He stopped beside Ava's booth, crossing his arms."So You finally remembered me."
He snorted."I thought you'd forgotten this old man and found somewhere better."
Ava rested her chin on both hands, smiling innocently.
"Of course not This place is basically my second home."
"Hmph."The owner looked at Matthew before nodding approvingly."I see you brought another one This one's handsome."
He grinned.
"You only come here whenever you're bringing a new lover I thought after the last one rejected you, you'd finally retired from being a player."He sighed dramatically."First rejection of your life and you disappeared I honestly thought you'd changed."
"Turns out you were just busy finding someone better."He pointed at Matthew. "This guy's so handsome You've got good taste."
Ava desperately winked at him.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The owner frowned.
"What's with all the blinking?"
He tilted his head in genuine confusion.
"Did something get into your eye?"
Matthew casually leaned back, crossing one leg over the other.
"Oh She's probably embarrassed you're exposing her."
He calmly reached for his glass and took a sip of water.
Then looked at Ava.
"So..."He spoke slowly."Romantic place Good choice You brought me to the same restaurant you've brought different guys before..."He paused."...and apparently even got dumped here once."
Matthew nodded thoughtfully.
"What a meaningful place Our first meal together..."
He smiled faintly.
"As me being your former crush and You being my former admirer and now friends you choose such a place show how value I'm "
"It really is special, isn't it?" Matthew asked sarcastically before taking another sip of water.
Ava immediately pointed at the owner.
"I can explain This guy has shit for a mouth Don't believe a single thing he says."
The owner blinked.
"Wait. Aren't I supposed to say that?"
He scratched his head.
"You normally don't get angry when I tease you."
His eyes slowly drifted toward Matthew before a knowing smile spread across his face.
"Are you actually serious about this one? Hmm He really is worth your patience."
Ava grabbed the nearest paper napkin and threw it at him.
"Shut up And go bring the drink already The drink is the only reason your restaurant is still alive."
The owner caught the napkin with a laugh.
"What an ungrateful little brat."
He walked away while muttering to himself.
Ava turned back to Matthew.
"The drink here is actually amazing The reason I know him is because years ago this restaurant was almost closing down He was sitting alone drinking."
"He invited me over I tried it And immediately fell in love with it So I invested some money to help keep the restaurant running."She leaned forward slightly, smiling."You should really try it It'll be our special memory."
Matthew looked at her expressionlessly.
"Let me guess You've already said the exact same thing to Jake."
Ava blinked.
"..."
Matthew calmly folded his arms.
"Ava You were the one who promised if we're going to be friends I would be number one as I don't like being overshadowed."
He looked at her with obvious amusement.
"And now you're trying to impress me with someone else's leftovers What a touching friendship."
Ava opened her mouth.
Closed it.
"..."
She had absolutely no comeback.
At that moment, the owner returned carrying a tray.
Matthew looked at him before the tray even reached the table.
"No drink."
The owner stopped.
"Huh?"
"She's driving."Matthew nodded toward Ava."We'll skip it."
The owner looked between the two of them.
Then slowly nodded.
"...Well I'll leave you two to solve whatever situationship this is."
Before Ava could protest The owner disappeared back into the kitchen at remarkable speed.
Ava slowly lowered her forehead onto the table.
Her entire body seemed to wilt.
She looked exactly like a flower that hadn't been watered for days.
Her muffled voice came from the table.
"...How's my ranking now?"
Matthew gently patted her head.
"Neutral Zero And yes That's not even the friend zone you suck."
"The good news You're officially out of the 'avoid at all costs' category."He thought for a moment."You're now in Good stranger but I don't mind hanging out with you' territory."
Another pat landed on her head.
"I feel so relieved by your words."
Ava pressed a hand dramatically against her chest.
"So... so relieved."Her tone dripped with sarcasm.
Matthew didn't even bother responding.
Just then, the waitress returned with a large serving trolley.
