"Wow, there are so many people."
Arriving at the entrance of the Small Shop, He Yuefeng couldn't help but exclaim softly.
At this moment, the front of the restaurant was filled with waiting customers, with a long queue stretching from Morning Star Street to the opposite Starlight Auction House and winding back again.
He Yuefeng thought he had arrived early enough, but the waiting customers still outnumbered his expectations.
On second thought, it seemed quite reasonable. The influence of Food Critique Magazine in Star Luo City was substantial. With the new issue released today, many people like him, curious about Small Shop's high ratings, were bound to visit.
Soon, the door opened, and He Yuefeng glanced at the girl in a fitted maid outfit from afar, momentarily taken aback.
Isn't that Qin Yue?
Was she still working at Small Shop after Moonlight Pavilion was sold to them? This thought flashed briefly in He Yuefeng's mind as the doors opened, and the customers swarmed in to find seats. He hurriedly followed the crowd inside.
Entering Small Shop, the interior decor immediately gave He Yuefeng a refreshing feeling.
While it was true that people in the Star Luo Empire loved luxurious and grand decor, being in such an environment for too long could feel oppressive and burdensome, leading to aesthetic fatigue.
Small Shop's fresh and clean style offered a unique and refreshing contrast, making people naturally feel relaxed upon entering.
This special style and dining experience were undoubtedly a perfect match.
Qin Yue quickly approached. "Hello, would you like hot pot or other dishes?"
"Uh..." He Yuefeng was momentarily at a loss, having not thoroughly read the reviews in Food Critique Magazine. He found Qin Yue's question confusing. "What's the difference between hot pot and other dishes?"
"Hot pot is a special way of eating. If you choose hot pot, you'll need to dine on the second floor. Of course, you can also order other dishes on the second floor," Qin Yue explained with a friendly smile. "If you don't want hot pot, you can dine on the first floor."
Understanding now, He Yuefeng thought for a moment before replying, "I'll go to the second floor. It's my first time here, and I want to try the top-rated dish from Food Critique Magazine."
Qin Yue wasn't surprised by He Yuefeng's response; many previous customers had made the same choice.
"The second floor is over there. You can head up, and my sister will attend to you upstairs." She pointed to the staircase leading to the second floor and nodded politely before turning to the next customer.
Qin Yue has a sister? He Yuefeng, unfamiliar with the Qin family, felt puzzled.
Climbing the stairs to the second floor, he was greeted by a girl dressed similarly to Qin Yue in a black-and-white maid outfit, with an almost identical appearance. "Hello, please follow me for hot pot..."
He Yuefeng didn't respond; he didn't even notice Qin Yao. Instead, he looked around the decor with shock, almost thinking he had stepped into another world.
Is this a bamboo forest?
How could a bamboo forest be indoors?
Numerous questions filled his mind, leaving him standing there, dazed.
Qin Yao smiled slightly, accustomed to the reactions of first-time customers dining on the second floor. Almost every one of them, like He Yuefeng, was equally astonished.
After waiting a moment, Qin Yao spoke again, "Excuse me, sir?"
"Ah?" He Yuefeng snapped out of his reverie and looked at Qin Yao. "Where do I sit?"
"Please follow me," Qin Yao turned and led him to an empty table. He Yuefeng followed her, curiously observing the other tables.
He realized that he had secured the last available table on the second floor, prompting a sigh of relief. If he had been any later, he might not have been able to enjoy the hot pot.
"Sir, there is a menu in the drawer under your table. Once you've decided, I'll come back to take your order."
"Alright, I'll take a look. You can go ahead and attend to others," He Yuefeng responded with a smile, retrieving a thick menu from the drawer as instructed.
Instead of opening the menu immediately, he first opened the Food Critique Magazine magazine he had brought along. Rushing earlier, he hadn't had the chance to thoroughly read the reviews about Small Shop.
After ten minutes of reading, He Yuefeng finally closed the magazine, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Marvelous.
The Food Critique Magazine had detailed introductions for each dish at Small Shop. The hot pot, in particular, had a joint review by over twenty Food Critics, spanning tens of thousands of words, which left He Yuefeng salivating.
Besides the hot pot, the other dishes were equally enticing.
Putting down the magazine, He Yuefeng finally picked up the menu to order.
He had already roughly decided what to order.
The first page of the menu listed the prices of dishes other than the hot pot. A quick glance made He Yuefeng raise his eyebrows.
The prices were steep!
But his frown quickly relaxed.
Although expensive, these prices weren't a burden for him.
If the food here matched the reviews in the Food Critique Magazine, it would be worth every penny.
He summoned Qin Yao and asked, "Is it true that your restaurant doesn't allow any customer to waste food?"
This was clearly stated on the first page of the menu, so He Yuefeng wanted to confirm.
"Yes, all food in our restaurant must not be wasted, or you will be blacklisted," Qin Yao confirmed.
He Yuefeng nodded and then asked, "What is this Blazing Cup? Why is it so expensive yet not reviewed?"
This was his second point of curiosity.
Every other dish was reviewed in the Food Critique Magazine, except this one, making it stand out.
Qin Yao couldn't help but laugh. She had been asked this question multiple times today. "Sir, the Blazing Cup is a type of wine our restaurant just launched today. The Food Critique Magazine's evaluation period ended yesterday."
Ah...
He Yuefeng was speechless.
"Mr. He, I can assure you that if the Blazing Cup had been launched a few days earlier, it would definitely have been reviewed in the Food Critique Magazine," a voice interjected from a nearby table. Turning his head, He Yuefeng was shocked to see who was speaking. "Chief Editor Mu Liufeng?"
He had attended a business conference last year where this Chief Editor was a special guest. They had exchanged a few words, and now, seeing him again, He Yuefeng recognized him immediately.
At this moment, Mu Liufeng had a slight hint of intoxication on his face, raising his glass to He Yuefeng from a distance.
Gazing at the fiery red liquid with a hint of golden color, resembling a flickering flame, He Yuefeng couldn't help but swallow hard.
Is this the Blazing Cup? Just by its appearance, it seemed like an extraordinary wine.
With the Chief Editor of Food Critique Magazine vouching for it, He Yuefeng had no doubts. After a brief hesitation, he decided what to order.
"I'll have a barrel of Blazing Cup, a spicy hot pot base, and a basket of Xiaolongbao..." After listing several hot pot ingredients, He Yuefeng put down the menu. "That will be all for now."
"Very well, please wait a moment," Qin Yao quickly noted down the order, nodded, and went downstairs.
<+>
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