The man glanced at her and explained with a smile in his eyes.
"Don't be nervous, I'm just checking if you have enough money in your purse to treat me."
"..."
Meng Qingluan awkwardly lowered her hand.
She couldn't help but feel that the man was doing it on purpose.
Not enough, of course not enough.
Meng Qingluan wanted to refuse, but at most she would treat the man to two plates of dumplings.
He's incredibly wealthy, but he has to tighten his belt to make ends meet; how could he possibly afford to hire someone?
"I'm not good at refusing people, girl, don't worry, I won't leave you without a way out."
"..."
Should we just give it to them?
Before Meng Qingluan could even utter her refusal, the man waved his hand and walked straight towards the large restaurant across the street.
Meng Qingluan stood there hesitating, while the man turned back to urge her on.
Why aren't you leaving?
"that……"
Meng Qingluan awkwardly fiddled with the hem of her clothes, trying to find an excuse to slip away.
The man suddenly lowered the corners of his mouth and spoke with a hint of pity in his voice.
"Does the girl dislike me? Is she afraid that my appetite is too big? I know... I don't have many friends to begin with."
"..."
"I used to have Xiangxiang keep me company while I ate, but Xiangxiang got sick recently, and now I'm all alone again."
"..."
The man put on a strong yet vulnerable smile and said to Meng Qingluan with understanding.
"Miss, please don't invite me to dinner. I'd better go home alone."
"……No."
Meng Qingluan was completely defeated by him.
The person helped her redeem her jade pendant, and her background was so tragic, yet she still felt guilty.
The man turned around and waved to her.
"Then let's follow!"
"..."
Meng Qingluan looked at him and laughed again, suddenly feeling a sense of helplessness, as if she had been sold out and was still helping the seller count the money.
I was speechless again on the 11th.
When did this happen?
How could he not know?
The man noticed his gaze, shrugged, and said matter-of-factly.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Xiangxiang is already sick."
"..."
Meng Qingluan regretted it as soon as she sat down.
The man presented the waiter with a dish of meat on one side and a soup on the other, the names of which clearly indicated they were all meat.
Meng Qingluan looked around the room with unease; a shabby dining space had been transformed into a palace.
This dish must have cost her several tens of taels of silver.
The man had already ordered several dishes, but his mouth showed no signs of stopping.
Meng Qingluan interrupted him nervously, smiling at the waiter.
"That's enough, that's enough, just bring these."
Meng Qingluan looked at the man again, trying to bring him back to his senses.
"We need to eat healthily. Can you finish all this food? Right?"
"Be a good boy/girl, this is enough. Who knows how hard it is to make every grain of rice on your plate?"
Upon hearing this, the man smiled and leaned closer to Meng Qingluan to reply.
"I'm in my prime, and I have a big appetite and can eat a lot."
"..."
The waiter standing to the side, judging by his appearance, approached again with the menu.
"Young master, would you like a stewed Dongting fish? The famous poet Liu Yuxi tried it many years ago."
"Oh? Or is it a dish by a celebrity?"
The waiter readily replied, "Of course, he found it incredibly delicious after eating it, which is why he wrote the poem 'Looking at Dongting Lake'."
"..."
Meng Qingluan's lips twitched. Did Liu Yuxi know about this?
Upon hearing these words, Liu Yuxi would probably turn in his grave.
The man waved his hand dismissively, "Point it!"
The man ordered five more dishes, making a total of ten dishes before stopping.
Meng Qingluan went from being uneasy at the beginning to becoming numb later.
Mechanically picking at the fried peanuts on the plate, the waiter said they were a free gift with a purchase of fifty taels or more.
"..."
hehe.
Meng Qingluan suddenly felt that it was worthwhile to discuss things with the shopkeeper earlier.
If you can't avoid it, then enjoy it.
Meng Qingluan started eating the dishes as soon as they were served, without any regard for her image.
Although the man ate heartily, he still maintained proper decorum.
Meng Qingluan was already prepared to skip out on the bill after eating her fill.
The man slurped up the chicken bones clean, watching Meng Qingluan's eyes darting around with a smile.
He asked casually, "What are you looking at, young lady?"
Meng Qingluan abruptly withdrew her gaze and answered calmly.
"It's nothing, you must have seen wrong."
"Oh." The man leaned back slightly, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips.
"I thought the girl was planning to use the excuse of relieving herself to leave me to pay the bill alone."
Meng Qingluan, her thoughts exposed: "..."
Was it intentional?
Meng Qingluan slumped dejectedly on the bed, already prepared to be dragged to the kitchen to wash dishes.
I'll have to tell Shen Yan then, so he doesn't end up waiting for me all night like an idiot.
Seeing her resolute expression, the man's smile deepened, and he called over the waiter to settle the bill.
The waiter took out the ledger and said with a fawning smile.
"The total is fifty taels of silver."
Meng Qingluan suddenly stood up, her face ashen.
Come on, take her away!
The man suppressed a laugh and said to the waiter, "Understood, deduct it from the bill."
The waiter nodded respectfully and watched as Meng Qingluan stood up and politely inquired.
"Sir, is there anything else you need?"
"..."
Meng Qingluan turned her head and looked back at the man in disbelief.
The man's face turned red from trying to hold back his laughter, and when he saw that she couldn't suppress it any longer, he burst into laughter.
Meng Qingluan gritted her teeth and sat in the chair, forcing a smile.
"It's okay, my back is a little sore from sitting, so I'm just standing up and stretching."
"I see. Then please continue your activities, sir. I'll take my leave now."
"Um."
Meng Qingluan nodded with feigned aloofness, and then massaged her shoulders a few times in response.
Only after the waiter closed the door did Meng Qingluan turn to look at the man, her face flushed.
"Are you kidding me?"
The man forced a smile and shook his head innocently.
"I didn't."
"..."
Meng Qingluan was too lazy to argue with him; she was just getting a free meal anyway.
Aside from the slightly embarrassing moment, there wasn't much of a loss...
The man propped his chin on his hand and looked at her. "I treated you to a meal. How are you going to repay me?"
Meng Qingluan stuffed another chicken wing into her mouth and said slowly.
"Would you like some grilled sausage?"
The man thought for a moment, then nodded, which was considered an agreement.
"I want ten, fifteen."
Meng Qingluan nodded perfunctorily.
"I'm not setting up my stall today, I'll bring it to you next time I do."
The man nodded and left his name.
"Li Lan".
Meng Qingluan turned to look at him, "What?"
"What's your name? We're friends now, right? Friends should know each other's names."
Meng Qingluan frowned almost imperceptibly when she heard the name.
Li Lan, just one character different from the character in the book, would have made him the main villain, Li Zhanlan.
Meng Qingluan also felt that she had no reason to hide her name; at most, men would lose some goodwill from her past reputation.
"Meng Qingluan".
The man nodded, then suddenly looked at her and said...
"You really look like Xiangxiang. Can I call you Xiangxiang from now on?"
Meng Qingluan was curious upon hearing this, wondering who Xiangxiang really was.
Li Lan had been mentioning Xiang Xiang the whole time, and couldn't help but smile whenever she did.
It sounds like she's his childhood sweetheart?
Following her heart, Meng Qingluan asked him, "Who is Xiangxiang? Is she someone you like?"
"Pfft!"
Standing to the side, Eleven couldn't help but burst out laughing.
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