As the music ended, the entire concert hall stood and applauded.
Kael rose and bowed. The TV reporters who'd come for Han Leina instead filmed him nonstop.
After the concert, Second gave Kael endless thumbs-up, practically glowing with pride.
In his simple mind, having such an impressive friend made him look good in front of Lina.
But Lina was already looking at Kael with stars in her eyes.
The four went to dinner at White Oak French Restaurant—the most popular high-end spot in town.
The food wasn't necessarily amazing, but everyone bragged about eating there.
A shallow value, but Kael chose it anyway to make a good impression on Aurora.
He sat down and told the waiter: "Four people, standard set, no wine."
Second, who'd been nervously touching the 600 yuan in his pocket and staring at the fancy decor, immediately relaxed.
"Bro Kael, you got the concert tickets—this meal's on me!"
Lina praised him at once.
"Nice, Aisha. Learning fast. Mutual favors are how you get closer. You've grown up since coming to the big city."
Second just grinned stupidly at his crush.
He copied the others, holding a fork and knife, staring at the tiny portion of pasta.
He picked off the dark, round bits and tossed them aside, muttering that they looked moldy.
Kael and Aurora smiled silently.
Lina's face burned red with embarrassment.
"That's black truffle! That's the expensive part! Don't talk if you don't know!"
"Black truffle? Is it pricey?"
Lina rolled her eyes so hard she almost hurt herself.
Second just thought she looked even pretty when she rolled her eyes.
He giggled, ate the truffle, and frowned.
It really did taste moldy.
After Lila Hart sold the ten Lau tickets to a scalper, she got 5000 yuan.
She didn't care how much trouble Director Lu had gone through.
Her first stop: White Oak, to get her phone back.
And there she saw Kael, laughing with two stunning girls.
Even Lila had to admit they were beautiful—especially the soft-spoken one with long black hair and a gentle smile.
Her calm, elegant aura made Lila feel slightly inferior.
Watching Kael chat so easily with them, Lila froze.
She had almost forgotten:
Kael was excellent too.
Handsome, polite, smart, rich.
The kind of boy who could attract any girl with a single gesture.
"Miss? Miss!"
The waiter held out her phone.
Lila snapped back to her senses.
"Ah… yes."
She took her phone, dazed.
Just then Kael walked over to the counter.
"Check for my table, please."
"Four people, 588 set plus 10% service. Total: 2587."
"Card."
The cashier handed the card back.
Kael took it and walked straight to the bathroom.
Lila stood there, trembling slightly.
She couldn't believe it.
Kael hadn't even glanced at her.
Like she was a complete stranger.
When Kael returned to the table, everyone was nearly finished.
Second snapped his fingers loudly.
"Waiter!"
The server hurried over.
Second slapped down six hundred-yuan bills.
"Here."
The waiter lit up.
"Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!"
Second waved him away coolly.
"Go on."
He even bragged to the others.
"Nice, big restaurants—they even thank you when you pay. Cool."
When the group left, Second marched angrily to the counter.
"Hey! I just paid, but you didn't give me change! Did we really spend exactly 600? You could've said something!"
The cashier was confused.
"Which table, sir?"
Second told him.
"Sir, your table was already paid."
Second frowned. "Yeah, I paid! But where's my change?"
"600?" The cashier called over the waiter who'd taken the money. "Did you take cash from this gentleman?"
The waiter scratched his head. "The 600 yuan tip."
Tip?!
Before Second could react, the cashier explained:
"Your bill was 2587, paid by this gentleman. The 600 was just a tip."
Second stared blankly at Kael.
Kael laughed and told the staff it was just a misunderstanding, then led everyone out.
Once they were in the car, Lina was fuming.
"How embarrassing! What were you thinking, 600 yuan? I can't believe I came out with you! You made me look so stupid!"
Second shrank into the corner of the back seat.
He was still shocked that one meal cost so much.
He didn't dare mention his 600 anymore.
Lina wasn't done.
"Can you get more taste next time?! So embarrassing! If I'd known, I wouldn't have let you ask me out!"
Second hung his head, completely defeated.
"I've never been so embarrassed in my life…"
Lina opened her mouth to yell again.
"Enough."
Kael's voice was cold.
Lina didn't back down at once.
"But he was so embarrassing! Who does that in a French restaurant?!"
Screech—
Kael slammed on the brakes and pulled over.
His eyes were sharp as he stared at her through the rearview mirror.
"If you're embarrassed, you should apologize for your friend—not keep insulting him in the car."
Aurora's opinion of Kael rose another notch.
Girls like her and Lina were chased nonstop at school.
Guys tiptoed around them, terrified of upsetting them.
No one had ever corrected her like this.
Lina opened her mouth to argue… then saw the cold look in Kael's eyes.
She clamped her mouth shut, turned her head, and pouted.
Part of her hated being scolded… but another part couldn't stop thinking about what he'd said.
Kael took the blame.
"It's my fault. I didn't explain the price clearly. That's why the misunderstanding happened."
Aurora backed him up.
"It's just a small mistake. Don't worry about it."
Second looked up hopefully.
"Bro… I said I'd treat. I'll pay you back little by little."
"I brought you here, so I should pay. Next time you can treat us to something near campus."
He started the car again.
Aurora glanced at Kael thoughtfully.
She understood what he really meant.
The campus restaurants were nothing like White Oak.
He was letting Second save face.
A tiny, quiet smile curved her lips.
This man really knew how to protect people's pride.
That evening, Lila sat alone in a bar, drinking glass after glass.
Her beauty drew every man's gaze.
A man in a casual suit strolled over—well-groomed, styled hair, trimmed beard.
He looked like an elite.
In reality, he was a gigolo.
He could smell the youth and heartbreak on her.
"Hi, John. Give the lady an Arctic Shortcut, on me."
Lila leaned on the bar, eyes hazy.
She didn't even look at him.
"Get lost."
The man's eyes glinted.
He wasn't leaving.
"I'm the CEO of Joyful Group. My name is Quinlan, but you can call me Haoxuan. What's your name?"
Back then, girls were crazy about Taiwanese dramas.
They fell hard for "CEO" lines and English names.
This trick worked on countless girls.
But Lila didn't hear a word.
Her head was filled with one image:
Kael paying his bill, walking right past her…
Without even one glance.