Chapter 20: I Have Purchased This Restaurant

At precisely noon, Zhang Yunjie arrived at Guangdong Delicacies Restaurant, only to be informed by the manager that the entire venue had been reserved for a private event. Zhang Yunjie’s temper flared instantly. “I booked a private room last night, and now you’re telling me someone bought out the place?”

The manager, apologetic yet firm, replied, “I’m very sorry, Young Master Zhang, but this came up suddenly and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Zhang Yunjie pressed on relentlessly. “I’ve arranged to have lunch here with two very important guests. How am I supposed to explain this to them?”

“Call your boss out here and have him give me a proper explanation!”

The manager maintained his composure. “The owner isn’t here. Young Master Zhang, perhaps you can find somewhere else for your meal.”

Zhang Yunjie slammed the table and roared, “I’m telling you, I’m eating here today, no matter what!”

“Manager Liu, what’s going on?” came a voice from outside. The manager immediately replied, “Young Master Lin, Young Master Zhang is also here with guests, and he insists on dining at our place.”

In Pearl City, those with real influence were few, and the circle of second-generation wealthy heirs was small—everyone knew everyone else.

When Lin Bei, slowly pushing a wheelchair, entered the room, Zhang Yunjie looked up and asked, “Lin Bei? So you’re the one who booked the whole place?”

Lin Bei nodded. To ensure his father’s treatment that day would not be disturbed, he had reserved the entire restaurant and ordered the manager to suspend business for outsiders.

“I’ve got important guests coming, too. You can have the rest, but at least leave me a private room, can’t you?” Zhang Yunjie reasoned, thinking that, as the son of the city’s richest man and its number one young master, Lin Bei would owe him that much courtesy.

Unexpectedly, Lin Bei shook his head without hesitation. “Any other day, that would be fine. But today I also have an important guest coming to treat my father. It’s not convenient to have anyone else present.”

Manager Liu, standing to the side, ventured tentatively, “Could it be that the two young masters are expecting the same guest?”

Lin Bei paused and considered this possibility. His second uncle had mentioned that his sworn brother was coming to the restaurant for a banquet—could it be the very guest Zhang Yunjie was waiting for? Lin Zhongze, due to some unexpected business, hadn’t accompanied him over, and in his rush, had forgotten to mention the name of that brother. Lin Bei wanted to confirm with Zhang Yunjie, but didn’t know how to broach the subject.

At that moment, Lu Ye and Su Qianqian walked in.

“You’re early, Young Master Zhang. Oh, isn’t that Young Master Lin? We meet again!” Lu Ye greeted them.

Lin Bei was momentarily taken aback—so Lu Ye was Zhang Yunjie’s important guest? No way could he be Second Uncle’s sworn brother. His expression darkened. “Young Master Zhang, I was considering letting you have a private room upstairs, but if your guest is this guy…”

“Sorry, I must ask you all to leave immediately.” The implication was clear: get out.

Truth be told, Lin Bei had never thought much of Zhang Yunjie, the so-called number one young master of Pearl City. He always considered the Zhang family a clan of nouveau riche who’d risen overnight by cozying up to powerful backers, lacking even a trace of genuine aristocratic heritage.

The Lin family, by contrast, had deep roots in Pearl City. Although not as dazzling as the Zhangs in recent years, their strength and heritage were solid, and they’d never depended on outside help.

With Lin Bei refusing to give way, Zhang Yunjie found himself powerless.

“Lin Bei, are you deliberately trying to provoke me?”

“And if I am?”

“Screw you!”

“Screw you twice!”

As the two hot-headed heirs traded insults, Lu Ye noticed the wheelchair in front of Lin Bei. With a single glance, he could tell that the middle-aged man in the chair was a severe stroke patient, which made him recall Lin Zhongze’s phone call from earlier.

No way—what a coincidence? Lin Bei’s father was Lin Zhongze’s cousin?

Su Qianqian grumbled, “So, are we eating or not?”

Zhang Yunjie, unwilling to back down, said, “Don’t worry, sister-in-law, just give me a moment.” Then, turning to the manager, he barked, “Call your boss out here—I’m buying the whole restaurant!”

Lin Bei snorted. “I’ll buy it, too. Whatever you offer, I’ll pay double!”

“I’ll pay fifty million!”

“I’ll pay a hundred million!”

“I’ll pay two hundred million!”

“I’ll pay four hundred million!”

“Eight hundred million!”

