novelraw Chapter 349: Gather for a meal
Chapter 349: Gather for a meal
After finishing his French class, Lin Feng was about to leave as usual and wander around by himself, but before he could step out of the classroom door, he was stopped by Ye Xiaoyu.
"Teacher Lin, it’s such a coincidence that just on your first day of class, there’s a dinner party for the French department tonight. Are you going to the dinner, Teacher Lin?" Ye Xiaoyu asked eagerly, holding onto Mao Rongrong to block Lin Feng’s way. Deep down, she really hoped Teacher Lin could join everyone for a meal. Although it wouldn’t be a private dinner, it still was a pleasant thought. Gathering together with everyone would be very casual, which would perfectly ease any potential awkwardness. What a splendid thing it would be.
"Teacher Lin, please come join us for dinner tonight, won’t you? Everyone’s going, and if you don’t join us, it just won’t feel the same," Mao Rongrong added, appearing visibly delighted that Teacher Lin had come to teach that day. She had thought that Teacher Lin wouldn’t be able to make it to the dinner, but since he was here, she was determined to persuade him to come. They had never dined together before, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity. It would be great if Teacher Lin really agreed to go.
Also, ever since the semester began, they had only seen Teacher Lin a few times and always in a hurry. Then Teacher Lin had disappeared for many days, and now that they finally saw him, they absolutely couldn’t let him just leave like that.
Mao Rongrong now wanted to spend more time with Teacher Lin beyond just class time, a desire for the casual, everyday sort of interaction. For some reason, she kept feeling drawn to Teacher Lin, and she liked being around him...
"A dinner party, why a dinner party?" Lin Feng was puzzled to hear the two campus beauties talk about the French department’s dinner party. He hadn’t heard about any dinner party; and with the semester having just started, there seemed to be no reason to organize a dinner for the French department students. What was going on?
"We don’t know the specifics, but it seems like our new vice dean and head of the department, Liu Jinming, found some connections. This dinner party will be a buffet at Jinjiang Hotel, and it only costs eighty-eight yuan per person, which really captivated all the students. Everyone knows Jinjiang Hotel is an ultra-five-star establishment. No one dares to go there on ordinary days, but now, at the chance of dining there for just eighty-eight yuan, everyone’s eager to go," Ye Xiaoyu explained to answer Lin Feng’s questions, adding that she was unclear on the details as well.
"Vice Dean, Liu Jinming? Why haven’t I heard of him before?" Lin Feng grew more puzzled to hear Ye Xiaoyu’s explanation. He had never heard of such a person and he had been at the Language Institute for half a year, without ever encountering him. Who was he then?
"Teacher Lin, Vice Dean Liu Jinming was out studying before, and he just came back after the school year started. He’s the one organizing this gathering. Several French department teachers and Dean Leng are attending as well," Mao Rongrong chimed in to add to Ye Xiaoyu’s explanation, sharing what she knew. In fact, she was just as clueless about this suddenly emerging Vice Dean Liu Jinming, aware only that he had been away studying and had recently returned. She had seen him only the day before, a clean-cut, scholarly-looking man with gold-framed glasses.
"Ah, I see. Alright then, I’ll join the dinner tonight," Lin Feng replied, now that he understood the situation. He was quite indifferent about where to dine, but then it dawned on him: he had been teaching French here for half a year and never really socialized with the students. It didn’t seem right, and to be honest, he quite liked his students. This occasion would be a good chance to properly mingle with them.
If Liu Jinming organized the event and even Dean Leng was attending, then it was only proper for him to go as well. As a French teacher in the French department, it would seem quite wrong not to attend. Given that, he would join the dinner tonight and thoroughly enjoy the company of his students.
"Oh yeah! Teacher Lin is coming, I’m so happy!" Ye Xiaoyu was overjoyed to hear Teacher Lin agree to the dinner. She had been worried he might have other commitments and without Teacher Lin, she and Sister Rongrong wouldn’t have wanted to attend either.
"See you tonight, Teacher Lin," Mao Rongrong expressed her elation upon hearing Teacher Lin’s consent to attend the dinner. The anxiety in her had finally lifted. In truth, the dinner party held no allure for her, and just yesterday she had decided not to go if Teacher Lin wasn’t going to be there. Now that he had actually come to teach and agreed to the dinner, she was sure the evening would be fun and lively.
And indeed, Mao Rongrong was looking forward to dining with Teacher Lin. Although it was just a buffet, it would be very relaxed and she could stand beside him and chat freely. What a joyous affair that would be.
"See you tonight," Lin Feng casually responded, then turned and walked out of the teaching building. Since he was going out for the dinner, he needed to go back first and prepare the meal for his senior sister, and then he could gather with the students.
