The following evening, Xu Haoran stood in the small kitchen, his sleeves rolled up as he washed the final dishes. The scent of soap lingered in the air, blending with the faint aroma of the fried rice he had cooked for himself. After drying his hands, he dished out the food onto a plate and quietly retreated to his room.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he took slow bites while his mind turned. Liu Zhenyu's name had floated around the house all day, Zhao Ailin tossing it about like a golden prize. Haoran knew a blind date was coming. He could sense Zhao Ailin's ambition as clearly as a looming storm. But beneath that, his thoughts wandered deeper, down to the threat Jianhong posed. The pieces were moving, and he couldn't afford to miscalculate.
Eventually, fatigue crept over him, and he drifted into a restless sleep. The next morning, he awoke early, the sky outside still wearing a soft hue of dawn. By six-thirty, he was seated in the living room, dressed casually, eyes fixed on the hallway. After nearly an hour, Wu Yuting finally emerged from her room, already dressed for the evening's arrangement.
"You're up early," she said, slightly surprised.
Haoran stood. "Are you going to see that man today?"
She sighed and nodded. "Yes. To avoid Mom's constant pestering. I'm not interested, but going means she'll stop bothering me about it."
"I respect that," Haoran said gently. "Would it be okay if I came along?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Not to interfere," he quickly added. "Just so your mom sees where you stand. Maybe I could help make things clear."
Wu Yuting looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. But no scenes. Just behave."
Haoran smiled. "I'll be on my best behavior."
After the conversation, he got to work on the morning chores—cleaning the living room, scrubbing the bathroom, preparing tea for later. By the time Zhao Ailin came out, she gave him a once-over and barely acknowledged him before heading out for her salon appointment with her friends.
The house emptied out, and silence returned. Haoran went back to his room and began meditating, his breathing steady, his mind sharpened like a blade. Hours passed until the afternoon sun began to dip. By five o'clock, he stood up, stretched, and changed into something modest yet neat.
He hailed a cab and headed for The Velvet Crown. The city buzzed with life as the cab rolled through Cloudbridge's business district. When they arrived, Haoran handed the driver a crisp bill and stepped out.
The Velvet Crown exuded elegance. Marble steps led to a grand doorway flanked by two sleek water features. Inside, golden lighting bounced off polished surfaces, and violin music floated gently through the air.
Scanning the room, Haoran spotted their table near the window—Zhao Ailin, Wu Yuting, another middle-aged woman dressed in designer attire, and a well-groomed man in a navy blue suit who could only be Liu Zhenyu.
Without hesitation, Haoran walked up and took the last vacant seat.
Zhao Ailin's face twisted immediately. "Who invited you here?"
"I finished my chores," Haoran said coolly, "thought I'd join my family for dinner."
Liu Zhenyu chuckled, turning to Zhao Ailin. "This is the jobless son-in-law I've heard about?"
Zhao Ailin sneered. "Yes. That's him. Wandering around the house, living off my daughter."
Liu Zhenyu turned to Haoran, speaking with a practiced, paternal tone. "You're still young. You should focus on building your career, not clinging to a woman. Men are supposed to work, achieve, earn respect. I'm a senior director at Xu Corporation, and let me tell you, nothing comes from laziness."
Haoran listened silently, nodding once. His gaze never wavered.
Zhao Ailin laughed. "See? A word is enough for the wise. Not everyone's born to be successful, but effort matters."
Liu Zhenyu then turned toward Wu Yuting, his eyes lingering a little too long. "Yuting, you deserve someone who understands ambition. Who can match your vision."
Wu Yuting remained silent, expression unreadable.
Trying to impress further, Liu Zhenyu waved to the waiter. "Everyone, please place an order. Let's enjoy ourselves. On me."
He passed the menu to Haoran with a smirk. "Feel free to choose something. Don't worry if you don't understand what's on it."
