I'm back in 1990

Chapter 199: Without knowing the suffering of others

That evening, Ding Yi happily went to a French restaurant with Dong Ling and her five roommates, since Dong Ling was nominally treating them.

Ding Yi, the wealthy husband Dong Ling snagged, is here today to put on a good show for Dong Ling, and he also serves as her wallet. Otherwise, would they really be relying on Dong Ling to pay for tonight's expenses? She only has 120 yuan a month for living expenses.

The cosmetics she uses now cost more than 120 yuan. Ever since she started dating Ding Yi, he has been very obedient to her, buying her whatever she wants. He has also taken her shopping for a lot of clothes and shoes and introduced her to a lot of things.

Like tonight's French restaurant, if Ding Yi hadn't brought Dong Ling here before, how would she have known that there was such a place in Shanghai? This gave her another topic to brag about to her roommates in the dormitory. She boasted about how high-class the French restaurant was, and with her roommates looking on with envy, Dong Ling's vanity was greatly satisfied. She even promised to take her roommates there for a meal.

Watching Dong Ling expertly help her roommates order food, Ding Yi's lips curled into a barely perceptible sneer.

When the waiter asked Ding Yi what he wanted, Ding Yi glanced at the menu briefly and ordered a cod and veal set meal.

While waiting for the food to be served, Dong Ling showed off the Western dining skills she had learned from Ding Yi, and taught them to her roommates. Ding Yi remained silent and did not participate, just watching Dong Ling's antics with a smile.

After the dishes were served, Ding Yi started eating on his own. He didn't wait for all thirteen dishes to be served. After finishing two main courses, he ended his meal early and beckoned the waiter over.

Then he whispered a few words in the waiter's ear and handed the waiter a stack of money.

Then Ding Yi stood up and said to Dong Ling and her roommates, "Excuse me, ladies, please enjoy your meal. I have to go now. Oh, and Dong Ling, I've already paid for my set meal, so you don't need to pay for it. Have a good meal, goodbye!"

After saying that, he left without giving Dong Ling a chance to react. Dong Ling and her roommates were dumbfounded by this sudden situation. What was going on? Everything had been fine all along.

It wasn't until Ding Yi left the French restaurant that Dong Ling realized, "Ding Yi's gone, who's going to pay the bill?"

Her roommates had no idea what was happening, nor did they know that they were about to witness the most embarrassing moment of Dong Ling's life.

At first, Dong Ling was a little at a loss, but she quickly calmed down. She forced a smile and borrowed a phone from the waiter to make a page to Ding Yi.

A few minutes later, Ding returned the call.

To hide her predicament, Dong Ling lowered her voice and questioned Ding Yi, "Ding Yi, what do you mean? Come back right now!"

Ding Yi laughed and said, "Didn't you say you were treating today? You don't need to pay for my portion, I've already paid for it. You can continue eating, anyway, I've saved you the money for mine."

"Are you kidding me? I didn't bring any money?"

Ding Yi feigned surprise on the phone, saying, "You're treating us but you don't bring any money?"

Dong Ling almost burst into tears. It was true that she was treating everyone, but she had taken it for granted that Ding Yi would pay for it.

"Oh! I get it, you want me to pay for your meal, right? Dong Ling, is your head made of rice or corn? Why should I pay for your roommates' meal when you're being so generous?"

"Let me tell you, I use this trick all the time. I'm usually the one treating, and others pay. You think you can pull this on me? Do you think I'm made of clay? And just so you know, I'm breaking up with you!"

Dong Ling couldn't care less about arguing with Ding Yi anymore. She pleaded, "Ding Yi, can you come back and settle my bill? I'll pay you back slowly later."

Unfortunately, all she got in response was a series of dial tonees.

She continued to call the paging service to call Ding Yi, but to no avail; Ding Yi never called back.

After hanging up the phone, Ding Yi let out a bitter sigh of relief, turned off his pager, hailed a taxi, and went back to school.

After Ding Yi returned to the dormitory, the other roommates were either reading or writing letters, each busy with their own things and not disturbing each other.

Ding Yi shouted loudly, "Listen up, everyone! I'm in a good mood tonight, so I'm treating everyone to late-night snacks. Pick your own place!"

The group looked at Ding Yi in surprise, wondering what was wrong with him.

Huang Xiaochuan peeked out from the top bunk and replied, "No, I'm not going. I'm out of money!"

"Hey! I'm paying for everything tonight, wanna come?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaochuan immediately perked up and jumped down from the top bunk: "Yes, I have to go!"

Huang Xiaochuan put his arm around Ding Yi's neck and asked, "Did you dump that scheming bitch?"

Ding Yi smiled and said, "I'll tell you all the details when we have supper later."

But Dong Ling was in a terrible situation; her face was flushed red and pale as she tried to explain to her roommates.

"My husband Ding and I had a fight, and he ran away. I can't contact him. I don't have much money on me. Let's chip in for dinner tonight, and I'll pay you back later."

Hearing this, the roommates exchanged bewildered glances, completely unheard of! Inviting guests to pay for a meal? What kind of nonsense is this?

Are they having a tiff? Doesn't seem like it.

However, considering that we were all classmates and roommates, we decided to help each other pay back the money first. We couldn't just stay in their restaurant and not leave, could we?

When they asked how much the meal cost, the waiter's answer shocked them.

"Ladies, your total bill for tonight is 3319 yuan, not including the bill for the gentleman who left earlier. Just round it down to 3300 yuan!"

Holy crap, my roommates were all stunned. How were we going to raise so much money?

Dong Ling knew in her heart that this meal wouldn't be cheap. It wasn't her first time here, and now, hearing the waiter announce the cost and seeing her roommates' faces, she couldn't help but want to cry.

Just as Dong Ling and her roommates were in a state of panic, Ding Yi led his roommates to Huanghe Road, where they sat in the Haibaofang and excitedly recounted everything that had happened that night.

After hearing this, Wu Duo frowned slightly and advised, "Old Ding, aren't you going a bit too far?"

After taking a sip of wine, Ding Yi said, "I went too far? Back then, I sincerely pursued her, and how did she humiliate me? I was just giving her a taste of her own medicine."

Wu Duo wanted to try to persuade him further, but Huang Xiaochuan stopped him: "Squad leader, don't advise others to be kind if you haven't experienced their suffering. Lao Ding didn't do anything too outrageous. That woman has also benefited a lot from Lao Ding. This incident is a lesson for her. Lao Ding has been quite kind. Alright! Let's just let this matter go. Tonight, let's just drink and eat. Let's not waste all the good food Lao Ding ordered."

Upon hearing Huang Xiaochuan's words, Ding Yi smiled, picked up his glass, clinked it with Huang Xiaochuan's, and downed it in one gulp!

Zhang Gaolei also raised his glass: "Me too, congratulations to Lao Ding on becoming single again."

Chen Zhe also picked up a bottle of Jianlibao and drank it with him. He had a very low alcohol tolerance and didn't dare to drink tonight.

Wu Duo agreed with Huang Xiaochuan's words and downed his glass in one gulp.

Ding Yi urged, "Hurry up and start eating. If you want anything else, just ask the landlady. Don't worry about saving money for me tonight."