Chapter 21: A Single Meal Cost Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand

A chorus of envious exclamations rose from the crowd.
"We haven't even started eating, but we've already been force-fed a hefty dose of public displays of affection."
Vivian was the first to tease, "When will you bring your boyfriend over for us to see? A man like that is a rare find."
Xia Ling blushed shyly, "Sure, maybe next time when there's a chance."
Though Xia Ling was answering the others, her gaze never left Jiang Ciyou’s face.
But Jiang Ciyou’s expression remained indifferent, as if none of it mattered to her.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Xia Ling’s eyes.
Just then, the waiter brought over the tablet for ordering dishes.
Xia Ling handed it directly to Jiang Ciyou, "Ciyou, order whatever you like. Don’t hold back."
Jiang Ciyou accepted the tablet with composure and began to order.
She was quick about it.
A few minutes later, she handed the tablet back to Xia Ling. "Do you want to check it?"
Xia Ling gave the tablet straight to the waiter. "Your taste can’t possibly be wrong."
Soon, the dishes began to arrive.
At first, everything was pleasant; everyone was enjoying themselves.
But it wasn’t long before Xia Ling sensed something was off.
How could it be that, after two hours, the food kept coming, dish after dish?
There were all kinds of wines, too.
But everyone seemed too immersed in the feast and the drinks, showering her with compliments for her generosity, so Xia Ling said nothing.
It wasn’t until the end, when the waiter brought over the bill, that Xia Ling was dumbfounded.
Nine hundred and eighty thousand!
She stared at the waiter in disbelief. "How can it be so expensive?"
The waiter explained patiently, "Because you ordered every dish we serve, including some rare off-menu specials. The food alone totals one hundred and eighty thousand, and you ordered four bottles of our wine, each priced at two hundred thousand. Also, there’s a five percent service charge."
Xia Ling nearly fainted.
She simply didn’t have that kind of money.
When she’d let Jiang Ciyou order, she thought, no matter how much was ordered, the total wouldn’t exceed ten thousand.
How could it possibly add up to this much?
The others were equally stunned.
They immediately started blaming Jiang Ciyou.
"Jiang Ciyou, are you trying to get back at us? You were asked to order, and you racked up a bill of nearly a million—have you no shame?"

"Have you never tasted good food in your life? Seizing this chance to take full advantage?"
"I say Jiang Ciyou should pay for it. She ordered the dishes, she should be responsible."
Jiang Ciyou looked at them with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
"When you were eating, none of you complained. Black truffle casserole, Kobe beef—when you were savoring them, no one mentioned the ingredients were too precious. As for the wine, I only ordered one bottle; the rest you added yourselves."
"Jiang Ciyou, stop making excuses."
She replied languidly, "If you're all so concerned for Xia Ling, then why don’t we just split the bill evenly? Everyone ate their share; that’s the fairest way."
At the mention of splitting the bill, everyone fell silent.
Even split, each would owe nearly a hundred thousand yuan.
That was several months’ salary for most of them.
A girl standing beside Xia Ling spoke up, "But Xia Ling’s boyfriend is so well-off. Besides, she’ll be a wealthy wife one day; surely she won’t mind paying for one meal."
Xia Ling felt as if she’d been put on a spit over a fire.
In truth, she and Yan Feng didn’t have much money.
After Yan Feng went abroad, his family stopped supporting him financially.
The past three years overseas had not been as glamorous as people thought.
Yan Feng was too proud to ask his family for money.
Xia Ling’s own account held just over a hundred thousand, savings from tutoring Chinese families these past years.
There was no way she could pay a bill approaching a million.
She had no choice but to call Yan Feng.
Yan Feng was already back at the company by then, presumably no longer short on funds.
When he heard she’d spent nearly a million on one meal, his voice brimmed with annoyance, "Xia Ling, did you eat dragon meat? Nearly a million for a single meal."
Xia Ling’s tone was aggrieved, "I got an exclusive interview with Bo Jinxi and invited my colleagues out. Ciyou ordered the food—I didn’t know she’d order so much, and such expensive wine too."
At the mention of Jiang Ciyou, Yan Feng frowned.
His tone softened, "Sorry, I misunderstood you. So it was Jiang Ciyou’s doing."
After a brief pause, he said, "I’m nearby. I’ll be right there."

Ten minutes later, Yan Feng appeared at the restaurant.
He went to settle the bill first.
Then he entered the private room.
When Xia Ling saw him, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, as if she’d suffered a grave injustice.
She hurried to him, "Ah Feng, you’re finally here."
Yan Feng gently put his arm around Xia Ling’s shoulder in front of everyone. "Don’t worry, I’ve already paid the bill."

Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief upon hearing the bill was settled.
Their attitudes shifted instantly.
Vivian was the first to praise, "Xia Ling, you’re so lucky—your boyfriend is handsome and rich."
Blushing, Xia Ling introduced him to everyone, "Let me introduce my boyfriend, Yan Feng."
Vivian looked surprised, "I’ve always heard the heir to the Yan family is named Yan Feng. Could it be…"
Yan Feng replied coolly, "It’s just a coincidence of names."
With that, he turned his gaze to Jiang Ciyou.
"Jiang Ciyou, come with me."
Everyone was taken aback.
Jiang Ciyou, carrying a Chanel bag and wearing high heels, walked over to him and said with a faint, indifferent air, "A good dog doesn’t block the way."
Yan Feng was furious.
He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out.
With a quick turn, they entered an empty private room next door.
The door closed behind them.
Everyone else was left bewildered by these developments.
A hint of embarrassment also flickered across Xia Ling’s face.
"Xia Ling, does your boyfriend know Jiang Ciyou?"
"We were all high school classmates, so yes. And back then, Ciyou…"
She trailed off deliberately.
Vivian scoffed, "Now I get why Jiang Ciyou dislikes you so much. She must have liked your boyfriend in high school but couldn’t have him, so now she’s jealous."
Xia Ling spoke in a tone that seemed to defend Jiang Ciyou, "It’s not what you think. Besides, that’s all in the past."
Meanwhile, in the other room—
After Yan Feng pulled Jiang Ciyou inside, he demanded coldly, "Jiang Ciyou, how many times have I told you, don’t bully Xia Ling. Are my words just noise to you?"
Jiang Ciyou found herself a sofa and sat down.
She lowered her eyes to admire her freshly manicured nails. "She insisted on treating everyone. No one forced her."
"So you deliberately ordered such expensive dishes? You know Xia Ling’s family situation. Weren’t you just flaunting your wealth to humiliate her? How are you different from those who use money to oppress others?"
Jiang Ciyou looked up, her eyes clear but tinged with anger.
"You’re right, I know her situation. And I know you two are broke now. So yes, I did it on purpose. As for why, I’m simply giving her a taste of her own medicine."