Chapter 9 The Big Star Lin Qingqing

[Thanks: Cool breeze, five consecutive rewards! Youngest brother thanks you. Seeking recommendations, seeking favorites, seeking rewards! Youngest brother thanks you all.]

Lin Zhanting hailed a taxi, and though he was covered in blood, as soon as he got in the car, he threw several hundred-yuan bills directly, effectively silencing the driver.

The taxi finally stopped at the entrance of a very luxurious restaurant in Dancheng.

The restaurant's decoration was in an antique architectural style, which at just a glance, imparted an impression of grandeur and elegance. There were three eye-catching gilded characters on top of the restaurant.

Phoenix Building.

Phoenix Building, the best restaurant in Dancheng, a gathering place for officials and dignitaries.

When the taxi stopped, a beautiful receptionist very respectfully opened the car door; although there were blood stains on Lin Zhanting, the receptionist seemed not to notice and greeted him with a smiling face.

Ding Fan could tell from the receptionist's smile that Lin Zhanting must be a regular here. Without any hesitation, Ding Fan, accompanied by Lin Zhanting, walked into the restaurant together.

The restaurant's decoration was luxurious and splendid. Lin Zhanting seemed completely at ease as Ding Fan arrived here, looking as if he was entering his own home.

Skilled in martial arts, unflustered... Seeing that Ding Fan was only in his early twenties and yet had such composure, Lin Zhanting grew interested in his benefactor.

Once at the restaurant, Lin Zhanting found a private room and changed his clothes.

The wounds on Lin Zhanting's body were superficial, so they weren't much of an issue at this time.

"Benefactor..."

Ding Fan saw that Lin Zhanting still called him benefactor, and he slightly waved his hand. "Benefactor is too formal; just call me Ding Fan."

Seeing Ding Fan speak so amicably, Lin Zhanting laughed heartily. "If that's the case, then I won't be polite. I'll call the benefactor Brother Ding instead. I'm a few years older, so you can call me Big Brother Lin."

Ding Fan didn't mind.

Lin Zhanting then ordered some dishes, all signature dishes of the Phoenix Building. Since his rebirth, Ding Fan hadn't really had the chance to indulge in a hearty meat meal. Whenever Zhou Ruoran cooked, she only used a tiny bit of minced meat, and though he had eaten a fish last night, it was nothing compared to Ding Fan's current appetite.

Ding Fan didn't hesitate and grabbed the chopsticks to feast hungrily.

Seeing Ding Fan eat without pretense, Lin Zhanting's impression of him grew even more favorable. Seeing Ding Fan swiftly finish a plate of Crystal Pork Knuckle, he hurriedly asked the waiter to bring another plate.

Ding Fan naturally heard what Lin Zhanting said to the waiter, but he didn't mind at all; since he had already eaten, pretending to be reserved would be pointless.

Soon, another plate of Crystal Pork Knuckle was brought over, and Ding Fan, not refusing, continued to eat voraciously. In no time, he had finished another plate of Crystal Pork Knuckle.

Lin Zhanting then ordered five more plates, which Ding Fan finished one by one. The attendant, watching this, was astonished. That was seven plates of Crystal Pork Knuckle; anyone else might have been stuffed by two. This thin and frail person sure could eat.

Lin Zhanting was also shocked, but he didn't make a big deal of it as he had heard before that "there are many unusual people in the world of martial arts." Hadn't it been said in the Water Margin? Lu Zhishen could eat five kilos of beef and ten kilos of wine in one meal.

At the table, Ding Fan had eaten almost half of the dishes by himself. To wash down the meal, Ding Fan picked up a bottle of wine beside him and, putting it to his mouth, finished it all in a few gulps.

"Brother, how are you doing? I heard you were in trouble, so I came right over." Just as Ding Fan was finishing his meal and drink, a very elegant and refined woman hurried over to Lin Zhanting with a look of urgency.

She was a young woman, tall and extremely beautiful, not a bit less attractive than Qin Manshu, who had bought medicine pills from him before. However, Qin Manshu's beauty was in her temperament, while this woman's beauty displayed the quintessence of feminine gentleness.

"Qingqing, I'm fine. Weren't you at the film set? How come you rushed over here?" Lin Zhanting said with a smile.

The girl called Qingqing carefully sized him up to make sure Lin Zhanting was not seriously injured, then gave him a scornful look.

"You are my only real elder brother; what would I do if something really happened to you?" After saying this, her eyes began to redden, obviously truly concerned for Lin Zhanting's safety.

