"Hehe, when my son was your age, he loved steak!"
Lady Lillian spoke with effortless charm, always leaving others feeling refreshed. It made Jin much impressed by her social finesse.
"Are you Mr. Fang's nephew?"
As the Cadillac moved steadily, Lady Lillian suddenly inquired, catching Jin off guard.
"You know Mr. Fang?"
"Of course, darling. In New York's antique trade, there are few I don't know."
Lady Lillian looked curiously at Jin, who couldn't help but marvel at her networking prowess. They had only met for less than an hour, yet she seemed to know everything about him.
Throughout the journey, Lady Lillian led the conversation. Their exchange felt more like chatting with an elder, relaxed and comfortable, with no sense of awkwardness.
Soon, they arrived at The Strip House, one of Manhattan's premier steak houses, highly regarded by steak aficionados in New York.
The interior was fashionable with a hint of mystery, dim lighting, velvet-lined red walls, and black-and-white decor, exuding an upscale ambiance.
As it was dinner time, the steakhouse was bustling with diners from all over, enjoying exquisite meals together.
Clearly a regular, Lady Lillian was greeted warmly as soon as she entered the restaurant.
"Good evening, Lady Lillian."
The greeter, a handsome young man, flashed a standard eight-tooth smile upon seeing Lady Lillian.
"Good evening, Ryan. Have you reserved a table for me?"
"Yes, it's all set since you called. Please follow me."
Ryan led Lady Lillian and Jin to Table No. 8, then brought menus, only to be pushed aside by Lady Lillian.
"No need for that. Bring us two lobster bisques as starters. For this young man, a classic New York strip steak, and for me, a ribeye steak."
Lady Lillian was familiar with the place, so Ryan asked another question.
"And the side dishes? Would this gentleman like goose fat potatoes? I'll have some black truffle creamed spinach. As for dessert, we'll decide later."
"Very well, Lady Lillian. Please wait a moment."
Taking note of Lady Lillian's order, Ryan went to place it.
At this moment, Lady Lillian turned to Jin with a smile.
"Their classic New York strip steak is exquisite, and generous in portion. Young people like you should eat heartily. My son used to love their strip steak."
"I trust your recommendation."
Jin loved steak, but he had mostly bought pre-marinated ones from the supermarket and grilled them at home. A dedicated steakhouse like this was something he had never experienced.
"Oh, by the way, how's Mr. Fang doing? Haven't seen him in half a year."
Lady Lillian asked casually, and Jin nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Fang is doing well, still going strong. How about you? How's your health?"
"That's good to hear. Please give him my regards when you see him next time."
"Certainly!"
Soon, the appetizer soup arrived, and as they ate and chatted, they gradually became more acquainted. Before long, the steaks were served, and Lady Lillian refrained from further conversation, merely advising Jin to enjoy his meal.
The New York classic strip steak before Jin was indeed generous in portion, a hefty slab weighing well over half a pound. Ordered medium-rare, it still had a hint of pink in the center, making it tender and easy to chew. The meat was succulent, with a subtle saltiness, complemented perfectly by the sprinkling of crushed peppercorns, adding a mild spiciness that elevated the flavor.
Midway through the meal, Lady Lillian's phone rang. She answered and then smiled at Jin.
"Actually, the reason I invited you out today is to ask for a small favor."
"Oh? What is it? Please, go ahead."
"Well, you see, I've already sold that peony-themed table lamp. Someone will come to pick it up shortly, but I have something else to attend to and can't wait for the delivery person. So, I was wondering if you could do me a favor. Please wait here for a while. When the person arrives to collect the lamp, you can hand it over to them."
Jin couldn't help but marvel at Lady Lillian's efficiency. Within a few hours of receiving the lamp, she had already sold it. Who knows how much profit she made from it, but surely it was substantial. Nevertheless, as they say, you don't bite the hand that feeds you. Besides, it was just a small favor, so Jin readily agreed.
After thanking him, Lady Lillian called the driver to bring the car over. Then, she and Jin together removed the peony-themed table lamp from the car. After confirming its authenticity, Lady Lillian got into the car, leaving Jin behind to wait for the delivery person in the steakhouse.
