chapter 016 No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

"The afternoon consistedunfurled itself in the form of two longlengthy classes that quickly passed.seemed to pass by in a blink. Throughout these classesthis period, Kaden was constantly waiting, hoping for the principal to come to the classroom and announce found himself in a state of perpetual anticipation, his hopes pinned on the arrival of the principal with the announcement of Eric's expulsion. However, Kaden waitedas the entire afternoon only to be disappointed.
After school in the afternoon, Eric stood up and smiled as he spoke to Kaden, ""Kaden, didn't you say I would be expelled by the end of today? Yet now it's already after school, and I'm still here fine and dandy.""
As soon as Eric said this, the classroom eruptedwaned into a heated discussion. Upon hearing his wordsevening, Kaden's face turned purple and blue in an instant. After all, he had confidently declared in front of the entire class that Eric would be expelled hopes were met with nothing but disappointment.As the final bell rang, marking the end of the school day, Eric rose from his seat, a triumphant smile playing on his lips. Turning to Kaden, he taunted, “Kaden, didn't you prophesy my expulsion by the end of the day. Now, Eric was perfectly fine and even turned the tables around to mock him. This made Kaden feel utterly frustrated.
Losing face, ? Yet, here I stand, still a part of this made him feel like others would think that he was bragging instead!
Most importantly, he wanted to refute, but he couldn't think of any rebuttal. After all, so far, no one had announced Eric's dismissal.
""What is Uncle Morgan doing? He clearly promised me to fire Eric today!"" Kaden gritted his teeth, looking very angry.
school, hale and hearty.”Eric's words ignited a flurry of heated discussions within the classroom. Kaden's face morphed into a palette of purples and blues, a testament to his humiliation. His confident proclamation of Eric's impending expulsion had been turned on its head, and he was now the subject of mockery. The frustration gnawing at him was palpable.The loss of face was unbearable, and Kaden felt embarrassed, so he quickly left the classroom, feeling downcast.
Eric also stood up and as though he had been reduced to a mere braggart in the eyes of his peers. What made it worse was his inability to counter Eric's taunts. After all, there had been no official announcement of Eric's dismissal.“Where is Uncle Morgan?” Kaden thought, grinding his teeth in anger. “He had assured me that Eric would be dismissed today!”Overwhelmed by embarrassment, Kaden made a hasty exit from the classroom, his spirits sinking with every step.Meanwhile, Eric approached the class monitor, Sharon.
"" “Sharon, did I lie tonot tell you? I said that I wouldn't be expelled,"" Eric?” he said to Sharon with a , his smile.
""Uh-huh.""
never leaving his face.Sharon nodded, feeling relieved.a wave of relief washing over her. She had been restless allspent the entire afternoon for some reason. She really didn't want Eric to be expelled.
""But seriously, thankin a state of unease, dreading the possibility of Eric's expulsion.“Thank you. You're, Sharon. You were the only one in the classwho was willing to help me,"",” Eric continued tosaid, his smile.
The guy next to him teased, "" growing wider.A classmate chimed in, teasing, “Class monitor, you seem to care quite a bit about Eric so much. Could it be... you likehave feelings for him?""
Upon hearing this, ?”Sharon's face turned red instantly.
""flushed a deep crimson at the insinuation. “Nonsense! I... I'm the class monitor, so of course, I haveand it's my duty to upholdensure justice for theall students,"" Sharon said,” she retorted, biting her lip.
After speaking, Sharon hurriedly Without another word, she turned on her heel and randashed out of the classroom.
""Oh...""
Eric, who had plannedbeen planning to invite Sharon for a meal, but she had already left.
was left staring at the empty doorway.On the other side of the school, Kaden left the classroom and headed straight tomade a beeline for the disciplinary office. He wanted, determined to askconfront the principal why Eric hadn't been expelled yet.
Disciplinary office.
""about Eric's non-expulsion.“Uncle Morgan! You promisedassured me that the kidEric would be expelled today. Why is it already after school, and he's he still not expelled?""here?” Kaden asked angrily as soondemanded as soon as he enteredstepped into the office.
""“Kaden, there's nothing I can do to help you withabout this matter,"",” the principal shook his head.
Kaden furrowed his brows, ""What? Uncle Morgan, you clearly promised me, but now you say you can't help?""
""I'll be honest with you; the principal wants to protect him. As for the specific reason, the principal hasn't revealed it to me,"" the principal saidreplied, shaking theirhis head.
""What! The principal wants to protect him? Why would the principal Kaden's brows knitted together in confusion. “What? Uncle Morgan, you made a promise to me, and now you're saying you can't help?”“The principal has decided to protect him. As for the reasons behind this decision, I'm afraid I'm not privy to them,” the principal confessed, shaking his head.Kaden was taken aback. “The principal is protecting him? Why would he protect a poor kid like him?"" Kaden couldn't understand at all.
""Eric?”“I don't know either.have the answers, Kaden. If you want to find out, you can go and askknow, you'll have to ask the principal yourself,” the principal suggested, shrugging his shoulders.Kaden knew he couldn't approach the principal yourself,"" the principal shrugged.
