Zhang Yi looked with surprise at the spot where Zhan Yichen had just been, even his wine glass had been taken away. If he hadn't been so clear-headed, he would have suspected he was hallucinating.
Liu Xin couldn't eat anymore either. Without even wiping her mouth, she stood up and began to argue with the staff.
"Don't play dumb. You were the one who brought us in just now. You must have seen where that young man sitting opposite went. Are you trying to scam us for money? I'm telling you, when we came in, he specifically said all expenses today would be on his tab. We're not paying a cent."
The boss was not afraid of their unreasonable behavior. While people who ate without paying were rarer nowadays, they hadn't disappeared entirely, and he had plenty of ways to deal with such rascals.
With a signal from the boss, several burly security guards approached, their imposing figures enough to make Zhang Yi's bones turn to jelly.
"You see these people? They're trying to dine and dash at my establishment. Do you think this is a refugee camp? You have two choices: pay the bill and leave, or I'll take you to the police station for a good experience."
Upon hearing that they might call the police, the couple immediately cowered, beginning to plead with the boss.
"I'll call someone to bring money right away."
This call was naturally made to Mu Linjing, as Zhan Yichen was her boyfriend.
When Mu Linjing received the call, she had no idea that Zhan Yichen had tricked these two. The moment the call connected, Zhang Yi's voice nearly deafened her.
"You little brat, how dare you let your boyfriend scam us? I'm telling you, hurry up and bring me money."
Mu Linjing had no idea what had happened, but why should she bring money?
"Bring money? Where are you?"
This stumped Zhang Yi. It was his first time in Pengcheng, and he didn't know his way around at all, so he couldn't possibly say where he was.
It was only after Liu Xin reminded him that he gave the restaurant's name to Mu Linjing and urged her to come quickly with money.
Having such an attitude when asking for a favor, Mu Linjing snorted coldly, "I haven't eaten a single bite of the meal you ordered, so why should I bring you money? Besides, I don't even know this restaurant. You should find your own solution."
Before Zhang Yi could say anything else, she hung up the phone and turned off all her family's phones. After all, the only people Zhang Yi could turn to were them. She wanted to see how this matter would be resolved without anyone bringing him money.
Perhaps this would also cure their habit of causing trouble wherever they went. They had been causing trouble for the Mu family for so many years, and now they had been dealt a big blow.
Zhang Yi, having his call cut off, was red-faced and swollen-necked. He raised his hand as if to smash his phone, but he couldn't bear to, so he just made a show of it and put it down dejectedly.
Liu Xin was still waiting for someone to rescue them. "How is it? Did she come?"
Zhang Yi might not be able to do anything about others, but he was quite assertive with his wife. He retaliated with a slap, channeling all his pent-up frustration from not smashing his phone onto her.
"Come? All you know is to eat, eat, eat. Now look, who knows how much this meal will cost? Can you afford it?"
Liu Xin's eyes welled up with tears, but she said nothing, having grown accustomed to his beatings and scolding.
Meanwhile, the boss watched the scene with indifference. He didn't intervene in the couple's argument but instead leisurely added to the pressure.
"Your total consumption at our establishment is eighty-six thousand five hundred and twenty-nine yuan. How do you intend to pay?"
Over eighty-six thousand? This number made Zhang Yi's legs buckle. He slumped into his chair, his legs trembling.
With so much money, he wouldn't earn that much in a year. It was all spent on one meal?
Liu Xin was also stunned, but after being hit by Zhang Yi, she dared not make a sound and just stood there foolishly.
The boss didn't have time to wait for them to process this information. He impatiently nudged Zhang Yi's shoulder. "I'm asking you, how do you plan to pay for this meal?"
Zhang Yi shakily picked up his phone and whispered, "Don't rush me, I'll make another call."
This time, he called Aunt Mu, but all their family's phones were turned off. He couldn't get through to anyone and was at his wit's end.
He looked at the people in front of him and, with a surge of strength he didn't know he possessed, completely disregarding his wife, he bolted for the exit.
The boss had anticipated this. Knowing he would likely try to escape, especially given his attire which suggested he couldn't afford such a meal, and if he couldn't, Zhan Yichen wouldn't have done this, he was ready.
Zhang Yi had only run a few steps before the security guards grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back. The boss was no softie either; he delivered a heavy punch to Zhang Yi's stomach.
"You think you can just run off without paying here? You'd even abandon your wife! You must be dreaming. Take them away."
The two were escorted out the back door, forced into a car, and taken directly to the police station.
Their dine-and-dash incident involved a significant sum, making the processing particularly troublesome.
According to regulations, if the couple was unable to pay the expenses, they would be detained for at least 15 days. Not only would the money have to be repaid, but they would also face a fine of over a thousand yuan.
At this point, Zhang Yi was truly terrified, even losing the courage to try and escape.
"Boss, how about this, the two of us will work to pay off the debt."
Looking at how high-end this restaurant was, the wages shouldn't be too low. If they both worked here, they might be able to clear the debt.
But the boss wouldn't give him such an opportunity. Glancing at him with disdain, he sneered, "Someone like you, a bumpkin? If you were to work as a waiter in my restaurant, would there still be any customers? If you insist on working here, you'll have to compensate me for all my business losses. Think about it."
This was obviously not something to consider. Wouldn't the debt just keep growing? Zhang Yi could still calculate that.
They were at an impasse, as they couldn't come up with the eighty thousand yuan from inside or out. Zhan Yichen's intention was precisely to trap them in this manner, preventing them from causing further trouble for the Mu family.
Meanwhile, Zhan Yichen had washed his hands and sat down at the dining table. Aunt Mu was still unaware of how he had dealt with Zhang Yi and his wife, her mind clearly elsewhere at the table.
Mu Linjing noticed her mother's worry and asked Zhan Yichen what would happen if someone ate and ran.
Zhan Yichen replied, "At least 15 days in detention, and even after they're released, they'll have to pay the money back."
Mu Linjing couldn't help but chuckle. Recalling the call Zhang Yi had made to her earlier, she could imagine the embarrassing situation the couple must be in.
"Mom, don't worry, Yichen didn't get swindled out of a single cent."