Granting You a Second Life 132 Shrewd Minds

Ren Daiyu: "Is everything okay?"

Li Xiuying: "As expected."

Ren Daiyu: "I wish that those people would get banned from the restaurant and have their businesses destroyed."

Li Xiuying briefly glanced at Qilin before replying: "Unlikely."

Qilin: "Why do you think it's unlikely?"

Li Xiuying: "The owner is a shrewd businessman." She knew that he wouldn't exclude Li Yu Yan and her group of cronies from the restaurant because even though they were rejects, they were still from prominent families. Furthermore, their relationship could go sour and he would still have Li Yu Yan and Li Na in his pocket to use them against her if necessary.

Qilin smiled brightly at Li Xiuying's assessment. He thought to himself 'I am not the only one with a shrewd mind."

Yao Changying: "The waiter should be over with the deserts soon."

Li Xiuying: "What did you order?"

Yao Changying: "Everything."

Li Xiuying: "4th stomach for deserts."

Yao Changying: "Only on special occasions. My husband doesn't mind if I put on weight you see."

Ren Daiyu and Lai Shi-on: "You're married?!"

Lai Yongliang played with the ring on his index finger as he looked at his brother's panicked expression feeling amused.

Yao Changying: "Of course did you think that a catch like me would be unattached?"

Ren Daiyu: "Are you separated?"

Yao Changying: "No I see my life partner every day at work."

Ren Daiyu looked at Li Xiuying confused.

Li Xiuying: "Her career."

Yao Changying sulked: "Hey! Stop spoiling my fun."

Li Xiuying shrugged.

Lai Shi-on looked relieved that Yao Changying was only joking about her career.

The maître d: "Sorry to intrude, Your deserts."

The two waitresses placed the deserts in front of the women in a synchronized manner.

The maître d placed one desert in front of each of the men and 2 pots of tea in front of Qilin and Lai Yongliang respectively.

The waitress then made a spectacle of lighting an abnormally long match and ignited one of the deserts which were a crepe.

Maître d: "Please enjoy." He then led the waitresses away.

Yao Changying: " I'm so happy I took a day off work tomorrow. I'll need as long as I can to rest and digest."

Ren Daiyu said teasingly: "I've barely managed to get a forkful because of you."

Yao Changying: "It's my primal instincts."

Lai Yongliang: "Survival of the fittest."

Yao Changing pointed with her fork at Lai Yongliang: "He gets it."

Li Xiuying: "Hunter, Gatherer."

Ren Daiyu: "Base urges."

Lai Yongliang: "The will of a warrior."

Yao Changying nodded: "The way of the alpaca."

Everyone "..."

Ren Daiyu smiled in triumph: "You snooze you lose."

Yao Changying was mid-nod when she felt that something wasn't right. She looked in front of her and found a singular plate. She looked to the right; all the plates were now closer to Ren Daiyu. Everyone clearly diverted her attention as they moved the plates.

Yao Changying faced morphed from surprise to pride: "Well played."

Lai Shi-on looked over to his brother and was confused that Lai Yaongliang would join in with the banter. He was usually one to sit back and observe quietly. He hoped Lai Yongliang wasn't interested in Yao Changying.

Li Xiuying had a small smile on her face; she had picked amazing friends who knew exactly what she needed. She knew that they were trying to distract her from the situation with Chen Wei.

Li Xiuying spooned some Panna cotta that seemed to be calling her name in the voice of a siren. The Pannacotta had strawberry sauce dripping down the sides of a delectable creamy rounded cylinder.

Li Xiuying: "Mmm" The strawberry sauce was tangy and sweet. The Pana Cotta was smooth and the taste of vanilla although subtle kissed her tastebuds lightly.

Ren Daiyu and Yao Changying both dived into the pan cotta after seeing Li Xiuying's reaction.

Ren Daiyu and Yao Changying: "Mmm"

Lai Yongliang asked qilin: "Are the deserts that appetizing?" He had never been a fan of sweet desserts and had opted for the biscotti because it wasn't too sweet.

Qilin gloated: "Everything on the menu is appetizing."

