"It's nothing, nothing. But since you're here, why don't I join you for a meal and a stroll around? What do you say?"
Liang Yun had initially felt a pang of disappointment upon learning that Lin Fan was Jiang Xu's boyfriend.
However, with Sun Qian's subtle reminder, a flicker of hope ignited in Liang Yun's heart.
Lin Fan, this country boy, likely had little money. Stealing his girlfriend would be as easy as pie!
"This… this might not be appropriate?"
Jiang Xu felt a bit resistant. This person clearly had ulterior motives, and there might be unforeseen complications later.
Liang Yun, with a thick skin, chuckled, "It's my honor to meet a beauty like you."
Sun Qian, feeling a bit responsible for having set Liang Yun up, found it difficult to refuse.
Jiang Xu understood the situation and said no more.
The four of them proceeded to a restaurant and took a seat in a corner.
When ordering, Liang Yun was particularly gentlemanly, handing the menu to the two ladies.
"Ladies, please order whatever you like. I can eat anything."
Ladies first, and the two women naturally wouldn't be polite. They ordered four dishes and one soup.
Liang Yun then looked at Lin Fan, "You order a couple of dishes too."
Lin Fan waved his hand, "No need. I think these are enough."
Having been educated by Xia Xue, he had been accustomed to frugality since childhood.
Liang Yun, however, thought otherwise. Seeing Lin Fan not order any dishes, he felt a surge of smugness. This kid didn't order, clearly lacking taste!
In fact, ordering food involved a lot of finesse, requiring consideration for nutritional balance.
It was also a way to showcase one's knowledge.
This bumpkin clearly lacked such erudition, which only increased the success rate of snatching his girlfriend!
Liang Yun opened the menu, "The dishes the ladies ordered are very good, but they lack some appetizers. Let me order two cream chicken boxes for you. These are very famous Western appetizers."
"And they're even considered ladies' dishes, very delicious!"
"They were once the imperial cuisine for the French royal family, with a history of over three hundred years. When I was studying abroad in France..."
Liang Yun droned on, wanting to appear extremely learned.
However, Lin Fan was annoyed, and so was Jiang Xu.
Only Sun Qian was astonished, "You studied abroad in France? I thought you were in England?"
"Two years in England, two years in France. My personality demands more than just studying in one country. Going to more places to learn more knowledge is what a man should do."
"If one spends their entire life confined to a small place, wouldn't that make them a frog at the bottom of a well?"
"Without broader experience and awareness, one simply doesn't deserve to be called a man, let alone be with a beautiful woman!"
As Liang Yun spoke, he cast glances at Lin Fan, intentionally or unintentionally, clearly mocking him.
Lin Fan, however, didn't quite catch the implication. With his simple and kind nature, he didn't overthink things.
Yet, he noticed that Liang Yun harbored hostility towards him.
His gaze was not right!
Liang Yun continued to order, "Waiter, another plate of French foie gras. This is very nutritious and also very suitable for young ladies to eat."
Lin Fan couldn't help but interject, "Brother, isn't that too much? It'll be a waste if we can't finish it."
Liang Yun was unconcerned, "Waste it if we must. Someone will handle it anyway."
Lin Fan frowned. This guy clearly had never worked the land, never knew the sweat dripping from the plow into the soil during a midday harvest, and had no concept of cherishing food.
"Wasting is not good. We should order less."
Jiang Xu shared Lin Fan's sentiment.
Liang Yun's face flushed slightly, and he reluctantly said, "Alright, let's skip the foie gras then."
During the meal, he couldn't control his mouth either.
He constantly talked about his overseas study experiences and how wealthy his family was.
"During my studies abroad, I met many overseas Chinese who had settled down."
"I've always felt that while foreign countries have developed well, returning to build our own country is the right choice. Don't you agree?"
"My family offered me several hundred million to start a business, but I refused."
"One must earn money through their own efforts to be a true man!"
Liang Yun provocatively looked at Lin Fan, "Mr. Lin Fan, right? May I ask what kind of business you're in?"
"Me? I'm just a farmer, and I occasionally treat people's illnesses," Lin Fan replied truthfully.
"Farming must be very tough, right?"
Liang Yun's tone was sarcastic, clearly looking down on Lin Fan.
Lin Fan smiled faintly, "It used to be tough, but it's much better now."
Liang Yun chuckled, "Farming is always tough, whether it's a man plowing or an ox. Life must be very hard in places like yours, right?"
Lin Fan smiled, "Life in the countryside may seem simple, but everyone is actually living quite well. The food is green and healthy, lifespans are longer, and people are healthier."
"The city indeed has many good things, like high-tech mobile phones, computers, and luxury goods, but a person's life is about happiness. "
"Living in a crowded city or in a quiet countryside is entirely a matter of personal choice."
"I prefer peace and quiet, so I'm not considering living in the city."
Hearing Lin Fan say this, Sun Qian and Jiang Xu were stunned.
The two women hadn't expected him to possess such profound insights. His words were quite reasonable.
Liang Yun wore a dismissive smile, "You just lack the ability to establish yourself in the city. If you could earn a lot of money, you wouldn't say that."
Lin Fan remained unfazed. If the guy didn't believe him, so be it; he didn't need to explain.
After a long while, the four of them had eaten most of their meal, and indeed, quite a bit was left.
"Give me two minutes."
Lin Fan grinned, and then, like a whirlwind, he ate all the leftover food.
Liang Yun looked on with amusement, regarding Lin Fan as a beggar-like pauper.
He claimed he wouldn't waste food, but it was simply due to poverty!
Next, the four of them went to the commercial street.
Girls loved shopping, and Liang Yun chose a high-end mall.
The first floor housed clothing stores, the second floor had several milk tea shops and electronics stores.
As they reached the third floor, it was filled with cosmetics.
The two men and two women split up.
Liang Yun's gaze kept drifting towards Jiang Xu.
"Xiao Xue, how did you and your boyfriend meet?" Sun Qian asked curiously.
"I was volunteering as a teacher in the countryside. He lived in the village closest to the school, and that's how we met."
"The school used to be very dilapidated. He rebuilt it later, spending several million in total!"
Sun Qian initially hadn't had a great impression of Lin Fan, but upon hearing this, she gasped in astonishment.
"Several million?!"
Sun Qian turned back abruptly to look at Lin Fan, "Aren't you a farmer? Where did you get so much money?"
Lin Fan smiled mysteriously, "A wise person has their own ways."
Sun Qian was even more surprised, "Why did you use this money to build a school? Anyone else would definitely spend it on themselves, but you did this. You truly are the man Xiao Xue picked, so kind."
Liang Yun said with considerable annoyance, "A few million is nothing; it's merely a year's profit for my company."
No one paid him any mind.
In fact, Jiang Xu was already starting to dislike him.