Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 150: Free Meal

The next day, as Ding Anguo entered the office, he distinctly felt a different atmosphere. It was a bit odd, because Huang Xiaobao actually took the initiative to greet him and handed over a package wrapped in oil paper.

"I bought some fried dough sticks this morning, they’re still warm, you should have some." Huang Xiaobao said with a smile.

Today, Huang Xiaobao’s hair seemed shinier, and he dressed exceptionally flashy, wearing a large floral silk shirt, black trousers, and polished leather shoes, perfectly coordinated.

Of course, his attitude was even more surprising, warm and friendly.

"Do you have some happy event happening?" Ding Anguo didn’t decline Huang Xiaobao’s kindness since he noticed everyone else in the office was eating the fried dough sticks too. Refusing would make him seem like an outlier, which wasn’t good.

"You saw right through me." Huang Xiaobao grinned, revealing a set of neat, white teeth. Then he put his arm around Ding Anguo’s shoulder and ushered him outside the office.

Huang Xiaobao’s height was about the same as Ding Anguo’s, so when he put his arm over, their heads drew close. The relationship between the two appeared harmonious to outsiders, leaving no one with a different impression.

"Anguo, we joined the company at the same time; that’s destiny," Huang Xiaobao started off warmly, "There’s no one at my home today, nowhere to eat. Since you happen to be good at cooking, could you invite me over for dinner tonight?"

Ding Anguo was a bit puzzled and hesitant. Although he didn’t dislike Huang Xiaobao, he didn’t particularly like him either, and it wasn’t a relationship close enough to invite him home for dinner.

But since he had extended an open invitation to colleagues to dine, he hadn’t expected anyone to take him up on it, let alone Huang Xiaobao to be the first. So, he found himself at a loss for words to refuse.

Seeing Ding Anguo offer no resistance, Huang Xiaobao seized the opportunity, "You agreed silently, I understand. Thank you; we’ll head home together after work tonight."

After finishing his piece, Huang Xiaobao returned to the office without delay.

Later during lunch, Huang Xiaobao specifically called Ding Anguo over to his table, shared dishes like minced meat egg custard and braised fish, and put a few servings into Ding Anguo’s lunch box, treating him with great hospitality as if they were old friends.

After lunch, Ding Anguo finally managed to slip away. Inviting Huang Xiaobao to the house for dinner seemed inevitable now, so he decided to notify his family, starting with his big brother, Ding Ancheng. Thus, during lunch break, Ding Anguo rode his bike to find Ding Ancheng.

Ding Ancheng was resting at home and opened the door when he heard the knock, seeing Ding Anguo covered in sweat from cycling, his heart skipped a beat, fearing it might be bad news.

"Big brother, can I invite a colleague from work over for dinner?" Ding Anguo asked awkwardly, "I offhandedly mentioned it before, but today a colleague wants to come over because he’s home alone and has no dinner plans."

Ding Ancheng frowned, looking at Ding Anguo with visible displeasure, "You came just to tell me something so trivial?"

Ding Anguo was a bit embarrassed, "Big brother, there are plenty of people eating at home, and the visitor is an unmarried male colleague, so I thought to ask you."

"You should ask Anmin, she’s the one cooking today, and would know best about increasing the portion size. Moreover, Xia has found someone, leaving Anmin the only one without prospects," Ding Ancheng replied with some helplessness.

"You’re Anmin’s second brother, when it concerns inviting colleagues over, you could just make the request rather than asking. You’ve stepped into society and need to learn to make decisions, especially on such trivial matters," Ding Ancheng advised, "We trust your judgment in making friends, and if you agree to let the colleague dine at home, his character must be reliable."

"In the future, such matters of an extra pair of chopsticks shouldn’t be cause to seek me out specifically anymore."

The door closed in front of Ding Anguo, who chuckled to himself, scratched his head, and cycled off towards the food factory.

Coming out of the office, Ding Anmin spotted Ding Anguo at the gate, "Second brother, what’s up?"

Ding Anguo explained the situation again.

"There’s enough food at home, I’ll just rinse a bit more rice tonight," Ding Anmin agreed immediately.

"Then I’ll head back first." Ding Anguo said with a smile.

Ding Anmin waved to the departing cyclist, humming a tune as she returned inside.

That evening, after work, Ding Anguo called over Huang Xiaobao, seeing him pull out a green mesh bag from under his desk containing malted milk, milk candies, canned yellow peaches, and a few boxes of peach pastries.

"I wasn’t sure what your family likes, so I picked some universal favorites," Huang Xiaobao said with a gentle smile.

"You’re just coming for a meal; there’s no need to buy so many expensive things." Ding Anguo was a bit taken aback. Although his family wasn’t lacking in necessities, even visiting relatives didn’t warrant such a lavish gift, and all items were quite pricy.

"First time visiting, can’t skimp," Huang Xiaobao grinned, "I’m thinking that if there’s no one at home in the future, perhaps you’ll host me again." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Ding Anguo and Huang Xiaobao rode their bicycles side by side to the house in Bright Alley.

As they arrived at the gate, they coincidentally encountered Yi Roujing and a few others returning from work.

Huang Xiaobao almost fell off his bike; three beautiful women side by side with a handsome man behind was unprecedented for him. What truly startled him wasn’t the beauty, but the bloodstains visible on Ding Anmin’s sleeve walking on the far left.

"You, are you okay?" Huang Xiaobao, steadying his bike, approached to express concern over the sight of blood on Ding Anmin’s right hand.

Yi Roujing paused upon seeing someone dressed so flamboyantly, wondering how much hair oil it took for such shine.

She was more surprised by his concern for Ding Anmin, "Anmin, is this your colleague?"

"No," Ding Anmin shook her head and then realized, "You’re my second brother’s colleague, coming over for dinner."

Huang Xiaobao nodded, "What happened to your hand?"

"It’s nothing, just a minor scrape," Ding Anmin replied nonchalantly; the blood on the sleeve wasn’t noticeable unless looked closely, and the injury on her forearm was light, not leaving scars. Besides, her sister-in-law already treated it.

Once inside the courtyard, where Ding Anmin headed to the kitchen to rinse the rice for dinner, Huang Xiaobao grew anxious.

"Anguo, your sister’s hand is injured," Huang Xiaobao said to Ding Anguo who was washing bikes in the yard.

"My sister-in-law is a nurse; she must have looked after it. It’s fine," Ding Anguo replied, having seen much worse during farming in the brigade.

Huang Xiaobao was utterly stunned, believing Ding Anguo wasn’t the caring type when it came to his sister.

"I’ll go help," feeling too restless to stay idle, Huang Xiaobao dashed into the kitchen to assist.