Chapter 31 (Dining)

The Beijing Hotel is now the tallest building in the city, with fourteen floors. In previous years, it only hosted foreign affairs events, but now it is also open to Chinese citizens. However, most people are hesitant to come because it is too expensive.

So expensive that Luo Yan gasped when she glanced at the menu, her clear black and white pupils trembling as she looked at her brother.

Luo Hong, whose fingers always resembled an hourglass, glanced at the price and said, "Order whatever you want, someone's treating anyway."

Luo Yan felt even more embarrassed when someone else paid the bill, flipping through the menu as if she were holding a hot potato.

Zhou Weifang poured her some tea: "It's alright, order whatever you want to eat."

Luo Yan called out, "This tea costs money."

She pointed to a line of small print on the title page, then, not wanting the waiter to hear, leaned closer to him: "Look, it's two yuan per person."

Zhou Weifang charged one cent for repairing tires. He thought to himself that it would take him several days to earn enough for a cup of tea, and said, "I don't come here often, so please order."

Luo Yan simply pushed it back to him: "I can't bring myself to do it."

Zhou Weifang was able to open his mouth: "Braised sea cucumber with scallions, Kung Pao chicken, shredded pork with sweet bean sauce, beef tenderloin steak with pepper, stir-fried fish fillets..."

Luo Yan felt like a string of numbers was jumping in front of her eyes, and she hurriedly tugged at his clothes: "There's too much, how can we finish it all?"

This place was high-class, and she didn't want to appear unsophisticated, so she spoke each word softly, but her brows were full of warning. However, she probably realized it was a bit inappropriate, so she withdrew her hand and blinked.

Perhaps it was too cold outside, because there was frost on her eyelashes. As soon as she came indoors, it turned into water droplets, which trembled slightly as she moved and fell down, turning into a little tear.

Zhou Weifang remembers that she cried a lot when she was a child, but she was strong-willed and afraid of losing face, so she never allowed herself to cry out loud. Her tears always fell silently in strings.

The more they act like this, the more pitiful they seem compared to others throwing tantrums and rolling on the ground; even an iron man couldn't withstand it.

He was experiencing a myriad of emotions, but Luo Yan had no idea. Seeing that he didn't answer, she shifted her gaze to her brother.

Luo Hong gestured with his eyes that it was alright, but then added fuel to the fire: "We're still lacking some soup, how about some bird's nest to soothe your throat?"

Zhou Weifang came to his senses: "Okay, I'll leave you to pay off the debt later."

Luo Yan thought that as long as they didn't leave her behind, that would be fine. She could also tell that the two of them were rich and powerful. She rested her elbows on the table and propped her chin up without saying a word.

Zhou Weifang: "Were there any of those you didn't eat?"

Luo Hong answered on her behalf: "She eats everything, she's not picky about food."

Luo Yan nodded in agreement, and while they were ordering food, she looked around with great interest.

The restaurant is very large, with a ceiling four meters off the ground and long chandeliers hanging down, reflecting the sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The waiters were all very polite, and the guests subconsciously lowered their voices when they talked, afraid of disturbing others.

For the first time, Luo Yan realized that quiet was something with a price tag. Her other hand inexplicably wanted to grasp something, but she only grabbed a handful of air.

Luo Hong saw this and patted his sister's hand: "Is it itchy?"

Luo Yan had just been muttering about being elegant, and she held back her retort, her eyes wide open.

She's beautiful, and even making that expression is cute.

No wonder his childhood friend always teased his sister. Zhou Weifang thought he would have done the same if he were in her shoes. He rubbed his hands together and suddenly asked, "Yanzi, does your school have any continuing education classes?"

Upon hearing her name, Luo Yan's expression changed slightly, as if a layer of membrane had been added: "Yes, but I don't know the specifics."

Zhou Weifang, being as shrewd as he is, could easily see through it. He licked his lips awkwardly and said, "Then I'll ask someone else later."

He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding; he who takes another's money is obligated to do his bidding.

