Chapter 55 - Beauty Standards (1/2)

When Xiu had suggested the dinner, she didn't expect the restaurant they were standing in right now. It was named 'Les Moments'. If her memory served her right, this French restaurant was a prominent one and was frequented by the elite class including celebrities.

People couldn't get a table here on impulse. Most of the reservations were made two months in advance. She gave a sideways glance to Darren wondering who he really was. Because if he could book a table here so soon, this meant that he wasn't a simple character. Although his plain chinos, t-shirt, and a jacket said otherwise. But Xiu was familiar with brands and she could tell even his simple attire must have cost a lot.

This was the difference between Dylan and Darren. Dylan loved his clean-cut suits while Darren loved his not so formal attire.

As they were ushered to their table, Xiu's eyes wandered around. Large mullioned windows, long embroidered curtains, dark walnut tables were the first thing that caught her attention. There were fresh flowers on the tables and a delicate piano tune was playing live on the large piano that sat in the middle of the restaurant.

Their table was on the second floor near the glass railing where they could see the piano performance clearly. Feeling a gaze at the side of her face, Xiu tilted her head to look at Darren staring at her. There was mischief beneath his wrinkled lids. Those grey eyes that could compel anyone were a shade darker under the lights.

”Baby Xiu'er, what should we eat?” Nora's voice broke Xiu's curious gaze on Darren. She looked at the menu and flipped through it leisurely.

”Why don't you choose for yourself?” Darren asked looking at both ladies sitting opposite of him.

”Because my Xiu is the food expert here,” Nora stated nonchalantly.

”Are you sure?” Darren asked with an incredulous glance at Xiu which made her frown. ”I don't think Sweets can be a food expert?”

”And why is that?” Xiu retorted narrowing her eyes at him.

”Perhaps because you look like someone who is surviving on air,” Darren said in dispair feeling really bad for her.

”Pfft!” While Xiu's face was twitching, this laughter came from her best friend.

Holding back her anger, Xiu said, ”I eat food, not air.”

”If you say so,” Darren didn't seem convinced at all as he reluctantly agreed with her. ”But your pale skin and skinny body tell a different story.” Suddenly enlightened, he added, ”Don't tell me that's your beauty standard.”

Xiu hit the food knife on the tabletop making Darren straighten up in his seat. ”I know I'm skinny. But it's not my beauty standard! And my skin is pale because of the lack of sunlight in my life.”

”Go for a morning run,” Darren suggested as he took a sip of water.

Nora snorted, ”Run? And in the morning? Haha!” Following her fit of laughter, she continued, ”She's The Lazy Burrito. Even cats will be ashamed before her laziness.” Darren spurted out the water that he had yet to swallow. ”She has a gym membership and she only went to the gym one day. Only ONE DAY!”

Darren was wiping his mouth while Xiu had lowered her head. Her own best friend was defaming her now. How pitiful of her!

”Would you like to know the height of her laziness?” Darren nodded his head vigorously. ”She even sent a third person to cancel her gym membership because she wanted to use her free time to sleep.”