"Senior Sister Xinglan? What are you doing here?"
Xu Lizhi dropped his crab claw—clatter!—face frozen in panic.
He leapt up, sauce still dripping from his chin.
"What am I doing here?"
Ye Xinglan crossed her arms, golden ponytail whipping with fury.
"You vanished without a word! Teacher Shen couldn't find you—and here you are, feasting like a king?!"
"I'm sorry, Senior Sister!"
Xu Lizhi shrank like a scolded pup. "I was just… really hungry… planned to grab a quick bite…"
"Quick bite?!" Ye Xinglan scoffed, eyes sweeping the mountain of empty plates, then locking onto Fang Yang's trio.
"And these three?"
Her gaze lingered on Fang Yang—a formidable aura, unmistakable.
"Met them on the street!" Xu Lizhi grinned, sheepish. "Invited them to share seafood!"
Tang Wulin snorted with laughter—this "innocent" kid had snuck out!
Xie Xie shuddered inwardly—"Good thing we didn't ditch Teacher Wu…"
Fang Yang met Ye Xinglan's eyes—recognition flashing.
"So this is Ye Xinglan—one of the future Shrek Seven Devils."
"You invite strangers to dine?" Ye Xinglan rounded on Xu Lizhi, incredulous. "No fear of danger?"
Then she took in the carnage—gaped.
Four people… devoured a king's ransom?!
"Xu Lizhi—full yet?" she hissed, reining in rage.
"I…" He eyed the half-devoured king crab, swallowed hard. "…Full!"
"Then leave. Teacher Shen awaits." Her tone brooked no argument.
Fang Yang stood. "Xie Xie, Wulin—time to go."
"Best meal ever!" Tang Wulin patted his stomach, blissful.
Xie Xie looked haunted.
His bill? 30 million Federation Credits!—like eating gold bars!
Fang Yang nodded politely to Ye Xinglan—then left, casting Xu Lizhi a knowing smirk.
"This Tianhai Tournament…" Ye Xinglan mused, watching them vanish, "won't be easy…"
She spun on Xu Lizhi, glowering. "Still gawking?! Move!"
"Ah! Right!" He jolted, sweating.
"STOP!"
A waiter blocked their path, face thunderous.
Ye Xinglan frowned. "What? Those three already—"
"They paid only for themselves," the waiter snapped, impatience boiling over.
"Your bill remains unpaid!"
Ye Xinglan stared at Xu Lizhi. "You didn't settle together?"
"Pay?" Xu Lizhi blinked, then slapped his forehead—"Wasn't I treating?!"
Realization struck Ye Xinglan—her face turned storm-gray.
"So… 'treating' meant…?"
"I… invited them to eat…" Xu Lizhi mumbled, innocence crumbling.
"I planned to make THEM pay…" he wailed inwardly.
"Do you even have money?!" Ye Xinglan demanded.
This restaurant screamed luxury—and that gluttony…
"Of course! It's just pocket change!" Xu Lizhi waved airily—then froze as the waiter slammed a bill into his hands.
"18 Million Federation Credits."
"THAT MUCH?!" Xu Lizhi's voice cracked.
He'd ordered the priciest delicacies—"Why didn't I read the prices?!"
"The money?" The waiter's eyes narrowed—this freeloader ate the most!
Xu Lizhi whimpered, turning to Ye Xinglan. "Senior Sister, I—"
"Don't tell me—you invited them to eat… but can't pay for YOURSELF?!"
Her voice rose to a shriek.
"…I have no money…" he whispered, ashamed.
His scheme had backfired spectacularly.
Ye Xinglan snatched the bill—stared—grew pale.
"18 million…"
Her temples throbbed.
"You…" She trembled with rage, ponytail quivering.
Violence simmered—barely restrained.
The waiter sneered. "Trying to skip the bill?"
"Wait." Ye Xinglan sighed, pulling out her soul-guided comm.
She dialed Teacher Shen, voice strained:
"Teacher Shen—found Xu Lizhi. At 'Seafood Assassin'… We have… a situation."
No way she'd admit: "He's broke after ordering a fortune!"
"On my way!" Shen Yi's voice crackled with panic.
After hanging up, Ye Xinglan glared at Xu Lizhi.
"No money—yet you dine like an emperor?!"
18 million?!
Dragging the TEACHER to bail you out?!
Xu Lizhi stared at his shoes, mute.
"You ate… but can't pay your own share?!" Her blue eyes blazed.
Then—suspicion dawned.
"He invited strangers… to make THEM pay?!"
She edged away, disgusted.
That "harmless" face… hiding such cunning?!
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