How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 77

Yang Chen arrived at the restaurant at 6:40 PM, even though they had agreed to meet at 7 PM.

He waited, but an hour passed with no sign of Sun Xiaoxun.

*Damn*, he thought, *even if she’s busy with family, she should have some sense of time. Is my time not valuable? She could have just refused outright. What is she doing?*

Yang Chen, growing impatient, decided to call Sun Xiaoxun.

No answer after the first call.

Nor the second, third, or fourth…

Yang Chen considered giving up and going home for his aunt’s sweet and sour pork ribs and braised meatballs.

However, to show respect and explain to his aunt, he sent Sun Xiaoxun a message on WeChat as proof.

*It’s her who didn’t come, not me who didn’t show up.*

“Ms. Sun, if you’re busy, we can reschedule or tell our families we’re not a good match. If you can’t make it, I’ll head back first.”

Yang Chen got up to leave, but felt awkward about leaving so soon.

So, he ordered a steak to justify his presence.

*Otherwise, people might think I’m broke and just taking selfies to show off.*

He recalled the “fake socialite” groups exposed online, where women pooled money to buy afternoon tea at luxury hotels like the Bulgari, taking turns photographing it for social media.

*I’m not short on money; I can’t afford to lose face.*

Before Yang Chen’s steak arrived, Sun Xiaoxun replied.

“Sorry, my phone was charging. I’m on my way now. Did you leave?”

*Damn it!* They agreed to meet at 7 PM, and now it’s 7:40 PM, and she claims her phone was charging!

Yang Chen’s impression of her plummeted. He didn’t even want to spend money on her, even if he got a commission from the blind date.

“I already left. Don’t bother coming,” Yang Chen replied.

*Who doesn’t have a temper? Damn it!*

A moment later, Sun Xiaoxun replied again.

“Okay! Then I’ll tell my mom you had something come up and couldn’t make it, and *婉转ly* [wǎnzhuǎnlì: tactfully, indirectly] rejected me.”

*WTF?*

*His cousin was right about her. This Sun Xiaoxun is a scheming green tea b*tch [a derogatory term for a woman who uses manipulative tactics to get what she wants].*

*But, it doesn’t matter anymore. Whatever.*

After that, Yang Chen was promptly blacklisted by her.

“Damn it, I was blind last night. Why did I spend money on her? Crap!” Yang Chen muttered, blaming himself.

Since Sun Xiaoxun wasn’t coming, Yang Chen felt free to do as he pleased.

*Could he take out the sweet and sour pork ribs and braised meatballs his aunt made for him? If he waits until tomorrow, they won’t taste as good, and they won’t be as fresh.*

However, mindful of the high-end hotel, Yang Chen decided to respect its rules.

He waved down a waiter.

The waiter approached quickly. “Sir, how can I help you?”

“I was wondering if your chef could heat up some sweet and sour pork ribs and braised meatballs for me? I’m happy to pay a processing fee. Whatever’s reasonable, I’ll pay,” Yang Chen said sincerely.

Waiter: “Huh?”

The people who come here are all rich, or at least pretend to be.

They usually order more food than they can eat, take pictures, and post them on social media. This guy actually wants to heat up ribs and braised meatballs?

The request was unusual, but he offered to pay a processing fee, whatever they deemed reasonable.

*It seems like his request isn’t that excessive.*

However, a waiter couldn’t make such a decision.

She quickly fetched the manager.

After hearing the situation, the manager looked embarrassed.

Agreeing would be inappropriate.

But refusing wouldn’t be ideal either.

So, the manager could only smile awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

At the next table, guests began to laugh.

“Damn! We’ve got a real character here.”

“He thinks this is a roadside stall.”

“I’m dying of laughter. What a weirdo.”

“Such a high-end place, he’s turning it into a roadside stall. How disappointing.”

“If Bulgari starts offering hot food service, I’m never coming here again. It’s too degrading.”

“You’re overthinking it. How could such a high-end place offer such a service?”

…

Not just Bulgari, even Michelin three-star restaurants are in the business of making money.

