Chapter 4

I hung up and announced it to the room.

"My mom says to order whatever we want. However much it comes to, she'll send me the money."

Virginia's eyes lit up in an instant.

She glanced sideways, then leaned in and grabbed my hand.

"Evelyn, your family's so well off. Why don't you show us all a good time for once?"

"I hear that Imperial Grand place is really high-end. Can't you ask your mom to send you a little extra and treat us all to a dinner there?"

The rest of the class started to waver.

"That's a bit much. Imperial Grand runs two thousand a head. Thirty of us, that's sixty grand minimum."

"And Evelyn's scholarship was only ten thousand…"

I met Virginia's eyes and nodded yes.

"It's fine. Imperial Grand it is. I could use a treat myself for once."

The others laughed and clapped me on the shoulder.

"You're spending your mom's money. How's that you getting a treat?"

"We're the ones getting the treat off you!"

I shrugged and gave Virginia a long look.

"Doesn't matter whose money it is. Call it borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha."

That weekend, I booked the double-table private room at Imperial Grand.

One expensive dish after another came out onto the table.

Virginia couldn't hide the excitement in her eyes.

Once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Virginia picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth.

"Evelyn, hurry up and have your mom send the money over."

I waved the server over.

"No rush. Let's see what it comes to first."

The server came over with the card reader.

"Ma'am, your total is eighty-six thousand three hundred. With the rounding discount, that's eighty-six thousand even."

A ripple of gasps ran around the table.

"Eighty-six grand. God, my mom doesn't even make eighty grand in a whole year."

"Is this… did we go too far? Evelyn, is your mom going to yell at you?"

Virginia's eyes glittered with greed, and she couldn't keep the corners of her mouth from lifting.

"Evelyn's family is so wealthy. Why would they nitpick over something like this?"

"Oh, right, Evelyn, didn't you say your card has issues sometimes? I really think you should have your mom send extra, just so nothing goes wrong."

I smiled and nodded. "Sure. How about I have my mom send sixteen thousand?"

At the word "sixteen thousand," the muscles in Virginia's face started to twitch.

Under Virginia's expectant gaze, I slipped my phone back into my pocket.

Her expression went blank for a second, then she pushed me again.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and call for the money. The server's still waiting to close out the bill!"

I took my bank card out of my bag.

"Just messing with you. No need to ask my mom for money. We'll settle it straight off my card."

Virginia snorted a laugh. "You've only got fifty on that card, haven't you? This dinner's eighty-six grand. Your little bit wouldn't even cover the loose change. How are you going to pay?"

I lowered my voice, playing it up as a mystery.

"Here's what you don't know. This card of mine is amazing. It's like Doraemon's pocket."

"The balance really is only fifty, that's true. But every time I spend money, it tops me right back up to fifty."

I handed the card to the server. "I'll have to trouble you, though. It only lets me charge fifty at a time, so you'll have to swipe it a bunch of times."

Puzzled, the server took my card and entered fifty on the reader.

The reader gave a "beep" of confirmation. The charge went through.

The server was about to swipe a second time when Virginia's face changed completely. She lunged over and slammed her hand down on the card reader.

"No!"