The three of them strolled through the small town. Guan Jiaojiao indulged in countless local snacks, her mouth greasy from all the food. Bing'er also benefited from Guan Jiaojiao's feasting, and both girls ate until their bellies were round and full.

"Oh man, I can't eat anymore, I really can't," Guan Jiaojiao said, still holding two skewers of grilled lamb. She took a fierce bite as she spoke.

"So delicious. Lin Mu, have some," Guan Jiaojiao said, wiping the grease from her lips without any concern for her image as she offered a skewer to his mouth.

Lin Mu had intended to refuse, but the lamb was roasted until it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Topped with cumin and chili, it looked so appetizing that he opened his mouth and took a bite.

Guan Jiaojiao smiled. "I didn't lie, did I? Isn't it delicious?"

Lin Mu nodded. "Yeah, it tastes good."

Bing'er laughed along with them, then accidentally let out a small burp, her face turning rosy again.

"Lin Mu?"

Just then, a voice called out from the side as four or five young men and women approached.

At the front was a woman with short hair, delicate eyebrows, and a tall figure, giving her a valiant and heroic air.

"Ye Tong?" Lin Mu glanced at the young woman, and her name surfaced in his mind.

"It really is you. I thought I was seeing things," Ye Tong said with a smile, her gaze shifting as she looked at Guan Jiaojiao.

"Is that your girlfriend?"

She had seen Guan Jiaojiao feeding Lin Mu a moment ago.

Lin Mu shook his head. "No. By the way, what are you doing here?"

Ye Tong didn't mind the change of subject. "Our company is on a team-building retreat here for a few days."

A team-building trip in a place like this? They've got a lot of nerve.

"Tongtong, who is this? Your friend?" a young man behind Ye Tong asked.

Ye Tong shook her head. "He's an old high school classmate. I haven't seen him in years. I can't believe we ran into each other here."

Ye Tong seemed especially concerned about this young man's opinion. She turned to Lin Mu to make introductions. "Let me introduce you. These are my colleagues from work: Jiang Xia, Li Ping, Gu Can, and Xue Fei."

Jiang Xia was tall and always had a slight smile on his lips, but his gaze held a hint of provocation as he looked at Lin Mu.

"So, you're old classmates," he said, extending his hand to Lin Mu. "Hello, I'm Jiang Xia."

"Lin Mu."

Lin Mu reached out, but Jiang Xia merely glanced at his hand without shaking it, quickly retracting his own.

Lin Mu's hand was greasy.

Jiang Xia chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry, I'm... a bit of a germaphobe."

The others smiled subtly, their expressions tinged with mockery.

Jiang Xia had been pursuing Ye Tong for a long time, so seeing that she knew Lin Mu, he was bound to test the waters.

Guan Jiaojiao's expression soured. This Jiang Xia is so demeaning!

Lin Mu's eyes flickered, but he remained unperturbed. He simply took out a tissue and wiped his hand.

Seeing this, the corner of Jiang Xia's mouth quirked up. Is this kid cleaning his hand just so he can shake mine? If that's the case, I can still refuse, right?

Lin Mu wiped his hand slowly. Everyone noticed his long, slender fingers—they were fair and soft. Everyone present had the same thought: holding them must feel wonderful.

After wiping his hand, Lin Mu casually tossed the tissue, and it landed squarely in a trash can.

"Trash belongs in a trash can, right?" Lin Mu asked, looking at Guan Jiaojiao.

Guan Jiaojiao's eyes lit up as she nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! But what about the kind of trash that doesn't even qualify to be in a trash can?"

Lin Mu smiled. "I'm not a sanitation worker. How would I know?"

"We're leaving. See you around." Lin Mu nodded at Ye Tong and then turned to go.

As Guan Jiaojiao brushed past Jiang Xia, she deliberately muttered one word.

"Trash."

Jiang Xia's expression turned extremely dark. He had intended to put Lin Mu in his place, but instead, he was the one being called trash. A man of his status couldn't possibly tolerate such an insult.

Li Ping said disdainfully, "Ye Tong, what kind of friend was that? He has no class at all. So embarrassing!"

Gu Can added, "Exactly! Considering Director Jiang's status, shaking his hand would have been an honor for that guy."

Jiang Xia was a vice president at their company. Combined with his social skills, he had many supporters. He was the one who had organized this team-building trip.

Ye Tong gave an awkward smile. "We were never really that close. After all these years, I just didn't expect Lin Mu to turn out... like this."

"Someone like that will never amount to much," Jiang Xia declared, his tone certain as he delivered what he considered the most accurate assessment of Lin Mu.

"Director Jiang is right. Not everyone can be like you, Director Jiang," Li Ping said, gazing at Jiang Xia with a look of admiration.

Only Ye Tong hesitated, wondering internally if she should tell *that person* about Lin Mu.

Glancing at Lin Mu's retreating back, Ye Tong shook her head slightly. Better not. That Lin Mu looks like he has no future. If my best friend found out... an old flame is unlikely to rekindle, but what if he became a persistent pest? Since they're in different worlds now, it's best they have no contact.

With this thought, Ye Tong and her group also turned to leave.

"Tongtong, where did you all go? I was looking all over for you," a soft, delicate voice said just then. A young woman approached, her tone slightly reproachful.

"Wenrou, I'm so sorry! We just went to look around over there and lost track of you," Ye Tong said, quickly grabbing the young woman's arm and apologizing profusely.

The young woman was tall and slender with a delicate build, fair skin, and beautiful features. Most importantly, she exuded a fragile air that made one instinctively want to pull her into an embrace and protect her.

Song Wenrou, Ye Tong's best friend. She had also been their high school's belle and was once at the center of a rumor involving... Lin Mu.

"I saw you all talking over there just now. Did something happen?" Song Wenrou had a good temper and a gentle personality, and her voice was always soft.

Li Ping replied, "We just ran into some trash, that's all. Wenrou, you're too kind. I've heard Wufeng Town isn't very safe, so be careful not to get tricked. If you run into people like that, remember to stay far away."

Unlike other beautiful girls, Song Wenrou didn't inspire jealousy. Her introverted and gentle nature made even other women feel protective of her.

"Okay, thank you, Li Ping. I'll be careful," Song Wenrou said with a gentle smile, showing her gratitude.

Li Ping sighed inwardly. This girl is just too sweet and agreeable.

Gu Can suddenly said, "It looks like there's a competition over there. Let's go check it out."

In an open plaza in the small town, a platform had been set up where two people were dueling. The crowd below cheered them on from time to time.

Song Wenrou's face paled. She clutched Ye Tong's hand and said, "Maybe... we shouldn't go?"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Gu Can said. "Director Jiang is here to protect us. We'll be fine."

Jiang Xia smiled faintly. "I'm here. Don't worry."

Protecting young women always filled him with an immense sense of pride.

"Come on, let's go! Just keep me company," Ye Tong coaxed, shaking Song Wenrou's hand.

"Alright."

Just as the group neared the platform, Jiang Xia frowned, and Ye Tong's expression changed.

They saw Lin Mu was there, too.

Li Ping said bluntly, "Are you following us?"

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