What a coincidence! Cassius sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"What's wrong? Don't you like this restaurant?" Gwen noticed Cassius's actions and asked with a worried tone.
She had done her research; this was the most famous couples' restaurant in New York. The dishes were all very expensive, and her heart ached when she made the reservation. It shouldn't be too bad, right?
"Nothing." Cassius forced a smile and shook his head. "I was just thinking of something unpleasant."
"Oh, good. I thought you didn't like it here." Gwen let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest. She was worried that Cassius wouldn't like it.
"How could that be? As long as I'm having dinner with you, I'll like any place." Cassius held Gwen's hand and looked at her with a gentle gaze.
When Gwen met Cassius's gaze, her cheeks immediately turned red, and she looked away. Even though she had clearly expressed her feelings, she still felt incredibly shy when she looked into his eyes. After all, she had never had a crush on someone before.
"Okay, let's go inside..." Gwen's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz as she lowered her head and led Cassius inside.
An eighteen-year-old girl was easy to charm, especially one as pure as a sheet of paper. Cassius looked up, and the look of helplessness on his face was replaced with determination. Since he was going to seek thrills, he had to go all the way!
The table was by the window overlooking the forest park. The sky was a faint red as the sun slowly set. The park's lake shimmered in the sunset, reflecting a crystal-clear glow. Tourists strolled along, enjoying the brief comfort after a long day of work. Inside the restaurant, a band was elegantly playing "Ballade Pour Adeline." The graceful music echoed through the restaurant.
"What do you think? Isn't the atmosphere nice?" Gwen asked excitedly, her eyes wide as she looked around. "I specifically reserved this table because of the beautiful view."
She had been to many elegant and formal places, but only to fight crime or save people. This was the first time she had ever sat in a restaurant like this.
"Welcome, sir and madam. Here are the menus." A waiter in a tuxedo gracefully handed them the menus and stood to the side.
"Ladies first." Cassius smiled and nodded slightly.
"Okay!" Gwen took the menu and looked at Cassius, who was looking at his phone. The more she got to know Cassius, the more surprises he brought her. He was a great person in every way, but he was still so humble and gentlemanly.
Cassius just smiled at Gwen's gaze. He couldn't care less about any of that right now. His attention was on his phone.
[Wanda]: I'll go to Saint Yvis and wait for you. Don't be late! I booked a table by the window.
Although Cassius's face was calm, he couldn't help but tap his fingers on the table. He never expected Wanda to show up early. He couldn't even imagine what would happen if Gwen and Wanda met. And he had noticed as soon as he walked in that this was a couples' restaurant.
It would be hard to explain. And to make matters worse, she also booked a table by the window. She would definitely get angry if she found out he was on a date with another girl at the same time he was supposed to be on a date with her!
He had a headache just thinking about it. Did all the girls in New York want to eat at the same place?
"Do you want to try the vegetable soup and the apple and carrot stew? The online reviews say they're even better than in Italy." Gwen opened the menu and handed it to Cassius, her eyes filled with hope.
This was a European-style restaurant with various European dishes, mainly Italian and German. She had always wanted to try this dish but never had the heart to.
"I think it sounds good. I like whatever you like." Cassius's mind was racing as he responded to Gwen.
"You're so sweet!" Gwen's heart warmed as she looked at Cassius's smiling face. He was completely on her side. The more she felt this way, the more she was touched.
She didn't notice that Cassius's eyes were not even on the menu. He was still trying to figure out how to keep the two women from meeting.
After they ordered, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed waiter quickly brought the food to their table.
"Enjoy your meal, you two." The waiter said, lighting the candle in the middle of the table before stepping back.
"Try it quickly." Gwen's eyes lit up as she looked at the food. She loved trying different kinds of food.
"Okay." Cassius smiled and nodded, temporarily pushing Wanda out of his mind. Wanda wouldn't be here for a while, so he would just have to take things as they came!
Cassius took a sip of the creamy white vegetable soup in front of him. The aroma was rich and complex, a blend of fresh vegetables, a hint of spicy herbs, and the creamy richness of the cream. With the first sip, the smooth texture and rich layers of flavor spread across his tongue. It warmed his body in the cool autumn air.
"What do you think?" Gwen clasped her hands together, waiting for Cassius's review.
"Hmm, it's really good. The chef must be Italian." Cassius slowly nodded, giving his review.
"That's great! It seems this restaurant is really good." Gwen let out a sigh of relief. She thought that someone as wealthy as Cassius would have very picky taste. But it seemed that he wasn't a spoiled person.
"However..." Cassius's tone changed.
"However what?" Gwen's heart, which had just relaxed, suddenly tensed up again.
"It's not as good as mine." Cassius wasn't joking when he said this. Thanks to the system's rewards, his culinary skills were top-notch. He could even tell how many seasonings were used in a dish with just one taste.
"You can cook?!" Gwen was truly surprised that Cassius could cook. He was already so talented, yet he hadn't neglected his daily life skills.
"Of course. My sense of seasoning is very accurate. For example, this dish has hand-ground black pepper and parsley..." Cassius began to seriously explain how to make a good dish. In reality...
Ding!
[You have tasted a delicious vegetable soup!]
[Reward: Master Chef!]
Having the system was so great!
But Gwen listened intently, her eyes fixed on Cassius. The flickering candlelight shone on Cassius's handsome face. Cassius's serious explanation made Gwen's eyes go wide. She wasn't even paying attention to what he was saying. She just nodded subconsciously. For her, a man who was serious was too handsome. Especially a man who knew how to do everything but was never arrogant.
'If I could really be with him, I would be so happy, right?' The image of them together suddenly appeared in Gwen's mind. Her cheeks flushed. This was the first time she had ever felt so inferior. Although she was a powerful hero, the difference between her and Cassius was just too big.
"Why is your face so red?" Cassius noticed that Gwen was in a daze and instinctively touched her cheek.
Gwen snapped back to reality the moment he touched her. She felt the warmth on her cheek, and her heart immediately sped up. She could even hear her own heartbeat.
"I... Is it?" Gwen quickly shook her head, her eyes flustered. "Maybe the soup was too hot!"
"I thought you were secretly drinking behind my back." Cassius didn't expose her lie and smiled. "Too bad I have to drive later, so I can't order wine."
"I wasn't..." Gwen's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz. She was at a complete loss.
'No, Gwen Stacy, you can't be this timid.'
'Just look if you want to look!'
'You even hugged him and kissed him, right?!'
'Even... even sleeping with him would be fine!'
Gwen tried to hype herself up, but the more she thought about it, the more her mind went into a frenzy.
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the restaurant's entrance: "Cassius."
The voice was cold yet alluring... Cassius looked up sharply and saw a woman in a scarlet trench coat standing at the front desk. Even with a mask on, he recognized her instantly.
It was Wanda!
That trench coat, that figure... she was too recognizable!
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