Chapter 1131: Chapter 1131 A Gift of Thanks
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Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The next morning, Lu Yu stretched languidly on his apartment balcony, the cool morning air invigorating him. After a quick wash-up, he headed for the door, ready to grab some breakfast.
As he opened the door, he was surprised to see Zhang Kai waiting expectantly outside.
“You’re looking for me?” Lu Yu inquired.
“Of course! You were a huge help yesterday, and I wanted to express my grat.i.tude properly,” Zhang Kai declared.
“That so? How do you plan to thank me?” Lu Yu asked, curious.
Zhang Kai beamed and pulled out a ring. “Look! What do you think of this?”
Lu Yu eyed the ring. “Are you proposing?” he teased with a chuckle.
“No, no, no! This is a very valuable Jade s.p.a.ce Ring!” Zhang Kai clarified. “It can hold a whole thousand cubic meters of s.p.a.ce!”
“I noticed you weren’t wearing any rings, and I figured you might not have any spatial equipment. So, I thought I’d help you out a little.”
He nudged Lu Yu playfully. “So, what do you think? Isn’t it amazing? Not only is it beautiful, but it’s incredibly s.p.a.cious! Come on, let me put it on for you.”
Lu Yu appreciated the gesture but politely declined. “Thanks for thinking of me, but I actually have a better spatial accessory.”
“Really? Bigger than this one? How much bigger? Double? Triple?” Zhang Kai asked, intrigued. The Jade s.p.a.ce Ring on his finger held the most s.p.a.ce he’d ever encountered.
“Mine has unlimited s.p.a.ce,” Lu Yu revealed casually.
“Unlimited?” Zhang Kai’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “A ring with unlimited capacity? That’s unheard of!”
Lu Yu pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. “This is it.”
Zhang Kai leaned in for a closer look and let out a sigh. “Big Brother Lu, you sure have a lot of hidden treasures. My ring suddenly seems insignificant in comparison.”
“No worries,” Lu Yu replied dismissively. “Keep it, you can play around with it. I’m off to grab some breakfast.”
He turned and headed down the corridor towards the cafeteria.
Halfway there, a voice stopped him. “Deputy Mayor Lu, why don’t we eat together in the cafeteria? There’s no need to dine with the employees, it’s beneath your status,” Zhang Kai chuckled, accompanied by a light shove on Lu Yu’s arm.
“Alright, alright,” Lu Yu conceded. “I’ll just head to the restaurant then.”
Suddenly, a young woman approached, pointing at Lu Yu. “Zhang Kai, why can he eat at the restaurant when we’re stuck in the cafeteria? It’s not fair!” she complained.
“Is he your cousin?” She pressed, her status as a manager giving her a sense of authority.
“He’s not related,” Zhang Kai clarified, “but he deserves to eat at high-end restaurants because…”
“Because he’s a hero of Black Gold City!” he declared proudly.
The young woman narrowed her eyes skeptically. “A city hero? What did he do? Save the world?”
“It happened outside the city,” Zhang Kai explained. “Remember the recent issue with the rampaging dragons?”
“You’re not telling me… he drove them away?” she gasped.
“Even better! He wiped them out completely!” Zhang Kai boasted.
The young woman took a deep breath, her skepticism replaced with awe. “Wow, that’s… impressive.”
“Yeah, and I’m bringing it up at the meeting this morning. Just you wait,” Zhang Kai added.
Realizing her mistake, the young woman quickly bowed to Lu Yu in apology. “I apologize, sir. I was unaware of your contributions. Thank you for saving our city.”
Lu Yu waved his dismissive hand and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just going to grab breakfast first. No need for a meeting or anything.”
He continued his stride towards the dining hall.
“But skipping the meeting doesn’t seem ideal, right?” Zhang Kai pressed, confused.
“Like I said yesterday,” Lu Yu reminded him, “even with my position, I have the freedom to choose what I do. Especially things I’m not interested in.”
“Absolutely, we support that!” Zhang Kai rea.s.sured him. “The key point is, attending the meeting and saying a few words could significantly boost your reputation in the city.”
“Also, I planned to have everyone from the department attend. It’s an important meeting after all.”
Lu Yu turned and fixed Zhang Kai with a look. “Really? From your explanation, this meeting sounds pretty important.”
“Yeah, quite important. Apparently, Zhao Qingya’s taking the lead on it.”
“Then here’s what we can do,” Lu Yu countered. “Just put a picture of me up there. Let them see my face.”
“And that’s it? No attendance?” Zhang Kai pressed, surprised.
“Why not?” Lu Yu countered with a disapproving frown. “I have other things on my agenda.”
“Fair enough,” Zhang Kai conceded. “If you’re busy, don’t force it. But is it something particularly bothersome? Maybe I can help.”
“Not bothersome at all,” Lu Yu a.s.sured him. “Just a casual stroll around the city, taking in the sights and local customs.”
“Just… sightseeing?” Zhang Kai echoed, bewildered.
Lu Yu offered a curt nod. “Is that a problem?”
“No, no problem at all,” Zhang Kai stammered, shrugging helplessly. He watched Lu Yu disappear into the opulent restaurant.
“What a curious guy,” Zhang Kai muttered to himself. “Skipping such an important meeting… everyone’s taking it so seriously, and he doesn’t seem to care in the slightest.”
With a helpless shrug, Zhang Kai turned and left.
Inside the luxurious restaurant, Lu Yu found a table and settled in. A waitress promptly appeared at his side.
“Sir, may I take your order?” she inquired, presenting him with a menu. The menu boasted a dazzling array of dishes, devoid of prices—a clear implication that patrons wouldn’t be burdened with bills.
“I’ll have a plate of roast meat, a gla.s.s of juice, and an omelet,” Lu Yu declared.
“Certainly, sir. Please wait a moment,” the waitress confirmed with a smile before departing.
“Last night sure took a lot out of me,” Lu Yu mumbled, referring to his flying escapades. “Need a good meal to recharge!”
A short while later, the waitress returned with a tray. But upon seeing the plate, Lu Yu’s jaw nearly hit the table.
The portion of roast meat was a mere half the size of his palm. It was accompanied by a smattering of delicate vegetables and a single, fried quail egg. The promised juice gla.s.s was emptied in one eager gulp.
“Where’s the rest of my order?” Lu Yu demanded, bewildered.
“Sir, everything you requested is right here,” the waitress explained politely.
“This… is it?” Lu Yu gestured incredulously at the meager spread.
“Yes, sir. We are a high-end establishment,” the waitress elaborated apologetically. “We prioritize using the freshest, most exquisite ingredients for our discerning guests. Naturally, the portions are smaller.”
“Alright, alright,” Lu Yu conceded with a sigh. “Just bring a few more servings. I’m famished.”
“Certainly, sir. I can bring you two more portions,” the waitress offered.
“Two?” Lu Yu scoffed. “Make it twenty! And don’t just stand there, get a move on!” He barked impatiently.
The bewildered waitress scurried away to fulfill his outlandish request. Plate after plate began to arrive, disappearing just as quickly as Lu Yu devoured them. The waitress kept refilling his table until a towering stack of plates reached a meter high—only then did Lu Yu finally declare himself satisfied.