Kaden definitely couldn't go and ask the principal because; he had no relationshiprapport with the principal.
""Damn it! Damn it!""
Kaden him. His frustration bubbled over into anger as he realized that his plan had failed like this, and his face became pale with anger.
You see, he had made grandbeen thwarted.His earlier grandiose claims in the class that Eric would definitely be expelled and even said harsh words to Eric.about Eric's expulsion now hung over him like a dark cloud, threatening to further tarnish his reputation. If he's notEric wasn't expelled, he'dhe would lose even more face in the class!

Gourmet Restaurant....
Gourmet Restaurant.
This restaurant is A beacon of sophistication and elegance, it was the most high-class oneend establishment near the school.
The restaurant is tastefully decoratedwas adorned with tasteful decor, and the atmosphere is relatively quiet.
ambiance was one of hushed tranquility. Eric and Fatty arefound themselves comfortably seated at a table.
After, their surroundings a testament to the restaurant's reputation.Once the school day had ended, Eric expressed his intentionhad extended an invitation to treat Fatty tofor a meal. As a top wealthy second-generation,scion of wealth, it was only natural for Eric naturally choseto select the highest-classmost opulent restaurant nearby.
in the vicinity. The Gourmet Restaurant is famous at was a renowned name among the students of New York University, butyet this iswas Eric's first time dining here.
""inaugural visit."Eric, you've made it big!truly struck gold! Let your buddy here ride on old friend bask in your coattails, hehe."" Fatty'ssuccess," Fatty exclaimed, his face is full ofalight with excitement.
Although Fatty's Despite his family runsowning a small business, they aren't particularly affluent, so it's alsowere far from wealthy, making this Fatty's first time eatingexperience dining at the Gourmet Restaurant.
""You used to treat as well."You've treated me to meals frequently.countless times before. Now that I'm treating youI have the means to return the favor, it's only fair.""," Eric said with aresponded, his smile.
When Eric warm and genuine. He remembered the times when he was too poorimpoverished to afford meals in the past, Fatty often assisted him. Eric has always kept this favor in mind.
, and how Fatty suddenly had stepped in to help. Those acts of kindness were not easily forgotten.Suddenly, Fatty looked up and said, "", a grin spreading across his face. "Eric, I think theour class monitor, Sharon, might have a crush onthing for you. And Sharon is soShe's sweet and, beautiful, and most importantly, she has a goodgreat personality, isn't. She's not materialistic, and she's single. A girl like her is hard to find evena rare find. I think you have a good shot with a lantern. I think you can win her over."" Fatty said with a grin.
"".""She's a pretty good girl, but I don't have I'm not thinking too many thoughtsmuch about it forright now. Let's justWe'll see how things go with the flow.""," Eric shrugged.
At this moment, dish after dish is being served, includingreplied, shrugging off the suggestion. Just then, the waiter began to serve an array of dishes: Squirrel Mandarin Fish, Signature Beggar's Chicken, a seafood feast, and several other signature dishes of the restaurant, along withall accompanied by a bottle of red wine.
In the past, Eric would never have dared to imaginecould only dream of ordering so many dishes at oncesuch a lavish spread, especially expensivethe pricier signature dishes.
After half an hour, both Eric and Fatty are fullwere sated and satisfied.
""content. "The bill!""
, please," Eric calls overcalled to the waiter to pay the bill.
"". "Sir, your total comes to $4,330. We'll round it down to $4,300. Will you be paying by card or in cash?""?" The waitress smiles.
asked, her smile polite and professional. A meal costing over four thousand dollars, was something Eric could never have imagined in the past, Eric wouldn't have even dared. It was equivalent to dream of it. That's his annual living expenses for a year.
""."By card.""
As," Eric speaks, he rummagesreplied, reaching for his wallet.
""Huh? Where's His hand met empty air. "Wait, where's my wallet?""
Eric suddenly realizes that his ?" His voice held a note of panic. He stood up abruptly, patting down his pockets, but his wallet is missing!
He quickly stands up and searches his entire body, but still doesn't find his wallet.
""Darn, could was nowhere to be found. "Could it have been stolen?""
Eric suddenly remembers that when he went to?" Eric's mind raced back to an earlier encounter in the restroom earlier,where a suspicious man had bumped into him.
At thatthe time, Eric didn't thinkhe hadn't thought much of it, but now that, with his wallet is lost, Eric immediately suspects him.
Eric scansmissing, suspicion fell on the surroundings and doesn't find the man's figure instranger. He scanned the restaurant. It's, but the man was nowhere to be seen. It seemed likely that the thief had made a swift exit after committing the crime, he made a quick getaway.
The.Their conversation between them andwith the manager caughthad drawn the attention of the other diners, who began discussing their to whisper among themselves about Eric and Fatty's predicament. Eric, feeling frustrated, didn't have a solution Frustration crept into Eric's features. He was at handa loss for what to do, but he knew there was no avoiding paying escaping the obligation to pay for the meal. Despite his mounting anger, he understood that they hadneeded to find a waysolution to settle the bill.
"