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Novel Catalog
Chapter 19
Golden Jade was one of the most prestigious dining spots in Donghai, renowned for its exquisite dishes crafted by the best chefs in the city. Dining here was not only a luxurious experience but also a test of patience—reservations had to be made well in advance, and the cost of a meal could easily run into the thousands.
Before they left, Jiang Ning had asked Lin Yuzhen to make a reservation. It was the first time Sumei was dining at such a high-end place, and she felt a bit out of her element.
“Yuzhen, this is too expensive, isn’t it?” Sumei whispered, glancing at the lavish surroundings. She added quietly, “We can’t just take Jiang Ning’s money like this. It’s almost like owing him a favor we can never repay.”
Lin Yuzhen knew how pricey Golden Jade could be. A colleague had dined here once and bragged about it for an entire month. She smiled softly, trying to ease her mother’s worries.
“Jiang Ning insisted on treating you to dinner. I can’t stop him,” Lin Yuzhen replied, taking a deep breath. “Just enjoy it. Later, I’ll give him the money for our part of the meal.”
Sumei felt reassured by this.
As they walked into the restaurant, Jiang Ning pushed Lin Wen ahead while Lin Yuzhen and Sumei followed behind. It was an unfamiliar world for them, and Sumei couldn’t help but feel a little out of place.
At the reception, the host approached them with a polite but stiff expression.
“My apologies, sir,” the waiter said, “but our restaurant is fully booked at the moment. If you’d like, you can wait over to the side.”
Jiang Ning looked around the crowded restaurant, his patience wearing thin. He turned to Lin Yuzhen, asking, “Didn’t you make a reservation?”
Lin Yuzhen stepped forward and pulled out her phone. The reservation notification was still visible on her screen. “We reserved for 6:00 PM,” she said, pointing to the time. “It’s only 5:46 now.”
The waiter’s tone didn’t shift. “I’m sorry, but there were some guests who came in early and didn’t update their status. The system hasn’t synced properly. Please wait here, or perhaps you can come back tomorrow.”
Lin Yuzhen’s frustration was growing. This wasn’t what she expected from such an acclaimed restaurant.
“Why don’t we go somewhere else?” Sumei suggested, seeing the pricey decor and upscale clientele. “We can’t afford this kind of place anyway.”
“No, Mum. This is the first time I’m treating you to dinner, and we’re eating here,” Jiang Ning said firmly.
No one had ever dared to snatch a table from him before. Restaurants usually bent over backward to accommodate him, and now, despite having made a reservation, he was being told to wait.
“Who’s your boss?” Jiang Ning asked calmly, turning to the waiter.
The waiter raised an eyebrow, sensing the challenge. “Our boss is Huang Yuming, the CEO of Donghai,” he said, trying to brush them off. “I’m sure you’ve heard of him. Most people wouldn’t even dare to offend someone like him.”
Jiang Ning didn’t bat an eye. Instead, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
Meanwhile, Huang Yuming, the CEO of Donghai’s most influential company, was soaking in a hot spring on the highest floor of his mansion. When he saw the unknown number calling, he immediately answered.
“Hello?”
“Little Huang, I’m at your restaurant. Is there any space available?” Jiang Ning’s voice was casual but commanding.
The moment Huang Yuming heard the voice, his demeanor shifted completely. He jumped up, splashing water everywhere, startling the model who had been lounging with him.
“Yes, yes, of course! Big Boss, are you at Golden Jade Restaurant? I’m coming right now!” Huang Yuming said, rushing to get dressed and dried off, eager to meet Jiang Ning in person.
Back at the reception, the waiter was still looking at Jiang Ning, bewildered. He didn’t believe for a second that this man knew Huang Yuming personally.
“Little Huang? Seriously?” the waiter scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “I’ve seen it all. You think you can just drop names and get what you want? Who do you think you’re fooling?”
Ignoring the waiter, Jiang Ning stood still, waiting for Huang Yuming to arrive.
“Are you deaf?” the waiter snapped, taking out his radio. “Brother Gou, there’s someone causing trouble at Golden Jade. Please come down here.”
As the waiter spoke, Lin Yuzhen’s anxiety grew. They were already in an uncomfortable situation, and now it seemed like things were about to escalate.
“Yuzhen, we should go,” Sumei said, her voice trembling. “We can’t afford to offend these people.”
But Lin Yuzhen didn’t move. She knew Jiang Ning was connected to Huang Yuming—he’d even shared stories of their past together, of when they’d been in rougher times.
Just then, a dozen large men stormed into the lobby, led by the burly Brother Gou, who was clearly unhappy.
“Who dares to cause trouble here? You must be tired of living!” Brother Gou snarled, his voice like a growl.
The waiter quickly pointed at Jiang Ning, “It’s them! They tried to get in even though there was no space, and this guy called our boss ‘Little Huang’!”
Brother Gou’s face turned dark with fury. “Little Huang?” He laughed, his expression growing colder. “Who the hell do you think you are? For me to kill you is like killing an ant, and you think I’ve been rude?”
Before Brother Gou could take another step, the elevator doors opened. Huang Yuming, drenched and still in a panic, rushed out, shouting,
“STOP!”
The entire scene froze.
The waiter and Brother Gou were stunned into silence as Huang Yuming stormed forward.
“Are you blind?” Huang Yuming shouted, slapping Brother Gou across the face. “You dare to touch him? You don’t know who he is?”
Huang Yuming turned to Jiang Ning and immediately softened his tone. “Big Boss, I apologize for this. I’m sorry for the behavior of my subordinates.”
Brother Gou stood frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening. He clutched his face, still in shock.
The waiter was visibly shaking, unsure if he was about to faint. Huang Yuming, the powerful CEO, had just called Jiang Ning “Big Boss,” and even referred to himself as “Little Huang.”
“Big Boss?” Lin Wen and Sumei were speechless, unable to process the situation.
“What are you waiting for?” Huang Yuming barked. “Apologize to him now!”
Both Brother Gou and the waiter immediately began to apologize, their voices trembling.
“I’m sorry, I’m very sorry!” Brother Gou bowed deeply, while the waiter echoed his apology.
Jiang Ning looked at Huang Yuming, speaking calmly despite the chaos. “Little Huang, if you want to do business properly, you need to make sure your staff doesn’t break the rules. This place should operate with respect, not arrogance.”
Huang Yuming, feeling the weight of Jiang Ning’s words, nodded vigorously. “I take full responsibility! I’ll correct everything right away.”
Turning to the waiter, Huang Yuming added, “You’re fired! Leave immediately!”
Brother Gou’s face turned pale at the sudden turn of events.
