"We're not just having noodles for lunch, are we?"
Passing through the bustling commercial street, they entered a small alley connecting the residential area and the commercial street.
Gu Yu looked up at the sign in front of him—Old Liu's Authentic Lanzhou Beef Noodle Restaurant.
He never expected Lin Xinyue to bring him to this kind of small eatery for a meal.
He thought that their first meal together, if not in a fancy restaurant, should at least be in some stylized chain restaurant, right?
But what's the deal with this noodle restaurant?
Oh, next door there's a Sha County snacks shop...
It's definitely the kind of fast-food street frequented by the local residents!
"What are you spacing out for, let's go in!"
Seeing Gu Yu staring at the sign, Lin Xinyue unceremoniously dragged him into the restaurant.
As they entered the restaurant, a faint aroma of beef broth mixed with marinated eggs hit them.
Because they had stayed too long in the Dior store, it was already nearly one o'clock.
There were only two or three customers in the restaurant, who seemed to be finishing up and getting ready to leave.
Lin Xinyue pulled Gu Yu to sit down at a spot near the corner wall and seemed to ask him, "What will you have? Any dietary restrictions? Do you want cilantro and green onions?"
Gu Yu was still dazed and casually responded when he heard Lin Xinyue ask, "Ah, no restrictions, just the signature beef noodles, please!"
He looked at the menu posted on the wall, where the cheapest option was the signature noodles, eighteen yuan.
In Modu, especially near the expensive commercial street, this price was very reasonable.
"Hehe~ Same for me~ But I don't eat cilantro!"
Lin Xinyue playfully smiled, turned her head, and shouted towards the kitchen window: "Mr. Liu! Two bowls of signature beef noodles! One without cilantro, one with everything!"
"Alright!" Only the middle part of the boss's body could be seen as he responded from inside.
Then a surprised voice followed.
"Eh? Why does that sound so much like Yue's voice? Wife, go have a look..."
"Yeah! I thought so too!"
After the conversation, a woman who appeared to be around fifty and wore a greasy plastic apron—probably the wife of the owner—pushed open the curtain of the kitchen and walked out.
After coming out, her gaze swept around and immediately landed on a table occupied by a man and a woman in the corner.
Upon clearly recognizing the girl's face, the woman's expression went from puzzled to astonished, then to delighted!
"Ah! It really is Yue! Old man, come out here!"
The woman excitedly lifted the curtain again and called toward the kitchen, then quickly approached the table where Lin Xinyue and Gu Yu were sitting.
"Oh my, my dear Yue, what brings you here! Mrs. Bai has missed you so much! It's the first time this year indeed!"
The woman's face beamed with joy, closing in on Lin Xinyue, chattering affectionately.
She reached out to hug Lin Xinyue but then realized her hands and apron were oily, so she could only swing her hands in the air back and forth to express her longing.
Lin Xinyue also grinned foolishly at the woman, looking like a lovable silly girl.
Sitting across, Gu Yu overheard their conversation and saw their intimate demeanor, instantly understanding why Lin Xinyue had brought him here!
Turns out she was acquainted with the restaurant owner's wife!
And not just acquainted—it seemed they were also deeply connected! Calling her 'Auntie,' how could they not be close?
For some reason, seeing the joyous face of the owner's wife who had not yet noticed him, Gu Yu suddenly felt an awkward sensation as if he were meeting her family!
No way! Meeting close relatives on the second day of dating?
What a swift progression this was!
The next second, the kitchen curtain was lifted again, and a tall man, roughly six feet tall with very sturdy arms and a greasy face, emerged.
He too was surprised as he walked towards Lin Xinyue.
However, he was somewhat more composed than his wife and warmly greeted Lin Xinyue, "Yue'er, what a great day it is today! What brings you to have noodles at Uncle Liu's place?"
As soon as he finished speaking, his wife slapped him on the arm.
Mrs. Bai looked displeased: "Old man, what are you saying! So Yue can only come to see us on special occasions, is that it?"
Mr. Liu could only shrink his arm back, grinning and shaking his head: "No! No! Yue'er can come anytime she wants!"
Seeing the old couple about to quarrel, Lin Xinyue quickly grabbed Mrs. Bai's hand: "It's okay, Mrs. Bai, Uncle Liu was just a bit crude in his words, but he indeed cares a lot about me! He said that because he missed me so much!"
"Yes, yes, yes! I just miss our Yue'er so much, I misspoke!"
Mr. Liu hastily agreed, and Mrs. Bai had no choice but to roll her eyes at him and drop the argument.
