DreamersGN Chapter 85 This is what a beautiful meal looks like
Chapter 85 This is what a beautiful meal looks like
Zhang Yu's hand, which was holding the spoon, froze in mid-air.
He looked into Han Lulu's eyes, which had been filled with disdain but now flickered with a hint of wavering and longing.
A sense of astonishment welled up inside me.
"Lulu, did I hear that right?" Zhang Yu raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips as he deliberately pulled the spoon back a little.
"Didn't you just say this was a 'construction site canteen'? What's gotten into you now?"
Zhang Yu continued teasingly, his eyes full of mischievousness.
"What, even our 'refined socialite' wants to try this not-so-pretty braised beef brisket with potatoes? Aren't you worried about the calories going off the charts?"
Han Lulu watched the potato slowly drift away from her nose and instinctively leaned forward in anxiety.
"Didn't you say you couldn't eat a single bite of this greasy food?"
What, even our "refined socialite" wants to try this not-so-pretty braised beef brisket with potatoes?
Han Lulu had prepared herself to be ridiculed, but Zhang Yu bluntly threw back her words.
An uncontrollable blush rose to her cheeks, spreading down her neck to the tips of her ears.
She glared at Zhang Yu, somewhat annoyed, and retorted stubbornly:
"I...I did that to help you get it checked!"
Look at the way you're eating! You look like you haven't eaten for three days and three nights.
"What if there are some additives in this meat that they shouldn't have, and you get an upset stomach? Then I'll have to take a taxi to the hospital in the middle of the night to take care of you."
As she spoke, she tried to cover up her embarrassment by adjusting her beige cardigan.
"Besides, I just want to see what's so expensive about 58 yuan, whether it's taking advantage of clueless straight men like you, and whether it's a 'stupidity tax'!"
"Fine, fine, go ahead and do the testing."
Zhang Yu smiled and shook his head, but the coldness and resistance in his eyes were gone.
He didn't laugh at Han Lulu too much because of her awkward "contrast," but instead his heart softened.
He looked at Han Lulu; her face was indeed beautiful, a small face, and her makeup was always exquisite and flawless.
But beneath that thick layer of foundation, what Zhang Yu saw was a girl who, in order to maintain her so-called "goddess image," could only eat boiled vegetables every day and even had to calculate the calories for half a day before drinking a cup of milk tea.
She was too thin; her collarbones were so sunken it was heartbreaking. The anxiety of living for her figure and appearance was like an invisible shackle, trapping her in a vain cage.
"Here, eat slowly, it's hot."
Zhang Yu handed over the spoon in his hand, which steadily held the potato that was soaking up the soup and trembling slightly.
Han Lulu pursed her lips, as if she had made a huge decision, and finally opened her small mouth, which was painted with expensive lipstick, and gently bit the potato.
The moment the potato entered her mouth, Han Lulu's body, which had been as tense as a string, suddenly relaxed.
The feeling was peculiar; it wasn't greasy as I had expected, but rather an extremely gentle and inclusive feeling.
The texture, which had become soft and fluffy after being simmered for fifteen minutes, completely disintegrated on the tip of the tongue, turning into a rich, flowing slurry.
What follows is the rich, fatty aroma of the beef brisket, mixed with the salty and savory flavor of soy sauce, the slight sweetness of star anise, and the spiciness of ginger slices.
That hot, rich, and aggressive flavor instantly pierced through her false defense of "refinement," rushing straight down her esophagus into her long-empty stomach.
"Well……"
Han Lulu let out a low groan.
That feeling of satisfaction that rises from the soles of your feet is something no salad can ever provide.
She couldn't speak, or even maintain her composure.
He snatched the spoon from Zhang Yu's hand and precisely placed a piece of beef brisket in the bowl.
"Lulu, slow down..."
Zhang Yu was taken aback for a moment when he saw Han Lulu's actions, and then the smile on his lips deepened.
He looked at her.
Watching her stop frequently wiping her mouth with tissues for the sake of her appearance;
Watching her stop holding her phone and searching for the right filter;
Watching her pair of clean, white hands frantically rummaging through the bowl.
"Zhang Yu, how... how is this meat prepared?"
Han Lulu chewed vigorously while asking a question indistinctly, her eyes gleaming with appetite.
"Why...why is it so rotten? And this soup, how can it be so delicious?"
"How would I know how it's done? That's someone else's boss's secret recipe."
Zhang Yu looked at Han Lulu.
Her once perfectly applied lipstick was now smudged by the oily soup;
The foundation I had just carefully applied became a bit messy due to the heat and sweat from my excitement.
Even a tiny bit of thick sauce accidentally got onto the tip of her nose.
"Pfft—"
Zhang Yu finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"What are you laughing at!"
Han Lulu was enjoying her meal when she heard Zhang Yu's laughter and her movements froze.
She looked up at Zhang Yu, then subconsciously touched her face.
When she saw the bright red oil stain on her fingertip and Zhang Yu's swaying face, her face instantly turned a deep purplish-red.
"Zhang Yu! Do you think I look particularly ugly right now? Like I have no image at all?"
