Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten-Chapter 363: Evening Dress

Hualan Restaurant was an upscale dining spot near the city center, known for its expensive dishes, luxurious decor, and long reservation times.

Rumor had it that all the ingredients were flown in fresh from around the world.

The seventh floor of the restaurant was the most premium and expensive area. It was said that diners on that floor could enjoy the most glamorous night view of the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Many wealthy patrons came just for that experience.

While on the way there, the driver explained all this to Lin Zhengran.

After getting out of the car, a uniformed staff member quickly came to greet him.

Most patrons here had chauffeurs, but there were also plenty of wealthy people who showed up in taxis or even on bicycles. No one dared to make assumptions or act disrespectfully.

“Good evening, sir. Are you here for dinner? Do you have a reservation?”

Lin Zhengran gave a simple nod. “Yes. I’m here to dine. The name’s Lin.”

“Mr. Lin! Please follow me.”

Once the staff heard the surname, they led him to the elevator. When he saw the employee press the button for the seventh floor, Lin Zhengran realized Jiang Qian must’ve spent quite a bit tonight—it lined up with what the driver said earlier.

“Sorry if I’m being nosy, but the taxi driver told me it takes at least three days to reserve a spot here. Is that true?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Our restaurant’s been open for over a decade, and thanks to our patrons, business has always been good. With high demand, reservations are a must.”

But Lin had only confirmed this dinner with Jiang Qian this morning—there was no way she had time to reserve anything...

“What if someone wants to skip the reservation process?”

The staffer smiled. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. We don’t make exceptions—it would create too much chaos. However, if someone with a reservation cancels last-minute, it’s possible to take over their spot through a private arrangement.”

“I see. Makes sense.”

When they reached the seventh floor, the elevator doors opened, and the staff led Lin Zhengran to the largest private dining room in the center.

The employee gestured politely. “Please, this way.”

By the door stood a beautiful female attendant, half-bowing. Every private room entrance had one.

It was a one-attendant-per-room custom service model.

“Good evening, sir. I’ll be your attendant for this room. I’ll wait right outside. If you need anything during or before your meal, just call me anytime.”

Lin Zhengran slowly pushed the door open. The private room was spacious, bright, and elegantly decorated.

The decor matched the restaurant’s grand hall—art pieces, paintings, and floral arrangements adorned the space. Though the place was made for dining, the dining table itself wasn’t particularly large. However, its clever placement made the setting feel harmonious rather than overwhelmed. It was comfortable to the eye.

One wall of the room was a massive floor-to-ceiling window, offering a panoramic view of the city below.

And standing by that window was Jiang Qian, dressed in a sleek black evening gown.

Her outfit wasn’t overly extravagant—on the simpler side for evening wear—but that minimalism, paired with her cold, elegant expression, made her look all the more graceful and beautiful. The gown perfectly complemented her figure and features.

Her youthful, delicate profile faced the window. When she heard the door open, she turned around, her cool gaze meeting Lin Zhengran’s at the doorway.

“You’re here,” she said calmly.

Lin Zhengran had expected Jiang Qian to dress up tonight, but this level of formality still caught him off guard.

He walked forward as the staff closed the private room door behind him.

“I actually changed into something nicer for this,” he said in his casual outfit. “If I’d known, I would’ve worn a suit.”

Jiang Qian turned, the click of her heels echoing softly. “You look great just like this. No need for a suit—it’s just a casual dinner.”

Lin Zhengran looked her over and smiled. “Doesn’t seem all that casual to me. You even put on an evening gown.”

Jiang Qian remained composed. “Well, I wanted to show you my best side. Make a good impression.”

She walked over to the table. “Let’s sit down.”

Lin Zhengran nodded, complimenting her, “You really do look stunning tonight.”

Jiang Qian paused, hand on her chair, cheeks tinged pink. “Thanks... That one sentence made the whole outfit worth it.”

Lin Zhengran smiled and took his seat with her.

Before sitting, he asked curiously, “Those heels look great on you. Do you wear them often?” freёwebnoѵel.com

Jiang Qian stared at him. “Not really. Sometimes, when I go to important events with my sister.”

“I see. Figures—it suits you. Your posture, presence—nearly flawless. You in that dress look like a completely different person from how you are at school.”

“My sister’s the same. After our family business took off, our parents didn’t want us to embarrass the family name. So we’ve studied etiquette all these years. Eventually, we got used to it.”

“That sounds tough. Still, Jingshi also carries herself like you when she’s at the company.”

Then Jiang Qian noticed the four bracelets on Lin Zhengran’s wrist.

Especially the one from her sister—made from a bra strap, no less...

Jiang Qian frowned slightly. It was practically a warning. But she didn’t let it get to her.

In the past twenty years, she’d never lost to anyone—especially not her sister.

“Let’s eat,” she said.

“Sure.”

She called the attendant, and soon the dishes were served one after another.

There was red wine as well. Lin Zhengran watched the wine being poured and clinked glasses with Jiang Qian.

The dinner was peaceful. Jiang Qian didn’t say much—her personality didn’t lend itself to chatter.

Lin Zhengran also didn’t speak much. With food this good, he just wanted to enjoy it quietly.

It wasn’t until they were almost finished that Jiang Qian finally put down her utensils and brought up something unexpected.

“Lin Zhengran, recently there’s been a new company rising fast in Yongquan City near us. They’re called Xiyao Entertainment. Their business is similar to ours—they cleverly blended elements of both Jiang Corporation and Zhengshi Company to create a unique in-house production line.

At first, I thought they were just copycats, but they’re gaining traction quickly and seem very capable.”

She looked up. “They’re not half as big as either of our companies yet, but their growth is terrifying. We can’t ignore them.”

Lin Zhengran knew Jiang Qian wouldn’t bring this up without reason.

“Go on.”

Jiang Qian set down her utensils.

“The company’s current deputy director—the one representing them publicly—is named Zhang Yang. But for some reason, my people couldn’t find any background info on him. All we know is that he’s around 27 or 28. I have a bad feeling about this. You and my sister should be careful.”

Lin Zhengran nodded, smiling. “Got it. But if Zhang Yang is the deputy, who’s the boss?”

“No idea. All I could find was that it’s a woman. But just like Zhang Yang, her background is a blank slate. What I do know is that she’s supposedly a jack-of-all-trades. In the early days of Xiyao Entertainment, she personally trained a whole batch of elite mid-level managers. She’s good at live streaming, sports, music—you name it.”

Those three keywords caught Lin Zhengran’s attention. He took another bite and said,

“Then they’re doing exactly what Zhengshi Company is doing. Do they have hostile intentions toward us?”

“Not exactly. Even though their business overlaps with ours, for some reason, they’ve been deliberately avoiding direct conflict with us. That’s what feels off—and why I only just noticed them now.”

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