After closing the dessert shop in the evening, Yuan Qing drove Yun Manman to a famous and upscale restaurant in Lili Town.
If sitting in Yuan Qing's luxury car worth millions had already surprised Yun Manman immensely, then seeing the menu at this restaurant called Pine Garden left her absolutely flabbergasted.
When Yun Manman saw that a single steak cost two thousand Cloth Currency, she couldn't close her mouth.
Heavens above, she, a poor working girl, had never eaten such an expensive steak before.
But Yuan Qing, sitting across from her, very skillfully ordered from the smiling waiter standing beside them: "We'll have two Lulu Beast original sears, two cream and catnip soups, and one grilled rock mushroom."
"Hmm... your snake eats beef, right? Then add one Lingxi steak."
The waiter smiled, "Certainly. Anything else, Miss Yuan?"
"A bottle of wine as well."
"Very good."
After the waiter left, Yuan Qing eagerly told Yun Manman: "This is the only place in Lili Town that sells Lulu Beast original sear. You must try it, it's super delicious."
"And the grilled rock mushroom is also incredibly tasty. Even I, who doesn't like vegetables much, really enjoy eating it."
She talked on and on for a while without hearing any response, only to realize that Yun Manman was staring at her with a pair of bewildered emerald cat eyes.
"What's a Lulu Beast? And what's grilled rock mushroom?"
She had only noticed that Lulu Beast was the most expensive ingredient on the menu, costing four thousand Cloth Currency per serving.
And the grilled rock mushroom was also a special recommendation of this restaurant.
Yun Manman, an outsider, had never even heard of these unfamiliar ingredients.
*Confused cat face*
Then after Yuan Qing's explanation, Yun Manman finally understood.
It turned out that Lulu Beast and rock mushroom were both species unique to the Lingyi Continent.
Lulu Beasts were mostly wild, shaped like deer but sounding like horses, with tender meat that melted in the mouth. It was a rare meat ingredient.
But it was difficult to capture, and although there were now some farmed ones, the market price remained consistently high.
Rock mushrooms grew on the rocky mountains north of Kashida. They didn't need any seasoning; just grilling them was enough to bring out their unique aroma.
Of course, they were also very expensive.
Yun Manman thought: Following this rich sister is really broadening my horizons.
She felt a bit embarrassed to let Yuan Qing treat her to such an expensive meal: "I'll transfer the money to you later, okay?"
Yuan Qing laughed generously: "I just got a sum of money, sis. Let me treat you."
Speaking of this money, she was quite pleased: "Hehe, I finally made that scumbag bleed money."
Yun Manman had been curious about Yuan Qing's story for a long time, but she felt it might make Yuan Qing sad, so she never asked.
But now that Yuan Qing seemed to have resolved her inner conflict, Yun Manman cupped her cheeks and asked: "Sister Qing, was that Han Chao very unkind to you before?"
Yuan Qing brushed her short hair and frowned, saying: "I can't say he was terribly unkind."
"At first, he was very considerate and caring, very gentlemanly. But later he always said I lacked femininity, that I didn't dress well."
"Or at work, he'd say I didn't do this document well enough, that I should do it like him."
"In short, he belittled me to the point of worthlessness. During that time, I had very low self-esteem, feeling like I wasn't myself anymore."
"Towards the end, when I found out he was with Bai Cha and confronted him, he even slapped me."
Yun Manman drew in a sharp breath: "Isn't that just textbook emotional manipulation? And domestic violence?"
No wonder when she first met Yuan Qing, she looked lost and confused, with a mix of doubt and envy in her eyes.
Yuan Qing smiled bitterly: "I guess so. I only realized it after nearly dying once."
Seeing Yun Manman's little nose wrinkled in anger, she chuckled.
She stood up and reached across the table to pinch Yun Manman's still somewhat chubby cheeks: "Don't worry about me. He's already received his due punishment."
"The court seized quite a bit of money from him. He used to live off me. Now he's going to suffer."
The bright light behind Yuan Qing made her whole being seem to glow.
Her features were delicate, her smile brilliant and unrestrained, like a withered flower suddenly blooming after a harsh winter, dazzling and eye-catching.
Yun Manman, her cheek touched, stared up at her blankly.
Her face slowly reddened.
Help! The beautiful big sister touched her face!
The waiter brought over wine glasses and red wine, pouring for them.
