Chapter 44 - 44: Can food glow?

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, quietly glancing towards the young man, and after a bit of observation, he instantly believed it by eighty percent. Let alone beggars, even average lower-class citizens would inevitably feel intimidated and nervous coming to a high-class place like Xinghua House, sometimes not even knowing where to put their hands and feet. How could there be someone like that young boy, casually looking around with an air of superiority in his eyes? The most crucial thing is, just by sitting there, he exudes the aura of a dragon coiled and tiger crouched. A mere teenager possessing such a presence; just thinking about the family background behind it could make one's scalp tingle. "Good boy, you've got it in you, your eyes are truly sharp!" The shopkeeper patted the shoulder of the server, looking into his eyes, let out a breath of relief mixed with fear, and couldn't help but secretly complain to himself. Searᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Are these rich brats crazy? Donning disguise of a poor man just for fun? Isn't this bullying honest people? Luckily, I have these sharp eyes honed over years of receiving guests; otherwise, I wouldn't even know who I've offended. Although our Xinghua House has a quite strong backing, truly offending a great family, the shopkeeper like me is sure to be criticized as looking down on people and perhaps even be pushed out to take the blame! "What did he order? People like him must have very particular tastes, we must serve him well!" "Rest assured, Boss, I personally invited the head chef to take charge, guaranteed satisfaction for him." Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper finally let go of his anxious heart. He was quite confident in the skills of his head chef, who in the past had been a Royal Chef involved in making the Manchu Han Imperial Feast! Back then, unknown was the price paid to have him, by those forces behind! But it is precisely because of him that Xinghua House holds its position today as the top in Shanghai's dining scene! With him personally cooking, even the pickiest gourmets can be satisfied. On the other side, within less than ten minutes, the dishes for Zhu Haomiao came rushing in like flowing water. Looking at the dazzling array of delicacies before him and the faint visible rainbow spirit light on the dishes, Zhu Haomiao's eyelids couldn't help but twitch twice. Do dishes glow? Is this "Cooking Master Boy" from China? No, there's no Demons and Ghosts in Cooking Master Boy either... While pondering this, the rich and succulent meat aroma wafted into his nose, and a bit of green glint appeared in Zhu Haomiao's eyes, leaving him engulfed in the most primal desire – to devour! Just as he was about to ravenously devour without care for image, the boy suddenly realized and stopped his hasty actions instantly, gradually relaxing his tense muscles, forcibly suppressing the insatiable hunger as he gently picked a piece of braised pork, putting it into his mouth, slowly chewing while silently chanting to himself. The more parched, the more you must control! Control desire, don't let desire control you! On the other side, watching the boy's poised, gentlemanly "slow" dining style, the shopkeeper couldn't help but quietly nod inwardly. Truly a noble young master cultivated from a great family, even a simple meal is filled with noble aura. Knowing that those were dishes cooked by an Imperial Chef, even foreign devils eat like starving ghosts reincarnated, nowhere near his elegant and calm manner! Meanwhile, the server, seeing most of the dishes had been served, came forward with a fawning smile. "Sir, does it suit your taste?" Zhu Haomiao continued chewing slowly, taking several seconds to swallow the food in his mouth, keeping cool despite the disruption, smiled, and nodded. "Very good, I am satisfied." For the first time feeling the boy's direct gaze, a puzzling wave of fear mixed with delight surged through the server's heart. In a trance, he felt merely being looked at by the boy was like receiving a monumental favor from heaven, compelling, uncontrollable gratitude and a yearning to repay it surged within him. "Would you like some fine wine to accompany your meal, sir? We have some signature dishes that are best enjoyed with wine." "Oh?" Upon hearing this, Zhu Haomiao hesitated for several seconds and then nodded. "Just a little then." He belonged to the type who can drink but doesn't usually initiate, but having experienced the luminous dishes, he was also a bit curious about the taste of the wine here. Soon, the server returned with a maid in a qipao, who had fine features, carrying a square tray in her arms, on which sat a sculpted dragon-phoenix wine jug and a set of exquisite small furnace, the sense of ceremony was fully intact. The maid placed a few pieces of dried plum into a small clay pot, and lit the furnace below, then opened the wine jug, pouring in the light yellow, richly aromatic wine. Within a few seconds, the hall was filled with a pleasant, heart-refreshing wine fragrance. "Sir, this is our shop's finest ten-year aged Floral Carving; it perfectly complements the dishes. Only with a discerning guest like you visiting, would our shopkeeper be willing to share it." Unostentatiously delivering praise for the shopkeeper, thus forming a good connection, the server tactfully retreated, leaving the qipao maid to attend to the dining. Lightly inhaling the rich and fragrant aroma, Zhu Haomiao glanced at the peculiar qipao worn by the maid, secretly pondering. Bad news: patchwork monster! Good news: patched right! Differing from the later-styled qipao, the maid's dress seemed to blend Western maid attire with modern slim-fit design, prominently highlighting her curves, rendering her entire presence akin to a fine piece of blue-and-white porcelain, standing there with an appreciable aesthetic. Which descender was seriously off track, venturing into the Illusion Realm for fashion design? I can only say, splendid work! Silently giving a thumbs-up to the predecessor in heart, Zhu Haomiao appreciatively observed the maid's bent-over posture while pouring wine, her curvaceous peach-like rear, and took a gentle sip of the prepared fine wine. The rich and sweet liquid spread across the tongue, with the fragrant aroma rushing into the nostrils, dispelling the steaming and twisting shadowy gloom in the boy's eyes. Control [Lust], [Dao Heart] +1 Control [Gluttony], [Dao Heart] +1 Unostentatiously suppressing the desires, Zhu Haomiao refocused his attention on the gourmet food, chewing slowly and "elegantly." Beside him, the quietly standing maid let out a breath of relief filled with disappointment yet gratitude; the tangible gaze from behind had made her feel electrified, her skin tingling with exhilaration, yet tinged with a sense of fear. It was as if the person behind not only harbored lust towards her but also... appetite! Gulp~ Swallowed a mouthful of saliva, the maid secretly eyed the handsome, delicate boy, instinctively clenching her legs closer. Though reason told her that this boy was incredibly dangerous, an uncontrollable inner urge compelled her to approach, sacrifice herself as his "food," and be "eaten" by him! Yet, immersed in the gourmet delight, the boy didn't even notice her, drinking one sip of wine and savoring the food at a slow yet steady rate, eliminating everything on the table. Unexpectedly for Zhu Haomiao, as he ate till he was really full, he instinctively felt, still he had the strength left.