Chapter 53
Chapter 53: The Regretful Ex-Girlfriend
“Sir, this is your reserved table 007.”
A suited waiter led Lin Shen and Jiang Wan to their reserved seats, placing two glasses of warm water and menus in front of them with a smile.
“After you finish ordering, all dishes will be served within thirty minutes. If we exceed this time, your meal will be completely complimentary.”
“Alright.”
Lin Shen gentlemanly handed the menu to Jiang Wan.
“What would you like to eat?”
“I’m fine with anything. I’m not picky.”
Jiang Wan opened the menu, then looked stunned for a moment before closing it and looking at the waiter.
“What’s the price for your evening set menu per person?”
“The lowest evening premium set menu is 2,580, plus 10% service charge, and there’s also…”
“How about we order this set menu?”
Jiang Wan interrupted the waiter and looked at Lin Shen suggestively.
“I think letting the restaurant pair the dishes for us would be better than ordering ourselves.”
“Let’s go with what you suggested.”
Lin Shen knew Jiang Wan thought the dishes were too expensive and wanted to order the cheapest set menu.
But she expressed this with such high emotional intelligence, making it sound comfortable and reasonable.
The waiter smiled politely.
“Very well, sir. I’ll arrange the premium set menu for two. Is there anything else you need? We also offer sommelier services.”
“I don’t drink.”
Jiang Wan declined politely, giving Lin Shen ample reason to refuse the waiter’s upselling.
“No need, thank you.”
“Alright.”
After the waiter left, Jiang Wan couldn’t help but lecture Lin Shen.
Though she put on the manner of an older sister, her gentle words were soothing and hard to resist.
Age brings authority—that saying wasn’t wrong.
“Little brother Lin Shen, your intentions are good, but money isn’t easy to earn. Remember not to overspend.”
“It’s fine. A few thousand is still within my acceptable range.”
Lin Shen interlaced his fingers, supporting his chin with a smile.
This was indeed true.
With Lin Shen’s current daily income of over ten thousand, occasionally splurging wouldn’t affect anything.
But Jiang Wan obviously didn’t know this. She just felt Lin Shen had suddenly transformed from an ordinary person into a rich second-generation.
This contrast fascinated her.
“Little brother Lin Shen, can you tell me what happened during your time after graduation?”
“What specifically would you like to hear about?”
“Well…”
Actually, Jiang Wan was quite interested in how Lin Shen had made his fortune, but after thinking for a moment, she unexpectedly asked.
“Why did your girlfriend break up with you?”
This question had been troubling Jiang Wan for a long time.
Lin Shen’s excellence could rank in the top three among all the men she knew, maybe even first.
Handsome and refined looks, well-proportioned physique, gentle and modest personality.
These brilliant qualities made Lin Shen’s overall image nearly perfect.
Of course, he might be a bit lustful, but that was understandable.
What man wasn’t lustful?
Moreover, nobody’s perfect. Lin Shen surely had flaws.
But as long as they didn’t cross fundamental lines, they could be overshadowed by his strengths.
“Maybe she met someone better.”
Actually, Lin Shen didn’t really want to talk about his romantic history, but if Jiang Wan was curious, he didn’t mind sharing his troubles with this gentle older woman.
But they didn’t chat for long before the exquisite dishes were brought out.
The appetizers were Burgundy snail puffs and Yunnan truffle crisps with duck liver mousse.
The starters were two seafood dishes.
East Sea yellow croaker prepared two ways and France’s famous blue lobster.
For the main course, there were two options. Lin Shen chose a medium-rare M9 wagyu filet, grilled to bring out the meat’s deepest flavors with rich, enticing aroma.
Jiang Wan chose roasted squab. After cutting a piece and putting it in her mouth, she held her cheek happily.
“It’s so delicious. You should try some too.”
With that, Jiang Wan cut another piece of squab and fed it to Lin Shen with her fork.
He bit and chewed, then widened his eyes and nodded with obvious enjoyment.
Indeed, expensive had its reasons—it really was quite good.
The two continued feeding each other from their plates, their conversation becoming increasingly animated.
Combined with the restaurant’s French artistic space that merged classical reliefs, modern metallic lines, and crystal lighting, the atmosphere between men and women easily became ambiguous.
Outside the window, brilliant neon lights wove through the steel forest.
Ferries slowly crossed, trailing colorful wakes across the sparkling river surface.
Inside the window, the dim lighting highlighted Jiang Wan’s gentle and stunning facial contours, making Lin Shen’s heart race.
The first step to becoming a playboy was to desensitize oneself to beautiful women and accept that one could be attracted to multiple women.
Lin Shen was slowly adapting to this immoral thrill.
Just as he was chatting happily with Jiang Wan, Cheng Yue nearby felt somewhat depressed.
Because Gu Wanting, who had been extremely excited at first, was now staring blankly out the window.
She’d been fine just moments ago—why was she suddenly unhappy?
Cheng Yue knew women’s emotions were delicate, but surely there should be a reason for anger!
“Wanting, try this.”
Cheng Yue placed cut steak on Gu Wanting’s plate, asking carefully.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Gu Wanting covered her face, rubbing it constantly, not caring about her smudged makeup or disheveled hair.
The exquisite, delicious food before her now seemed tasteless.
The reason was simple—she’d encountered the wrong person at the wrong place.
Why?
Why would Lin Shen come to such an expensive restaurant?
Why was he with a stunningly beautiful woman in hanfu?
Gu Wanting asked herself these questions but couldn’t find answers.
She didn’t understand why Lin Shen had changed so much.
She also didn’t understand why she felt so miserable.
Regret surged like roaring waves, instantly drowning Gu Wanting’s trembling heart.
Lin Shen should have been hers alone, but she had personally given away this opportunity to another woman.
Gu Wanting breathed deeply, trying to calm herself, but still couldn’t suppress the intense sadness in her heart.
“I’m not feeling well. I’m leaving.”
Gu Wanting grabbed her bag and quickly got up to leave, her red-rimmed eyes and near-tears expression making Cheng Yue’s heart skip a beat as he hurried after her.
“Hey? Wanting! What’s wrong? Wait for me!”
?
The commotion attracted Lin Shen’s attention. When he looked closely, he suddenly froze.
Seeing this, Jiang Wan also followed his gaze and saw the man chasing the woman at the entrance.
They seemed to be fighting.
“Do you know them?”
Jiang Wan asked curiously, but Lin Shen just shook his head after coming to his senses, a smile playing on his lips with complex emotions.
“Don’t know them. They’re strangers.”