Chapter 645 - A Dozen Each (1/2)

For the Hua nationals, the best way to catch up with old friends was to enjoy a hearty meal together.

And that was undoubtedly what these old friends had intended to do. After settling the accommodation arrangement for her four students, Zhong Meili joined the teachers from the University of Washington and did not join her students for dinner. But before leaving, Zhong Meili tried to persuade Xiao Luo to complete his studies. She emphasized how a Bachelor’s degree would give him a certain level of security in society. Xiao Luo politely listened to her. He nodded his head and told her he would keep her advice in mind.

They went for dinner at a restaurant near the University of Washington. A Hua national operated the restaurant, and the atmosphere there reminded them of home. The music in the background was the pipa, a traditional Hua music instrument. Covering the walls around the restaurant were many traditional ink paintings from the Hua Nation. The overall setting was in traditional Hua-style. The service staff donned Hua national long dresses, even though they were ladies from the Mei Nation. Dressed in classic cheongsam, these ladies exuded an exotic fusion of cultures.

When the restaurant owner noticed that the five guests were from the Hua Nation, he welcomed them personally. He showed them to the best room on the second floor and told them they could enjoy a fifty percent discount for everything on the menu. That was a delightful surprise, especially for Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai.

“This meal is on me. Order anything you want,” Xiao Luo said.

“That was very much what we had in mind, Brother Luo.”

Zhu Xiaofei chuckled and turned to the restaurant owner. “Boss, I’d like to have every specialty dish you have on the menu,” Zhu Xiaofei said cheekily.

It still amused Xiao Luo, even though he knew that his friend would not go easy on him.

“What are you doing, Zhu? Brother Luo is buying us the meal. Are you sure you want to order so much?” Ding Kai scolded Zhu Xiaofei and looked at his friend from the corner of his eye.

Huang Ruoran stared at Zhu Xiaofei without saying a word. However, her eyes said it all—if looks could kill! She was silently telling him not to take advantage of Xiao Luo through her glare.

Xiao Luo raised his brows as he felt relieved. He was about to pat on Ding Kai’s shoulder to thank him.

Just then, Ding Kai coughed and added, “Wait, I have not done talking,” he said as he turned to the restaurant owner, and he continued, “Boss, do you serve bear paws and shark fins here? I’d like to have a dozen each!”

A dozen each of bear paws and shark fins?

A dozen?

Xiao Luo was speechless.

Wang Ling had her mouth wide-opened in surprise.

“Hahaha…” Zhu Xiaofei laughed so hard that he smacked his thigh.

Huang Ruoran could not tolerate it anymore as she felt that the joke had gone out of hand. So, she stood up and reprimanded the boys. “Ding Kai and Zhu Xiaofei, what are you guys doing? We’ve finally met up with Xiao Luo after so long. Can you guys be serious?”

“I am just joking. Don’t take this seriously! I am just making things interesting. I am sure this restaurant does not offer bear paws and shark fins on its menu, right?” Ding Kai said, trying to calm Huang Ruoran down.

“Well, actually… we serve these dishes,” the restaurant owner answered with a big smile.

“What the heck!”

That caught Ding Kai by surprise. He was merely fooling around and wanted to see Xiao Luo’s reaction when he placed orders on the bear paws and shark fins. It did not cross his mind that this restaurant would serve these dishes.

“Then we shall have a dozen each.”

Xiao Luo made the call. Although he said it softly, it did not sound like he was joking.

Zhu Xiaofei, Ding Kai, Wang Ling, and the restaurant owner all stared at him in awe. What was he saying? Both bear paws and shark fins were extremely rare in the marketplace. A catty of bear paws could easily cost one hundred and fifty thousand bucks. They could not even afford half a catty, let alone a dozen.

Huang Ruoran was also shocked, but she knew that Xiao Luo was the owner of Luo’s Workshop. She knew he could afford the meal, so she was relatively calm compared to the others.