...
Come evening, the entire French department took the school bus to Jinjiang Hotel.
Upon disembarking, under the guidance of the new department head Liu Jinming, everyone entered the grand lobby of Jinjiang Hotel, took the elevator to the eightieth floor, and walked into a sprawling, luxurious VIP room.
"So beautiful!"
"Wow!"
"That lamp is so gorgeous!"
...
Upon seeing the decorations inside the private room, the classmates were so amazed that they didn’t know what to say. Their eyes met with a gold reflection everywhere, creating an opulent and resplendent atmosphere. Not even the Imperial Palace could compare to this place. No wonder Jinjiang Hotel is beyond five-star — with such lavish decor, it surely wasn’t something that could be achieved with a small amount of money. Dining here would truly give one an imperial sensation, luxury! Nothing but luxury!
"Classmates, no need to be so astonished. This is just one of Jinjiang Hotel’s VIP luxury rooms; there’s even a VIP Emperor Room above. Let’s go inside. We are dining here today." Liu Jinming, hearing the students’ exclamations, was quite pleased with himself. He had made a great effort to get his good friend, the manager Wang Lin, to arrange this room. It was incredibly impressive, and dining here was really going to be a face-giving experience!
"Dean Leng, please go inside. The dishes prepared for today are very abundant." Liu Jinming looked at Leng Mei, who was wearing a white suit that evening. He was overjoyed, as his considerable effort was mainly to have Leng Mei come out to dinner. He had once invited her to dine alone, only for her to reject it outright without a second thought. That rejection was painful for Liu Jinming. In the past, before she went to study, although she would refuse him, she had never been so direct.
What’s more, during the period Leng Mei went out to study, Liu Jinming heard that she had become quite close to a French teacher named Lin Feng. It seemed incredibly risky to him; he had been pursuing Leng Mei for almost two years and hadn’t yet shared even a meal with her. Without resorting to this method, Leng Mei would not have agreed to come out for dinner today. His goal was to have a good chat with Leng Mei and try to get her to see his strengths, hoping she would no longer be so indifferent toward him.
Leng Mei didn’t say much, joining her classmates as they walked into the spacious VIP luxury room. The room housed two large tables, yet it didn’t feel cramped for the dozens of people from the French department. Everyone felt extremely comfortable, and through the glass, most of Tianhai could be seen. This room was on the eightieth floor!
"Director Liu, we really owe you for today. We’ve only ever heard about how great Jinjiang Hotel is but never came here. The buffet is said to be 808 yuan per person — totally out of our reach. But Director Liu, you are so amazing, bringing everyone here for a buffet at the price of 88 yuan. That kind of connection is not an ordinary one!"
The French history teacher of the French department, Jia Chun, adjusted his glasses. Not tall and approaching forty, his hair was thinning, yet he still habitually fussed with the few strands he had left. As a long-time teacher of French history, he thought that it was essential to build a good relationship with the new department head, Liu Jinming, especially since he also was the vice dean of the institute. In such an occasion, it was necessary to flatter, especially since Jia Chun was well aware that Liu Jinming’s motivation for hosting this dinner was also to please Dean Leng, which was an open secret in the department even before he went to study.
"Yes, Director Liu really is amazing. I never imagined I would dine at Jinjiang Hotel. Having the hotel’s buffet for 88 yuan, who would believe it if we told them? It’s all thanks to Director Liu that we get to enjoy this. Later, we must definitely offer Director Liu a couple of toasts." Seeing Jia Chun speaking, Pan Xiao, a similarly short but handsome trade French teacher, quickly joined in. To be honest, he never thought an ordinary teacher like him would dine here, and all this was made possible by Liu Jinming.
Moreover, since Liu Jinming was the new head of the French department, directly in charge, it was the right thing to do to establish the great image of the leader at this moment. If things went well, the department head might even grant him some favors in the future. Besides, Dean Leng was here, and since Liu Jinming had pursued Dean Leng before, it was likely he had the same intention today. As a subordinate, it was even more imperative to promote the new leader and allow Liu Jinming to save face.
"Director, we really never thought we would be eating here."
"This place is truly luxurious."
"This is so great!"
...
The students of the French department couldn’t help but express their feelings. Just by looking at the environment, it was clear that it wasn’t a place for ordinary people. Learning that the buffet cost 808 yuan per person left the students stunned. The department head was really powerful — being able to let everyone taste a buffet worth 808 yuan for only 88 yuan, if not for Director Liu, perhaps the students would never have had the chance to dine at Jinjiang Hotel!