Shang Qingye’s words were cut short by a loud, sudden shout.
The sound was so piercing that many customers on the second floor turned their heads toward the source. Shang Qingye was frustrated. He had finally summoned the courage to use a joke to hint at his true feelings, an opportunity that might only come once, and it had been unceremoniously interrupted. He knit his brows and scanned the hall, looking for the person causing the disturbance.
A few tables away, he saw a handsome young man standing up. The man was using a tissue to frantically wipe his clothes while glaring furiously at a waiter standing beside him.
“Let us go see,” Yu Qingdu said, already standing up and walking toward the commotion.
A flash of confusion crossed Shang Qingye’s eyes. He had not realized that Yu Qingdu had a penchant for listening to gossip.
As they drew closer, they heard the handsome man berating the young waiter. “What is wrong with you? Are you blind? I am standing right here! How can you serve food like this? Are your hands useless?”
The waiter being scolded was a young boy who looked quite young. He kept his head down, his hands trembling as he gripped his apron tightly. Shang Qingye frowned at the scene but remained silent.
“I have noticed that your eyebrows quite enjoy being knit tonight,” a voice whispered close to his left ear.
He turned his head to find Yu Qingdu leaning in extremely close. As he moved, Yu Qingdu’s lips brushed against the bridge of his nose. Shang Qingye stepped back to ensure the situation would not repeat itself before looking at Yu Qingdu again.
Fortunately, most of the people nearby were preoccupied with the drama, so no one noticed their brief closeness. Yu Qingdu smiled at him and gestured for him to keep watching.
“That is enough, A Yi. You are making a scene,” said another man sitting next to the handsome youth. He wore a suit and gold rimmed glasses, watching the ordeal with a cold, expressionless face.
Upon hearing the man’s voice, the angry youth’s temper cooled slightly. He turned back to the waiter with a scowl. “Do you have any idea how expensive these clothes are? You could work here for a year and still not be able to afford the compensation.”
The waiter’s eyes were already red. He choked back a sob and spoke with difficulty. “Please tell me how much I need to pay. I will take responsibility for the cost.”
At that moment, the floor manager arrived in a hurry. After quickly assessing what had happened, he immediately began scolding the waiter. He then turned to the youth and the man in the suit, bowing and scraping as he apologized.
“I am so sorry, Young Master Sheng. This was entirely the waiter’s fault. We will terminate his employment immediately.”
The man in the suit, addressed as Young Master Sheng, nodded slowly as if he did not wish to linger on the matter.
“No, he still has not paid me,” the handsome youth insisted, looking at the waiter with clear hostility.
“Yes, of course, he must pay. What amount would be appropriate?” the manager asked, trying to smooth things over.
The youth shot a cold look at the waiter. “This jacket cost 380,000.”
The waiter’s face turned pale at the number, and he looked as though he might collapse. Shang Qingye watched the youth, feeling a sense of familiarity, especially in the features of his face.
“Could you please let me pay in installments? I… I cannot produce that much money right now,” the waiter pleaded, his voice breaking as he closed his eyes.
The youth replied coldly, emphasizing each word. “No. Way.”
The waiter felt as if his world was crashing down. He stared at the youth in disbelief. “It was only because you hit my hand that the soup spilled,” he said slowly, as if forcing the words out. “I did not blame you for that, so there is no need to push me to this extent.”
The youth laughed. He was handsome, and his smile was objectively beautiful, yet he turned to the manager and asked, “Does this sound like something I should be responsible for?”
“Not at all! It is entirely his fault,” the manager said, shaking his head and pushing the waiter aside.
The waiter closed his eyes as a single tear escaped. He had known it would end this way.
The hall was filled with the low murmur of gossip. Some patrons had finished their meals and left, while others stayed to watch. Opinions among the crowd were divided; some supported the youth, while others pitied the waiter.
Suddenly, a light laugh rang out, cutting through the whispering voices.
Everyone turned toward the sound. Yu Qingdu stood there with a bright smile, though Shang Qingye looked at him with surprise, knowing the laugh was intentional. When the youth and the man in the suit saw him, their pupils constricted.
“Jiang Yi, do you not find this scene a little familiar?” Yu Qingdu stepped out from the crowd. His lips were curved into a smile, but his eyes were devoid of warmth as he looked at the youth.
“Yu Qingdu,” Jiang Yi said, his posture tensing. A flash of guilt crossed his face, but he tried to sound casual. “What are you doing here? I did not see you earlier.”
Yu Qingdu did not answer the question. He simply watched him with that smile. “I asked you a question. Do you not think this scene looks familiar?” Yu Qingdu’s aura was overwhelming; there was no room he could not dominate.
Thinking of something, Jiang Yi clenched his fists at his sides. His hands were trembling, perhaps from the force of his grip. “Since you are here, I will not disturb your meal.”
He turned and tried to pull the man in the suit away, but the man would not budge. Jiang Yi looked down and saw that the man’s eyes were fixed intently on Yu Qingdu.
The man in the suit spoke. “Qingdu, you have become even more beautiful.”
Shang Qingye had been monitoring the situation closely, and he did not miss the disgusting look in the man’s eyes. Frowning, he stepped closer to Yu Qingdu, his gaze filled with coldness and vigilance.
Yu Qingdu showed no fear. He acted as if he did not know the meaning of the word awkward and smiled brightly. “Sheng Ze, you have become even more disgusting.”
Sheng Ze’s expression shifted, and his gaze darkened. Jiang Yi stood there with his head lowered, his expression unreadable.
Looking at the pair, the curve of Yu Qingdu’s lips finally flattened. He looked at them with a gaze that lacked any temperature. “Disgusting,” he said softly.
Seeing that they were still standing there, Yu Qingdu spoke up again. “Do you plan on staying here to be stared at like monkeys?”
Jiang Yi’s grip was so tight it looked painful. Sheng Ze stood up quickly and pulled Jiang Yi out of the restaurant.
Once the primary parties had left, the crowd of onlookers dispersed. The floor manager, realizing who held the real power in the room, cautiously approached Yu Qingdu.
“Excuse me, how should we handle this waiter?” he asked.
“You may handle it however you like,” Yu Qingdu replied. “However, the person who wanted payment for the clothes has already left. I imagine he no longer wants the money.”