"He only mentioned the surname Xu, I'm not very clear on the details either."
"Xu? Did they say when they would arrive?" Shen Shao turned his eyes. He couldn't remember any family with the surname Xu in Luocheng, but that didn't stop him from wanting to meet the person.
"Soon, they reserved for eight o'clock." According to Yunding's rules, he couldn't disclose guest information, but he knew all the prominent figures in Luocheng and there wasn't a single Xu among them. He reckoned it was just someone visiting for leisure who wouldn't stay long. Besides, the other person hadn't arrived yet, so who would know who leaked the information? It wouldn't hurt to do Shen Shao a favor.
The waiter calculated this in his mind. Xu Ke, standing aside, glanced at the time, already impatient from waiting. Seeing the unguarded entrance, he frowned slightly and was about to walk in, but the waiter, as if having eyes on the back of his head, turned and shouted just as Xu Ke stepped forward, "Stop, who allowed you to go inside? Didn't you hear me when I told you to leave?"
"How can you be so shameless, trying to get in again and again? Do you think I won't call security? This is your last chance, get out now. It's almost eight o'clock, don't block the entrance trying to get something for nothing." The waiter's face turned grim, with a threatening look, and his words carried malicious humiliation.
"Say that again." Xu Ke said, his face darkening.
Even a clay figure has a temper. The other party's behavior, making a subjective judgment without inquiry and humiliating him repeatedly, stirred up some anger in Xu Ke. He always had a bad temper, and his edges had been somewhat smoothed over his three-year stay in Luocheng, but only somewhat.
At this moment, Xu Ke's aura expanded, his entire presence becoming sharp like a drawn sword, suffocating those around him.
"What if I say it again? I'll say it ten more times the same way." The waiter said defiantly. Although frightened by Xu Ke's gaze, he doubted his own judgment for a moment, but upon seeing the other's attire, his doubts dissolved.
What if he's intimidating? His shabby clothes clearly identify him as not being wealthy. How could such a person have booked Yunding Restaurant? Impossible.
"Shut up." Shen Shao commanded.
Initially, he had only glanced at the person and, seeing no familiar brand on him, paid little attention. However, Xu Ke's bearing at the moment was not something an ordinary person would possess. Upon closer inspection, he realized the other's clothes, though not high-end brands, were made of exceptional materials, with exquisite craftsmanship, subtly surpassing even some well-known brands.
How could such a person be ordinary? Shen Shao thought to himself.
"Shen Shao, I…" The waiter was suddenly chastised by Shen Shao, causing the corner of his eye to twitch uncontrollably. Seeing Shen Shao's stern expression, the waiter grew more anxious, as if something bad were about to happen.
"Do you not understand human speech when I tell you to shut up? How did someone like you even end up greeting guests at the entrance? Are Yunding's standards for waiters this low now? Blocking guests at the entrance and even insulting them really opens one's eyes." Shen Shao's words directly acknowledged Xu Ke's identity, blocking all the waiter's escape routes. If what happened today reached the manager's ears, the waiter would not only lose his job but might also be forced to leave the restaurant industry.
Understanding the implications, the waiter collapsed to the ground.
But as the saying goes, what you fear will come to pass — and this was just such a situation. The manager hurriedly came out from the restaurant, having caught every word of Shen Shao's reprimand, and now looked at the waiter with eyes like poisoned knives. The waiter sat there with his head down, saying nothing.
Xu Ke raised his eyebrows. He had planned to handle things himself, but then out came a Cheng Yaojin halfway, scolding the waiter and also bringing out the restaurant manager, saving him a lot of trouble.
Xu Ke openly glanced at Shen Shao, only to find the other looking at him too. Their gazes met in the air, and they nodded to each other politely. Whatever the other's intentions, at least in this moment, Xu Ke felt a certain goodwill toward him.
"May I know what just happened?" The manager asked, glancing at Shen Shao, although Shen Shao did not seem inclined to speak now, turning his gaze towards Xu Ke instead.
The manager noticed this too, adjusted his gaze to Xu Ke, gave an apologetic smile, and asked the question again.
This distraction cooled Xu Ke's anger, returning him to his usual calm. He briefly recapped the incident.
But as Xu Ke spoke, his mind drifted to another matter. This person, referred to as Shen Shao, quelled his anger subtly without offending the manager, gaining favor from both sides. Such skillful handling made Xu Ke take sharp notice, and he quietly took mental note of Shen Shao.
Although he was in Luocheng now, he hadn't planned to stay there forever. One day he would return to Shangjing, and when he did, there would be a major overhaul of the company. Right now, he only had Xu Jie by his side; he needed more capable people. If, after observation, Shen Shao proved useful, it would be good to bring him onboard.
As for Shen Shao, he thought Xu Ke's demeanor and poise were among the finest he had encountered. Befriending such a person would be a great pleasure, but it was not advisable to rush things now. As long as Xu Ke was here, they would eventually meet again. With this in mind, Shen Shao nodded slightly to Xu Ke, turned with his companion, and left.
After verifying his identity with the manager, Xu Ke entered Yunding Restaurant. Immediately, he was greeted by a sea of roses, their fiery red like burning flames dazzling the eyes. In the middle of the sea of flowers was a dark green table, creating an intriguingly unique beauty with the juxtaposition of vibrant red and calm green, which Xu Ke found quite satisfying.
Lin Mengyao stood outside Yunding Restaurant, stunned by the scene inside, her feet seemingly rooted in place.
"Go in," Xu Ke said with a smile.
"Am I dreaming? Is this all arranged by you?" Lin Mengyao said, staring at the sight before her with her mouth slightly open, hardly daring to blink.
"Do you like it?" Xu Ke asked with a smile, noting the rare silliness in Lin Mengyao's expression.