Chapter 11: I Fear It Is Hungry

The entrance was adorned with exquisite floral arrangements, and the panoramic view of the lake through the clear windows was as breathtaking as a grand oil painting.

Liu Yuting had just arrived by taxi, and before she could recover from the fatigue of the journey, she was struck by the environment before her. When Shen Qingyue appeared, Liu Yuting looked surprised. "My god, didn't you say you were treating me to dinner? This place... isn't it a bit over the top?"

She habitually tossed her chestnut-dyed hair, her gaze sweeping carefully across the refined foyer, the sandalwood-scented rotating screens, and the meticulously crafted settings on every table. She had never heard of this place. It wasn't on Little Red Book either. It must be expensive, right? Had Shen Qingyue hooked up with someone wealthy?

"Who did you come here with?" Liu Yuting lowered her voice, her eyes filled with undisguised suspicion and curiosity. She was genuinely puzzled; when Shen Qingyue invited her out tonight, she never mentioned such a luxurious location. Liu Yuting had assumed it was just some obscure restaurant, but upon arrival, she realized something was off.

Shen Qingyue smiled, took her friend’s arm, and led her toward the private room, whispering, "It's the Li Yan I mentioned to you before... and his friend. You'll see when you meet them."

Shen Qingyue walked with a newfound sense of quiet confidence, her back straight and her stride elegant. She seemed transformed, buoyed by the sense of status that came with a restaurant that was simply commonplace to Li Yan.

"Is this Li Yan... a second-generation wealthy kid?" Liu Yuting couldn't help but ask. Looking at the cinematic luxury of the surroundings and the high-end dining service she had never experienced before, her intuition told her that the host of this dinner was no ordinary person.

In the age of social media, people are bombarded with videos of supercars and mansions on platforms like Douyin, to the point where BMWs, Mercedes, and Audis are often dismissed by netizens as unremarkable, and ten-thousand-yuan dinners are treated as mere trifles. While rising incomes play a part, it is largely because so many have been dazzled by the illusions of the internet.

As someone who frequented bars and "influencer" restaurants in Luzhong City, Liu Yuting had seen some wealth, though nothing truly extravagant. In a fourth or fifth-tier city like Luzhong—sometimes called a third-tier city—a restaurant costing five hundred yuan per person was already enough to make most people wince at their wallets. She knew that this place, with its opulent beauty, likely cost several times that.

Hearing her "frenemy's" question, Shen Qingyue didn't answer directly, merely arching an eyebrow with a meaningful look. "Well, I suppose he has some means."

People often brag about their friends or the people they know, as if it grants them a sense of superiority. And, it must be said, there is no shortage of such people. Li Yan existed exactly as the "I have a friend..." or "That person I know..." in other people's bragging.

As they spoke, Liu Yuting tightened her grip on her A-grade replica LV bag. Her personality was usually outgoing, but she felt constrained now. This was far beyond her usual experience. She glanced at Shen Qingyue, a flicker of shock in her eyes—had Shen Qingyue really hooked up with such a well-connected "rich kid" so nonchalantly?

Walking through the corridor, where the dim yellow lights grew softer, Liu Yuting took a deep breath, telling herself to stay calm. She wanted to see what kind of person could make Shen Qingyue blend so effortlessly into this world of luxury, and what kind of gathering this was that had opened her friend's eyes. She said nothing, following Shen Qingyue's lead, her mind racing with thoughts.

*What if I have a chance too?*

...

When they stepped into the private room, the table was already set with delicate porcelain plates and crystal wine glasses. Under the soft, golden light, the room looked like a warm, gentle painting. A waiter nimbly replaced their wet towels and poured lightly scented tea.

The dishes Li Yan had ordered were arriving: steamed East Star garoupa, translucent truffle shrimp dumplings, stir-fried geoduck with XO sauce emitting a savory sea aroma, and a rich, mellow matsutake mushroom and chicken soup. There were also lychee-wood roasted duck rolls with a unique fruity smoke, and a caviar sushi platter that looked like a work of art.

After they were seated, Wang Zhen appeared slightly reserved but still admired everything before him. Liu Yuting raised an eyebrow, set her handbag aside as if it were nothing, and observed Li Yan with a thoughtful expression.

Li Yan sat at the head of the table, smoking a Seven Stars cigarette—a flavor he preferred. Wang Zhen sat beside him, lighting a cigarette Li Yan had handed him.

"This is my friend, Liu Yuting. She's from the Tenth High School." Shen Qingyue didn't want to go into detail, merely giving a brief introduction of her "frenemy" to Li Yan and Wang Zhen.

Liu Yuting nodded slightly and waved a hand, saying, "Hello," as a greeting. Her gaze returned to the table: the fish eyes of the East Star garoupa still gleamed, the shrimp dumplings were delicate and crystal-clear, the geoduck slices had fine textures, and the duck rolls hinted at a faint fruitwood scent. Every dish looked like something she couldn't eat on a normal day.

In such a setting, she didn't want to appear too shocked, but she subconsciously leaned to the side to hide the bag on her shoulder. It was a mini LV monogram bag—a replica, though quite well-made. She had bought it on WeChat a few months ago with over a thousand yuan in saved pocket money. The seller had boasted that it used top-tier imitation materials, guaranteed to fool anyone. Yet, in this environment, she felt insecure, terrified that someone would spot the flaws.

Shen Qingyue and Liu Yuting sat down, and Li Yan looked at the girl. He had seen photos of her, taken at a bar. The tongue piercing, black stockings, the tattoo on her forearm, and the long yellow hair were a far cry from the Liu Yuting sitting before him now. The piercing was gone, the stockings were off, and while the tattoo was still visible, it didn't matter much.

She was about 163 centimeters tall, her skin wasn't particularly fair, and she looked rather thin. Her makeup was a bit heavy, but within acceptable limits. Li Yan didn't feel much; his only goal was Shen Qingyue. He glanced slightly at Wang Zhen, who was smoking. Wang Zhen withdrew his gaze from Liu Yuting and gave Li Yan a look that was both pleased and affirmative.

Li Yan knew that Wang Zhen was probably hungry.