"Sir, payment by card or cash?"
Ling Chen helplessly threw his hands into the air.
The waiter then looked towards Su Lin, but the latter coldly replied, "I don't know him."
Qin Yang sneered. "Nowadays, I didn't expect such shameless trash to exist still, actually having the gall to come here and eat despite having no money." He deliberately scolded Ling Chen in a loud voice, attracting the attention of the other guests in the restaurant.
"Three thousand eight hundred, was it?"
Qin Yang fished out a credit card from his wallet and casually tossed it on the table, before stretching out his legs from beneath the table. He then gave Ling Chen a smirk that was dripping with contempt.
"Wipe clean my shoes, and I'll pay for your meal."
Ling Chen's eyes narrowed his eyes into two slits and looked as though he was smiling, but anyone familiar with him knew that when he did this, it meant that he was about to erupt with anger.
Want to humiliate me in front of everyone here? Dream on! I, Ling Chen, am not someone who would willingly suffer a loss.
Su Lin observed that her boyfriend was helping her to vent her grievances and ecstasy coursed through her heart. Finally, I can teach this bastard a lesson!
"Ling Chen, cleaning a pair of shoes for three thousand eight hundred dollars. This is a piece of fortune that is hard to come by. Only my Qin Yang is so generous to do so. Why are you still dallying? Hurry up and get on with it!" Su Lin gloated, pouring oil onto the fire.
Ling Chen did not say anything, merely shooting her a glance, but this glance left her feeling incomparably uneasy.
From his gaze, Su Lin could see traces of pity and ridicule, as though she was a woman who should be pitied.
She could not for the life of her understand how she was pitiful in any way. On the contrary, the one who should be pitied was him.
Ignoring the dissatisfaction in Su Lin's eyes, Ling Chen casually strolled back to his seat and took out his phone. He looked at the waiter and said, "I'll call my friend over to bring over the money, and I'll settle the bill later."
"Sorry sir, but why don't you vacate the table first? We still have other guests waiting outside."
"It's not like I'm refusing to pay. What right do you have to give my table to others?"
Qin Yang disdainfully sniffed and mocked, "Do you have no shame? Despite having no money, you actually had the gall to eat here and even argue back? The fact that they did not chase you out is already a better outcome than you deserve. Ling Chen, why don't you save yourself some dignity and get lost?"
"Even if I lose my dignity, how does that concern you in any way? Barking like a mad dog, just shut your mouth and eat your food."
"What? How dare you have the audacity to speak to me like that?"
Qin Yan's expression instantly darkened.
"Why, do you have a problem with how I speak?"
"Ling Chen; I advise you to wise up and watch your mouth. Stop recklessly finding trouble with others, or else the consequences might be too dire for you to bear."
"In my eyes, there is no one that I cannot offend. Especially people like you, I can just swat you away with a single slap. If you don't believe me, you can give me a try, but don't blame me for bullying you later."
"You..."
Qin Yang was about to stand up and charge towards Ling Chen, but Su Lin hurriedly restrained him. She knew first-hand of Ling Chen's incredible fighting prowess. Although her boyfriend was outstanding, he could not compare to Ling Chen, a true-blue martial arts expert.
"Qin Yang, don't bother wasting your energy on this scum and degrading yourself."
Qin Yang coldly snorted in response.
"My friend Ling; I won't argue with you seeing that Su Lin interceded. Waiter, hurry up and get him off the premises. I don't want this scum to spoil my mood any further."
"What's going on here?"
"Manager..."
"Luo Quan, it's been a long time."
Before the waiter could complete his greeting, Qin Yang had interjected, taking the initiative to greet him.
"Oh, isn't this Young Master Qin? The wind must be blowing in a favourable direction today to bring you to my restaurant."
After identifying the person in front of him, Luo Quan's attitude changed dramatically, and he bowed his body slightly. His words were filled with respect, and there was a broad smile plastered across his face.
