Chapter 26 Shabby

Chapter 26: Dowdy

"She looks familiar?" Cheng Feng frowned. He didn't recognize this face at all; he was certain he had never seen her before.

The pretty girl tilted her head, pondering for a long moment, then suddenly smacked her hands together, her eyes lit up.

"I remember now!"

Her voice carried a hint of excited tremor as she pointed at Cheng Feng, her tone full of incredulous delight.

"You... you're that good-looking guy who saved someone yesterday morning!"

"Oh my god! I actually met the real person! You're the internet's hottest anonymous hero right now!"

The girl was so excited she stomped her feet on the spot, fumbling to pull out her phone. She took a couple of steps closer to Cheng Feng, with a click her camera was pointed at the two of them, and she asked with puppy-dog eyes:

"Um... can I take a photo with you?"

Cheng Feng looked at her already raised phone, thinking, *You've already opened the camera and aimed it at us, and you're still asking me?*

"Sure."

The pretty young woman's face flushed with excitement. She took several photos, still not satisfied, and even wanted to shake Cheng Feng's hand before recording a video to show she had met the hottest anonymous hero lately.

When she finally put down her phone, the look she gave Cheng Feng was practically glowing with admiration:

"Hero, what's your name?"

"Cheng Feng."

The pretty young woman nodded and asked again,

"How old are you?"

Cheng Feng sighed inwardly. Why did someone always ask his age? Did he really seem that childish?

He wasn't actually short—fourteen years old and 176 cm tall!!

Why did people always ask his age?

The pretty young woman seemed to realize her question was abrupt and quickly introduced herself with a smile:

"My name is Chen Xiaodan. I'm twenty-eight this year, from Luohuang Village..."

She chattered on for a long time, from her hometown to her current job, unable to stop once she started talking.

Cheng Feng listened, his face full of surprise.

The woman before him didn't look like she came from the countryside at all.

Her demeanor was clean and refined, with a scholarly air about her. He asked and found out she was actually a Ph.D.

With such a high degree, why would she settle for being a waitress in this small restaurant?

Cheng Feng was utterly shocked.

He couldn't help but ask: "With your high education, why did you come to a place like this to work?"

Hearing this, Chen Xiaodan's smile faded slightly, and her tone carried a hint of helplessness:

"When I interviewed at big companies, they immediately asked for work experience. I applied to several related positions, but they required a master's degree, and some even demanded strong technical skills. I'm the typical bookworm—no experience, no technical skills—I couldn't get in at all."

She paused before continuing: "Later, I settled for smaller companies, but I ran into unscrupulous bosses who exploited employees every day. I stuck it out for a few months but couldn't take it anymore, so I quit. After all that back and forth, I was truly exhausted and didn't want to do those brain-intensive, overtime jobs anymore."

"Later, I thought about finding something more relaxed, starting as an ordinary restaurant waitress. It paid about three thousand a month, didn't include accommodation, and money was tight. I switched jobs several times before landing this one, which pays seven or eight thousand a month and includes meals and accommodation. I've been working here steadily ever since."

Cheng Feng was dumbfounded.

So even with such a high degree, you could only earn this little money in the end?

Was he making money or losing out by dropping out of school to work now?

Honestly, he felt he was losing out.

Because he loved learning. He always felt that the knowledge in books could enrich a person's inner world, make them different, and even push them toward a higher social class.

So even though he couldn't sit in a classroom now, he never stopped learning whenever he had free time.

About an hour later, a waiter's voice called from outside the private room, summoning Cheng Feng.

Hearing this, Cheng Feng immediately stood up, waved goodbye to Chen Xiaodan, and quickly walked to the door of the adjacent private room to wait.

Not long after, Shang Xu, Tao Yehao, and their group leisurely walked out.

These young men were all tall and straight, making the 176 cm Cheng Feng appear particularly thin and frail.

Tao Yehao had clearly drunk quite a bit, staggering out unsteadily. Glancing sideways and seeing Cheng Feng waiting nearby, he immediately hooked an arm around Cheng Feng's shoulders, leaning down slightly with a teasing, frivolous tone:

"You little nanny... you're a bit too short. Brother Xu, isn't your nanny dressed a bit too dowdy? Has the Shang family fallen on hard times? This outfit is really dragging you down."

