Tang Xiaoyue, wearing the school uniform of Experimental High School and carrying a schoolbag, stood in front of Wang Peng with her hands tightly clasped together.

Wang Peng was a little confused: "Are you serious? What kind of meal are you inviting me to?"

Tang Xiaoyue nodded hurriedly: "You helped me that day, I have to thank you."

"Don't be shy." Wang Peng waved his hand. "Go home. No need to ask if I'll have dinner."

As he spoke, he turned and headed towards the stairs. Sensing someone following him, he turned around and saw that it was indeed Tang Xiaoyue.

Several female shop assistants pretended to work hard, but they were all secretly looking this way.

Tang Xiaoyue pouted, her face full of grievance. If she were rejected again, she would probably burst into tears.

Wang Peng had a bit of a headache, put his hands in his pockets, and said, "Okay, what do you want to treat me to?"

"Would you like some clay pot rice noodles?" Tang Xiaoyue immediately ran up to Wang Peng and looked up to ask.

"There's a clay pot rice noodle place on the third floor. Shall we go to the third floor?" Wang Peng asked, pointing to the stairs.

"Mmm." Tang Xiaoyue nodded repeatedly and hurriedly followed him upstairs.

The cafeteria is located in the northeast corner of the third floor, where staff and guests can eat. It offers a variety of snacks.

When the stall owners saw the big boss arrive, they quickly perked up, hoping he would order their food.

Wang Peng led Tang Xiaoyue into Zhang's Rice Noodle Shop.

The shop owner hurriedly came out from behind the counter, smiling, and said, "Boss, would you like some rice?"

"Two large bowls of rice noodles, no chili, and lots of diced meat." Tang Xiaoyue held up two fingers.

"Two more fruit platters, please," Wang Peng said, turning around and sitting down on the stool.

"I...I don't have enough money," Tang Xiaoyue said softly.

"You only need to pay for the rice noodles, I'll treat you to some fruit." Wang Peng glanced at his watch and pointed to the seat opposite him.

Tang Xiaoyue went around behind him and sat down next to him, the two of them sitting on one side.

Mr. Zhang was a little confused, guessing that the little girl must be a relative of his. But after thinking about it carefully, he realized that wasn't the case; he wouldn't let the little girl treat him to a meal.

Tang Xiaoyue was very reserved, secretly glancing at Wang Peng's profile, behaving very obediently.

Wang Peng took out his phone and sent a text message to Tang Zewu: "Tang Xiaoyue is on the third floor of Brothers Supermarket No. 1. She's treating me to Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles. Come and pick her up."

Less than three seconds later, the phone rang. Wang Peng put the phone to his ear and said, "Hello, this is Wang Peng."

"Boss Wang, this is Tang Zewu." Tang Zewu asked in a low voice, "Xiaoyue went to Yihaodian to find you by herself?"

"Do you think I'm very free?" Wang Peng smiled slightly, then suddenly felt very bored.

"I'm sorry, that's not what I meant," Tang Zewu sighed softly. "Have you finished eating?"

“It’s just the beginning,” Wang Peng said. “If you want to come, come; if not, just say so, and I’ll send someone to deliver it to you.”

"I'll go right away. I'm sorry to trouble you." Tang Zewu apologized repeatedly.

Mr. Zhang brought over a large plate of fruit, including apples, bananas, longans, and seven or eight other kinds of fruit.

A fruit platter was placed in front of Wang Peng, who smiled and said, "Boss, just call me if you need anything."

"Okay, you go ahead and get busy." Wang Peng ate a cherry and pushed the fruit plate in front of Tang Xiaoyue. "You eat."

Tang Xiaoyue didn't stand on ceremony and ate the fruit with gusto.

Wang Peng noticed she seemed a little unhappy and asked, "What's wrong? Did you not like the fruit?"

"Was that my dad who called you just now? Is he coming to pick me up?" Tang Xiaoyue pouted, looking very unhappy.