Since he hadn't finished his steak yet, Jin resumed his meal. The steaks at this restaurant were truly authentic, and the side of goose fat potatoes was particularly flavorful. Jin enjoyed every bite.
As he was engrossed in battling his last piece of steak, he suddenly caught a whiff of fragrance. Then, the previously noisy steakhouse fell silent.
When he looked up, he saw a blonde beauty with long flowing hair standing at his table. At that moment, almost half the men in the steakhouse had their eyes fixed on her.
The girl was not tall, dressed in a denim suit, with a pair of sneakers on her feet. Her tight jeans accentuated her remarkable curves, and although her legs weren't particularly long, the proportions of her thighs, calves, and plump buttocks were almost perfect. Any man who laid eyes on her would find it hard to resist.
Moreover, the girl had a stunningly beautiful face, with delicate skin that lacked the enlarged pores typical of Western women. Her dainty golden eyebrows were elegantly arched, beneath which lay a pair of blue eyes with hints of green. With a high, straight nose and small lips, she epitomized the image of a pure and beautiful Western woman, a quintessential American sweetheart.
Jin looked up at the girl, and as she recognized his face, a look of surprise flashed across her eyes, followed by a burst of joy. She plopped down in front of him, her tone direct and unrestrained.
"Why, it's you? You're Jin Muchen, aren't you?"
Seeing the girl's appearance, Jin could only smile wryly and touch his nose.
"Why wouldn't it be me? Yes, I am Jin Muchen!"
He did recognize this girl, but they had hardly spoken before. She was none other than Helen, the former friend who had competed with Candice on the ladder before.
"I mean, I never expected the delivery person to be you!"
Helen adjusted her mood and said to Jin.
"I never expected the person coming to collect the goods to be you either."
Jin Muchen replied with a wry smile, unsure of what emotions to display in front of the girl.
Candice seemed to have some issues with this Helen, but Jin couldn't afford to treat her coldly just because of that. After all, he had hardly interacted with her before, and since she was here to collect the goods, she must have a significant relationship with Lady Lillian. Lady Lillian's clients were not someone Jin could afford to offend.
"Why haven't I seen Lillian?" Helen casually inquired, but Jin couldn't detect much goodwill in her tone. No wonder Lady Lillian avoided her; it was likely they also had some unresolved issues between them.
"She had something to attend to and left early, asking me to pass the items to you."
Jin pushed the box containing the peony-themed lamp towards Helen.
Helen glanced at it without much interest and casually placed it beside her. Jin almost held his breath at her action. Damn, there were valuable antiques worth hundreds of thousands inside, but her attitude made it seem like it was just some cheap item worth a few bucks.
"Um... There's an antique lamp inside. You should handle it with care." Jin couldn't help but remind her.
"I know. It's just an old lamp, isn't it? If my dad didn't like this stuff, I wouldn't even bother coming here."
Just an old lamp? Damn it! That lamp was worth hundreds of thousands! Helen's attitude left Jin speechless for a moment, but it also made him realize that she must come from an extraordinary background.
Regardless of her background, Jin didn't want to waste any more time here. The steak was finished, Lady Lillian's task was completed, and it was time for him to take his leave.
"Alright, the item has been delivered. I'll take my leave now."
As Jin stood up to leave, Helen spoke up.
"Hey! Mr. Jin, can't you be a gentleman? A true gentleman wouldn't let a girl carry such a heavy box."
Helen's expression was serious, with a hint of pleading in her eyes. Although her voice was loud, the diners at nearby tables could still hear her.
Seeing such a beautiful girl pitifully pleading with the unresponsive boy, the surrounding diners couldn't help but look at Jin with disdain or jealousy.
You fool, don't you know we'd gladly step forward to help her carry the box? We'd even move bricks for her, let alone boxes!
Under the scorching gaze of the surrounding men, Jin felt like he was about to be roasted alive. He could only force a smile on his face and approach the girl, picking up the cardboard box.
"Shall we?"
The girl stood up with a smile as bright as a flower. "That's more like it. This is what a gentleman does."
However, Jin could only smile on the surface while cursing inwardly. Damn it, I never intended to be a gentleman!
Though this girl in front of him was beautiful, Jin could sense that her inner thoughts were far from as innocent as she appeared on the surface.