"Who asked you about the rent?!" the young man roared. "Why would I ask you about the rent? What use would I have for renting this dump?"
The waiter seemed intimidated by the young man's bluster; he could barely get his words out.
"G-guest, you didn't ask clearly. I-I didn't know you couldn't afford it."
"You!"
The young man's commotion was so loud that it soon drew the attention of the other diners.
"Isn't that Li Zhuo, the Left Chancellor's youngest grandson?"
"He's Li Zhuo, one of the famed Four Young Masters of the Imperial City. I hear the Left Chancellor especially dotes on him?"
"Good heavens, then the person competing with Li Zhuo's wealth is in for a world of trouble, isn't he?"
"Of course. Who in the Imperial City would dare try to outshine Li Zhuo?"
"And that waiter, too. He's probably going to suffer for it."
Lu Yang wasn't very familiar with the prices in the Imperial City. Curious, he asked from the side, "Is the rent at Fragrant Heaven Tower really that expensive? Why does he look like he can't afford it?"
Meng Jingzhou yawned beside him, bored. "Poor guy, I get it. He just wants to bite off more than he can chew and show off in front of his date. Tighten his belt, and he can probably afford a pot of wine and a few small dishes. But this rent? He couldn't afford it even if it snapped his waist in two. Waiter, I'll pay a year's rent for Fragrant Heaven Tower!"
The waiter was overjoyed. He hurried over to serve Meng Jingzhou's table, kneading his shoulders and pounding his legs. "Thank you, honored guest!"
Li Zhuo's face flushed red, then white. He cared deeply about appearances and liked to make a show of