Full from the meal, Su He found an excuse to slip away to the front desk to settle the bill. To her surprise, she was told it had already been paid.
Su He was bewildered.
Could it be that her adoptive father had paid the bill while she was in the restroom?
With lingering doubt, Su He took the settlement statement back to the private room and stared, wide-eyed, at the final figure.
Their meal had cost five figures!
Five figures!
She might not earn that much from half a year's worth of design work!
Just then, Tang Jiaojiao, who had returned after reapplying her makeup, nudged Su Dazhi beside her. "How could you let Su Su pay? We said we were treating!"
"I was just about to... Who knew this little clever one had already paid..."
Listening to their hushed conversation, Su He's mind went even more blank.
So her adoptive father hadn't paid?
Then, who was the mysterious benefactor?
*
In a private room at the far end, the manager of Chunfeng Deyilou was bowing and scraping with a fawning, even somewhat fearful, attitude towards a man. "Mr. Lu, everything has been done according to your instructions. The bill for the guests in that room has been waived."
"My identity wasn't revealed, was it?" the man asked, seated by the window, his eyes lowered, idly playing with the metal cufflinks on his wrist. His expression was calm, betraying no emotion.
"No," the manager replied.
The man nodded lazily. "Good. If they come again, handle it the same way as today."
Though surprised, the manager dared not show it and respectfully agreed.
"You may leave now. There's nothing else for you here," Lu Yanbei gestured.
The manager smiled and retreated.
Once he was gone, Lu Yanbei's friends dared to speak.
"Brother Yan, what's going on?"
"I've been here several times, and you never waived my bill!"
"I'm suddenly very curious! Who is it that has our Young Master Yan so preoccupied?"
Lu Yanbei’s expression remained unchanged as he flipped through the menu. "A friend."
"Male or female?" his companions looked at him in unison.
Lu Yanbei adjusted his glasses and cast a lingering glance at them, causing them to immediately fall silent.
If Young Master Yan was unwilling to say, they naturally wouldn't ask.
After ordering their food, they began discussing the project in the northern district.
"That location is indeed excellent! It's surrounded by office buildings and commercial residences, and the government plans for a subway and an elevated highway to pass through there. Within a few kilometers, there are no large shopping malls. If that plot of land can be acquired and developed into a comprehensive commercial complex, integrating office and entertainment, the future development should be promising."
"It's a good piece of land, but acquiring it won't be easy! It's the largest urban village in the city, a gathering place for all sorts of people, housing a hundred thousand residents! Just getting them to agree to demolition could take years, couldn't it?"
"They might demand exorbitant prices! Anyway, my old man has given up!"
"Yes, although the land has potential for appreciation, the initial investment is too large. Without sufficient capital, it's impossible to bite off!"
After speaking, the group turned their gaze to Lu Yanbei.
"Young Master Yan, what are your thoughts?"
The man addressed slowly raised his head, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. "Lu Corporation is considering it."
"Considering? So there's a chance!" Gu Yuheng, with his crew cut and biker jacket, caught a hint of something and his eyes lit up. "Brother, can your little brother get a stake?"
"It's still uncertain, so I can't make any promises," Lu Yanbei replied, his words watertight.
"I mean, *if*. If Lu Corporation decides to proceed with this project, please don't forget about your brother!"
"And me!" Lei Ting and He Shufan echoed.
Lu Yanbei remained silent for a moment before uttering two words. "We'll see."
"Brother, please, don't keep us in suspense!"
"Remember our promise of mutual prosperity!"
Faced with their eager gazes, Lu Yanbei remained unmoved. He picked up his teacup and took a shallow sip. As he swallowed, his Adam's apple moved sensually. "Investing is possible, but it depends on how much sincerity you can show."
"My entire fortune, about fifty million." Gu Yuheng held up a hand. "Not including my motorcycles!"
"I have some funds and stocks; if I sell them, it would be around ten to twenty million." He Shufan was equally forthcoming.
As for Lei Ting, he shrugged. "I've invested all my money in property, so I don't have much cash on hand. I'll see how much I can borrow by mortgaging it then."
The three were known as notorious playboys in their circle, rebellious since childhood, while Lu Yanbei was the model child their elders always spoke of. It was truly perplexing how they ended up together.
Over the years, they had learned a thing or two about investment and finance by following Lu Yanbei. Seeing such a massive project on the horizon, they naturally didn't want to miss out.
"This project is quite challenging. The total budget is around fifty billion. Your savings are just a drop in the bucket," Lu Yanbei said, shaking his head.
"Fifty billion to invest?" The three looked incredulous.
"Otherwise, why do you think no one has dared to touch that land for so many years?" Lu Yanbei picked up the teapot and elegantly poured himself more tea. "It's not a lack of desire, but that no company in Jiangcheng has the capacity to swallow it whole."
"Not even your Lu family?" Gu Yuheng's face fell.
Lu Yanbei pursed his lips noncommittally. "The risk factor is too high, and the board of directors hasn't approved it yet..."
The three exchanged glances and fell into thought.
*
"You guys wait in the car. I'll be right back." As she was about to get into the car, Su He suddenly remembered she'd forgotten her bag.
It wasn't a designer item, just something she was used to and too lazy to switch.
She jogged back to the private room, retrieved her bag, and was about to head downstairs to meet her adoptive parents when, by sheer bad luck, she bumped into a familiar figure approaching.
Though she was amidst a group of people, Su He recognized him immediately.
It was Lu Yanbei!
What was he doing here?
Su He instinctively tried to hide. However, the group had already seen her.
Gu Yuheng, in particular, had a booming voice. "Hey, who do we have here? Isn't that the one your Lu family married for good luck... that... what's her name?"
"Su He," He Shufan helpfully reminded him.
"Right, I think that's her name. By seniority, she's also Young Master Yan's sister-in-law." Gu Yuheng, oblivious to the flicker of displeasure in Lu Yanbei's eyes, continued to chatter.
"Incorrect, she's the *former* sister-in-law," Lei Ting, who rarely spoke, corrected.
"I'm sorry, Brother Yan, I forgot she divorced Lu Jingyang and is no longer part of the Lu family." Gu Yuheng scratched his buzz cut sheepishly.
Lu Yanbei's gaze was lowered, his emotions unreadable.
"But speaking of which, that Lu Jingyang is quite the scoundrel. If he agreed to the marriage alliance, he should have abided by the rules. What's with him openly parading his mistress around? Completely disregarding his wife!" Gu Yuheng, seeing Lu Yanbei's silence, felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward and added.
Lu Yanbei didn't respond. He merely cast a casual glance at Su He and walked past her.
"Brother Yan, why so cold? She's your former sister-in-law, shouldn't you at least say hello?"
"Gu Yuheng, are you out of your mind? What connection does Su He have with Brother Yan? Stop shouting nonsense!"
As the group moved further away, Su He's racing heart gradually calmed. Then, a preposterous thought suddenly flashed through her mind. Could it be that Lu Yanbei had paid for their meal tonight?