"Alright, stop talking, you're going to ruin all those idioms," Kent waved his hand dismissively. "I have something to take care of, so I can't chat with you any longer. Go ahead and get ready, I'll contact you later."
"Okay, I'll leave then." Zhou Yun grinned and gave them both a mischievous look, muttering under his breath, "You really are a perfect match, the talented man and the beautiful woman."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
"Don't mind Zhou Yun," Kent said as he noticed Zhao Mengxi lowering her head even further, almost to the point of touching her feet. He added without thinking, "He has a big mouth and speaks without thinking."
"I know," Zhao Mengxi replied with a soft glance at him. "Come with me."
The two of them made their way to the roadside, where a luxurious car was waiting. Kent couldn't tell the brand, but when the engine roared to life, the car sped off smoothly.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at a grand restaurant. The two stepped out of the car and followed the waiter into a private, luxurious dining room.
If someone from Kent's past had seen this, their eyes would have likely lit up with excitement.
But Kent had seen his fair share of luxury, and with a little wealth to his name, he was no longer an unsophisticated country bumpkin. His eyelids barely flickered, and he didn't show any unusual reaction.
"My dad has some business to take care of and will be here in about half an hour. Let's sit down first," Zhao Mengxi said as they entered the room.
The large room's door closed behind them, leaving the two of them alone. The atmosphere turned a little more intimate.
"Kent, have you decided which major to pursue at Earthstar University?" Zhao Mengxi asked, after thinking for a moment.
"Uh… probably the Inspection Academy," Kent replied, thinking carefully.
"The Inspection Academy? That's the deadliest major, are you sure about this?" Zhao Mengxi asked, her small mouth slightly agape in surprise.
"Absolutely sure," Kent said firmly. "I haven't found a major that suits me better, so I'm going with it."
"As for danger, that's not the most important thing. Should we hesitate and back off just because something's dangerous? A true man knows when to act and when to refrain. Fear isn't part of a man's principles."
"Good, you really are different from others," Zhao Mengxi said, clapping her hands in praise. Then she asked, "Do you have a dream? I want to know what your dream is."
Kent paused for a moment, feeling that the conversation was taking a strange turn, but didn't overthink it. He answered honestly, "My dream is to drive out the monsters and restore Earthstar."
"Ha ha..." Zhao Mengxi's eyes sparkled as she giggled, "That's really an adorable dream. I hope you can make it come true."
Kent was mesmerized by her smile, which made everything else seem dim by comparison. He couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if a beautiful girl like her were his wife.
That fleeting thought was quickly pushed away. The reason was simple: she was the daughter of a military leader, and Kent was just an ordinary guy. The gap in their status was too wide; nothing could come of it.
He hadn't really considered the role of Li Wanfeng, his guardian, who, though Kent didn't know why, held such significant status. But Kent didn't want to rely on anyone, especially not someone who wasn't even a relative.
The two continued chatting, discussing all sorts of topics.
"Hey, what's going on, Mengxi? Why hasn't the waiter brought the food yet?" A bodyguard opened the door to the room, and General Zhao strode in, his tall and commanding presence immediately filling the room. His sharp eyes and brows gave him an air of authority that also made him seem approachable.
"Wasn't I waiting for you?" Zhao Mengxi pouted.
"Why should I make you wait? I'm not a king or a noblewoman. There's no need for you to wait for me," General Zhao replied as he confidently sat down. With a wave of his hand, the waiter quickly entered, respectfully holding out the menu.
"Kent, sit down," General Zhao gestured for Kent to take a seat, then opened the menu and casually ordered, "I'll have the Eel-Turtle Soup."
He tossed the menu toward Kent, who picked it up. "Kent, feel free to order whatever you like. Just don't waste anything."
Kent nodded and picked up the menu. Since General Zhao had made it clear, Kent decided to act more naturally instead of being overly polite, which could come off as awkward.
His eyes lit up as he started pointing at items on the menu. "Waiter, I'll take this, this, and this, oh, and this one too. What's this 'Snow Dragon King Soup'—it's named after a dragon, it must be amazing. That definitely fits General Zhao's status. And let's add these desserts too. Girls need dessert after meals, right?"
Kent was seriously studying the menu, his thorough approach making it impossible for anyone to find fault with him. But sitting beside them, Zhao Mengxi and her father exchanged a glance, their eyes wide in disbelief.
They had seen people who weren't shy, but never someone so unapologetically forward. Did he really think he was some kind of grand figure?
But since General Zhao had already spoken, and with his authority, it wasn't something that could be undone. So they could only watch as Kent continued ordering.
"Alright, if we order any more, we won't be able to finish it," Zhao Mengxi sighed, rubbing her forehead in frustration.
Kent seemed unbothered, even satisfied. This was how rich people should order, wasn't it? The whole act of pretending to be extravagant was actually kind of fun.
He almost wanted to say, "Let's just order everything on the menu!"
"Okay, let's leave it at that. We'll come back next time. The food here looks so good, just looking at the pictures makes me want to eat," Kent said with a somewhat reluctant look, though secretly enjoying the situation.
General Zhao's face twitched. So many dishes had been ordered, along with several soups and desserts. And Kent still wasn't satisfied? Was he a reincarnation of a glutton?
After the waiter left, General Zhao took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself before speaking. "Kent, I invited you here today just to chat. You don't need to be too nervous."
Kent nodded. "No problem. I'm not nervous. Whatever you want to talk about, I'll gladly join in."
The response was so perfectly polite, it seemed respectful at first, but upon closer inspection, it felt rather disrespectful. Yet, Kent's sincere expression made it hard for anyone to criticize.
Zhao Mengxi, sitting beside them, couldn't help but laugh softly at his earnestness.
General Zhao glared at her, his mind full of frustration, unsure how to proceed with the conversation.
"Alright, I'll get straight to the point," General Zhao said, after a pause. "Kent, what do you think of my daughter, Mengxi?"
Kent froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The question was too sudden—it completely caught him off guard.
At the same time, Zhao Mengxi's face turned bright red, and she quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at either of them.