Chapter Sixty-Four: The Food Festival (Part One)

Although Chu Dong had announced that he would treat everyone to a meal, the few who had just been scolded and left disheartened had no such inclination. They all thanked him, made excuses about having things to do, tidied up the office, and left one after another.

Tan Xue had received a report before Chu Dong returned, and knew that, thanks to his light-hearted banter, the marketing department staff had quieted down. She thought to herself that this fellow did have some skill, but still acted indifferent. When Chu Dong entered her office, she didn't even glance at him, making his attempt to boast about his achievements feel as if his punch had landed in thin air. Embarrassed, he sat quietly to one side, waiting for her to finish work.

"I heard you're treating us to dinner?" After tidying up the documents on her desk, Tan Xue twirled a pen deftly in her hand and cast a sidelong glance at the well-behaved Chu Dong.

"Ah? Oh, I was just saying that offhand. If no one wants to go, then never mind." Chu Dong thought she was asking about the situation in the marketing department.

"Who said no one wants to go? I do. So, where are you planning to take me?" Tan Xue, not joking in the slightest, opened her already closed laptop. "Let me check if there's anything good to eat nearby."

"You really want to go?" Chu Dong was a bit confused. These days, he was practically the Tan family's live-in caretaker, responsible for two meals a day for the Tan sisters as well as Li Youlan, who often joined them. The only thing he didn't do was housework and cleaning. Yet Tan Xue had never suggested dining out with him alone before. What was going on tonight? Could it be that his heroic turn earlier had finally moved her heart?

"Why wouldn't I go? I've been eating your cooking every day and I'm getting tired of it. What's wrong with trying something new? Wait here, I'll call Yu'er and have her join us too." As she spoke, Tan Xue dialed the number before Chu Dong had time to react. "A classmate's birthday? When will you be back?... Take care, come home early. I'll ask Uncle Li to pick you up."

After calling Uncle Li, she tried to reach Li Youlan, but who would have thought she'd also have plans and couldn't come that evening. For a moment, Tan Xue thought of cancelling, since there was food at home anyway, and truth be told, Chu Dong's cooking was pretty good. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Chu Dong checking his wallet, as if calculating whether he had enough money.

"Stingy—always counting your money. At lunchtime you were so eager to fleece others, but now it's your turn to feel the pinch." With that thought, Tan Xue changed her mind, stood up, and said, "Never mind if they're not coming. Let's go."

"Hold on." He walked over to Tan Xue and, before she could dodge, checked her forehead and then muttered to himself, "No fever, huh?"

"Get lost! Are we going or not? Give me a straight answer." Tan Xue was exasperated by his sudden move, thinking that missing out on a free meal from him would be a crime against heaven.

"Of course. It's rare for you to be in such a good mood. But let's be clear—since I'm treating, the guest follows the host's lead. I'll decide where we go and what you'll eat." Chu Dong hadn't expected Tan Xue to try to bleed him dry, but he set the terms upfront.

"That's acceptable, as long as your arrangement is interesting enough." Tan Xue was the first to head out.

Most people had already left the office. The two of them descended the stairs, one after the other, and reached the parking lot. When Tan Xue moved to unlock her own car, Chu Dong stopped her. "Just leave your car here. One car is enough."

"Your old thing is only good for hauling seafood. Save it." Tan Xue looked disdainfully at Chu Dong's Audi parked nearby.

"Hauling seafood? If Qiangzi heard you insult his beloved car like that, he'd probably smash it to bits." Chu Dong laughed. Only Tan Xue would dare say such things. Compared to her car, his Audi—which had been patched up countless times—was indeed only fit for transporting cargo. "Well, since you put it that way, we'll take your car. But I'm driving."

He still had lingering trauma from the last time Tan Xue drove. Chu Dong snatched the keys from her hand and slipped into the driver’s seat first.

Tan Xue’s high heels clacked on the pavement as she shot Chu Dong a sidelong glance but didn't object. She settled into the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and reclined with her eyes closed. "If I’m not satisfied tonight, you’re dead. And don’t try any tricks."

"Is that necessary?" In fact, as they’d come down from the office, Chu Dong’s mind had been spinning with possibilities. Dalian had no shortage of restaurants, and there were countless places with their own specialties. Yet with this little princess, the usual arrangements simply wouldn’t cut it. The more he considered, the clearer his idea became: forget the fancy banquet, go for street food instead. This girl had tasted every cuisine under the sun—eight major styles, imperial banquets, Western food—nothing was new to her. The only thing she might not have tried was street snacks. Surely the illustrious heiress of Silver Dragon Group had never stood by the roadside for spicy skewers? Still, if he dragged her to a street stall now, she might tear him apart. Who could say when her temper had become so fierce?

It was rush hour, and traffic crawled along. At first, Tan Xue gazed out the window, but after a while, the snail’s pace wore down her patience and she actually dozed off. Noticing she was asleep, Chu Dong drove even more steadily; his starts and stops so gentle, they were barely perceptible. He didn’t wake her until the car had come to a stop at the Rainbow City in the development district.

By October, the summer heat had faded, and in Dalian, summer was always brief. The sun hung low in the west, painting the sky crimson, and the evening sea breeze brought a refreshing chill. Fearing Tan Xue might be cold, Chu Dong pulled out a spare coat of hers from the car and draped it over her. Unexpectedly, she awoke just then.

Rubbing her eyes sleepily, she asked in a daze where they were.

"This is the development district. I heard a few days ago that there’s a food festival here, and it’s really lively. Want to check it out?" He pointed to the colorful balloons drifting in the air, archways crowding the square, and two long rows of food stalls that filled the plaza with flickering lights, bustling crowds, and the hum of excitement.

"A food festival? What’s good to eat?" By now, Tan Xue was truly hungry. The mouthwatering aromas drifting through the air were a constant assault on her appetite, and she’d already forgotten all about making Chu Dong spend extravagantly.

Empress Dowager Cixi was said to have two hundred dishes for a single meal, sampling with a sniff, a glance, a taste—who knows how much was wasted? But the truth is, when you’re faced with a spread of delicious food, few can resist. Xinjiang’s big plate chicken, Tianjin’s famous buns, Xi’an’s marinated donkey meat, Taiwan’s dual hotpot, Mongolian barbecue, Sichuan spicy skewers, and all manner of pastries from around the country... Just the sight of them was enough to whet anyone’s appetite.

At first, Tan Xue seemed unsure how to proceed, casting helpless glances at Chu Dong whenever something tempted her. But soon enough, she relaxed, and started helping herself to whatever caught her eye. Watching the scene unfold, Chu Dong realized he’d underestimated her—he’d never seen her eat so much before.

PS: I see the flowers you’ve sent, brothers. Thank you all for your silent support, and thanks to those who left reviews on the mobile site. I appreciate your liking my words. By the way, here’s the second update for today!