Chapter 364: A Lavish Dinner in the City

Hua Lan Restaurant is a high-end dining spot near the city center, with pricey dishes, elegant decor, and long wait times for reservations.

They say every dish is freshly airlifted from around the world.

The seventh floor is the best spot in the whole place—highest prices, prime views—where diners can gaze through floor-to-ceiling windows at the city’s most vibrant night scene, drawing crowds of the wealthy.

As Lin Zheng Ran rode to the restaurant, the driver filled him in on all this.

Stepping out, a clerk in uniform quickly approached to greet him, even though most bosses who dine here arrive with drivers.

Still, plenty of the rich show up by taxi or even bicycle.

No one risks offending a guest: “Good evening, sir. Are you here for dinner? Do you have a reservation?”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded. “Yes, for dinner. My last name is Lin.”

“Mr. Lin! Right this way!” The clerk led him to the elevator, and when the staff pressed the button for the seventh floor, Lin Zheng Ran realized Jiang Qian must have spent a fortune—matching what the driver had said.

“Just to ask, the taxi driver mentioned you need to book at least three days in advance. Is that true?”

“Yes, it is. Our restaurant has been around for over a decade, and thanks to our loyal customers, business is booming, so reservations are essential.”

Tonight’s dinner was something Lin Zheng Ran had mentioned to Jiang Qian that morning, leaving her no time to book.

“So, what if someone wants to skip the reservation?”

The clerk smiled. “That’s not possible. We never make exceptions—it would cause too much hassle. But if a booked guest cancels, customers can sometimes arrange to take their spot.”

“I see, got it.”

They reached the seventh floor, and the elevator doors opened as the staff guided Lin Zheng Ran to the largest private room in the center.

“Please, go ahead.”

At the door stood an attractive female server, bowing slightly—each private room had one dedicated attendant.

It was like custom service, one per room.

“Good evening, sir. I’m your attendant for this room. I’ll be right outside if you need anything during your meal or while you wait.”

Lin Zheng Ran gently pushed open the door, revealing a spacious, bright, and luxurious private room.

The decor mirrored the main hall, with plenty of art pieces, paintings, and fresh flowers on display.

Though it was a place for dining, the table didn’t overpower the room; its clever placement made everything feel balanced and comfortable.

One wall was a massive floor-to-ceiling window, offering a stunning overlook of the entire city.

By the window, Jiang Qian stood gracefully in a black evening gown.

Her dress was simple and form-fitting, not overly flashy, but on her with that cool expression, it looked strikingly elegant, perfectly highlighting her figure and beauty.

She turned at the sound, her cool eyes meeting Lin Zheng Ran’s as he stood in the doorway.

“You’re here,” she said lightly.

Lin Zheng Ran had expected Jiang Qian to dress up, but seeing her in such formal attire still surprised him.

He stepped forward, and the staff closed the door behind them.

Dressed casually, Lin Zheng Ran said, “I even changed clothes for this. Should’ve worn a suit, I guess.”

Jiang Qian turned, her high heels clicking softly. “You look great as is. No need for a suit—it’s just a casual dinner.”

Lin Zheng Ran eyed her for the evening and smiled. “This doesn’t seem casual at all. You’re even in an evening gown.”

Jiang Qian didn’t flinch. “In front of you, I want to show my best side and make a good impression.” She moved to the table. “Let’s sit.”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded and complimented, “You really look stunning tonight.”

Jiang Qian paused with her hand on the chair, a slight blush on her cheeks. “Thank you… That makes the effort worthwhile.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled and sat with her.

Before sitting, he asked curiously, “Your high heels look good on you. Do you wear them often?”

Jiang Qian gazed at him. “Not much. Mostly for important events with my sister.”

“I see. You pull it off so well—your poise and appearance are nearly perfect. You seem like a different person from the one at school.”

“My sister is the same. After our parents built the family business, we both learned a lot of etiquette over the years to avoid embarrassing the family—it’s become second nature.”

“That must’ve been tough, but Jingshi carries herself just like you when she’s at the company.”

Jiang Qian noticed the four different bracelets on Lin Zheng Ran’s wrist.

Especially her sister’s one, made from an underwear clasp…

She frowned slightly, like a subtle warning, but decided not to dwell on it.

In her twenty years, besides Lin Zheng Ran, she hadn’t lost to anyone—especially not her sister.

“Let’s eat,” she said.

“Sure.”

They called the server, and soon the dishes started arriving one by one.

Along with red wine, as the staff poured for Lin Zheng Ran, he smiled and clinked glasses with Jiang Qian.

The dinner was peaceful; Jiang Qian didn’t say much, true to her quiet nature.

Lin Zheng Ran kept things light too, focusing on savoring the excellent food.

It wasn’t until near the end that Jiang Qian swallowed her bite and brought up an unexpected topic:

“Lin Zheng Ran, there’s a new company making waves in nearby Surge Spring City. It’s called Xi Yao Entertainment, and they do business similar to ours, blending traits from Jiang Group and Zheng Shi Company into their own unique production line. I thought it was just copying, but they’re building momentum fast and proving capable.”

She looked up. “They’re not yet at half our scale, but their growth is alarming—we can’t ignore it.”

Lin Zheng Ran knew Jiang Qian wouldn’t mention this without reason.

“Go on.”

Jiang Qian set down her utensils:

“The vice president who’s been in the spotlight is Zhang Yang, a man in his late twenties. But strangely, my people couldn’t dig up any background on him. I have a bad feeling about this—you and Jingshi should be careful.”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded with a smile, noting it. “Understood. But you said the vice president is Zhang Yang—who’s running the company?”

“No idea. I only know it’s a woman, and like Zhang Yang, we couldn’t get details on her. But apparently, she’s a jack-of-all-trades. From the start, Xi Yao Entertainment was built by her alone, training a team of elite staff for live streaming, sports, music—you name it.”

Hearing those key words, Lin Zheng Ran took another bite. “That’s exactly what Zheng Shi Company does. Does this company have it out for us?”

“Not really. Even though they do the same things, for some reason, she always steers clear of us, like she’s avoiding conflict on purpose. That’s what feels off and why it took so long to notice.”