Male gods start with attribute point allocation

Chapter 108 Since you've come all this way, of course I should extend my hospitality.

The following morning, when Chen Mo stood in the departure hall of Jiangcheng Airport with his simple suitcase, Su Xiao was already waiting in front of the check-in counter.

She wore a floral maxi dress today, her long hair casually tied into a low ponytail, and a pair of brown sunglasses perched on her nose, looking both casual and stylish.

Seeing Chen Mo approach, she raised her hand and waved, her sunglasses sliding down to the tip of her nose, revealing a pair of smiling eyes.

"I thought you were going to be late."

Su Xiao handed him her boarding pass and said, "Business class, I really had to spend a lot of money."

Chen Mo took the boarding pass and glanced at it; sure enough, it said "Business Class".

He usually travels by high-speed train for business trips and rarely flies, let alone business class.

Last time I went to Guangzhou, I was squeezed into the last row of economy class, and my legs were numb when I got off the plane.

"Haha, if you're heartbroken."

Chen Mo carefully put away his boarding pass and smiled, "I'll give you the money when I get back?"

"Come on."

Su Xiao pushed her suitcase toward the security checkpoint and said, "Consider this your payment for accompanying me on this business trip to Shanghai."

After passing through security, the two had a quick bite to eat in the lounge.

With forty minutes to go before boarding, Chen Mo sat on the soft sofa, watching the planes coming and going on the tarmac outside the window. Suddenly remembering something, he took out his phone from his pocket.

He found a WeChat profile picture he liked.

It was a girl with her hair in a bun, making a peace sign at the camera, with the Bund night view in the background.

Opening the dialog box, the last message was from a month ago.

Zhongyi sent him some photos of local Shanghai cuisine.

Chen Mo began tapping his fingers on the screen.

"I'm in Shanghai. Are you free tonight? Let's have dinner together."

After sending the message, he put his phone on the table, picked up his coffee, and took a sip.

Su Xiao was looking down at her phone, seemingly replying to a message from an editor, her brows slightly furrowed.

Five minutes later, the phone screen was still dark.

Chen Mo glanced at the time; it was 9:30 a.m. Zhong Yi should be at work at this hour and probably wouldn't have time to check her phone.

"What's wrong?"

Su Xiao looked up and noticed his frequent checks of his phone.

I've arranged to have dinner with a friend in Shanghai tonight.

Chen Mo put away his phone and said, "But the other party hasn't replied to my message yet."

"A woman?"

Su Xiao raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly teasing.

Don't overthink it, we're just friends.

Chen Mo said, "Stop gossiping."

Su Xiao said "Oh" and didn't ask any further questions, continuing to process the messages with her head down.

Chen Mo leaned back on the sofa, closed his eyes to rest, but Zhong Yi's image kept appearing in his mind.

It's a bit strange.

Two hours later, the plane landed smoothly at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

As soon as Chen Mo turned on his phone, a WeChat notification sound rang.

It was a reply I liked.

"I was busy at work and just saw this! You're in Shanghai? That's great!"

"I get off work at six. I'll call you then. Oh, and don't eat anything, okay? I'll take you out for something nice!"

Even through the screen, Chen Mo could feel the joy in her words.

He smiled and replied with a "Okay".

Su Xiao had already collected her luggage and was waiting for him by the conveyor belt.

Seeing the smile on Chen Mo's face, she casually asked, "Did your friend reply to you?"

"Yes, six o'clock in the evening."

Chen Mo picked up his suitcase and asked, "Shall we go to the hotel first?"

"Let's go, I've already called a car."

Su Xiao pushed her suitcase out and said, "I booked a hotel near the Bund, which is also close to the online literature platform company I'm going to."

The taxi drove onto the elevated road, and outside the window were towering buildings and a constant flow of traffic.

Chen Mo looked at this city that was both strange and familiar.

He had only seen Shanghai in TV dramas, and it was only when he was actually there that he felt the fast-paced urban atmosphere.

Forty minutes later, the car stopped in front of a magnificent five-star hotel.

The doorman came forward to help with the luggage. The lobby had a gleaming marble floor, crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

Su Xiao went to the front desk to check in, and Chen Mo stood aside waiting for her.

The receptionist smiled and handed over two room keys, saying, "Ms. Su, Mr. Chen, these are your rooms, number 21."

