Couple’s Meal

The fourth and fifth floors of the mall housed the food court, featuring a mix of quick-service noodle shops, set meal vendors, and more upscale brand-name restaurants.

As they reached a Japanese restaurant, Vera hesitated, stopping in her tracks. "Brother-in-law, is this place okay? My classmates say it's a bit expensive, but the food is really good."

This particular restaurant had a solid reputation. Ryan had heard of it before but had never eaten there; the average cost per person was in the hundreds of dollars—something he couldn't afford in the past.

Before Ryan could respond, Vera sighed and continued walking. "Forget it, forget it. If Mom or Second Sister found out, they'd definitely scold me. It's not easy for you to make money, anyway."

Her words, though sensible, carried a note of sadness. Ryan grabbed her hand and smiled. "Then why don't we just not tell them?"

"Really?" Vera's face lit up with a mix of surprise and excitement.

"You and your brother-in-law seem to be collecting more and more little secrets," Ryan teased.

As they stepped into the restaurant, Vera suddenly noticed he was still holding her hand. Embarrassed, she tried to shake it off, but Ryan held on tightly. Her face turned red, and she gave up, reluctantly letting him lead her to the teppanyaki station. She preferred the interactive setup to a standard dining table.

Once they were seated, Ryan handed her the iPad menu with a grin. "Order whatever you like. Don't worry about saving money for me."

"Who's saving money for a big pervert like you?" Vera huffed playfully. She picked up the iPad and began scrolling, her eyes wide as she studied the beautifully plated dishes and their accompanying prices.

Ryan chuckled. "Having trouble deciding? Should we just get a couple's meal?"

"Who'd order a couple's meal with you?" Vera snapped, flipping the tablet closed and handing it back. "You pick. I don't know what to choose."

Just then, the waiter arrived to set the tableware and pour tea. With a warm smile, he recommended, "For the lovely lady, our couple's set menu is very popular. It's affordable, delicious, and much more popular than ordering à la carte."

"We're not—" Vera started to protest, but Ryan interrupted. "Which couple's set do you recommend?"

"The 888 set includes seafood and is one of our best options," the waiter replied.

"Perfect. We'll take that," Ryan said confidently.

As soon as the waiter left, Vera pouted and turned to him. "Brother-in-law, what nonsense are you spouting? It's so weird for the two of us to get a couple's meal!"

"Why are you explaining yourself to a stranger? Feeling guilty, are we?"

Ryan touched Vera's small hand with a teasing smile. "You always call me a pervert. I'd feel sorry for myself if I didn't live up to it once in a while. When are you going to let your brother-in-law take advantage of you?"

Vera jerked her hand back as if startled, her face turning red. "Brother-in-law, stop joking around! If my second sister finds out, she'll kill you."

"Then I'll divorce her," Ryan quipped, leaning closer. "How about I marry you instead?"

Vera rolled her eyes in mock annoyance, though her cheeks remained flushed. "If you dare say that to my second sister, she'll do more than kill you."

The essence of Japanese teppanyaki is its theatrical preparation, with exquisite presentation that appeals to all the senses. As they ate, Vera was particularly lively, her expressions reminiscent of a curious kitten savoring treats for the first time. The closer Ryan observed her, the more her charm captivated him, sparking desires he struggled to suppress.

"You've got sauce on your lips," Ryan said, pointing.

Vera's cheeks flushed as she grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth, but before she could, Ryan leaned in and gently scraped the sauce away with his finger.

While she froze in surprise, he popped his finger into his mouth and licked it clean, grinning. "Delicious!"

"Ugh, you're like a puppy—so gross!" Vera's face turned a deeper shade of red.

"It's not gross at all. It's actually pretty sweet," Ryan teased, his smirk widening.

Despite the playful banter, Vera enjoyed the meal immensely. She glanced around and noticed other diners snapping photos of their food and sharing them online. Self-conscious, she hesitated to pull out her outdated phone, which wasn't even capable of downloading modern social media apps.

A shadow of disappointment flickered across her face. Ryan noticed but decided to hold off on addressing it, keeping his thoughts to himself for the moment.

Just as they finished the meal, Ryan's phone buzzed. It was Lily calling.

"Honey, I'm thinking of taking the afternoon off and taking Vera to buy some clothes," she said.

Lily's tone suggested she'd just had a realization. Vera's wardrobe mostly consisted of school uniforms, and if she needed new clothes, it likely included essentials like underwear.

It dawned on Lily that sending her husband—a grown man—with her teenage sister to shop for intimate apparel might not have been the wisest choice.

"No need to take a special leave," Ryan said casually. "Mom asked me to take Vera to school to pay her tuition. It doesn't make sense to run back and forth at the mall afterward."

"Alright, thank you for your hard work, husband," Lily replied before hanging up.

After the call ended, Vera hesitated and then said, somewhat embarrassed, "Brother-in-law, it might actually be better if my sister came instead."

"No way," Ryan retorted with a grin, reaching out to hold her hand. "I'm not letting her be a third wheel."

Vera was startled by his sudden gesture and instinctively tried to pull her hand back, twisting her waist in protest. Ryan tightened his grip and joked, "Stop squirming. Be good. If your sister took you shopping, do you think she'd bring you here?"

The question struck a nerve. Vera froze for a moment, then blushed as she realized the truth. If her family took her shopping, they would undoubtedly go to the cheapest stores. A high-end mall like this would be completely out of the question.

Her voice softened. "Even so, you don't need to hold my hand. Brother-in-law, don't go too far."

"This isn't too far," Ryan replied with a chuckle. "Holding a child's hand in a shopping mall is just to keep them from getting lost."

"I'm 18! I'm not a child anymore," Vera huffed, her face turning redder.

Ryan, having already gauged her personality, held her hand more firmly. Vera, flustered but unwilling to make a scene, eventually gave in and let him lead her. To her growing embarrassment, they stopped at a branded lingerie store.

Vera felt her cheeks flush. If her sister were here, there was no way she'd bring her to a store like this.

The prices were daunting. The cheapest set was over a hundred dollars—an amount her family would never spend on her. Most of her clothes growing up were hand-me-downs from her older sisters.

"Don't be nervous. Let's get your measurements first," Ryan said, noticing her sweaty palm. He wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or excitement.