Chapter 329: Chapter 183: Maiden
The manorâs back garden.
Amidst the lush greenery, the mirror-still lake rippled as a gentle breeze swept over it.
Night had fallen, but the central pavilion was brightly lit by fire.
A cast-iron grill was set up beneath a century-old wisteria vine, manned by a professional barbecue chef in a tall hat. The charcoal CRACKLED and SIZZLED as it rendered the fat from all kinds of meat skewers.
Several serious-faced attendants stood in the corners, a fire extinguisher placed by each of their feet, responsible for on-site safety.
A massive wooden table sat in the center of the lakeside pavilion, laden with drinks and side dishes prepared by the attendants.
In the very middle was an entire roasted lamb.
When the group arrived together, a rich, charred aroma filled the air, whetting everyoneâs appetite.
"It smells so good!"
Zheng Yanfei closed her eyes, took a deep sniff, and then darted her tongue out to lick her lips.
Perhaps because sheâd been playing all day and hadnât eaten much, her stomach suddenly let out a loud RUMBLE, causing the others to break into laughter.
"Haha! Looks like youâre starving, Feifei."
"You guys are so annoying! As if you arenât hungry too."
Zheng Yanfei huffed and threw herself into Lin Shenâs arms, pouting.
"Brother, theyâre all picking on me!"
"Itâs okay. If anyone dares to pick on you, Iâll kick them out. After all, Iâm in charge of this banquet."
Lin Shen chuckled, then called out to everyone.
"Youâve all been playing all day, so you must be hungry. Dig in, donât be shy."
"Lin Shen, you actually ordered a bit too much."
Just then, Jiang Yan leaned in and whispered in Lin Shenâs ear.
"One whole roasted lamb would have been enough for us. There was no need to order so many side dishes."
"Itâs just for fun. As long as everyoneâs happy."
Lin Shen casually picked up some cooked skewers from the table and handed them to the attendants standing guard in the pavilion.
"Youâve been with us at this manor all day. You probably havenât eaten much, have you?"
Huh?
The attendants were stunned. They stared at each other, wide-eyed. It was the first time a guest had ever offered to share food with them!
A deep warmth spread through their hearts, making them feel respected and valued.
However, due to their professional duties, they didnât accept. But Lin Shen forcefully pressed the food into their hands.
"Donât be shy."
"Thank you, President Lin!"
The attendants bowed to Lin Shen, their gratitude sincere. Seeing this, Jiang Yan, who was standing to the side, was deeply moved.
âSo thatâs why Lin Shen ordered so many skewers... he planned on sharing them!â
Most of the people Jiang Yan knew were high-ranking elites. While they were generally affable and easygoing, she had rarely seen someone like Lin Shen who treated every single person as an equal.
After all, once a person gained power and status, it was almost inevitable for them to develop a sense of superiority.
It had nothing to do with character; it was the behavior of a superior, etched into oneâs very genes.
But Lin Shen didnât seem to have that mindset at all.
Even though he was the one who had paid to book the entire manor, he still treated the people serving him with kindness.
This kind of character and upbringing earned Jiang Yanâs quiet admiration and sparked the thought that he was someone worth befriending.
âMaybe I can get in touch with him more in the future.â
"That murder mystery game earlier was so much fun!"
Zheng Yanfei sat on a soft chair and put on a pair of disposable gloves. As she helped carve the roasted lamb, she piled all the meat she tore off onto the plate in front of Lin Shen, leaving him no need to lift a finger.
"You should eat some yourself."
Lin Shen smiled gently. Only after getting his permission did Zheng Yanfei finally start feasting, wolfing down skewers as if she couldnât hold back her hunger a moment longer.
And so, under a sky full of stars, everyone in the lakeside pavilion chatted freely, and it seemed as if all their private conflicts and displeasure had vanished.
They talked about everything from their family backgrounds to their daily lives, and then to their future dreams and careers.
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A group of young people, all around the same age, laughed and chattered away. While enjoying the Gourmet Food and drinks, they also opened up to one another.
Of course, the conversation always found its way back to Lin Shen.
After all, from the very beginning, his family background had been a complete mystery.
No one knew what his family did for a livingânot even his "girlfriend," Zheng Yanfei.
So, while the others were chatting, she secretly tugged on the corner of Lin Shenâs shirt from under the table and whispered a question.
"Brother, what exactly does your family do? You seem so rich!"
"Youâre very curious about that?"
Lin Shen gave a mysterious smile.
"My family is in a shady line of business!"
Huh?
His words gave Zheng Yanfei quite a fright. She shivered, shrank back, and asked timidly,
"Brother, you didnât... you didnât sell my organs that day, did you?"
"What are you thinking!"
Lin Shen hadnât expected the little girl to take his joke so seriously. He pinched her soft cheek and said matter-of-factly,
"Iâm in the investment industry. I dabble in a bit of everything, so itâs hard to pin down."
"I get it!"
Zheng Yanfei nodded. After a moment of thought and hesitation, she suddenly asked again.
"Then, Brother... have you ever invested in an airline?"
An airline?
If Zheng Yanfei hadnât mentioned it, Lin Shen would have almost forgotten she was a flight attendant major.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"Well, in a little while, the third-year flight attendant students might be assigned to internships at airlines, but the companies havenât been decided yet."
After taking a long slurp of her iced drink, Zheng Yanfei lowered her head, looking a little embarrassed.
"I was just wondering if you could... help arrange something, Brother."
"An airline, huh..."
Lin Shenâs brow furrowed slightly. Seeing his hesitation, Zheng Yanfei quickly added,