The two rooms are adjacent to each other on the same floor.

"Would you like me to take your luggage upstairs?"

"No need, we'll do it ourselves."

Su Xiao took the room key and handed one to Chen Mo.

The two took the elevator upstairs.

The elevator car walls were mirrored, and Chen Mo saw that he was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans, which seemed somewhat out of place in this luxurious environment.

Su Xiao seemed quite natural about it; she probably stayed in hotels like this frequently when traveling for work.

The room was bigger than Chen Mo had imagined.

The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of the Huangpu River, with the Lujiazui skyline clearly visible across the water.

The bed was so soft you'd want to lie down on it immediately, and there was even a jacuzzi in the bathroom.

"Why don't you get ready first, and we can have dinner together later?" Su Xiao asked from the doorway.

"OK."

Chen Mo placed his suitcase on the luggage rack and asked, "Does the hotel have a restaurant?"

"Yes, the Western restaurant downstairs has pretty good reviews."

"it is good."

The two had a light meal at the hotel restaurant.

Su Xiao ate very quickly, clearly accustomed to a fast-paced lifestyle.

She glanced at her phone and said to Chen Mo, "I have to go to the company at two o'clock. If you're free, would you like to come along?"

"Go and discuss serious matters; I won't get involved."

Chen Mo shook his head: "I'll rest in my room for a while."

"Okay then."

Su Xiao wiped her mouth and said, "Contact me by phone if anything comes up."

Chen Mo took a nap in his room in the afternoon.

Although I was in business class on the plane, I was still a bit tired from getting up early to catch the flight.

I woke up at 4:30 a.m. The sky outside the window was getting dark, and the lights on the opposite bank of the river were gradually coming on.

Just then, his phone rang.

On the phone, Zhong Yi laughed and said, "I'm off work! Where are you? I'm coming to find you!"

"Okay, I'll send the location to Li."

With that, Chen Mo sent over the hotel address.

Upon seeing the address, Zhong Yi exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, such a high-end hotel? You've struck it rich!"

"no."

Chen Mo laughed and said, "My friend booked it; I'm just tagging along."

"Okay, wait for me for half an hour!"

Chen Mo put down his phone and went out to the hotel lobby.

He chose a sofa by the window and sat down. Soon he saw a taxi parked in front of the hotel.

The car door opened, and Zhong Yi got out of the car.

Today she wore a pale yellow dress with a beige knitted cardigan over it, and her hair was tied up in a high bun, revealing her smooth forehead.

I hadn't seen her for a few months, and she seemed to have lost some weight, but she looked good, and her eyes still crinkled when she smiled.

Chen Mo got up and went to greet him.

Zhong Yi saw him, jogged over, stopped in front of him, and looked him up and down.

"How come you haven't changed at all?"

She laughed and said, "No, I seem more energetic and more charming."

"You look even better now."

Chen Mo was telling the truth.

After spending a few months in Shanghai, Zhongyi's style has become noticeably more fashionable, and her urban girl vibe has become more pronounced.

"Come on."

Zhongyi patted him on the shoulder with a smile and said, "Why did you suddenly come to Shanghai?"

"My friend had something to do, so I just came along for a visit."

Chen Mo said, "Of course, I mainly want you to take me to eat the delicious food you shared with me. I've been thinking about it for a long time."

"Haha, sure."

Zhong Yi smiled and said, "I've just been too busy with work lately and haven't had time to explore any restaurants, so I haven't been able to share much with you."

"Let's go, I'll take you to eat right now."

"it is good."

The two hailed a taxi.

Zhongyi gave a street name.

Then she explained to Chen Mo, "That's a small local Shanghainese restaurant that's been open for over 20 years. The food is really authentic, but it's a bit far from here, in Xuhui District."

"I'm not worried, as long as it tastes good," Chen Mo said.

The car entered the evening rush hour traffic.

Neon lights flashed outside the window, and Chen Mo asked, "How have you been in Shanghai lately?"

"It's alright, just tiring."

Zhong Yi turned her head, sighed, and said, "The pace here is too fast. It's normal to work overtime until eight or nine o'clock every day."

Moreover, prices are too high; it feels like my salary isn't enough to cover my expenses.

