Financial Independence through Cracked Apps-Chapter 59: Barbecue

"This crayfish isn’t bad. Xiao Yue, you should try some."

"The oysters are good. So fresh."

"We’re out of beer. Let’s get the server to bring another bucket."

...

「Wei’s Barbecue, in a corner of the shop.」

The air, thick with the smell of charcoal and cumin, washed over them.

Lin Shen and his roommates were chugging beer, sharing skewers, and joking around, seemingly having forgotten all the troubles they were just discussing.

A drink in hand, and a man’s worries fade away.

They’d been taught since they were young to be strong, dependable men who had to find a way to solve their own problems.

As a result, they rarely sought comfort, choosing to quietly process their frustrations on their own.

Or vent to their friends.

That’s just how men are!

Sighing to himself, Lin Shen was quietly eating a skewer when he looked up and suddenly glimpsed a familiar car outside the window.

A Volvo S90.

!?

Lin Shen’s heart skipped a beat.

’It couldn’t be...’

But he quickly dismissed the thought.

Because when the door opened, the first thing to emerge from the driver’s side was a pair of lustrous, beautiful legs wrapped in sheer black stockings. A pair of YSL stiletto heels made them look impossibly long.

’Those perfect legs could almost rival Nan’s.’

Lin Shen mused.

He was sure this Volvo S90 wasn’t Qin Yuenan’s, because she never wore stockings.

However...

"Hey, look!"

Zhao Ye exclaimed, nudging Qi Junxian beside him with his elbow as if he’d just discovered something amazing.

"Holy shit! What a gorgeous woman!"

"Where?"

Qi Junxian quickly put down his skewer, wiped his mouth, and looked up. His eyes immediately lit up.

A sexy, mature woman in black stockings and high heels stood at the entrance of the barbecue joint. Her arms were crossed, and her cool gaze swept the area as if looking for someone.

The other diners had noticed her too, and all of them were staring in awe.

After all, her long legs in black stockings and her graceful figure were far too eye-catching. Combined with her coolly beautiful face, she seemed to be on a completely different level from her surroundings.

In everyone’s mind, a woman of her caliber belonged in a luxurious, high-end Western restaurant.

What was she doing at a lively, down-to-earth place like this?

"Holy shit! Those legs are longer than my life!"

Even Qi Junxian, who rarely swore, couldn’t help but exclaim.

"She’s already so tall, and she’s wearing heels on top of that? She’s not giving anyone else a chance!"

"Her body and looks are seriously top-tier! It’s just that her vibe feels a little unapproachable."

Guo Haoran, who had just broken up with his girlfriend, also couldn’t help but sneak a few more glances toward the entrance. He adjusted his glasses and offered an analysis in a faux-serious tone.

"Looks like she’s here to meet someone."

"You don’t think she’s here for me, do you?"

Before Zhao Ye’s flippant words could fade, Sun Yue, who was sitting beside him, twisted his ear.

Usually gentle, she was now like an angry tigress, on the verge of erupting.

"You *wish* she was here for you?"

"I don’t, I don’t!"

Zhao Ye backed down instantly, laughing awkwardly. He quickly turned to Lin Shen for help.

"Don’t just sit there eating! There’s a goddess over there! A super gorgeous one!"

"Mm."

"Don’t just ’mm,’ look! You’ll regret missing this for the rest of your life!"

Zhao Ye threw an arm around Lin Shen’s neck, forcing him to look toward the entrance.

At that same moment, the cool beauty at the door cast her searching gaze in their direction. Her cold eyes narrowed slightly, and she walked straight toward them.

???

Everyone at the table—all four of them besides Lin Shen, including Sun Yue—was completely baffled.

But the woman in black stockings walked up to their table, placed her phone and car keys gently in front of Lin Shen, then pulled up a stool and sat down right next to him.

Zhao Ye: "..."

Guo Haoran: "..."

Qi Junxian: "..."

The three of them looked at each other, then back at each other again, completely dumbfounded, before finally turning their confused gazes toward Lin Shen.

Feeling the intense stares on him, he cleared his throat a few times and braced himself to make the introduction.

"Um... let me introduce you. This is my boss, the marketing director of Pet Guardian Home, Qin Yuenan."

"Hello."

Qin Yuenan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She crossed her stocking-clad legs to the side and nodded to the others at the table.

Zhao Ye asked cautiously.

"You two know each other?"

"Didn’t I just tell you guys I quit my job?"

Lin Shen said with a small smile.

"I’m her assistant now."

Huh?

Zhao Ye’s expression froze. ’I’m so envious, jealous, and full of hate.’

’Dammit!’

’Lin Shen is actually the assistant to a woman of this caliber?’

’Forget getting paid, I’d pay *her* to have that job!’

’Just a minute ago, I thought he was the most pathetic one of us four...’

’But looking at him now, he’s not pathetic at all!’

Zhao Ye took a small sip of tea to ease the awkwardness. Qi Junxian and Guo Haoran were even more at a loss for words.

’Marketing director of Pet Guardian Home... her annual salary must be at least a million, right?’

’We’re not even in the same social class. What could we possibly talk about?’

In an instant, the previously boisterous atmosphere at the table fell silent.

Seeing this, Lin Shen quickly tried to liven things up.

"Don’t be so quiet! Order more if you’re hungry! Where were we? Haozi, weren’t you thinking about changing jobs?"

"Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it."

...

Thanks to Lin Shen’s efforts, the atmosphere gradually returned to the lively state it was in before Qin Yuenan arrived.

He also took the opportunity to quietly ask the cool beauty beside him a question.

"What are you doing here?"

"I’m hungry. Mooching a meal."

Qin Yuenan’s red lips parted. Her four simple words left Lin Shen speechless. He could only point helplessly at the QR code on the table.

"We’re pretty much done eating. See if there’s anything you want and order some more."

"Okay."

Qin Yuenan rested her elbow on her knee and her left hand on her cheek. She took out her phone with her right hand, scanned the code, and began scrolling through the menu.

As she did, Lin Shen’s gaze discreetly shifted to her stocking-clad legs, which were curled toward her. A flash of amazement crossed his eyes.

The sheer stockings were of excellent quality, showing a soft, matte sheen in the bright light that perfectly clung to Qin Yuenan’s full, straight legs.

Her thighs, in particular, showed clear muscle definition, adding a healthy look to their sexiness.

And when she bent her knees, the fabric would bunch up slightly along the creases of her skin, outlining the delicate bones of her ankle.

All these details highlighted the captivating charm of her legs.

The reason Lin Shen hadn’t recognized her at first was precisely because of her legs.

She never wore stockings. Why had she suddenly put them on today?

Lin Shen was puzzled. As he handed Qin Yuenan a skewer, he finally gave in to his curiosity and asked her quietly.

"Nan, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Did you have to attend some important event today?"

"It’s the weekend. I’m not working."

Qin Yuenan glanced back at Lin Shen.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because I’ve never seen you wear stockings before."

Lin Shen said bluntly.

"It’s my first time seeing it. They look pretty good."

"Because you’re the one who said it."

Qin Yuenan’s eyelids lowered slightly, her cool tone laced with an unidentifiable emotion.

"You said this outfit was missing a pair of black stockings."