Cheng Feng glanced at his hand and secretly curled his lip. *What's so shabby about it?*

His clothes might be cheap finds from Pinduoduo, worn for a long time, but they were clean and tidy. How could they be described like that?

Upon hearing this, Shang Xu merely turned his head and gave Cheng Feng a faint glance, his thin lips parting slightly:

"Let's go."

With that, he strode forward directly.

Cheng Feng immediately followed. Tao Yehao, who had been leaning on him, suddenly lost support, staggering two steps and nearly falling to the ground.

Tao Yehao immediately frowned, complaining unhappily:

"Hey! What's wrong with you? You left without saying a word. Could you afford to pay if I got hurt?"

Cheng Feng paused, turning back to look at Tao Yehao.

He could tell this was a genuine young master from a wealthy family, someone he couldn't afford to offend. He lowered his head slightly and said softly:

"Sorry, young master."

Shang Xu looked back at him. "You're not the Tao family's servant."

Cheng Feng pursed his lips. Had he said the wrong thing?

Shang Xu continued walking forward, and Cheng Feng hurried to catch up.

Watching Cheng Feng's figure quickly chasing after Shang Xu into the distance, Tao Yehao suddenly laughed, stroking his chin and saying:

"That kid is quite interesting. Shang Xu actually brought him along to our thing."

Qi Lü beside him patted his shoulder, not bothered. "What are you thinking? He probably just got a ride."

Tao Yehao tutted, his imagination running wild: "I don't think so. That kid definitely isn't just some help. Maybe he's a Shang family bastard? Otherwise, why would Shang Xu bring him out? To give him a taste of the high life?"

The others rolled their eyes upon hearing this, all taken aback by his outrageous imagination. Talk about a wild idea!

On the other side, Cheng Feng followed Shang Xu into the car, sitting properly in the passenger seat, quiet as a mouse the entire time.

As the car started, he gazed at the scenery whipping past the window and soon realized something was off.

This wasn't the road back to the Shang Manor at all.

Where was Young Master Shang off to now?

It was almost 11 AM. Shouldn't it be time to go back for lunch... No, Young Master Shang just ate, so he definitely isn't hungry.

About twenty minutes later, the car came to a smooth stop in front of an extremely luxurious menswear store.

Cheng Feng tilted his head in confusion.

What are we doing here? To buy clothes?

He'd heard the Shangs never set foot in stores for clothes. They always had entire store inventories delivered to their home to sift through at their leisure. Besides, Young Master Shang's own closet was probably bigger than this store.

Forget it. Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, don't think what you shouldn't think. This isn't something he should worry about.

"Get out." Shang Xu's voice cut through the silence.

Cheng Feng quickly pushed the car door open, got out, and jogged around to the driver's side to open the door for Shang Xu.

Shang Xu looked down at him but said nothing, striding straight into the store. Cheng Feng hurried to keep up.

As soon as they entered the store, Shang Xu barked at the elegantly dressed saleswoman beside him:

"Pick out ten outfits for him."

This store was owned by the Shangs, so the saleswoman naturally recognized the young master. She answered promptly and respectfully:

"Yes, Young Master."

She turned and looked Cheng Feng up and down, then said to him with a smile,

"Sir, please come with me over here."

Cheng Feng's eyes widened instantly, his face full of disbelief.

For *me*?

Is this the reward Butler Liu mentioned?

No way!!!

And he's personally buying clothes for a servant!

He had glanced at the price tags earlier; even a single piece of clothing cost tens of thousands. This is way too generous!

To be honest, compared to these flashy but impractical clothes, he'd rather have cold, hard cash.

But he wouldn't dare say that to the young master. He could only grumble internally.

He obediently followed the saleswoman to the side, watching as she took out a well-tailored outfit, held it up against him a couple of times, and said softly,

"Sir, please try this set on first to see if it fits."

Cheng Feng took the clothes, turned, and ducked into the fitting room.