The Four Seasons Restaurant was the epitome of luxury, nestled in the heart of Beijing.
Its reputation for serving the finest Chinese cuisine had made it a must-visit destination for anyone with a taste for the extraordinary—and those with the means to afford it.
As soon as Ren Yuxin and Yang Qinru stepped into the grand lobby, a soft-spoken receptionist stood up, her eyes widening when she recognized the both of them.
Ren Yuxin walked confidently up to the receptionist, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
The receptionist greeted them with a practiced smile. "Good afternoon, ladies. Do you have a reservation?"
She flashed a card—an elegant gold one that seemed to glow under the restaurant's warm lights. The receptionist's eyes widened, and she quickly stood straighter.
"Miss Ren, right this way," the receptionist said, her voice almost too eager.
Yang Qinru raised an eyebrow, watching the receptionist's reaction. "That's some power you have there."
Ren Yuxin shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not just for show. This little gold card gets me a private room anywhere in Four Season. No waiting, no questions." She waved the card in front of Yang Qinru, making it sparkle dramatically.
Yang Qinru smirked, nudging Ren Yuxin. "Look at you, flexing the golden card. Does this mean we don't have to wait a month like everyone else?"
Ren Yuxin rolled her eyes as they followed the staff to an elevator. "I'm not flexing. I'm ensuring we don't have to sit next to Aunties gossiping about their sons' blind dates. You're welcome."
"Fair enough," Yang Qinru said.
The plush carpets, lacquered wooden screens, and elegant antique furniture gave the space a feel of old-world charm mixed with modern sophistication.
"I need to get me one of those cards," Yang Qinru muttered, settling into the luxurious armchair by the table. "This is a whole different level of rich."
Ren Yuxin chuckled as she sat down across from her. "I was about to say, "You can marry someone rich" then, I realized, you're the rich."
Then the both of them laughed.
The waiter entered shortly after, presenting them with an extensive menu that seemed to go on for miles.
With a flourish, Ren Yuxin waved the menu away.
"Let's start with the appetizers," Ren Yuxin said, scanning the menu. "We'll have the truffle dumplings, the lobster salad, and the foie gras spring rolls."
Yang Qinru frowned. "No spicy options? What kind of bland meal are you planning?" She turned to the waiter. "Add the Sichuan-style beef skewers and the spicy crab claws. Oh, and the mango chili prawns."
Ren Yuxin sighed dramatically. "Must everything you eat set your tongue on fire?"
"Life is bland without spice," Yang Qinru retorted. "You wouldn't understand, Xiao Yu. You live a cushy life with no chaos."
Ren Yuxin grinned. "Chaos is overrated. Anyway, for mains, let's get the Peking duck, black pepper wagyu, and garlic butter scallops."
"And the mapo tofu, spicy hotpot, and chili chicken," Yang Qinru added, ignoring Yuxin's groan.
"For sides," Ren Yuxin continued, "The truffle mashed potatoes and the seasonal vegetables."
"And for drinks?" the waiter inquired.
"Lychee rose juice for me," Ren Yuxin said.
Yang Qinru interjected, "One of your fanciest juices, please."
The waiter blinked. "Which flavor would you like, miss?"
"Which one's the fanciest?"
"Uh, we have a gold-leaf passionfruit blend."
"Perfect. Bring me that."
Ren Yuxin laughed. "Only you would order juice with gold in it."
"Don't act like you won't be stealing a sip," Yang Qinru shot back.
For dessert, they ordered a medley: molten chocolate lava cake, mango pudding, and a towering fruit parfait.
As the dishes started arriving, Yang Qinru sighed contentedly. "This is the life. Who needs stocks when you've got food like this?"
"You're only saying that because you're broke," Ren Yuxin teased, sipping her sparkling water.
"First of all, I'm temporarily cash-light," Yang Qinru corrected, wagging her finger. "I bought stocks yesterday. Strategic investment."
Yang Qinru groaned, biting into a spicy crab claw. "Meanwhile, you're over here flaunting gold cards and endless allowances. Must be nice having a functional family."
Ren Yuxin shrugged. "It has its perks. But come on, you wouldn't trade your drama-filled life for my boring one, would you?"
Yang Qinru paused mid-bite, considering. "Well… maybe for a month. Or two."
Yang Qinru leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "So, Xiao Yu, tell me. How do you have so much allowance? You're drowning in designer bags while I'm over here deciding between splurging on milk tea or buy bags."
Ren Yuxin smirked. "Simple. The Ren family isn't a circus. We don't have drama every other week, so our accounts stay stable."
Yabg Qinru snorted. "Well, the Yang family operates on merit. You perform well, you get more allowance. And guess what? I'm broke because I just poured my savings into stocks yesterday."
"Ah yes, the Yang family's performance-based allowance system strikes again," Ren Yuxin said with mock seriousness. "You've got to impress someone just to afford bubble tea."
"Rub it in, why don't you?" Yang Qinru grumbled, reaching for a piece of wagyu. "At least I'm rich in stocks. Someday, I'll make a fortune and drown you in luxury too."
"Looking forward to it."
As they kept eating, Yang Qinru kept sneaking glances at Yuxin's golden card. "So, about that card. Do I need to do something dramatic to earn one? Like save a Ren family member or—"
"You just need to not be you," Ren Yuxin quipped, popping a caviar tartlet into her mouth.
Yang Qinru gasped. "Excuse me, Miss Ren, but my personality is priceless."
"True," Ren Yuxin said, smirking. "Too bad your wallet isn't."
When the desserts arrived, Yang Qinru immediately grabbed the molten lava cake. "This is mine."
Ren Yuxin raised an eyebrow. "You're really going to eat that whole thing by yourself?"
"Watch me," Yang Qinru said, cutting into the cake. The chocolate oozed out, and she gave a satisfied hum. "Heavenly."
Ren Yuxin rolled her eyes, taking a spoonful of mango pudding. "If you choke on that, don't look at me. I'm not certified to perform the Heimlich."
"I'll haunt you if I die," Yang Qinru said around a mouthful of cake.
"Please, the ghost of Yang Qinru would just complain about the lack of spice in the afterlife," Ren Yuxin retorted.
Yang Qinru dug into her lava cake, watching as the molten chocolate spilled out. "If this cake were a man, I'd marry it."
"Good luck with that," Ren Yuxin said, savoring her mango sago pudding. "Although, knowing you, you'd probably fight with it first."
"Hey, relationships are built on mutual respect and the occasional argument," Yang Qinru said, wagging her fork.
"Keep telling yourself that," Ren Yuxin replied, shaking her head.
As they finished their meal, Yang Qinru leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "I'm stuffed. This was worth every calorie."
"Agreed," Ren Yuxin said, sipping her juice. "Now, about that bill—"
Yang Qinru's eyes widened. "Wait. You're paying, right? You brought me here!"
Ren Yuxin smirked, pulling out her golden card. "Relax. I'm not that cruel."
"Thank heavens," Yang Qinru muttered. "I'd hate to wash dishes in this place. Too many witnesses."