About ten or so minutes later, more than ten bowls of noodles, two steak and rice plates, and eight side dishes were all placed in front of Li Wuyang and Liu Renming.
"President Lin, you’re being too generous. We were just planning to grab a quick bite. Making such a feast... I feel a little bad."
"Don’t worry about it. It’s not like you aren’t paying. Eat whatever you want, as much as you want."
Li Wuyang: ???
’We still have to fucking pay?’
"We came over for some noodles and we have to pay? You can’t even show us that much courtesy?" Liu Renming said, his expression cold.
"What, did you expect it for free? Are you trying to dine and dash? That’s against the rules, isn’t it?"
"Hey, everyone! All waitstaff, come over here! Take out your phones and start recording. These two guys are trying to dine and dash."
Li Yuanyuan and the others crowded around. They were just worrying about what to post for their next short video, and now the perfect material had just walked in.
"Don’t forget to turn on the beauty filter for our two distinguished guests, President Li and President Liu."
"You got it."
Li Wuyang and Liu Renming sat in their chairs with grim expressions.
"Whatever. It’s just a dozen or so bowls of noodles. It’s not much money. Just consider it a charitable donation to your business."
"How generous of you, President Li. I’m sure your business will flourish in the future."
"Just cut the crap. Tell me how much it is, and I’ll pay."
"Yuanyuan, what’s the total?"
"5,888."
Li Wuyang’s hand twitched. "What’s the meaning of this? You’re charging me 5,888 for a dozen bowls of worthless noodles?"
"The noodles themselves aren’t expensive, but the ingredients are."
"The most expensive thing in here is the beef. How much could that possibly be? Even 200 yuan is a stretch."
"We also have sea cucumber," Lin Jiang said, pointing at a bowl.
"Are you kidding me?! The sea cucumber isn’t even rehydrated, and you just serve it to us like this? I’ve never seen such a scam artist!"
"That’s our restaurant’s specialty. The sea cucumber can be eaten without being rehydrated. In any case, the total is 5,888. If you don’t pay, I’m calling the police."
Li Wuyang was so furious he was grinding his back teeth.
’I thought hiking the beef prices would leave them high and dry, and that this whole thing was his way of trying to make peace. I never imagined he’d pull a stunt like this on me!’
"Fine, you win. I’ll pay you!"
Li Wuyang paid the 5,888 and lost all appetite for the noodles.
"I heard you acquired Mu Xing. You might be biting off more than you can chew. Every trade has its own tricks, you know. Some things aren’t as simple as they seem."
"I’m in pretty good shape. Unlike you, I’m not at risk of pulling my groin."
"In that case, I can only wish you the best of luck, President Lin. We’ll see about this."
With a stony expression, Li Wuyang left with Liu Renming in tow.
Just as they reached the entrance, they were surprised to see He Siyao walking in.
"Yaoyao, you’re here," Liu Renming said, walking over to greet her.
He Siyao had arrived in high spirits, but the smile vanished from her face the moment she saw Liu Renming.
She just hummed in acknowledgment and walked further into the restaurant.
"You’re just in time. Take a look at him. He’s still fooling around even after getting together with you. Do you really want to stay with someone like that?"
Lin Jiang just smiled. ’This guy is really being a petty asshole.’
He Siyao looked up and saw Lin Qiangwei standing next to Lin Jiang.
"So what? I know he has plenty of women around him. I’m willing."
Liu Renming: ...
That "I’m willing" was a critical hit that completely obliterated Liu Renming.
’Thinking back to how I was just recording them with my phone, I feel like a complete idiot.’
’Simps never get a happy ending.’
"Let’s go. Stop standing there in a daze."
Li Wuyang led the way out, and Liu Renming followed behind him.
Although Liu Renming was the one who had been humiliated, Li Wuyang was in a foul mood too.
After all, he had also wanted to pursue Qin Yangyang, only to have Lin Jiang swoop in and steal her away.
"Brother Yang, we need to increase the pressure. We absolutely cannot give Mu Xing any breathing room!" Liu Renming said once they were back in the car.
"When you get back, contact those cattle ranchers. Get them to terminate their contracts with Mu Xing. If they refuse, go to their offices and raise hell. I want to make sure they can’t acquire a single head of cattle!"
After the two left, Lin Jiang didn’t stay in the restaurant long. Once he got He Siyao settled, he returned to his car and called Zhou Jingliang.