"Is there something you need?" Wang Peng asked back. "Why didn't you go home after school and instead came here to invite me to dinner?"

"Yes, I just wanted to invite you to dinner," Tang Xiaoyue said. "Do you hate me?"

"I have no reason to dislike you, eat up." Wang Peng pointed to the fruit plate and looked down at his phone to check the text messages.

Tang Xiaoyue channeled her frustration into her appetite, devouring various fruits as if venting her dissatisfaction.

Two bowls of rice noodles were served, and Wang Peng, who was also a little hungry, lowered his head and ate the rice noodles.

Before long, a figure hurried over; it was none other than the stout Tang Zewu. A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead and the tip of his nose.

"I'm sorry for causing you trouble." Tang Zewu apologized again and sat down directly opposite Wang Peng.

"Old Zhang, another bowl of rice noodles, please," Wang Peng said to the counter.

"Okay, boss." Old Zhang hurriedly went to the kitchen.

Tang Zewu looked at his daughter, who was engrossed in eating fruit and had no intention of speaking to him, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

This girl is good in every way, except that she is a bit rebellious. She doesn't usually communicate with her father and always stays in her room by herself.

Tang Zewu smiled and said, "Xiaoyue, if you ever need anything in the future, tell your father first, and I'll help you contact President Wang."

Tang Xiaoyue remained silent, not even glancing up at her father.

This was awkward. Tang Zewu blushed and turned to look at the counter.

Wang Peng looked at Tang Xiaoyue and said softly, "Dad is asking you a question, why aren't you answering?"

Tang Xiaoyue raised her head: "Dad, Peng taught that bad student who was extorting me a lesson that day, so I treated him to dinner to express my gratitude, right?"

“That’s right.” Tang Zewu hurriedly waved his hand. “But then again, you should have told me beforehand, so I wouldn’t have worried about you.”

Tang Xiaoyue lowered her head again, picked up a slice of orange, and bit into it hard, as if she was venting something.

Wang Peng said, "Xiaoyue, if you come home late in the future, I suggest you tell your dad first, okay?"

"Okay, I'll listen to you." Tang Xiaoyue smiled and handed Wang Peng a cherry.

Tang Zewu was heartbroken. His daughter was so close to outsiders, yet she ignored him, her own father.

At the same time, he felt a sense of helplessness. In front of Wang Peng, he felt like meat on a chopping board, at Wang Peng's mercy.

Just then, his rice noodles arrived. He ate in silence to ease his embarrassment.

Seeing that Tang Xiaoyue was only eating fruit, Wang Peng handed her a pair of chopsticks and pointed to the rice noodles in front of her.

"Okay." Tang Xiaoyue chuckled, placed the fruit plate in the middle of the table, and began to eat her rice noodles.

Tang Zewu felt like he was superfluous, and while he was jealous, he was also somewhat happy.

His Xiaoyue was an introverted girl who was bullied at school but didn't dare tell her teachers or parents. She was also not talkative.

He was once worried that his daughter had depressive tendencies.

Xiaoyue seems to want to communicate with Wang Peng now. In front of Wang Peng, she is more like a normal person.

Tang Zewu lost his appetite. After finishing a bowl of rice noodles, he turned to the counter and said, "Boss, please pay the bill."

Old Zhang hurriedly looked at Wang Peng, who nodded, before he quoted Tang Zewu: "Sir, the total is twenty yuan."

Tang Zewu stood up, took out his money, and paid the bill. After his daughter finished eating, he smiled and said, "Mr. Wang, I'll take Xiaoyue home first. Shall we talk again another day?"

Wang Peng nodded: "Boss Tang, I'll treat you to drinks another day."

"Brother Peng, can I have your phone number?" Tang Xiaoyue opened her schoolbag and took out a pen and a notebook.

"Why do you need my phone number?" Wang Peng said, but still gave out his phone number.