C22 The Shocked Kitchen Manager

"What are you talking about?" the Kitchen Manager asked, momentarily taken aback.

Wang Chengxin's eyes were wide with disbelief.

He pointed at the car keys on the table and exclaimed, "A Pagani Huayra! A world-renowned sports car, worth over ten million dollars. It's incredibly valuable! Do you actually have the keys to this car?"

Wang Chengxin came from a wealthy family and was an avid fan of sports cars. He could identify the make and model of a car key in an instant.

The Kitchen Manager felt his heart race.

A sports car worth millions?

That couldn't be right!

He remembered the way Lin Dong had casually handed him the keys, and he was half in doubt.

Lin Dong didn't seem like someone wealthy. A student like him, from an average family, was doing well to have a thousand dollars a month for expenses.

The thought of such a student affording a sports car worth tens of millions was ludicrous!

The Kitchen Manager couldn't reconcile the image of Lin Dong with that of an expensive sports car owner.

He chuckled and said, "What sports car? I got it for nine ninety-nine on Pinduoduo."

Oh!

The sparkle in Wang Chengxin's eyes vanished instantly.

It was just a toy key. He had mistaken it for the real thing.

On reflection, it made sense. A single Pagani Huayra could be worth as much as five of his family's companies!

Only a top-tier billionaire could afford such a luxury.

How could a small restaurant manager be that wealthy?

He settled his bill and left promptly.

The Kitchen Manager watched him go, yet he couldn't shake a nagging feeling.

The high quality of the car keys was unmistakable.

Could they really be for a Pagani Huayra?

If so, Lin Dong was no ordinary man – he was wealthy!

Determined to find out, the Kitchen Manager decided to check the parking lot. Lin Dong had mentioned where the car was parked; a quick look would reveal the truth.

He handed off the cash register to a colleague and made a beeline for the parking lot.

Jiangyang University had its own parking lot, mainly for faculty and students with cars, not far from the canteen where the Kitchen Manager worked.

He arrived in no time.

The lot was filled with cars, but one stood out: a sleek, black, luxurious, and almost futuristic sports car was parked in one of the spaces.

Even those with little knowledge of cars could sense the blinding opulence at that moment! The Kitchen Manager walked over to inspect the emblem, and to his astonishment, it matched the logo on the car key he was holding! It was indeed a Pagani Huayra!

With a flick of his finger, the Kitchen Manager pressed the unlock button on the key fob. "Beep, beep!" The sleek, pure black Pagani Huayra responded with a flash of its matrix laser headlights, like a slumbering beast awakening with formidable power.

"The key is real!" The Kitchen Manager's hands began to tremble uncontrollably. Lin Dong hadn't deceived him. His car key, worth ten million, was more than enough to cover the cost of the meal! This car could allow Lin Dong to enjoy ten thousand full-menu feasts in his establishment!

Fear crept over the Kitchen Manager. Surely, someone who could afford a ten-million-dollar sports car had significant influence! Lin Dong's modest attire was overshadowed by his vehicle, which instantly elevated his status. Would a man who drives a car of such caliber ever lack the funds for a meal?

Panic set in. He had made a grave mistake! The thought of having offended a person of Lin Dong's stature over a meal sent shivers down the Kitchen Manager's spine. He was terrified.

"I must return the car keys immediately and offer a heartfelt apology!" Resolute, the Kitchen Manager locked the car and hurried back to the kitchen.

A waitress approached him quickly, concern etched on her face. "Manager, you're back. I heard the students in private room five can't pay their bill. They've asked to take their food to go. Should we still pack it?"

Before the visit to the parking lot, the Kitchen Manager might have instructed the waitress to set the food aside. Now, having realized the true value of Lin Dong's car key and the gravity of his background, he dared not treat the matter lightly.

"Pack it, and use the finest packaging! No, wait—have the kitchen prepare a fresh, hot meal according to the menu. I'll personally deliver it to Mr. Lin Dong!" he declared.

What? The waitress was taken aback. She had expected the manager to erupt in anger, not to respond with such generosity.

Packing up leftovers and remaking the entire menu are completely different tasks, and they come with a hefty price tag!

Yet, the Kitchen Manager was undeterred by the cost. He prepared the dishes on the menu once more and personally delivered them to Lin Dong.

The waitress couldn't make heads or tails of it. What had gotten into the usually profit-driven manager today?

"Didn't you hear me? Get moving!" the Kitchen Manager barked.

"Right away, I'll let the kitchen know!" she responded and hurried off.

With her departure, the Kitchen Manager breathed a sigh of relief. He had come up with a solid plan to mend fences, hoping his genuine approach would win over Lin Dong.

He wanted Lin Dong to overlook their previous discomfort.

The expense was a small price to pay for the opportunity to curry favor with an influential figure like Lin Dong!

If this gesture left a positive impression on Lin Dong, and he decided to invest in a restaurant in Jiangyang City, the manager's status and net worth would skyrocket!

Lost in his daydreams, the manager was full of wild fantasies.

Meanwhile, Liu Wenming was dragged to a secluded spot.

He broke free from Tian Chao and Zhou Hengyu's grasp, exclaiming in frustration, "What are you doing? We can't just abandon Lin Dong!"

Tian Chao yanked him back, explaining, "Lin Dong was just saving face by telling us to leave. Weren't you just making him uncomfortable by staying?"

Liu Wenming shot them a fierce look and retorted, "Damn it! What if he can't pay after we leave?"

"Do you have any money?" Tian Chao challenged.

Liu Wenming's confidence faltered as he muttered, "I've got 200. If we all chip in, it should be enough."

Zhou Hengyu checked his phone, opening his WeChat balance, and announced, "I've got 320 here. How much do you have, Tian Chao?"

Tian Chao sighed, "Just 150 yuan left. It's nearly the end of the month, and I'm almost out!"

The three fell silent.

Zhou Hengyu couldn't help but mock himself, "Together, we don't even have enough for one meal."

Liu Wenming glared, insisting, "But we can't just leave Lin there by himself!"

Tian Chao shot back, "Who said we're abandoning Lin? I'm going to borrow some money from our teammates right now. We'll make sure the meal is paid for!"

Zhou Hengyu immediately pulled out his phone and said, "I'll reach out to some friends as well."

...

There's strength in numbers, and each of them had close friends they could count on.

In no time, they had gathered enough money for the meal and transferred it to Liu Wenming's WeChat.

"Let's go find Lin Dong!"

The trio strode off to the kitchen with determination, resolved to pull Lin Dong out of his predicament.

They all believed that Lin Dong had been deeply hurt by Zhang Xiaofeng's betrayal, suffering a significant emotional blow.

They didn't hold his extravagant spending on revenge against him; they were solely focused on helping him escape his troubles and move past the ordeal.

Upon arrival, they saw the Kitchen Manager and two waiters emerging, carrying large and small containers of packed meals.