Han Lulu yelled in exasperation, frantically trying to rummage through her bag for a makeup mirror.
"I told you we shouldn't come to a place like this! Look at my makeup! It's all your fault!"
"No, it's not ugly at all."
Zhang Yu stopped laughing, leaned forward, and reached out to gently wipe the sauce off Han Lulu's nose with his fingertips.
His eyes softened, no longer as submissive as usual, but filled with deep affection.
"Lulu, I'm laughing because I'm really happy."
This is the first time I've met you... I'm not eating here to post on social media, and I'm not taking pictures to show off to others.
Zhang Yu held her hand, looking into her eyes that sparkled with the delicious food she had eaten.
I used to think you lived a life that was too tiring.
You're afraid of being fat, afraid of being ugly, and afraid that others will think you're not refined.
But look at you now, even though your makeup is ruined and your lips are greasy, you look a million times prettier than those "pretty faces" you spent three hours making up.
Han Lulu was stunned.
She looked at Zhang Yu.
She always thought that Zhang Yu liked her at that perfect moment, that she was the "exquisite girlfriend" who made him feel proud when walking down the street.
She never imagined that the person Zhang Yu had been waiting for was this woman with her face covered in sauce, wolfing down her food.
"Zhang Yu... are you stupid?"
Han Lulu lowered her voice, feeling the warmth from her fingertips, and her nose inexplicably felt a little sore.
She looked down at the bowl of stewed beef and potatoes that was almost empty, and then at the people around her who were also eating with great enthusiasm.
Here, no one cares what shade of lipstick she wears, and no one cares whether her bag is a new seasonal item.
Everyone was working hard for that steaming hot meal, which gave her an unprecedented sense of security.
"Alright, stop getting sentimental."
Han Lulu sniffed, blushed, and pulled her hand back, deliberately putting on a stern face as she scolded...
"Let him laugh, what's the big deal? My makeup's already ruined, so I'm just going to go all out today!"
After saying that, she no longer cared about her image, took the bowl of white rice that Zhang Yu had given her, and poured it into the remaining rich soup with a splash.
"Hey, leave some for me!"
"No way! Weren't you just laughing at me? These are all mine now!"
The two people's laughter mingled with the rustling of the wooden table and chairs, filling the small corner with an excessive intimacy.
Just as Zhang Yu and Han Lulu were flirting and enjoying their meal, a strange, exaggerated scream suddenly came from the center of the restaurant.
"Boss Chen! Oh, Boss Chen, you have to be my judge!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.
Just moments ago, "Old Wang" was complaining about the price, but now he was sprawled out in a chair with a huge, round belly, shouting towards the kitchen.
The porcelain bowl in front of Old Wang was so clean it could be used as a mirror.
He even dipped the last drop of soup into his rice and ate it all up, his face now filled with "grief and indignation".
Chen Feng walked out of the kitchen carrying a towel, and seeing Old Wang's comical appearance, couldn't help but laugh:
"Uncle Wang, what's wrong? Is the meat not cooked through, or the potatoes not flavorful enough? Who are you trying to fool with that wronged look on your face?"
"The meat is good meat, the soup is good soup, but your rules... are simply inhumane!"
Old Wang slapped his thigh, attracting the attention of the surrounding diners.
"Everyone, be the judge!"
Boss Chen has a strict rule: each person can only eat one serving per day.
After I finished that bowl, my stomach was just starting to feel a little hungry, and the craving was just starting to rise before it was gone!
Now there's nowhere to buy it even if you want to.
Old Wang looked at Chen Feng with a pained expression.
"Boss Chen, I, Old Wang, have lived half my life and have never seen a business like yours."
It's a good thing you only allow me to eat one meal a day. If you could provide enough, I think I would be eating all three meals here every day.
My wallet really won't be able to handle it then, and my wife will definitely kick me out!
"Ha ha ha ha!"
A burst of hearty laughter erupted in the store.
"Old Wang, stop worrying about your wallet, worry about your health instead!"
"That's right, Boss Chen is doing this for your own good. He's worried you'll eat too much rich food and get a nosebleed when you get home!"
Everyone joked and teased each other, and the already lively atmosphere reached its peak.
Chen Feng leaned against the counter, quietly watching the laughter filling the room, watching Su Chen joke with Lao Wang, and watching Xing Ruo quietly add water to the table.
"Uncle Wang, this is what they call 'too much of a good thing'," Chen Feng said with a smile, waving his hand at him.
"If you eat three meals a day, you'll get tired of it in less than a week."
I'm leaving this for you to think about, so that when you wake up early tomorrow, you'll have something to look forward to.
"Alright! I'll take your bait!" Old Wang stood up, dusted himself off, and gave Chen Feng a thumbs-up.
"Boss Chen, you win! Tomorrow... I'll definitely be the first one there. I'm getting more and more excited for tomorrow's menu!"
"Take care, Uncle Wang!" Su Chen called out from behind.
As Old Wang sauntered out of the shop, Han Lulu was caught up in the atmosphere. She looked at Zhang Yu and suddenly whispered:
"Zhang Yu, I take back what I just said."
Which sentence?
"This meal... truly deserves to be called a 'beautiful meal'."