C2 Aa System

In the cozy warmth of the softly lit, elegant private booth, the ancient charm of the yellow light provided a tranquil refuge from the bustling noise of the main hall.

Yet Gray Rabbit was anything but comfortable.

After she had laid out her intentions, the man before her maintained a steady gaze, silent. She was caught in an awkward limbo, unsure whether to sit or go, the tension stretching out for a full minute...

Gray Rabbit had never anticipated such a scenario. She had always been confident in her looks; no man had ever turned down her invitation before.

After all, the meal was on the house, Mr. Ten Seconds wouldn't need to reach for his wallet, and he'd have the company of a beautiful live streamer. What's not to like?

But his attention seemed fixated not on her, but on the phone she was streaming from, his demeanor tinged with a hint of wariness.

Realization dawned on Gray Rabbit. She lowered her phone, her eyes brimming with a plea, her expression as innocent and enticing as a fresh grape.

"If you're not comfortable, I won't film you. It's just that the queue outside is so long, and I don't want my viewers to have to wait with me..."

The chat erupted into chaos:

"Utterly shameless!"

"Poor Mr. Ten Seconds, he's about to be ensnared~"

"Gray Rabbit lacks certain... assets!"

It was then that Mr. Ten Seconds finally nodded, his face breaking into a genial, sunny smile.

"Okay."

Gray Rabbit was about to express her gratitude when his next words completely turned the tables.

"You'll have to pay, though."

"What?" She doubted her ears.

"You don't have to cover the whole bill. Just half is fine, let's go Dutch."

Seeing Gray Rabbit's confusion, he offered a compromise.

"Considering you're a streamer, I'll take a small loss. We can waive the cover charge for the tea..."

The live stream chat went wild.

A Dutch date? Taking a 'small loss'?

So, the man hadn't spent a dime on the meal and was now looking to profit from her?

Gray Rabbit was utterly bewildered.

But then it struck her; the man was right. The meal was his to begin with; the freebie was thanks to Mr. Ten Seconds's own doing. What did it have to do with her? She was responsible for her own meal expenses, after all!

Indeed, I didn't have to wait in line and even had the table fee waived. I definitely got the better end of the deal...

But somehow, it just didn't sit right. When a gorgeous woman invites someone to share a meal, you'd expect them to feel like they've hit the jackpot, not ask for money. For the first time, Gray Rabbit questioned her own allure.

"Mr. Ten Seconds is legendary~"

"I wouldn't lean on a wall for support, but I'd lean on Mr. Ten Seconds!"

"Shocking: Streamer loses both wealth and charm for..."

Despite Gray Rabbit's irritation, the live broadcast was a massive hit. Mr. Ten Seconds's decision to go Dutch sent the viewer count soaring past one hundred thousand, with no signs of slowing down!

"My wife always says I should be pure and not get mixed up with other seductive women, not even for a meal..."

Mr. Ten Seconds quickly realized his words could be misconstrued and hurried to clarify.

"Don't get me wrong, I wasn't implying that you're one of those women..."

Instantly, the chat went wild, with a barrage of '666' flooding the screen. A wealthy viewer even sent Mr. Ten Seconds a super rocket. The innocent streamer being labeled as seductive was pure drama gold!

Gray Rabbit's face went white. She felt like lashing out, but the man's earnest demeanor suggested he wasn't mocking her intentionally. She swallowed her frustration and took solace in the rising popularity of her stream.

"I get it. Insecure women tend to be jealous. We'll split the bill."

"My wife is both confident and gorgeous!"

Mr. Ten Seconds retorted, stirring a mix of peculiar feelings in Gray Rabbit's heart, a twinge of envy perhaps...

She resolved to find herself a husband with bronchitis one day!

...

The restaurant's service was impeccable, with dishes arriving swiftly. Before long, the table was laden with their star-recommended dishes. If one were to splurge, this meal could cost a small fortune.

