noveldepot Chapter 448 - 360 My Treat, His Bill
Chapter 448 - 360 My Treat, His Bill
In this row of transparent little boxes, she recognized only one type, the rest were all toppings she’d never seen before.
"Yes, these are toppings commonly used in the Great Xia Milk Tea Shop, and they can also be served with desserts."
Being so close to Lisa’s delicate features and adorable little face, Lucas felt his heart melt, his smile broadening, and his tone becoming even more tender.
"This is tapioca pearls, just like the ones in bubble tea. This is taro pearls, made of taro. This is popping boba, akin to molecular gastronomy, the yellow ones are mango, and the red ones are strawberry."
"This is crispy bobo, this is egg pudding, this is green tea jelly, this is grass jelly..."
Such a wide variety of toppings, even Helena was seeing them for the first time, let alone Lisa.
When she used to work in Paris, there was a milk tea store next to the God’s Kiss Store on the street, and during her breaks, she would frequently go there to buy milk tea.
However, that milk tea shop had a very limited menu, offering only seven or eight options, without even fruit tea.
After a new milk tea shop opened and became very popular, she lost interest in the old one.
But the problem was, the popular milk tea shop was quite far from the restaurant, she never had enough time to go there, so she could only satisfy her craving on weekends.
The toppings in front of Lucas were even more varied than those of that trendy milk tea shop, instantly sparking her intense curiosity.
Especially the mango and strawberry-flavored popping boba, which turned out to be molecular gastronomy!
Just listening to it sounds so high-end!
"Mr. Lucas, may I have a little bit of each?"
Lisa, cheeks puffed out, looked at him with a hint of playful pleading in her eyes, making a gesture with her small fingers, "Just a little bit."
"Of course, of course!"
Lucas agreed without a second thought, even grabbing a clean bowl and scooping two or three pieces of each topping into it.
"Here you go, try them first, and let me know what you like~"
"This is great! Thank you, Mr. Lucas!"
"Hey~ It’s a small matter~"
Over by the food cart.
Not only was Lin Chen smiling foolishly at Lisa’s back, but so were Raphael and Nagishiro Sho, with fatherly affection glinted on their faces.
"This little girl is really cute, way cuter than my daughter."
"Aren’t you afraid your daughter will be mad when you say that?"
"Anyway, she can’t hear it, what’s there to be afraid of?"
Raphael, with a righteous look, proudly turned his head up and took out a business card from his pocket, handing it to the man waiting outside the window.
"Sir, this is my business card. If you’re interested in dining with Little Lisa, you can show this card to the waiter, and I will personally cook for you then."
"?"
Lin Chen and Nagishiro Sho suddenly looked at him, eyes filled with disbelief.
What’s gotten into this guy today, dishing out favors like mad?
Has fatherly love gone overboard?
"Chef, I’ve worked here for five years and you never personally cooked me a meal, isn’t that too much?"
"What’s over the top, it’s a test for you! You’re capable of cooking yourself, aren’t you? Aren’t you wasting your talent otherwise? In just five short years, how many chefs can manage a restaurant like you do now?"
"...I’ve never seen such a shameless person."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing~"
"Why does your tone not sound like anything good, dare to translate it into French?"
"I said you have a unique eye and are good at finding gold in coal!"
"Hey, why do I find that hard to believe, say it again with the same tone?"
"I’ve never seen such a shameless person!"
"?"
Raphael froze, suddenly realizing a problem.
Anyway, he doesn’t understand, repeating it is useless!
"Chef!"
Helena suddenly ran over again, "What are we having for lunch?"
"Garlic grilled oysters."
"!!!"
The woman was overjoyed, grabbing her husband’s hand: "Quick, eat a little something, later let’s go for a dive to work up an appetite, you need to eat more at lunch!"
"...Uh, okay dear."
The man nodded with a wry smile.
You and our daughter are having a feast, and I haven’t eaten a thing yet, reduced to nibbling whatever I can?
"Trust her, can’t go wrong."
Lin Chen chuckled, winking at the man: "Oysters are known as the fuel station for men and the beauty salon for women in our Great Xia, eat more to nourish the body, boost your energy, and reinvigorate yourself, it’s absolutely beneficial!"
"?!"
"!!"
"Is there such a saying?"
"Alright! At lunchtime, I’m going to eat until I’m full—starting with fifty!"
Finally, a touched smile blossomed on the man’s face as he pulled his voluptuous wife into an embrace. The couple beamed with radiant joy, gazing at each other with deep affection.
As the saying goes, a short separation is better than a newlywed, the couple could only meet twice a week, and spend just one night together, their child tagging along, making it hard to say they weren’t yearning.
Seeing them like this, everyone present had an expression of sudden realization.
Especially those with partners, who quietly resolved to eat more oysters in the future.
"Lin, how many oysters did you order?"
"Four thousand of the top-grade Gillardeau, and if that’s not enough, we have two to three thousand more as reserves."
"I’d like to order fifty, grilled by myself, price is not an issue, okay?"
