Test each other's mettle

Rick's excitement quickly faded under Emily's wary gaze, and he realized that he might have been too direct and hadn't considered the other man's feelings. In the face of Emily's question, Rick suddenly became a little stuttering, his words no longer flowing and the expression on his face becoming tense.

"I... I'm Rick," he tried to explain, but there was a noticeable tension in his voice. I didn't mean any harm, really."

Rick's throat felt suddenly dry, and he looked at Emily with a mixture of caution and fear in his eyes, realizing that he might have made a serious mistake. He had wanted to start with a warm greeting, but he hadn't realized that it would cause her to become uneasy. Rick's heartbeat accelerated, and he felt the system's indication of a drop in favorability ring in his ears like an alarm bell.

Favorability drops 10 points. ....

The favorability dropped 20 points.

Emily's eyes were still filled with doubt as she sized up Rick, trying to determine his true intentions.

Emily's frown relaxed slightly, but she remained vigilant. "Do we know each other?"

Rick's voice held a hint of a tremble as he tried to look less threatening. He spread his hands out, signaling that he had no hidden malice, all the while searching for the right words to ease the tension.

Rick quickly thought about how to ease Emily's suspicions, knowing that he needed to give her a valid reason while creating a comfortable environment to explain everything. His eyes inadvertently swept over the restaurant next door, where the lighting was soft and the elegant décor and comfortable seating could be seen inside through the windows.

In a flash of inspiration, Rick smiled and said to Emily, "I know this might sound a little strange, but I'm really a friend of your friend. If you'd like, we can go sit in the restaurant over there, and I'll explain everything in detail."

There was a hint of levity in his words, trying to create a casual and friendly atmosphere. Emily couldn't help but be shocked for a moment when she heard Rick offer to go into the restaurant next door. It was a fancy restaurant that she had always wanted to try, but the level of spending there had put her off; a cup of coffee costing $100 was well out of her daily spending range.

Emily was surprised by Rick's offer, and at the same time, she was mildly curious about him. She began to reevaluate the skimpily dressed man in front of her; he didn't seem as simple as she had first thought.

"Well," Emily finally agreed, a hint of curiosity and adventurous spirit in her voice. "I'd like to hear what your story is."

Rick led Emily towards the restaurant, his pace brisk, secretly glad that he had found the right place to begin their conversation. Emily followed Rick, her eyes both curious and wary, but more than anything else, she was looking forward to what was about to happen.

Upon entering the restaurant, Rick chose a window seat and gestured for Emily to sit down.

Emily sat across from Rick as she looked around, enjoying the ambiance of the restaurant. Her curiosity about Rick was growing, and she wanted to know what the man's story was.

The waiter, dressed in a neat uniform and with a professional smile, approached Rick and Emily's table. He politely inquired, "Good evening. May I ask if you two have prior reservations?"

Rick smiled and replied, "No, we don't have a reservation. May we see the menu, please?"

The waitress nodded and handed Rick a beautifully presented menu. Rick took the menu, and without much hesitation, he directly handed it to Emily, his movements revealing confidence and generosity. "Please feel free to order as you wish, Emily; you're welcome."

Emily received the menu, and a glint of challenge flashed in her eyes. She knew the reputation of this restaurant and was aware of the high prices. She decided to take advantage of the opportunity and order the most expensive dishes, wanting to see how Rick would react. A mischievous, mischievous spirit welled up in Emily's mind as she wanted to test the man who had appeared out of nowhere, claiming to be a friend of her friend.

The menu was full of dishes, but Emily quickly found the one with the highest price tag: a deluxe steak made from the finest ingredients, paired with a selection of red wines and exquisite side dishes at a ridiculously expensive price.

She looked up and said to the waiter, "I'd like that, please." The waiter smiled and noted Emily's choice, then turned to Rick.

Rick, unconcerned with Emily's choice, smiled and said to Emily, "Please go ahead, and if you want anything else, just order it. I'm paying for it tonight."

His words revealed a confidence and generosity that surprised Emily a little. She had thought that ordering an expensive dish would make Rick feel pressurized, but Rick's reaction was completely out of her expectations.

The waitress waited patiently while Emily considered whether or not to go ahead and order something else. Her eyes wandered over the menu, and she ordered a few more pricey meals, which together added up to no less than $1,000.

Emily then politely handed the menu back to the waiter. Meanwhile, Rick's demeanor was subdued, showing no financial stress.

Emily observed Rick's reaction, and her mind was a little surprised. She had expected Rick to be embarrassed, but Rick's behavior was unexpected. It gave her a new appreciation for Rick; maybe he wasn't as simple as he appeared.

A new strength welled up in Rick, and he told himself that he had blacked out and was no longer the loser he used to be. He decided to become more confident and mysterious, even with a bit of dark charm.

His eyes became deeper, and his smile held a hint of inscrutability. Rick murmured in his mind that he was going to take control of the situation and that he was going to make Emily feel the difference in him.

Emily's eyes twinkled with a hint of cunning as she tentatively posed her question to Rick. Her voice was soft with a hint of playfulness. "You're not a friend of my friend, are you?"

Rick didn't show any nervousness or uneasiness when he heard this question. Instead, a gentle smile appeared on his face. Instead of rejecting Emily's question or admitting it outright, he chose an answer that was neither affirmative nor negative, while subtly steering the conversation towards Emily.

Rick responded easily, "You're pretty brave, too, eating at a fancy restaurant with a strange man you don't know."