Xia Yuzheng looked at her, "What's wrong?"
Xia Yourong wore a look of obedient innocence, hesitating to speak, "There are so many rules to Western dining etiquette, I'm afraid Xiaorong won't be able to relax."
Hearing this, Xia Yuzheng also noticed the steak at Xia Ye's place that remained untouched and realized his oversight, "We're among family here, don't worry about those things. Yeye, would you like me to get you a pair of chopsticks?"
The row of waitstaff behind exchanged glances, their expressions laden with meaning.
Xu He was mildly annoyed that her husband had chosen a place that could embarrass their daughter, "Little Tiangao, let Mommy cut it for you."
As she was about to rise, Xia Yourong pressed down on her hand, "Mom, you've been very tired these past two days."
After speaking, she raised her voice with a sense of superiority, "Excuse me, waiter, my sister is having Western food for the first time, could you please cut that steak for her before serving it?"
"Yes," a waitstaff from the back approached, ready to take away the steak in front of Xia Ye, but a pale, delicate, and beautiful hand blocked it.
Xia Ye's voice was light, "No need, I'll do it myself."
Xia Yourong's face was laced with mockery.
She's going to do it?
She wouldn't start eating with her hands, would she?
Their Xia Family absolutely could not afford to lose such face!
"Waiter—"
Xia Yourong was about to interrupt, when in the next second, she saw Xia Ye compose herself calmly, expertly rolling back her sleeves and placing her napkin elegantly on her lap.
She first cleansed her fingers with lemon water, then held down the steak with her left hand and cut with her right.
The etiquette was impeccable, without a single mistake.
What shocked Xia Yourong even more was that Xia Ye cut the steak with practiced ease, first slicing off one side with the tip of the knife and then cutting that piece into bite-sized chunks.
With each slice, the sinews were cleanly severed, and the knife tip never touched the plate, not making any unseemly noise.
At that moment, Xia Ye, under the glow of the luxurious chandelier, simply resembled a noble from a Western painting, amidst the clinking of glasses, exuding prestige and grace.
If Xia Yourong hadn't witnessed it herself, she would have doubted whether they had picked up the wrong person!
Was this the country girl who had been imprisoned for 14 years?
Xia Yuzheng and Xu He exchanged a glance, feeling proud of their daughter, but a seed of doubt also sprouted in their minds.
"Little Tiangao, how do you…"
Xia Ye sent a small piece of beef into her mouth with utmost elegance.
What era do they think this is, still assuming a Fairy wouldn't know how to eat Western food?
She had always been impartial in her travels through the human world.
Her hesitation to start cutting earlier was simply because—
She hadn't decided how to conceal her proficiency.
She looked at Xia Yourong, her delicate eyebrows curving up, "I saw sister doing it like this and learned on the spot."
"So that's how it is, no wonder then."
"Yourong truly is a good role model."
Listening to her parents' words, Xia Yourong lowered her head, glanced at her own plate with unevenly cut and haphazardly arranged steak pieces, and immediately felt the irony.
She just watched once and cut it even better than herself?
Unwilling to accept it, as the waiter continued to serve several dishes, she began to introduce actively, "Sister, try their pan-seared foie gras. Godear only uses air-freighted foie gras from Landes, which is especially delicious. You can dip it in the sauce on the side, but I prefer it plain to savor the original flavor of the ingredients."
She sought to emphasize the gap between them through her knowledge of Western cuisine.
Indeed, even the serving waitstaff couldn't help but praise, "Miss Xia really knows her stuff."
Xia Ye supported her chin with her hand, looking nonchalant like a little fox that could ensnare people's hearts, "You know so much, sister," she pointed at a dish nearby, "What about this one?"
Xia Yourong scoffed internally, feeling smug as she introduced the dish her sister pointed to.
Her parents had brought her to Godear many times; she was the most familiar with it.
Afterward, Xia Ye pointed to a dish, and Xia Yourong introduced it.
By the end of the meal, Xia Ye was entirely satisfied, while Xia Yourong felt exhausted from all the explaining.
Only then did she realize.
Could she have been played?
Across the table, Xia Ye laid down her utensils, pulled a piece of tissue, and dabbed at her lips innocently without a single flaw showing.
One had to admit, the dishes in this restaurant were quite to her taste.
Most importantly, there was a free guide.
Xia Yourong looked suspicious, how could someone so clueless outsmart her?
She must be overthinking it.
Let her indulge in her triumph for one more evening then.
After all, the Jiang Family would be coming to call off the engagement tomorrow.
Just thinking about Xia Ye's expression when she learned in front of everyone that the Jiang Family had rejected and returned her made Xia Yourong almost laugh out loud!