CHAPTER 292: CHAPTER 292: THE FOX BORROWS THE TIGER’S FEROCITY_1

"How impressive!"

Seeing a group of people rushing toward him, Wei Hongzhen immediately puffed out his stomach and lifted his greasy face, putting on a grand, showy act. He started to see his nephew in a new light; such a welcoming ceremony really made him look important!

"Huh?"

Wei Hongzhen’s nephew was also dumbfounded. Why did the general manager himself lead a group of people over? They can’t seriously be here to welcome my uncle, can they? My uncle is just a manufacturer of robotic sweepers. How could he have this much influence?

"Esteemed—"

As he got within two meters of Su Xuan, Jiang Hai, the general manager of Dragon’s Roar Pavilion, reached out his hand. He was about to call Su Xuan "Boss," but before the word was even out, he noticed Su Xuan’s peculiar expression.

"Ahem!"

Su Xuan put a hand to his mouth and coughed twice, all while pointedly making eye contact with him and constantly glancing toward Wei Hongzhen.

Jiang Hai had been in the service industry for most of his life and was an expert at reading people. He reacted instantly, shifting his outstretched hand mid-air toward Wei Hongzhen. "An old friend has arrived, and I failed to greet you at the door. My apologies, my apologies!"

Brilliant! Su Xuan secretly gave Jiang Hai a thumbs-up.

When Jiang Hai saw the gesture, he knew he had done the right thing and flashed Su Xuan a discreet grin.

"Indeed, I am an old friend of Dragon’s Roar Pavilion." Wei Hongzhen, still believing Jiang Hai was an actor his nephew had hired, raised a hand to pat the manager’s shoulder. He continued his pompous act, "But isn’t such a formal welcome a bit too high-profile? You’re making me feel a little embarrassed. Let’s skip these formalities next time, shall we?"

After speaking, he glanced at Su Zimo. Seeing the astonished look on her face, he was overjoyed. Scared by my grand display, aren’t you? You must be falling for me already.

Su Zimo was genuinely surprised. She never expected Wei Hongzhen to have such clout at Dragon’s Roar Pavilion; it was as if he owned the place! But then she suddenly felt Su Xuan’s arm tremble. She had been holding his arm the whole time, so she noticed the slightest change immediately.

She turned her gaze to Su Xuan and saw him covering his mouth, struggling to hold back his laughter.

Suddenly, it all clicked. Could it be that the staff of Dragon’s Roar Pavilion came over because of Su Xuan? Is he the real ’old friend’ here? Is Wei Hongzhen just putting on a front, borrowing someone else’s prestige?

"Of course, of course. We’ll skip the formalities next time," Jiang Hai nodded, then looked at Wei Hongzhen’s nephew. "What are you waiting for? Hurry and show our honored guests to their seats!"

"Right!" Wei Hongzhen’s nephew, more confused than ever, led the group to a nearby table.

It was a makeshift table, hastily added and set apart from the other guests. It looked rather shabby.

"What the hell..." Wei Hongzhen was stunned when he saw the table and glared at his nephew. I asked you to make arrangements, and this is what you came up with? No wonder so many people came to greet me. Was it because you knew you were in the wrong?

"Ahem!" Su Xuan shot another look at Jiang Hai.

Jiang Hai immediately pointed to a private booth not far away. "Please, this way. This booth was reserved for you."

That booth was actually reserved for a true regular, Jiang Hai thought. I’ll just have to figure something out when he arrives later.

"Now, this booth is nice!" Wei Hongzhen saw that the space was elegantly sectioned off by two antique-style screens, creating a poetic and picturesque atmosphere. He nodded in satisfaction and swaggered toward it. But he wasn’t an idiot and was already starting to feel that something was off. A booth like this definitely needs to be reserved in advance. How could we just get it on the spot? I’ll have to ask my nephew what’s going on later.

"Boss, is that man your friend?" Jiang Hai took the opportunity to ask Su Xuan in a low voice.

"Not a friend," Su Xuan whispered back. "But he’s paying for dinner tonight. Understand?"

"Understood, understood!"

Jiang Hai completely grasped Su Xuan’s plan. After Su Xuan and Su Zimo were also seated in the booth, he sent Wei Hongzhen’s nephew away. Then, holding a menu, he approached the table. "I will be personally serving your table this evening. Please, take a look at the menu!"

"Reporter Su, you go first!" Wei Hongzhen grandly pushed the menu in front of Su Zimo. "Order whatever you like. Don’t worry, I can handle it!"

He then looked around for his nephew, only to find he had vanished.

"Wow, Su Xuan, the food here is really expensive!" Su Zimo exclaimed. "Look at this Wine-Poached Pear, it’s over eight hundred!"

"It really is pricey," Su Xuan chimed in mischievously. "A pear only costs a few bucks, right? How can they charge so much?"

What a bumpkin. And here I thought he was all looks,

Wei Hongzhen sneered inwardly. He then turned to Jiang Hai and said, "Why don’t you explain why this dish is so expensive?"

"The pear is air-freighted from Iceland. It’s called a Golden Ice Pear, known for being sweet, crisp, and refreshing. It’s like chewing on honey-infused ice."

"And the wine is a special vintage from a Bordeaux château, a bottle of which sells for five or six thousand."

"So..."

"So, eight hundred for this Wine-Poached Pear isn’t expensive at all!" Wei Hongzhen interrupted Jiang Hai, turning back to Su Zimo. "Don’t look at the prices. Just pick whatever you like. I’m not short on cash!"

"Then let’s get the Wine-Poached Pear!" Su Zimo continued scanning the menu. "Wow, this seasonal vegetable salad is also really expensive, seven hundred!"

"Order it, order it!" Wei Hongzhen waved his hand with the air of a true tycoon.

The more expensive the dishes, the more impressive I look! And the more it puts this Su Xuan kid in his place! Besides, a few hundred per dish is nothing I can’t handle.

Su Xuan just smiled to himself, enjoying Wei Hongzhen’s performance.

"What do you do for a living?" Wei Hongzhen suddenly asked Su Xuan.

Su Xuan replied, "I drive for Didi."

Before Wei Hongzhen could react, Jiang Hai’s facial muscles twitched. My boss really knows how to experience life! He owns the fifty-billion-dollar Dragon’s Roar Pavilion, yet he’s so low-key that he drives for Didi! He truly is different from ordinary people. I must learn more from him in the future!

"Hahaha, so he really is a Didi driver!" Wei Hongzhen laughed inwardly, then said to Su Zimo, who was still ordering, "Reporter Su, you certainly have unique taste, choosing a Didi driver for a boyfriend."

Su Zimo looked up. "What’s wrong with driving for Didi? I liked him just as much when he was a delivery courier."

"Uh..." Wei Hongzhen’s eyes widened.

He was a courier before, too? Those are tough jobs for poor people! Could it be that Su Zimo is only with him for his looks? Is she his sugar mama?

"Distinguished guests, I have a suggestion."

At that moment, Jiang Hai suddenly spoke up softly...