.

Having already frightened Bao Xu, he now needed to gently persuade him to change his ways.

But how should he communicate with Bao Xu?

Pei Qian couldn’t openly state his intentions. While he knew Bao Xu didn’t want to travel, Bao Xu didn’t know that Mr. Pei actually wanted him to be unproductive!

Trying to communicate effectively without creating misunderstandings was truly difficult, and Pei Qian couldn’t think of a good approach at the moment.

Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the private room.

“Oh? Mr. Pei is here today too?”

Pei Qian turned his head: “Mr. Li?”

“Come, come, join us.”

Pei Qian had reserved the largest private room at No Name Restaurant, and now with only two people seated, it was a bit wasteful.

Mr. Li was also a regular at No Name Restaurant. Having him help eat some dishes would be good.

Li Shi quickly said: “I appreciate Mr. Pei’s kindness! But I’ve just eaten.”

Pei Qian smiled: “It’s fine, eat as much as you can.”

He turned to look at the waiter: “Add another chair and a set of tableware.”

Seeing that he couldn’t refuse such hospitality, Li Shi nodded: “Alright, then I’ll humbly accept!”

They were old friends, so there was no need for formalities. Li Shi sat down very naturally.

Pei Qian still hadn’t figured out exactly how to “communicate” with Bao Xu, so he engaged in casual conversation.

“What brings Mr. Li to No Name Restaurant today?”

Li Shi smiled: “I made this reservation more than two months ago. Wouldn’t it be a waste not to come?”

“Moreover, thanks to your help, Mr. Pei, with the Starbird Fitness matters and the commercial property purchases recently, I’m treating Mr. Che, the owner of Starbird Fitness, and several other investors to a meal as a small celebration.”

Li Shi was quite cunning. Knowing that reservations at No Name Restaurant were extremely difficult, he would make reservations well in advance.

As long as he booked early enough, he could ensure eating at No Name Restaurant every week.

Of course, the prerequisite was that his wallet could sustain such high-frequency consumption.

For Mr. Li, he had benefited so much from Mr. Pei that this dining expense was negligible.

Furthermore, recent developments with Starbird Fitness and the commercial properties on Food Street looked very promising. Although they hadn’t made big money yet, the pot was set up and the soup was almost boiling—certainly worth celebrating.

Pei Qian listened in confusion.

Starbird Fitness? Commercial properties?

What were those?

He didn’t pay much attention, assuming Li Shi’s “thanks to Mr. Pei” was just a courteous remark. So he lowered his head and continued eating, still thinking about how to warn Bao Xu and prevent him from causing more trouble.

There was a moment of silence in the private room.

After all, Bao Xu wasn’t good with words. Although he had vaguely heard of Mr. Li, they had never met before and didn’t know each other, making it awkward to start a conversation.

But Li Shi thought differently.

Meeting Mr. Pei today was coincidental, but Li Shi was observant and very smart. As soon as he entered the private room, he sensed the atmosphere was a bit unusual.

Mr. Pei personally treating someone at No Name Restaurant was quite prestigious!

Even he, despite having helped Mr. Pei with small favors, had never enjoyed such treatment.

This meant that this somewhat thin, dark-skinned young man must be extraordinary!

Someone valued so highly by Mr. Pei was definitely worth getting to know.

Li Shi took a few bites of food, chatted casually for a while, then asked: “Mr. Pei, this young man looks unfamiliar. Could you introduce him?”

Pei Qian was still considering how to warn Bao Xu, and casually replied: “Oh, he’s an employee from our gaming department, Bao Xu.”

Upon hearing these two words, Li Shi’s eyes immediately widened.

“Oh!!”

“The traveler Bao Xu? I’ve heard so much about you!”

Li Shi couldn’t help but show his respect.

No wonder—it all made sense now!

He had long heard that this Bao Xu, as a backbone employee of Tenda Group, had consistently shown outstanding performance and was frequently named the second-best employee.

For such an excellent employee, it was perfectly reasonable for Mr. Pei to host a private dinner!

However, if he was a veteran employee, why invite him now, not earlier or later?

Li Shi’s mind raced, and suddenly he had a flash of insight, remembering something else.

“Oh! I remember now!”

“When Jingzhou TV’s evening news interviewed the Food Market, the person in charge mentioned they wanted to especially thank an enthusiastic friend from Tenda’s gaming department who arranged many interactive elements using game design concepts. They must have been referring to Brother Bao, right?”

“No wonder Mr. Pei is personally hosting a dinner to commend him!”

Li Shi smiled broadly with an “I see now” expression, eager to join the dinner conversation.

However, both Pei Qian and Bao Xu simultaneously froze.

One holding a half-eaten lobster, the other holding a large crab claw, both seemingly forgetting whether they were about to put it in their mouths or put it down.

“Evening news?”

Both wore equally bewildered expressions.

Li Shi was taken aback: “Huh? Don’t you all watch the news?”

Pei Qian and Bao Xu moved in perfect unison, putting down the lobster and crab claw, then pulling out their phones to search online.

Although both were shocked by the words “evening news,” they were shocked for completely different reasons.

Pei Qian was shocked that the evening news had gone to interview the Food Market again?

Wouldn’t that be disastrous?

The Food Market was about to become even more popular!

Bao Xu, on the other hand, was shocked because—sure, the evening news did an interview, but Zhang Yahui, why did you have to mention me?!

Both pulled out their phones at the same time to catch up on Jingzhou TV’s news.

Li Shi ate a bit more food, somewhat confused.

Pei Qian’s hand holding the phone trembled slightly, though it might have been because the G1 phone was too heavy.

“In recent years, with the rapid development of Jingzhou’s economy, tourism has also become an important industry for Jingzhou.”

“As the saying goes, food is the first necessity of the people, and people always find it hard to resist the temptation of street food. During holidays, people like to travel to relieve stress and pressure, and wherever they go, they always visit local food streets to taste local specialties.”

“Recently, a new food market has appeared in our old industrial area of Jingzhou, with a style quite different from traditional food streets. What are these differences? Let me take you all to see!”

After a brief introduction, the news showed footage of the Food Market and an interview with Zhang Yahui.

Zhang Yahui spoke eloquently about his bitter experience from being a small vendor to becoming the person in charge of the Food Market. His final discourse on the humanitarian spirit of the Food Market was particularly thought-provoking.

“The person in charge of the Food Market, Zhang Yahui, stated that the Food Market aims to preserve and showcase excellent food culture, properly regulate and guide street food vendors, help them survive and thrive, and ultimately integrate into people’s lives, keeping this sense of vitality burning in increasingly cold big cities!”

“Everyone is welcome to visit the Food Market in their spare time. We believe its unique environment, interesting interactive mechanisms, and affordable yet delicious food will definitely provide you with a different culinary experience!”

Additionally, Pei Qian noticed one more thing.

During the interview, Zhang Yahui emphasized that the design of this Food Market relied on an enthusiastic friend from the gaming department. Although he didn’t name names, anyone with some inside knowledge could guess that this person was actually Bao Xu.

After watching the news, Pei Qian looked up.

He saw that Bao Xu had also looked up.

Their eyes met, both speechless.

Pei Qian knew that the commendation letter he had prepared would not be needed now.

He no longer needed to rack his brains thinking about how to warn or hint at Bao Xu, because it was already meaningless.

Pei Qian couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Ah, Bao Xu, I wanted to protect you, but given the current situation, even I can’t help you now!