Luo Yan: "Let me ask for you, which class do you want to take?"

Zhou Weifang: "Accountant."

He added, "Even if the store hires someone to manage the accounts in the future, I still have to handle them myself."

Since it's related to business, Luo Yan has to be even more careful: "Okay, I'll ask about it tomorrow."

Zhou Weifang politely said, "Thank you."

Luo Yan: You're welcome.

They were back up again. Luo Hong couldn't stand the two of them going back and forth. Just then, the dishes were served, and he waved his hand and said, "Eat more and talk less."

Luo Yan carried out the order, but the two men couldn't stop talking. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they forgot there was someone else present. They both stopped talking when they mentioned something.

What do you mean? Luo Yan, who had been listening casually, tightened her relaxed posture: "Why did you stop talking?"

Even Luo Hong couldn't bring himself to talk about such romantic and frivolous matters, so he casually replied, "Don't ask such questions, kid."

Here we go again. Luo Yan pouted and said, "Hmph, I don't care."

She has a strong personality in front of her brother, and probably still felt unsatisfied, so she stomped on the table.

But she stuck out the wrong foot and ran over Zhou Weifang's shoe.

He was dragged into this sibling feud for no reason.

His mouth twitched from the pain, and he clenched his fists tightly to keep from crying out.

Luo Yan also sensed something was wrong, looked down and let out a short "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

She easily becomes flustered when embarrassed, and punches her brother lightly, saying, "It's all your fault."

Luo Hong still felt innocent: "What did I do to you?"

Luo Yan's arrogance vanished, and her momentum weakened: "I stepped on the wrong person."

She looked so dejected, who could criticize her?

Zhou Weifang, with his thick skin, said, "It's alright."

Since the other person was so magnanimous, Luo Yan couldn't just let it go so easily; she had to apologize as well.

Zhou Weifang was tired of her polite words and gestured, "Stop it, let's not do this anymore, okay?"

Luo Yan felt that his tone was not very good, but after thinking about it, she agreed and picked up her chopsticks to continue eating.

She was usually silent, and even Zhou Weifang was used to it.

He keenly noticed something and moved the fish slices and Kung Pao chicken on the table to different positions.

When the weather is cold, Luo Yan likes to eat something spicy.

She moved her lips to say "thank you," and then picked up two large chopsticks.

Zhou Weifang thought that if he said another word, it would just go on and on, so he simply shut up.

Luo Hong, however, said: "She can handle it, don't spoil her."

Luo Yan supported everything her brother opposed.

She ate with even greater gusto, and as a result, she could barely walk after finishing, her legs moving forward slowly.

Luo Hong joked, "Why are you as slow as a snail?"

Luo Yan swung her fist forward and slammed it down: "I'll teach you a lesson sooner or later."

Luo Hong dodged, but unexpectedly, his sister also leaned forward.

Thankfully, Zhou Weifang reached out and grabbed her arm: "Be careful."

Luo Yan lost her balance and instinctively tried to use his strength, but in her haste and hesitation, she only grabbed his little finger. Once she regained her footing, she quickly let go.

Zhou Weifang tried to lighten the mood: "Next time, pull two more bars; I almost dislocated my shoulder."

Luo Yan smiled politely, then watched as her brother leaned in and elbowed her.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Luo Hong put ten yuan in her hand and said, "Go home by yourself, we have things to do."

Luo Yan wasn't really angry; she followed them to the bus stop.

But the smell of exhaust fumes made her uncomfortable, and she was afraid that the food in her stomach would be jolted out on the bus, so she waved goodbye and slowly walked home to digest her food.

Luo Hong and Zhou Weifang stood there, watching her waddle around like a little duck, and burst out laughing in perfect unison.

Luo Yan was unaware that she was being "mocked." She only felt more comfortable after walking two miles and quickened her pace.

She had intended to go back to review her studies, but when she reached into her pocket, she realized she had left in such a hurry that she hadn't brought her keys.

