"Now it's almost dinner time; how about we grab a meal? Just coffee won't fill you up," Anxin smiled.
The nearby woman seemed somewhat drawn in by the sight, her face softened by the sunlight.
Though distinctly East Asian in appearance, there was nothing ordinary about her, instead giving off a gentle and harmonious vibe.
Chuxinxin couldn't help but scold herself internally, 'Are you out of your mind? Just because someone's caught in the sunlight, you're fantasizing.'
Seeing Chuxinxin staring at her, Anxin felt a bit embarrassed and joked, "Do I have something on my face?"
Both felt increasingly awkward but didn't dare to speak further.
Quickly, they arrived at a dumpling restaurant, unexpectedly luxurious and not a place one would expect an ordinary person to enter.
Just as they were about to enter, they heard someone loudly complaining, "Are these dumplings made of gold? So expensive!"
"If you can't afford it, don't eat. Do you think our restaurant is a charity?" The waitress's face was full of disdain.
Looking at an elderly man nearby, the waitress kept showing him the bill.
"Our menu clearly states that these are made with high-quality ingredients like cordyceps, saffron, and snow lotus from the Tian Shan mountains," she proudly asserted.
"These ingredients don't just mix well together," the elderly man's face chilled, as if he could slap the waitress.
"If I'm not mistaken, this old man is probably one of the restaurant's owners, here to ensure the dumplings meet his standards," Anxin surmised, sensing the tension.
As more onlookers gathered, the waitress grew impatient and seemed ready to have the elderly man escorted out.
"Call the police! Eating without paying? Who does that?" The young waitress was visibly irritated.
Several men nearby appeared eager to intervene, poised to escort the elderly man out if he didn't pay.
The elderly man smirked, "It's just a 2000 yuan dumpling. Fine, I'll pay. But I want to know what justifies this price."
"You're welcome to leave if you don't want to pay," the waitress retorted confidently.
At that moment, a man in a white suit stepped in, "Hey, what's all the fuss about? You give away 2000 yuan dumplings now?"
He then held onto the elderly man, preventing him from leaving.
Frustrated, the waitress exclaimed, "White Fei, get lost before I beat you!"
"I'm your bro! Is this how you treat me after all these years?" White Fei grinned.
Unable to leave, the elderly man protested, "I'm your uncle! You can't treat me like this!"
"Even if you were my dad, I couldn't let you go in front of all these people!" White Fei retorted.
Approaching Anxin, White Fei said, "You're a new customer, right? Help me out here. This old man claims our dumplings aren't worth it."
Chuxinxin stared at White Fei, incredulous at his audacity. Had marketing strategies at upscale restaurants become this casual?
"Sure," Anxin agreed before being swiftly seated by a pretty waitress nearby.
"Hey, I don't even get this treatment myself. Are you favoring him because he's good-looking?" White Fei joked.
Before he could finish, the waitress stepped on his foot, silencing him.
Finally, the tension eased as a plate of dumplings was brought over.
Anxin paid for three servings via QR code and remarked, "I won't eat for free, but I'll tell you if they're any good."
With that, she picked up a dumpling and tasted it, finding it delicious despite its small portion.
"The taste is excellent! As for the rest, I'm just here for a good time eating," Anxin grinned, calling Gao Qilan.
"Come over and try these dumplings; they're amazing."
Her voice was gentle over the phone, causing nearby women to envy her.
They scrimped and saved to dine here, and few men would spend this much money.
But she treated the person on the other end like her cherished treasure, planning their order in advance.
Shortly after, Gao Qilan arrived in a custom outfit Anxin arranged.
Everyone stared at her, making her suddenly embarrassed.
The elderly man and siblings nearby noticed their discomfort.
White Fei apologized, "Sorry for the disturbance. Please, enjoy your meal."