Chapter 49 Slap in the Face: Is this your friend's shop?

To provide customers with a better experience and to allow the restaurant to improve its services based on customer feedback.

During the trial operation, a reservation system was adopted, with only half of the slots available and the other half by internal invitation.

"Are you sure you don't need me to come over, Fufu? Mom has invited all my friends in the entertainment industry to come and support you."

“Really, there’s no need. We have enough traffic right now. If we invited all your friends, it might even go viral on social media. The restaurant is just starting out, so it’s better to keep a low profile. You and Lao Zhuang can come instead,” Zhuang Fuyao said with a smile. “However, we’ll have to trouble the world’s most beautiful Ms. Ji Lan to wear a mask or something.”

"You rascal," Ji Lan said with a laugh, "What's wrong? Afraid I'll steal the spotlight from your restaurant?"

"mom……"

Zhuang Fuyao was in her office looking at the list of bloggers who had visited that day. There was no one else around, so she didn't hold back when she started to act coquettishly.

With a hint of coquettishness in her voice, Ji Lan's ears were completely tingled by her sweet words. Her tone was indulgent as she said, "Alright, alright, speak normally. I'm not coming to scold you anymore. Your dad and I were just about to go to the next city for a visit."

Zhuang Fuyao's eyes lit up. "Does that mean we'll have to spend the night away from home?"

“No, we’ll go and come back the same day.” Ji Lan raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of which, what’s the deal with that trending topic? You and that Zhao Zilin.”

Her team monitors trending topics on various platforms in real time, and naturally, they didn't miss their daughter's dating rumors. Although it was just the tail end of a trending topic, the team saw it and informed her.

Zhuang Fuyao sighed helplessly, "This trending topic was purely accidental."

However, things have come to this point, and Qingfeng Pavilion cannot refuse the traffic that has been offered to them, nor can they spend money to suppress the popularity.

“That young Zhao seems alright to me. I heard he’s from the Zhao family.” Remembering that his daughter didn’t have memories of the last ten years or so, he explained, “The Zhao family behind Kunning Pharmaceutical. He’s only nine years younger than you, and he has a good reputation in the industry. He doesn’t have any of those gossip and scandals…”

Zhuang Fuyao felt increasingly uneasy as she listened. If she said it was just "hearsay," then Ms. Ji had definitely sent someone to investigate.

"Mom," she interrupted promptly, "it's just a couple that netizens randomly created; I'm not interested in this kind of thing."

"Which one do you like?" Ji Lan asked, somewhat exasperated. "The Liang Huaixu one?"

Zhuang Fuyao was slightly irritated. She drew lines on the draft paper with her pen without saying a word.

Ji Lan softened her tone, "Fufu, Mom won't hurt you. I didn't say anything about you and Xiao Zhao. Whether it was Qin Zhenglin before or Zhao Zilin now, my original intention was to help you get over that failed marriage and try to meet new people. Of course, I don't encourage you to get married. Just enjoy dating."

She was worried about letting her daughter enter into a new marriage, which is why she emphasized the last sentence.

"Mom, I don't want to talk about this right now." She was already with Liang Huaixu, and this was something that would have to be brought up sooner or later. But she had a lot of things to do today, and Zhuang Fuyao didn't want to argue with Ms. Ji on the phone, so her attitude was a bit firmer than before, "I have a lot of things to do, I'm hanging up now."

"This child..."

After hanging up the phone, Zhuang Shaoping packed their things for the trip while asking his wife, "What did our daughter say?"

"Stop messing around, I'm not in the mood to go out today."

"What's wrong?" Zhuang Shaoping noticed that his wife seemed preoccupied. He put down what he was doing and sat down next to her. "Did Fufu upset you?"

