After work, Su Mu texted Xu Yun, telling him to go to the restaurant on his own first.
She would pick up her friend and then head over.
At 7 PM, Li Jinshu was finally done with work and met up with Su Mu. Then they hailed a cab and headed for their destination.
In the car, Li Jinshu asked, "Susu, what's this business with your colleague?"
"I don't know. He didn't tell me."
"Is it a guy or a girl?"
"A guy."
"A guy?"
The moment she heard that, Li Jinshu perked up. "Don't tell me it's someone you like! This is the first time I've ever seen you put in this much effort and take the initiative."
"No, he's just a regular male colleague."
Su Mu explained, "We just get along pretty well outside of work, and he's helped me out a lot. It just so happened that you have a friend who's a lawyer, so I mentioned it."
"So, this colleague of yours... what's he look like? Is he rich?"
Li Jinshu suddenly exclaimed, "He's not one of those 'tall, rich, and handsome' types, is he? Are you interested? If not, set me up with him!"
"Don't be so dramatic."
Su Mu shot her a look and said irritably, "He is decent-looking, but his family background is probably a bit... lacking. He doesn't meet your standards for a partner."
"Forget it then."
As soon as Li Jinshu heard that, her interest evaporated. She shook her head. "If you're not even interested in him, why would I be?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Su Mu feigned anger. "Are you saying my standards are lower than yours, is that it?"
"No, no! I'm complimenting your taste! Only a man you've got your eye on is a truly good man."
Chatting casually, the two soon arrived at their destination: Northwest Lake.
After getting out of the car, Li Jinshu stared at the restaurant before them. "Susu, are you sure you got the right place? This is it?"
"This should be it. I think it's called Crane Garden."
Li Jinshu's eyes widened in surprise. "This is a super high-end restaurant! It's the final masterpiece of the 'Xianyun' series. I heard the construction alone cost over 28 million. This is not a place ordinary people can afford to eat at."
"Really?"
"Of course! I came here once before with a client."
Li Jinshu said, "If you want a decent meal here, the cost per person is in the thousands. Is this really a place your 'ordinary' colleague can afford?"
'That expensive?'
She honestly had no idea about this place.
Hearing what Li Jinshu said, she started to waver.
'Could I have really gotten the place wrong?'
"Alright."
'With their salaries, they could afford an occasional meal here, but who would be willing to spend that kind of money?'
The call connected quickly, and she put it on speaker.
Su Mu asked, "Hello, Xu Yun? Is the place you mentioned Crane Garden?"
"Yes, it is."
Over the phone, Xu Yun asked, "Sister Su, have you two arrived?"
"We're here. Right at the entrance."
"Great. I'll have a server come get you right away."
After they hung up, Li Jinshu said with a knowing look, "So it really is here. Your colleague is certainly particular. I'm almost embarrassed by how fancy this is."
"..." Su Mu was speechless.
'This guy... he's really been spending money like water lately.'
'First it was buying designer clothes, then buying coffee for everyone at the office every day, and now he's treating them to dinner at such an expensive place.'
'That little bit of money he's saved will probably be gone before he knows it.'
'Looks like I'll have to find some time to talk some sense into him.'
Soon, a server approached them.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Xu's friends?"
"Yes, we are."
"Hello. Please come with me."
The server said, "Mr. Xu is already waiting for you in an Ultra-VIP private room on the third floor."
"Ultra-VIP?"
Li Jinshu asked in astonishment, "You mean one of those private rooms you only have four of?"
"That's correct, ma'am."
Su Mu looked at Li Jinshu, confused. "What's an Ultra-VIP private room?"
"They're the four private dining rooms with the best location on the third floor. Not only is the view fantastic, but they also offer the best privacy. Most people can't even get up there."
Li Jinshu explained, "I heard that to reserve one of these rooms, the minimum charge is over 20,000."
"Twenty thousand..."
Su Mu could only think that Xu Yun had lost his mind.
'Who picks a place meant for business receptions just to have a simple meal?!'
Su Mu and Li Jinshu followed the server deeper into the restaurant.
The restaurant's Eastern-inspired decor looked incredibly luxurious.
The main dining hall was filled with people, and some women were busy taking photos to post online, making the atmosphere quite lively.
Once they reached the third floor, their surroundings immediately fell quiet.
The server stopped before the door of a private room and knocked. After hearing a response, he led the two women inside.
The view from here was even more enchanting than outside, like being in the middle of a misty Jiangnan landscape. It was the perfect place to dine while enjoying the scenery.
"Mr. Xu, your guests have arrived. Shall we begin serving now?"
"Yes, please."
Xu Yun looked at them, rising with a smile. "Sister Su, you and your friend please have a seat anywhere. Help yourselves to some tea. I've already ordered, and the food will be out shortly."
"Okay."
After Su Mu motioned for her friend to sit, the room fell quiet for a moment.
Li Jinshu studied Xu Yun with curiosity, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
'Decent-looking, average family background, a pretty ordinary male colleague?'
'What part of this is ordinary?'
'She was an avid reader of luxury fashion magazines.'
'Never mind anything else, just the outfit Xu Yun was wearing—the latest from Gucci's Spring/Summer collection—had to be worth over a hundred thousand, right?'
'If a guy like him isn't 'tall, rich, and handsome,' then who is?'
'That damn Susu, how dare she lie to me!'
Seeing that no one was talking, Xu Yun took the initiative and asked, "Sister Su, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
"This is Li Jinshu."
Su Mu snapped back to reality and continued the introduction. "She's my roommate and a good friend. She works as a designer at an interior design company."
"A top designer. It's a pleasure."
Xu Yun nodded politely to Li Jinshu and introduced himself. "I'm Xu Yun, a colleague of Sister Su's. Just a junior employee."
'Birds of a feather flock together.'
'As expected, talented and beautiful people surround themselves with other talented and beautiful people.'
Li Jinshu had a much more vivacious personality. She smiled and said, "Susu was telling me about you on the way over. Seeing you today, I can tell you really are very 'ordinary'."
"Sister Su has high standards."
Xu Yun said with a self-deprecating smile, "In her eyes, I'm sure I am quite ordinary."
"You've got a good sense of humor."
Li Jinshu suddenly asked, "So, do you have a thing for our Susu?"
"COUGH, COUGH."
Xu Yun hadn't expected her to ask such a direct question and choked on his tea.
"Well... Sister Su is the number one beauty at our company. Of course everyone likes her."
"Li Jinshu!"
Su Mu shot her a flustered, angry glare and whispered, "Can you please not spout nonsense?"
"Oh..." Li Jinshu mumbled.
'He's such a catch, of course she had to ask.'
'If he really was interested in Susu, she could play matchmaker. That way Susu wouldn't be so unbearably lonely at night.'
'And if he wasn't, well, she could give it a shot herself.'
'No sense in letting a prize like that go to a stranger!'