Seeing Lan Yao hesitate, Gu Zixiao smiled and said, "It seems you're reluctant to lay a hand on me. That's wonderful."

Lan Yao glared at him without saying a word. It wasn't that she didn't want to hit him, but she just didn't want to give him a hard time and make him lose his temper.

Just then, it was their turn to line up. Gu Zixiao naturally let Lan Yao go first, and he followed behind her, helping her open the restaurant curtains.

Lan Yao merely glanced at him indifferently and said nothing.

A seat just happened to become available near the entrance, and the waiter grumbled as he tidied it up.

In the past, Lan Yao would have told her to shut up immediately, but her mind was elsewhere and she didn't have time to care.

Gu Zixiao ignored the waiter and said coldly, "Shut up, or you'll be fired."

The waiter was about to yell back, but when he met Gu Zixiao's beautiful, murderous eyes, he swallowed the words that were about to come out.

Damn it, I can't mess with this, I can't mess with this.

The waiter finished clearing the table, feeling utterly frustrated.

Gu Zixiao said softly to Lan Yao, "I'll go order the food."

Lan Yao waved her hand casually, signaling him to get lost.

Gu Zixiao smiled and went to the front desk to order the dishes he had mentioned to Lan Yao. In addition to these, he also ordered braised lion's head meatballs and stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts.

After he ordered, he sat back down.

"We came at an inopportune time this time. If we come earlier next time, we won't have to stand in the cold wind here."

Lan Yao: "I remember someone saying that they can cook, and that they cook very well."

Gu Zixiao's eyes lit up immediately, and she asked excitedly, "What? You want to eat my cooking? Sure, no problem. Let's go to the state-run store to buy groceries later, and I'll cook for you when we get home tonight."

"...How did you know I was going home tonight? What if I ran away in a bit?"

“You won’t. I know you promised Grandma Yu.” Gu Zixiao smiled. “Although I haven’t known you for long, I know you’re a person who keeps your promises. Once you’ve made a promise, you’ll never change it.”

"Oh, what if I change? What can you do to me then?"

"No. I trust my judgment. And I also trust your character."

Lan Yao: ...

I don't even know where to begin complaining.

Just as the two fell silent, their food arrived.

Gu Zixiao stood up to serve the dishes: braised pork ribs, braised lion's head meatballs, stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts, pickled cabbage and blood sausage soup, and two large plates of braised pork buns.

Lan Yao showed no intention of helping, and Gu Zixiao was also unwilling to let her help.

Once all the dishes were on the table, Gu Zixiao said, "Let's eat the steamed buns first. If you still want rice after we finish the steamed buns, I'll go get some."

"OK."

Gu Zixiao used serving chopsticks to put a piece of braised pork rib on Lan Yao's plate: "His braised pork ribs are quite delicious, you should try them."

"You don't need to put any on my plate, I can eat by myself."

"I know. But I'm willing to do it. And I don't want you to get tired."

Lan Yao: ...

She rolled her eyes at Gu Zixiao, then ate her food with a blank expression: "I didn't expect you to be so sweet-talking. Did you often use sweet words and flattery to coax young girls before?"

"No way." Gu Zixiao was a little angry. "Am I that kind of person? Besides, do they even deserve it? I've lived for over twenty years, and so far, you're the only person I've bothered to say this much to. Only you are worth my trouble."

Lan Yao: ...

If she hadn't witnessed so much betrayal and depravity, she might have succumbed to Gu Zixiao's sweet words.

Besides being eloquent and good at coaxing people, Gu Zixiao is also really good-looking.

Suddenly, Lan Yao was so stunned by his appearance that she was completely dazed.

Lan Yao decisively kicked Gu Zixiao out of her mind and then focused on tasting the dishes.

Braised pork ribs are a savory-sweet dish. They look dark in color, but they're not actually that salty; the sweet and savory flavors are just right.

The ribs were stewed until very tender and delicious. I guess the kitchen deliberately bought ribs with a little fat and a little lean meat so they wouldn't be dry.

Gu Zixiao asked, "How is it? Is it delicious?"

Lan Yao nodded, and then ate the braised lion's head that Gu Zixiao had picked up. The braised lion's head was about the size of her fist.

This one is on the salty and savory side, and the lion's head meatballs have a great texture. They burst with juice when you take a bite.

It should be 50/50 fat and 50/50 lean, so it tastes delicious and mellow without being greasy or dry. Lan Yao's eyes lit up as she ate it.

"Try this sauerkraut soup again. I guarantee it will cleanse your palate and give you the energy to keep going."

"I didn't expect you to be so eloquent? Looks like you eat a lot these days?"

Lan Yao is a good listener in some respects.

So she simply took a sip of the sauerkraut soup. It was indeed very sour, but not the kind of sour that made you feel sick of it.

It has a unique sour taste that belongs to vegetables, with a hint of the sweetness of cabbage, making it particularly refreshing.

The blood sausage must have been freshly made today; it didn't have a bloody taste, and it was tender and slippery.

It also has the sour taste of pickled cabbage, making it especially sweet and delicious.

When Gu Zixiao saw Lan Yao's eyes narrowed as she ate, like a satiated cat, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.

It seems that today's move was the right one, and the gamble paid off.

His wife loves to eat, just like him, which is wonderful.

It just so happens that he can cook it too, and he cooks it very well.

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