Chapter 86

"Zhao Kan, I'll treat you to dinner tonight," Qin Lang said to Zhao Kan after school, "as a thank you for helping me with the business plan."

"Sure! I was just worrying about where to go tonight," Zhao Kan smiled, "I put a lot of effort into this business plan, so I'll have to pick a good place and give you a good treat!"

"Any restaurant in Xiaoyang City is fine," Qin Lang said generously. Recently, he had obtained a lot of ill-gotten gains from Sang Kun and An Desheng, so he was quite wealthy and could easily afford to treat someone to a meal.

"Really, how about 'Yipin Hall'?" Zhao Kan said jokingly.

"Sure!" Qin Lang said, "Let's go then."

"Are you serious?" Zhao Kan suddenly became serious, "Yipin Hall is a newly opened restaurant and it's the most upscale in Xiaoyang City!"

"I said it's fine!" Qin Lang affirmed again.

"Really?" Zhao Kan still seemed skeptical.

"Yes! Are you annoying me?" Qin Lang said impatiently.

"Fine! If you regret spending the money later, don't blame me for not warning you!" Zhao Kan huffed.

"I'm not that stingy," Qin Lang smiled slightly. The two of them left the school and called a taxi to the restaurant.

Actually, Qin Lang had two purposes for treating Zhao Kan to dinner. First, he genuinely wanted to thank Zhao Kan for the business plan. Second, Qin Lang wanted to have a serious talk with Zhao Kan to see if he was really interested in "starting a business" together. As the saying goes, "drunken words are sober thoughts," and Qin Lang believed that after a couple of drinks, he could hear Zhao Kan's true thoughts.

Don't underestimate Zhao Kan; even the perfectionist Luo Bin thought that Zhao Kan's business plan had many good points and was highly operational.

Soon after getting in the car, Qin Lang noticed that the taxi was heading straight for Sanjiang Green Island after crossing the bridge.

So, Qin Lang asked curiously, "Is Yipin Hall on Sanjiang Green Island?"

"Of course, Yipin Hall is actually the former Chunmei Bay, which has been converted into a restaurant. But the prices are not simple! You two must be here on someone else's dime, huh? You must have good taste," the taxi driver interjected.

"Indeed, someone is treating us!" Zhao Kan laughed, thinking about how Qin Lang would pay the bill later. However, if Qin Lang really couldn't pay, Zhao Kan would certainly cover it, as it was his father's money, and he wouldn't mind.

Soon, the taxi stopped in front of Yipin Hall.

Qin Lang saw that this place was indeed the former Chunmei Bay Club.

After renovation, it had become a high-end restaurant called "Yipin Hall." "Yipin" meant that it was the top choice in Xiaoyang City.

Sanjiang Green Island was originally the "rich area" of Xiaoyang City, and the former "Chunmei Bay Club" was also well-known. Therefore, the restaurant was very popular, and it was packed at the moment.

Qin Lang and Zhao Kan finally found a table in the hall. Zhao Kan picked up the menu and said with a mischievous smile, "Hey... brother, this is the place you let me choose, remember?"

"Alright, I know your little tricks. Just order what you like," Qin Lang said.

"Really or not?" Zhao Kan said, "Check the prices on the menu first."

Qin Lang looked at the menu and indeed, the dishes and drinks were very expensive, with prices that could be considered "five-star."

If it were in the past, Qin Lang would have backed down, but now he was wealthy and didn't worry about Zhao Kan eating him out of house and home. He smiled and said, "Order away, don't keep the waitress waiting."

"Then I won't be polite?"

"Hey, are you annoying me?" Qin Lang, to avoid Zhao Kan's hesitation, took out his wallet and pulled out a new credit card, "See this? I have a credit card, order whatever you like."

"Wow! A platinum card!" Zhao Kan exclaimed, "Kid, you're really something! My dad has one of these too, but he only got it this year, and you need over a million in savings to get one. He never lets me use it—hey, did you find this card?"

Seeing Qin Lang take out the platinum card, even the waitress's smile became more charming.

"Is it that easy to find? Why don't you try finding one for me?" Qin Lang rolled his eyes at Zhao Kan, "Stop talking nonsense and order the food!"

"Alright! I'll treat myself today—top-grade abalone, deep-sea lobster, and some hairy crabs... and a nourishing soup to heal my body and soul recently." Zhao Kan didn't hesitate at all.

"Zhao Kan, are you still hurt?" After ordering, Qin Lang said to Zhao Kan, "I have something to tell you—Zhou Lingling might be returning to school."

"What!" Zhao Kan was startled, his expression becoming complex, "Didn't I tell you not to mention her name in front of me?"

"Hey—your belly is big, but your heart is small," Qin Lang said, "Anyway, it's a fact that Zhou Lingling is returning to school. Her health has basically recovered, and she's preparing for the college entrance exam. Even if you have a bias against her, you don't have to react so strongly, right? Besides, what happened before wasn't her intention; she was a victim herself."

"I know... I just can't accept it right away," Zhao Kan sighed, "Anyway, when she returns to school, I'll pretend I don't know her, act as if she doesn't exist, and not affect or upset her. We'll just be strangers."

"As long as you think that way, I'm worried you might upset her again. You know, for her, returning to school to study takes a lot of courage."

Qin Lang stopped there and didn't delve deeper into the issue. He took the chilled beer the waitress brought, popped the cap, and poured a glass for Zhao Kan, "This glass is to thank you for helping me with the business plan. Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Zhao Kan clinked glasses with Qin Lang, then put down the glass and continued, "Actually, the biggest contributor to this was Luo Bin. I really admire Luo Bin this time. I used to look down on high-achieving students, thinking they were all book-smart but street-dumb. Luo Bin is different; she's truly capable!"

"I thought you wouldn't admit it," Qin Lang smiled and poured another glass for Zhao Kan, "Take this one slowly—Zhao Kan, I want to ask you, do you really have the heart to start a business?"

"Of course I do!" Zhao Kan quickly said, "I see things clearly. Why do we study and take exams? Isn't it to make money and get a wife? If I can start a business and make money earlier, why not? Although graduating from a good university is prestigious and enviable, university life is short, and in the future, what will people compare? Your income, assets, and even the number of women around you! Who will care about which university you attended or what scores you got?"

There's no denying that Zhao Kan was speaking the truth. In Qin Lang's view, if middle school teachers could explain these simple truths to students, fewer college graduates might face unemployment right after graduation.

"Alright, since you have this idea, I'll be straightforward—brother, I hope you'll help me!" Qin Lang sincerely invited Zhao Kan.