Chapter 55: An Invitation from Young Lady Lin Meihua

After two weeks of intense cultivation, Yu Liang finally stepped outside his room at the Moonlight Inn. The morning air felt different, fresher somehow, though that was likely just his enhanced senses making everything more vivid.

His body had adjusted to the Iron Marrow refinement, and the constant practice had had made him impatient for actual interaction.

He have been completely cut off from the outside world, focused entirely on cultivation. Now it was time to see how the restaurant preparations were progressing.

Yu Liang made his way through the morning streets toward the building they had purchased. The city was alive with its usual energy, merchants opening shops, cultivators heading toward their work.

The building appeared as he turned the corner. It was a three story building whose exterior had been freshly cleaned and was shining brightly under the sunshine. New tiles covered the roof, their dark color contrasting beautifully with the pale walls. Workers moved in and out, carrying materials and tools.

Lin Meihua stood outside, speaking with a craftsman while reviewing a scroll. She was dressed in her working robes with simple green fabric that allowed easy movement, her hair tied back casually. When she glanced up and saw Yu Liang approaching, her face brightened.

"Finally decided to show your face?" she teased while glancing at him. "I was starting to wonder if you had forgotten about us."

Yu Liang smiled. "I got a little carried away with cultivation. How are things going here?"

"See for yourself." She gestured toward the entrance. "Come inside."

The transformation was remarkable. The main floor’s old interior had been removed and rebuilt completely. High ceilings opened the space, supported by polished wooden beams. The walls were smooth plaster, painted in warm colors that would look pleasing under lantern light. Windows had been enlarged, allowing natural light to flood the room during the day.

"The formation specialists finished the temperature control arrays yesterday," Lin Meihua said, walking through the space. "The kitchen will maintain perfect conditions no matter how many dishes are being prepared at the same time."

Yu Liang slowly scanned the room, observing the formations that were made on the walls and under his feet. All the formations had been laid out neatly without anything excessive. Clearly, the formation masters knew what they were doing.

They climbed to the second floor, where private dining rooms were taking shape. Each room had sliding doors that could be closed for privacy, with smaller formations providing sound concealment.

"These rooms can accommodate groups of six to ten," Lin Meihua explained. "Perfect for family gatherings or business meetings."

The third floor was still being finished, but the structure was already taking shape.

"This is storage space and office area," she added. "Master Chen wanted direct access to the ingredient storage, and we considered that while planning the design."

They returned to the main floor, where Lin Meihua pulled out a ledger.

"I need to show you the expenses."

Yu Liang glanced at the numbers. Everything looked reasonable, craftsmen wages, materials, formation costs. Then he noticed something odd.

"The kitchen equipment budget," he said, pointing to one line. "This is lower than what we discussed."

Meihua Lin adjusted herself a little. "I have managed to locate a supplier who is willing to give us a discount. Same quality, just cheaper because of our family connections."

Yu Liang’s eyes narrowed. "What kind of discount?"

"Thirty percent. I thought—"

"You compromised on quality to save money."

"No," she said quickly. "The quality is identical. I verified it personally. But the equipment is from a smaller workshop rather than the established manufacturer we originally planned to use. The craftsmanship is just as good, I promise."

Yu Liang was quiet for a moment, studying the ledger more carefully. Then he looked at her directly.

"Lin Meihua, I appreciate you trying to manage costs. But I told you from the beginning that this restaurant is about quality above everything else. If we need the best equipment, we buy the best equipment. The money isn’t the issue."

She opened her mouth to respond, but he continued.

"I understand you’re used to running businesses where profit margins matter, where every saved spiritual stone improves the bottom line. But I didn’t invest in this restaurant to pinch coins. I invested because I want to create something exceptional."

He gestured around the room.

"Everything we’ve done so far has been about quality. The formations, the materials, Master Chen’s salary. Why would we compromise on kitchen equipment?"

Lin Meihua’s expression shifted from defensive to thoughtful.

"You’re right. I was thinking like a merchant instead of remembering our vision."

Yu Liang inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. ’Finally, I convinced her.’

He hadn’t been entirely sure it would work. The quality was the same either way, but a reputable brand means a higher price and higher price meant higher profits, and Yu Liang was certainly not going to complain about earning more.

"Change the order," Yu Liang said. "Get the original equipment we planned for. And add an extra fifty thousand mid grade spiritual stones to the kitchen budget. I want Master Chen to have everything he might need, even items we haven’t thought of yet."

Her eyes widened. "Fifty thousand extra?"

"Consider it insurance against future regrets." His voice softened slightly. "Don’t try to save my money, Meihua. I have enough. What I don’t have is a second chance to make the restaurant’s opening perfect."

She was quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly. A faint blush touched her cheeks, and a small smile appeared. Being called by her nickname seemed to catch her off guard.

"You know, most business partners would have praised me for finding savings."

"Most business partners don’t understand that cutting corners always costs more in the long run."

Lin Meihua laughed. "I’m learning that you’re not like most people in general."

"Is that a problem?"

"No." Her smile widened. "It’s actually... refreshing. Most people worry about how much they’re spending. You seem more concerned about getting things right and not spending enough."

They spent the next hour walking through the rest of the building, discussing final details. Master Chen arrived midway through, and they reviewed kitchen layouts together. His excitement was written all over his face as he examined the space, already planning workflow and station arrangements.

When Master Chen left to meet with suppliers, Yu Liang and Lin Meihua found themselves standing in the empty main dining hall. Afternoon light streamed through the windows, illuminating dust motes in the air.

"Two more months," Lin Meihua said quietly. "Then we can open."

"Are you nervous?"

"Terrified," she admitted. "But also excited. This is the first thing I’ve built that’s truly mine... well, ours. My brother and sister have been helping where they can, but they’ve left the decisions to me."

She turned to face him.

"Thank you for trusting me with this. I know you could have done it alone."

"I could have spent the money on myself," Yu Liang corrected. "But building something like this? Money alone isn’t enough."

Lin Meihua’s expression softened. She held hee gaze for a moment before looking away, a faint smile remaining on her lips. After weeks of working together even though he was in seclusion, moments like this no longer felt quite as unfamiliar.

"Have you eaten?" she asked suddenly out of nowhere.

"There’s a tea house nearby. The food is good, and it’s usually quiet." She paused, then glanced at him. "Would you like to join me?"

Yu Liang smiled. "Oh? Inviting me out now, Young Lady?"

Lin Meihua rolled her eyes. "Are you coming or not?"

"Of course. Lead the way."

They left the building together and headed toward the tea house. Lin Meihua pointed out a few shops along the way, while Yu Liang listened, occasionally asking about something that caught his attention.

At some point, Lin Meihua’s hand brushed against his as they walked. Neither of them moved away immediately.

She glanced at their hands, then quickly looked ahead again. Yu Liang noticed but said nothing. A faint smile appeared on his face.

By the time they reached the tea house, the conversation had already moved far beyond the restaurant.