dkrc Chapter 31 It's okay, I trust your judgment!
Chapter 31 It's okay, I trust your judgment!
At seven o'clock in the evening, Chen Mo appeared on time at the entrance of the familiar Japanese restaurant.
Through the warm yellow glow of the lanterns, he saw that Su Xiao was already sitting in her usual spot by the window, looking down at her phone.
Pushing open the door, I heard the wind chimes tinkling softly.
Su Xiao looked up, a smile immediately spreading across her face, and waved at him.
She smiled and said, "You arrived quite punctually."
"Of course we should be eager to get a free meal," Chen Mo said naturally as he sat down opposite her.
Now that they meet more often, the initial awkwardness and formality have long since disappeared, and they get along casually and naturally.
"Let's get down to business first."
Su Xiao winked slyly, picked up her phone, leaned forward slightly, and said, "Come on, same old routine, take a few pictures of 'evidence' to appease those behind us."
Chen Mo understood and moved closer to the camera, giving it a natural smile.
"Click," "Click."
After taking several photos, Su Xiao chose one with the best lighting and the most natural expressions on both of their faces, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
"Done, sent it to my mom."
She put down her phone, breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "I can finally have some peace and quiet again."
"..."
Chen Mo picked up the barley tea on the table and took a sip, thinking to himself, "My colleagues are all in the same boat; even their mothers ask for photos the same way."
However, he felt that Su Xiao was under more pressure from her family than he was.
After all, she's a woman, and being over 30 really is a hurdle!
This is the truth.
Soon, the waiter came over to take their order, and the two of them expertly ordered several signature dishes, plus a pot of warmed sake.
While waiting for the food, the conversation naturally began.
"How's your writing going lately?" Chen Mo asked this time, taking the initiative to speak.
After he started writing novels himself, he became particularly interested in this topic.
"It's alright, but there's a lot of gossip in the industry. Do you want to hear some?"
"sure."
Su Xiao rested her chin on her hand and laughed, "In our author group, two promising authors almost got into a fight over a recommendation slot these past two days, and the editor couldn't stop them."
"Is the featured spot that important?" Chen Mo asked curiously.
"Of course it's important; that's about exposure, which directly impacts subscriptions and revenue."
Su Xiao explained, "However, those two were mortal enemies to begin with, and this time it's a clash of old and new grudges."
When I opened the group chat, there were hundreds of messages, all veiled and sarcastic, more exciting than a palace drama.
Then, she vividly described the "battle situation" in the group.
Chen Mo listened with great interest.
These stories from the online literature world were both fresh and interesting to him, a newcomer to the industry.
"And you?"
Su Xiao turned the question around and asked him, "How's the project you're in charge of going? Do you have any 'material' you can provide me with? I've been wanting to write some workplace power struggles lately; I can't just keep writing sweet romance all the time."
"You know what, there really is."
After thinking for a moment, Chen Mo briefly explained the minor troubles he encountered at the project meeting that morning, and how he persuaded the team with the idea of "sharing the good times and making money together".
He omitted the specific names of Supervisor Li and Supervisor Zhang and the complex relationships behind them, and only talked about his approach to dealing with team morale issues and external cooperation obstacles.
"Great job, Chen Mo!"
After listening, Su Xiao said admiringly, "You've mastered the art of 'sharing interests' quite well."
It's realistic, but effective.
This is much more real than the leadership styles I previously imagined that relied solely on personal charisma or empty promises.
"There's nothing we can do; we're all working people, and we understand best what working people are thinking."
Chen Mo smiled and said, "When we come out to work, our primary goal is still to make money and develop ourselves. Explaining clearly what the benefits are of doing well is more effective than giving a bunch of lectures."
"This angle is good, I've noted it down."
Su Xiao took out her phone, quickly typed a few lines in the notes app, and said, "I'll use this on the male protagonist in my book later; he happens to be a technical lead as well."
Then, the dishes started to arrive one after another.
The two chatted as they ate, talking about work, writing, and the books and movies they had recently watched.
Su Xiao found that chatting with Chen Mo was really comfortable.
He listens attentively, speaks clearly, and always catches up with what others have to say, offering even more interesting perspectives.
The meal lasted almost two hours, and the atmosphere remained relaxed and pleasant throughout.
After finishing their meal, Su Xiao paid the bill.
The two walked out of the Japanese restaurant, the night breeze brushing their faces, bringing a touch of heat.
Soon, the hot summer will officially begin.
"Do you have any plans for the future?"
Su Xiao checked the time; it wasn't even nine o'clock yet. She turned to ask Chen Mo.
"What's wrong? Is there anything else you need?"
Chen Mo was stunned for a moment.
He hasn't updated today yet; he's going to go back and write his novel now.
Although I have two chapters saved up, and updating today shouldn't be a problem, I still want to save more for unforeseen circumstances.
"Actually, nothing special happened."
Su Xiao unconsciously twirled the backpack strap, seemingly hesitant, but still tentatively asked, "If you're free tonight, would you like to come with me to the mall next door?"
Summer is almost here, and I don't have many clothes to wear, so I'm thinking of buying some new clothes..."
I think you have great taste; the clothes you wear every time we meet are pleasing to the eye. So I wanted to ask you to give me some advice.
The main problem is that I sometimes have trouble making choices when I'm shopping alone.
"..."
Upon hearing this, Chen Mo did hesitate.
Putting aside the task of updating my novel, all I do is accompany girls shopping for clothes...
This was a bit unfamiliar to him, and he didn't know what advice to give.
Just as he was weighing whether to agree or not, the familiar light blue semi-transparent interface suddenly appeared before his eyes without warning.
[Social invitations and potential new experiences detected, triggering a timed system task.]
【Mission Name: The Brave Stylist】
[Task Description: Accept Su Xiao's invitation to accompany her shopping and provide her with at least one well-received outfit suggestion.]
[Task Rewards: Appearance +1, Fashion Skills +5, Courage +200]
[Note: Courage in middle age is also reflected in the willingness to try different social roles and to use what one has learned to bring value to others. Aesthetics and styling are also part of the art of living.]
Seeing the bright "Appearance +1, Fashion Skills +5" in the mission rewards, Chen Mo was tempted.
His current fashion sense was improved by a reward from a previous mission.
It's good enough, but who wouldn't want something better?
And this time, the added bonus is good looks.
Anyway, I have two chapters saved up.
"Okay."
Chen Mo no longer hesitated, nodded and smiled in agreement: "Anyway, it's still early, and I'll be idle when I get back. But I can't guarantee that my suggestion will be reliable."
"It's okay, I trust your judgment!"
When Su Xiao saw that he agreed, a smile immediately bloomed on her face, and she looked very happy.
To be honest, this was the first time she had ever invited a guy to go shopping with her, and she felt a sense of novelty and anticipation.
To be honest, her readers might not believe it, but she, an author who writes romance novels and domineering CEO dramas for a long time, has never been in a relationship.
Her material and plot were all from her own imagination.
But now...
Su Xiao glanced at Chen Mo, the "tool" beside her, pursed her lips, and seemed to be thinking about something.