Chapter 153: A Lingering Sense of Wanting More

Jiang Muyun did not reply to Mu Qiao directly, but instead said, "Why don't we just call Zhang Shen right now? We might even get an unexpected reward."

Mu Qiao truly had not expected Jiang Muyun's approach to be so "casual"—after all, what could not be figured out with a simple phone call? If it really went unanswered for a long time, it would still not be too late for Jiang Muyun and her to seek help elsewhere.

"That seems feasible!"

Upon hearing Jiang Muyun's suggestion, Mu Qiao expressed her approval.

Immediately, Jiang Muyun took out her phone. Just as she was about to dial Zhang Shen's number, she suddenly remembered that she seemed to know someone else, and this person was also inextricably linked to the Panlong Restaurant.

"Sister Mu, do you think we should call Huang Wanting first?"

Hearing this, Mu Qiao immediately rejected Jiang Muyun's suggestion.

"My dear, have you ever considered that you have only met Huang Wanting twice at most? How much do you really know about her? Right now, we must prepare for the absolute worst-case scenario. After all, if something goes wrong, none of us can guarantee the final outcome."

Listening to Mu Qiao's words, Jiang Muyun naturally knew this was a highly rational course of action.

"Then let's call Zhang Shen first!"

With that, Jiang Muyun slid her finger across the screen and placed the call.

Accompanied by the ringing tone, Zhang Shen on the other end of the line did not answer for a long time. At first, Jiang Muyun thought nothing of it, but as time dragged on, she grew increasingly uneasy, and a faint sense of foreboding began to creep into her heart.

Before long, that phone call ultimately went unanswered by Zhang Shen.

Hanging up the phone, Jiang Muyun immediately said to Mu Qiao, "Sister Mu, Zhang Shen isn't answering. Do you think he might have..."

Regarding Zhang Shen's current predicament, Jiang Muyun hardly dared to imagine the worst. After all, although this fellow could be a bit of a heartless jerk, the time spent with him had been truly joyful, bringing her a happiness she had never experienced before.

Faced with this situation, Mu Qiao momentarily did not know how to explain things to comfort Jiang Muyun.

Finally, after a moment of deep thought, Mu Qiao unexpectedly said to Jiang Muyun, "If you want, Miss, why don't you try calling him one more time?"

In truth, the moment those words left her mouth, Mu Qiao felt they were somewhat redundant. Yet upon hearing this, Jiang Muyun responded instantly, "You're right!"

In Mu Qiao's eyes, Jiang Muyun was still a child who had not fully grown up, willing to accept any advice as long as it carried the slightest bit of sense.

After hearing Mu Qiao's suggestion, Jiang Muyun dialed Zhang Shen's cell phone once more. This time, after the same lingering rings, there was still no answer. However, after dozens of seconds of continuous ringing, a weak voice finally came from the other end of the line.

"Hello!"

Jiang Muyun was more than familiar with that voice.

"Zhang Shen, where are you?"

Neither Jiang Muyun nor Mu Qiao knew that Zhang Shen had been fast asleep for hours, so her call had simply connected by coincidence at that moment.

After asking her first question and receiving no reply from Zhang Shen, Jiang Muyun asked again with a hint of urgency, "Are you alright? Do you want me to come pick you up?"

The newly awakened Zhang Shen was naturally incapable of appreciating Jiang Muyun's anxious state of mind. To him, Jiang Muyun's call had merely interrupted a wonderful dream.

"Stop messing around. How could anything possibly be wrong with me? I'm having a great time!"

At this moment, Zhang Shen was still completely lost in the lingering haze of his dream. Therefore, he remained completely oblivious to Jiang Muyun's concern.

Having worried for so long, Jiang Muyun never expected to receive such a reply, and the expression on her face instantly shifted from sunny to stormy. Unable to hold back any longer, she burst out cursing, "You heartless jerk! This young lady called you out of concern, so you can just go die now!"

With that, Jiang Muyun angrily hung up the phone. However, Zhang Shen did not dwell on it and simply drifted back into a deep sleep.

Within his dream, Zhang Shen seemed completely unconscious, yet a voice kept echoing relentlessly in the back of his mind:

*Heartless jerk, heartless jerk, heartless jerk...*

Only then did Zhang Shen suddenly realize that he seemed to have just spoken on the phone with someone familiar.

Slowly, Zhang Shen began to open his eyes, and his sole sensation now was an overwhelming soreness throughout his entire body.

"Ouch, my head hurts so much!"

This was Zhang Shen's immediate reaction upon waking. Yet he had no idea why he had ended up in such a state after eating lunch.

No sooner had Zhang Shen finished muttering to himself than a familiar voice walked in from the doorway.

"Mr. Zhang, how are you feeling? I saw you sleeping so soundly that I closed the restaurant door. However, it's almost time for the restaurant to close, so I came to disturb you rather abruptly."

"Closing time?"

Zhang Shen's immediate reaction to these words was sheer astonishment. He thought to himself that he had merely felt a bit drowsy, so how on earth had he slept until now?

"What time is it?"

"Ten o'clock at night!"

Seeing Zhang Shen's hazy, bewildered state, Long Si simply stated the time in a 24-hour format, hoping to snap him back to reality.

"What the hell, it's this late?"

Ever since stepping into the Panlong Restaurant today, Zhang Shen had maintained a cautious attitude, but at this moment, he could not help cursing out loud. One could only imagine how bewildered he felt inside.

"This..."

The words Long Si intended to say were quickly cut short by Zhang Shen.

"No way, it's too late, I have to go back."

With that, Zhang Shen prepared to get up from his seat, but it was at this very moment that he realized the utter weakness in his limbs.

As he stood up, he nearly lost his footing and tumbled straight to the floor. Fortunately, Long Si was quick-witted and agile, catching Zhang Shen just in time. Seeing Zhang Shen's condition, Long Si said, "Mr. Zhang, seeing you looking so frail, why don't you stay here at my shop for the night? I really wouldn't feel at ease letting you go back all by yourself."

Normally, Long Si's words would have been entirely reasonable and justified, but for Zhang Shen at this moment, he was truly willing yet lacking in strength.

Even though he desperately wanted to move his legs, his body simply refused to obey.

Just as Zhang Shen was wondering what to do next, his phone rang urgently once again. This time, Zhang Shen heard it loud and clear, yet the name displayed on the screen left him feeling utterly incredulous.