Sally entered, about to survey the restaurant, when she heard Mai Ge's voice and looked over, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
This was clearly a human man, but unlike the stubble-faced, slovenly men she'd seen earlier, this man looked clean.
He had neat short hair, a clean stubble on his chin, and a subtle mustache that wasn't offensive, adding a touch of maturity. His dark eyes were deep and penetrating.
His clothes were simple black and white, but impeccably tailored, and most importantly, spotless. This gave Sally a good impression of Mai Ge.
Moreover, although this man was somewhat thin, when he stood, he resembled a steadfast sword. She had only ever felt this kind of aura from a human knight who had come to the Elven race years ago. His unparalleled heavy sword skills left a deep impression on her.
However, the man in front her was clearly different. He lacked that sharp edge, possessing instead a more reserved and composed demeanor, and didn't seem like a knight capable of wielding a heavy sword.
Humans were a race relatively easy for elves to accept, of course, excluding the unkempt humans.
Sally nodded in response to Mai Ge's greeting, then continued to survey the restaurant.
The restaurant's decor was somewhat unique, a blend of human and various other races' characteristics. For example, a canyon was painted in gray on the wall, the famous Valley of the Wind in the Wind Forest, which Sally had grown up there and recognized immediately.
Further away was a large human city. She had seen similar portraits in her father's study room; it must be the capital of the Los Empire—Lodu.
There were several other paintings that she could roughly guess which race's famous places depicted. These paintings alone were enough to prove that the restaurant owner's knowledge was exceptional.
The exquisite chandelier seen from the outside was even more beautiful up close, its carving so delicate it seemed as if it had always been there.
Mai Ge was also discreetly observing the elf. This was the first time he had seen a female elf; her features were striking and deep, and as she looked up at the chandelier, her long neck was revealed, like a proud white swan.
"When Amy grows up, she'll definitely be even prettier than her." Mai Ge thought to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips as he looked at the elven beauty with admiration—but nothing more.
Sally's fingers glide lightly across the table, finding it spotless, as clean as the tables and chairs at home. This instantly calmed her tense and agitated mood.
Sally couldn't help but glance at Mai Ge. This man looked to be around thirty years old. Compared to the eight hundred years of lifespan of an elf, a human's short lifespan of a few decades seemed so fleeting, yet he owned such an exquisite restaurant, which piqued her curiosity and sense of mystery.
Moreover, although the man's gaze had been fixed on her since she entered, she didn't feel much aversion because she didn't sense any lewdness in his eyes. Apart from politeness, all that remained was appreciation.
Every beautiful woman is accustomed to the admiring gaze of a handsome man, and Sally was no exception.
She untied her longbow and quiver and placed them on the table, then pulled out a chair and sat down, looking at Mai Ge politely and asking, "Excuse me, what do you have to eat here?"
"There's a menu on the table; you can take a look." Mai Ge said, pointing to the menu beside her.
Sally took the menu and opened it. The comfortable material of the cover made her even more satisfied with the restaurant's small details. However, her expectant gaze fell on the empty menu, and she couldn't help but pause in surprise. It was empty?
Wait, there was a line of small print at the top. Such a large restaurant, so beautifully and exquisitely decorated, yet it only sells one dish?
Sally suddenly felt like she had entered a strange place. Could this be the human scam her nanny often mentioned?
"Yang Zhou Fried Rice - One serving - 600 copper coins?" After seeing the line clearly, Sally paused, then looked at it carefully again. After confirming that she hadn't misread it, she slowly raised her head to look at Mai Ge, narrowing her eyes slightly, trying to see if this man was a conman.
Such a luxurious and exquisite restaurant, she wouldn't be surprised if a dish sold for ten gold coins. But he only sold one dish, listed alone on the menu, and priced at 600 copper coins. That wasn't a cheap price.
She stayed at that inn last night, costing only 100 copper coins a night.
Besides, she had heard of many human delicacies while among the elves. What exactly was this so called Yang Zhou Fried Rice? Was it really worth 600 copper coins? She wanted to find the answer on Mai Ge's face.
However, she quickly gave up. Mai Ge maintained a calm and serene smile, making people feel comfortable yet somewhat distant, but she just couldn't tell what he was thinking.
In the past, Sally wouldn't have cared about 600 copper coins; the ambiance alone would have been worth spending a gold coin to linger a while.
However, this time, she had only brought a dozen or so dragon coins with her in her haste, and had already spent several on the journey. She didn't want to end her runaway trip so soon due to lack of money, so she had to be careful with her spending.
600 copper coins for a meal was far too extravagant for her now, and the dish didn't look like a large portion; she might not even be full after finishing one serving.
"Boss Mai, I'm here again. Give me two servings of Yang Zhou Fried Rice, one after the other, they're best eaten while they're hot." At that moment, the bell at the door rang, and Mo Bai's cheerful and loud voice came through.
"Okay, please wait a moment." Mai Ge was a little surprised to see Mo Bai enter. He must have showered and changed before coming; he was wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt and trousers, and his shoes were clean, crisp black canvas shoes. He hadn't brought the heavy hammer he'd been carrying at noon. This gesture touched Mai Ge.
"Of course, of course." Mo Bai smiled and nodded. His gaze swept around the restaurant, but he didn't see Amy. He was inexplicably a little disappointed. He glanced at Sally, who sat somewhat warily to the side, gripping her longbow, before quickly looking away. He casually found a table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
"Take your time, guest. You can let me know when you want to order." Mai Ge said to the still hesitant Sally, then turned and went into the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for fried rice. Regular customers were definitely the best.
"Hmm." Sally, who had been somewhat wary since Mo Bai entered the restaurant, nodded. Seeing that Mo Bai wasn't staring at her like the rude dwarves she remembered, she slowly released her grip on the longbow.
"Should I go, or stay and have some?" Sally hesitated, glancing sideways at Mo Bai, who sat patiently waiting for the food. He had ordered impatiently when he entered, and now he waited expectantly. Could this Yang Zhou Fried Rice really be that delicious?
"Never mind, let's see what this Yang Zhou Fried Rice is all about. If it's really good…" Sally clenched her fist, having made her decision.