Lu Xinyi slightly winced when the cold liquid hit her face and her skin. She could feel it dripping down her chin, seeping through her clothes. She should’ve expected it coming.

“Idiot! What do you think you’re doing?!” Zhao Xi shouted at the manager, lunging from her seat to slap her. Before she could reach the manager, Lu Xinyi held her arm, yanking her back in her seat.

Zhao Xi was burning in rage. She had never seen another woman trying to shame another just because she was jealous! Shen Yi would be furious if he found out that his wife was bullied. Someone wanted to die by a slow death!

“It’s okay, Zhao Xi. Let me handle this.” Lu Xinyi said calmly, not only surprising Zhao Xi but herself. She should have exploded with rage by now, but her face stayed neutral.

Watching Lu Xinyi, Zhao Xi was reminded of Shen Yi. Her goosebumps returned. She felt like she was staring at the female version of the demon king himself. The way Lu Xinyi presented herself, unmoved by harsh words from a stranger.

Had Shen Yi rubbed off his temperament and shared it with his wife? Zhao Xi could see the murderous glint on Lu Xinyi’s eyes. -.

“You know what,” Lu Xinyi started, “judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are. From what you just did to me, you let us know what kind of person you are.”

Zhao Xi passed a clean hankie to Lu Xinyi to wipe off the wetness on her face. Lu Xinyi gladly accepted it before she continued. She took her empty teacup and showed it to the other woman.

“This is my cup of care. Oh look, it’s empty. Too bad my Shen Yi doesn’t care what you think of me.”

Zhao Xi and the other guest’s jaws dropped. This woman didn’t even dare to deny her involvement with Shen Yi! Instead, she chose to rub it on their faces! She even claimed he was hers!

“There’s a difference between you and our order. The difference between our order and your opinion is that we’ve only asked for one of them. Instead of disproving my allegation about your dish, you chose to attack me instead. How very professional of you.”

The manager snorted and crossed her arms on her chest while giving Lu Xinyi a mocking stare.

“How could someone like you know something about running a restaurant? Much more know how to discern the quality of our dishes? You, who only know how to use people to advance her career?”

“Are you sure about that? You do know that not only did you throw shade on me but on the entire academy of Silver Leaf. Do you know how hard it is for its examinees to pass their admission exams?” Lu Xinyi retorted.

“I…” the woman was caught off guard. Indeed, her statement would also mean she doubted Silver Leaf’s reputation for accepting Lu Xinyi. She started to break into a cold sweat when she noticed people were waiting for her defense.

She could not refute the fact that Lu Xinyi was now a student of the prestigious academy. Everyone knew that it wasn’t easy to pass their admission tests.

“I want to meet the chef,” Lu Xinyi requested.

“You heard her! Call the chef this instance!” Zhao Xi shouted.

In less than a minute, a chef rushed into the dining hall and stood beside the manager. He appeared to be in the early thirties and confused why he was summoned. His eyes then landed to Lu Xinyi, recognition reflecting on his eyes when he saw her.

Wasn’t she the one who topped this year’s Silver Leaf examination? He’d seen her on television when the exam was broadcasted last week.

“This is all your fault!” The manager accused the chef. “Didn’t you beg to work for this restaurant? We’ve given you an opportunity, and this is what you’ll do to repay us?!”

The chef was completely frozen on the spot. This wasn’t what expecting to hear. He clenched his fist on his side and wanted to say something. Lu Xinyi watched silently the interaction between him and the manager.

“Pack up your things, Gao Hong. You are fired!”

Gao Hong, who’d been working as a chef at the restaurant for more than two years, felt like he was betrayed. If there was something wrong about his dish, it was all because of this woman!

Wasn’t she the one who refused to check the daily inventory and replenish the ingredients every day?

“Actually, the fault isn’t made by Chef Gao.” Lu Xinyi then decided to interfere with the conversation. “He’d tried his best to compensate and elevate the flavors of the dishes today. But a chef can’t do so much when the ingredients provided to him weren’t in their best quality.”

“And as per the quality of your dishes…” Lu Xinyi eyed the steak on their table. “I believe I’m still a customer who has rights to express her opinion. My mentor would be very disappointed if I couldn’t spot this issue easily.”

“Mentor? You have a mentor now, Xinxin?” Zhao Xi asked the question everyone was dying to say.

“Yes,” Lu Xinyi slightly nodded. “Would you serve the same quality if it was my mentor sitting here instead of me? Not only was the meat used was old but so are the other ingredients used on your other dishes.”

“How dare you?! Miss Lu should stop spouting nonsense and leave our restaurant. You’re not welcome here anymore.” The manager sneered.

Instead of answering her, Lu Xinyi picked up her phone and made a video call to someone. After the third ring, a man’s voice could be heard from the other line. Zhao Xi peeked over Lu Xinyi’s shoulder to see who was talking to. She gasped when she saw the familiar man on the screen.