Chapter 80 Reverse Bargaining

Kangyuan was the only Chinese restaurant in the city center rated as a three-star establishment. Years ago, before food delivery became all the rage, Kangyuan was a popular social media hotspot. However, precisely because of its high standards, elevated average spending, and upscale cuisine—unaffordable to most—the business had declined precipitously in recent years. Once renowned and bustling, it now stood nearly deserted, barely managing to stay afloat.

It was dinnertime when the two arrived; although the main hall on the first floor held nearly thirty tables, only five were occupied. There was even less activity upstairs; the dim lighting made it clear that few, if any, private rooms were in use.

"Welcome!" The waiter greeted them politely and promptly handed them menus.

But Lin Fan cut straight to the point. "Is your boss in? I have something important to discuss. Tell him a shareholder from Starlight Entertainment across the street wants to see him."

"Please wait a moment..." The waiter hurried upstairs.

Lin Fan then led Zhang Yi to a private room on the second floor and ordered a few dishes at random. But Zhang Yi was growing restless.

"You’re not seriously thinking of buying it, are you? I... I was just speaking out of anger earlier." Zhang Yi hesitated, having only pointed it out casually, never expecting Lin Fan to take her seriously.

"Whether you meant it or not, as long as it’s something you like, and within my power, I’ll always follow through," Lin Fan replied with confidence.

Zhang Yi gazed at him, her esteem for his resolve growing. During their four years at university, Lin Fan had always been among the top students. He consistently displayed a humble, eager-to-learn attitude without arrogance—a quality Zhang Yi admired deeply.

But in Hangzhou, a city where family background, connections, and pedigree often mattered most, even the best grades didn’t guarantee a bright future. Now that Lin Fan had achieved financial freedom, she had worried he might lose his sense of self. Yet she still saw in him a drive to strive and a spirit of humility, which only increased her affection for him.

"May I help you, sir?" At that moment, a middle-aged man in a white shirt entered the private room, clearly curious about Lin Fan’s intentions.

Lin Fan gestured for him to sit and got straight to the point. "Boss, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Lin Fan, one of the shareholders at Starlight Entertainment. I’d like to buy your restaurant. Would you be willing?"

After introducing himself, he wasted no time in stating his purpose.

The owner introduced himself as well and asked why Lin Fan wanted to buy the restaurant.

"To be honest, I want to buy it as a gift for my girlfriend. I accidentally upset her earlier. She said if I could buy your restaurant, she’d forgive me," Lin Fan said, locking eyes with her and laying everything out.

Zhao Rumin, the owner, could hardly believe his ears. In all his life, he’d never heard such a bizarre reason—buying a restaurant just to placate a girlfriend? It was beyond anything he’d ever encountered.

Zhang Yi glared at Lin Fan, annoyed that he would reveal such a thing. Wasn’t this making a spectacle of themselves?

"Mr. Zhao, name your price. I’m rather eager," Lin Fan pressed.

Zhao Rumin scratched his head. In truth, he’d long wanted to sell this restaurant and focus on another, still-profitable venture. Many had asked about buying it before, but none had offered a satisfactory price.

"Mr. Lin, this is a century-old establishment. From the décor to the master chefs in the kitchen, everything is a living legacy. You won’t find another like it in Hangzhou! And the location is excellent—city center. Foot traffic has dropped, yes, but if you connect with food delivery platforms, business could easily recover..."

As Zhao Rumin rambled on, Lin Fan thought to himself, Is he just trying to inflate the price? Was all this preamble really necessary?

"Just name your price."

"Well... eighty million. What do you think? The wood used for the renovations is valuable—much of it imported. Even the decorations are worth a fortune..." Zhao Rumin held up two fingers as he named his price, then launched into another string of justifications.

Lin Fan pursed his lips in resignation. Clearly, eighty million was Zhao Rumin’s minimum—he was probably hoping for more.

"One hundred million," Lin Fan said, raising a single finger, testing the waters.

Both Zhao Rumin and Zhang Yi stared in shock. The former was incredulous—he hadn’t expected Lin Fan to be so extravagant. Zhang Yi, for her part, couldn’t understand it. Logically, as the buyer, Lin Fan could have bargained down the price; why was he bidding higher instead? Was he simply overflowing with money?

"One hundred million... well..." Zhao Rumin scratched his head. To be honest, the place was worth, at most, seventy million. He had raised it to eighty million just to leave room to negotiate, ensuring he wouldn’t lose out.

He never expected Lin Fan to raise the offer to one hundred million! Zhao Rumin was caught off guard, unsure how to respond. Could Lin Fan be laundering money? But even money launderers didn’t use such odd methods; financial criminals typically used faster channels. Buying a restaurant to launder money could easily lead to total loss.

Unaware of Zhao Rumin’s wild speculations, Lin Fan assumed he was still dissatisfied with the price and continued, "Then one hundred and twenty million."

At that, Zhao Rumin sprang to his feet. "Enough! That’s plenty! I’m very satisfied with this price, Mr. Lin—no, Boss Lin. From this moment on, you are the new owner of Kangyuan Restaurant. I’ll fetch the contract right away; please wait a moment!"

Zhao Rumin could see it clearly now: Lin Fan was a true tycoon—he didn’t care what the restaurant was worth; he only cared about keeping Zhang Yi happy. One hundred and twenty million, fifty million more than his own estimate, was more than enough for him to open a new branch elsewhere.

"Miss, it’s clear that Boss Lin cares for you deeply. If he ever does anything amiss, please forgive him—he’s truly a remarkable man," Zhao Rumin said, flattering Lin Fan before leaving with a broad smile.

Once he was gone, Lin Fan turned to Zhang Yi with a solemn expression. "I’ve bought the restaurant in your name. After we sign the papers, you’ll be its owner. So, are you still upset?"

"This is the strangest bargaining I’ve ever seen—aren’t you being a bit wasteful?" Zhang Yi chided him playfully, though her heart was full of joy.

Lin Fan was willing to spend so much just to make her happy. For that alone, she had no reason to remain angry. She recalled her grandfather’s words: Money is a man’s confidence. If a man is willing to spend his fortune on a woman, he is either a fool or truly devoted.

Clearly, Lin Fan was the latter. It proved that, in his heart, she meant more than anyone else.

"It’s not wasteful. As long as it’s something you like, no price is too high," Lin Fan said, his own happiness mirroring hers as he saw her cheerful, untroubled smile.