The Black Card and the Brother’s Lie

“Dead… dead?”

“Yes, dead.”

I had been about to add, ‘And no one knows where he went,’ to preempt Park Yeon’s further questions. Yet, before the words could even leave my lips, Chen Si Yi gently stopped me.

“Ruoxi, don’t speak ill of your Brother Lin Yan behind his back, okay?”

Chen Si Yi walked over and patted my shoulder. With practiced ease, she then scooped me onto her lap, effectively taking my seat.

Feeling the faint friction against my back, I could only nod blankly, choosing to say no more.

‘Seriously, what kind of world is this? I can’t even curse myself anymore? Waaah, being a little girl is just too hard.’

Realizing I was simply humoring her, Park Yeon no longer focused her attention on me. Instead, she resumed her lively chat with Chen Si Yi, their voices intertwining.

****

Just like that, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, yet Park Yeon in the living room showed no signs of leaving. It seemed she was truly determined to stay the night at our house.

My sister was clearly unprepared for this sudden turn of events. Though she still sat gracefully on the sofa, her posture elegant and her demeanor proper, a closer look revealed beads of sweat beginning to form on her forehead.

Dinner was takeout again. After all, Chen Si Yi’s meager cooking skills were certainly not something she could display to her classmate.

Serena and I, having endured her cooking once or twice, had developed a certain resistance, allowing us to at least swallow it with effort. But if Park Yeon, a young lady of her caliber, were to eat it, I imagined she would likely end up in the hospital getting her stomach pumped.

However, this “takeout” was rather different from the usual. It involved directly calling the restaurant staff, providing the address, and then the restaurant would personally dispatch someone to deliver the meal.

Park Yeon initially intended to pay for dinner, but Chen Si Yi and I quickly dissuaded her.

After all, Park Yeon was a guest, and it was her very first time visiting our home. How could we possibly have the nerve to ask a guest to pay?

However, the moment the restaurant staff, impeccably dressed in a black suit, pushed a dining cart before me, I instantly regretted our decision.

French foie gras, creamed baked mushrooms, emerald consommé, and thin steak generously topped with a thick layer of black caviar.

‘Holy cow, isn’t this a full-blown French feast?!’

“Good evening, esteemed guests. Your dinner from Maison Lameloise has been fully served. We wish you a delightful meal.”

‘Maison Lameloise?’

Staring at the restaurant staff, who was dressed in a black uniform with a red bow tie and possessed an exceptionally kind demeanor, I was utterly bewildered.

Maison Lameloise was a renowned three-Michelin-starred French restaurant in our city.

During my childhood, when Dad received his year-end bonus, he took our family of four there once. The taste was truly unforgettable.

‘But… I thought you needed to book a month in advance just to have dinner there? Why do they have a delivery service? I’ve never heard of it!’

“Let me pay, Si Yi. It feels wrong to let you treat me to such an expensive dinner.”

In stark contrast to my astonishment, Park Yeon’s composed face showed not a ripple of emotion.

She offered a faint smile to the restaurant staff, who stood slightly bowed, respectfully holding the card machine. Then, she delved into her bag, pulling out a black credit card.

The card face was black, adorned with the elegant silver outline of a helmeted centurion.

‘Holy crap, isn’t that the American Express Centurion Black Card?!!!’

‘I’d heard about it online, with forum users claiming to have ten each, but this is my first time seeing one in real life!’

‘No wonder a three-Michelin-star restaurant would personally deliver to your door! I thought you, Park Yeon, were just a simple nouveau riche, but it turns out your true identity is the young lady of a prominent, wealthy family!’

“No need! Didn’t I say I’m treating?” Chen Si Yi waved her hand, a hint of displeasure in her voice. “It’s just one meal; I can afford it.”

‘Whoa, whoa, whoa? Chen Si Yi, don’t be a fool! You might be able to afford this meal, but after treating, our monthly living expenses will be cut by at least half!’

‘Since your friend Park Yeon loves to treat so much, just give her a chance to show off her wealth! Don’t stop her!’

“No, no, no, I insist. Otherwise, I’ll truly feel awkward.”

Park Yeon extended the black card, but Chen Si Yi swiftly intercepted it mid-air.

“Don’t say that; I’m the one who should be embarrassed,” Chen Si Yi explained. “I just called my brother, and he said he’s staying at a friend’s house tonight and won’t be back to see you. So, to apologize, he specifically asked me to treat you to dinner!”

‘Hey, hey, hey, when did I ever say that?’

‘I’m literally standing right next to you, staring blankly, okay? Chen Si Yi, you’ve only been back at school for a week, and yet your ability to spout nonsense has improved so much!’

‘Ah, I get it now! You’re planning to treat Park Yeon to a lavish French dinner, using it as a bribe to make her keep quiet, aren’t you?!’

‘Devious, devious, utterly devious!’

‘And the most crucial point is, you can treat her all you want, but why are you pulling out *my* bank card from your pocket?!’