Gray Rabbit was in the middle of her show. Despite Mr. Ten Seconds being somewhat exasperating, his demeanor remained cordial, creating a pleasant atmosphere. It wasn't until the meal was served that Gray Rabbit realized she had learned nothing substantial from their conversation, aside from the man's name being Zhang Zhen. To her, Mr. Ten Seconds was still an enigma...

He may have seemed unassuming, but the man was masterfully controlling the pace of the conversation!

A shiver ran through Gray Rabbit, and her curiosity about this man deepened.

But for now, the priority was to review the restaurant.

"Here goes nothing!"

Gray Rabbit brought her hands together in front of the camera and dived into the main event, with the water friends eagerly anticipating her review.

"First up, let's taste the signature dish of this hidden gem, the Ten-Li Aromatic Drunk Goose, priced at 698 yuan per serving. The presentation is certainly refined, but the portion size might leave those with hearty appetites wanting more."

She picked up a slice of goose breast, placed it in her mouth, and after a moment of savoring with her eyes closed, she offered her critique.

"The perfect roast is judged by the neck, the flavor by the breast, and the Drunk Goose is no exception. This dish leans towards the sweeter side, and while the sauce is good and generously applied, the aroma hasn't fully penetrated, indicating that the cooking time was insufficient..."

With a couple of taps on the plate, the water friends who knew her routine felt a pang of anticipation as they flooded the chat with messages.

"Gray Rabbit's about to drop the hammer!"

"Wasting food is a disgrace!"

This was Gray Rabbit's trademark; if she was dissatisfied with a dish, no matter the cost, she wouldn't take another bite, signaling her resolve to stand against deceptive advertising.

"The Drunk Goose is a renowned dish from Shun De, a type of medicinal cuisine. Traditionally, it's stewed right at the diner's table, with the chef igniting a flame to control the dish's transformation, akin to a magic show, hence the name 'Magical Drunk Goose.'"

"Of course, open flames in a commercial setting are a hazard, and the one-on-one chef-to-table service is too labor-intensive for most establishments. To achieve this level of quality so quickly is commendable, but unfortunately, it doesn't justify the hefty price tag!"

Gray Rabbit's insights resonated, prompting a wave of applause from the water friends. Her extensive culinary knowledge, a benefit of being raised in a family of chefs, set her apart from other food vloggers.

"The anchor makes a good point, but let's not leave Mr. Ten Seconds to foot the bill if you don't eat!"

Reminded by this comment, Gray Rabbit looked up to see Zhang Zhen also abstaining from eating. Instead, he had taken out a notebook and was busily jotting down notes.

Could it be that he was also conducting a review, and she had encountered a fellow critic?

Unable to curb her curiosity, Gray Rabbit extended her selfie stick and captured the contents of the notebook.

"One kilogram of Pure Origin Red Head Goose, a bunch of mid-stage okra, meat simmered with cinnamon, bay leaves, fennel, along with a suitable amount of onion, ginger, garlic, and bird's eye chili..."

Gray Rabbit's pupils shrank suddenly, as though she had encountered a specter. It was a recipe!

Had this man really deciphered the Deep Alley's signature recipe after just one taste?

The more she looked, the more astounded she became. Beyond the list of ingredients, the notebook's latter pages detailed the preparation techniques. And judging by Gray Rabbit's culinary insight, she could tell that the instructions he had written were overwhelmingly accurate.

"Sir, are you a chef?"

Gray Rabbit couldn't help but inquire, her voice quivering slightly.

In her mind, only the age-defying wizards pictured in family portraits possessed such extraordinary skills.

"Hmm?"

Zhang Zhen looked up, finally registering Gray Rabbit's question. Without any pretense, he passed the notebook to her.

As Gray Rabbit took it, she noticed Zhang Zhen's slender hands were riddled with dense scars, and they trembled as he handed over the notebook.

"I've had some injuries in the past, but thankfully, they only prevent me from doing fine work; they don't interfere with my everyday life."

Zhang Zhen said with a smile. Gray Rabbit, hearing this, tucked away her curiosity and began to leaf through the notebook. It was packed with recipes for viral dishes, some of which were closely guarded secrets within their community.

To those in the culinary world, each page of this notebook was more precious than gold.