Chapter 2019 — Group Photo

"Chase your sister!" Shen Yushu was not amused. She might not much like how close Wang Xinyan and Wei Zhao had become, but Wang Xinyan was, after all, someone Wei Zhao seemed to have feelings for—otherwise he would not keep helping her. So if Feng Xiaoxiao wanted Wei Zhao to find another girlfriend, Wang Xinyan still stood a chance of rising to the top. And now Zhang Duopan had to stick his oar in, which instantly put her out of temper. She thought: this is our own internal squabble—what business is it of yours?

"Chase his sister?" Fan Ganhe blinked. "His sister's only ten. She's not right for me."

"Ganhe, 'chase your sister' is an insult..." Zhang Duopan explained, a little sheepish.

"Hey, girl, are you cursing at me?" Fan Ganhe slammed the table and stood up, pointing at Shen Yushu. "Our Brother Zhang is treating us today—what are you always griping about? If you don't want to eat, then get out!"

He had long been fed up with Shen Yushu. From the very start the girl had been stirring up trouble, and even now her mouth never stopped. She had also belittled Wang Xinyan, the goddess of his heart, so at last he could hold back no longer.

"Ahem... Ganhe, sit down first... we're civilized people here..." Zhang Duopan caught He Meiyue's somewhat contemptuous look and started in alarm. He hurriedly pulled Fan Ganhe back and then said to Shen Yushu, "I'm sorry about that. Fan Ganhe is a sports student—hot-tempered, you know. Ha ha, everyone please don't mind him!"

Fan Ganhe was baffled. Usually Zhang Duopan was delighted when he stood up to defend him—what was wrong with him today? But since Zhang Duopan had told him to sit, he could only sit back down, his bluster fizzling out.

"What's so great about being a sports student? Up against a real fighter, he'd get his teeth knocked all over the floor!" Bai Weituo remarked mildly.

"All right, everyone stop arguing and eat—the food will go cold..." He Meiyue said helplessly. "We have two big stars with us today—could you all stop acting like children?"

"She has a point. Ha ha, Fan Ganhe, you and Bai Weituo should stop bickering. If either of you won't concede, then find a chance and settle it with a fight. Doesn't the school have all those clubs? You can borrow a venue then!" Zhang Duopan was clever enough to make it look as though none of this had anything to do with him, as if it were purely a quarrel between Fan Ganhe and Bai Weituo. Yet that last remark of his was utterly despicable—it was plainly aimed at Bai Weituo. Make them fight, and Bai Weituo, no sports student, was bound to come off the worse!

Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi found these childish squabbles rather amusing. Now that the argument had died down, Xu Shilan picked up her cup and said, "All right, let me say a few words. Thank you all for your hospitality. But Yiyi and I have a morning flight to catch, so let's eat quickly, finish early, and get back to rest."

With Xu Shilan's words, Fan Ganhe fell silent for the time being, and everyone ate in relative good cheer...

"Wei Zhao, let me toast you!" Cheng Yiyi suddenly raised her wine glass, her lovely eyes turning to Wei Zhao with a look of anticipation. This was the first glass she had poured all through the meal. It was only red wine, but it showed plainly how she regarded Wei Zhao differently—she and Xu Shilan had been drinking juice until now.

"Toast me?" Wei Zhao was slightly taken aback.

"Yes. About yesterday—thank you, truly!" Cheng Yiyi said solemnly. "I'll down this glass; you drink as you please!"

"Yiyi, now that you mention it, I should toast Wei Zhao too. Let's do it together!" With that, Xu Shilan poured herself a glass of red wine and raised it.

At the mention of last night, Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu understood at once what it was about, but everyone else was left completely in the dark.

Wei Zhao had no intention of explaining. He raised the tea before him and said lightly, "It was nothing."

For a moment the atmosphere turned rather strange. Zhang Duopan was both envious and puzzled: Cheng Yiyi and Xu Shilan toasting Wei Zhao together—what on earth had this Wei Zhao done to deserve it?

Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi drained their glasses, while Wei Zhao took a sip of tea. Strange as it all was, since the two parties involved, Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi, had no intention of explaining, everyone else could only keep their curiosity to themselves.

"Ha ha, right—this weekend I'm planning to invite you all to the Tiger Park for an outing, a little break from the fatigue of recent days!" Zhang Duopan said. "What a pity, though—Yiyi and Shilan leave tomorrow. Otherwise we could all go see the tigers together!"

"Our work keeps us too busy—there's nothing to be done!" Cheng Yiyi said with a smile.

"Let's all go together then. Bai Weituo, Wei Zhao, you come too!" Zhang Duopan said with a laugh. "Meiyue, Bai Weituo and I will compete fair and square—you won't deny us the chance, will you?"

"We're all good friends here. Going out together is hardly a competition..." He Meiyue said, somewhat resigned.

The meal was full of veiled clashes, but with Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi present, nothing showed too plainly. It was only near the end of the dinner that a waiter knocked and came in.

"Good evening, everyone. As you are the 888th table at our restaurant this month, we are pleased to offer you a group photo as a memento, and we can have the picture made into a crystal cup," the waiter said respectfully.

"A group photo?" Zhang Duopan was briefly startled. "Does it cost anything?"

Many restaurants used such disguised promotions as a pretext, when in fact they still meant to have the customers pay, so Zhang Duopan asked instinctively.

"It's free," the waiter said. "Normally there's a charge, but for the 888th table it's free."

"Oh, free. Then let's take one!" Zhang Duopan nodded.

"Very good, I'll go fetch the photographer right away!" The waiter had not noticed Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi, since both had their backs to the door.

At the mention of a photo, Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi resignedly put their large sunglasses back on. After all, having a photographer brought in here might cause some trouble.

Soon the photographer arrived. He showed no particular surprise at Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi wearing sunglasses—many guests liked to play it cool for photos, some with glasses, some with hats.

Once the photo was taken, the photographer withdrew, and after a while the waiter brought in an exquisite crystal cup printed with the group's picture.

"Just one?" Zhang Duopan had assumed there would be one per person. But with only this one, how were so many people to share it?

"Sir, we can make more, but the first is free and the rest are charged," the waiter said.

.RT

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