"Of course, no problem, they should be delivered around eight or nine o’clock, right?"
"Then..." Nagishiro Sho silently raised his hand, "I’ll also order fifty."
"You?"
Raphael looked him up and down, "Are you married?"
"No." Nagishiro Sho shook his head.
"Got a girlfriend?"
"Nope."
"Friends with benefits?"
"How’s that possible."
"Then there’s no need for you to eat so much."
"None of your business?! I like eating, is that not okay?"
"Ah~ right, right, I forgot you Sakura People grew up on seafood, then eat, eat~"
Nagishiro Sho’s mouth twitched uncontrollably, staring at Raphael’s teasing smile, wishing he could punch him.
This guy’s getting more and more punchable, isn’t he?!!
What’s so great about having a wife!
His eyes darted around and landed on the wrinkles at the corner of Raphael’s eyes, as if remembering something, he suddenly laughed too.
"Oh right, I also forgot, you’re almost forty, close to fifty, right? You should eat more to replenish, how about I give you some of my fifty?"
"......"
Raphael’s expression stiffened, veins popping on his forehead, he gritted his teeth and said, "I’m forty-three! Still a ways from fifty!!"
"Forty is the prime of life!!"
"Alright, alright, both of you, calm down, don’t set a bad example for Lisa."
Lin Chen found it very amusing inside, but on the surface he had to act as a peacemaker, soothing both sides with a few words to prevent them from getting into a fight.
Men, indeed.
Truly, the mention of Lisa worked wonders, as the two instantly quieted down, glaring at each other without speaking further.
Fortunately, Lisa was busy tasting the toppings in a box and didn’t notice the commotion beside her.
Soon, Lucas pushed a box full of shaved ice in front of Lisa.
The transparent box was filled with three-fourths of a bowl of shaved ice, the surface half covered with fragrant and soft golden yellow mango chunks and half with crispy, sweet seedless red watermelon, piled up high as if any slight touch would make it topple over.
In the gaps between the two fruit mounds were filled with coconut jelly, popping balls, and mango and strawberry-flavored bursting balls.
At the top of the mound sat a snow-white dense vanilla ice cream scoop.
Just the presentation alone outclassed everything else in the room.
When Rovena saw this bowl of shaved ice, her eyes bulged, glancing down at the bowl of shaved ice she held.
Are these two confirmed to be the same food?
Why is it that the fruit in my bowl is a flat layer, while theirs is a small mountain?
This is blatant discrimination based on appearance!!
Of course, he knew why and wasn’t truly complaining, but saying he wasn’t envious would be a lie.
Who wouldn’t want to be treated specially?
"Oh my god!"
Helena, who was lost in the throes of love, accidentally glanced at her daughter and at the sight of the overflowing bowl in front of her, gasped in surprise.
She let go of her husband’s hand and quickly walked over, looking a bit embarrassed at Lucas.
"Sorry, sorry, isn’t there too much fruit in this serving? I won’t take fruit in my next one."
"No worries!"
Lucas waved his hand generously, "Lisa is still growing, if she likes to eat, let her eat more, nutrition has to be sufficient! It’s my treat!"
"Did you hear that, Dais?"
Lin Chen knocked on the car window, "Deduct the cost of extra fruit from Lucas’s salary."
"Okay."
Dais couldn’t help but cover her mouth, nodding lightly.
"Huh??"
Lucas was confused, "Why deduct my salary, shouldn’t you be treating us? Can’t even treat us to a bit of fruit?"
"What do you mean I’ll treat? When did I say I would pay? You said it, not me, I’m not taking the blame for this!"
Lin Chen stared at him with a puzzled expression, "Since you’re the one treating, deducting from your salary is normal, right? Or you can pay with your card now."
"Fine, I’ll pay! It’s just a few bucks, look how stingy you are! No wonder you’re single!"
Just as he finished speaking, out of the corner of his eye, Lucas saw Nicole staring intently at Lin Chen, stars practically dancing in her eyes.
"???"
He was a bit bewildered, being stingy can be attractive to her?
This must be infatuation, right?
Seemingly aware of Lucas’s gaze, Nicole looked at him quizzically.
"What’s wrong?"
"You even like a stingy guy like that? He couldn’t even treat us to a few bucks worth!"
"That’s not right to say, Mr. Lucas."
Who would’ve thought Nicole would furrow her brows seriously, "You were the one who added the extra topping without permission, so of course you should cover the cost, unless given permission by the chef, that’d be on him."
"Doing this is like you’re taking credit for yourself, while passing the cost onto others, which doesn’t sound like something a good person would do."
"Mr. Lucas, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Uh... why are you asking this?"
"Clearly, you don’t have one, so are there any girls who like you?"
"Of course there are!"
"Clearly, you’re bluffing, no wonder no girls like you."
"Pfft..."
Lin Chen never expected Nicole to be so articulate, rendering chatterbox Lucas speechless, he secretly gave her a thumbs up.