Haoran flipped through the pages and calmly asked, "So I can pick anything? Price doesn't matter?"
"Of course," Liu Zhenyu said, puffing up his chest. "A senior director at Xu Corporation doesn't worry about bills."
Everyone placed their orders—standard high-end meals, wine, desserts. Haoran turned to the waiter and said, "I'll have the L'Ambroisie Exquis Royale."
The waiter blinked. "Sir, that's our most exclusive French course. It's…" She paused. "Very expensive."
Liu Zhenyu waved her off. "He said money isn't a problem. Just confirm the order."
The manager arrived discreetly to verify. "Are you sure about the Exquis Royale, sir?"
Liu Zhenyu barely glanced up. "Yes. Money's not an issue."
The manager nodded and left. Dinner proceeded with more of Liu Zhenyu's rambling monologues. He bragged about his connections with the Xu family, claiming he had direct contact with several board members.
Wu Yuting's mood visibly soured. She sipped her drink, barely responding to his attempts at charm.
When the food arrived, it was a visual masterpiece. Haoran's dish came last—a golden platter adorned with rare ingredients and black truffle foam. The manager himself presented it with a small bow.
As everyone ate, Liu Zhenyu leaned closer to Wu Yuting. "If we work together, I could help expand your business network. I have friends in the Ministry and private equity."
She frowned. "I'm not interested in partnerships right now."
Unfazed, Liu Zhenyu smiled and finally waved to the waiter. "Bring the bill."
A moment later, the waiter returned, bill folder in hand. Liu Zhenyu slipped out his platinum card and handed it over with flair.
Thirty seconds passed.
Then the waiter returned, face tight. "I'm sorry, sir. The card was declined."
Zhao Ailin gasped. "There must be a mistake. Try again."
"Of course, ma'am," the waiter said.
They tried again. And again. Finally, the manager returned, voice low. "Sir, we checked with your bank. There are insufficient funds."
Liu Zhenyu went pale. "That's impossible! Check again. This card has a six-figure limit!"
"How much is the bill?" Zhao Ailin snapped.
"$23,485," the manager replied. "Sir's Exquis Royale alone was $20,000."
Liu Zhenyu's eyes bulged. "Who ordered that!?"
The waiter replied calmly, "Your guest did, sir. You instructed us to let him order anything."
Zhao Ailin turned on Haoran. "You good-for-nothing freeloader! You couldn't even order something normal?"
Liu Zhenyu stood up, his voice rising. "I'm not paying for that! This is robbery! Call your chef—this is ridiculous!"
Other diners turned to look. The security team appeared, one hand on a radio. "Sir, please keep your voice down."
Amidst the chaos, Wu Yuting bit her lip to suppress a laugh. She turned away to hide her smirk.
Meanwhile, Haoran slipped away to the front desk. He handed the manager a sleek black card. The manager's eyes widened.
"Sir… this is…"
"Just process it," Haoran said quietly. "And keep it between us."
The manager nodded swiftly and handled the transaction. When done, he returned with a discreet smile and a small envelope.
"This is a special membership card, sir. The Velvet Crown only grants it to our most distinguished guests."
Haoran pocketed it with a nod and returned to the table.
Liu Zhenyu was still arguing. "I'll sue! I'll report this place to—"
The manager stepped forward. "Sir, we've resolved the bill. But given the disturbance caused, we ask that you leave immediately and do not return. You're now banned from this establishment."
Everyone at the table froze.
Zhao Ailin's mouth hung open. "Banned?"
Security approached. Liu Zhenyu, furious and embarrassed, grabbed his blazer and stormed out.
Outside, the silence was thick. The car ride home was no better. Zhao Ailin sat stiffly in the backseat, cursing under her breath.
"You humiliated us," she said to Haoran. "All because of your greed."
Haoran didn't reply. He focused on the road, his expression calm.
In the rearview mirror, Wu Yuting met his eyes—and for the first time, she smiled, just a little.