Wang Li took a moment to glance at Liu Yong after placing their order.
Surprisingly, she noticed that Liu Yong had only selected the more expensive items on the menu. By the end of their meal, they had likely spent no less than 7,000 to 8,000 yuan, roughly equivalent to a month's salary for an average person.
Wang Li assumed that Liu Yong would be heartbroken after seeing the expensive menu items they ordered.
To her surprise, he didn't show any such expression at all.
Wang Li thought,
"Perhaps he didn't look at the prices of these dishes and doesn't realize that I ordered something worth his one month's salary."
Liu Yong appeared calm and collected on the surface, but Wang Li could sense that he was perceptive and sharp-minded.
"Sister, I just made 20 million bucks. Why should I worry about such a small amount of money? Tens of millions of dollars is just a drop in the bucket," Liu Yong remarked after Wang Li had finished ordering.
He then asked the waiter, "What is your signature dish? I want to try the most delicious one."
As Wang Li had suspected, the most delicious dishes on the menu tended to be the most expensive.
The waiter responded, "Our restaurant's signature dishes are all highly regarded by customers for their taste. However, I would recommend trying our golden bird's nest, which not only tastes great but also has a beneficial effect on women's skin."
Liu Yong's gaze shifted toward the menu, and he noticed the golden bird's nest price - almost 2,000 yuan per cup.
"Alright, let's order three cups," he said hesitantly.
Wang Li's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this.
She knew the exorbitant price of the golden bird's nest - a few sips from a small cup could cost almost 2,000 yuan. It was a costly delicacy.
Wang Li couldn't help but look at Liu Yong with surprise, wondering if he was pretending to be wealthy or genuinely affluent.
She thought, "Based on what Lele told me, Liu Yong comes from a rural background and has only been working for a little over a year after graduating from university. It's highly unlikely that he has a lot of money. Why did he casually order the expensive golden bird's nest without batting an eye?"
Wang Li felt a sense of frustration creeping up on her.
She had suggested coming to this restaurant precisely because she knew it was expensive and wanted to test Liu Yong's financial situation.
She observed his behavior closely to determine Liu Yong's financial status, generosity, and genuine interest in Lele. Having encountered men who proposed splitting the bill during a date, only to disappear with an excuse and block all communication afterward, she hoped that Liu Yong would be different.
The thought of being left with the bill was daunting, as neither she nor Lele had enough money to cover the expenses. It would be a miserable situation for them both.
As Wang Li pondered their situation, a tinge of regret crept into her mind. She also remained vigilant, making sure that Liu Yong wouldn't escape.
As they sat down and Liu Yong ordered three cups of gold medal bird's nest, he asked Li Changle what she wanted to drink. Li Changle replied, "Anything is fine."
Wang Li thought, "Oh no, I should have ordered more just in case Liu Yong decides to leave soon. But I can't order any more now."
Wang Li suggested, "Liu Yong, we could simply have boiled water. We don't need to order anything."
However, Liu Yong smiled and replied, "How can we not order any drinks? I have decided that we will have red wine. It has low alcohol content and women can drink it too."
After speaking, Liu Yong shifted his attention to the waiter beside him and asked,
"What is the best red wine you have in your shop?"
The waiter responded, "We have Lafite and XO among our collection of red wines, which one would you like, sir?"
Liu Yong said, "In that case, let's have a bottle of Lafite."
Wang Li had wanted to intervene, but before she could say anything, the waiter left to retrieve the bottle of Lafite.
Shortly after, he returned with the bottle and asked,
"Sir, this is Lafite, priced at 12,800. Would you like to open it now?"
Liu Yong gestured for him to proceed, "Yes, let's open it. Pour each of us a glass."
As the waiter uncorked the bottle and poured the wine into tall glasses, Wang Li felt uneasy, fearing that Liu Yong might find an excuse to leave abruptly.
Having poured the wine, Liu Yong abruptly stood up and announced,
"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."
Wang Li's nerves spiked as she blurted out, "No, you can't go to the bathroom."
Li Changle looked at Wang Li in bewilderment, wondering what had come over her. But after a moment's pause, she calmly replied, "Yong, please go ahead. We'll wait for you here."
Liu Yong nodded in agreement and proceeded to the bathroom.
As Wang Li watched Liu Yong exit, her thoughts got consumed with apprehension.
"It's over, it's over," she fretted, "It costs between 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. Liu Yong must have slipped away this time."
Under her breath, Wang Li expressed her concerns to Li Changle, "Lele, what if your male companion doesn't return and we have to pay bill? I don't have enough money to cover it."
However, Li Changle remained unperturbed and responded with assurance,
"Don't worry, he'll be back soon."
The two ladies lifted the crimson wine to their lips and indulged in a sip.
After placing the wine glass back on the table, Wang Li's inquisitive nature took over as she asked,
"Liu Yong, you've struck it rich, haven't you? How much did you earn? A few thousand or tens of thousands?"
Liu Yong responded with a smile, "Just twenty million in US dollars."
What!
Initially, Wang Li felt astonished, but then her lips twitched with disbelief. She probably thought that Liu Yong must be kidding by boasting a twenty million US dollar fortune, as 2000 yuan is more plausible.
Liu Yong didn't need to explain and merely smiled in response.
Li Changle couldn't help but smile, knowing that Liu Yong's claim was genuine. The previous day, they had chatted on WeChat for quite a while, during which Liu Yong had mentioned that he retrieved Prince A's necklace and got rewarded with a whopping 20 million US dollars.
The merchandise at the store was top-notch, albeit a tad bit pricey.
The trio conversed and savored their food for roughly an hour. As Liu Yong didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave or disappear, Wang Li began to relax and relish the food with a newfound sense of ease.
Lifting the cup of bird's nest, he relished every bite and commended,
"Liu Yong, this is exceptional. I presume this must have cost you around 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. You might have exhausted your entire savings on this meal. If you run short of funds, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Lele and I will take care of the expenses."
Liu Yong chuckled.
He couldn't help but think that Lele's roommate and best friend were incredibly kind-hearted. He was genuinely concerned about Liu Yong's finances and the possibility of him being unable to afford future meals.
Li Changle couldn't help but smile, feeling content. She knew Liu Yong's financial status, and the cost of twenty to thirty thousand yuan didn't faze him.
Once the meal was over, Liu Yong paid the bill without any hesitation, and there didn't seem to be any pressure on him while doing so.
Wang Li was secretly taken aback by his generosity. Given the significant amount spent, she had expected Liu Yong to be under strain, but he seemed at ease while paying the bill.
With the meal and the expenses taken care of, it was still relatively early. Liu Yong asked,
"What should we do next? It's only a little past eight o'clock."
