Chapter 153: When One Man Achieves the Dao, Even His Chickens and Dogs Ascend to Heaven (5)

Shen Molan readily nodded with a bright smile.

"Alright then. This young lady has been quite bored lately anyway. I didn't get to play enough on our trip to Shawan last time. Since the cherry blossoms should be blooming in Tokyo right about now, it wouldn't be bad to go take a look, and maybe soak in some hot springs along the way."

"Then leave your identification details with me, and I'll have the company handle the visa processing."

Hearing this, Xia Churan hurriedly pulled his arm.

"Fang Yu, we just went to Shawan last month, and now you're going to Tokyo again?"

"I'm going on a business trip. What, do you want to come too?" he asked, looking knowingly at the charming young girl before him.

"Hmph, I'm not going. I'll stay here and watch the shop for you, how about that?" The girl pouted and twisted her body in a huff.

"Oh, perfect then. That way I can even save a bit on the plane fare." He deliberately refused to take the bait.

"You! Stinky Fang Yu, if you dare leave this young lady behind, I'll bite you to death!" Xia Churan grew anxious, shaking his arm back and forth continuously.

"Alright, alright, alright. I'll take you, okay? Ouch, why are you biting me?" He quickly yanked his arm back, but several tooth marks left by the girl's pearly whites were already stamped onto his wrist.

Lu Zhen let out a dry laugh and sidled up to them sheepishly.

"Hehe, Boss Fang, can I go too?"

"Of course. You guys can be considered founding veterans for following me all the way to Xianjiang; what's a trip abroad compared to that?"

"Then can I bring Zhang Yan along?"

This remark instantly piqued the interest of everyone present.

"Ohoho, I never knew! You managed to win her over just like that? Well, how is it? Is her skin fair? Does she smell nice?" Cheng Chen had a good relationship with Lu Zhen, so he stepped up, patted his shoulder, and teased him.

"Oh come on, don't be like that, you're making me shy. We already sealed the deal last time we went singing." Lu Zhen was thick-skinned enough; despite his modest words, his face was split into a grin from ear to ear.

"Then Yanhua should come too. Putting in a whole week of night shifts last time was hard enough on him." Fang Yu naturally cast his gaze toward Yanhua, who was still busy working.

"Ah, I'm included too? Hehe, well, thank you, Brother Yu! It's only right, it's all part of my job." Yanhua felt somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, his hands trembling slightly with excitement.

"Then what about the internet cafe? Just close it down for good?" Cheng Chen chimed in.

"Everyone's been working hard. Let's just shut down for a few days; we're not short of that little bit of money," Fang Yu said with a magnanimous wave of his hand.

"You guys go ahead, I'm not going." Zhao Bin had arrived at the internet cafe at some point and hadn't made a sound until now.

"Huh? You're not going? Tokyo! Isn't that the kind of top-tier metropolis you love the most?"

"Yeah, don't feel like it," Zhao Bin replied in a muffled voice.

Fang Yu understood instantly. He figured Zhao Bin must have heard Lu Zhen say he was bringing Zhang Yan along. Normally, out of sight meant out of mind, but going on a trip together would make things far too awkward.

Taking advantage of the moment while Sun Han was collecting everyone's information, Fang Yu quickly dragged Zhao Bin to a corner on the second floor.

"Is this because of Zhang Yan? We're all brothers here, just speak your mind and clear the air. Don't bottle things up."

Zhao Bin waved his hand impatiently.

"How could it be? I just don't want to go. Besides, I don't want to look at Lu Zhen—he doesn't do a lick of work day in and day out, but he gets all fired up when it comes to going out and playing."

"But since all of us are going, you won't be able to handle guarding the shop all by yourself. If you ask me, you should just go and relax."

Zhao Bin stubbornly shook his head.

"It's fine. I can even go without sleep. Besides, isn't Gungun around? I can just call him to cover for a few days, at worst I'll just pay him a bit."

Try as he might, Zhao Bin simply refused to join them, and Fang Yu didn't push any further. He fished his wallet out of his pocket, counted out ten large bills, and handed them over.