Lai Yongliang: "It is my mistake for having asked the wrong person."

....

Chen Wei returned to his table with a wolfish glint in his eyes. He looked off into the distance as he thought about the day when Li Xiuying would submit.

Li Yu Yan: "Ge are you okay?"

Chen Wei looked at Li Yu Yan's concerned gaze: "I'm fine. Let's finish our meal. I have to go back to the hospital for an issue that's arisen so I won't be able to drop you home."

Li Yu Yan: "I'll take a taxi with Li Na. Is everything okay at the hospital? Do you have to leave immediately?"

Chen Wei: "It is a pressing matter but it's not urgent. I would like to spend some time with you before heading off."

Ling Qiu: "Bro can I get a lift to the hospital."

Chen Wei: "Sure."

Tseng Fei Hong: "YanYan I can drive you and Xiao Na home? I'm already dropping off Mo Chou."

Li Yu Yan: "No it's okay, that would mean you driving in the complete opposite direction. I don't want you to go out of your way."

Tseng Fei Hong was pleasantly surprised by Li Yu Yan's response. She wouldn't usually care about people going out of there way for her. Li Yu Yan would normally take advantage of anyone and just apologize whilst fluttering her eyes lashes and making puppy dog eyes.

Tseng Fei Hong asked out of courtesy: "Are you sure?"

Li Yu Yan: "Fei Fei don't worry. Li Na and I are traveling home together. Let's forget about any unpleasantness and enjoy the atmosphere and food."

Tseng Fei Hong: "Try some of my duck, the skin is crispy and the meat is not too gamey."

....

Lai Yongliang: "Dr Yao, Miss Ren, Dr Li I would like to take this opportunity to invite you all to a ball next month. I do not currently have any invitations with me." He had previously invited Li Xiuying when they had all visited Yuèliàng.

Yao Changying: "That sounds like fun. We'll have to check our rota's and get back to you." She gave a non-committal answer. She didn't know what the situation was with these 3 men and Li Xiuying.

Lai Yongliang: "I will have my secretary deliver them to you at your work." He didn't want to overstep by sending them to their homes.

Yao Changying: "Could you send all three invitations to Li Xiuying's office, please? It would be more convenient."

Lai Yongliang: "That will not be a problem."

The maître d' arrived by the table: "How was your meal this evening?"

Li Xiuying: "Good. Bill please."

Qilin: "The meal is on me to repent for my intrusion."

Li Xiuying: "I'll pay." Qilin had done her a favor by allowing her to have a reservation at 8 pm, she didn't want to owe anything more and she certainly didn't want to be friends with him.

Maître d': "Yes miss Li. If you make your way back to the entrance someone is waiting to take your payment. I hope we see you again in the future. Please accept these complimentary mints and complimentary tea to cleanse your pallets."

Lai Shi-on: "Thank you sis Xiuying."

Lai Yongliang: "Thank you, but I would not be a gentleman if I allowed someone from the fairer sex to pay for my meal especially since we were the ones to trespass."

Li Xiuying tone left no room for discussion: "I'll pay."

Ren Daiyu could feel that the situation becoming awkward: "YingYing is treating us today so all three of you are just lucky to have dined with us tonight. Perhaps if we meet again another time, you could treat us."

Lai Yongliang: "Ah then I will put it down to good luck."

Everyone poured some tea and enjoyed the decadent dark chocolate mints.

...

Chen Wei's table

Chen Wei checked the time: "I should be heading to the hospital now. I'll pay for tonight."

Everyone gushed around the table about how generous Chen Wei was.

They all stood to leave and walked to the entrance to pay.

Once they were in the foyer Li Yu Yan: "All of you can leave first. I've ordered a taxi and it should be here soon."

Li Yu Yan waited until everyone had left as she before speaking to Li Na: "I've found out what car she drives. Let's wait for Chen Wei and the rest to leave before we head out. I have a few things to say to our rebellious sister." Li Wang had been investigating Li Xiuying after he found that she was slumming it at Unity hospital. Li Wang also had recently arranged for some people to work at unity hospital they ranged from security guards to nurses to doctors.

Chapter end