Half a Notch Below

It was the same black Toyota Alphard from last night.

The driver stepped on the accelerator, swiftly bringing the group to a bustling street in Qinghai Bay.

Meng Wenzhou had reserved a table at a high-end seafood restaurant here in advance.

Stepping out of the car, Meng Wenzhou pointed at the restaurant nearby and smiled. "I come here often—their seafood is excellent. You’ll have to try it later."

Su Yang glanced up at the restaurant’s name: Germy, written in English.

The restaurant was a standalone building, predominantly styled in black and white.

Its entrance featured a spacious parking lot, giving off a minimalist yet sophisticated vibe—almost like a library at first glance.

The front door had no flashy decorations, just a glass door with the small English name "Germy" inscribed above it.

Inside, Su Yang noticed the interior followed the same monochrome theme.

Soft instrumental music played in the background, creating a subdued atmosphere that felt more like a post-meal lounge than a restaurant.

As soon as they entered, a waitress in a black bodycon dress uniform approached them with a warm smile.

"Young Master Meng, your private room is ready."

"No need for the private room. We’ll sit by the window on the second floor," Meng Wenzhou replied with a nod.

"Of course. Please follow me." The waitress gestured for them to follow her upstairs.

"Is this really a restaurant?" Su Yang couldn’t help but ask skeptically.

Meng Wenzhou turned and chuckled. "Don’t let the quiet fool you—it’s just not open for business yet."

"What do you mean?"

"They usually start serving at 4 PM, and it gets packed."

"Then why are we here?"

Meng Wenzhou smirked but didn’t answer.

Liu Bo chimed in, "Bro, have you forgotten who Meng Wenzhou is?"

"Oh, right! Hahaha, my bad—it didn’t even cross my mind." Su Yang laughed, tapping his forehead.

"Show-off," Pan Ning muttered under her breath.

Meng Wenzhou shot her a sidelong glare but held his tongue—after all, he’d been bullied by Pan Ning since childhood.

Though they weren’t blood-related, their bond was closer than most siblings.

Meng Wenzhou’s actual sister, Meng Qianyu, had studied abroad most of her life, returning only once or twice a year. Over time, he grew closer to Pan Ning.

But given her strong personality, he often found himself on the receiving end of her teasing.

Still, his upbringing emphasized being accommodating toward women, especially since Pan Ning was his cousin.

So, he’d long accepted this dynamic and treated her like a real sister.

As they reached the second floor, Su Yang heard light, melodic laughter.

Looking up, he spotted Tang Ziyun and her friends—the same group they’d met at the bar last night.

No way, what are the odds?

The group followed the waitress to a six-seater table by the window.

Liu Bo turned to the waitress and asked, "Miss, why are there other guests here?"

"Oh, one of them is a Black Diamond VIP. They’re allowed to dine here before official hours."

"That’s impressive. Who is it?"

"Apologies, sir. We can’t disclose guest information."

"Fair enough."

As they settled in, Tang Ziyun noticed Su Yang.

She blinked in surprise, then stood up and waved. "Su Yang? Fancy running into you again."

Su Yang smiled back. "Yeah, what a coincidence—same restaurant, same off-hours."

Tang Ziyun nodded. "This place has amazing seafood. You’ll love it."

"Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind."

Su Yang sat down, stealing a glance at Pan Ning.

Her expression remained neutral, unfazed by his exchange with Tang Ziyun.

He exhaled inwardly in relief.

Soon, their dishes arrived one after another—a lavish spread of Australian lobster, king crab, sea cucumber, red grouper, caviar, geoduck, and bluefin tuna, all exquisitely plated.

Shen Yixue couldn’t resist snapping a few photos.

"Dig in, everyone," Meng Wenzhou encouraged. "This place is a must-try in Lucheng. You can’t leave without experiencing the seafood here."

As they ate, Liu Bo asked, "Meng Wenzhou, just how many people do you know in Lucheng?"

"Why?"

"Just curious. Like, for later… swimming, you know?"

"Relax, I never make empty promises. I’ve got plenty of connections here—getting a few girls to join us is no big deal."

Zhang Ziming perked up. "Then let’s hurry up and eat. I’m already sweating—I need to dive into the water."

Shen Yixue shot him a glare. "You’re not hot—you’re just asking for trouble."

