Chapter 973: Chapter 23: Physicians Cannot Heal Themselves (5)
“What would you like to order, the two of you?”
“Southern crispy steak with fries, pulled pork burger, a serving of onion soup. And also a raspberry cake and a mini burger to-go.”
The waiter’s fingertips tapped rapidly on the small tablet, which seed to be made of cherry wood: “Great appetite. And you?”
“Garden salad and corn chips. Do you have ice wine?”
“We have every type of wine from the United States—of course, not the most premium ones.”
“I’ll have a glass.”
The waiter quickly noted the order, smiled at the two, and walked away. The restaurant “Smokey Cowboy” was bustling with activity, yellow lights flickering due to the spinning fans, the interrupted light casting over the billiards table and poker ga, while the smoking area on the other side was shrouded in smoke.
Sister Zhenfan observed the foreign restaurant: “I rarely co to places like this.”
“You’re usually at a quiet bar, café, or high-end western restaurant. It’s nice to try a different style occasionally.”
The doctor glanced sideways at the burly n around the billiards table: “Those people will be boisterously toasting and making noise once they’re drunk.”
“In real life, there aren’t that many troublemaking drunks.”
“You just haven’t encountered enough of them.”
The doctor’s drink was served quickly, as she quietly sipped the aperitif. Gongsun Ce appreciated her appearance through the clear, pale golden liquid in his wine glass.
The doctor’s cold deanor always gave the forr him a slight sense of fear, so he never dared to stare at her as a child, only stealing glances when speaking. In the past, Gongsun Ce focused on her light makeup and attire, feeling that Sister Zhenfan carried herself like a mature figure in society. Now, Gongsun Ce noticed her features were actually soft, saw a hint of fatigue and excitent about the new environnt in her eyes as the ice lted, and realized the alcohol was quickening her blood flow, causing her cheeks to flush slightly like a sweet, inexperienced girl.
“What’s wrong?” Zhenfan noticed his gaze.
“Looking at you,” Gongsun Ce smiled, “thinking you’re cute and beautiful.”
“I’d be happier if you left out ‘cute’,” Zhenfan sighed, “Since when did the childish boy beco such a smooth-talker?”
“Complint you and still get scolded, being this brother is hard.”
The two laughed together. Before long, their dinner was served. The salad Sister Zhenfan ordered looked quite ordinary, but Gongsun Ce’s steak was notably unique. It was two large pieces of beef, fried to a golden, crispy texture, drizzled with a creamy colored sauce, and underneath, a generous heap of thick-cut fries.
“Very unhealthy,” Zhenfan comnted, “You ordered all high-calorie fried foods…”
“Let share with you!”
Before Zhenfan could finish her remarks, Gongsun Ce placed a piece of beef onto her plate. Not wanting to refuse her brother’s goodwill, she picked up the knife and fork, reluctantly slicing a piece for herself, but found the steak surprisingly delicious. The coating was not thick, crisp and thin like the skin of chain-restaurant fried chicken, and the at was juicy with mild seasoning, mostly relying on the sauce above, giving tastes of buttermilk, pepper, butter, and garlic.
For soone who worked all day, this steak was an overly perfect reward, prompting her to cut another small piece for herself.
When she intended to set aside the knife and fork, the steak had already been finished.
Zhenfan’s face turned slightly red, and Gongsun Ce cheekily asked, “Sister Zhenfan, how long has it been since you had fried food?”
“Not long,” she replied instinctively, “The last ti was…”
When was the last ti? Zhenfan couldn’t recall imdiately. She often saw Kardesia indulging in fried chicken, milkshakes, and barbecue during gatherings, but she usually declined her junior’s recomndations. Now, when thinking about food, what ca to her mind first was the lingering taste of black coffee in her mouth, along with those delicate, small portions of shrimp, scallops, and thin slices of beef.
“…a long ti ago,” Zhenfan responded a bit downcast.
“Listen to , it’s okay to indulge in your diet occasionally. High-calorie foods bring simple, pure joy.”
“Such joy leads to ending up like Mo Yuankai.”
“He took it too far; just look at how well Chi Zijing maintains himself,” Gongsun Ce shrugged, “We’re all still young, don’t live like middle-aged uncles and aunties too early; you’d regret it thirty years later.”
Zhenfan thought he made sense; Gongsun Ce’s youthful vigor made him particularly persuasive when discussing such topics. They shared the burger, corn chips, onion soup, and that glass of wine afterward, with Zhenfan stuffing so green veggies into soone’s mouth to encourage a balanced diet.
“Co on, I’m not a kid,” Gongsun Ce protested.
“Eat your veggies,” Zhenfan commanded, her face stern. The gray-haired young man had to chew the fresh leaves. After the joyful dinner, he raised his hand to signal for the bill while Zhenfan across the table stood up, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
In that posture, the curves wrapped in black clothing were clearly visible, leaving Gongsun Ce unsure where to direct his gaze. Realizing it was inappropriate to look anywhere, he fixated on the woman’s collarbone instead.
Staring at that seed even more inappropriate.
“You got sauce all over your mouth,” Zhenfan showed the napkin covered in sauce, scolding, “Careless.”
“Uh… thanks…”
Gongsun Ce awkwardly rubbed his nose, catching sight of the waiter coming to settle the bill struggling to hold back laughter.
They left the noisy restaurant bar, Hundred Birds City much quieter under the night than during the day, as if truly stepping into a forest. Zhenfan naturally hooked her arm around his, walking side by side with him.
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