"Alright, alright, I've said I'm fine. If the media sees you crying, you'll be in the headlines tomorrow. But, it was indeed this benefactor who saved me this time. This is my younger sister, Lin Qingqing, and this is Brother Ding Fan."

Only then did Lin Qingqing notice another stranger sitting with her brother. Hearing that he had saved her brother's life, she generously extended her hand.

"Hello, thank you for saving my brother's life."

Ding Fan extended his hand confidently and shook hands with the girl. "Don't mention it, it was just the right thing to do."

After shaking hands, Ding Fan quietly sipped the freshly served Longjing tea. Lin Qingqing was now somewhat curious, scrutinizing the man who had saved her brother's life.

Lin Qingqing, a pop star and movie star from Kaikyo Sanchi, hardly met anyone who didn't know who she was. Almost everyone who saw her couldn't suppress their excitement, and even if they tried to hide their emotions, Lin Qingqing could always tell.

Young and beautiful, the men who met her invariably scanned her thoroughly, albeit discreetly. Although she found it annoying, she also realized that every social circle had its unspoken rules.

However, when Ding Fan looked at her, his gaze was clean. Though he too examined her carefully, Lin Qingqing could feel that it was merely a pure appraisal.

Moreover, although she was only sitting across from Ding Fan, Lin Qingqing felt as if she had found a tranquil spot amidst the noisy city—a very serene feeling.

Ding Fan made a good impression on Lin Qingqing.

"Brother Ding, I haven't asked what you do." Lin Zhanting asked.

"Currently, I'm unemployed." Dong Fan honestly replied.

Although Ding Fan had sold pills before, he certainly couldn't say he was a street vendor in the park. Besides, Ding Fan didn't want to draw too much attention to himself.

"Oh, if you have any difficulties in life, I could help," Lin Zhanting offered.

Though his interaction with Lin Zhanting was brief, Ding Fan could tell that the other man wanted to give him some money to thank him for saving his life.

Ding Fan shook his head slightly.

While it was true that having too much money wasn't a bad thing, Ding Fan did not want to take Lin Zhanting's money. Lin Zhanting was a loyal man worthy of friendship, and Ding Fan didn't want their relationship to be defined by money.

"I don't have any difficulties, but thank you for your kind offer, Brother Lin," Ding Fan said.

Not greedy for money, unpretentious, calm and collected... truly a remarkable person.

…

Like usual, after school was out, Zhou Ruoran headed to Phoenix Building to do her part-time job.

Today, there wasn't much work in the kitchen. After cleaning the stove, Zhou Ruoran had a rare moment to rest.

"Did you know, Sister Ruoran, my idol came to our restaurant to eat today?"

At that moment, a short-haired girl ran up to Zhou Ruoran, her face filled with exaggerated excitement.

The girl speaking was Wu Min, a student from Dancheng University of Political Science and Law like Zhou Ruoran but two years her junior. She was very naive, and the only friend Zhou Ruoran had here.

"Idol?" Zhou Ruoran didn't quite understand what Wu Min meant.

"Oh, it's the famous singer Lin Qingqing! She actually came to eat here… Sister Ruoran, I'm so happy, what should I do, how should I approach her for a photo or an autograph…" Wu Min grabbed Zhou Ruoran's hands, jumping and babbling excitedly.

"Then just go ask her for an autograph directly. Since you're her fan, I'm sure she won't refuse you."

Zhou Ruoran found it quite amusing internally—she really couldn't understand why Wu Min was so obsessed with these celebrities. Probably she wouldn't even be this happy to see her own father.

However, Zhou Ruoran kept her thoughts to herself and instead encouraged Wu Min.

"Yes, that's what I thought too, but Sister Ruoran, could you please come with me?" Wu Min pleaded, holding both of Zhou Ruoran's hands while gazing at her with hopeful eyes.

"But we're still on work hours…" Zhou Ruoran felt a bit troubled. Although they weren't busy at the moment, they were technically still working.

"Don't worry, that old hag probably went out. Besides, getting Lin Qingqing's autograph and taking a photo will only take two or three minutes, she definitely won't notice," Wu Min said as she pulled out a camera and a T-shirt with Lin Qingqing's photo on it that she had prepared in advance.

The person referred to as the old hag by Wu Min was their supervisor, a middle-aged woman, who was known among the part-time workers for her mean temperament.

Zhou Ruoran hesitated for a moment, but seeing Wu Min's excited face, she really didn't want to dampen her spirits. "All right, I'll help you take the picture then."

"Sister… I knew you were the best, love you so much!" Wu Min exclaimed, hugging Zhou Ruoran tightly.

"Okay, let's hurry then, it won't be good if the supervisor comes back," Zhou Ruoran said.