You know what's good for you

Hearing these two words, Pan Ning on the other end of the phone was stunned. She had been lying down but immediately sat up straight.

"Su Yang?"

"Yeah, do you know him?"

"I—" Pan Ning stopped mid-sentence as she realized what must have happened—her father had gone to her place, run into Su Yang, and some misunderstanding had ensued.

"I know him. He’s a friend. I asked him to pick something up for me."

"So it’s true?" the man said, surprised.

"Yes. Dad, why didn’t you tell me you were going to my place? Is Su Yang still there with you?"

"I called you earlier, but you didn’t answer. Your mom and I left a bag at your place last time, and since I happened to be passing by, I thought I’d grab it."

"Oh... So, what happened with Su Yang? Did you two—?"

"Hey, your friend’s got some skills. Not bad at all."

"Huh?"

"Never mind, let me talk to him first."

The man hung up and waved off the waiting security guards. "It’s fine, you can go back now."

"Uh... are you sure?" The guards glanced warily at Su Yang.

"It’s just a misunderstanding. You can leave."

"Understood, Mr. Pan." The guards turned and left.

Now, only Pan Chonghai and an awkward-looking Su Yang remained on the terrace.

Pan Chonghai walked over to a chair and sat down, eyeing Su Yang. "Su Yang, right? Not bad at all."

Su Yang scratched his head and forced a sheepish smile. "Uh, just a bit of practice. What should I call you, sir?"

"Heh, now you’re calling me ‘sir’? Pan Chonghai."

"Got it. I’ll call you Uncle Pan, then."

"Don’t try to cozy up to me. Weren’t you just about to throw hands with me?"

"Well, I thought you were a burglar..."

"Do I look like a burglar?" Pan Chonghai shot back.

"Honestly, you were dressed all in black, wearing a mask, covering your face completely, and carrying a bag. Kinda suspicious..."

"I have a cold!"

"How was I supposed to know?" Su Yang grinned.

Pan Chonghai snorted. "So, what’s your relationship with my daughter?" He reached into his pocket, rummaging for something.

"We’re friends."

"Friends? You expect me to believe that?"

"Why wouldn’t you?" Su Yang countered.

"I know my daughter’s personality. She doesn’t have many male friends, and even if she did, none of them would be close enough to have her home’s passcode."

"So." After a moment of searching, Pan Chonghai finally pulled out a pack of Golden Zhongzhi cigarettes.

He yanked off his mask, lit one, took a drag, and then shook the pack at Su Yang.

"Want one?"

"Uh... am I allowed?" Su Yang was caught off guard.

Pan Chonghai rolled his eyes and tossed the pack over.

"If you want it, take it."

Su Yang chuckled, bent down to pick it up, and lit one for himself.

This old man’s got a decent temper—I hit him, and he still offers me a smoke. Though he doesn’t look that old.

It was true. Pan Chonghai was in good shape—176 cm tall, with a full head of slicked-back hair and hardly any gray. His posture was upright, neither too thin nor too heavy, and his voice carried a robust energy, making him seem like a man in his early forties.

Su Yang studied Pan Chonghai’s face. He looked young, with almost no wrinkles and well-defined features, especially his high-bridged nose. There was even a faint resemblance to Pan Ning.

That was why Su Yang hadn’t connected the man’s voice to Pan Ning’s father earlier. Pan Ning was in her twenties, so her dad should’ve been around fifty.

"So, kid, you’re my daughter’s boyfriend, aren’t you?" Pan Chonghai exhaled a cloud of smoke casually.

Su Yang nearly choked on his inhale. "Uh, well..."

"She hasn’t agreed yet? Or are you still chasing her?"

"Wait, no." Pan Chonghai immediately corrected himself. "If my daughter didn’t like you, she wouldn’t have let you into her home. I’m absolutely certain of that."

"So, you two are dating?"

Su Yang thought for a second. "Sort of."

"What do you mean, ‘sort of’?"

"It’s not officially confirmed yet."

Pan Chonghai scoffed. "Right. By the way, downstairs earlier, what did you say you were to me?" He glared.

Su Yang pretended to be clueless. "Huh? What did I say? I don’t really remember."

"Tch. Kid, you look decent, but you hit like a damn truck. Ouch." Pan Chonghai winced as a sharp pain flared on his face. He pressed a hand to his cheek.

"Sorry about that, Uncle Pan. We both misunderstood—I thought you were a thief, and you thought I was one."

"Wait, why did you run earlier?"

Pan Chonghai gave him a look. "Are you kidding? A strange young guy suddenly appears in my daughter’s home—of course I’d run. I’m pushing fifty. Without a weapon, you think I’d take you on head-to-head?"

Su Yang nodded. "Fair enough. I apologize for what happened."

"No need. From your perspective, you weren’t wrong. At least you’re not a coward."

Su Yang hadn’t expected to be complimented after punching someone.

"Uncle Pan, you’ve got a magnanimous spirit. I think we could be great friends—like they say, no discord, no concord, right?"

"Friends my ass. Do I look that old to you?"

"My bad, my bad. But Uncle Pan, you say you’re almost fifty, yet you look early forties at most. Not a trace of age on you."

"Now that’s what I like to hear."

"Right?" Su Yang laughed and sat down beside Pan Chonghai.

They finished their cigarettes in silence. Then Su Yang suddenly asked, "Uncle Pan, didn’t you say you had a cold? Should you be smoking?"

"You waited till I finished to ask?"

"I didn’t think of it earlier."

Now I know where Pan Ning gets her sharp tongue from. No, not learns—inherits! Su Yang mused.

"I don’t care. Sick or not, I’m smoking."

"Respect." Su Yang gave a thumbs-up.

"So, kid, what do you do for a living?" Pan Chonghai asked.

"Me? Just small-time stuff. Nothing compared to you."

"Like what?"

"I own a restaurant and a media company."

"At least it’s legit. What’s the restaurant called?"

"Moonlight Moments."

"Oh? That’s yours?"

Su Yang blinked. "You’ve been there?"

Pan Chonghai nodded. "A few times. The food’s good."

"No way! I’m honored. Tell you what—I’ll let the staff know. From now on, your meals are on the house."

Pan Chonghai cracked his neck and smirked. "Now you’re talking."

"Your restaurant is truly one-of-a-kind in Haicheng when it comes to Western cuisine. For someone your age to achieve this level is... passable, I suppose."

Su Yang smiled but didn’t respond.

"Alright, that’s settled then. Oh, one more thing—let’s exchange contacts." Pan Chonghai stood up, pulled out his phone, and added Su Yang on WeChat.

"That’s it for now. I’ve got other matters to attend to."

"Uncle Pan, let me walk you out."