A-Chao was a man devoted solely to hard work, which is precisely why he chose the profession of a rogue, known for its quiet demeanor. However, after spending considerable time together, he learned an important lesson: when his girlfriend cried, he must soothe her.
The more Xiaojie pondered, the more aggrieved she felt. Having invested so much in their relationship, she couldn't fathom why her typically honest boyfriend would resort to lies today. Infuriated, she exited the dungeon without a second thought.
Realizing he had no choice, A-Chao followed her outside, apologizing profusely. Fortunately, their good reputation among their peers meant there was little risk of being expelled from the guild.
...
This period of coaxing lasted over half an hour, and once Xiaojie's mood had calmed, A-Chao cautiously broached the topic, "Darling, how about I take you to try some food later? The offerings there are truly exceptional. I know the priests often enjoy lavish meals, but I believe nothing can compare to the delicacies from that little stall."
As he spoke, A-Chao became lost in his memories of the food.
"Are you saying you really spent money there on food? Fine, then take me to see it now," Xiaojie remarked, observing A-Chao's expression, which seemed sincere.
She genuinely wished to discover what culinary treasure could have captivated her boyfriend so completely that he had exhausted his monthly allowance meant for little surprises.
"Alright, let's go now. You're going to love it," A-Chao replied, relieved. He understood that his clumsiness could only be mended with genuine affection.
The journey there and back took merely two or three hours, and although it was still afternoon, the bustling atmosphere surrounding Zhao Shen's stall showed no signs of waning.
...
Thanks to the throngs of players, the elderly gentleman finally brought his spouse to savor the Ice Silkworm Dumpling.
The aging couple had developed an unshakeable fondness for the refreshing and delectable treat. After tasting it once, the old man could never forget it.
When A-Chao and Xiaojie arrived at Zhao Shen's stall, they found the old man savoring the warm Ice Silkworm Dumpling, its irresistible aroma wafting through the air.
The dumpling, devoid of any fishy scent, was complemented by the rich flavor of red date juice and the natural sweetness of the Ice Plains grain flour. The enticing fragrance whetted their appetites.
The translucent wrapper, filled with glistening light blue meat, even reflected a gentle glow under the sun, resembling a rare treasure that one would instantly fall in love with.
Watching the elderly man's expression of delight as he bit into the dumpling, A-Chao could not help but swallow hard. Even Xiaojie, who had previously doubted A-Chao, found herself mesmerized by the dumpling in the old man's hand.
Despite it being afternoon, A-Chao and Xiaojie stood in line for nearly twenty minutes before reaching Zhao Shen's stall. When Xiaojie finally opened the stall's menu, she was taken aback.
"Fried rice: 333?"
"Dumpling: 58 each?"
Although A-Chao had warned her of the steep prices, Xiaojie hadn't anticipated that a simple convenience food could be so exorbitantly priced! Was this truly a black market stall? Even a five-star hotel wouldn't charge so much for fried rice!
...
Turning back, Xiaojie's expression darkened as she questioned A-Chao, "Have you lost your mind? You come here to spend 333 gold coins on fried rice?"
A-Chao quickly replied, "Occasionally, just occasionally."
Indeed, he only indulged in fried rice once in a while, considering it a splurge. But Ice Silkworm Dumplings? He needed those every day.
"Come on, just try it; you'll understand. Once you taste it, you'll see. I once thought the same way you do now."
Those who had never savored Zhao Shen's culinary masterpieces often assumed he was a ruthless businessman. But A-Chao knew that once Xiaojie experienced this earthly delight, all misunderstandings would dissipate like snow melting in the sun.
"It better be true, or I won't believe you," Xiaojie communicated solely through private messages.
In just one or two minutes, she began to comprehend that, despite being outside, she needed to maintain some dignity for her boyfriend. She was not the type to resort to public outbursts. In this situation, there was no point in either leaving without making a purchase or having a loud argument with A-Chao. Yet, she was prepared for the storm that would follow their brief calm. Her boyfriend had truly become addicted.
...
"Boss, when will you add new items to the menu?"
"Yes, Zhao Shen, you introduced a new product just a few days ago. The steamed buns and Golden Fried Rice were launched only a short while apart."
"Zhao Shen, can't you level up your offerings? It's been days, and you're still at level 5. Do you have any idea how much time we spend coming here from the main city every day?"
"Right, and about yesterday—just shutting down without notice? You left us waiting until four in the afternoon with no word! What were you doing?"
"Exactly, Zhao Shen! Don't you realize you're jeopardizing our loyal customer base?"
With Xiaojie and A-Chao standing silently for a minute, the others hesitated to speak up, seeing a delicate priestess in white attire nearby. They began to "chat" with Zhao Shen, but soon their conversation devolved into a cacophony of complaints.
"Oh, buy a bed."
Zhao Shen reacted like a robot, answering the barrage of questions from customers with a mechanical tone. He had no knowledge of the vast history of Chinese cuisine, nor when the system might release new ingredients.
Hearing this, Xiaojie hesitated further about making a purchase. Her impression of Zhao Shen had plummeted. Was this truly the attitude one expected from a business owner? Yet, the next comment from a customer left her utterly astonished.
...
"Zhao Shen, considering you were absent yesterday, we strongly demand the option to buy two portions of fried rice today."
"Exactly! Zhao Shen, you can't just close up shop whenever you feel like it. Two portions of Golden Fried Rice to make up for the emotional distress, and I want two baskets of Ice Silkworm Dumplings to compensate for my low satiety!"
Once one person spoke up, others quickly joined the chorus. Zhao Shen, however, chose to ignore the uproar and turned to A-Chao and Xiaojie, asking, "Would you two like to order?"
Xiaojie, still reeling from the dramatic shift in tone, initially thought the customers were dissatisfied with Zhao Shen. She was astonished to realize that their complaints were merely a ruse to secure another order.
How utterly ridiculous! Was it really true that a business reflects its clientele? Everyone seemed to be under a spell! Xiaojie felt bewildered yet increasingly curious.
"I'll have a portion of Golden Fried Rice!" A-Chao hastily interjected, fearing his girlfriend would hesitate to spend.
Giving her boyfriend a sharp glance, Xiaojie had intended only to try an Ice Silkworm Dumpling, but her heart swelled with happiness because it was her boyfriend being considerate. In daily expenses, her spending was deducted from A-Chao's 15,000 gold coins. So, in essence, this meal was still A-Chao treating her.