*As long as the money’s right, why would they refuse?*

A bunch of people who come to check in and show off are being presumptuous.

Seeing the manager’s discomfort, Yang Chen explained, “I went to my aunt’s house for lunch, and she made too much of my favorite sweet and sour pork ribs and braised meatballs, so she asked me to bring them back. I was supposed to have a blind date, but she didn’t show. I’ve been sitting here for over an hour, and it would be embarrassing to leave without buying anything, so I ordered a steak. But I also thought that if I waited until tomorrow to eat these ribs and meatballs, they wouldn’t taste as good, and they wouldn’t be as healthy. I can’t throw them away because I really like them, and they’re from my aunt. So I wanted to ask your chef to heat them up. I know it’s a big ask, but I’m willing to pay a processing fee. Just name a reasonable price, and I’ll pay it. Is that okay?”

The manager quickly replied, “Sir, I’m sorry, it’s not about the processing fee. We don’t offer such a service, and we wouldn’t know how to charge you.”

Yang Chen thought for a moment and said, “How about this: I’ll take two bottles of Romanée-Conti [a very expensive and highly regarded wine]. I can’t drink while driving, so I’ll take them home. I don’t have any wine at home anyway. Can you ask your chef to heat it up then?”

At this, everyone turned to look at Yang Chen.

They had initially thought he was a bumpkin, but he turned out to be rich.

Hundreds of thousands of yuan for a bottle of wine, and he wants two.

*He’s not here to eat; he’s here to stock up.*

Others treat this place as a restaurant where they can take pictures and post them on social media, but he just treats it as a place to eat, no different from a roadside stall.

*If you go to a roadside stall and ask the owner to process a dish, will the owner refuse? Of course not!*

“Damn! I misjudged him.”

“He’s treating this place like a liquor store, coming to buy goods?”

“Goodness, hundreds of thousands of yuan for a bottle of wine, and he buys two at once. I’m curious, what kind of girl is going on a blind date with him, and she’s not coming?”

“That girl must be richer than him.”

“But he’s so handsome! So handsome and so rich, even if I were Jack Ma’s [a famous and wealthy Chinese businessman] own daughter, I would come to the blind date. He’s handsome and rich, even if he’s not as rich as me, so what? He’s handsome!”

“Damn! Hearing you say that, I also want to see who his blind date is. How excellent does she have to be to reject such a high-quality man?”

…

The manager quickly replied with a smile: “Oh, sir, you’re saying, Bulgari Hotel is committed to providing guests with the best and most comprehensive service. How could we not meet your requirements? Give me your things, and I’ll personally go to the kitchen and watch them heat them up for you and bring them up. Okay?”

*That’s not what he said just now.*

Yang Chen nodded, handed the containers to the manager, and then instructed: “Heat it up thoroughly. Also, pack the Romanée-Conti I want, and give it to me when I leave later. And my steak, cook it thoroughly for me; I can’t eat anything rare.”

“No problem! Sir, please wait a moment; I’ll arrange it for you right away,” the manager said very politely.

Yang Chen nodded with a smile, feeling much more at ease.

In fact, Yang Chen felt a little embarrassed asking them to heat up his food, but if money could solve it, he had nothing to be embarrassed about.

*He pays, and the hotel provides service. It’s fair.*

Just as he was waiting, an unfamiliar but familiar figure walked over.

Sun Xiaoxun entered, holding the arm of a bespectacled man in his thirties.

*She wasn’t charging her phone; she was probably being charged.*

“It’s a good thing I didn’t send her a photo; otherwise, it would be quite awkward,” Yang Chen thought.

*But! He didn’t send a photo, but that doesn’t mean his aunt didn’t send one!*

Sun Xiaoxun recognized Yang Chen at a glance and was immediately stunned.

*Damn! Does she recognize me? Could it be that my aunt sent her my photo?* Yang Chen wondered.

The man next to Sun Xiaoxun noticed something was wrong and asked with a smile, “What’s wrong? Your ex-boyfriend?”