“Your daughter lost her memory, and that rebellious streak has returned. One second she's being all sweet and affectionate with me, her tone so soft it could melt anyone's heart, and the next second she's going against me, driving me crazy.” Ji Lan sighed. “She thought I didn’t know. I saw it when I borrowed her tablet at Boya Bay that day. When she opened her tablet, there was a picture of Liang Huaixu’s back.”

"A photo of your back?"

"The background of the picture is Liang Huaixu's kitchen; it must have been taken casually," Ji Lan was almost certain. "Your daughter still has feelings for him, perhaps even..."

Her eyes turned cold. "They might even have secretly gotten back together."

"Well," Zhuang Shaoping said, knowing his wife's concerns, "actually, letting go might be better for both Fufu and us."

"Zhuang Shaoping," Ji Lan suddenly became serious and called him by his full name, "Have you forgotten about Xia Meng?"

Xia Meng was someone Ji Lan met while filming in her early years. Xia Meng was a full twelve years younger than Ji Lan, and the two hit it off immediately, quickly becoming each other's best friends in the industry.

Unlike Ji Lan, who dedicated herself to her acting career, Xia Meng married her wealthy boyfriend outside the entertainment industry not long after and retired from acting.

At first, they were very happy and were hailed as a golden couple by the media. However, their happiness was short-lived. Five years into their marriage, Xia Meng experienced some marital anxiety, and her overall condition was not as good as before marriage. Especially after giving birth to her youngest daughter, she discovered evidence of her husband's infidelity. In a fit of anger, she vented her emotions and resolutely divorced him.

She was depressed for a while after the divorce, but quickly returned to a normal life and even started dating a few young men. She was doing quite well.

The turning point came when her child entered junior high school. Because of the issue of changing her household registration for school, Xia Meng reconnected with her ex-husband, and their old feelings suddenly rekindled.

When they remarried, Xia Meng confidently said, "After all these years, I've come to terms with it. He's been playing around outside, and I've been messing around with younger men too. I haven't lost out. Besides, we have two children. Remarrying is the most cost-effective thing for us... He's in good shape, and when we're together, our passion hasn't diminished. It feels like we've returned to our youth."

Ji Lan still remembers Xia Meng's "I'm just playing around" attitude, but not long after their remarriage, she faced a nightmarish ending.

The conflict between Xia Meng and her husband was not resolved; it simply faded with time. When the past conflicts and repressions surged back, Xia Meng was not as open-minded as she had imagined. Unable to bear it any longer, she jumped from the top floor of the large apartment they bought after their remarriage.

When the story was reported by the media, many people were deeply saddened.

Ji Lan was devastated, and even now, thinking about it, the pain in her heart has not subsided.

She wondered if this wouldn't have happened if she had advised Xia Meng more back then.

Because of this incident, she simply didn't believe that a broken marriage could ever be restored. Her daughter's current situation was like a replay of Xia Meng's story for Ji Lan; she viewed Liang Huaixu's place as a dangerous den and didn't want her daughter to touch it again.

These words left Zhuang Shaoping speechless, only able to sigh repeatedly. If it were someone else, he would have rationally said that people are different and judgment should be based on the specific circumstances.

But Fufu is his daughter, and when it comes to Xia Meng's matter... his wife's concerns are reasonable, and he has no right to judge.

-

Zhuang Fuyao was feeling a bit upset because of her phone call with Ms. Ji, but when she went outside and saw the bustling scene with satisfied smiles on the customers' faces, her mood immediately improved.

Meanwhile, two people were standing in Qingfeng Pavilion, stopped by the access control but not leaving.

"Chaoluo, the person you're investigating is very secretive. It's likely that someone unspeakable has deliberately obscured their identity, so I can't continue the investigation."

Liang Chaolu frowned almost imperceptibly. "Yes, I understand. Thank you, Uncle Zhou."

Zhou Ting smiled and said, "Of course. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now. Your father wants me to come over."

"good."

Seeing Liang Chaoluo's expression, Wang Kang knew this was going to be difficult. After hanging up the phone, Wang Kang laughed dejectedly, "Maybe I should just forget it. If I can't get in, I won't go. I'll just have to trouble you to come over."