When Lin Bei bid 1.6 billion, Lu Ye patted Zhang Yunjie on the back. “Enough, let’s just eat somewhere else.”

Zhang Yunjie, indignant, retorted, “Lu, my father’s loaded. I can’t lose face like this!”

Lu Ye replied calmly, “Relax. Once he spends 1.6 billion on this restaurant, he’ll be begging us to come back and eat. Just wait and see.”

Lin Bei sneered. “You’re dreaming. Are you bidding or not? If not, get lost!”

Lu Ye gave a soft laugh and headed across the street to a roadside food stall. “What’s so special about the food in these restaurants anyway? If you want something truly delicious, you have to go to the food stalls.”

Lin Bei laughed even more wildly. “Only losers would say something so self-deluding. You deserve nothing better than food from a roadside stall.”

Lu Ye ignored him and ordered a few dishes for the table.

Zhang Yunjie was still fuming. He wondered: Isn’t Lu Ye supposed to be pretty capable? Why is he so calm after getting humiliated by Lin Bei? Is he just taking advantage of me because I’m an easy target?

As for Lu Ye’s claim that Lin Bei would soon come begging them to return to the restaurant, Zhang Yunjie didn’t take it seriously at all—it couldn’t possibly happen.

Even Su Qianqian was bewildered. Her little rascal never let a grudge last overnight, and today he was just swallowing his anger? Something wasn’t right.

Meanwhile, back at Guangdong Tea House, Lin Bei waited and waited, but the sworn brother of his second uncle never appeared.

Instead, the restaurant owner arrived with his people. “I heard Young Master Lin is offering 1.6 billion to buy my establishment?”

At the sight of the owner, Lu Ye suddenly spat out a mouthful of food in Zhang Yunjie’s face. That big, burly man—he’d never mistake him—was none other than Meng Beauty.

“Damn, this place belongs to Meng Beauty?”

Zhang Yunjie was stunned for a moment and blurted out, “Is that the same Meng Beauty my dad hired to kill you? He’s a man?”

Su Qianqian’s face changed dramatically. “What did you say? Your father hired someone to kill Lu Ye?”

Lu Ye shot a warning glare at Zhang Yunjie, then reassured Su Qianqian, “It’s nothing. You misunderstood. Meng Beauty is my friend. Last night, we all played Werewolf together with Young Master Zhang and his father.”

Su Qianqian eyed Zhang Yunjie suspiciously. “Is that true?”

Mopping cold sweat from his brow, Zhang Yunjie nodded rapidly. “Yes, yes, it’s true!”

Su Qianqian knew things couldn’t be that simple—otherwise, how would she explain those terrifying scratches on her car? But since Lu Ye wouldn’t say more, she wisely chose not to pursue the matter.

Back at Guangdong Delicacies, Lin Bei eyed the bear-like Meng Beauty nervously and forced a laugh. “Big brother, I was just joking!”

This run-down restaurant was worth, at most, thirty or fifty million. Did Meng Beauty really expect him to cough up 1.6 billion?

Meng Beauty’s gaze turned fierce. “Young Master Zhang was ready to pay 800 million for my place, and you had to pretend to outbid him just to show off? Now Zhang’s gone because of you, and if you don’t hand over 1.6 billion, we’re not done here!”

Lin Bei panicked. All of Meng Beauty’s men were burly and intimidating—clearly not ordinary people. How could a casual spat with Zhang Yunjie land him in such trouble?

“Big brother, my second uncle is Lin Zhongze. Can you show me some mercy?”

“Your second uncle could be the king of the world for all I care. If you don’t pay up, you’re not leaving this place!” Meng Beauty snarled. Then, noticing Lin Bei’s father, Lin Zhongtang, slumped unconscious in the wheelchair, he snapped, “What the hell? You brought a dead man into my restaurant to jinx me?”

Lin Bei frantically waved his hands. “No, no, no, he’s my father—he’s not dead, he’s still breathing!”

This only made Meng Beauty angrier. “You bastard! You want him to die in my restaurant? Once word gets out that someone died here, who the hell would ever come again?”

Lin Bei was finally desperate. Even dropping his second uncle’s name didn’t help—who on earth was this guy?

“Big brother, can I… can I make a phone call?”

Meng Beauty sat down on a bench at the door, blocking the exit, and sneered, “Go ahead.”

With permission, Lin Bei shakily dialed Lin Zhongze’s number…