Starting Check-in Reward: Tomson Riviera

"Okay, we’ll have the salmon sashimi, the sweet shrimp sashimi, the grilled fish set, and this grilled beef tongue set as well."

Ye Ling then looked at the server and said, "We’ll order more later if we’re still hungry."

As a rule, izakayas offer a variety of grilled, fried, and simmered dishes to accompany drinks.

Simmered dishes are self-explanatory—things like oden. Fried items are generally deep-fried and might be a bit high in calories.

Grilled items are similar to barbecue. However, unlike barbecue, they aren’t typically served with a heavy sauce. Instead, they’re usually seasoned with just a bit of salt, allowing you to enjoy the food’s natural, savory flavor.

He remembered Ning Ruoxi had mentioned wanting to lose weight, which is why he’d ordered grilled items. ’Lower in calories, right?’

’Uh...’

’Maybe not that much lower.’

After all, most Japanese food nowadays, especially what’s entered the Xia Country market, has been adjusted to cater to local tastes. It’s not that light anymore.

’If she really wants to lose weight, she should just eat boiled seafood, shouldn’t she?’

"Yes, sir."

The server nodded, took the menu, and left to put in their order.

"How about a movie after we eat?"

Ye Ling asked, turning to Ning Ruoxi.

"Okay!"

Ning Ruoxi readily nodded.

’Come to think of it, it really has been a while since she’d gone to the movies with Ye Ling.’

"So, you’re not going home tonight?"

Ye Ling asked casually.

"You’re thinking naughty thoughts again!"

Ning Ruoxi’s cheeks flushed as she shot Ye Ling a glare. "We’re going home right after the movie."

"I was just kidding."

Ye Ling’s lips curled into a smirk as he reached out and pinched Ning Ruoxi’s cheek.

The sight of her blushing always made his heart skip a beat.

As the two chatted casually, the sky outside gradually darkened.

"You know, before, whenever I looked at this bustling city, I would feel a sense of loneliness. The brighter the lights, the more empty and lonely I felt."

Ning Ruoxi gazed out at the skyscrapers, their lights already twinkling in the dusk. A moment later, her eyes shifted back to Ye Ling.

"But now, it’s completely different. Because I have you."

Some say, "In a world of earthly splendor, I wander alone."

But now, Ning Ruoxi wanted to say, ’In a world of earthly splendor, I’ll wander with you!’

"Me too."

Ye Ling couldn’t help but pull Ning Ruoxi into his arms. A faint smile touched his lips as he gazed at the bustling cityscape, his thoughts drifting.

This feeling was truly different from when he was alone.

He used to feel a sense of loneliness too. No matter how bustling or lively it was, he still felt alone. He was adrift, with nowhere to put down roots.

But now, he realized he had finally put down roots. He had a home in this city, a place to belong. That place was Ning Ruoxi.

Just as the two were lost in thought while gazing out the window, the server returned with their food. First came two draft beers, followed by the sashimi.

As for the grilled items, they were still being prepared in the back.

"Try some," Ye Ling said with a small laugh. "He Jian and the others said it’s pretty good."

"Mm."

Ning Ruoxi nodded, dipped a piece of salmon sashimi in the sauce, and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully.

"It’s delicious. You try some too."

With that, Ning Ruoxi picked up another piece of salmon, dipped it in the sauce, and brought it to Ye Ling’s lips, asking expectantly, "How is it?"

"Mm, very good."

Ye Ling tasted it and nodded.

This izakaya was indeed quite authentic, not much different from the ones he’d eaten at in East Asia.

Ye Ling and Ning Ruoxi then tried the sweet shrimp sashimi. It wasn’t quite as good as the salmon, but it was still perfectly acceptable.

Just then, the grilled items arrived. He had to admit, even without a heavy sauce, the flavor was excellent. You could clearly taste the natural, savory quality of the ingredients.

After finishing their meal, it was around four or five o’clock. The two went to see a movie and then headed home.

Since he’d been drinking, Ye Ling didn’t drive. He left the car at the International Finance Center. He rarely drove the Pagani anyway; he’d just have Zhu Yun pick it up later.

Back home, Ye Ling opened WeChat.

’Release all of the information tonight, including the details on the foreign intervention.’

The information in question was, of course, the intel they had previously gathered on Bauhinia Energy’s collusion with foreign powers.

The Xia Country Government hadn’t intervened this time, likely because Bauhinia Energy was a major player in the domestic new energy sector, and they were inclined to let them off the hook.

But what the Jiang Family had done this time was simply too outrageous. Ye Ling had no intention of letting it slide.

Once this information went public, even if the Xia Country Government wanted to protect Bauhinia Energy, they would have no choice but to get involved!

Because this matter now touched upon national interests.

While Xia Country’s new energy development currently lagged behind other nations, it had achieved some core breakthroughs. If the Jiang Family had shared that technology with foreign powers, then things would get serious!

Therefore, the Xia Country government would definitely take action. At the very least, Bauhinia Energy could no longer remain under the Jiang Family’s control.

In short, the Jiang Family was finished this time!

’Understood!’ Zhu Yun replied quickly. She had already thought through the preparations and was just waiting for Ye Ling’s command.

The Jiang Family might be one of the capital’s eight great families, but after a scandal this big, they were bound to be finished.

A moment later, Zhu Yun sent another message: "Chairman Ye, should we..."

’No. Fleecing them once was enough.’

Ye Ling knew exactly what she was suggesting. She wanted to fleece them again like they had before, but he refused.

’The Xia Country Government is sure to intervene this time, so it’s hard to say if we’d profit by getting involved.’

’Besides, Shengding Group already made a huge profit from fleecing them before. Plenty of other powers probably noticed, but they didn’t interfere.’

’Take the other seven great families in the capital, for instance. You think they didn’t hear anything?’

’Of course they did.’

’They didn’t make a move because Shengding Group pulled it off through its own capabilities, and more importantly, it didn’t affect their interests.’

’But this is different. When this news breaks, the Jiang Family is guaranteed to fall, and those other families will absolutely want a piece of the pie.’

’So what happens if Shengding Group gets involved again?’

’Heh. The pie is only so big. Every extra person who wants a slice means less for everyone else. Even if Shengding Group could get the jump on them and carve out a piece, we’d get a bad reputation for being greedy.’

’After all, Shengding Group has already made a 400 million profit from this. That’s not a small sum!’