Gu Xinyue & Diner!

The man in front frowned slightly as he noticed Jian Chen's calm yet imposing demeanour. Though he couldn't quite place who he was, something about the way he carried himself made the atmosphere tense.

"Who are you supposed to be?" the man asked, narrowing his eyes.

Jian Chen didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took another step forward, his expression unreadable. The confidence in his stance made the two men hesitate for a brief moment.

The second man scoffed. "Tch. Just another arrogant guy trying to act tough."

Jian Chen finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "If you don't know me, then there's no need for introductions. Just remember one thing—be careful who you stand against."

The first man clicked his tongue. "Hah? Are you trying to threaten us?"

Jian Chen's gaze didn't waver. "It's not a threat. It's advice."

The air grew heavy for a moment, and Gu Xinyue, who had been watching silently, finally shifted his gaze between them, sensing the subtle shift in the atmosphere.

The man's expression shifted as he studied Jian Chen, his lips curling into a smirk. "Judging by your clothes, you're probably just another broke guy trying to act like you're somebody."

Jian Chen remained unfazed. His eyes carried an air of indifference as he responded in an even tone, "I'm not poor."

His words were simple, yet the confidence behind them made the two men pause momentarily before exchanging glances. Then, the first man chuckled. "Oh? Not poor, huh? That's funny, 'cause from where I'm standing, you don't exactly look like someone with money to spare."

The second man chimed in, "Yeah, talk is cheap, buddy. Anyone can claim they're rich. But without proof, words don't mean a damn thing."

Ding!

[System Prompt: Gu Xinyue's emotional fluctuation detected! Current Mood: Uneasy, Concerned][Your ability to turn the situation in your favor has increased her emotional engagement.][Current Rebate Multiplier: 1.5x. The higher the stakes, the greater the reward.]

Jian Chen's gaze flickered subtly. The system had intervened again, and this time, it was practically pushing him toward an optimal outcome. If he played this right, he could get a significant rebate—perhaps even more than what he would end up spending.

Meanwhile, Gu Xinyue shifted slightly beside him. He could feel her unease as she hesitated before finally speaking. "You don't have to—"

Before she could finish, the first man smirked and snapped his fingers. "You know what? Let's make this interesting. How about we all head to that high-end restaurant across the street? If you're really not poor, you wouldn't mind treating us, right?"

Jian Chen could already see their plan. They wanted to put him in a tough spot, expecting him to back down.

Ding!

[System Prompt: Accepting the challenge will trigger a hidden face-slapping event. Successfully demonstrating overwhelming financial power will increase Gu Xinyue's Favorability and unlock additional rebate rewards!]

The second man laughed. "What's wrong? You're not backing out, are you? Unless, of course, you were lying just now."

Gu Xinyue frowned slightly and finally spoke, her voice firmer this time. "Enough. This is childish." She turned toward Jian Chen, her tone softer. "You don't have to prove anything to them. Let's just go."

Jian Chen turned to her, his expression unreadable. He could see the concern in her eyes—not just for him but for the sheer absurdity of the situation.

A faint smile appeared on his lips. "I don't mind."

Gu Xinyue's eyes widened slightly. "You—"

He turned back to the two men. "Since you're so curious, I'll humour you. Let's go."

The two men looked momentarily surprised, but they quickly masked it with sneers. "Heh, alright then. Don't try to run when the bill comes."

Ding!

[System Prompt: Event accepted. Rebate Multiplier increased to 2.0x.][Enjoy the show.]

Jian Chen didn't bother responding. He simply walked ahead, leading the way toward the restaurant.

Gu Xinyue hesitated for a moment before following, glancing at Jian Chen with uncertainty. She still wasn't sure what to make of this situation, but something about the way he carried himself made her uneasy in a different way now—like he wasn't walking into a trap, but rather, leading them into one.

And she wasn't sure if she should feel relieved or worried about that.

As Jian Chen and Gu Xinyue stepped into the luxurious restaurant, the atmosphere shifted slightly. The soft hum of classical music played in the background, and the warm lighting illuminated the lavish décor.

A waiter standing near the entrance glanced at them, his eyes subtly narrowing as he took in Jian Chen's attire. Though nothing was explicitly said, the slight curl of his lips and the faint disinterest in his expression made his thoughts clear.

A poor student trying to dine in a place like this?

However, when his gaze landed on Gu Xinyue, who was walking closely beside Jian Chen, his expression briefly faltered. There was a flicker of disbelief—almost as if he was questioning how someone like Jian Chen could be accompanying such a refined beauty.

Then, the waiter's attention shifted further back, noticing the two men trailing behind them with smug expressions. One of them—clearly enjoying himself—let out a chuckle.

"Damn, they really let anyone in these days," he muttered just loud enough for those nearby to hear.

The waiter's attitude immediately adjusted. Straightening his posture, he turned toward them with a polite yet condescending smile. "Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"

The underlying message was clear: This isn't the kind of place where just anyone can walk in.

Jian Chen's expression remained unreadable. Gu Xinyue, beside him, seemed slightly tense. She could feel the judgement in the waiter's eyes, but more than that, she was becoming increasingly aware of how this situation was escalating.

She hesitated before whispering softly, "Jian Chen, we can go somewhere else. This place is…"

Ding!

[System Prompt: Class Disparity Event Triggered!][Your composed demeanor in the face of condescension has increased Gu Xinyue's emotional engagement.][Rebate Multiplier: 2.5x]

Jian Chen ignored the waiter's gaze and Gu Xinyue's concern. Instead, he calmly pulled out a sleek black card from his pocket and placed it on the counter.

"Get us a private room," he said flatly.

The waiter's polite yet dismissive smile froze. His eyes locked onto the Black Diamond Card on the counter—a symbol of elite financial status.

A few moments of silence passed. The waiter gulped, his demeanour doing a complete shift.

"R-Right away, sir!"

Behind Jian Chen, the two men who had been enjoying the show moments ago were now stiff. Their smirks faded as they exchanged uncertain glances.

Gu Xinyue, still standing close to Jian Chen, unconsciously tightened her grip on her sleeve. Her heart skipped a beat, her gaze shifting toward him with newfound curiosity.

Ding!

[System Prompt: Gu Xinyue's Favorability Increased!][Current Multiplier: 3.0x]

Jian Chen remained indifferent, as if this outcome was expected.

"Lead the way," he said.

The waiter, now sweating slightly, quickly guided them toward the private dining area, his previous disdain completely erased.

The moment they stepped into the private dining room, the atmosphere shifted. Unlike the lively main hall, this space exuded exclusivity—soft golden lighting, elegant marble flooring, and a long polished mahogany table set with pristine silverware.

The waiter, still slightly skeptical, pulled out chairs for them before standing at attention.

Jian Chen took his seat leisurely, Gu Xinyue hesitating before sitting beside him. The two men who had followed along—both hoping to witness his embarrassment—shifted in their seats, their initial arrogance fading under the unfamiliar high-class setting.

A second waiter arrived, handing over a leather-bound menu embossed with silver letters.

"Sir, please take your time selecting your meal," the waiter said with a polite, professional tone.

Jian Chen casually flipped through the pages, skimming over the selections. The prices were steep—by normal standards, insane—but to him, it was all just another investment.

His lips curled slightly.