Chapter 57
Chapter 57: Roommate Gathering
6:30 PM.
The twilight had just begun to paint the eaves of the Old West Gate red when the neon lights of Shouning Road pedestrian street lit up one by one.
“Xiang Ba Island Lobster,” “Erzi BBQ”…
The red-background, yellow-lettered light box signs had been worn somewhat faded and mottled by time, but this only highlighted the confidence of the old food stalls.
About twenty shops simultaneously raised their rolling shutters, plastic round tables arranged in two rows along the sidewalk, orange plastic chairs gleaming warmly under the street lamps, like adding a border of vibrant life to the street.
This was Shouning Road.
Shanghai didn’t just have rows of towering skyscrapers; in the corners and edges, there were also such alleys rich with the atmosphere of daily life.
Lin Shen arrived at the intersection, feeling as if he had traveled through time.
From the fast-paced city to the slow-paced countryside, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Perhaps this was the place with the richest atmosphere of daily life?
Lin Shen took out his phone and captured the various silhouettes of people against the sunset in his photo album.
Office workers with briefcases heading straight to their regular spots, Shanghai aunties in floral dresses dragging their husbands to haggle over the size of crawfish on menus, and young people livestreaming with their phones raised.
The harmonious and beautiful human environment made Lin Shen feel genuinely relaxed.
Click—!
【Upgrade Mission: Check in at the most atmospheric scene. (Completed).】
【Reward: Low Virtue lv.8→lv.9】
【Industry fund accumulated each time passing red dots increased from 45,000 to 50,000, currently accumulated: 980,000】
【Reward Item: Random Scratch Card*1】
【Upgrade Mission: Check in at a place you consider the most peaceful and tranquil in Shanghai.】
After discovering that [Low Virtue]’s mission was completed, Lin Shen felt a trace of quiet excitement, then posted the photos he had taken to his college roommate group chat.
[Lin Shen: Brothers, I’m here, waiting for you all]
[Zhao Ye: I’m almost there! On the subway!]
[Guo Haoran: I’m stuck in traffic, I’ll be late. You guys can order first @Lin Shen]
[Qi Junxian: I just finished overtime, coming now]
Seeing his roommates’ responses, Lin Shen smiled warmly.
As adults, opportunities to gather friends for a meal were rare, making each occasion precious.
Lin Shen walked into Shouning Road, going from east to west until he found Old Wei BBQ, which had good online reviews.
The owner was a middle-aged man whose chubby, amiable appearance seemed particularly warm.
“Welcome, bro! Come in and try it! If it’s not good, you don’t pay!”
“Alright.”
Lin Shen smiled slightly and walked into the restaurant, finding a corner window seat.
The server was very considerate, immediately bringing tea and sunflower seeds with a smile.
“Hello! You can scan the QR code on the table to order. How many people are you?”
“About five or six, but they’ll come later. Is it okay if I sit for a while first?”
“Of course!”
The server helped Lin Shen arrange a six-person table and brought several more stools.
Although the restaurant was gradually filling up, the service quality remained excellent.
Just based on this, Lin Shen really liked it.
Not bad!
Lin Shen unwrapped his utensils, poured a cup of tea, and while drinking, scratched the scratch card he had just received.
【Thank you for playing! Kidney Power limit +1!】
“Nice!”
The attribute point he scratched was the best “Kidney Power.” Although it was a “thank you for playing,” Lin Shen was still thrilled.
He decisively opened the [Sports Health] APP and brought up his personal panel.
【Constitution: 71/71 (Healthy+)】
【Spirit: 72/72 (Calm+)】
【Kidney Power: 72/72 (Vigorous)】
【Length: 6.9cm (6.8+0.1)/15.2cm (15+0.2), before/after】
【Height: 180cm; Weight: 78kg】
Overall data hadn’t changed much, though length had increased considerably.
While Lin Shen was pondering, he looked up and suddenly saw a familiar figure through the window.
Qi Junxian?
Seeing his roommate, Lin Shen smiled and waved.
Qi Junxian, dressed in a suit and tie, looked slightly shocked, then walked into the restaurant and came to Lin Shen’s side, looking him up and down in disbelief.
“You are… Lin Shen?!”
“The one and only.”
Lin Shen pulled out a stool for Qi Junxian.
“Why are you dressed so formally today?”
“I was meeting clients to close deals today, didn’t have time to go home and change.”
Qi Junxian set his briefcase aside, still looking incredibly surprised.
“When did you become so handsome? And you’ve lost quite a bit of weight too.”
“Hehe.”
Lin Shen smiled without answering, making Qi Junxian jealously punch his shoulder lightly.
He could accept his good brother getting rich, but absolutely couldn’t accept his good brother losing weight!
Just as Qi Junxian was about to interrogate Lin Shen about why he had lost weight, a very familiar license plate BYD Qin suddenly stopped by the roadside outside the window.
After Guo Haoran got out of the car, he immediately spotted Qi Junxian sitting by the window and walked in with a smile.
“Dressed so formally, did you go on a blind date?”
“As if! I’m working overtime every day chasing performance targets. Where would I have time for blind dates?”
Qi Junxian patted Lin Shen’s shoulder with a mysterious smile.
“Can you still recognize who this is?”
“You are…”
Guo Haoran adjusted his glasses, then showed the same shocked expression as Qi Junxian.
“Lin Shen!?”
“Yeah.”
Seeing Lin Shen nod, Guo Haoran looked him up and down again, then couldn’t help but sigh.
“How did you lose so much weight? Are you sick?”
“I want to know too!”
Qi Junxian put his arm around Lin Shen’s shoulder with concern.
“You weren’t stimulated by something, were you? If anything’s wrong, tell your brothers. Don’t keep it bottled up inside.”
“Later.”
Lin Shen moved aside the place settings, revealing the QR code on the table.
“You guys see what you want to eat, order whatever.”
“Ooh! Made a fortune?”
“Sort of.”
“You can do it, bro!”
Qi Junxian eagerly scanned the code to order.
“Then I won’t be polite.”
“Should we wait for Zhao Ye?”
Guo Haoran filled tea for Lin Shen and Qi Junxian, then as soon as he looked up, he saw a big grinning face pressed against the window.
“Holy crap!”
Startled, Guo Haoran couldn’t help but curse, then gave Zhao Ye an international friendly gesture.
He responded with a middle finger, then walked into the restaurant holding hands with a petite girl.
She was Zhao Ye’s girlfriend Sun Yue, whom everyone knew, so it wasn’t surprising.
“Brothers! Did you miss me?”
As soon as Zhao Ye sat down, he started distributing cigarettes. Guo Haoran and Qi Junxian took them but didn’t light up immediately, while Lin Shen directly refused with a slight smile.
“Did you forget I don’t smoke?”
“You’re Lin Shen!?”
Zhao Ye was dumbfounded.
“No