C12 Sitting in the Wrong Seat

Chen Mengyao crept into the restaurant on tiptoe, as stealthy as a thief, fearful of drawing attention to herself.

"You don't have to act like that. We're here to dine openly, not sneak around like burglars," Chu Fann said, looking at Chen Mengyao with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Maybe we should just leave?" Chen Mengyao suggested. "I've heard that even a simple meal for two here can cost thousands, not including the service charge. How long would you have to work to earn that much?" She didn't want Chu Fann to overspend, aware of the burden he carried earning money on his own.

"No need to worry, I've reserved a booth ahead of time. The payment's already been made, whether we eat or not," Chu Fann replied with a resigned shrug.

"Ah? That's so wasteful! Please, don't do this again!"

With a sigh, Chen Mengyao tugged at her ears and reluctantly proceeded further into the restaurant.

"I'm going to use the restroom first, wait for me..." Suddenly, she headed off in the direction of the toilets, her cautious steps drawing a chuckle from Chu Fann.

She actually considered his feelings? Chen Mengyu certainly wouldn't have.

Speaking of Chen Mengyu, she was probably dining here with Guo Chao as well. But the White Swan Music Restaurant was expansive, with two levels. If they had arrived earlier, they were likely already seated in a private room or a booth, making an encounter unlikely.

That thought eased Chu Fann's mind a bit, sparing him some potential embarrassment.

"Chu Fann! What are you doing here?"

Caught off guard by the voice behind him, Chu Fann turned to find Guo Chao and Chen Mengyu standing there.

"Oh, I get it. Still doing your delivery gig? Impressive, snagging a big order, huh? You must make a decent amount from deliveries here, at least ten or twenty yuan for the delivery fee alone. Has business picked up?" Chen Mengyu's voice dripped with condescension, her face twisting into a mocking sneer.

"I've stopped delivering. No more part-time jobs for me," Chu Fann replied, his face a mask of neutrality. He couldn't fathom why Chen Mengyu insisted on belittling him. They had parted ways; why couldn't they just leave each other in peace? Her enjoyment at mocking and shaming others baffled him; he truly didn't understand what went on in Chen Mengyu's mind.

Perhaps she recognized Guo Chao's immense potential, especially now that the Guo family had renewed their partnership with Mingzhu Group. She likely wanted to demonstrate her genuine feelings in front of him. The thought was quite laughable.

"Why are you here if you're not delivering takeout? Do you even realize where you are? This is the White Swan Music Restaurant, with a minimum spend of two thousand yuan. That's your entire month's part-time earnings!"

Chen Mengyu was convinced he wasn't here to spend money. With his means, he couldn't afford such a place.

"Mengyu, he didn't come here to dine. Why would he care about the cost? He probably doesn't even grasp the concept of a five-star restaurant. He's likely here to snap some photos and show off on his WeChat Moments," Guo Chao remarked as he casually lit a cigarette.

"Chu Fann, are you stalking me? Still not over me?" Suddenly, Chen Mengyu's eyebrows arched in suspicion, her gaze turning malevolent.

"You're overthinking it, I..."

"Save your breath and just leave. You've completely soured my mood," Mengyu cut him off, not allowing him to speak further. "Waiter, please escort him out. This man lacks the means to spend here and his intentions are questionable."

The waiter, donned in a suit and vest, approached with a warm smile, swiftly scanning Chu Fann before turning his attention to Mengyu and Guo Chao.

"Sir, madam, have you reserved a booth here?"

"Of course! Do you doubt our spending power?" Guo Chao bristled, deliberately adjusting his sleeve to flash his pricey watch.

The waiter's smile broadened slightly as he gestured politely to Chu Fann. "Sir, our restaurant is a haven for esteemed clientele. To ensure a refined dining atmosphere and a premium experience, we cannot permit loitering by non-patrons. Should your presence cause any discomfort to our guests, it would reflect a lapse in our service."

The message was clear: he was being shown the door.

Astute in reading the room, the waiter had already figured out whom to prioritize in his service.

Customers are king, and the waitstaff at White Swan Music Restaurant would bend over backward to cater to Guo Chao and Chen Mengyu's every whim.

"You guys are way out of line!"

Chen Mengyao stormed out of the restroom just in time to witness the unfolding scene and rushed to Chu Fann's defense.

"Sis, how can you treat him like this? Chu Fann hasn't done anything to you. Why are you always picking on him? He's had a tough three years!" Chen Mengyao was baffled by her sister's cruelty.

