16: Chapter 16 First Taste of Michelin, Encountering Zhang Lei's Provocation Again

With 5.8 million yuan in hand, Chen Fan and Wang Defu were both excited and a bit worried. The commotion earlier had been quite large, and they wanted to leave quickly. After all, with such a massive sum of money, there was no guarantee they wouldn't be targeted by someone with ill intentions. Although Chen Fan could handle ordinary thugs now, it was better to avoid trouble whenever possible.

With money in his pocket, his confidence grew. Chen Fan decided to take Wang Defu for a feast. It was then that Chen Fan realized they were quite close to his previous company. He decided to go for a Michelin-starred Cantonese meal, something he wouldn't have even dared to dream of before.

Half an hour later, the two stood before the entrance of 'Iris Palace,' a famous three-star Michelin restaurant in the Magic City. Its decor was exquisitely elegant, and though the sign was simple, it carried a powerful presence. Inside the massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows were warm, soft lighting, snowy white tablecloths, sparkling crystal glasses, and elegant diners.

Wang Defu looked at his work pants, speckled with oil stains, and his old rubber shoes. Then he looked at the doorman in a crisp uniform with a scrutinizing gaze. His feet instantly felt nailed to the ground, his face full of awkwardness and unease. 'Xiao... Xiao Fan... this place... the way we're dressed... it's not appropriate, is it? How much is this going to cost?'

'A celebration should look like a celebration,' Chen Fan patted his shoulder, his tone calm and certain. 'Money is earned to be spent.'

With that, he took the lead and walked toward the entrance. The doorman was well-trained; although a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, seeing Chen Fan's steady demeanor, he respectfully opened the heavy glass door for them.

The moment they stepped into the restaurant, it felt like entering another world. The hustle and bustle of the outside traffic was completely shut out, replaced by the flow of soothing classical music and a faint aroma of food. A waiter led them to a window seat.

Wang Defu followed almost stiffly, sitting on a chair that was excessively soft. He felt out of place, not knowing where to put his hands. He secretly glanced around: the exquisite tableware sparkled under the lights, the guests at the neighboring tables spoke in low voices and were dressed glamorously—every detail exuded luxury.

'Relax, Uncle Wang. We're here to eat, not to be interrogated,' Chen Fan picked up the menu and ordered several signature dishes, trying his best to appear composed. It was expected to be a bit nervous, having never been here before.

When dishes resembling works of art were brought to the table, Wang Defu's eyes widened even more. He held his knife and fork, feeling so clumsy he didn't know where to start.

The waiter, seeing it was their first time, explained how to eat each dish, though his tone carried a hint of mockery.

Wang Defu carefully placed a small piece of slow-cooked Wagyu beef into his mouth. The moment the extreme tenderness and rich meaty aroma melted on his tongue, he was stunned. A look of near-touching emotion appeared on his face.

'This... this taste... is incredible!' he whispered, praising it from the bottom of his heart.

'Uncle Wang, this is just the beginning,' Chen Fan raised his wine glass, the amber liquid inside swirling gently. 'In the future, we will see even higher scenery.'

Wang Defu nodded heavily and raised his glass, his eyes filled with longing and determination for the future. 'Xiao Fan, I believe in you! I'll work with you! I'll do whatever you say!'

When the bill came, the price of the dishes was 3,980 yuan, plus a service fee of 398 yuan, totaling 4,378 yuan.

Wang Defu's eyes nearly popped out. 'So expensive. We're not eating food; we're eating money.'

This expensive Michelin feast left Wang Defu with a complex mix of emotions: the shock of the delicious flavors, the pain of the price, and the impact of a new world. When he walked out of the restaurant and back onto the noisy street, it felt like he had just had a brief, magnificent dream.

However, before the warmth of the dream could fade, the flies of reality came buzzing. Just as they crossed a street corner and were about to hail a taxi back to the scrap yard, a piercing and familiar voice cut through the noisy traffic: 'Oh? Look who it is. Isn't this our top salesperson, Chen Fan?'

Zhang Lei's loathsome figure appeared before Chen Fan, wearing his signature mocking smile... Chen Fan didn't stop walking, merely looking up calmly. His former supervisor, Zhang Lei, was getting out of a taxi that had just pulled up. He was still in that same crisp suit, his hair combed meticulously, with that annoying, condescending smile on his face. His gaze swept over Chen Fan's dusty clothes and then fell on Wang Defu, who was dressed in work clothes like an old craftsman. The curve of his lips was full of disdain.

'What's this... have you finally found a field that suits you?' Zhang Lei intentionally raised his voice, drawing glances from passersby. 'Dealing with junk really does suit a person like you—inside and out, you reek of being a loser.' Beside him, what seemed to be his newly recruited assistant also let out a contemptuous smile.

The veins on Wang Defu's forehead throbbed with anger, but there was no trace of irritation on Chen Fan's face. He even took two steps forward, stopping in front of Zhang Lei, so close he could almost smell the cheap cologne on the man. His eyes were terrifyingly calm, like a bottomless cold pool, staring straight into Zhang Lei's eyes, which were filled with smugness and spite.

'Zhang Lei,' Chen Fan's voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear, with a cold, piercing quality. 'Have you ever considered that some things might look like junk, yet can turn stone into gold? While some people look glamorous on the outside, they're already rotten to the core on the inside. With just a light touch, they'll shatter into a pile of dregs.'

Zhang Lei was stunned by the look and the words. That cold gaze seemed to see through all his pretenses, causing a trace of chill to rise inexplicably in his heart. But he quickly dismissed it as an illusion and forced a sneer. 'What? Picked up trash for a few days and picked up some philosophy too? Chen Fan, stop acting all mysterious. This is all you've got...'

'Whether I'm acting mysterious or not, you'll soon experience it for yourself,' Chen Fan interrupted him, his tone still flat but carrying an unquestionable certainty. 'While you can still wear that human skin, enjoy your smugness a little longer. After all, you won't be wearing it for much longer.'

After speaking, Chen Fan stopped looking at him and turned to Wang Defu. 'Uncle Wang, let's go. Don't let trash delay our business.'

Zhang Lei froze in place. Chen Fan's last sentence was like a cold needle pricking his heart. That look, that tone... it didn't seem like a bluff! A strong sense of unease instantly surrounded him. He watched Chen Fan and Wang Defu's backs disappear around the corner, his previous smugness and sense of superiority vanished, replaced by an inexplicable flustered feeling.

'Su... Supervisor?' the assistant beside him asked cautiously.

'Shut up!' Zhang Lei growled irritably, feeling an inexplicable chill down his spine... By the time they returned to the shack in the back of the scrap yard, the night was already deep.

Wang Defu was still indignant. 'Xiao Fan, that bastard just now! What a piece of work!'

Chen Fan was frighteningly calm. 'Hit him? That would only dirty my hands,' he said flatly. 'For people like him, the best punishment is to make him lose what he cares about most and let him fall from the clouds into the mud.'