Chapter 17: Sharing Lunch
005 said: “Host, transportation tools, furniture, and home appliances can also be built using LEGO. That would save money.”
Mu Lantu thought, It would save money, sure—but it would probably also kill me from exhaustion.
He strolled to the front gate of the courtyard. One step outside and his feet would land on the planet’s natural terrain. It had recently rained, so the ground was still damp.
“Little Five, there must be wild animals in the mountains, right?”
“Yes, Host. The species on Dream Home Planet are similar to those on Earth. But you can rest assured—the house is very sturdy. Wild animals won’t be able to get in.”
Mu Lantu nodded, then returned to his home on Earth.
“Little Five, how do I store the courtyard residence?”
005 replied: “Double-tap, and the courtyard residence will be stored in the building warehouse. Host, aren’t you moving in now?”
Following the instructions, Mu Lantu double-tapped, and the courtyard residence vanished, leaving only a faintly glowing frame in its place. Next time, if he wanted to re-deploy the courtyard in the same spot, he could use the frame as a reference.
“Living alone is too lonely. I’ll move in after bringing more people over.”
His stomach growled. Mu Lantu suddenly remembered he’d been so focused on finishing the LEGO build that he hadn’t eaten lunch. It was already past 1 p.m.
He hesitated for two seconds between making instant noodles or going out for a proper meal. He decided to eat a pack of noodles first to curb the hunger, then go out for something tasty.
005 gave an awkward laugh—clearly, the host wouldn’t let even himself go hungry.
By the time he was ready to go out, it was nearly 2 p.m.
*
A black MPV slowly entered the neighborhood.
Xu Huazhang noticed a familiar figure walking while looking at their phone and furrowed his brow slightly.
“Stop the car.”
Xu Huazhang got out and walked toward the young man. Two bodyguards followed closely behind.
“Mu Lantu.”
Mu Lantu was searching for a place to eat and turned around in surprise at the voice. The busy man finally had time to come home?
As Xu Huazhang walked up, he caught a faint smell of instant noodles.
“Mr. Xu.”
Mu Lantu pulled down his mask, his fleeting happiness quickly vanishing. Why the frown the moment he sees me?
“Why were you eating instant noodles?”
Hearing the concern in his tone, Mu Lantu felt guilty for having misunderstood him. “I got a little carried away and skipped lunch, so I had some instant noodles to tide me over. I was just about to head out for a proper meal. Are you done with work?”
“Mm. I can rest for a few days now. I haven’t had lunch yet either.” Xu Huazhang gazed directly into the young man’s clear black-and-white eyes. A strange heat rose in his body, and he gently rubbed his thumb against his index finger, afraid he might lose control and stroke that handsome face.
Mu Lantu’s heart beat a little faster, but he kept his expression calm. “Want to eat together?”
Xu Huazhang replied without hesitation, “Sure.”
The two bodyguards exchanged glances. With their sunglasses on, their expressions were unreadable.
Mu Lantu ignored their presence. “I have a strong taste preference. Do you have any dietary restrictions?”
Xu Huazhang answered, “No.”
The bodyguards looked like they wanted to say something but held back.
Neither Mu Lantu nor Xu Huazhang noticed the subtle tension of attraction lingering between them.
“Want to take my car?” Xu Huazhang asked.
Mu Lantu waved it off, “It’s close—just nearby.”
He led Xu Huazhang to a grilled fish restaurant less than two kilometers outside the neighborhood.
The storefront was modest, but the inside was spacious. There were over ten tables on the first floor. Even though it was already past 2 p.m., five tables were still occupied.
“Reviews online say their grilled fish is great. It’s close to the neighborhood—have you been here before?”
Mu Lantu picked a random table and sat down. Xu Huazhang took the seat across from him.
“No, I’ve never been. Do you like fish?”
The two bodyguards sat at the next table, facing Xu Huazhang. Their posture was tense, ready to spring into action at any time.
Mu Lantu noticed their wariness and silently took note.
A waitress brought menus and tea. Xu Huazhang gestured for her to hand the menu to Mu Lantu.
Mu Lantu didn’t stand on ceremony. He lowered his head and looked through it. “I like fish, but I don’t eat it often. Too much trouble picking out bones. I just didn’t want to go too far today, and this place had the best reviews nearby—figured I’d give it a try.”
A faint smile played at Xu Huazhang’s lips.
“You’re not taking off your hat?”
“I’d rather not. Too many people try to talk to me when I go out.”
Xu Huazhang paused slightly as he held his teacup. “Then keep it on.”
Mu Lantu ordered grilled fish, spicy chicken, and steamed pork ribs with rice flour, then passed the menu to Xu Huazhang.
“I eat a lot. For the two of us, six dishes should be enough. I’ve ordered three—take a look and swap anything you don’t like.”
“Do you have any food aversions?” Xu Huazhang asked.
Mu Lantu listed them off like a pro: “Quite a few. Don’t like anything in the radish or bean family—like carrots, white radish, peas, soybeans, edamame… but I can still eat them if I have to. For instance, I must add golden peas to spicy noodles—they’re the soul of the dish. Soaked in broth, they taste great.”
Xu Huazhang ordered sautéed beef with green chili, steamed egg with shrimp paste, and a seasonal vegetable dish.
When the dishes arrived together, the aroma was mouthwatering.
Mu Lantu hummed a line from a song, then immediately caught himself and went silent. Casually, he took off his hat.
Xu Huazhang’s dark eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Mr. Xu, shall we begin?” Mu Lantu asked politely.
Xu Huazhang nodded, “Let’s eat. No need for formality—just call me by my name. Can I call you Lantu?”
“Sure.” Mu Lantu was starving. He picked up his chopsticks and went straight for a piece of steamed pork rib.
Xu Huazhang used serving chopsticks and a slotted spoon to lift a piece of fish belly. With a few precise movements of his right hand, he deboned the fish and gently placed the tender meat into Mu Lantu’s bowl.
Mu Lantu looked up, meeting the man’s deep, unfathomable gaze—and paused, momentarily stunned.