"Luo Quan, you came at just the right time. There's a pest here who not only refused to pay after eating, but he also spoiled the mood of my girlfriend. Tell me, as the manager, how are you going to account for this?"
"Young Master Qin rest assured. I'll settle this matter immediately."
The waiter whispered a few sentences into Luo Quan's ear. The latter nodded, before sharply looking at Ling Chen.
"Mr Ling Chen, was it? I believe that my waiter has been clear with his words. Please leave the premise and let other guests have the table. As for the matter regarding your financial inability to pay for your meal, we can discuss that afterwards."
Ling Chen toyed with the wine glass in his hand and frowned. "Manager, there should be principles in running a business. It's not like I have no money, asking me to vacate the premise, isn't that too harsh? Could it be that only those who come from rich and influential backgrounds can be guests at your restaurant?"
Luo Quan's face turned cold, and he folded his hands behind his back.
"Sir, if you continue to harass us, then don't blame me for resorting to drastic measures."
"Luo Quan, what's the point in trying to spare his dignity? There's no need to waste your words on him, given his shamelessness, if you don't teach him a good lesson, I don't believe that he will change his ways."
"You're right, Young Master Qin. Security!"
As the words left his mouth, numerous burly bodyguards came streaming in through the restaurant, immediately flanking Ling Chen's two sides.
"Mr Ling, I believe that I have shown enough tolerance towards you, don't overstep your boundaries."
"Young friend, if you step back the skies will clear, and the sea will be tranquil, why make things so difficult for yourself?"
Suddenly, one of the guests advised Ling Chen good-naturedly.
However, Ling Chen only shrugged. Why should he be the one backing down? He was someone who would never suffer a loss, that was who he was and the principle he stood by.
Seeing that he continued to stand there unmoving, the surrounding guests all shook their heads—another arrogant fool who cared too much about his pride and was going to be punished for it.
"Drag him out of here!"
Luo Quan waved his hand to signal to the bodyguards.
A few of the bodyguards immediately moved towards Ling Chen. They looked as though they were about to hold on to his clothes and drag him off his seat.
Qin Yang curled his lips, a twisted sneer at the corner of his mouth, looking at Ling Chen with undisguised glee.
Dare to argue back to me? Hmph, I'll torment you to death!
"Stop!"
Just as the bodyguards were about to make their moves, a loud voice suddenly rang out.
The onlookers all turned their head, only to see a middle-aged gentleman, with exceptionally dignified bearing walking towards Ling Chen and the bodyguards, with a few men in tow.
As they distinguished the identity of the gentlemen walking towards them, the onlookers' face changed to those full of shock and astonishment.
"That's Mr Ye from the capital!"
"Why would he be here?"
"Mr Ye."
Luo Quan was taken aback as well and rushed to welcome the entourage. After voicing out a respectful greeting to this "Mr Ye", he then bowed his head and fawningly greeted, "Boss, you're here too?"
"Luo Quan, what's going on here?"
"Boss..."
Luo Quan was about to explain himself, but he closed his mouth as he saw "Mr Ye" walking past him to Ling Chen's table. "Mr Ye" had a face full of smiles as he called out, "Young friend, we meet again."
Ling Chen smirked. "Mr Ye, it's a coincidence. I could never imagine meeting you here."
This "Mr Ye" in front of him was no stranger, but exactly Ye Liangyong from Qingyun Dojo. Initially, Ye Liangyong had only professed himself to a businessman. Still, judging from the onlookers' reactions and the respect he garnered, he was clearly not as simple as he made himself out to be.
Ye Liangyong looked at the bodyguards flanking Ling Chen and asked, "Are these people finding trouble with you?"
"I have no choice. My kindness is being taken advantage of. Honest people like me are destined to be bullied by others, no matter where I go."
"Zhong Hao."
"Mr Ye, do you have instructions for me?"
The man called Zhong Hao was exactly the boss of this Western restaurant.