"Unfilial son, are you done with work yet?"
"Don’t even ask. I’m exhausted. I’ve been running around all day and just finished up."
Lin Jiang glanced at his watch. It was almost five.
"Can you get away now?"
"I can, but I have to wait for my girlfriend. And let’s not go anywhere else for dinner tonight, we can just eat at your noodle shop."
"Don’t bring your girlfriend today. Come to my place for dinner. I have something to discuss with you."
"Heh heh..."
Zhou Jingliang gave a sly laugh. "Got another new project for me?"
"You’re a damn degenerate. This project is wild, I’m just afraid you won’t be able to handle it."
"Holy crap, are you looking down on me? I’ll show you what I’m made of today."
"Where are you? I’ll come pick you up."
"Don’t go to the trouble. Just tell me the address and I’ll grab a cab."
"Century Triumph. When you get there, just tell security you’re a friend of the owner of C2401. They’ll bring you up."
"Alrighty."
After hanging up, Lin Jiang drove back to Century Triumph.
’Qin Yangyang’s hot pot is still at my place. I’ll just buy some lamb and we can have hot pot. It’s easy and saves trouble.’
At the supermarket near the entrance, Lin Jiang quickly picked out some items, finishing his shopping in less than half an hour.
Just as he was pushing his cart to the checkout, his phone rang. It was Qin Yangyang.
"I saw your car parked out front. Where’d you go?"
"I’m at the supermarket buying a few things. A friend is coming over for dinner."
"Oh, okay. If you’re eating at home, you can drink a bit more then."
Sometimes, words spoken mean nothing, but words left unspoken say everything.
In a battle of wits between masters, the devil is in the details.
"If you need to take off your makeup, head home first. If not, you can come straight over."
"Huh? You want me to come?"
"Of course. I told you this morning I was having dinner with my childhood friend," Lin Jiang said matter-of-factly.
"You said you were having dinner, but you didn’t say I should come. I won’t go, you guys go ahead."
Qin Yangyang was a bit aloof and liked to keep up appearances.
She wasn’t about to go if she only got invited after calling him herself.
"When I told you about dinner, I naturally assumed you were coming," Lin Jiang said.
"If you don’t come, I’ll have bought these sticky rice balls and vegetables for nothing. Neither of us eats this stuff."
"Alright then. Wait for me at home. I need to take off my makeup."
"OK."
After hanging up, Lin Jiang pushed his cart back and bought the sticky rice balls and vegetables that Qin Yangyang liked.
After checking out, he came out just in time to see a taxi pull up. Zhou Jingliang got out, tilting his head back to gaze up at the towering high-rise with a wistful expression.
"Stop staring. Your godfather’s over here."
Seeing Lin Jiang, Zhou Jingliang hurried over.
"I’m treating you to hot pot today. Eating at home is more comfortable."
"Treating me once or twice is one thing, but if you do this all the time... Bro, I feel bad."
"It’s only natural for a father to provide for his son. Just eat your fill."
"Get the hell out of here."
Zhou Jingliang took one of the grocery bags, and the two of them got in the car and drove down to the underground garage.
"Don’t tell me you bought a place here? Just looking at the gate to this complex, I can tell it’s not cheap."
"You guessed right. I did buy a place here, and it definitely wasn’t cheap."
"How many square meters? How much?"
"681 square meters. 165 million."
"Goddamn, I don’t think I could even count that high."
"Feeling a little faint?"
Lin Jiang led Zhou Jingliang upstairs.
Seeing the apartment’s decor and the endless river view, Zhou Jingliang could only repeat two words over and over: "Holy fuck!"
"Bro, I’m happy for you that you’re rich, but... aren’t you a little *too* rich? You haven’t done anything illegal, have you?"
"Would you believe me if I said I won the lottery?"
"With a place this huge right in front of me, I have to believe you. The mortgage must be over a million a month, right?"
Erm...
That question actually stumped Lin Jiang.
"Alright, enough dawdling. There’s beer in the fridge. Grab whatever you want to drink."
"You got it."
Zhou Jingliang didn’t stand on ceremony. He opened the fridge and saw all sorts of fancy craft beers. He grabbed two bottles of each kind, planning to taste them all.
Just as Lin Jiang finished setting out the ingredients and the hot pot, the doorbell rang.