One by one, she carefully arranged the dishes across the table.
The built-in hotpot in the center was filled with two different broths.
One side simmered with a rich, creamy pork bone broth that released a comforting aroma, while the other glowed a deep crimson, bubbling with chili oil, dried peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and fragrant spices.
Large platters of thinly sliced wagyu beef, marinated short ribs, premium pork belly, lamb rolls, and seasoned chicken were placed neatly around the pot.
Beside them came plates of fresh tiger prawns, scallops, squid, mussels, fish slices, and handmade seafood balls resting on crushed ice.
Baskets of crisp vegetables followed.
Napa cabbage.
Bok choy.
Spinach.
Enoki mushrooms.
King oyster mushrooms.
Lotus root.
Corn.
Sweet potato slices.
Tofu.
Glass noodles.
Fresh handmade noodles.
Another tray held the barbecue ingredients.
Beautifully marinated beef cubes glistened beneath sesame oil.
Honey garlic chicken skewers.
Spicy pork ribs.
Butter mushrooms.
Bell peppers.
Corn on the cob.
Garlic cloves wrapped in foil.
Fresh lettuce for wrapping grilled meat.
Finally, several small bowls of homemade dipping sauces were placed between them, ranging from sesame sauce and garlic soy to spicy chili paste and citrus ponzu.
Steam slowly rose from the hotpot while the barbecue grill beside it gave off a pleasant sizzling warmth.
The rich aroma instantly filled the booth.
Ava immediately sat up straight.
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
She looked directly at Matthew.
Matthew looked back.
"...Why are you staring at me?"
"Cook."She answered without hesitation."...Or do you want me to?"
Matthew raised an eyebrow.
"Are you trying to cook or create a magic potion?"
Ava scoffed loudly.
"You really do look very handsome when you don't talk."
She pointed toward the grill.
"Come on You have to cook it yourself That's where half the fun comes from And asking the staff to cook for you costs extra So boring."
Matthew picked up a pair of tongs.
"Then how have you survived all this time?"
As he spoke, he calmly arranged the different meats according to cooking time, placing the thicker cuts on one side while laying the thinner slices neatly beside them.
He adjusted the grill temperature before adding a small piece of butter, waiting until it melted with a soft hiss.
The waitress was still standing beside the table, waiting for further instructions and also due to Matthew.
Matthew casually lifted his eyes toward her.
There wasn't any hostility.
Nor was there anger.
Just a calm...
Cold...
Distant look.
It was enough.
The waitress immediately lowered her head.
"S-Sorry for disturbing you."
She hurried away almost as if she had been granted permission to escape.
Matthew simply returned his attention to the grill as though nothing had happened.
Thin slices of beef landed on the hot surface.
Sizzle
The aroma of grilled meat instantly spread through the air.
Ava rested her chin on both hands.
"You looked so attractive just now."
Matthew didn't even look up.
"When?"
"With that cold expression."She smiled shamelessly."So you actually know how to look distant you never used that face on me no matter how distant you want to be dies it means you want me since."
Matthew turned a slice of beef over.
"I did You just ignored it the look for fuck off and stuck close to me kissing hugging and so on ."He answered flatly while moving the meat onto a clean section of the grill before dropping fresh vegetables into the bubbling hotpot.
He stirred the broth once with the ladle, making sure nothing stuck to the bottom, then added a few slices of lamb that quickly curled in the boiling soup.
Ava puffed her cheeks.
"I'm your sugar mummy So of course I don't take no for an answer Sugar baby."
Matthew clicked his tongue.
"No alcohol yet you're already talking like someone who's drunk Idiot."
Ava immediately made a heart shape in the air with both hands.
"I know I'm your idiot."
Matthew looked at the floating heart she had made."...Hopeless."
Yet despite the words...
He quietly placed the first perfectly grilled slice of wagyu into her bowl before serving himself.
Another waitress returned, carefully balancing another tray filled with the remaining barbecue dishes they had ordered.
