Chapter 699 Xuexue's Girlfriend At 10:45, Gu Luo and Lu Xuexue stepped side by side into the threshold of the Old Beijing Hot Pot Restaurant.
The door hinges creaked slightly as they turned. As soon as they stepped in, the warm air that rushed towards them carried the rich aroma of sesame paste, the fresh scent of mutton, and a hint of charcoal, instantly dispelling the winter chill that had settled on them.
The restaurant's lobby is spacious and bright, with three dark red antique-style palace lanterns hanging overhead. The walls are decorated with faded old photos of Beijing street scenes, along with several old copper pots and spoons that have been polished to a shine. The restaurant exudes a warm and mellow charm that has been tinged with the passage of time, making it easy to tell that it is an old establishment with a long history.
A waiter in a dark green jacket hurried over, a warm smile plastered on his face, and, whether intentionally or not, spoke with a perfect accent.
"Please come in, both of you! Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes, it is determined by the universe."
After receiving Gu Luo's affirmative answer, he smiled and led the two deeper into the corridor.
The dark red carpet underfoot was thick and soft, making no sound when you stepped on it. You could only occasionally hear the laughter and chatter from the next private room and the bubbling of the copper pot, creating a lively atmosphere.
Pushing open the heavy solid wood door of the private room, an even richer aroma of food, along with warmth, wafts out.
The room was small, but it was decorated elegantly and tastefully. In the corner, there was a small pot of green ivy with bright green leaves.
On the dark round table in the center, a gleaming copper hot pot was placed on the charcoal stove. The clear broth was bubbling with tiny bubbles, and wisps of white steam rose up like a thin layer of mist, gently blurring the figures of the people sitting across the table.
Upon hearing the voice, the man immediately stood up—he was a man in his early thirties, not very tall, with a slightly chubby and憨态 (simple and honest appearance), wrapped in a soft dark gray sweater, which made him look particularly easygoing.
She has a round face, wears frameless glasses on her nose, and has small eyes that squint into two curved lines when she smiles, exuding a friendly and approachable aura.
It was Universe, the editor of the final novel.
"Great Panda God, you've finally arrived!" Universe's voice was warm and loud, filled with undisguised excitement. He walked around the round table and quickly came to greet him, extending his hand.
When his gaze fell on Gu Luo's face, his eyes lit up noticeably, and he couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration:
"Seeing is believing! He looks even better in person than in his online photos, and he's way more handsome than those so-called 'pretty boys' online!"
Gu Luo smiled and stepped forward, shaking his hand: "Hello, editor, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
He turned slightly to the side, naturally and gently pulling Lu Xuexue, who had been quietly following beside him, to his front. His hand rested lightly on her waist, the movement fluid yet clearly protective.
"Let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Lu Xuexue. Xuexue, this is the editor from Universe whom I often mention to you. He takes good care of me."
The moment the word "girlfriend" was uttered, the air in the private room seemed to freeze for an extremely brief moment, and even the bubbling sound of the boiling copper pot seemed to become clearer.
Yu Zhou's enthusiastic smile remained unchanged, but his narrowed eyes widened slightly. Behind his glasses, his gaze quickly and subtly swept back and forth between Gu Luo's arm around Lu Xuexue and the way the two stood facing each other.
The scattered rumors he had seen online about the close relationship between "Panda God" and Luo Ningning's sister flashed through his mind in an instant. Before he could piece those fragmented pieces of information together, they shattered completely with a "click".
Instead, there was a rapidly reorganizing curiosity, and a polite restraint born of professional instinct.
He sighed inwardly—good heavens, none of the rumors online are reliable after all; the real expert is right here!
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