89: Chapter 89 Bringing a pretty boy to freeload

As Song Zhiwei and Zhang Fan walked out of the Peony Hall, Zhao Ya's shrill, caustic voice drifted from behind them: "Hmph, bringing a little white face along—isn't it just to scrounge some food and drink? Does she really think Zhanghua Mountain Villa is her personal cafeteria?"

Zhang Fan subconsciously touched his face and raised an eyebrow at Song Zhiwei, teasing her with a hint of narcissism: "A little white face? I don't mind that at all. After all, being called that proves my looks are up to par. I'm not losing out."

Song Zhiwei was amused by his cocky attitude and lightly tapped his arm with her fingertip. "Fine, then I'll trouble you to be a 'little white face' for tonight. I'll treat you to a good meal."

Just as the two turned the corner at the end of the corridor, the discussion from the Peony Hall drifted out again, as if intentionally meant for them to hear.

Li Na's voice carried a hint of deliberate sycophancy: "At the end of the day, Song Zhiwei is just a servant's daughter. What does she know about prestige? I bet she doesn't even have the right to sit at the table in front of her masters, yet she dares to bring an outsider. She truly doesn't know her place!"

Yellow Hair downed the romanée-conti in his glass in one gulp, smacked his lips, and thought to himself, 'That one gulp must be worth tens of thousands, right?' However, his mouth didn't stay idle as he followed Li Na's lead: "Heh, Young Master Pei is kind-hearted. Having grown up with her, even if she is a servant, he has to give her something to eat, right? Who knew she'd be so ungrateful as to give Young Master Pei the cold shoulder!"

Sitting in the seat of honor, Pei Yunxiao felt as if his heart were filled with honey as he listened to everyone belittling Song Zhiwei. Even the panic from having his 'supplementary card' exposed earlier faded slightly—it was as if by stepping on Song Zhiwei, he could truly elevate himself to a 'superior person.' He called over a waiter at the door and said with a patronizing arrogance, "Go tell the Miss Song who just left that she can order whatever she wants to eat and drink today, and I'll pick up the tab. But that little white face next to her must get lost; he's not qualified to eat with us!"

By the time the waiter left to comply, Song Zhiwei and Zhang Fan were already seated in the adjacent 'Pine and Crane Hall.' This was a scenic private room in Zhanghua Mountain Villa, with a much better view than the Peony Hall.

Song Zhiwei held the menu and casually ordered a few exquisite small dishes: "I'll have the slow-cooked Wagyu beef with truffle mashed potatoes, the steamed egg with sea urchin and caviar, and for the drink, fresh-squeezed blueberry juice, low sugar." Each dish had more class than the 'extravagant big dishes' at Pei Yunxiao's table, yet they weren't ostentatious.

Not long after, the same waiter knocked and entered, relaying Pei Yunxiao's words exactly as they were said.

After hearing it, the corners of Song Zhiwei's mouth curled up. She said to the waiter, "Please go back and tell Mr. Pei thank you for his 'kindness.' However, his table ordered so many expensive dishes that I'm afraid he won't be able to afford the split bill when the time comes. I don't want to be embarrassed along with him, so I'll pass on joining that meal."

When the waiter returned to the Peony Hall and relayed Song Zhiwei's words, Ruan Shu, who was drinking ace of spades, spat it out instantly. She laughed so hard she slapped the table: "Split the bill? You've got to be kidding! Young Master Pei is covering all the expenses today. She's just a servant's daughter; does she think we're counting on her pocket change? This is hilarious!"

"Exactly! How could our Young Master Pei not afford a meal?" Yellow Hair was clearly intoxicated, his face flushed as he slammed the table, completely failing to notice Pei Yunxiao's face instantly stiffening. "Song Zhiwei is just jealous! She's jealous that Young Master Pei is treating us to the good stuff while she can only bring a little white face to scrounge for cheap food!"

Wang Ting rolled her eyes, her tone full of disdain: "Tch, Song Zhiwei has gone crazy today! First pretending to be a young mistress, then bringing a little white face—who is she trying to fool? She's only fooling herself! I've been in the same dorm with her for four years; don't I know her? She's just a die-hard simp. Wouldn't it be better if she just simped for Young Master Pei properly? Why does she have to pull all this nonsense? Is it fun?"

Li Na also quickly chimed in, afraid of being left behind: "Young Master Pei must have been too kind to her usually, making her think she's actually on equal footing with him! Now that she knows Young Master Pei isn't paying attention to her anymore, she's started acting like a fool!"

Zhao Ya's eyes darted around, and she suddenly suggested with a wicked smile: "How about this? When we leave after finishing, let's intentionally not leave any word for her. Let the waiter think she has to pay for her share too. Then we'll see how she pays the bill herself! Maybe she'll even have to stay behind to wash dishes!"

"Hahaha! That's a good one! Just thinking about it is satisfying!" Ruan Shu laughed until her eyes squinted, completely failing to notice Pei Yunxiao's hand quietly gripping the tablecloth. He was already panicking inside; Song Zhiwei's words about 'not being able to afford the split' were like a thorn, making him restless. But facing everyone's flattery, he couldn't back down and could only force himself to endure.

"Everyone, say less and eat." Pei Yunxiao squeezed out a smile and picked up his knife and fork to cut the australian lobster, but his hand was trembling slightly. He secretly felt the supplementary card in his pocket, his mind repeatedly replaying Song Zhiwei's words about the '50,000 limit.' The australian lobster, ace of spades, and romanée-conti they had just ordered had already exceeded that long ago. What would he do when it was time to settle the bill?

But no one listened to him. Ruan Shu was still whispering to Zhao Ya: "Do you think that little white face Song Zhiwei brought is that tech company owner she mentioned before? I don't think so. He's dressed so plainly; he must be a fraud!"

Zhao Ya nodded: "Definitely! With Song Zhiwei's brain, she'd be counting the money for someone who just sold her! Young Master Pei is the truly wealthy one. She doesn't cherish him and insists on finding a fraud instead. She truly deserves it!"

These words pricked Pei Yunxiao's heart like needles. He clearly knew he was also "relying on someone else," yet he couldn't help but join in the disdain for Song Zhiwei, as if doing so could prove he was better than her.

He raised his wine glass and downed the red wine inside. The pungent liquid made him cough, but he felt even more panicked. This seemingly glorious meal seemed to be sliding in a direction he couldn't control.

Meanwhile, in the Pine and Crane Hall, Zhang Fan was using his phone to message Zhou Yurou, recounting the farce in the Peony Hall as a joke: "Yurou, you should have seen it. Pei Yunxiao is acting like a big shot treating people to a feast, but Song Zhiwei hit his sore spot with one sentence. His face is almost green now, yet he still has to force himself to keep up appearances."

Zhou Yurou replied quickly: "Tell Song Zhiwei to be careful; Pei Yunxiao might pull some tricks if he gets desperate. By the way, I've organized the overseas version proposal for 'star path.' Let's go over it when you get back."

Zhang Fan replied "Got it" with a smile and looked up at Song Zhiwei: "Do you think Pei Yunxiao will cry on the spot if he can't swipe his card when he tries to settle the bill later?"

Song Zhiwei took a bite of the Wagyu beef and chewed slowly, a hint of mockery in her eyes: "He won't necessarily cry, but he'll definitely look terrible. What he cares about most in his life is his reputation. Today, I'm going to make him pay back everything he owes me, with interest."

Outside the window, the night grew darker, and the lights of Zhanghua Mountain Villa shone like stars. The clamor in the Peony Hall continued, and no one knew that a "payment crisis" that would utterly humiliate Pei Yunxiao was already quietly waiting for him.