Chapter 123: Dessert Tasting
"What do you even know?"
Huang Yourui's suspicion soared. He couldn't figure out how much Yun Zijin knew.
"It doesn't matter what I know," she said calmly. "All you need to worry about is whether you can pay up within three days. If Sheng Yang doesn't receive compensation by then, we'll let the courts handle it."
Nowadays, in certain circles, talk of a "lawyer's letter" was so common it had lost its bite, so Zijin decided to skip straight to the idea of a court-issued subpoena. When or how a trial would proceed was up to the courts—but that was Huang Yourui's problem, not theirs. With a lawyer in their corner, there was no pressure on Zijin's side.
"I don't have that kind of money!" he blurted. Over two million was impossible for him to gather, even if he sold everything he owned. He regretted breaking anything so expensive. Had he known, he would have taken more care when smashing things. Now, with his "mission" a failure, the final payment from the mysterious benefactor wouldn't come through, and the pittance he had couldn't cover the damages.
Zijin's tone stayed polite but firm. "If you can't pay, fine. We'll see you in court. Lingyi, please show our guest the way out."
Lingyi immediately stepped forward, grabbed the back of Huang Yourui's collar, hoisted him up, and tossed him out of the Night Bar.
"You're not welcome here," Sheng Yang added coldly. "Don't come back."
As Lingyi ejected him, Huang Yourui screeched, "Sheng Yang, you ungrateful traitor!"
But it mattered little. Sheng Yang's face was thunderous. Su Mengyao watched him, wanting to offer comfort, but held back.
Then Li Yuexuan changed the topic. "Hey, no need to let that ruin the mood. Today's the grand opening, a day for fun. Let's calm down."
Sheng Yang exhaled, trying to compose himself. "You're right. It's just not worth it. Today's supposed to be a big day for me. Everything's 20% off!" he suddenly announced with bravado.
Cheers erupted among the patrons on the first floor. Night Bar was designed as a high-end spot, pricier than standard bars, but the environment and service were top-notch. Nobody serious about status would cause trouble here—unless they were severely misguided or had ulterior motives.
Zijin watched the situation stabilize. "Shall we go back to the private room?" Sheng Yang asked.
"I like the vibe on the first floor," Su Mengyao said. "Feels more alive than the private room."
Sheng Yang was open to anything and glanced at the others. "I don't mind. How about you, Sitong?"
Qin Sitong, a bit uneasy, just nodded. "I'm fine with it," she said. She felt safest close to Zijin.
So they chose seats at a large booth on the first floor, ordering more bottles of wine, juices, and a few additional nibbles. With that settled, Sheng Yang decided to treat them to some desserts he'd asked a novice pastry chef to whip up.
When the desserts arrived, three elegant pastries were placed on the table, and Zijin was visibly intrigued. "I didn't see desserts on the menu earlier," she remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Sheng Yang grinned. "They're not on the official menu. I had the chef make them, just to see if they're any good. If you like them, I'll consider adding a dessert section."
Zijin studied the delicate confections. Su Mengyao was the first to try, taking a small bite with her fork. "Hmm," she mused. "It's okay. Nowhere near as good as what my chef makes at home, but not bad for an amateur. If you want to add them to the menu, sure, but they won't be a huge draw."
Zijin also tasted a piece. "I agree. It's all right, just not special enough to rival top-tier pastry chefs."
Noting their lukewarm reactions, Qin Sitong—who hadn't touched hers—tentatively took a bite. She brightened. "I think it's delicious! I like it." For her, it was noticeably better than the affordable cake shops she usually went to.
"Interesting," said Sheng Yang, shifting in his seat. "So the flavors are average for a more upscale palate, but better than basic bakeries." He'd only hired the pastry maker as a side experiment; apparently there was potential, but not for major profit.
"Well, if it doesn't cut it for high-end clientele, we can still keep a small dessert menu," Zijin suggested. "Anyway, your main business is wine."
"Yeah, that's fine," Sheng Yang said, a little relieved. He turned to Qin Sitong. "Thanks for your input. The more angles we see this from, the better I can decide."
Qin Sitong put down her fork. "I just hope it doesn't cost you money if it doesn't sell…"
"Don't worry," he smiled. "We're not counting on dessert profits. They're more of a novelty."
With that, the group eased back into a relaxed, celebratory atmosphere—despite the earlier scare and the not-quite-five-star desserts. There was music, drinks, and good company, so they'd take it as a success.
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