"What are you even doing here?"

Chen Mengyu's frown deepened.

"And Chen Mengyao, since when do you get to lecture me? Who do you think you are? You make a little money and suddenly you're above everyone else?"

"Oh, now I see. You've come into some cash and decided to flaunt it by bringing him here? You're really something, Chen Mengyao. How did I not notice your newfound boldness? Out with it, how much have you stashed away?"

Chen Mengyu had an epiphany.

She had been puzzled about how Chu Fann, who didn't have two dimes to rub together, could afford to be at such a place. It turned out it was her little sister who had brought him.

Chen Mengyao had landed the role of project manager for a collaboration between their family and Mingzhu Group, and the position was lucrative. From their first venture alone, she had raked in a hefty sum. After their parents had taken their share, and she had pocketed tens of thousands, the rest was surely squirreled away by this cunning little sister. Mengyu hadn't realized Mengyao had become so shrewd. Impressive!

"I haven't kept anything for myself. I've given all the money to you and our parents!" Chen Mengyao insisted, her lips quivering.

"Enough, Mengyu. Let's focus on our meal. Why bother with him? He's just a nobody. Sure, he can afford a meal today, but what about tomorrow?" Guo Chao scoffed with disdain.

"You'll see! Chen Mengyao, we'll settle this at home!" Chen Mengyu's threat was fierce but shaky.

With that, Guo Chao whisked her away.

"Waiter, we reserved the premier table. Bring out our dishes, pronto!"

Chen Mengyu's imperious demand reverberated through the restaurant.

"Sorry you had to go through that. I apologize." Chu Fann was awash with remorse.

"I'm fine, but what about you? They've accused you unfairly. It was you who invited me to this meal," Chen Mengyao said, shaking her head.

Suddenly, the hall was filled with the sound of classical music.

Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" played gracefully under the fingers of a foreign beauty as a small orchestra approached Guo Chao's table and began to play their violins.

"Wow, Mr. Guo, you're so romantic! I'm so in love with you!" Chen Mengyu exclaimed, reaching out to intertwine her fingers with Guo Chao's.

The first seat's tableware, unlike any other, was made entirely of crystal and sat in the very center of the hall, drawing all eyes to it.

Such a marketing strategy was truly ingenious.

Before long, the dishes arrived swiftly, with two stunning waitresses at their side, ready to cater to their every whim.

"I'm head over heels for you, Mr. Guo. This service is amazing!" Chen Mengyu couldn't contain her excitement, grabbing her phone to snap photos left and right, quickly sharing them to her social circle. Accompanied by her filtered selfies, the likes poured in.

Chen Mengyu's roommates were green with envy.

"How amazing. These must be the White Swan Music Restaurant's special services, right? They're so pricey, costing a small fortune each time."

"If only we could live it up like Sister Mengyu. Finding a good boyfriend is such a challenge!"

...

Guo Chao, sitting across from her, was the only one murmuring to himself.

He hadn't ordered any of these services. Could the staff have made a mistake?

But with Chen Mengyu so thrilled, he found himself unable to come clean.

Chen Mengyu cast a challenging glance at Chu Fann, noticing he was heading toward the front desk.

"Could you help me find my seat? My friend made the reservation for me. Here's a screenshot of the order," Chu Fann said, handing over his phone, which displayed a WeChat screenshot with a QR code and an order number.

Ming Xi had made the reservation, but Chu Fann was clueless about the specifics.

The receptionist scanned the order number and her brow furrowed. She looked over at the hall's center and said, "Booth number one? But isn't that already occupied?"

The receptionist double-checked the information, and her face suddenly turned pale. She quickly summoned a waiter, "Is there a mix-up? These two guests are supposed to be in booth number one, not those two. How did you seat them at the central booth? Such a mistake is unacceptable. Do you even want to keep your job?"

"What? No way, let me check!" The waiter, previously intent on ejecting Chu Fann, was now visibly panicked and drenched in sweat. He hurried over to Guo Chao's table, "Sir, may I see your receipt, please? I need to verify something."

"What's the meaning of this interruption? You're ruining our meal!" Guo Chao, taken aback, snatched the order ticket from the table and tossed it at the waiter. After scrutinizing the ticket twice, the waiter managed a strained smile and said, "My apologies, but this booth is reserved for two other patrons. Your table is actually over in that corner."

He gestured towards a table by the entrance, near the window. It was half the size of their current one, with markedly plain tableware and none of the elegance they were experiencing.