"Thanks for what happened earlier," Dirk said to Jake after the banquet ended. "If it weren't for you, I might have been the one to buy the forgery. In that case, not only would I have become a laughingstock in our circle, but I would also face criticism from my old man."
Dirk had initially wanted to bid on the painting because his father was a fan of the works by Master Li Yanzi. He was willing to pay a higher price for it, even if it was expensive. However, Jake had timely intervened, preventing him from making a costly mistake.
"I just happened to notice it," Jake replied modestly.
"Your 'just happened to notice it' ability far exceeds that of many people here," Dirk chuckled. "No one else in the room saw it, not even the auction house. Thanks to your appraising skills."
Jake smiled but didn't say anything further.
"Tonight, you've offended Jude, and that's partly because of me. If he causes you trouble, just let me know, and I'll handle it for you," Dirk told Jake.
Jake had publicly exposed the forgery, and Jude was unlikely to forgive him easily. Dirk knew Jude well, and he knew that there was a high probability Jude would seek revenge on Jake.
Jake nodded and asked, "Do you and Jude have some kind of feud?"
It was apparent to an observant person like Jake that Dirk and Jude didn't get along. He was curious about the nature of their relationship.
Dirk nodded and explained, "We do have a bit of a feud, but it's not a big deal. We're all part of the same circle, but within that large circle, there are inevitably smaller circles. Jude and I belong to different small circles, and we just have some mutual dislike."
Jake nodded in understanding. People like Dirk and Jude, who came from influential families, often had their pride and wanted to outdo each other, leading to conflicts and rivalries.
Dirk escorted Jake all the way to his residence. Before Jake got out of the car, Dirk smiled and said, "The auction house will transfer the money tomorrow, and you'll be a millionaire soon. Do you have any plans? Buying a car? A house?"
"I'm planning to open a restaurant," Jake replied. "I've already found a location, but I need the money to finalize the purchase, and there will be expenses for renovations and initial setup. If there's anything left, I might consider buying a car too. It's quite inconvenient without one."
As he mentioned a car, Jake thought about the mount token in his backpack. The token could be used both in the game world and in reality, and it had no spatial limitations. In other words, he already had a car in the real world. Talking about buying a car was just an excuse for Dirk.
"You're opening a restaurant?" Dirk appeared somewhat surprised since Jake hadn't mentioned it before. However, he nodded and said, "That makes sense. Your culinary skills are top-notch, and now that you have some money, opening a restaurant is a great idea. Where's the restaurant going to be? I'll come over to taste your dishes when it's ready."
"That place is quite familiar to you, Dirk," Jake replied with a smile. "It's right across from Kailomen, just a road apart."
"Across from Kailomen?" Dirk was taken aback once again. He hadn't expected Jake to open his restaurant right across from Kailomen, a renowned establishment in the city. Although the location was excellent with high foot traffic, it had fierce competition from Kailomen and several other restaurants in the vicinity.
"You seem very confident in yourself," Dirk commented.
Jake's decision to open a restaurant directly competing with Kailomen indicated his confidence in his culinary skills and his unique approach.
"Indeed," Jake affirmed. "I'm confident in my own skills. Besides, I have another chef working with me in the restaurant, someone you know, Dirk."
"Someone I know?"
"Yes, it's Alan!" Jake revealed.
"Alan is working with you?" Dirk was genuinely surprised.
Dirk was familiar with Alan's culinary skills and had a high opinion of him. He had missed Alan's cooking after he left Kailomen, and he never thought that Alan would join forces with Jake.
"Yes," Jake confirmed. "I've taken him as my apprentice. Once the restaurant is up and running, I'll teach him my culinary skills thoroughly. In the future, he'll be the head chef of the new restaurant, not me."
Jake didn't plan to remain in the kitchen forever. With access to resources from another world, he had ambitions in various fields beyond just running one restaurant.
"You've taken Alan as your apprentice?" Dirk found himself surprised once more. He couldn't help but feel amazed by all the unexpected news from Jake.
"That's right," Jake said confidently. "With his skills and my guidance, I believe he's more than capable of being the head chef of my new restaurant."
"Of course, there's no doubt about that!" Dirk agreed. "Alan used to be the head chef at Kailomen."
"Being the head chef at Kailomen doesn't necessarily mean he's qualified to be the head chef of my restaurant," Jake replied confidently. "My restaurant is going to be the best in J City, possibly even nationwide. It's not something Kailomen can compete with."
Jake exuded strong self-assurance, and Dirk couldn't help but feel that Jake wasn't just talking big; he genuinely believed he could achieve it.