Chapter 4

At nine o'clock in the evening, Nanming pushed open the door of Room 308 on the third floor of Wengi Hotel, holding his stomach, and said weakly, "Finally, it's time to eat. I'm almost starving to death!"

"That's my fault, I apologize!" Lao Lu, sitting at the head of the table, laughed and apologized to Nanming.

"Lao Lu, don't say that. This kid has already eaten a lot before coming here." Chen Wei, who had already adjusted his emotions and state, quickly said.

Great people are great people; one must always show respect, no matter what.

He patted Nanming's back and was about to leave, as his current role was a guard, and he couldn't be careless.

Lao Lu's son quickly stood up and said, "Director Chen, join us for dinner."

Chen Wei was a bit hesitant, but Lao Lu smiled and said, "What, you won't even give an old man the face to have a meal with him?"

Chen Wei didn't dare to respond. How could he not give Lao Lu face?

Lao Lu's son also smiled and said, "In the past two days, you two brothers each saved the old man once. Sigh, we really need to thank you."

"It's not just a matter of thanks," Lao Lu said. "Actually, I don't mind. Xiao Chen, you caught Li Tubin, that's a great achievement... Ah, let's eat. Zhen Guo, go and tell them to serve the food."

Lao Zhen Guo stood up to go out, but Chen Wei hurriedly stopped him, offering to do it himself.

"Xiao Chen, you don't need to worry. Today, you two are guests. Come, sit here." Lao Lu waved his hand to stop him.

This meal was not only a thank-you but also an apology. Chen Wei had indeed been wronged today.

Moreover, such a brave warrior is like a fine general of old; who wouldn't want to win his favor?

Chen Wei sat nervously beside Lao Lu. Unlike Nanming, who was carefree, he knew the weight of the old man before him. If Lao Zhen Guo had invited them, there would have been many people eager to join. But today, Lao Lu was the host, and no one dared to join, leaving only the four of them.

Nanming, however, was not so polite. He plopped down and eagerly looked at the door, hoping for the food to arrive.

This little glutton! He probably forgot all the instructions given before coming here! Chen Wei was both amused and exasperated.

Actually, he was also very hungry. After what happened today, not many people could eat with a clear mind.

Lao Zhen Guo went out to give the order, and the food started coming in like a stream.

Nanming looked disappointed. The dishes that came were all light and bland, not at all appetizing.

Although Lao Lu was the host, the Wengi Hotel staff naturally catered to his taste, and the guests didn't matter much.

"Zhen Guo, you really don't have any sense. Can't you see our young guest is unhappy?" Lao Lu laughed, looking at Nanming.

"Dad, they haven't brought all the dishes yet." Lao Zhen Guo, who hadn't been scolded for ordering dishes in decades, blushed and tried to explain.

Usually, it was his subordinates who carefully guessed his preferences, not the other way around.

He then glared at a middle-aged man serving outside, who hurriedly smiled and said, "Yes, yes, our Wengi Hotel's Shandong cuisine master is best known for the Nine-Turns Intestine, which is fatty but not greasy, tender and delicious. It will be here soon."

Nanming's mouth watered.

"Xiao Chen, you take good care of him today." Lao Lu instructed Lao Zhen Guo, then smiled at Nanming, picking up a piece of the Nine-Turns Intestine for him and asked, "Nanming... Can I call you Xiaoming? Do you know who I am?"

"Uncle." Nanming said.

"What?" Lao Lu was taken aback.

"You're so young, you can only be an uncle." Nanming said.

Lao Lu burst into laughter. Lao Zhen Guo, standing beside him, was worried that his father might laugh too hard and have a problem, so he was on edge.

Chen Wei, standing beside him, felt helpless. This kid really knew how to talk, gaining favor and respect at the same time.

However, this kind of cute and respectful behavior would only work at Nanming's age; a few years older and it would be considered annoying.

As Nanming often said, "Life is short; if you don't act young now, you'll be old soon."