"Here, don't think it's too little. It'll be hard on you while we're away."

After feigning reluctance for a moment, Zhao Bin took the money, his mouth still running.

"If you ask me, there was no need to give Lu Zhen those shares at all. He just loafs around all day."

"Alright, alright. You and he go back a long way; why make a big deal out of this? Come on, let's head downstairs first." He patted Zhao Bin's shoulder.

Downstairs, Sun Han finished gathering everyone's information, then nodded respectfully toward Fang Yu.

"President Fang, I'll head back first then. President Zhang is still waiting for my report."

"Alright, be careful on the road."

After Sun Han left, Fang Yu looked at Baozi and Hu Yan, who were both brimming with excitement, and scratched his head in confusion.

"There's still at least half a month before we leave. Where are you two usually staying?"

"Yanyan is staying with me right by the school now, in a rented place. Anyway, since we're leaving in less than half a month, we might as well just stay here with you until we set off together," Baozi said carelessly, waving a hand.

"Oh, alright then."

You could tell that this time around, the dead fatty had a lot more confidence backing him up than before—heaven only knew how much money was actually lining his pockets.

Hu Yan, on the other hand, was utterly thrilled.

"Oh my, I've never been abroad before! I heard Tokyo is one of the top developed cities in the world, and a lot of major designer brands are duty-free. Baozi, you better perform well when the time comes."

"You're my precious baby, you can buy whatever you want! I'd pluck the stars from the sky for you."

Hearing this made the others feel slightly nauseous, save for Shen Molan, who shot him a meaningful look.

"Fang Yu, isn't your bubble tea shop business running a bit too big? I've never heard of any small shop needing that kind of money just for tax write-offs."

As a wealthy heiress from a well-to-do background whose father was a well-known boss in Songyu, she could tell at a glance that Fang Yu was holding back a fair bit of the truth.

He chuckled dryly and waved vaguely.

"Nothing that exaggerated. Aren't there so many franchise stores? The turnover must still be quite high. Besides, it's also to make things convenient for the brothers."

"Hmph, as if I'd believe that ghost story of yours." Shen Molan tossed her wavy long hair and dropped the inquiry.

That evening, Shi Jichen came to Seven Stars Internet Cafe as usual, cheerfully tossing down a 20-yuan bill.

"Brother Yu, the usual: a bucket of instant noodles, add a sausage, and a pack of Taidian cigarettes."

Fang Yu's eyes rolled as a smile crept onto his face, and he pushed the money back.

"Gungun, from now on the internet cafe won't charge you. Like I said, I'm heading out for a trip soon. See if you have any free time—same as usual, help me cover the shop for a few days."

Shi Jichen's eyes curved into slits of pure joy.

"Ahem~ Brother Yu, you and the senior sister are going out to play again? I have no problem with that, and Pan Yan can come help out too."

"Great. Same as last time, I'll give you a thousand yuan. Take good care of the shop for me. Zhao Bin will be staying behind too, so you can do the handover with him."

"Hehe, thanks, Brother Yu! So much money just for looking after the shop for a few days—even working part-time at Kentucky won't pay that much."

Shi Jichen wasn't wrong. A job paying one thousand yuan a week wasn't just unheard of in Xianjiang; you'd need to search with a lantern just to find one in Nanwu.

Right as it was time for Xia Churan and Li Jing to get off work, Fang Yu drove the young girl back to the townhouses. Just as he was about to head upstairs, he heard Lu Zhen walking out of the neighboring townhouse with his arm around Zhang Yan, laughing and chatting, punctuated every now and then by the sound of:

"Kiss me again, just once, Mwa~!"

"Tsk, wouldn't have guessed. They're certainly lovey-dovey," he said, halting his steps with a half-joke.

Lu Zhen, famous for his thick skin, laughed without a care in the world.

"Boss Fang's back! I was just about to walk Zhang Yan home."

"Ha, it's not like there isn't enough room to stay here. You two might as well just sleep together."

"Can't do that, Zhao Bin would throw a fit if he saw," Lu Zhen remarked, still retaining a shred of brotherly consideration.