Chapter 36: I Came Here for a Meal

“Where did this pauper come from? When did Dongyang start letting people like this in?”

The moment another hand appeared on the bank card, Wang Jiayi looked up. He had thought it was someone his wife had sent to deal with Ji An, but it turned out to be a country bumpkin.

“Zhong... Zhong Di?”

The instant she saw his face, Xiaoxin remembered who he was. Zhong Di had come in a hurry today, dressed in his work clothes. Apart from his handsome, sunny face, everything else about him made him look like a complete rustic.

“What do you want? I’m telling you, this has nothing to do with you. This isn’t a place for someone who only knows how to farm.”

Once she realized who it was, Xiaoxin’s anger surged. If it weren’t for these pauper friends, how could Shao Hong have ended up like this? Not to mention anything else, at the very least she could have gotten another couple thousand yuan a month.

“So, you’re just a farmer! No wonder. Look at the dishes on our table—this entire set costs two thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, and it’s by reservation only—not just anyone can have it. How long would it take you to earn that much?”

Zhong Di glanced at the table: scrambled eggs with tomatoes, steamed egg custard, fried eggs, and seaweed egg drop soup. All very ordinary dishes, but the eggs—they seemed to be the ones he supplied. This must be one of Dongyang’s new signature menus.

The whole set probably used less than a kilogram of eggs. They cost a hundred at his place, but here they were nearly three thousand. That’s quite a profit.

Zhong Di wasn’t envious. Being able to sell at that price was thanks to Dongyang’s reputation; besides, the tomatoes and other ingredients must be top-tier, not to mention the cooking skills, restaurant rent, and all the other overheads—the costs were high.

He withdrew his gaze and looked coldly at Xiaoxin, raising the bank card in his hand and speaking softly: “Is this what it’s all about? Is this why you broke up with Shao Hong?”

He didn’t even spare a glance at the man beside him. Compared to Shao Hong, what did this man have to offer? Just money?

For people with such overblown self-confidence, Zhong Di didn’t care to engage. This wasn’t some novel he was reading—he didn’t care for the thrill of stepping on others.

He just wanted to ask Xiaoxin: what had Shao Hong ever done to let her down? If a man loves you, it’s not about how much he gives, but whether he’s willing to give you everything.

Shao Hong had given Xiaoxin everything he had. And Xiaoxin? What had she done in return?

“Let’s be realistic. Although that saying, ‘I’d rather cry in a BMW than laugh on a bicycle,’ is a meme, it’s not without truth.”

“What does Shao Hong have? He’s just a pauper. I must have been blind and impulsive back then. With someone like him, how many lifetimes would it take for me to have the life I want?”

Xiaoxin’s face was twisted with contempt as she met Zhong Di’s cold eyes.

“But I’ll work hard—I’ll definitely give you the life you want.”

Shao Hong appeared behind Zhong Di, his voice choked with sobs.

“Stop kidding yourself. It’s impossible. Security! Get this man out of here!”

At the sight of Shao Hong, Xiaoxin lost all interest in continuing the conversation. This was the first floor, with booth seating. If only they’d gone to the second floor, they wouldn’t have had to suffer this humiliation.

“Sir, please leave.”

At this moment, two security guards entered. How had they let in two people like this?

“Zhong Di, forget it. I’ve given up. Let’s go.”

Seeing the security guards moving to evict them, Shao Hong didn’t want to embarrass his friend, so he swallowed his grievances.

“You keep calling us ‘people like that,’ as if you’re so much better, as if you’re so noble. But when it comes down to it, you’ll do anything for money. Do you really think he’ll stay with you?”

Zhong Di hadn’t meant to say anything, but when he heard Xiaoxin speak about Shao Hong like that, he couldn’t help but think of himself, and his anger boiled over.

“Sir, if you don’t leave, we’ll have to use force.”

The two guards sensed trouble brewing. They didn’t want to lose their jobs, so they resorted to threats.

“Sorry, I’m here to eat.”

As he spoke, Zhong Di pulled a black card from his pocket and sat down at the next booth. He had to admit, the place was comfortable—the design made you feel inexplicably at ease the moment you sat down. Dining here was a real pleasure.

“Oh, so you think you’re something just because you have a card?”

Xiaoxin raised an eyebrow. How had someone so dense gotten into the same university as her?

“Sit down and keep quiet.”

Wang Jiayi’s eyes immediately caught sight of the black card. He knew what that meant—anyone who could get a Dongyang black card was no ordinary person.

“Jiayi, what are you doing? Why are you yelling at me? Those two are just a pair of bumpkins. No one knows them better than I do.”

Seeing Wang Jiayi’s reaction, Xiaoxin realized something must have happened. But what could possibly let two country bumpkins turn the tables?

The restaurant manager, who’d been watching from the sidelines, could no longer keep calm. The black card—since Dongyang was founded, only a handful had ever been issued.

“Honored guest, would you like a private room on the third floor?”

The manager hurried over, nearly running as he reached Zhong Di’s side.

“No need, right here is fine. I’ll have two sets of this menu, and bring out some of your best dishes as well.”

As he handed over the black card, Zhong Di felt a bit nervous. Who knew what level this card really was? If he got embarrassed, it would be a real blow.

He hadn’t expected the black card to be so effective.

“Shao Hong, what are you standing there for? Sit down—it really is comfortable.”

Now that he was sure the card worked, Zhong Di relaxed and invited Shao Hong to join him.

“Yes, of course. Is there anything else you’d like to order?”

The manager bent almost double, knowing that if he failed to serve a black card holder well, he might as well quit.

Fortunately, the egg set menu was a regular feature in their restaurant, and they always reserved three or four kilos in case of unexpected orders. Otherwise, they might have been in trouble.

“No, that’ll do.”

Zhong Di pretended to be casual. He only had a ten-thousand-yuan allowance to claim—if he went over, even with a fifty percent discount, it would still hurt.

The manager hurried off to prepare, leaving behind a few onlookers who, after a brief moment of curiosity, drifted away.

Most diners here were wealthy, with little interest in idle gossip.

Xiaoxin was stunned. The country bumpkins she’d once known so well were now being waited on by the restaurant manager, while she herself was just a floor supervisor. The contrast was stark.

Outside Dongyang’s Private Kitchen, Sun Miaomiao and two of her close friends were walking toward the entrance. All three wore cute little dresses.

“Come on, I’ll treat you to our house specialty egg menu today.”

Sun Miaomiao beamed, eager to see her friends’ exaggerated reactions.

“It’s just eggs—how good can it be?”

One girl in a school-style skirt replied, looking herself over with satisfaction.

Recently, JK and Lolita styles had become popular in their circle. Taking care of one’s appearance was just basic etiquette.