As they entered the Heaven's Dynasty Restaurant, the students of Tianxing Fourth High School could only sigh in their hearts.
Luxurious, high-class, and definitely out of anyone's capacity, ah!
The floor was comprised of a high-quality, exquisitely crafted marble, the multicolored studs in the stone reflecting the light emitted from the ceiling and from outside. The walls were constructed with a rich combination of aromatic cedar, sandalwood, and ashwood, and the minimalistic steel beams belied into a luxurious and attractive restaurant.
The pathway from the double doors to the main reception hall was covered with a red velvet carpet, and numerous butlers and waiters could be spotted carrying trays of food and wine across the restaurant.
On each wall, there was either an exquisite painting that was a masterpiece from a world-renowned painter, calligraphy from a well-known and reputable master, or an inscription of a historic and awe-inspiring poem from the ancient legends.
"Impressive…"
Cheng Meiguo took in a harsh breath of air, incapable of comprehending the scene before her. The other youths save for Shang Xuan – who remained perpetually quiet - expressed their agreement and appreciation, their hearts bursting with envy and sighs.
Wu Lanxi was no exception, even if he was well accustomed with the Heaven's Dynasty Restaurant due to his father's numerous business meetings.
With an awkward cough, the youth swept his arm towards the side of the door, pressing against a slightly obscured button on the wall.
No more than five minutes later, a waitress dressed in a black jacket with a dress cut at her knees approached the entrance, clasping a clipboard and pen to her chest. The waitress glanced at the group of eight, her eyebrows raised in surprise after realizing that seven of them wore a high school's uniform.
"Have you come to dine at the Heaven's Dynasty?"
The waitress raised her chin as she asked, her voice tinted with a subtle disdain. Steeling his countenance and ignoring the contempt within the server's gaze, Wu Lanxi swiftly stepped forward, extending forth a car inlaid with several silver strips.
"I have a membership pass here, could you confirm it?"
"A silver-class membership card?" the waitress mouthed as she inspected the card on both sides, her expression lightening after verifying the membership card presented by Wu Lanxi.
Returning the card to the youth and wiping any traces of disdain from her countenance, the waitress quickly led them into the Heaven's Dynasty Restaurant – towards a side chamber.
Pushing open the door to reveal the decorated room within, the waitress quickly left to fetch the restaurant's menus.
"A side chamber…" Cheng Meiguo commented, displaying an envious gaze towards the awe-inspiring main dining hall that they had glimpsed at behind the reception hall.
"Fatty Wu, looks like your father isn't that influential, to only be capable of acquiring a side room?"
Ding Xushou chuckled as he delivered a hearty slap onto the large-bellied youth, causing the group to burst into another round of banter and laughter. Playfully swatting the invasive hands away and patting his head with a rueful smile, Wu Lanxi sighed as he tapped the crimson tablecloth with the index finger of his right hand.
"You see, this Heaven's Dynasty Room is extraordinarily difficult in obtaining a spot in the main dining hall or even a private suite – much less the executive or presidential rooms," the youth bemoaned.
"My father has a net worth of several million yuan, but he's only able to get himself a Silver Membership at the Heaven's Dynasty. As for getting into the main dining hall, I doubt even my father and his business partners would be capable of such a feat for at least a decade or two."
Wu Lanxi raised his palms skyward to express his sorrowful condolences to his father's efforts, a helpless expression on his countenance. The large-bellied youth released a second sigh, retracting his finger from the tablecloth that was probably more expensive than Tianxing's high school tuition.
"But Uncle Wu should be one of the higher-influential members of Tianxing City, no?" a youth surnamed Guo casually remarked, his countenance tinged with fear.
"If even Uncle Wu isn't capable of registering for a seat in the main dining hall…"
"How do these… membership tiers distribute benefits, anyways?"
Cheng Meiguo questioned with an inquisitive expression, her beautiful countenance emulsified in its innocence. The other youths fell into a moment of thought, before Ding Xushou was the first to respond.
"I heard it from my old geezer before, but the Heaven's Dynasty Restaurant's Membership Tiers are truly scary," the youth began with a grim smile.
