Chapter 13: This Boy Has Gone Mad!

Ling Qiu cast a cool, indifferent glance.

With a single look, she could tell that Song Ningxue’s eyes were filled with impatience and reluctance.

As expected, after only a few steps, before she even saw Ling Qiu, Song Ningxue turned to the young man beside her and said, “Zheng Qian, I’m stepping out to make a call.”

Zheng Qian maintained his gentlemanly smile. “Of course. I’ll order for us. Auntie mentioned you love fish, right? Then I’ll get the Lakeside Diving Fish. How does that sound?”

Song Ningxue replied perfunctorily and headed outside.

Once outside, she dialed a number. “Hello? Dad, can you please talk to Mom for me? I really can’t do this! I disliked Zheng Qian from the moment I first saw him. He’s so arrogant, thinking he’s funny. Just now, when we met at the restaurant entrance, do you know what he said? He said, ‘Oh, sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Song. I was just doing some stretches because the acceleration of my several-million-yuan Lamborghini Aventador hurt my back. Excuse me???’”

Her father quickly replied, “Sweetheart… you know the Zheng family owns a business in the provincial capital. Your uncle does business with them. He’s looked into it—Zheng Qian has dated over fifty girls, but his character seems decent…”

“Dad, I have to ask: am I really your daughter, or was I picked up off the street? Over fifty girlfriends? You call that decent character?”

“All right, all right, don’t get upset… How about this—you do your uncle a favor. After all, their families work together. Just have dinner with him, and if you don’t like him, you can tell your uncle tomorrow, right? Don’t forget, when you went abroad to study, your uncle helped a lot.”

“Okay, okay! I get it… You’re always using that against me!”

Song Ningxue hung up helplessly.

She took a deep breath and consoled herself: At worst, it’s just sharing a table with a stranger for one meal!

If her mother hadn’t threatened her with a heart condition, she wouldn’t have come at all!

But then…

Well! Song Ningxue’s beautiful eyes sparkled with sudden inspiration as she remembered Ling Qiu.

If Ling Qiu really was waiting for her here today, then… she could take advantage of the situation. Even though she found Zheng Qian distasteful, at least Ling Qiu would see for himself the caliber of men who pursued her.

Hmph, how dare he once say her looks were just barely above average?

And claim he had some dazzlingly beautiful wife?

She’d sooner believe his new AJ sneakers had magical powers!

Yes—tonight, she’d reject Zheng Qian at the dinner table, and let Ling Qiu see firsthand that a rich young man, idolized by countless women, was nothing but a fly in her eyes!

…

Song Ningxue returned to the restaurant.

Zheng Qian, still smiling politely, rose to greet her.

Scanning the restaurant again, Song Ningxue suddenly spotted Ling Qiu in a corner.

At this very moment, Ling Qiu sat with arms folded and one leg crossed lazily over the other, watching her with a faint, mocking smile.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, the sight of that look on Ling Qiu’s face always sparked a wave of inexplicable anger in her.

Fine, she thought, today I’ll show you just how high my standards are! It’s not that I’m unworthy of you—it’s you who aren’t worthy of me!

“Come, Ningxue, have a seat,” Zheng Qian said, pulling out a chair with a smile.

Song Ningxue’s face remained cold as she walked to the other side and sat down in a different chair.

Zheng Qian felt the awkwardness, but having admired Song Ningxue for so long, he braced himself and continued to curry favor.

“Heh, Ningxue, I already ordered the Diving Fish for you. Is there anything else you’d like?”

“Not hungry.”

Her curt reply was as frosty as ever.

Zheng Qian forced a smile. “Then I’ll take care of the rest! Fortunately, I’ve done my homework. Your mom told me everything you like to eat!”

And with that, he cheerfully ordered a tableful of dishes.

Clap clap.

With a clap of his hands, several musicians with violins and saxophones came over.

“Come! Play a beautiful tune for my lovely girlfriend!” Zheng Qian announced, pulling out a thousand-yuan note. “Here’s your tip!”

Song Ningxue felt a wave of nausea. “Zheng Qian, please don’t say such things. I don’t know who your girlfriend is, but I’m certainly not her.”

Pfft!—

At this, a woman at the next table burst out laughing.

Zheng Qian looked around and saw people pointing and whispering, saying things like “overreaching” and “a toad lusting after a swan”…

Instantly, fury burned within him. Damn these people for mocking Young Master Zheng!

He might not be much to look at, but he was filthy rich!

“Waiter! Bring your manager here—right now!!” Zheng Qian snarled, slapping a black bank card onto the table.

The waiter recognized immediately that anyone with such a card had to be wealthy.

“Right away, sir!”

In moments, the general manager hurried over. Seeing the black card, he smiled deferentially at Zheng Qian. “Sir, how can I assist you?”

“I’m booking the whole place!” Zheng Qian announced loudly. “All these other diners are annoying me. I want them out! Tonight, this restaurant is mine!”

“Uh…”

The manager looked troubled.

But then Zheng Qian whipped out a checkbook and pen, asking grandly, “Is fifty thousand enough?”

“What?!” The manager and all the waitstaff were stunned! Not just them—everyone dining nearby was speechless, eyes wide with shock.

Fifty thousand, just to book the place?

What an extravagant show-off!

Even though Lakeside Restaurant did good business, there was no way they’d make fifty thousand profit in one night. At best, they’d net a few thousand.

“Absolutely! I’ll handle it right away!” The manager’s eyes lit up with greed as he bowed repeatedly and hurried to arrange it.

Soon, every couple in the restaurant’s romantic section was ushered out with complimentary bills…

Except for one.

A waiter approached Ling Qiu, looking him up and down in his plain, simple student clothes, not bothering to hide his disdain. “Hey, student, you heard the man—this gentleman has booked the restaurant. Tonight, Lakeside only serves him. Please leave immediately.”

Ling Qiu lazily yawned. “I’m waiting for someone. I’m not leaving just yet. Now get lost, you’re blocking my view.”