She counted on her fingers: "The rent is four thousand a month, and it's a shared apartment. A meal can easily cost thirty or forty yuan. Then there's transportation, utilities, and gas—after all the deductions, there's nothing left of my monthly salary."

Chen Mo chuckled and teased, "So, do you still have money to treat me to a meal?"

"Of course."

Zhong Yi straightened her back and said, "The place I'm taking you to isn't very expensive, it's just a bit far from where you live."

However, the taste is definitely worth the trip.

"I'm not picky."

Chen Mo said, "It's worth traveling any distance to eat at the restaurant you recommended."

"Ha ha----"

Zhong Yi was amused by him, her eyes curving into crescents as she said, "Your words are getting sweeter and sweeter; you're sure to attract women."

Forty minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of a small shop that looked a bit old.

The storefront wasn't large, and the lettering on the signboard was somewhat faded, but there were still a few tables of customers inside.

"Looks like there aren't many people." Chen Mo was somewhat surprised.

"This is a place frequented by locals, but few tourists know about it."

Zhong Yi said smugly, "Don't worry, I already tried it, otherwise I wouldn't have brought you here."

The two entered the store side by side.

The shop is simply decorated with white walls, wooden tables, and handwritten menus on the walls.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of soy sauce.

Zhong Yi, familiar with the menu, ordered: "Braised pork belly, stir-fried shrimp, braised pork with bamboo shoots and pork belly, braised pork belly with clover and two bowls of rice."

"Okay, ma'am."

While waiting for the food, Chen Mo looked at her and suddenly asked, "Are you a designer now?"

Zhong Yi's smile faded slightly, and she shook her head: "No."

"No?"

Chen Mo asked疑惑地问道, "Last time, didn't you say that if you came to work here, you'd be promoted to designer?"

"That's what they said when they came."

Zhong Yi lowered her head, poking at the napkin on the table with her chopsticks, and said dejectedly, "But when I got here, the boss here said something else, that I still need to gain more experience."

Maybe I'm just not qualified enough.

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Chen Mo remained silent for a few seconds.

This is a typical case of a boss making empty promises to lure you in, then finding an excuse to delay.

He was all too familiar with the tricks of the trade in the workplace.

"fine."

He spoke, his voice softening, and comforted her, "You'll become a designer someday."

"Thank you, and I believe in myself too."

Zhong Yi looked up, forced a smile, and asked, "Let's not talk about me anymore. What about you? Did you get a promotion and a raise?"

"Um, I'm about the same as you."

Chen Mo hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell the truth: "Someone with connections came to the company and took my original position, so I just resigned."

"what?"

Zhong Yi opened her eyes wide and asked, "So you're unemployed now?"

"It's okay, I'm perfectly fine."

Chen Mo laughed and said, "After working for so long, I'll just give myself a break."

"I really envy you."

Zhong Yi rested her chin on her hand and pouted, saying, "I can't do that. If I don't work, I won't have any money to live on."

Sometimes I think about it, and it's pretty pointless. I do the same repetitive work every day, with no room for advancement, but I'm afraid to quit.

Then the dishes arrived.

Zhong Yi picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in Chen Mo's bowl, saying, "Try it, this braised pork is the best."

"Um."

Chen Mo took a bite; the meat was tender and juicy, the sauce was rich and flavorful, a perfect balance of salty and sweet—it was indeed delicious.

He also tried the fried shrimp, whose shells were fried until crispy, so he could eat them whole, shell and all.

"How is it?" Zhongyi looked at him expectantly.

Chen Mo gave a thumbs up and praised, "Delicious! Your restaurant-hunting skills are truly impressive."

Zhong Yi smiled happily and started eating as well.

The two chatted as they ate, talking about everything from Shanghai's delicacies to Wuhan's weather, from work-related worries to the little joys in life.

Halfway through the meal, Chen Mo put down his chopsticks and looked at Zhong Yi.

She was intently peeling shrimp, her fingers nimble and her movements swift.

"Since you love exploring restaurants and eating so much, have you ever considered doing a part-time job?"

Chen Mo hesitated for a moment, then said, "With the internet so popular now, you could be a food blogger or a restaurant review blogger; it might be pretty good."

Zhongyi stopped peeling the shrimp.

She looked up, her eyes somewhat lost, and said, "I've thought about it, but I'm afraid I won't be able to make it work. Besides, there are so many food bloggers now, the competition is too fierce."