"A hundred thousand to earn a Copper Membership Card that permits takeout meals, but no dining within the actual building itself. One million yuan of net value to earn a Silver Membership Card – whose benefits, we can observe here."
"A hundred thousand yuan of net value can only earn oneself takeout meals… that's quite harsh."
The budding youths who were just about expose themselves to the grand society simultaneously released a heartfelt sigh suffused with exasperation and despair.
Their minds flashed back to their earlier memories of high school, reminiscing in the days of ignorance and bliss.
Though his heart echoed in sympathy with the others, Wu Lanxi couldn't help but finish what Ding Xushou had begun.
"A net value of ten million is required to obtain a Gold Membership Card, which permits the entry into the main dining hall, though certain dishes are not available for order. After that…" the large-bellied youth paused, scratching his head with an awkward smile.
"My father only said that those with a hundred million could obtain a Platinum Membership Card; one billion for a Diamond Membership Card, and ten billion yuan for a Crystal Membership Card. He doesn't know what the exact benefits are for those tiers of membership, but they're bound to be out of our league, either way, ah?"
A net worth of ten billion yuan for a membership card…
"Th-that's way too… intense," Cheng Meiguo broke into a moment of cold sweat.
"Our families combined would never be able to amass such money, even if we were to factor future lives…"
At that time, the waitress had returned with the menus in her hands, distributing them to the students of Tianxing Fourth High School with an expressionless countenance. Glancing at the menu that listed a large assortment of food, the youth's hearts couldn't help but shatter into smithereens once again.
A bowl of spicy noodles was twenty-five thousand RMB?
And the cheapest dish was eighteen thousand RMB!?
"Er… I'll take a bowl of ban mian," Ding Xushou's lips twitched as he ordered, unable to restrain the shout of protest in his heart.
"Laksa for us," Cheng Meiguo and the other female youths quickly raised their order.
The remainder stuck with the cheapest dishes they could find on the menu, causing the waitress to impassively jot down an impressive eight noodle dishes.
The contempt that had been banished by the presentation of Wu Lanxi's Silver Membership Card, now returned in glorious fanfare upon witnessing the youths' pained expressions.
"Your meals will be delivered shortly."
The waitress barely constrained herself from harrumphing in disdain as she coldly retracted the menus and departed from the side room. Watching the alluring body and legs sway from side to side, the male youths could only howl one word in their hearts.
Rude!
"Brothers, Sisters, Lanxi is grateful to you all – you didn't bleed me to death, just took half of my pig's blood!"
Wu Lanxi raised his cup of tea towards the remainder of the youths, lightening up the atmosphere at his act of self-sacrifice.
Their originally downcast moods elevating through a consistent barrage of casual jokes – of which even the female youths provided some – as they awaited the arrival of their food, selectively ignoring the disdainful looks of the waitress.
As they had paid an exorbitant price for their food, the taste and experience was bound to be great.
Even the bowl of spicy noodles that several of the youths had ordered in their heartbreak tasted heavenly compared to that of the street stall renditions that they had consumed for the past seventeen to eighteen years.
Thus, the youths fell into a prolonged period of silence as they earnestly moved their chopsticks, some not even daring to leave the soup alone as they consumed the dish to the last dregs. The clinking of metal chopsticks, spoons, and the faint breathing of youthful students overcame the silent and tense atmosphere imposed by the excessively expensive cost of the food.
Their taste buds sang in delight, though Wu Lanxi's wallet found itself a gaping hole left by a pile driver.
"Fellow Brothers and Sisters, let us give a toast!" Ding Xushou raised his cup of tea towards the center of the table.
"We have successfully tided over the three years of secondary education, as well as suffering through that miserable and grueling monster of a College Examination Test, and will soon enter out summer vacation prior to university! For our hardships and tears, let us drink a celebratory toast – our banquet to honor the passing years!"
"Cheers!"
The youths extended their cups of tea towards the center of the circular table, a clarion ring resounding throughout the side chamber of the Heaven's Dynasty Restaurant.
As they left the building of luxury and wealth, the youths of Tianxing Fourth High School seemed to have returned to the dreams of the young, their hearts vibrant and bursting with vitality.
…but due to the bus being late, they weren't able to return to school on time.