"It's nothing." Liang Chaoluo's tone was calm, and his expression showed nothing, but if someone who knew him were nearby, they would have noticed that he was somewhat provoked.

The incident began when Wang Kang's fiancée was cheated on by the deputy director of his department. Under the guise of visiting the set, she had an affair with the deputy director. After being discovered, his fiancée broke up with him, and Wang Kang was indignant and wanted an explanation.

The deputy director surnamed Yu arranged a place for everyone to have a good talk, but this guy played dirty tricks behind the scenes, deliberately choosing a restaurant that only accepts reservations to show off his status.

Before Wang Kang could even enter, he was blocked at the door. After being given a hard time, he had no choice but to remember that his colleague Liang Chaoluo had mentioned that his family was from Jiang City, so he tried to ask if he had any connections.

Wang Kang was well-liked in the company. He was kind and took good care of newcomers. When Liang Chaoluo first joined the company, he was taken care of by him.

After hearing the whole story, he rushed over. He figured it was just a matter of getting into a restaurant by scanning his face, no matter how high-end the restaurant was, it would only take him a phone call. He was happy to help Wang Kang get revenge.

To their surprise, they hit a brick wall this time. The other party's identity was so mysterious that even Lao Liang's assistant couldn't find anything about it.

After all, Young Master Liang had never been in such a predicament in his entire life.

Wang Kangyue said it was nothing, but Liang Chaoluo felt uneasy and insisted on arguing, "Where did Yu Jing find this restaurant? I've never seen a place where you can't get in even if you pay money."

"It's that thing that's been going viral online lately, saying that stepping into Qingfeng Pavilion is like stepping into a time portal."

"What the hell?" Liang Chaoluo chuckled lightly. "Is there any information online saying that someone knows who owns it?"

"It seems to be this one." Wang Kang, on a whim, showed Liang Chaoluo the video. "The male lead in this video is an internet celebrity, and the female lead is said to be the owner of Qingfeng Pavilion."

Liang Chaoluo almost choked on his saliva.

Isn't this Ms. Zhuang?

After he realized what was happening, he made a phone call to Ms. Zhuang. Soon, staff members came out and led him and Wang Kang inside.

Upon entering, the first step is to change clothes. There are many traditional costumes to choose from, and staff members explain, "The clothes at Qingfeng Pavilion are for each person only, and they will be sent for cleaning immediately after the guests leave. The hygiene standards are absolutely met. Alternatively, if guests do not wish to wear the clothes provided by Qingfeng Pavilion, they can bring their own Hanfu or other traditional clothing."

Looking at the dazzling array of clothes filling several rooms, Wang Kang was speechless. He had never been to such an exquisite place before. He said gratefully, "Chao Luo, thank you for your trouble. It must have been difficult to get two spots."

"fine."

Liang Chaolu remained calm, thinking to himself, "If I had known it was Ms. Zhuang who owned it, I wouldn't have gone to such lengths." But it's no wonder Zhou Ting couldn't find out the restaurant owner's background; Old Liang must have taken precautions to protect Ms. Zhuang's information.

He casually asked, "By the way, do you know how Yu Jing got a spot?"

“I didn’t know it was a reservation-only restaurant at first. Yu Jing only said it was a restaurant owned by his friend. Speaking of which, I really owe you a lot, otherwise I would have been…” Wang Kang’s eyes reddened as he spoke. He had been an honest man for half his life, working diligently and conscientiously, and had never had the opportunity to meet girls.

Finally, through a friend's introduction, she met Chu Xiaowen, and their relationship progressed to the point of engagement. However, her boss stole him away. When something like this happens, it's truly a case of swallowing one's pride and suffering in silence.

Liang Chaoluo sighed, unsure how to comfort him, and could only think of helping Wang Kang maintain order later. "Brother Wang, let's go inside first."