Fresh marinated beef ribs.
Seasoned pork belly.
Butter-coated king prawns.
Skewers of chicken and vegetables.
Several more plates of thinly sliced wagyu.
A basket of fresh lettuce.
Extra mushrooms.
More handmade dipping sauces.
She arranged everything neatly around the grill, stealing quick glances at the pair every few seconds.
"...Your order is complete T-Please enjoy your meal."The moment her eyes accidentally met Matthew's, her ears turned bright red.
She hurried away almost tripping over another server before disappearing toward the kitchen.
Matthew watched the growing mountain of food."...Isn't this a little too much?"
Ava calmly picked up the slice of wagyu he had grilled for her and placed it into her mouth.
She chewed thoughtfully.
Matthew had deliberately given her the first piece so she can be the test subject if it was spicy.
After swallowing, she silently raised a thumbs-up showing it was okay to eat.
Matthew understood immediately.
He gave a small nod before finally placing a slice into his own bowl.
If we can't finish it We'll pack it home."
Ava answered matter-of-factly.
Matthew quietly continued grilling another batch.
"First time I've seen a sugar mummy with your mentality."
Ava puffed her cheeks."I'm a sugar mummy with brains Why should I waste food? If I paid for it I'll eat it If I can't finish it I'll take it home Giving it away when I have my own mouth is a waste."
Matthew placed another piece of meat onto the grill.
The sizzling sound filled the short silence.
"What kind of sugar mummy brings her sugar baby to a restaurant like this in the first place? Where she had taken countless ex to"
He glanced sideways at her.
Without missing a beat, Ava answered,
"A down-to-earth sugar mummy I'm letting you experience life You have a rich sugar mummy now Don't forget your roots."
Matthew didn't even blink.
"A poor sugar mummy."
Ava dramatically pointed at herself.
"A poor sugar mummy with a heart I know you're poor And I still accepted you I'm basically running a charity."
She stuck her tongue out at him.
Matthew stared at her for two seconds.
Then A quiet chuckle escaped him.
He shook his head helplessly while turning over another piece of meat.
She really was unbelievable.
No matter what joke was thrown at her...
She refused to lose.
If winning required shamelessness...
Then she would proudly become the most shameless person in the room.
The meal stretched on at an unhurried pace.
The hot pot continued bubbling softly between them while the barbecue grill hissed every time Matthew laid down another slice of meat.
They chatted about anything that came to mind, occasionally arguing over who deserved the better-cooked piece before stealing food from each other's plates anyway.
By the time both of them finally leaned back against their seats...
More than half of the food still remained.
Ava looked at the table before waving toward a passing waitress.
"Can you pack everything that hasn't been touched?"
"Of course, Miss."
The waitress quickly began separating the untouched ingredients from the finished dishes.
Ava suddenly blinked before turning to Matthew."Matthew Do stores like this accept Black Cards?"Matthew looked at her.
It was the exact expression someone would use when looking at an idiot.
"...We're going to stay in jail."
Ava rubbed her chin seriously."The owner knows me, so he would've believed me But he went out The workers probably won't be that reasonable."
Matthew pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Don't you have cash?"
Ava immediately opened her designer handbag.
"I have my Car keys, A compact mirror ,Emergency makeup,A small bottle of perfume,Emergency sanitary pads,Lip balm Nothing resembling a wallet so nope"She said lookedinnocently.
Matthew sighed before taking out his phone.
"My battery's almost dead I can transfer the money if it doesn't die first."
The two of them stared at each other for a second.
Then simultaneously burst into laughter.
What kind of rich people got stranded because one forgot her wallet while the other's phone was dying?
A waitress happened to walk past their booth.
Matthew looked up.
"Excuse me My phone is almost out of battery Is there somewhere I could charge it for a few minutes so I can make a transfer?"
He smiled sweetly he knew just how to soften up to get what he wants.
it was enough to completely stun the waitress Her heartbeat skipped.