Half an hour later, the group finished their meal and got ready to leave.

Tang Ziyun’s table had also wrapped up—there were four of them in total.

As they stood, one of the girls—whose name Su Yang didn’t know—approached them cheerfully.

"Hey, handsome, where are you guys headed next?"

"Swimming," Su Yang replied.

Seizing the opportunity, Meng Wenzhou interjected with a grin, "Ladies, we met at the bar last night, right?"

"Yeah, what a small world."

"Any plans for today?"

"Nothing set in stone. We’re just going with the flow."

Meng Wenzhou’s smile widened. "If you’re free, why not join us? We’re all tourists here—might as well make the most of it together. More people, more fun."

"Sure! That’s what I was thinking too," the girl replied with a giggle.

"Your accent—are you from Haicheng?"

"Yeah! You too?"

"We all are."

"No way! Us too!"

"Hahaha, what are the odds? What are your names?" Meng Wenzhou asked.

"I’m Xia Keke," the chatty girl introduced herself.

Su Yang gave her a once-over. She was cute—maybe a 7.5 or 8 out of 10—with a round face, big eyes, and a petite mouth. Her pink sundress and ponytail added to her bubbly charm.

"I’m Han Xiaoyu," another girl chimed in.

Han Xiaoyu was the "Yuyu" Tang Ziyun had mentioned the night before.

With a delicate oval face, tousled chestnut-brown hair, and fair skin, she had a naturally elegant aura. She was the tallest of the four, standing around 5’7"—about the same height as Pan Ning.

She had a slightly plump figure with an impressive bust that could rival Tang Ziyun’s, and even her loose T-shirt couldn’t hide her curves.

Su Yang glanced at Han Xiaoyu a couple more times, thinking to himself, I didn’t pay much attention last night, but this girl’s figure is really something. Still, she probably doesn’t hit the 85-point mark. Better check just in case.

—System.

[Han Xiaoyu’s appearance score: 83]

—As expected. But damn, that body is something else.

“Hi, I’m Liu Meng,” the other girl introduced herself.

Liu Meng was the Black Gold VIP the server had mentioned earlier—a young heiress.

Su Yang sized her up and noticed her style was somewhat similar to Gu Xiaoman’s, giving off an office-lady vibe.

Liu Meng was quite attractive, with long black curls cascading down her back, dressed impeccably in designer brands.

While her figure wasn’t as eye-catching as Han Xiaoyu’s or Tang Ziyun’s, it was still well-balanced overall.

“I’m Tang Ziyun, the one singing outside the window last night.”

“Oh, we all know that,” Meng Wenzhou said with a laugh.

After exchanging introductions and settling the bill, they all left the restaurant together.

Just a few steps outside, Shen Yixue spotted a coffee shop.

“We’re grabbing coffee. What do you guys want?”

“Let’s all go together,” the girls chimed in, heading toward the café.

Meng Wenzhou nudged Liu Bo’s shoulder and whispered, “Hey, given the current situation, do you think I still need to invite more girls?”

Liu Bo chuckled. “Nah, I don’t think so… That Tang Ziyun alone is worth four or five beauties.”

“Heh, so you do have taste.”

“Come on, Meng. Just because I usually don’t care doesn’t mean I’m blind.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Su Yang and Zhang Ziming leaned in.

“We were just discussing whether to invite more girls later.”

Zhang Ziming glanced at the four newcomers nearby.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for more, but these girls are already top-tier. Especially Tang Ziyun—I’d say she’s on the same level as Pan Ning.”

“So what you’re saying is, your Shen Yixue isn’t quite in their league?” Meng Wenzhou teased.

“Look, I’ll be straight with you guys,” Zhang Ziming said, turning to check on Shen Yixue as she ordered coffee. He turned back and added, “Yixue is about half a tier below those two.”

Su Yang gave Zhang Ziming a thumbs-up. “Damn, Ziming, you’ve got guts.”

“Keep this between us, though. If word gets out, I’m dead.”

“Don’t worry!” The three nodded solemnly.

“Then we won’t invite anyone else.”

“Yeah, no need.”

With that, they headed toward the coffee shop.

“Yixue, Ziming just said you’re half a tier below Pan Ning and Tang Ziyun!” Meng Wenzhou announced loudly as he walked up to Shen Yixue.