"If I were you, I would give it a try."

Chen Mo recalled some of his own experiences and said, "Sometimes, what we lack is the courage to take the first step."

How do you know something won't work if you don't try?

He paused for a moment, then continued, "You know how to eat and you're good at taking photos; these are all advantages."

As for income—it might be difficult at first, but there will always be a positive aspect; believe in yourself.

Zhong Yi remained silent for a long time.

She slowly put the peeled shrimp into her mouth, chewing as if she were thinking.

"you're right."

She finally spoke, her voice soft, "I'll give it a try. I'll use my spare time at work to create content about restaurant reviews, shoot videos, write captions, and post them on Xiaohongshu and Douyin."

"That's right."

Chen Mo smiled, raised his teacup, and said, "I'll toast to your courage with tea instead of wine."

"Thank you, Chen Mo."

Zhong Yi also raised her teacup and clinked it with his: "If it weren't for what you said today, I might still be hesitating."

"Don't mention it."

Chen Mo said, "Friends encourage each other."

The two continued eating, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.

Zhongyi became more talkative, excitedly planning how to create content for the brand, which stores to start with, and how to shoot the videos.

It was already past eight o'clock when we finished eating.

"Let's go, I'll take you to see the night view of the Bund."

Zhong Yi paid the bill and said, "Coming to Shanghai and not going to the Bund is like a wasted trip."

"Really? Then we definitely have to go check it out."

So the two took the subway to Nanjing East Road Station and followed the crowd toward the Bund.

The Bund was packed with people at night, and the river breeze carried moisture in the air.

Across the river, Lujiazui is ablaze with lights, with skyscrapers like the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and Shanghai Tower shining brightly in the night.

Chen Mo leaned on the railing, watching the boats slowly pass by on the river.

This was his first time in Shanghai, and his first time standing on the Bund to see the famous night view.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Zhong Yi stood beside him, also looking across the river, and said, "When I first came to Shanghai, I would come here every weekend."

Looking at these skyscrapers, I think, "This city is so big, surely there must be a place for me."

"And now?" Chen Mo asked.

"Now----"

Zhong Yi smiled and said, "I think that a place to stay is not something you wait for, but something you fight for."

Just like you said, you have to be brave and take the first step.

The river breeze ruffled her hair, and she raised her hand to tuck the stray hairs behind her ear.

Her profile looked exceptionally soft under the light.

"Oh, right."

Suddenly remembering something, she turned to look at Chen Mo and asked, "What are your plans for tomorrow? Would you like me to go shopping with you?"

"I'm fine."

"Then I'll ask for leave."

Zhong Yi said decisively, laughing, "Tomorrow I'll spend a whole day with you, and we'll see all the fun things to do in Shanghai."

Disneyland, Yu Garden, Tianzifang — which one would you like to go to?

Chen Mo asked, "You're taking leave like this? Aren't you afraid of getting scolded by your boss? Aren't you afraid of having your salary docked?"

"Go ahead and scold me, you're my best friend, how can I not treat you well?"

Zhong Yi shrugged and smiled, "It's rare for you to come here, so of course I have to show you the hospitality of a host."

Chen Mo felt a warmth in his heart.

"Okay, then I'll leave it to you tomorrow."

"You're welcome."

The two strolled along the Bund until 9:30.

Zhong Yi escorted Chen Mo back to the hotel and said goodbye at the entrance.

"What time tomorrow?" Chen Mo asked.

"Ten o'clock."

Zhong Yi thought for a moment and smiled, "I'll come to the hotel to find you at ten o'clock."

"it is good."

Zhong Yi waved goodbye and turned to walk towards the subway station.

Chen Mo watched her disappear into the crowd before turning around and walking into the hotel.

It turns out that some relationships don't require being together all the time. Meeting occasionally is still natural, fun, and relaxed.

Shortly after returning to his room, Su Xiao sent him a message asking, "Chen Mo, have you gone back yet?"

"I'm back."

"Do you want me to give you something to eat later?"

Su Xiao asked on the phone, "I'm having barbecue with my editor, and we're almost done. Do you want me to pack some for you?"

'

"Need not."

Chen Mo laughed and said, "I ate a lot tonight, I really can't eat anymore."

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