Bullying a Customer

"Oh, so you're going to pull strings at Elegant Residence? Have you forgotten how much it hurt? Are your knees better yet?" Zhang Yang taunted.

"Touch me again and I'll leave your corpse in the street," Yang Qintian snapped.

"Zhang Yang, don't make trouble. Let's eat." Cheng Dongxue didn't want him causing a scene here either. Besides, Yang Qintian had powerful connections, and Zhang Yang couldn't afford to cross him.

"Enough talk, unless you want me to treat your legs again," Zhang Yang replied with a cold smile. Dealing with Yang Qintian would be easy. He could leave the man without a place to be buried with a flick of his hand.

Yang Qintian suddenly strode over with a cold smile and stopped beside Zhang Yang's table.

"I'm a Platinum Member here. A regular. I get twenty percent off. You? You're just a broke loser. A meal here, with this many dishes, must cost you half a month's wages!"

Yang Qintian remained as arrogant as ever. Customers were kings here, and as a Platinum Member, he felt he ought to be king of the customers.

"I haven't seen many men as shameless as you, living off their wives. She'll be paying the bill later, won't she?" Yang Qintian grew bolder still.

"Heh..." Zhang Yang gave a cold laugh. If his wife Cheng Dongxue hadn't been there, he would have lost his patience long ago. With a thousand years of experience and countless skills, how could he let this brat push him around?

"Mr. Yang, let it go. Be the bigger man. Let's order and eat!"

His beautiful secretary Zhang Jing came over and took his arm as she tried to persuade him. She was Yang Qintian's secretary and Cheng Dongxue's colleague. They would still have to see each other at work, and making enemies now would do no good.

"Ha! We'll have time to eat later, won't we? I've got money and status. Once we're done, we can have some fun." As Yang Qintian spoke, he planted a kiss on Zhang Jing's cheek.

"See? I've got money and status. Even my beautiful secretary eats with me—and sleeps with me afterward. What about you? A broke freeloader who needs his wife to keep him fed."

Yang Qintian pulled Zhang Jing into his arms, flaunting their intimacy for everyone to see.

A commotion had gathered around them. The diners here were all people of standing, too dignified to crowd around and gawk, but they stayed in their seats and turned their attention toward the table.

Being humiliated was a thing of the past.

"You're asking for it!" Zhang Yang slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. He had endured enough of this man's bullying.

"Zhang Yang, stay calm." Cheng Dongxue wanted no trouble and caught his arm to hold him back.

Yang Qintian froze, then burst out laughing. Pointing at Zhang Yang, he called to the room, "Everyone, look at him! This kept man is probably limp down there too. He's scared of his wife! Ha ha!"

Cheng Dongxue had managed to restrain Zhang Yang, but that only made Yang Qintian push harder. He was determined to put Zhang Yang in his place.

Several waiters hurried over when they heard the disturbance. Between them, they finally persuaded everyone to return to their seats and eat.

Cheng Dongxue was wary of Yang Qintian, but Zhang Yang had no reason to be. He knew all the man's secrets, even who his wife Cheng Li had slept with. What was there to fear?

But Yang Qintian wasn't worth Zhang Yang's attention, so he settled down and ate.

Zhang Yang didn't take Yang Qintian seriously. Even crushing him would bring no sense of accomplishment.

The other diners were stunned. After all that, Zhang Yang could still eat, and with perfect composure. Perhaps he really was a kept man. Others saw it differently: a man who could endure this and calmly finish his meal was no ordinary man.

After all, a man knew when to yield and when to stand firm.

Watching Zhang Yang eat so calmly made Yang Qintian seethe. Who does he think he's fooling? A broke nobody can pretend all he wants, but he'll never look rich and handsome.

Yet even as the meal drew to a close, Zhang Yang remained as composed as ever.

"Waiter! Waiter..."

Yang Qintian suddenly began shouting orders. Two waiters hurried over. At Elegant Residence, a regular who was also a Platinum Member was a prized customer.

"Mr. Yang, how can we help you?"

One of them was the heavily made-up waitress who had greeted Zhang Yang earlier.

"That man's name is Zhang Yang. He's a complete waste of space, a broke loser. Elegant Residence's standards must be slipping. How can you let someone like him dine here? How is anyone else supposed to enjoy their meal?"

Yang Qintian spoke to the heavily made-up waitress as though scolding her.

She already disliked Zhang Yang. Besides, Yang Qintian was a Platinum Member. If a Platinum Member had a complaint or suggestion, she had to listen.

"Exactly. Broke losers and dogs aren't allowed. Doesn't he know that?"

"No, no, my dog should be allowed. Look at him—his genuine-leather collar is from a major international brand, and it's studded with diamonds. He's far classier than some broke loser."

"That's not fair. If you open your doors to diners, anyone who comes in is a customer. Besides, he hasn't had the bill yet. How can you call him broke?"

Yang Qintian's introduction set the whole restaurant buzzing. Everyone in Elegant Residence seemed to be talking about Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang, meanwhile, remained unruffled, as though they were discussing someone else. Cheng Dongxue's face flushed and paled in turn. Mortified, she lowered her head and said nothing, unable to face anyone.

"Hear that? I'm not the only one saying it. A broke loser is a broke loser wherever he goes," Yang Qintian said smugly, his vanity evidently satisfied, if only a little.

Zhang Yang smiled coldly and glanced at Yang Qintian's knees. Yang Qintian had, after all, climbed to his position by having his wife sleep with other men. Guilt made him take an involuntary step back, afraid his knees would suddenly hurt again and send him kneeling before Zhang Yang.

With so many customers objecting to Zhang Yang, the waitress offered no explanation. Yang Qintian was a Platinum Member, while Zhang Yang was visiting Elegant Residence for the first time. She chose to sacrifice Zhang Yang as a customer.

"So Elegant Residence needs to throw this lowlife out. Otherwise, none of us will spend money here again," Yang Qintian threatened when the waitress made no move.

She had already weighed her options, but throwing out a customer would still put the restaurant in the wrong.

Seeing the crowd join in, the waitress showed no embarrassment. Instead, delight crossed her face. Zhang Yang had embarrassed her earlier, and now she finally had her revenge.

"I'm sorry, sir. Please leave, or I'll call security." The heavily made-up waitress raised a hand toward Zhang Yang, ordering him and his wife out.

Zhang Yang finally lifted his icy gaze to the waitress. He caught the glimmer of pleasure in her expression.

"Don't go too far. I'm a customer too, and I'll pay."

Zhang Yang had reached the limit of his patience. If he said nothing and simply got up and ran, he really would be the spineless man they claimed he was. Besides, Elegant Residence would never let him leave without paying the bill.

"I'm a Platinum Member. What I spend eating here in a week exceeds your food budget for a year. Take the hint and leave before they drag you out!"

Yang Qintian grinned, every inch the gloating victor.