The Accomplice 03

"Okay." Fang Zhiyi nodded in agreement.

Lin Zhou immediately threw an arm around his shoulder affectionately. "That's the spirit! Let's go!" He hadn't had a decent meal recently, so the chance to fleece Fang Zhiyi for a free feast was something he couldn't have asked for more.

However, Fang Zhiyi took him to a small roadside eatery—the exact same place where Lin Zhou had treated Fang Zhiyi before.

Watching Fang Zhiyi sit down, Lin Zhou's expression turned sour.

"Why did we come here? What's there to eat in a dump like this..." Lin Zhou looked disgusted.

Fang Zhiyi looked surprised. "I saw that you always bring me here when you treat me, so I assumed you liked the food."

"Who likes eating here?!" Lin Zhou wanted to retort, but couldn't find the words.

"And how can you call it a dump? It's a legitimate restaurant; look, they even have a license." Fang Zhiyi pointed to the wall. His words were overheard by the owner walking by, who shot a displeased look at Lin Zhou, who was still standing.

Lin Zhou lowered his head guiltily. "Don't talk nonsense, I... I didn't mean that..."

Fang Zhiyi smiled. "Alright then, order."

Unexpectedly, Lin Zhou snatched the menu away. "I'll order!"

Fang Zhiyi didn't say a word.

"One fish, roast chicken... make it half a bird, one stir-fried pork with peppers, and also..."

The owner's face cleared up instantly; he hadn't expected these two youngsters to order so many dishes. After ordering, Lin Zhou handed the menu back to the owner and looked at Fang Zhiyi. "Hehe, I'm pretty hungry today. You don't mind, right?"

Fang Zhiyi shook his head. Speaking of hunger, he was indeed hungry too.

"Zhiyi, by the way, I have some good news for you." Lin Zhou acted mysterious. "A good buddy of mine gave me a project. It only requires an investment of thirty thousand. I've thought it through: I'll put in fifteen thousand, you put in fifteen thousand, and when we make money, we split it fifty-fifty. How about it?"

Fang Zhiyi looked at him. The original owner of this body had rejected this outright, so he hadn't been completely stupid.

"What project?"

Seeing Fang Zhiyi's interest, Lin Zhou beamed. "You know the shopping mall in the East District? My buddy is running it. Right now, there's a funding gap of just thirty thousand. If it weren't for my connections, this opportunity wouldn't even come your way."

The corner of Fang Zhiyi's mouth twitched. He pinched his own thigh, and the sharp pain helped him stifle his laughter.

A project as massive as a shopping mall is missing just thirty thousand bucks?

"Is that so..."

Lin Zhou scratched his head and added, "But you know how my dad is, he definitely won't agree. So I was thinking, you lend me fifteen thousand, and once I make the money, I'll pay you back. How about that?"

Fang Zhiyi took a deep breath. Say what you will, but the guy in front of him was absolutely a piece of work!

Fortunately, the owner interrupted his solicitation. "Food's here!"

Fang Zhiyi didn't have to hold back anymore. "Let's eat first, I'm starving." However, as soon as he shoved a chopstick-full of food into his mouth, Fang Zhiyi suddenly felt as if his soul was about to leave his body. The sensation filled his eyes with tears.

It had been a long time, a very long time since he had eaten something this awful. The last time was when that junior sister of his cooked... He hadn't expected that after traversing so many worlds, he would taste that familiar flavor again.

Watching Lin Zhou stuffing his face, Fang Zhiyi inexplicably felt a sense of admiration for him, and even more admiration for how the original owner had endured this.

"What are you dazing off for? Eat," Lin Zhou noticed Fang Zhiyi. "Why do you look like you're about to cry? What's wrong? Tell me so I can have a laugh."

Fang Zhiyi waved his hand. "I'm just so touched. You really are my good brother, always thinking of me when there's a good opportunity."

Hearing this, Lin Zhou was delighted. "That's right. Just listen to me from now on, and I guarantee you'll have endless money to earn. You should quit that lousy job of yours sooner rather than later!"

It wasn't until Lin Zhou let out a comfortable belch that he stopped. He looked at the unfinished food with some regret.

"Owner, check please!" Lin Zhou acted like the one treating the guest. The owner walked over and took a look. "Total is three hundred and two. Just give me three hundred."

Lin Zhou looked at Fang Zhiyi, but Fang Zhiyi frowned. "That's not right, is it?"

The owner was puzzled. "Young man, what's not right?"

"We ordered half a roast chicken, but you served a whole one. And this fish... it smells off. My brother here isn't a picky eater, and even he couldn't swallow it."

The owner's expression changed upon hearing this. "What are you saying? Are you looking for trouble? We don't have a rule about selling half a roast chicken here!"

Fang Zhiyi pointed to the half roast chicken hanging in the display window. "Then what is that?"

"Never mind that. You ate it, so you have to pay!"

Lin Zhou whispered to persuade Fang Zhiyi, "Forget it, forget it, the owner doesn't have it easy..."

Fang Zhiyi glanced at him. "He doesn't have it easy? Is it easy for me to make money? Does my money grow on trees?"

The owner's face was dark. "You look dressed decent enough, but turns out you're just a freeloader. If you don't have money, don't pretend to be big shots eating out."

Fang Zhiyi raised his eyebrows. "What did you just say?"

The sound of their argument attracted passersby. Since it was time for evening strolls, people were eager to watch the drama.

Seeing the crowd growing, Lin Zhou felt humiliated. "Forget it, Zhiyi, it's not that much money. Stop embarrassing yourself."

Fang Zhiyi looked at him. "Embarrassing? Do you remember that time when you were a kid and got caught stealing? There were way more people then than now, and I wasn't afraid!"

Lin Zhou didn't know why Fang Zhiyi suddenly brought that up, but his ears turned red, and he could feel the way the surrounding people looked at him change.

"Cut the crap, pay the money!" Seeing the crowd, the owner felt emboldened. He had seen plenty of youngsters; most were thin-skinned and would swallow the loss even if they were being ripped off.

Fang Zhiyi put his hands on his hips. "Pay for what? Let me ask you, did you serve the half roast chicken we ordered? Half?"

The owner replied, "No, but..."

"Okay, you didn't serve it. Then let me ask you, did we order a whole roast chicken?"

"No..."

"Exactly. I didn't order it, and you didn't serve what I asked for, so I'm not paying for this chicken." Fang Zhiyi held his head high.

In that instant, both the owner and Lin Zhou felt that Fang Zhiyi's logic was impeccable.

After a few seconds, the owner snapped out of it. "Wait, that's not right..."

Unexpectedly, Fang Zhiyi raised his voice significantly. "And this fish! The fish is rotten! Passersby, come take a look, smell it! See if I'm trying to scam him!"

Seeing that Fang Zhiyi was fiercer than those old men who disturbed the peace during morning exercises, the owner finally realized he had messed with the wrong person. "Fine, fine! I'll take the fish off the bill. You still have to pay for the rest, right?"

Lin Zhou chimed in as well, "Let it go, Zhiyi, it's too embarrassing. Don't be so unforgiving when you're in the right, you're making it awkward for everyone..."

Fang Zhiyi suddenly slammed the fish in his hand back down, looking at Lin Zhou with a wounded expression. "You say I'm unforgiving? Lin Zhou, we've been brothers for so many years, and you're actually not standing on my side?"