Chapter 23
Chapter 23: Cute Little Sister-in-Law
Faced with Gu Wanqing’s innocent and pure gaze, Lin Shen was stunned for a moment, suddenly feeling his cheeks burn with inner shame.
He coughed awkwardly and put on an elder’s demeanor.
“Adult matters—children shouldn’t pry.”
“I’m an adult too! I just turned eighteen this month!”
Gu Wanqing protested with her hands on her hips, even holding up her ID card to prove it to Lin Shen.
This left him somewhat at a loss, so he could only pretend to be angry and say sternly:
“So you were rummaging through my closet, were you?”
“Brother-in-law, didn’t you already forgive me…”
Hearing Lin Shen bring up the “closet rummaging” incident again, Gu Wanqing immediately deflated, looking pitiful.
“I was wrong.”
“Just kidding, I’m not blaming you.”
Lin Shen smiled warmly and quickly changed the subject to end this matter.
“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
“No, but I brought some local specialties from home.”
Gu Wanqing took two boxes of vacuum-packed cured meat from her suitcase.
“I originally planned to give one to you and one to my sister. Since she’s not here, they’re both yours.”
“Thank you.”
Lin Shen didn’t stand on ceremony. After accepting Gu Wanqing’s gift, he suddenly noticed a light-colored rectangular amulet with “May You Succeed” written on it tied to her suitcase handle.
Though the fabric surface had yellowed with age, it was still very well-preserved, and he could faintly smell the fragrance of artemisia within.
Lin Shen was surprised to see this amulet because it was a gift he’d given Gu Wanqing a year ago.
“May You Succeed” meant standing out in the fierce competition of college entrance exams and achieving excellent results.
“You still kept it?”
“You mean this?”
Gu Wanqing pointed to the amulet, her tone matter-of-fact.
“Of course I kept it! Didn’t you give it to me, brother-in-law?”
“I did give it to you…”
Lin Shen felt something soft in his heart being touched.
He hadn’t expected that something he’d given casually, which he himself could barely remember, would be so carefully preserved by Gu Wanqing.
This was the greatest respect a gift-giver could receive.
Lin Shen felt inexplicably moved and couldn’t help but pat Gu Wanqing’s head.
“Come on! I’ll take you out for something delicious!”
“But I haven’t finished cleaning.”
“What’s there to clean? Aren’t you here to travel?”
Lin Shen laughed heartily.
“I’ll be your tour guide and show you around Shanghai properly these few days!”
“Yay!”
Gu Wanqing clapped her hands excitedly and immediately rushed into the master bedroom to change clothes.
Lin Shen went to the bathroom to fix his hair for going out.
Under the enhancement of various items from [Sports & Health], his height had grown to 1.8 meters, his obese figure had returned to proportionate.
His facial skin, once covered with dark spots and dark circles, had become smooth and tender, his features refined, and his vision had improved to only 200 degrees of myopia.
All his physical indicators were improving, and even his habit of hunching had been corrected through this period of rigorous exercise.
Compared to himself from over ten days ago, Lin Shen now seemed like a completely different person.
He looked at himself in the mirror, very satisfied with his current state.
“So handsome!”
Seeing Lin Shen ready to go out and waiting in the entryway, Gu Wanqing’s eyes lit up as she lavished praise on him.
“Brother-in-law, you’ve changed so much from before! So handsome! Just like a male lead from a TV drama.”
“Really?”
Lin Shen touched his nose somewhat shyly, then gestured.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
After leaving, they first went to a nearby restaurant for a small meal.
This was a Hunan cuisine restaurant, with spicy flavors quite different from Shanghai’s sweet taste preference.
But Lin Shen liked it very much.
The environment was clean, prices reasonable, and portions generous—perfect for a working person like him.
Especially the beef brisket rice bowl, which Lin Shen ordered every visit, making the restaurant owner recognize him.
“Here again? The usual?”
“Not today, we’re ordering dishes.”
Lin Shen looked at Gu Wanqing.
“Any recommendations?”
“Then stir-fried pork with peppers, Hengyang fish noodles, and Changde beef offal pot.”
“You’re an expert!”
The owner couldn’t help but give a thumbs up.
Hearing Gu Wanqing order not only the classic must-eat stir-fried pork with peppers, but also two local specialty dishes, combined with her distinctive accent, he could easily identify her hometown.
“You’re a Hunan girl?”
“That’s right!”
Gu Wanqing smiled sweetly.
“Thanks, boss!”
“Hey! No trouble at all.”
The owner waved his hand and went into the kitchen.
Gu Wanqing sat obediently at the table, seemingly not minding eating at this kind of small restaurant—in fact, she seemed particularly excited.
“I wonder how the taste compares to back home.”
“Should be similar.”
No comparison, no harm!
Lin Shen couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Gu Wanting would never come to eat at places like this. Every time they went out, she insisted on trendy restaurants, especially those with particular atmosphere.
Ridiculously expensive!
In comparison, the younger Gu Wanqing was much more sensible.
Perhaps because she hadn’t entered society yet?
Lin Shen’s thoughts stirred.
When the dishes arrived, he ordered a large bowl of rice and ate it with the stir-fried pork with peppers—it was especially fragrant.
Because of his exercise routine, Lin Shen had almost forgotten the taste of meat.
The last time he’d had meat was last time—that is, a week ago when he went for barbecue with Qin Yuenan.
After such a long interval, Lin Shen decided to indulge again and confirm whether the “no regression” effect given by [Sports & Health] was real.
If it was, he wouldn’t have to endure those flavorless diet meals of broccoli and tomatoes anymore.
“So full.”
Gu Wanqing contentedly rubbed her slightly bulging little belly.
After eating and drinking their fill, Lin Shen decided to take her to Wukang Road in the afternoon.
As everyone knows, besides the Oriental Pearl Tower and Disneyland, Shanghai’s must-visit attractions include the Wukang Building on Wukang Road.
Wukang Road → Xintiandi → Tianzifang → City God Temple—this tourist route had been recommended by countless bloggers.
Lin Shen naturally wanted to take Gu Wanqing, who was visiting Shanghai for the first time, to experience it.
And incidentally complete the [Low Virtue] mission.
[Upgrade Mission: Check in at Shanghai’s famous scenic road—Wukang Road (Completed).]
[Reward: Low Virtue lv.3→lv.4]
[Congratulations on successfully upgrading “Low Virtue” to LV.4! Extra reward triggered: Scratch Card*1.]
[Industry fund accumulated from each red dot increased from 20,000→25,000, currently accumulated: 200,000]
[Reward item: Random Scratch Card*1]
[Upgrade Mission: Randomly check in at any university campus in Shanghai]
4 PM.
“Wow!”
The moment she saw Wukang Building, Gu Wanqing was deeply attracted.
The building’s walls were mainly red brick, combined with wrought iron railings and carved plaster moldings, rich in historical heritage and highly ornamental.
At least for Gu Wanqing seeing it for the first time, it was enough to excite her for a while as she looked for angles to take photos.
Meanwhile, Lin Shen was scratching away on his phone.
[Congratulations on scratching a first prize, 5888!]
[Congratulations on scratching an item: One-Day Travel Voucher]
[Note: After using this voucher, all tourism-related expenses within 24 hours will be reimbursed for the host, including but not limited to food, accommodation, and transportation. The final reimbursement amount will be determined by “Payment Treasure” (Please follow your conscience and do not use for cash conversion)]
“China Construction Bank: Your account ending in 7946 received RMB 5888 on August 3rd at 16:23, current balance: 163,000”