Even back when Chen Fan was still part of the Chen family, he could never afford to eat at a place like Wangjiang Pavilion, let alone now that he had cut ties with them.
Seeing Chen Fan standing in front of Wangjiang Pavilion now, Chen Yuzhen felt like it was the biggest joke in the world.
Chen Fan let out a cold laugh and said:
"You think I don't belong here? What about you—do you think you belong here?"
Hearing that, Chen Yuzhen smirked proudly, then raised her voice and boasted:
"Of course I do. I come here at least five times a month. If that doesn't count, what does?"
"Maybe before you could," Chen Fan replied calmly, "but today—you're not getting past that door."
With that, he casually pulled out his phone and sent a quick text.
"You're saying I won't be allowed inside Wangjiang Pavilion? What a joke. Who do you think you are?"Chen Yuzhen laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. "Hahaha! That's the funniest thing I've heard all day!"
Her friends echoed her laughter and taunts:
"Yeah! Saying Chen-jie won't be allowed in Wangjiang Pavilion? This guy must be sleepwalking."
"Is there any place in Jiangzhou where our Yuzhen-jie isn't welcome?"
Chen Yuzhen straightened her back, confidently turned to Chen Fan and declared:
"Chen Fan, watch closely. I'll show you exactly how someone like me walks right into Wangjiang Pavilion without a hitch."
"As for someone like you—you'll never get past the entrance. You'll spend your whole life sniffing at the doorway, eating food not even stray dogs would touch!"
"Let's go!"
With that, she strode toward the restaurant entrance with great swagger.
But just as she was about to step in, a staff member standing at the main door stopped her.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," the hostess said politely."We're fully booked for lunch today. If you'd like to come back another time, we recommend making a reservation in advance."
The moment those words left her mouth, Chen Yuzhen's friends all froze awkwardly on the spot.
Chen Yuzhen, however, stayed calm, as if she'd anticipated this.
"Don't worry..."
She gave her friends a quick glance, then confidently pulled out a special-looking card from her purse.
"Look carefully. I'm a premium member of Wangjiang Pavilion—Chen Yuzhen. That gives me priority access—no need to line up or make reservations."
She tossed the card toward the hostess with a smug look.
Premium member?!!
The staff's expression immediately changed.
"So? Can I go in now?"Chen Yuzhen asked, eyes full of pride.
"Yes—of course you can," the hostess responded quickly."As a premium member, you absolutely have priority. I apologize—I didn't recognize you right away. Please, come in..."
She bowed slightly and gestured toward the entrance with utmost courtesy.
Seeing this, Chen Yuzhen's smile widened triumphantly.
She turned to Chen Fan and gloated:
"See that, you little nobody? I'm walking right into Wangjiang Pavilion for lunch, and you're stuck out here watching. You'll never get in!"
Just as she took a step toward the entrance—
A man in his 30s wearing a sharp suit suddenly blocked her path.
"Manager Zhao? What are you doing?"
Chen Yuzhen recognized him immediately—it was none other than the lobby manager of Wangjiang Pavilion.
"Ms. Chen, may I ask what you're doing?"Manager Zhao asked calmly.
"Me? I'm obviously going in for lunch. What else would I be doing?"
"Manager Zhao, don't stand in the way—we don't have all day."
She tried to step past him again, but he blocked her once more.
Then, under Chen Yuzhen's increasingly impatient glare, Manager Zhao spoke coldly:
"Ms. Chen Yuzhen, I'm sorry to inform you—you are not allowed to enter today."
"What?!""What did you just say?!"
Chen Yuzhen exploded.
Right in front of Chen Fan, and all her friends—this manager was denying her entry?!
"Why?!"
"Why?" Manager Zhao shrugged casually."There is no why. You're just not going in. If you need a reason, take it as—there's no seat for you."
At that moment, Chen Fan and Xia Mengmeng arrived.
"So? Didn't I say you wouldn't be allowed in today? Do you believe me now?"
Chen Fan said coolly.
Instantly, Chen Yuzhen's face flushed crimson—she was utterly humiliated.
Chen Fan stepped forward and whispered something into Manager Zhao's ear.
Upon hearing it, the arrogant manager's expression changed instantly. He smiled obsequiously:
"Please, come in! Right this way..."
He bowed and ushered Chen Fan and Xia Mengmeng inside with the utmost respect.
"Oh, Chen Yuzhen—looks like we're going in. You'll just have to watch from outside."
Chen Fan echoed her earlier words—word for word—right back at her.
Chen Yuzhen was about to explode.
The next second, with her face twisted in rage, she could only watch helplessly as Chen Fan and Xia Mengmeng strolled into Wangjiang Pavilion, calm and unbothered.
She and her group were left standing at the door.
"Didn't you just say there were no seats? Then why was he allowed in?!"
"Why does he get a table and not me?!"
Chen Yuzhen screamed, pointing at Manager Zhao.
The manager simply laughed and replied:
"And who do you think you are, to compare yourself with Mr. Chen?"
"Who am I? I'm Chen Yuzhen! I'm a premium member of Wangjiang Pavilion!"
Chen Yuzhen retorted.
"Oh, that reminds me..."
Manager Zhao suddenly remembered something.
He walked over, took the membership card from the staff member, and pulled out a pair of scissors from his pocket.
Without hesitation, in front of everyone, he snipped the card in half.
Then, in a loud, clear voice, he announced:
"Effective immediately, Chen Yuzhen is no longer a premium member of Wangjiang Pavilion."
"Furthermore, from this moment forward, she is blacklisted—permanently banned from dining at this establishment!"
His words struck like a thunderclap.
Chen Yuzhen froze in place.
What... what just happened?
Guests leaving the restaurant overheard the announcement and began to whisper:
"Whoa, she got blacklisted by Wangjiang Pavilion. We better stay away from her..."
Being blacklisted by Wangjiang Pavilion meant total social disgrace in Jiangzhou's upper circles.
Chen Yuzhen's reputation was shattered.
"Why!!!"She screamed.
Why was Chen Fan allowed in, while she was denied? Why was her membership revoked and she blacklisted?
Chen Yuzhen was utterly furious.
She had never been so humiliated in her life—especially not in front of someone she always looked down on like Chen Fan.
After a bout of shouting and fuming, Chen Yuzhen finally began to calm down.
At that moment, as she replayed the incident in her head—she suddenly realized what had happened...