Guests Asked to Leave the Elegant Residence

"As long as everyone moves somewhere else, the meal's on Elegant Residence, and you'll get thirty percent off next time."

There were people on both sides Lin Dongqiang couldn't afford to offend. He had no choice but to explain himself, or he would never convince Liu Zihai.

"That's it?"

Liu Zihai had once robbed homes, bullied men, and preyed on women. There was little he hadn't done. At the mention of the bill, he naturally saw a chance to squeeze Lin Dongqiang for money.

"Ten thousand."

"And what if I tell everyone Elegant Residence is throwing its guests out?"

Lin Dongqiang held up one finger, but Liu Zihai shook his head and threatened him.

"Ten thousand? You think I'm a beggar?"

"A hundred thousand."

Lin Dongqiang raised the offer at once.

"That's the most I'm authorized to give."

Liu Zihai might have been powerful, but the Lin Family was no pushover. Still, men like him were a nightmare to deal with, so Lin Dongqiang grudgingly offered a hundred thousand.

Liu Zihai considered it. He knew that if he angered the Lin Family, he would suffer for it. Their influence in Gong City could not be ignored.

"Fine!"

Liu Zihai nodded. Lin Dongqiang immediately handed over the money, and only then did Liu Zihai wave to his men.

"Brothers, let's eat somewhere else."

The dozen or so men finally grinned and nodded. Some even praised Lin Dongqiang for handling things so well. Watching the thugs leave, Lin Dongqiang spat. If Lin Cheng hadn't been pressing him so hard, he would have dragged out the negotiations with Liu Zihai.

The brown CC pulled into the parking lot outside Elegant Residence. Zhang Yang got out but waited for Cheng Dongxue and Lin Xiaofei instead of going in.

He lifted both arms slightly, waiting for the two beautiful women to take one each.

Cheng Dongxue and Lin Xiaofei exchanged amused looks.

"Such a show-off."

Cheng Dongxue took Zhang Yang's arm anyway, grumbling as she did.

Seeing that Cheng Dongxue didn't mind, Lin Xiaofei took his other arm. After everything she and Zhang Yang had done together, linking arms was hardly a big deal.

The three walked side by side toward Elegant Residence.

Even the greeters at the entrance recognized Zhang Yang and bowed respectfully. The manager on duty today was the young woman who had helped him the night before last.

"Welcome, Mr. Zhang. Your private room is ready. Please, come upstairs!"

Why was the manager greeting me instead of the boss?

Zhang Yang leaned closer and glanced at the badge pinned to her chest. It read: Manager Su Xiner.

"Manager Su Xiner, where's Lin Dongqiang?"

"Oh, our boss is upstairs getting the private room ready. He's been waiting for you, Mr. Zhang."

Su Xiner didn't step away when Zhang Yang leaned in. Without his word on her behalf, she would still be an ordinary server. Now she wore a smart uniform and ran the place.

Even Lin Dongqiang couldn't afford to offend Zhang Yang, much less a manager like her. When Su Xiner heard he was coming, she had made sure to greet him with the utmost respect. If she were asked to drink with him, she wouldn't have objected.

Nor was she surprised that Zhang Yang called Lin Dongqiang by name. It wasn't her place to comment.

"Mr. Zhang, I'll show you up. I'll personally serve your lunch today, as Mr. Lin instructed. If you need anything at all, please just ask me."

Su Xiner spoke as she led the three of them into the elevator and held it for Zhang Yang.

The elevator fell quiet. Zhang Yang said nothing.

"This..."

Lin Xiaofei had no idea what had happened between Zhang Yang and Elegant Residence. She was utterly confused.

"I'll tell you all about it when we get home," Cheng Dongxue whispered to her.

"This way, Mr. Zhang."

When the elevator reached the upper floor, Su Xiner eagerly led Zhang Yang toward the private room.

The upper floor was much quieter than the main dining area. Only when they passed the doors of the private rooms could they hear voices calling out inside.

"Mr. Lin, Mr. Zhang is here!"

Lin Dongqiang had been clearing things out of the room with his staff. They had just finished when Su Xiner arrived with the guests.

"Welcome, Mr. Zhang. What do you think? Is everything satisfactory?"

Lin Dongqiang ushered them into the room and waited for Zhang Yang's answer.

The private room was elegantly furnished, with solid wood throughout. The spacious room had two sections with no partition between them, though a folded screen stood to one side.

A large dining table occupied one side, and a large tea table the other.

The room was well suited to entertaining important guests or holding business talks.

"It'll do." Zhang Yang looked around and sat down.

With only three of them, the enormous dining table seemed wasteful and inconvenient. Zhang Yang didn't say anything about it, though.

Once he sat down, Cheng Dongxue and Lin Xiaofei naturally took the seats on either side of him.

As soon as they were seated, Lin Dongqiang ordered his staff to bring out tea and fruit, all of the best quality.

He didn't wait for Zhang Yang to order. Knowing this was someone he could not afford to offend, he said, "Mr. Zhang, please wait here while I arrange the dishes. Manager Su will look after you."

Lin Dongqiang had misunderstood the situation. Because Zhang Yang had put in a word for Su Xiner, he had taken especially good care of her. She had become manager as she'd hoped, at a salary even higher than the previous manager's.

He assumed Su Xiner and Zhang Yang already knew each other. Leaving her to serve Zhang Yang was his way of currying favor.

Zhang Yang nodded.

Given Lin Dongqiang's relationship to Lin Xiaofei, having him stay to serve them would make her uncomfortable. Zhang Yang wanted to spare her that embarrassment, so he agreed.

"But we haven't ordered," Cheng Dongxue said at once. How could he prepare dishes when they hadn't chosen any?

"Mrs. Zhang, Elegant Residence knows what to serve. Please wait a moment."

Lin Dongqiang spoke respectfully, then left the private room.

Even Lin Xiaofei was stunned by the treatment, despite what she had seen that day.

"Mr. Zhang, please let me know if you need anything." Su Xiner smiled and stood to one side.

It was rare to have someone attend to them throughout a meal. Zhang Yang didn't want to discourage her, so he let her stay.

"Zhang Yang, who is she?" Lin Xiaofei asked softly, glancing at the neatly uniformed, delicate-looking Su Xiner beside them.

"Oh, a friend," Zhang Yang replied casually.

Being called a friend caught Su Xiner off guard and warmed her heart.

The three drank tea and ate fruit. Lin Xiaofei and Cheng Dongxue had hardly eaten at Yang Su's birthday banquet; all they'd had was a bellyful of anger.

For now, they filled their empty stomachs with tea and fruit.

The three weren't particular about dining formalities. Lin Dongqiang also worried Zhang Yang might be hungry after what he had witnessed at Wangda Hotel, so he sent the first two dishes over as soon as they were ready.

Cheng Dongxue and Lin Xiaofei dug in. Elegant Residence's reputation was well earned: the chef had put care into the food, and every bite was delicious. The two food lovers looked utterly delighted.

"Su Xiner, come eat with us." Zhang Yang turned to look at her. She stood with her hands clasped in front of her, waiting for instructions.