Meanwhile, inside Old Lu Hardware Store.
Lu You, with a professional smile, saw off a representative from a large drone manufacturing company in the south.
He had just turned around, ready to greet the next 'Big Leek' waiting in line.
But the store door was pushed open with a loud 'bang' by a forceful shove.
A figure swayed in.
It was a tall, burly man, nearly 1.9 meters in height.
He wore a tight-fitting suit jacket and loose suit trousers.
Especially his noticeably unruly Swallowtail Haircut, which swayed with his every step.
Striding with an arrogant gait, he ignored the already formed queue.
He casually pushed aside a corporate representative who was blocking his way.
The representative, dressed in an Armani suit, stumbled and almost lost his footing.
He stared blankly at the man beside him.
"Hey, what's wrong with you? Don't you know how to queue?" Someone couldn't help but scold.
The burly man seemed not to hear.
His wise eyes scanned the store.
Finally, they accurately locked onto Lu You behind the counter.
He pulled out his naturally loud voice, with a strong Northeastern accent, and shouted:
"Hey, let me ask you! Is this place, this 'gā'r,' the legendary Super Invincible Awesome Hardware Store, big bro?"
His voice was booming and extremely penetrating, instantly silencing the entire hall.
Everyone's gaze, whether they were business elites waiting in line, or tourists watching from a distance, all focused on this uninvited guest.
Lu You was slightly stunned when he heard the address.
"Super Invincible Awesome Hardware Store?" he mused to himself.
"This nickname is quite bold."
He looked up, carefully scrutinizing the man in front of him.
A broad forehead, slightly naive thick eyebrows, and that highly recognizable Swallowtail Haircut...
The more Lu You looked, the more familiar he seemed.
Isn't this the man who became wildly popular on various short video platforms for his unique 'Tiger Bro' style?
He was nicknamed the 'Number One Tiger Bro of the Northeast.'
Rumor has it he's a ruthless character who consistently dominates the 'Must Kill List' in Huludao!
Lu You's lips unconsciously curved into a slight smile.
He noticed a young man with a professional camera following the man.
The camera was pointed this way, clearly filming.
It seemed this 'Tiger Bro' had brought the battle to his doorstep.
"Challenging the store? Interesting."
Lu You understood in his heart, but his face remained impassive.
He even showed a gentle smile and softly replied:
"This is just an ordinary small Hardware Store. Whether it's awesome or not, I don't decide; the customers do."
His answer was flawless.
Both modest and subtly confident, it made all the provocative words the burly man had prepared feel like hitting cotton.
"Oh..." The man clearly didn't expect the other party to be so young and composed.
His 'big bro' got stuck in his throat, and he quickly changed his address:
"It's like this... little bro, I just flew over from Huludao, rushing here just to take care of something with you."
As he spoke, he leaned closer, a strong, rough aura emanating from him.
Lu You maintained his smile.
He looked at him with clear eyes, not responding, quietly waiting for him to continue.
He knew perfectly well.
This old man coming here definitely wasn't up to any good.
The challenge competition had ended several days ago.
Coming to challenge now, wasn't his reaction time a bit too slow?
Seeing Lu You unmoved, the 'Tiger Bro' cleared his throat and began his performance.
"So, isn't this a Hardware Store? You specialize in selling hardware, right?" he asked loudly on purpose, making sure everyone around and the camera could hear.
"Yes, mainly hardware," Lu You nodded.
"Alright!" The man slapped his thigh suddenly, his voice loud.
"Then fine, give me a plate of Stir-fried Tofu with Hot Peppers, I want the tofu stewed until it's really soft, with a sauce that's great for mixing with rice!"
"Pfft—"
As soon as he finished speaking, a corporate representative behind him couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
The atmosphere in the entire hall instantly lightened.
Those business elites who had been somewhat agitated by the wait were no longer in a hurry.
One by one, they crossed their arms with interest.
Ready to enjoy this grand show.
After all, watching a spectacle is a gene ingrained in the people of Dragon Country.
It's the ultimate way to relax after work.
At this moment, buying Stir-fried Tofu with Hot Peppers at Old Lu Hardware Store wasn't too outlandish.
The main thing was that kid's accent was just too amusing.
Lu You's smile remained, a hint of playfulness in his eyes.
The Hushi Tiger Bro's performance wasn't over yet.
He completely ignored the laughter around him.
He continued to stare at Lu You with sincere yet sly eyes, saying:
"And then, give me a pair of lace-trimmed panties, black ones, with a bow. My boyfriend loves to see me wear those things."
"Boom!"
The crowd completely erupted.
If the Stir-fried Tofu with Hot Peppers was just an appetizer.
Then this line, "My boyfriend loves," was practically a depth charge.
"Holy crap! Information overload!"
"Wait, what did he just say? Boyfriend?"
"This big bro really knows how to have fun! He's a ruthless one!"
"Folks, who understands? The imagery just came alive!"
The various representatives who were anxious to sign contracts nearby.
At this moment, there was no trace of the seriousness of business elites on their faces.
They were all laughing hysterically, tears almost streaming down their faces.
"Look at him, with that 'tiger' vibe, that he could do something like this doesn't surprise me at all."
"This guy understands live streaming effects."
The 'Tiger Bro' looked at the well-dressed intellectuals beside him, who were laughing so hard they were swaying.
Far from being embarrassed, he puffed out his chest.
He said seriously, "Why are you laughing? I never joke around with people; what I say is true!"
After speaking, he turned his head back to Lu You.
His sturdy body leaned forward again, the distance between them so close that they could almost feel each other's breath.
He lowered his voice and asked in what he thought was a mysterious tone:
"It's not over yet! After that, give me a hundred crabs minus ninety-eight crabs, they must be alive."
"It's my girlfriend's sixtieth birthday today, and I'm thinking of giving them to her as a birthday present, a surprise!"
"A hundred minus ninety-eight... isn't that just two?"
"This guy is really something else."
"First a boyfriend, then a sixty-year-old girlfriend... This guy's life experiences are more complicated than the contracts we sign!" commented a CEO Wang.
The Hushi Tiger Bro turned to Lu You again.
With a hint of expectation and provocation in his eyes.
He asked almost face-to-face, "Little bro, do you have them or not?"
He was prepared for Lu You to awkwardly say, "This is a Hardware Store; we don't sell those."
These reactions would all be excellent video material.
Lu You looked at his face, which was practically screaming, "Come and punish me."
He knew this guy was purely doing it for the show.
But this naturally ingrained 'Tiger Bro' vibe didn't seem faked at all.
It probably came from his very bones.
He stifled a laugh, his lips twitching wildly upwards, but his professional composure as a boss eventually suppressed it.
He cleared his throat.
Under his expectant gaze, he uttered a single word in a very calm tone:
"Yes!"