Chapter 7: 0-7

The next morning, Yu Qingyu got up very late. He forgot that he was now in an underground base with no windows, so when he woke up and saw that the room was still completely dark, he just went back to sleep. Only when 520 reminded him that he has a meeting in The Bamboo Grove in just over an hour, did he finally get out of bed.

'Why didn't you wake me up!?' he complained, rushing around to quickly get ready to leave.

[You didn't ask me to.]

'But… Whatever.' Yu Qingyu wanted to argue with the system, but there was no time. If he wanted to get to the city on time, he needed to leave now. 'I don't need to report to Liu Wei before I go, right?'

[No, you can just leave on your own, if you prefer.]

Yu Qingyu exhaled deeply with relief. He wasn't ready to face Liu Wei just yet, not after learning about his past. He suddenly felt a bit glad he overslept. Thanks to that, he now had an excuse to avoid him.

He ran to the hangars, jumped on his scooter, and rode to Chuxi City at a fast speed.

In the end, he managed to get to the mall 5 minutes before time. He quickly stopped by the toilets to calm down and fix his clothes and hair, and with a smile on his face, he went to the restaurant.

The team leader from the day before noticed him approach and greeted him warmly. "Welcome back! Please, come in!"

She led him to one of the VIP rooms at the back of the restaurant. "Please sit down, the owner will be with you in a minute! Would you like anything to eat, or a drink?"

"Yes, that would be nice." Yu Qingyu wasn't about to miss the opportunity to have a good meal, especially since he had to skip breakfast. "The dish I had yesterday was delicious, so I'll trust your recommendation again!"

The woman walked away, leaving him alone. Yu Qingyu took a sit and looked around.

Although the room was small, it still felt as if it was outside, in the middle of a bamboo forest. It would be impossible to tell where the walls were if it wasn't for a small fence and a small stream encircling the room. The air felt fresh and pleasant, quite the opposite of the hot and sultry air outside in the city. No wonder this place was so popular and expensive.

Suddenly, the sliding door opened again, and a middle-aged woman walked in.

She was around 50 years old, short and plump. She had rosy cheeks and wrinkles around her small eyes. The clothes she was wearing were elegant, but rather plain. A few strands of hair slipped out of her low, loose bun.

"Good morning. I am He Miling, the owner of this restaurant," she introduced herself with a smile.

Yu Qingyu looked at her surprised. '…It's her?'

[Yes. She is Li Hangu's wife.]

Yu Qingyu raised his eyebrows. He Miling was a bit different than he expected. Since she was the wife of a military commander, and an owner of an expensive restaurant, he imagined her as a strict, cold, and professional businesswoman. However, the woman in front of him looked more like a kind and warm housewife.

But it didn't matter. Actually, it was better for him that she was nice and approachable.

Yu Qingyu returned the smile. "Nice to meet you, I'm Yu… Chen Rumin." He almost made a mistake and introduced himself with his real name.

Thankfully, He Miling didn't notice anything. "I have heard how you fixed the system. I was surprised when I came in today, it has never functioned so well!" she said, taking a seat. "You are really talented."

"No, not at all," Yu Qingyu smiled shyly. "I am just about average…"

"There's no need to be so modest. I might not know much about technology, but I believe you have a lot of potential. You can achieve great things!" The woman encouraged him.

Soon, the meal was served. This time, it was some sort of fluffy waffles, served with light cream and fruit sauce. It was such a delight after the flavorless stew he had last night! The waitress also brought two cups of freshly brewed green tea.

During the meal, He Miling chatted with Yu Qingyu about some irrelevant topics, just to break the ice. Only when he finished eating did she get to the point.

"Have you given some thought to how much you would like to be repaid for your help?"

Yu Qingyu hesitated a bit. "Umm… Rather than the money, there is something else I would prefer… If it is okay…"

"What is it?" He Miling looked at him with interest.

"If I'm not mistaken, you are married to our military commander, Li Hangu, right?" Yu Qingyu paused for a moment. "The truth is… I have always wanted to work in the field of military technology. But I come from a poor family, and I have no connections… So…"

"You would like me to recommend you to my husband?" The woman observed him carefully.

Yu Qingyu lowered his head, his face slightly red. "…Yes."

He Miling took a sip of her tea, thinking. "Alright," she answered finally. "I can recommend you, it's not a problem. However, you will still need to pass their tests to get the job. Is that alright with you?"

"Yes, of course!" Yu Qingyu's head snapped back up, a bright smile appearing on his face.

He Miling returned the smile. "That's great then. Leave me your contact information. I will talk to my husband, and he will send you the details. Now, if you'll excuse me…"

He Miling got up, ending the meeting. She had more duties to do, she was a busy woman.

Just like that, Yu Qingyu was left alone again. He took a deep breath, releasing all the tension.

[Great job! I didn't know you were such a good actor!]

Hearing 520's praise, Yu Qingyu shrugged his shoulders. A good actor? The conversation came out so natural because he actually felt similar to what he was trying to portray.

Although he did have some experience acting in plays back in school. He never thought much of those skills, but hopefully 520 was right. Yu Qingyu had a feeling he might need to act quite a lot in the future.