Obsessively Raised by My Doll 26

Chapter 26

The waiter was also adept at reading people.

When he brought the menu up, he first subconsciously offered it to Zheng Xuening. It was simply because this master looked so imposing, the fabric of her clothes looked expensive, not to mention the aura of her every move and her sharp gaze.

But after his eyes darted back and forth between Zheng Xuening and Lu Dieqing, he knew that the one who should really be ordering and making the decisions was the beautiful young girl in the palace maid’s attire.

It was because all of Zheng Xuening’s attention was on Lu Dieqing. That focused expression was nothing like a master looking at a servant. Instead, it was like those wealthy dandies of the past, spending a fortune to treat their beloved to a meal to show off—the words “my treat, don’t be polite, order whatever you want” were practically written all over her face.

The more the waiter looked at Lu Dieqing, the more he was convinced this was the case.

It made sense. If she were just an ordinary palace maid, how could she have the leisure to come out and eat at their restaurant? Besides, this girl looked young, but her stunning beauty was truly a rare sight. In all the time he had been at the restaurant, among all the women he had seen, not a single one could match the clear beauty in this girl’s eyes.

Goodness gracious, looking at her too much makes my hands and feet go soft. I’m too embarrassed to look at her.

She must have some background. Perhaps this palace maid’s uniform is just something she threw on.

Nobles, they get used to a life of luxury and occasionally want to try something new for a change.

Thinking this, the waiter figured out a plan.

With an eager and fawning smile, he presented the menu to Lu Dieqing, bowing and scraping.

“Take a look, miss. Our Jufengxiang Restaurant was visited by Her Majesty the Empress before she entered the palace. The dishes on this menu have been praised by countless people. It’s a famous old brand in our capital. In the past, after Her Majesty the Empress dined here, she even sought out the kitchen and had her maids specially learn how to make red bean pastry.”

“Nowadays, in this capital, any loving couple who comes to our Jufengxiang Restaurant will not miss the red bean pastry. If you like, miss, why not order some to try?”

He even gave a thumbs-up, his words full of pride in being a waiter at Jufengxiang Restaurant.

Hearing the waiter’s boasting, Lu Dieqing subconsciously looked at Zheng Xuening.

For some reason, of all the things the waiter had just said, she had only heard a few words—loving couple, will not miss the red bean pastry.

What was a “loving couple”?

That couldn’t possibly refer to her and Her Highness the Crown Princess.

The moment this thought flashed through her mind, Lu Dieqing herself wanted to laugh.

No doubt, if the waiter knew the true identity of the person sitting before him, he wouldn’t dare to be so eloquent and talkative here, even if it cost him his life.

Thinking of this, Lu Dieqing couldn’t help but smile, the dimples at the corners of her lips popping out.

“Then… Your High… do you want a serving of red bean pastry?”

This smile gave Lu Dieqing courage. She pressed her lips together and looked at Zheng Xuening, hesitantly making the invitation.

One had to be honest. It was better to be clear about how much silver she had in her pocket beforehand, to avoid embarrassment later.

“My purse is a bit light. So… how about one serving of red bean pastry, and… a pot of fine wine?”

After sputtering out this sentence, the little girl nearly buried her head in the ground. Her little face was flushed red, looking so pitiful, her watery almond eyes almost welling up with tears.

She couldn’t afford anything else…

A pot of fine wine and a serving of red bean pastry would add up to nearly three taels of silver. This Jufengxiang Restaurant was so expensive, so expensive that Lu Dieqing’s purse was bleeding. But she had made the boastful promise to treat the Crown Princess to a meal, and she had to keep her word.

The girl, so ashamed, had eyes that were shimmering and moving. Let alone the Crown Princess, even the waiter, as an outsider, almost wanted to say, “It’s on the house, it’s on the house.”

Making such a beautiful little girl treat someone to a meal! How outrageous! Where is the justice in this world!

For a moment, the waiter’s gaze towards the Crown Princess was secretly filled with a hint of condemnation.

This girl, as shy as a little deer, with such heavenly beauty, not only is she not being pampered and coaxed, but she has to squeeze out silver from her own purse to treat this noble lady opposite her, who clearly looks wealthy and of extraordinary birth!

Ah, ptooey!

The waiter felt indignant in his heart, but his professional ethics remained. He still wore an enthusiastic smile as he served the guests, patiently waiting for Zheng Xuening and the other to finish ordering.

Zheng Xuening’s gaze swept over them, taking in the expressions and actions of everyone in the private room. She found it secretly amusing.

She didn’t care what the waiter thought. But Lu Dieqing’s reaction, no matter how she looked at it, was just adorable.

All of the Crown Princess’s thoughts were on Lu Dieqing. With the girl’s every move, a faint ripple appeared in her heart.

“Then we’ll have a pot of fine wine and a serving of red bean pastry for now.”

She curved her lips, sitting there at her leisure, her smile stunningly beautiful and cool.

Lu Dieqing immediately breathed a sigh of relief, even feeling secretly grateful that the Crown Princess was willing to order only so little.

It seems Her Highness does have a considerate side.

Whatever she was thinking was written all over her face. Zheng Xuening saw it, and her gaze grew deeper and more complex.

She and Lu Dieqing together were completely different types of beauties. They complemented each other, and because of the other’s presence, their own distinct characteristics were even more pronounced.

The waiter was so dazzled by the two great beauties in the private room that he didn’t dare to look too much. Hearing their order, he bowed and left the room.

After he went out, he touched his forehead and realized he had been so nervous that he had broken out in a sweat.

Goodness, it seems the people inside have a significant background.

The waiter urged the kitchen to send up what the nobles in the private room had ordered first. Then, he gritted his teeth and pointed to a few other items on the menu.

“Send these signature dishes up as well.”

The kitchen staff was confused. “The guests didn’t order those?”

The waiter gritted his teeth. “I’ll pay for them!”

If he wasn’t mistaken, the guest inside was a big shot. He wasn’t asking to latch onto a powerful connection, but if the noble person could just think he had some sense and remember him a little, it would be a boundless merit.

“This… okay.” The kitchen staff was a little shocked but didn’t say anything more.

Soon, the freshly baked red bean pastry, the fine wine, along with several signature dishes, were all brought up.

Lu Dieqing was startled. She clutched her purse and almost cried, worried that she wouldn’t be able to pay later and would be detained here.

They definitely didn’t order these dishes just now?

When she heard the waiter say that the table of food was on the house, she was surprised. She looked at Zheng Xuening and blinked a couple of times. “Huh?”

Zheng Xuening glanced at the waiter, a faint smile on her face. “You may leave.” It was unclear if she had seen through his little scheme.

When only Lu Dieqing and Zheng Xuening were left in the private room, they looked at each other for a moment. A gurgling sound suddenly came from a stomach in the room.

The Crown Princess’s eyebrow twitched slightly. She looked at Lu Dieqing, who nearly buried her head in the ground, so embarrassed she wanted to peacefully pass away on the spot.

“It’s not my fault… the food smells too good…”

The girl, clenching her little pink fists, had her face turn as red as a small apple, her long lashes fluttering gently.

Zheng Xuening’s heart also felt as if it had been lightly touched by a butterfly’s wings, a strange, indescribable palpitation.

She suddenly remembered what her mother, the Empress, had said in the past.

—Red beans are a symbol of longing. When our Ningning has a beloved in the future, she will surely understand the taste of these red beans.