Arriving at Maxim's Restaurant by taxi, Zhang Yuanyuan looked up at the brightly lit French letters "makcnm" and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face.
On the way there by taxi, she had already searched for Maxim's Restaurant online on her phone. She learned that it was the first Sino-French joint venture Western restaurant in China, which officially opened to the public in 1983. In the 80s and 90s, Maxim's Restaurant was one of the most fashionable places in the capital, and it was many people's initial definition of "high-end".
Zhang Yuanyuan was delighted. President Jiang had chosen this place for their first date, which clearly showed how much he valued her. She just didn't know if President Jiang would like her outfit today.
She took a deep breath, calmed herself, and slowly climbed the steps, passing through the transparent glass door and officially entering the restaurant.
At first glance, the restaurant floor is covered with geometric mahogany veneer, the walls are decorated with gilded vine patterns, and there are maple and chestnut leaf-shaped chandeliers and wall lamps. The seemingly endless crystal glass wall, classical murals from the Louvre, and a magnificent floral ceiling make you feel as if you are in a 19th-century French court.
The hall was filled with the flickering candlelight and the alluring fragrance of roses, while melodious classical music filled the air. At this moment, romance and elegance, classicism and modernity were perfectly embodied.
I glanced casually at someone else's table: red wine, French-style escargot, cream of mushroom soup, Angus ribeye steak, herb and garlic bread...
Although Zhang Yuanyuan had never been to France and this was her first time eating Western food in such a formal place, she felt that this was the true essence of French romance.
I didn't see the handsome CEO Jiang in the lobby, but I shouldn't have seen her anyway. He just texted me saying he was on the second floor.
The second floor is quieter than the lobby, and the window seats offer views of the bustling Chongwenmen West Street.
But after looking around, she still couldn't find President Jiang, whom she had been longing for.
So, after hesitating for a few seconds, she took out her phone and dialed.
"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later."
Zhang Yuanyuan was stunned for a moment. She thought she had dialed the wrong number. She looked at it carefully and realized it was correct. So she dialed again, but still couldn't get through.
It was only then that she realized that President Jiang had actually sent her a message, which she hadn't noticed before.
"Honey, I suddenly have something to take care of. When you get here, order whatever you want. I'll be there in a bit."
She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
It turns out he had to leave temporarily. Come to think of it, President Jiang runs such a large animation company, and Tom and Jerry is so popular right now, he must be very busy every day.
Just then, a waiter gracefully approached her, a professional smile on his face: "Madam, how can I help you?"
Zhang Yuanyuan pursed her lips and looked at her tentatively, asking, "Excuse me, has a gentleman named Jiang Qiao made a reservation here in advance?"
"Yes, ma'am, please follow me." The waiter nodded slightly.
Zhang Yuanyuan was completely relieved and followed the waiter to a table by the window. On the silky chiffon tablecloth were exquisite wine glasses, cutlery, and plates. The chairs were also made of mahogany, creating a very elegant atmosphere. Dining here would surely allow one to experience a European aristocratic style.
She sat down and looked around at the exquisite interior decor, the bar counter full of European aristocratic flair, the elegant bar stools, and the pervasive pure French elegance.
She suddenly felt an indescribable excitement. She had never even dared to dream of such a high-class Western restaurant before, but after today, she should be able to eat there every day without any problem.
"Ma'am, would you like to order first or wait for your friend?"
Zhang Yuanyuan hesitated slightly. Logically, she should have waited for President Jiang to arrive before ordering, but she hadn't eaten dinner since returning from Qitian Animation Company, and her stomach was already growling with hunger.
"Let's order first."
She thought that ordering the food in advance would be perfect, so that they could have dinner when President Jiang arrived.
Besides, didn't President Jiang also tell her in the text message that she could order food first?
"OK."
Zhang Yuanyuan took the menu, looked at the exquisitely crafted booklet, and once again marveled at the high-class nature of Maxim's Restaurant. Then she looked at the prices and exclaimed, "Wow, so expensive! A single dish costs several hundred yuan!"
But if it's not expensive, how can it reflect the restaurant's taste?
"A serving of wild foie gras mushroom soup with black truffle oil."
"Australian scallops with caviar, seasonal vegetables, and raspberry juice."
"Grilled ribeye steak with black pepper sauce."
"Another serving of cream of mushroom soup and French classic escargot, please."
"Finally, there was pan-fried deep-sea sea bass with prawns, strawberry Napoleon mille-feuille, and cranberry red velvet cake."
She ordered eight dishes, none of which she had ever tried before, but judging from their long names, they looked delicious.
"Would you like some wine, ma'am?" the waiter asked.
Zhang Yuanyuan thought about it carefully. Drinking some red wine on the date would help to get closer to the other person, and with the help of alcohol, they could even do some outrageous things, which would be a good way to prepare for an unforgettable night.
She nodded with a slight blush, but seeing the expensive price of the wine, and thinking that it wasn't her money anyway, she ordered a bottle of Bordeaux wine that cost over three thousand yuan.
"Okay, ma'am, please wait a moment." The waiter bowed respectfully and left.
After ordering, Zhang Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief. She looked around at how others ate, and even took out her phone to check whether it was better to hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right, or vice versa.
If you don't pay attention to these details, even if you go to a high-end restaurant, people will immediately recognize you as a country bumpkin.
After waiting for a long time, the waiter brought out dish after dish, filling the table to the brim.
She lowered her head and smelled the French classic snail stew. The snail meat, butter, mashed potatoes, egg yolk, and whipped cream were perfectly blended together, and it smelled so good.
No wonder it's a famous French dish!
Zhang Yuanyuan swallowed hard, her stomach growling loudly. She glanced at the time; it was already past eight, but President Jiang still hadn't arrived.
She resisted the enticing aroma of the delicious wine and asked the waiter to open a bottle of red wine and pour a third of it into each of the two wine glasses.
Time passed by, and by 8:30, Zhang Yuanyuan could no longer bear the hunger and called President Jiang.
The phone was still switched off.
It seems that President Jiang is tied up with official business, but since he said he would come, he definitely will. After all, he even called her "darling," so it's obvious he wants her body tonight.
So Zhang Yuanyuan decided not to wait any longer and to eat first.
End of this chapter
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