Chapter 334: Dumbfounded

Chapter 334 -262: Dumbfounded

Wan Jiakai hesitated. “How about we just pick another place? Any BBQ joint in Ji Province that’s managed to stay open for more than two years is bound to be pretty good.”

“Wait in line?”

“Oh, my boy.”

“Your dad here is a man kept by a rich woman. Do I look like I need to wait in line?”

“Just tell me, do you want a private room or the main dining hall?”

Gu Heng skillfully steered the car out of the underground parking garage with one hand while he spoke.

“Cut the crap.”

“With all your bragging, you’re gonna cause a cow shortage in Ji Province.”

“It’s the dinner rush right now. You’ll be lucky to even get a table in the main hall.”

Wan Jiakai adjusted his seat to a semi-reclined position. “Besides, it’s just the two of us. What do we need a private room for?”

“The main hall it is, then.”

Gu Heng didn’t care whether it was a private room or the main hall.

With that, he picked up his phone, opened WhatsApp, and sent a message directly to Qi Min: “Get me a table at Champion Scholar Pavilion. No private room needed, the main hall is fine.”

Wan Jiakai watched Gu Heng’s completely natural expression and couldn’t help but be slightly taken aback.

He had originally thought Gu Heng was just joking, but now it seemed he might actually have the clout to back it up.

After giving his instructions to Qi Min, Gu Heng finished driving out of the train station’s underground garage. He casually asked Wan Jiakai, “How are your parents doing? Are they in good health?”

“They’re doing great.”

Wan Jiakai gazed at the familiar streetscape, replying lazily, “When I told them I was coming to see you today, they said I should bring you home with me for the New Year. What do you think?”

“I’m busy.”

“I won’t be able to make it back this year.”

“I bought something for your parents. You can take it back for me.”

Gu Heng fell silent for a moment before replying.

That year, the same year his father had just abandoned him.

Gu Heng wasn’t even sixteen yet. On New Year’s Eve, it was Wan Jiakai’s parents who personally came to pick him up and bring him to their home, helping him get through the most difficult winter of his life.

Later, Gu Heng came to Beichun alone to make a living.

Every New Year’s Eve since, Wan Jiakai’s parents would invite Gu Heng to celebrate with them, but worried he’d be too much of a bother, Gu Heng always declined with one excuse or another.

However, that New Year’s Eve dinner was forever etched in his memory.

“I knew it.”

“You give the same answer every year.”

Wan Jiakai was already used to it. “Besides, we don’t need anything at home. It’s not easy for you to make money in Beichun. I’m not taking anything back for you, so while you can still return it, you should.”

“Take it or leave it.”

“If you don’t take it, I’ll mail it.”

“I know your address, after all.”

Gu Heng kept his eyes on the road, chuckling as he replied.

“Damn it, there’s just no arguing with you.”

Wan Jiakai rolled his eyes. He and Gu Heng had grown up together, so he knew Gu Heng was as stubborn as a mule. Once his mind was made up, nobody could change it. So, he didn’t waste any more breath and just let him be.

…

Half an hour later, Gu Heng drove the Maybach GLS 600 near Champion Scholar Pavilion. The sky had completely darkened, and the shops on both sides of the street were all lit up.

“Whoa!”

“Holy cow!”

“What did I tell you?”

“This place is absolutely packed!”

Wan Jiakai pressed his face against the window, staring at the dense crowd swarming the entrance of Champion Scholar Pavilion, and couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement.

“No matter how many people there are, it has nothing to do with us.”

Gu Heng steered with one hand, driving directly toward the entrance of Champion Scholar Pavilion.

“Hey, hey, hey!”

“That’s the storefront! And they’ve put up bollards.”

“Let’s drive a bit further and see if we can find a parking spot.”

Seeing Gu Heng heading straight for the entrance, Wan Jiakai quickly tried to talk him out of it.

When running a business, the last thing you want is someone blocking your entrance.

What Gu Heng was doing could easily cause unnecessary trouble.

“It’s fine.”

Gu Heng just smiled, continuing on his course.

HONK! HONK!

He drove up to the bollards and lightly tapped the horn twice.

Not even five seconds later, someone hurried out from Champion Scholar Pavilion. They deftly removed all the bollards and then, with an eagerly attentive expression, guided Gu Heng to drive in.

“Holy shit!”

“What’s going on?”

“Don’t tell me the rich woman keeping you is the owner of Champion Scholar Pavilion?”

Seeing this, Wan Jiakai couldn’t help but curse out loud.

“What are you talking about? How could that be possible?”

Gu Heng brought the Maybach GLS 600 to a stop. “Didn’t I tell you? The rich woman keeping me is young, beautiful, elegant, with fair skin and long legs.”

As they spoke, the two of them got out of the car.

“Mr. Gu, welcome, welcome!”

Just as Gu Heng stepped out of the car, the same attentive middle-aged man from before hurried over to greet him. “I’m the owner of this restaurant, Fan Sheng. Mr. Gu, your presence truly honors our humble establishment!”

“Boss Fan.”

“Your restaurant is really booming.”

“Sorry to trouble you by coming here.”

Gu Heng extended a hand, exchanging pleasantries with a chuckle.

“No trouble at all, not in the least!”

Fan Sheng said enthusiastically, “It’s cold out here. Mr. Gu, please, come inside.”

Gu Heng smiled and gave a slight nod, then gestured to the somewhat dumbfounded Wan Jiakai before following Fan Sheng into the restaurant.

Pushing open the door, they saw that the entrance was packed with customers waiting for a table.

Wan Jiakai did a rough count—there had to be at least fifty people waiting.

As far as the eye could see, the place was completely full.

At this rate, if they had waited normally, it would have been at least two hours.

But now, led by the owner himself, they didn’t have to wait at all.

“Mr. Gu, there’s still a vacant private room upstairs.”

Seeing Gu Heng sit down at a wooden table by the window, Fan Sheng asked tentatively, “Are you and your friend sure you don’t need the private room?”

“There are only two of us. A private room would feel a bit too empty.”

“The whole point of eating barbecue is to enjoy the lively atmosphere, isn’t it?”

Gu Heng smiled at Fan Sheng. “Boss Fan, we’re fine sitting here. Don’t hold the room for us; go ahead and give it to other guests.”

“No, no, no.”

“We absolutely have to keep the room for you.”

Fan Sheng quickly waved his hands. “If you find it too noisy down here later, Mr. Gu, you and your friend can move to the upstairs room at any time.”

“Boss Fan, you’re…”

Seeing the owner’s determined expression, Gu Heng shook his head with a hint of resignation. “Alright then. Thank you for your thoughtful hospitality, Boss Fan.”

“You’re too kind.”

Fan Sheng was practically overwhelmed by the flattery.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that his barbecue restaurant was wildly popular every day and seemed impressive. When compared to a behemoth of the Ji Province restaurant industry like the Zhen Cui Group, there was simply no comparison.

Now, the Chairman of the Zhen Cui Group himself had come to his restaurant for barbecue. As the owner, he naturally had to offer the most meticulous hospitality possible.

“Don’t let us keep you.”

“My friend and I will just order by scanning the code.”

“Having you all hovering around us is a bit uncomfortable.”

Hearing this, Fan Sheng immediately understood what Gu Heng meant.

“Of course.”

“Then please enjoy your meal, Mr. Gu. I’ll come back later to offer you a toast.”

After his reply, Fan Sheng left two waitresses to attend to Gu Heng and his friend, then tactfully departed so as not to disturb them any further.

After Fan Sheng left, Gu Heng looked up at the dumbfounded Wan Jiakai, a faint smile touching his lips…