CHAPTER 164: CHAPTER 164: BAIHUA SCHOOL (PART 5)

The owner looked at the back kitchen and smiled, "Right away, right away, just a moment."

She pointed to the pot beside her, "If you’re hungry, there are tea eggs, braised chicken legs, dried tofu... you can eat first."

Lu Lan heard this, and she stood up, "Are you going to eat?"

Lin Xiaoyan looked, "I’ll have a chicken leg."

Xiao Bo said, "I’ll have a chicken leg too, and an egg, and two pieces of dried tofu."

"Alright!"

Lu Lan walked to the front bar and looked at the things in the pot.

The owner smiled as she took a plate, "How many do you want? I’ll get them for you."

Xiao Bo looked at Lin Xiaoyan, and Lin Xiaoyan gave Xiao Bo a knowing look. Xiao Bo’s expression slightly darkened and he blinked to show he understood.

"Okay, I’ll be back in a couple of days, don’t worry."

After Lin Xiaoyan hung up the phone with her brother, she directly transferred money to him and asked him to issue the salary tomorrow.

The store’s daily turnover is deposited into the bank card every two days.

Lu Lan placed the chicken leg and other items on the table and urged the two to eat quickly.

Lin Xiaoyan took a chicken leg and began to eat it vigorously.

"Mmm... so delicious, I’m just... starving!"

Lin Xiaoyan took a bite and felt extremely satisfied.

She asked, "Where shall we play after dinner?"

Lu Lan looked up, and seeing the owner now seated, asked, "Owner, I’m curious about nearby attractions. We just arrived today."

The owner, upon hearing Lu Lan’s question, had a glint of shrewdness in her eyes, "Why did you come here? There aren’t any good attractions here."

"Really? I saw a video on a platform showcasing beautiful scenery from the mountains here!"

Lin Xiaoyan nodded beside her, "Yes, yes, we were attracted by that video, but the air here is really nice."

Then, Lin Xiaoyan looked at Lu Lan, "Let’s head to the mountains tomorrow, there are so many around."

The owner brought a finished dish to their table.

"There’s nothing up in the mountains, nothing fun; you were misled by that video.

I’ve lived here for decades, never found anything interesting or fun."

"Thank you." Lin Xiaoyan looked at the knife-cut noodles and used a pair of disposable chopsticks to start eating.

"Where are you folks from?"

With no other customers in the shop, the owner just sat at the table next to them and asked.

The three chatted with the owner while eating, soon finishing their meal.

Lu Lan pulled Lin Xiaoyan up, "Let’s go back to the car, and find a place to stay for tonight."

Lin Xiaoyan followed suit to stand, "Okay."

The owner also stood with a smile, "You’re looking for a place to stay?"

"Yes, we want to play here for a few days."

"The hotel opposite has a good environment; you can stay there." The owner pointed to the hotel across the street.

"Our best hotel business around here, with excellent environment, pricing, service, and all.

Don’t choose those cheap hostels; they’re filthy..."

Upon hearing the owner’s words, Lin Xiaoyan asked, "We were just considering staying opposite, but it looks too luxurious to afford..."

"No, no, it’s very cheap. My cousin works there. If you decide to stay, I’ll tell her to give you a discount!"

Suddenly worried they’d fear being scammed, the owner quickly added, "I’m not a fraud, just felt a good connection with you guys after chatting a bit."

"Understood, understood; I also feel you’re a good person." Lu Lan echoed with a smile.

Xiao Bo remained silent beside them, quietly listening to their conversation.

Suddenly, he pointed to the hotel entrance and asked, "Why are so many kids going in?"

The owner looked over and said indifferently, "Oh, the hotel owner is kind-hearted; every weekend he brings kids from the mountains for part-time jobs to supplement their families."

Lin Xiaoyan looked over, noticing the children from the bus were now cleaned up and wearing new clothes.

Lin Xiaoyan, with her sharp eyes, noticed the little girl in the middle was dressed differently from the others; she wore a white dress, with her hair tied in braids, looking like a little princess.

Watching the children gradually enter the hotel, Lin Xiaoyan felt as if something gripped her heart, making it hard to breathe.

"This hotel owner is kind, thinking of helping mountain kids," Lu Lan sighed.

The owner said, "Exactly, he’s our best philanthropist here!

Every year he donates money and supplies to mountain children, also rallies many wealthy owners to donate books and funds..."

The three listened to the owner, feeling no warmth, only chilling cold.

It seemed those people were involved...

"Alright, we’ll look at this hotel later. If suitable, we’ll stay here." Lu Lan said.

"Owner, if we decide to stay, how do we contact..."

"I’ll give you my cousin’s number!" The owner directly handed her number to Lu Lan and instructed her to call her cousin for a discount.

Back in the car, Xiao Bo glanced at the entrance where the owner was watching them, and whispered, "Is there something off with the owner?"

Lin Xiaoyan: "Yes, when we entered, she kept watching us."

Lu Lan, holding the phone, looked at the two, "What should we do? Should we go in?"

Lin Xiaoyan hesitated, "Xuan Shiyi and the others went in..."

Lu Lan and Xiao Bo didn’t grasp Lin Xiaoyan’s implication, "Don’t worry, the two of us will protect you."

Lin Xiaoyan: "...You... might not be able to protect..."

"Why?" Lu Lan and Xiao Bo looked at Lin Xiaoyan.

"Did you forget what Xuan Shiyi and the others do? They specialize in catching ghosts..."

Lu Lan: ???

Xiao Bo: !!!

"Ahem, should we wait for the people from the base and then act?" Xiao Bo regaining his senses, said.

Lu Lan frowned, "Ghosts? There’s no such thing as ghosts, don’t..."

"Sis, don’t say that!" Xiao Bo cautiously interrupted Lu Lan.

Lin Xiaoyan, seeing Xiao Bo like this, showed a curious expression.

Lu Lan also looked at Xiao Bo with confusion, "What’s wrong with you? Have you encountered it?"

Xiao Bo froze, glancing at the hotel direction, "Better believe it exists than not."

"Xiao Bo, but you’re a party member! And you actually!" Lu Lan looked at Xiao Bo with disappointment.

Xiao Bo gave a wry smile, "Sis, I signed a confidentiality agreement."

Lu Lan stopped, staring intently at Xiao Bo for a moment, "Really?"

"Really."

"Where?"

"Just... when the base was first developed."

Lu Lan:......