"Mrs. Bai, Uncle Liu, although today isn't a special day, I do have some good news to share with you—I have a boyfriend now! Look, this is him! His name is Gu Yu!"
Just as Gu Yu nervously fidgeted with the wooden seams of the table, a hand suddenly pointed towards him.
"Ah! Hahaha, hello, Uncle and Auntie! Yes, I am Lin Xinyue's boyfriend!"
Gu Yu quickly raised his head, introducing himself with a silly smile.
The perfect introduction he had prepared in his mind completely vanished under the scrutinizing gaze of the two elders!
He thought of a horse, but what came out was a donkey!
The elders' gazes swept over Gu Yu like eagle eyes, as if trying to see through him at a glance.
Gu Yu didn't dare to move, only managing to keep up a silly laugh: "Hehehe…"
"Oh~ this young man is quite handsome!"
"Indeed! Even more handsome than I was when I was young! No wonder our Yue could fancy him!"
"No wonder the old saying goes: a handsome man and a beautiful woman make a perfect match! Today I've seen it myself!"
"Exactly! The young man really does look good! He seems quite honest, but being honest is good! Yue won't be at a disadvantage with a honest person!"
"..."
They actually started discussing Gu Yu right in front of him, afraid of not appearing cheerful enough, Gu Yu forced himself to keep smiling the entire time.
His cheek muscles were starting to hurt from smiling!
Mrs. Bai took a glance at Gu Yu, then suddenly pulled her husband aside and whispered softly.
"Why does this kid look a bit foolish? Just smiling all the time without saying a word?"
"Stop talking nonsense, our Yue is so smart, she wouldn't fall for a fool!"
"..."
Upon hearing their words, Gu Yu's smile abruptly stopped.
Hey, hey, hey! Are you two plotting against me aloud in front of me?!
If you turn aside, do you think I can't hear you?!
You're not actually treating me like a fool, are you?!!!
Gu Yu complained inwardly.
Lin Xinyue also noticed Gu Yu's awkwardness and quickly tugged on Mrs. Bai's sleeve:
"Mrs. Bai~ please stop talking! Gu Yu and I are really hungry~ I've been craving Mr. Liu's noodles for half a year now!"
Mr. Liu slapped his forehead upon hearing this: "Oh! I totally forgot! I almost starved you two!"
Saying so, Mr. Liu hurriedly pulled Mrs. Bai into the kitchen to make noodles.
Soon after, the sound of noodles slapping on the countertop could be heard from the kitchen, mixed with the whispered chattering of Mr. Liu and Mrs. Bai.
No need to guess, they were definitely still discussing Gu Yu.
Lin Xinyue saw Gu Yu slightly hunching his neck, looking all stiff, and she finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Puhaha…"
Gu Yu looked at her puzzled, "What are you laughing at?"
Lin Xinyue laughed for a while, straightened her messy hair, and said with a smile:
"Cough cough, well, I was laughing at how clueless you looked just now, really silly!"
Gu Yu pouted slightly, complaining softly: "How could I not be nervous? Meeting your parents isn't much different, right?"
Lin Xinyue playfully blinked her eyes: "Exactly! Mrs. Bai and Mr. Liu are just like my own parents to me! Although we're not related by blood, they treat me like their own daughter!"
"That's why they kept discussing you just now; that's just how they are, don't mind them!"
Gu Yu nodded: "I understand, you can tell they really care about you, really like you! But I'm not that petty!"
"If I ever have a daughter and see her bringing a boyfriend home, I will definitely scrutinize that young man inside and out! Not just once, but several times!"
Lin Xinyue playfully blinked her large eyes again: "You like daughters, huh? What if I give birth to a boy?"
Gu Yu was about to nod subconsciously when he suddenly realized Lin Xinyue's words had another meaning!
Lin Xinyue actually talked about giving birth?
Gu Yu quickly responded earnestly: "Gender equality! Whether a boy or a girl, it's all decided by fate! I like them all! As long as they are from you…"
Lin Xinyue's cheeks immediately flushed, and she quickly put her right hand over Gu Yu's mouth: "Shush! I know~"
Just then, Mrs. Bai came over with two bowls of noodles, cautiously setting them in front of the two:
"Here come the noodles! Yue's without cilantro~"
After placing the noodles, seemingly not wanting to disturb their moment, Mrs. Bai quickly retreated, but not without giving Gu Yu a backward glance.
For some reason.
Gu Yu always felt that suddenly, there was encouragement in Mrs. Bai's gaze!?!