The flirtatious glances they were exchanging didn’t escape the notice of the other two.
Zhou Shishi and Wen Churen exchanged a look, and they could instantly see that something was amiss in each other’s eyes. The air in the private room immediately became awkward.
However, this awkward atmosphere was soon broken.
A waitress pushed the door open and came in.
The waitress introduced the dish in a gentle voice:
"Distinguished guests, this is the Crab Roe with Shark Fin. There’s a smokeless charcoal stove underneath, and it’s extremely hot, so please be very careful."
A small, smokeless stove supported a little white bowl.
A heavy layer of crab roe blanketed the shark fin, each individual egg like a tiny jewel, exuding an irresistible allure.
The shark fin was spread across the bottom of the bowl like exquisite silk, giving off an air of nobility.
The crab soup, simmered with crab roe and meat, was a brilliant golden-yellow.
Li Xiao gently lifted a spoonful. The crab roe and shark fin were perfectly integrated, and the broth in the spoon shimmered faintly—it was the very essence of umami.
He took a shallow breath, blew gently to cool the spoonful, and then took a taste. The mellow richness of the crab roe and the savory delicacy of the shark fin instantly flooded his mouth. It was a gift from the sea, a masterpiece of culinary craftsmanship.
The dense flavor of the roe melted on his tongue like fine butter, while the springy texture of the shark fin formed a stark contrast, creating a unique mouthfeel.
It was a flavor with distinct layers. First, the intense crab roe collided with his taste buds, and then the subtle, springy texture of the shark fin slowly unfolded in his mouth.
The individual strands of shark fin were like snapped violin strings, continuously popping in Li Xiao’s mouth.
Shark fin is flavorless on its own, but after absorbing the essence of the crab roe, every strand seemed to have been carefully selected and cooked to perfection. It retained the purest taste of the ocean while also being infused with the deep flavor of the roe.
A little pumpkin purée had been added to the soup, which made the color an even more brilliant gold and thickened it slightly, while also adding a hint of the pumpkin’s delicate sweetness.
These multiple layers of flavor meant that Li Xiao discovered something new with every bite, and every single chew brought a fresh surprise.
The constant heat from the small charcoal stove ensured the crab soup stayed perfectly warm—a very clever design.
Although the crab soup was exceptionally sweet and savory, it had a fatal flaw: as soon as it cooled, it would go from sublimely delicious to overpoweringly fishy. This little charcoal stove, however, was the perfect solution.
[Congratulations! You have unlocked the 49th entry in your Food Atlas.]
[Food Atlas entry unlocked: Crab Roe with Shark Fin]
[Dish Score: 91 [Excellent]]
[Due to the Excellent score, the reward is quadrupled.]
[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000]
[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000]
[Congratulations! You have received an item reward: One villa in Emperor’s View Villa.]
[Congratulations! You have received a recipe reward: Recipe for Crab Roe with Shark Fin.]
···············
Li Xiao’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw the system’s rewards.
He had heard of Emperor’s View Villa. It was an exclusive villa community built on a natural slope, situated at the center of three major economic hubs: the Tianhe Central Business District, Science City, and the Development Zone.
Its location was, to put it mildly, superb. The community was built into a mountainside and had a wonderful environment.
The entire neighborhood consisted of villas—no high-rises—and offered butler-style management services.
The reason Li Xiao knew so much was that he’d previously asked his assistant to gather information on new properties.
The place his parents had bought him was certainly spacious enough, but the apartment’s original purpose was just to serve as a temporary spot for him to crash on weekends.
It didn’t have much extra space, especially the kitchen. With only two burners and a cramped layout, it was simply too limiting for him.
He hadn’t had much cash on hand before, so he hadn’t been in a rush to go house-hunting. He’d only asked his assistant to collect some information ahead of time.
Now, with nearly 20 million in his pocket, he had been planning to take some time in the next few days to go check out some of those neighborhoods.
And Emperor’s View Villa was on his assistant’s list of recommendations. A villa there, however, wasn’t one of Li Xiao’s intended targets.
