Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Seeing how anxious the atmosphere was, Gu Lingsi bit her lower lip in embarrassment and looked at the end of the table for help.
Seeing this, Ning Xu straightened his back lazily, planning to ease the atmosphere.
It was unknown if Xia Ling had seen through his plan, but he brushed it off lightly.
“Alright, that’s enough. Since Ming Dai likes this restaurant’s dish, I have to finish it before leaving.”
The hidden line was — If Ming Dai doesn’t like it, I won’t stay here for a minute longer!
Everyone was stunned!
No one expected Xia Ling to be so good to a so-called friend!
This understanding completely cleared their contempt for Ming Dai and they decided to reevaluate her existence!
Family background and abilities were not important. If Ming Dai’s thoughts could directly affect the dignified Xia Ling, what was so difficult about being polite and taking the initiative to befriend her? Nothing was more important than benefits!
A butterfly gently flapping its wings could stir up an incomparably violent hurricane.
Something subtle changed in the air, making Ming Dai the center of the hurricane.
Ming Dai was sensitive to the surrounding emotions. How could she not know what these people were thinking?
She really didn’t know whether to be sarcastic or impressed.
In his previous life, these arrogant prodigies had lowered their heads so easily.
However, Ming Dai did not become arrogant easily after gaining power. Instead, she ignored these people’s goodwill and spoke to Xia Ling in a low voice.
The others wisely found their own topics and started chatting in groups of twos and threes.
The awkward and anxious atmosphere just now disappeared in the blink of an eye, as if nothing had happened.
On the other hand, Gu Lingsi, who was sitting in the main seat, seemed to have been ignored.
She lowered her eyes gloomily and sighed softly.
Tang Xue felt wronged. “I’m sorry, Sister Lingsi…”
Gu Lingsi could not blame her and patted her hand. “It’s alright. I know you didn’t do it on purpose.”
Tang Xue gritted her teeth and lowered her voice. “That Ming Dai actually…”
“Alright, don’t make Xia Ling angry again.”
Gu Lingsi interrupted her.
Their conversation was not heard by anyone else.
Soon, the waiters brought the dishes over one by one. As everyone was still a student, there was no alcohol today.
After the appetizers were over, it was time for the main course. Everyone at the table chose different dishes, and the time for the dishes to be served was about the same. Only the Provence stew that Ming Dai wanted did not arrive.
However, no one dared to mock her this time. They were just curious about what would happen next.
Soon the head chef, Mr. Henry, arrived with the Provencal Beef Stew himself.
“I personally prepared the stew. I hope it can satisfy the beautiful Miss.”
Mr. Henry was indeed a romantic from France. He kept praising Ming Dai.
Ming Dai accepted it calmly. She picked up her knife and fork and was about to start eating…
Mr. Henry did not leave. Instead, he stood at the side with his hands by his side, as if waiting for Ming Dai’s evaluation.
Ming Dai could roughly guess what he was thinking. She smiled helplessly and shook her head. She cut the vegetables that were piled up like a tower, dipped them in the sauce, and put them into her mouth.
Ming Dai’s table manners were very elegant, as if she had practised for many years. This made Tang Xue, who was waiting to see her make a fool of herself, very indignant.
What Tang Xue did not know was that these were all the results of Ming Dai’s bitter training in her previous life—
When Ming Dai was first recognized as a member of the Gu family, she was not liked by her family, so she naturally thought that she was not as elegant and beautiful as Gu Lingsi. Hence, she tried her best to learn from Gu Lingsi and integrate into the Gu family, causing many to laugh at her.
Table etiquette was the result of her hard work. It was quite effective, but unfortunately, it didn’t come in handy…
Now, Ming Dai did not deliberately look elegant. She looked very relaxed and had the calmness of a gourmet.
Mr. Henry’s eyes were shining as he looked forward to Ming Dai’s evaluation.
After Ming Dai took another bite, Henry couldn’t wait to ask.
“How is it?”
“It’s delicious. Unfortunately, it’s not outstanding.”
“Can you elaborate?”
“The taste of the sauce is too strong, completely suppressing the taste of the vegetables. There are eggplant and zucchini inside, right? I feel that the heat is a little too much, and it doesn’t match the taste of the other vegetables. It’s a hindrance…”
Ming Dai spoke logically as if she had transformed into a veteran gourmet. The entire dining table had become her home ground.
Henry, on the other hand, was dumbfounded. He seemed to understand.
Xia Ling, who was watching with relish, guessed that Henry probably did not fully understand and took the initiative to act as an interpreter.
Henry’s expression gradually became excited as he translated.
“Your thoughts are the same as mine! Not long ago, I felt that this dish had its flaws, but I couldn’t think of any specific problems. That’s why I removed it from the main menu after opening this restaurant in China. I wanted to study it more… Your suggestion is simply amazing!”
Henry was very excited and urged Ming Dai to give more and better suggestions.
Ming Dai could not dissuade him and said a few more words.
“Or you could take a layered roasting approach…”
The old Caucasian man held Ming Dai’s hand excitedly and shook it up and down.
“Yes! This is it! I know what to do! Soon, I’ll be able to develop the most perfect stew! Beautiful lady, please allow me to waive the bill for you today. You don’t know how much inspiration your words gave me!”
“…Alright.”
Ming Dai touched her nose.
She had not expected this.
Xia Ling was even more direct and said in front of everyone.
“Does this mean that today’s meal is on Ming Dai?”
“…”
No one else dared to speak.
Gu Lingsi was silent for a few seconds, but she still smiled.
“Yes, looks like I have to thank Ming Dai today. I’ll treat you again another day. Xia Ling, you and Ming Dai must come then.”
“We’ll see.”
Xia Ling was neither cold nor indifferent.
The others picked up their knives and forks again and glanced at Ming Dai from time to time.
Ming Dai lowered her gaze. The colorful and exquisite stew on the white porcelain plate was like a blurry shadow that pulled her back to the Seine River in her previous life. The dim yellow street lamps lit up one after another along the street. The moist and gentle wind was blowing on the river, and a man was sitting opposite her.
‘This Provencal Beef Stew is Henry’s latest masterpiece. I’ve heard that he’s been studying it intently for three years. He claims it’s the most perfect stew in the world. What do you think of the taste?’
The man’s illusory face was like the clouds in the sky that were blown away by the wind. All that was left was his comment on Mr. Henry’s signature dish.
Using Mr. Henry’s breakthrough a few years later to stimulate his current inspiration wasn’t cheating, right?
Ming Dai thought so.
…
After the meal, some people were unaffected, while others felt that it was tasteless.
Ming Dai belonged to the former. Regardless of whether others were happy or not, she ate happily.
After the group of people walked out of the restaurant, Ming Dai and Xia Ling did not plan to participate in the rest of their activities. They bade farewell and left.
Gu Lingsi looked in the direction they had left in.
“Sister Lingsi?”
Gu Lingsi turned around with a smile and tucked her messy hair behind her ear.
“I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well today, so I’ll go home first.”
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