"Alright, uncle it is. Do you know who I am?" Lao Lu seemed genuinely happy.

"No." Nanming shook his head. "I only know that you're the host today."

"Right, right, I'm the host." Lao Lu laughed again.

Lao Zhen Guo was speechless. What was so funny about this silly conversation? But his father seemed to be in a good mood today.

Most people, after experiencing a heart attack and almost dying, and then being kidnapped and almost killed, would be on edge. Only someone like Lao Lu could still laugh heartily.

But it was good. Recently, his father had been increasingly burdened with worries, always frowning. Finding someone to cheer him up was a good thing.

The younger generation in the family, when they saw him, would avoid him like a mouse avoiding a cat. Who would dare to joke with him like this?

"I'm Lao Si Xian, and this is my son, Lao Zhen Guo. You can call him Second Brother." Lao Lu pointed to the middle-aged man beside him.

"Second Brother." Nanming called out without hesitation.

Chen Wei almost fell to the ground. Do you know who this is?

Lao Zhen Guo, however, had a change of heart. He thought about it and realized it wasn't a big deal, so he smiled and responded.

"Since you call me Second Brother..." Lao Zhen Guo patted his pockets, but found nothing valuable.

The current climate was clean, and he had nothing luxurious to offer, even if he did, he wouldn't show it off. He found a steel pen, blue in color, with a silver cap and an arrow-shaped clip, which looked no different from a ten-yuan pen from the school gate.

When he took out the pen, Lao Zhen Guo hesitated. This pen was a gift from his father many years ago, and it had accompanied him through many ups and downs, making it extremely precious to him. He hadn't expected to give it away today.

Although the pen was valuable, it was nothing compared to the life-saving favor Nanming had done for the old man.

Nanming and Chen Wei had each saved Lao Lu once. Chen Wei's favor was easy to repay, as they were both in the same field. But Nanming was just a child, and it was hard to think of how to thank him.

If a meal was enough to repay the favor, it would be disrespectful.

Lao Zhen Guo thought for a moment and then presented the pen with both hands, saying, "Xiaoming, you're still a student, right? I'll give you this pen."

Nanming looked at the pen and was stunned. "This... I can't accept it."

"Take it if I give it to you." Lao Lu said.

Chen Wei looked at the pen and then at Nanming, thinking that giving a pen was a good idea. A small gift with deep meaning. If Nanming refused, Lao Zhen Guo would have to think of a more valuable gift, which wouldn't be good. So he said, "Xiaoming, since Secretary Lao is giving it to you, you should accept it."

"Brother, you don't understand, this is a Parker 51." Nanming shook his head. "It's too precious, I can't accept it."

Lao Zhen Guo was about to explain the value of the pen and tell Nanming to cherish it, but he was taken aback by Nanming's words.

"You know?" Lao Zhen Guo finally took a good look at the young man before him.

A handsome young man with a unique freshness and clarity, a clean smile, and sincere eyes.

No wonder the old man wanted to befriend him.

"Parker 51?" Chen Wei didn't understand, but he knew Parker was a big brand, so it must be very valuable.

"Thank you, Second Brother, but this pen is too precious, I really can't accept it." Nanming pushed the pen back with both hands, sincerely. He then turned to Chen Wei and explained, "Brother, this pen is at least fifty to sixty years old, it's too precious..."

"Fifty to sixty years?" Chen Wei opened his mouth wide and looked at the pen.

Fifty to sixty years of ups and downs, the only sign of its age was a faint patina. If not for this, it would look no different from a pen from a street stall.

Just an ordinary old pen.

But what it carried was more than just time.

Lao Zhen Guo looked at Nanming and suddenly understood why there were songs like "Few know the tune, who will listen when the strings break?" and the sentiment of "giving a sword to a hero."

When the recipient of a gift can immediately recognize its value, the giver is often happier and more pleased than the recipient.

Even a gift as small as a feather should be given to the right person.