She stood there blankly for several seconds before snapping back to reality.
"Y-Yes! W-Wait a moment!"
She almost ran into another employee before disappearing toward the staff area.
A few minutes later, she returned carrying two power banks, several charging cables borrowed from different workers, and a fast charger someone had lent her.
"I-I wasn't sure which one matched your phone..."she said
Matthew accepted it with a gentle nod.
"Thank you."
The waitress nearly forgot how to breathe.
After plugging in his phone for a few moments, the battery finally climbed high enough.
Matthew immediately completed the transfer.
Payment successful.
Problem solved.
Ava watched the entire process from beginning to end before raising both thumbs.
"Damn You really know how to use your pretty privilege."
Matthew disconnected the charger and handed it back watching the waitress go.
"Obviously If I don't know how to use it then these looks would be wasted."
He gave Ava a lazy wink.
Ava laughed so hard she nearly slipped off the booth.
Soon, another employee returned carrying two neatly packed takeaway bags filled with the remaining barbecue, hot pot ingredients, and side dishes.
After thanking the staff, the two of them walked out of the restaurant.
Before stepping outside, Matthew reached into his pocket and casually pulled out a black face mask.
He hooked it over his ears with practiced ease.
The night air greeted them the moment the door opened.
The lively food street was still packed with people.
Smoke drifted from barbecue grills.
Vendors shouted today's specials.
Customers laughed over steaming bowls of noodles.
Influencers continued livestreaming while chasing the best food recommendations.
But as Ava and Matthew stepped onto the sidewalk...
Their attention was immediately drawn elsewhere.
Several young people had gathered around the black sports car.
Three girls and five boys had completely surrounded the sports car.
The first girl standing in the middle was clearly the center of attention.
She was dressed from head to toe in luxury labels, one hand resting confidently on her hip while posing beside the customized hood ornament.
The third girl girl wearing round glasses struggled to carry several shopping bags belonging to the group the second girl was praising the first girl to the nine.
The second girl clapped excitedly.
"Perfect! Turn a little more! Yes, that's it!"
Among the boys
One held a phone high above livestreaming to thousands of viewers the first girl and the third guy .
The second guy continuously snapped photos from different angles.
The third, wearing a denim jacket, had become even bolder.
He was actually sitting on the hood of the sports car with one arm around the first girl as they smiled for the camera.
The remaining two boys stood on either side of the vehicle, acting like self-appointed security.
"Don't get too close!"
"Watch it!"
"This isn't some ordinary car."
The road around them had become increasingly crowded.
Curious pedestrians slowed down.
Some whispered.
Some pointed at the customized emblem.
Others simply took photos from afar.
Matthew looked at the scene before glancing sideways at Ava.
"...Are we waiting until they're done?"
"Of course not."Ava answered as if the question itself was ridiculous."Why should I wait? It's my car."
She shifted the takeaway bags into one hand."I'm already being generous by not beating them for sitting on it."
She looked at the denim-jacket boy lounging comfortably on the hood.
"Do you know how much that thing costs?"
Matthew remained silent.
"Eight hundred million CU dollars Five hundred million just for the customization Three hundred million for the car itself I haven't even mentioned the daily maintenance."
She sighed dramatically.
"If you convert it That's around sixteen billion Zen."She smiled proudly."I even had to steal..."
She paused.
"...borrow it from my grandfather's garage."
Matthew let out a chuckle.
[Sorry for the late update guys especially it would be only one chapter out or should I make it two but it would mean another late chapter tomorrow anyway from now on it would be seven chapters a week which means one chapter every day so instead of 4 chapter a week Thursday and Friday you will be getting it every day like on Monday I posted right I would have done on. Tuesday and Wednesday but I was too lazy and especially since I have zero reaction from you readers that is why I'm lazy no love from you guys no comment no vote nothing sigh but I would continue so 7 chapter a week now maybe in the future would be fourteen a week love ]