Dinner at The Velvet Crown

The following evening, Jiang Yeming stood in the 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. Wei Jincheng's name had floated around the house all day, Feng Xuelan tossing it about like a golden prize. Yeming knew a blind date was coming. He could sense Feng Xuelan's ambition as clearly as a looming storm. But beneath that, his thoughts wandered deeper, down to the threat Jiang Ruifeng 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, Lan Yueran finally emerged from her room, already dressed for the evening's arrangement.

"You're up early," she said, slightly surprised.

Yeming 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," Yeming 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."

Lan Yueran looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. But no scenes. Just behave."

Yeming 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 Feng Xuelan 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. Yeming 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 Rainmere's business district. When they arrived, Yeming 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, Yeming spotted their table near the window—Feng Xuelan, Lan Yueran, another middle-aged woman dressed in designer attire, and a well-groomed man in a navy blue suit who could only be Wei Jincheng.

Without hesitation, Yeming walked up and took the last vacant seat.

Feng Xuelan's face twisted immediately. "Who invited you here?"

"I finished my chores," Yeming said coolly, "thought I'd join my family for dinner."

Wei Jincheng chuckled, turning to Feng Xuelan. "This is the jobless son-in-law I've heard about?"

Feng Xuelan sneered. "Yes. That's him. Wandering around the house, living off my daughter."

Wei Jincheng turned to Yeming, 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 Jiang Corporation, and let me tell you, nothing comes from laziness."

Yeming listened silently, nodding once. His gaze never wavered.

Feng Xuelan laughed. "See? A word is enough for the wise. Not everyone's born to be successful, but effort matters."

Wei Jincheng then turned toward Lan Yueran, his eyes lingering a little too long. "Yueran, you deserve someone who understands ambition. Who can match your vision."

Lan Yueran remained silent, expression unreadable.

Trying to impress further, Wei Jincheng waved to the waiter. "Everyone, please place an order. Let's enjoy ourselves. On me."

He passed the menu to Yeming with a smirk. "Feel free to choose something. Don't worry if you don't understand what's on it."

Yeming flipped through the pages and calmly asked, "So I can pick anything? Price doesn't matter?"

"Of course," Wei Jincheng said, puffing up his chest. "A senior director at Jiang Corporation doesn't worry about bills."

Everyone placed their orders—standard high-end meals, wine, desserts. Yeming 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."

Wei Jincheng 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?"

Wei Jincheng barely glanced up. "Yes. Money's not an issue."

The manager nodded and left. Dinner proceeded with more of Wei Jincheng's rambling monologues. He bragged about his connections with the Jiang family, claiming he had direct contact with several board members.

Lan Yueran's mood visibly soured. She sipped her drink, barely responding to his attempts at charm.

When the food arrived, it was a visual masterpiece. Yeming'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, Wei Jincheng leaned closer to Lan Yueran. "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, Wei Jincheng smiled and finally waved to the waiter. "Bring the bill."

A moment later, the waiter returned, bill folder in hand. Wei Jincheng 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."

Feng Xuelan 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."

Wei Jincheng went pale. "That's impossible! Check again. This card has a six-figure limit!"

"How much is the bill?" Feng Xuelan snapped.

"16 million yuan," the manager replied. "Sir's Exquis Royale alone was 15.8 million yuan."

Wei Jincheng's eyes bulged. "Who ordered that!?"

The waiter replied calmly, "Your guest did, sir. You instructed us to let him order anything."

Feng Xuelan turned on Yeming. "You good-for-nothing freeloader! You couldn't even order something normal?"

Wei Jincheng 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, Lan Yueran bit her lip to suppress a laugh. She turned away to hide her smirk.

Meanwhile, Yeming 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," Yeming 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."

Yeming pocketed it with a nod and returned to the table.

Wei Jincheng 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.

Feng Xuelan's mouth hung open. "Banned?"

Security approached. Wei Jincheng, furious and embarrassed, grabbed his blazer and stormed out.

Outside, the silence was thick. The car ride home was no better. Feng Xuelan sat stiffly in the backseat, cursing under her breath.

"You humiliated us," she said to Yeming. "All because of your greed."

Yeming didn't reply. He focused on the road, his expression calm.

In the rearview mirror, Lan Yueran met his eyes—and for the first time, she smiled, just a little.