Chapter Fifty-Seven: Words Have Reached Their End—You Must Fend for Yourself

The manager once again handed over the bill. “Here’s the thing: this is our VIP seating area, and the fee for the seats alone is three hundred thousand. Most of the dishes you just ordered are exclusive to our VIPs and are quite valuable.”

“What’s more, you also opened a bottle of red wine worth seven hundred thousand. Here’s the detailed bill; please take another look.”

Zhong Jintian’s face darkened instantly. He never expected a single meal to cost so much. Even though his family was newly wealthy, this was more than he could bear at once.

He only received a million in allowance from his father each month, and now he’d spent it all on one meal. How was he supposed to get through the next twenty days?

“These dishes weren’t ordered by me, but since I’ve eaten them, I’ll pay. However, I didn’t drink the wine—Miss Leng, since you ordered it, shouldn’t you pay for it yourself?”

Zhong Jintian gave Leng Ningyun a cold look. He knew this was humiliating, but when it came to money, he had no choice.

After all, he had no intention of living off nothing for the next month.

Leng Ningyun raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone mild. “Very well, I’ll pay for the wine. The rest is your responsibility.”

With that, Leng Ningyun handed her card to the manager, instructing him to settle the wine’s cost. Her movements were crisp and decisive, without a trace of reluctance or hesitation. This made Zhong Jintian seem rather petty by comparison.

“He can’t even come up with a million, and yet he was putting on airs just now, daring to sit in the VIP section. What a joke!”

“The Zhong family was nothing but nouveau riche to begin with—you can’t change what’s in the bones. Always pretending to be rich, but in truth, it’s all a facade.”

Both Shen Tiantian and Zhong Jintian heard these remarks, and Shen Tiantian’s face was filled with embarrassment.

She tugged at Zhong Jintian’s arm. “Since Leng Ningyun has already paid for the wine, just settle the rest of the bill. Then let’s leave quickly.”

The situation was too humiliating; Shen Tiantian didn’t want to stay another moment.

But Zhong Jintian shrugged off her hand. “Why should I pay? You said you wanted to treat me to dinner, that’s why I came. If you’re treating, you should pay the rest.”

With those words, Zhong Jintian strode out without a backward glance, caring nothing for appearances.

These days Shen Tiantian had been clinging to him, clearly interested in his family’s money and wanting to marry into wealth. Zhong Jintian loved the feeling of being pursued by beautiful women, so when she invited him out, he’d agreed without much thought.

He never dreamed such a farce would result from a single meal.

Now, seeing how clueless Shen Tiantian was, he had no intention of entangling with her any further. There was no reason to waste more money.

Watching Zhong Jintian’s departing back, Shen Tiantian’s face flushed red with anger.

Though she claimed to be a young lady of the Shen family, her branch was only a collateral one. Her yearly allowance was nowhere near enough for this bill—how could she afford to pay the remainder?

Noticing her discomfort, Leng Ningyun feigned kindness. “It seems Miss Shen can’t come up with the money right now. I recall the restaurant is hiring servers—perhaps the manager could give Miss Shen a chance to work here to pay off her debt.”

“Leng Ningyun, are you trying to humiliate me?”

Shen Tiantian shot to her feet in anger, wanting to smash her glass in Leng Ningyun’s face, but remembering the steep prices here, she reluctantly set it down.

“You call this humiliation? What about when you and Su Mianmian conspired to drug my wine the other day? Wasn’t that humiliation enough?”

Leng Ningyun paused, then continued, “Just now, you and Zhong Jintian occupied my seat and ate the dishes I ordered without hesitation—did you not think you’d have to pay? Shen Tiantian, I warned you long ago—I’m not who I used to be. I won’t overlook your actions for Shen Jinghan’s sake any longer.”

“But you insisted on provoking me, again and again. If you’ve ended up like this, you’ve only yourself to blame.”

Leng Ningyun stood, then turned to the manager. “If she’s willing, let her stay and work as a server to repay her debt. If not, just call Madam Shen.”

The manager nodded respectfully. “Yes, Miss Leng.”

Leng Ningyun left, leaving Shen Tiantian to face the consequences alone.

Shen Tiantian stood in the very center of the restaurant—the most prestigious VIP area. She should have been the focus of admiration and envy, yet now she was met only with ridicule and disdain.

Her hands clenched tightly at her sides, and as Leng Ningyun’s figure disappeared, the hatred in her eyes was wild and unrestrained, like a beast breaking from its cage.

Leng Ningyun, you’ve made a fool of me today—I will never let this go.

Leng Ningyun made her way to Bo Jin’s side. She looked up at him. “I hope I haven’t ruined your dining experience by taking so long.”

“Of course not. But I’d rather not return to a seat they’ve used. I happen to have friends dining here—would you mind joining them?”

“Not at all,” Leng Ningyun replied. She’d been hungry for some time, and after all the commotion with Shen Tiantian and Zhong Jintian, she was famished.

All she wanted was a peaceful meal—what was there to mind?

Bo Jin led Leng Ningyun to a private room. As soon as the door opened, she recognized a familiar face: Chu Yaohang. They had met once before at Old Master Chu’s birthday banquet.

Chu Yaohang wasn’t surprised to see Bo Jin, but when he caught sight of Leng Ningyun, a hint of subtle astonishment flashed in his eyes.

“Come in, make yourselves comfortable—no need to be formal,” Chu Yaohang greeted warmly.

Inside, five or six men about Bo Jin’s age sat around the table. Each was a notable figure in elite circles, each with a status that commanded respect.

Yet all of them, upon seeing Bo Jin, stood up and greeted him with deference.

Bo Jin, with an indifferent expression, went directly to the seat of honor.

Leng Ningyun, following him, found the place beside the main seat already taken, so she remained standing to the side.

Bo Jin said nothing, merely glancing up. The man to his left immediately understood, gathered his utensils, and moved to another vacant seat.