When he opened the door, Qin Yangyang was standing outside.
Having changed out of her uniform, Qin Yangyang was dressed in a much more casual, stay-at-home style.
She wore a black short skirt with a white short-sleeved top and a denim jacket over it. On her feet were a pair of sandals. The whole outfit was effortlessly chic, giving off a relaxed, at-home vibe.
"And this is..."
Seeing Qin Yangyang, Zhou Jingliang stammered a little.
Even dressed so casually, Qin Yangyang still had a powerful presence. Her cool, aloof aura was a bit intimidating to Zhou Jingliang. She was the type of woman you wouldn’t dare look at for more than a second if you passed her on the street.
"This is my girlfriend, Qin Yangyang. She’s the one I’ve been telling you about on the phone."
Zhou Jingliang: ???
’When the fuck did you ever mention her to me?’
’Three different girls in three days... Are you trying to fucking kill me with envy?’
Lin Jiang turned to Qin Yangyang. "This is my childhood friend. And also my godson."
"Oh, shut up."
"Hello."
Qin Yangyang smiled and waved, looking absolutely delighted.
’Being introduced to your significant other’s friends... it’s a wonderful feeling, almost indescribable.’
"Alright, we’re all friends here. Everything’s ready, let’s eat."
The three of them came to the table. Seeing no drinks on the table, Qin Yangyang said:
"I’ll go get some sodas. You two start eating."
’She could drink in front of Lin Jiang, but not in front of his friend.’
’For one, she had to maintain her poise. For another, she couldn’t embarrass Lin Jiang.’
’He might not say anything to her face, but he’d definitely be thinking, ’Lin Jiang’s girlfriend actually drinks?’’
’It would be an invisible strike against her. Better to stick with soft drinks.’
"This woman... why does she look so familiar?" Zhou Jingliang whispered.
"And her name is a bit strange, too. Qin Yangyang, right? The girlfriend you brought with you the day I got off the plane... her name was Qin Youyou, wasn’t it? They look kind of similar."
"They’re biological sisters. Of course they look alike."
"Holy fuck! You motherfucker!"
"Standard procedure. Calm down."
"Got any get-rich-quick schemes for me? Introduce me to some. I want to experience this feeling too."
"Now you’re talking. That happens to be my area of expertise."
Just then, Qin Yangyang came back, and Lin Jiang said:
"My friend here wants to get into a business that makes money fast. Why don’t you give him a primer on criminal law?"
"Damn it!"
Lin Jiang laughed, and the trio’s dinner officially began.
Qin Yangyang didn’t eat much. She was full after just a few sticky rice balls and some vegetables, but she didn’t leave the table, staying to chat with the two of them.
Around eight in the evening, seeing that Zhou Jingliang was getting a little tipsy, Lin Jiang decided it was about time.
’Any more and this guy will be wasted.’
Lin Jiang put his arm around Qin Yangyang’s shoulder. "If you’re tired, go watch some TV. You don’t have to stay here with us the whole time."
Qin Yangyang was very smart and understood the unspoken meaning behind Lin Jiang’s words.
"I’ll go sit on the sofa for a bit. Call me if you need anything."
"Mm."
Qin Yangyang went to the living room, and Lin Jiang sat down next to Zhou Jingliang.
"You drunk yet? I want to talk to you about something serious."
"What serious business? Spit it out," Zhou Jingliang said, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"Has your girlfriend ever mentioned the noodle shop’s recipe to you?"
Lin Jiang’s directness caught Zhou Jingliang a little off guard.
"You... how do you know about that?"
"So she did mention it."
"She did, but I didn’t agree."
Zhou Jingliang lit a cigarette and said very seriously:
"Don’t worry, I would never ask you for the recipe. That’s your livelihood. I know better than that."
"What are your real intentions? Do you want to marry her?"
"Of course. We’ve been together for over a year."
"What if you suddenly became rich? Would you still want to marry her?"
"Marry her? Hell no! I’d be just like you, juggling several girls at once."
"I’m relieved to hear you say that. Now, I’m going to talk to you about something exciting. You should brace yourself."
"You’re not some legendary uploader on a certain website, are you? About to share your collection with me?"
"Get lost. Share my ass."
"Well, that’s still sharing your ’piece of work’, isn’t it?"
Lin Jiang handed him his phone. "See for yourself."

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