The reason was simple: the price was too high. With less than 20 million, he could certainly afford a less expensive villa, but Emperor’s View Villa was out of his league.
Emperor’s View Villa was composed entirely of villas, with the cheapest ones starting at 85,000 per square meter, and the smallest units being 400 square meters.
This meant that even the smallest villa would cost over 30 million.
He only had 20 million in cash. Without selling his shares, the most he could do was make a down payment and borrow the rest from a bank.
But borrowing money was something Li Xiao was unwilling to do.
’In my mind, if you can afford something, you buy it. If you can’t, you don’t.’
’Borrowing money to buy things, even from a bank, just isn’t my style.’
’He didn’t like being indebted to anyone. It made him feel uneasy.’
His original plan was to find some time to buy a villa for around ten million, spend another million or so on renovations, and then get a car with Yangcheng plates.
He never expected that in the course of a single meal, the system would not only gift him a Porsche 911 but also a villa in Emperor’s View Villa.
’He was really looking forward to seeing this house.’
’Knowing the system’s personality, Li Xiao doubted it would give him a subpar one.’
’Looks like I’ll have to go check out my new villa when I get back to Yangcheng.’
’If it’s suitable, I can find a renovation company to get started on it right away.’
Just as Li Xiao was wondering when he should go check on his new villa, the final dish arrived.
The waitress announced politely,
"Distinguished guests, your M5 Wagyu stir-fried with yellow chives is here. All of your dishes have been served now. Will you be needing anything else?"
Li Xiao looked up at the three women and asked with a smile,
"Are you all full? Don’t be polite if you’re still hungry."
Hearing Li Xiao’s question, the three women exchanged a look and immediately waved their hands to decline.
The portions of the dishes so far hadn’t been small, so the three of them were mostly full.
Besides, even if they weren’t full, the Wen Family Sisters would never have spoken up to order more in a situation like this. As for his assistant, it was even less likely.
Seeing them shake their heads, Li Xiao didn’t press the issue. After all, he felt about seventy or eighty percent full himself. Finishing this last dish would be more than enough.
Wagyu beef is renowned for its fine marbling and unparalleled texture. M5-grade Wagyu, in particular, represents the zenith of tenderness and juiciness.
In this dish, the Wagyu wasn’t just the star; it was a synonym for ’gourmet’ itself.
The choice of yellow chives was just as meticulous. They had to be top-grade, with a vibrant color and a crisp, tender texture, to ensure the dish excelled in appearance, aroma, and taste.
When the waitress set the dish before Li Xiao, he saw slices of steaming Wagyu beef interwoven with yellow chives, giving off an intoxicating aroma.
The fatty Wagyu slices had been seared to an attractive dark brown, while the bright yellow of the chives added a splash of vitality to the dish.
Li Xiao picked up his chopsticks and gently lifted a piece of the Wagyu. The nearly transparent webs of fat were faintly visible within the tender meat, as if narrating the story of its origin and quality.
He placed it gently in his mouth. The slice of Wagyu practically melted on his tongue, its rich texture and subtle, sweet flavor immediately filling his entire mouth.
Li Xiao felt a rich, meaty fragrance accompany the delicate flavor of the beef as it slid slowly down his throat, leaving a warm and satisfying sensation.
Next, he tried the yellow chives that came with it.
The fresh fragrance of the yellow chives formed a perfect balance with the richness of the Wagyu, its unique, piquant flavor dancing lightly on his taste buds.
The crisp tenderness of the chives and the softness of the Wagyu complemented each other perfectly, giving every bite distinct layers of texture and flavor.
In Chaoshan cuisine, stir-frying is all about heat control and speed.
The chef had stir-fried the Wagyu at high heat with incredible speed, locking in its juices while preserving the tenderness of the meat.
The yellow chives were only briefly exposed to the heat, which preserved their unique crispness and freshness.
Li Xiao could sense the combination of speed and passion in the dish, a testament to the chef’s control over every single detail.
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