Chapter 35: Dining

"Don't worry, Mother. If the domestic specialists aren't enough, we'll go abroad. To the ends of the earth—as long as I earn enough money in the future, I will definitely get Father's leg treated."

"Having that intention is already enough."

Father Yu held Yu Youchu’s hand, patting it gently.

Tears welled up in Yu Youchu’s eyes, but she held them back, determined not to cry in front of her parents. She made a silent vow to herself.

By the time she finished attending to her parents' affairs, it was already dinner time. Yu Youchu hurried to the Jinyang Hotel.

Even though she had prepared herself mentally, Yu Youchu was still struck by the sheer splendor of the interior.

In the spacious lobby, tiles with the soft luster of jade reflected the gentle light from above. The diffused illumination made the hall as bright as day, while an eight-tiered chandelier cast a golden glow, creating layers of warm, shimmering light. Modernist illustrations hung on the marble walls, and to the right was the reception desk. On the far left, tall, lush clusters of bamboo provided a vibrant touch of green, and sixteen classical clocks were mounted on the wall, their rounded hands each pointing to a different time.

The receptionist, wearing a sweet smile, noticed her immediately. "Miss, do you have a reservation?"

Yu Youchu nodded and gave her phone number.

"May I ask for the last name and the last four digits of the phone number of the guest you are meeting?"

"Pei, a gentleman. The last four digits are 0728."

"Very good. We will escort you to your table when the time comes."

A server emerged from the front desk and gestured for her to follow. "Please, follow me to the Yanyue Pavilion on the second floor."

It was Yu Youchu’s first time being treated with such grand hospitality; she was both stunned and deeply worried about her wallet.

When the elevator doors opened, her heartache reached new heights. She felt as though she hadn't stepped into an elevator, but through a portal in time.

Mist-shrouded pavilions and terraces rose and fell in sequence. To ensure a varied sense of height, the second and third floors were combined into a single architectural space, creating an immersive experience. Walking along a path of rustic bluestone, surrounded by flowing streams and accompanied by the ethereal, distant melody of a guzheng, Yu Youchu arrived at her reserved dining area.

It was less of a private room and more of an individual pavilion. To ensure privacy, the area was surrounded by lush, landscaped rockeries and greenery.

Yu Youchu looked up. Through the fine silk curtains, the sound of the guzheng drifted out. It wasn't a recording, but a live performance—no wonder the sound had seemed to ebb and flow as she walked.

The capacity of a floor like this must be pitifully small. Do wealthy people always dine like this? Yu Youchu almost laughed at her own poverty.

"Would you like to order now?"

After Yu Youchu sat down, other servers filed in to place the tableware and water glasses with precision before filing out again.

"I’ll wait until everyone is here."

"Very well."

The server set down a menu made of bamboo slips and vanished without a trace.

Once she was alone, Yu Youchu finally let out a breath. Even the servers on this floor were dressed in traditional attire. She truly felt as if she had traveled back to ancient times for dinner.

Opening the bamboo menu, Yu Youchu stared at it until her eyes watered. This wasn't a meal; it was gold. But considering how much Pei Jiayin had saved her on rent and his offer to treat her to a trip, she gritted her teeth and accepted it.

She put the bamboo slips away and sat there, refilling her glass with plain water again and again.

As the agreed-upon time approached, Yu Youchu called Pei Jiayin. Before the call connected, she heard a familiar ringtone nearby.

She looked up. Pei Jiayin was dressed in a formal suit, his hair meticulously styled into a graceful arc. While his usual demeanor was low-key and reserved, he now looked like a drawn blade, impossible for anyone to ignore.

This… was a bit too much.

Yu Youchu gathered her composure. In this outfit, she, Pei Jiayin, and the restaurant felt like three different worlds, completely out of sync.

"Why didn't you mention it was at the Yanyue Pavilion?"

It was rare to see Pei Jiayin look embarrassed, and Yu Youchu felt a little more at ease.

"I just chose Chinese cuisine when I booked. I didn't expect this place to be so extravagant."

Yu Youchu pushed the bamboo menu toward him. "You’re the guest today. You order."

Judging by his tone, she knew he was a regular and certainly knew what was good and what wasn't. Pei Jiayin took it and quickly confirmed the dishes.

"There was a bit of traffic; I'm sorry I'm late."

"You aren't even late, why apologize?"

Yu Youchu rested her chin in her hand. She had been running around the hospital all day and then dropped her parents off at the station, leaving her exhausted. She leaned back, chatting idly with Pei Jiayin. "The decor here is too much; it’s completely refreshed my perspective."

She had been to traditional-style restaurants before, but with this masterpiece before her, she couldn't help but feel that those previous places were shoddy and unrefined.

"Do you like this style?"

Pei Jiayin didn't miss a single movement of hers. Seeing her cup was empty, he reached to pour her more water.

"No, no, I'll just drink the plain water. If I drink tea, I won't be able to sleep tonight, and I have to work overtime tomorrow morning."

Pei Jiayin poured her more water, speaking slowly as he did so. "That condition I promised you earlier—have you thought about it?"

Yu Youchu was busy craning her neck to look around at the scenery. "I've thought about it."

Pei Jiayin steadied his hand and pushed the water glass toward her. "And?"

"I don't need the condition. Because what you’ve already given me is enough." Yu Youchu looked him straight in the eyes as she spoke.

For once, Pei Jiayin avoided her gaze, not wanting her to see his hidden motives. If she had accepted the condition, he would have treated her so well that she would have felt indebted once more. And if one feels indebted, one remains on someone's mind.

Fortunately, he had a backup plan.

Pei Jiayin cleared his throat behind his hand. "I knew you would refuse, so I prepared a gift in advance. I hope you'll accept it; otherwise, I won't be able to let it go."

He took a small box from his pocket and pushed it toward her. It was wrapped in satin, reflecting an elegant, beautiful sheen under the soft, moon-like lighting. There was no logo on it; it was clearly a gift box he had prepared himself.

Before Yu Youchu could even take it, she pushed it back. "I can't accept this."

Pei Jiayin smiled. "Why?"

Yu Youchu didn't even look up. "Whatever gift you give is bound to be expensive. How is that any different from you just transferring money to me?"