My parents aren't home today, and the door is locked when I go back.

Luo Yan turned a corner and went to find Chen Yingying to play.

There were guests at the Chen family's house, and a wave of smoke wafted out as soon as the door was opened.

Luo Yan held her breath, feeling as if her internal organs were being thoroughly soaked through as she spoke.

Seeing that she was relieved, Chen Yingying said, "Mom, I'm going out with Yanyan for a bit."

Luo Yan was willing to risk her life to accompany her, but after running two hundred meters with her, she said, "Wait, wait, my stomach hurts."

Chen Yingying assumed, "You're on your period?"

As Luo Yan walked, she told her about what happened at noon, and then clicked her tongue at the end: "It cost fifty yuan, and my heart aches."

Regardless of who pays, it's all real money.

The Chen family was better off than the Luo family, but Chen Yingying had never been to the Beijing Hotel.

She asked, "Is it delicious?"

Luo Yan: "Delicious!"

Chen Yingying stroked her chin: "I'll go for a meal next time I have the chance."

Then he negated himself, saying, "Never mind, it's too expensive."

Luo Yan: "Once we start working and get paid, we should be able to afford it if we save up some money."

Chen Yingying studied clinical medicine at the Second Medical College, which takes five years in total for an undergraduate degree.

She said, "I'm now very doubtful about whether I'll be able to graduate."

The two of them went to schools in different directions and both had a strong sense of academic responsibility, so they hadn't seen each other for a month or two.

Luo Yan: "Is it difficult?"

Chen Yingying wailed, "There are too many classes, and I also have to read English textbooks, which makes my head spin."

Luo Yan: "English textbooks?"

Chen Yingying: "Yes, the teacher said that the domestic version is not up to par, and this set has not been translated yet, so we are to take a look first."

It's easier said than done. She might not even understand Chinese, let alone English, which is like reading gibberish.

Luo Yan felt sorry for her: "No wonder you haven't come to visit me in so long."

Chen Yingying: "If there hadn't been someone at home today, I would definitely be at the library too."

Then, following up, he said, "Did you just see that guy in the blue shirt? That's my second uncle."

Luo Yan had heard a little about her second uncle's family: "They're here to borrow money again?"

Chen Yingying: "Yes, they said my cousin is getting married."

She frowned: "My second brother is getting married soon, where would we get extra money?"

Luo Yan: "What did your parents say?"

Chen Yingying: "I reckon they'll agree. They're practically a pair of benevolent dragon maidens."

Parents can say what they want; it's not appropriate for others to follow suit.

Luo Yan could only join in the cursing with her limited vocabulary, and the two of them walked around the moat against the wind.

Seeing some daring children walking on the thin ice, Luo Yan hesitated for a moment and then said, "Whose kids are they? Come on up here."

That's so dangerous! Falling down would be terrible.

As soon as the adults called, the children scattered in all directions.

Chen Yingying recalled: "I dared to run on it when I was a child."

Luo Yan: "Maybe you've been called away by me too. I'm here catching my brother all year round."

Luo Hongjing does these deadly things; without his sister, who knows what kind of trouble he would cause.

Chen Yingying laughed: "Then I must have found you annoying back then."

Luo Yan: "Don't even mention you, even my brother avoids me."

The brother and sister fought guerrilla warfare every day and were very experienced in the struggle.

Chen Yingying had heard her mention things from her childhood more than once, and said, "But he loves you very much now."

Luo Yan: "It's infuriating, really infuriating."

Chen Yingying suddenly sighed: "Cherish it. I feel that since my second brother started dating, he has become just like my eldest brother."

Anyone would feel uncomfortable being moved to a slightly less desirable position.

Luo Yan didn't dare say she definitely wouldn't, and sighed as well.

The two of them suddenly felt melancholy, and their light steps became heavy.

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Author's note: Our Yanyan is a girl who is very slow to understand Zhou Weifang.

PS: Only half a year has passed, and Yan Yan is still a freshman.