Yu Jingyue's place was in the Jianghu Pavilion, which was full of handsome men and beautiful women. Unlike some imitation ancient buildings that were obviously fake, all the decorations were aged, and even the cameras were disguised. There were almost no modern elements.

When Wang Kang first entered, he was a little reserved, but he later relaxed and felt a sense of excitement as if he were in a martial arts world.

In the straw-mat room next to the bamboo grove, the curtain was lifted slightly, and Yu Jing was surprised to see Wang Kang. He then turned his gaze to Liang Chaoluo and scoffed, "This kid really has some connections. He even managed to get a spot at Qingfeng Pavilion."

Having worked at the company for so many years, he often encountered newcomers with connections. Judging from Liang Chaoluo's usual attire, he knew that his family had some money.

However, he was too young and didn't think things through. He impulsively helped Wang Kang, wasn't he afraid of offending him?

Putting everything else aside, he is, after all, the deputy director of the department, so it would be easy for him to make things difficult for newcomers.

"What did you say?" Chu Xiaowen asked from the side.

"It's nothing." Yu Jing smiled nonchalantly. "I was thinking that since he couldn't get in, I would go outside to meet him."

After saying that, he waved his hand, "Hey! Wang Kang! Over here."

The moment their eyes met, Wang Kang's face darkened, and he said in a low voice, "Chao Luo, let's go over there."

"good."

After looking around but not finding Ms. Zhuang, Liang Chaoluo sat down and sent her a message saying he had come in.

The atmosphere in the small private room was quite awkward for a while.

Wang Kang gritted his teeth and said, "Don't you owe me an explanation for this?"

"So that's why I called you out today, right?" Yu Jing smiled. "These days, everyone values ​​freedom in relationships. Even if you and Xiao Wen have no feelings for each other anymore, you should let her go find a better partner, don't you think?"

Wang Kang looked at Chu Xiaowen, "Divorced and with a child, is this the good match you found?" He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his face turning red.

Yu Jing scoffed, "Looking at your temper now, no wonder Xiao Wen didn't want you. You're so easily angered. Who would dare to live with you?"

After listening, Liang Chaoluo inexplicably wanted to laugh, "This is the first time I've seen someone so self-righteous."

"You..." Yu Jing was already annoyed, feeling that this kid was too clueless. He was their boss, and this newcomer who had just joined the company not only sat down without greeting him, but now dared to interfere. He was simply ignorant of his place.

So what if the family is well-off? I haven't seen anyone inherit the family business. This suggests that the family is probably just so-so.

Just as he was about to retaliate, someone suddenly lifted the straw curtain, revealing a very elegant and beautiful woman, radiant and captivating, like a noble lady from an ancient costume drama.

"Hi." Zhuang Fuyao thought these were Liang Chaoluo's friends, and greeted them with a smile.

Yu Jing swallowed back his words before he could finish. He paused, his eyes practically glued to the woman. "Miss, did you get the wrong private room?"

Liang Chaoluo said, "Looking for me."

"Oh—" Yu Jing smiled, "There are still seats here, Xiao Liang, why don't you let your friend sit here?"

Liang Chaoluo asked Ms. Zhuang for her opinion, "Are you free right now?"

Zhuang Fuyao raised an eyebrow: "Okay, I'll keep you company for a while."

Yu Jing sat up straight, the tension from before dissipating, and a kind and friendly smile appeared on his face.

With others present, they consciously maintained a facade of propriety, tacitly avoiding continuing the previous topic and only mentioning how delicious the tea cakes at this restaurant were.

Yu Jing smiled, her tone boastful, "Of course, my friend put in a lot of effort before opening the shop. Without being modest, I'd say it's the pinnacle of Chinese tea and pastry." "Hmm? You mean—" Liang Chaoluo glanced at Ms. Zhuang, her tone subtle, "Is this your friend's shop?"