Yuan Qing sat down and picked up her wine glass, swirling it gently: "As for Bai Cha, it's the same. I've sued her too."
Yun Manman sipped the red wine: "So you're just letting the two of them be together?"
On second thought: "Well, a scumbag paired with a scumbag is fine. Let them lock each other down and not harm others."
The red wine from the Lingyi Continent was a bit tart and not sweet enough. Yun Manman found it hard to drink.
Yuan Qing said softly: "From what I know of Bai Cha, she'll kick Han Chao to the curb soon enough."
Although Bai Cha always appeared soft and weak, she was quite ambitious.
Once Han Chao no longer had any use value, she would kick him away without hesitation.
Back then, it was also because Yuan Qing was so focused on Han Chao and work that she no longer gave Bai Cha various nice things like before.
That's when Bai Cha turned to Han Chao, indirectly gaining benefits.
Yun Manman asked hesitantly: "Then... aren't you afraid I might deceive you too?"
It wasn't that she doubted her friendship with Yuan Qing, but she worried that Yuan Qing might develop PTSD and distrust everyone because of this.
This was something Yun Manman didn't want to see.
There were still many beautiful things in this world worth believing in and looking forward to, both people and things.
And anyone who had gone through an experience like Yuan Qing's would certainly be more cautious.
Yuan Qing looked at the girl's sincere and worried eyes and smiled brightly: "From the moment you offered to split this meal, I knew you weren't like Bai Cha."
"Bai Cha would never voluntarily offer to pay when dining with me."
Yuan Qing had rarely seen someone like Yun Manman, who would even show concern for a passing homeless person.
She was like a little sun, always optimistic and energetic, as if any problem could be solved by eating a piece of dessert.
If one piece wasn't enough, then two.
Just like their first meeting, when Yun Manman gave her a pudding, and later treated her to a honeydew jasmine tea jelly cake.
Yun Manman herself was full of energy, and even the desserts she made seemed to have the power to soothe people's hearts.
Being friends with her brought positive emotional value, rather than just consuming oneself.
Soon, the waiter brought their ordered dishes.
The Lulu Beast meat grilled on a stone slab was sizzling. The whole piece of meat looked like a steak, but it was reddish-brown in color, and the texture when cut was much finer than beef.
Cutting a small piece and putting it in the mouth, the juices burst open in the oral cavity. The texture was indeed unique, melting away without much chewing needed.
Tasting carefully, there was actually a hint of herb flavor amidst the slightly salty meat aroma, leaving a lingering fragrance in the mouth.
"It's so delicious!" Yun Manman's eyes lit up, her light orange ears on top of her head twitching.
"Right? Right?" Yuan Qing ate gracefully yet quickly.
Yun Manman was very curious about the herbal aroma in the meat: "What do these Lulu Beasts usually eat? The aroma inside is so nice."
Yuan Qing thought for a moment and said: "I believe it's a fruit called fragrant fruit. Lulu Beasts only eat this one kind, so their meat carries the fragrant fruit's flavor."
Yun Manman's eyes brightened, filled with excitement.
Fragrant fruit? Was it something like vanilla pods?
That would be amazing!
All sorts of vanilla-flavored desserts relied on it.
Vanilla cake, vanilla ice cream, vanilla cookies...
Just thinking about it made Yun Manman's mouth water, as she imagined how to create a series of vanilla, no, fragrant fruit-flavored desserts.
Seeing the girl's eyes shining, Yuan Qing couldn't help but smile: "Do you want some fragrant fruit?"
Yun Manman nodded vigorously, her ears bouncing with the motion: "Yes! I'll go home and search where I can buy it..."
Yuan Qing wiped her mouth with a napkin and took a sip of wine: "Fragrant fruit isn't an ordinary fruit. It's quite hard to find in the market."
"Oh, I see..." Yun Manman's ears drooped in disappointment.
"But I can help you find some."
Yun Manman's ears and tail instantly perked up: "Really?"
Then she hesitated again: "They say it's hard to find. Won't it be too much trouble?"
Yuan Qing: "Pine Garden receives a new shipment of fragrant fruits every month. I can help you get in touch if you'd like some. How many do you want?"
Yun Manman was shocked: "Would such a high-end restaurant really agree to that?"
Yuan Qing replied with certainty, his tone nonchalant: "They will."
"Because Pine Garden is owned by my family."