Luo Shu immediately unwrapped his chopsticks and went straight for the braised lion's head, a dish he loved, served in small portions.
Ayano, however, seemed more inclined towards seafood, her first target being the oil-braised prawns.
The dishes leaned towards sweet flavours, likely Huaiyang cuisine—not entirely authentic, but quite delicious.
At the very least, both Luo Shu and Ayano were thoroughly satisfied, especially with the fresh bamboo shoot vegetarian soup, which Luo Shu relished. The Wensi tofu was less impressive, more of a technical showcase than anything, its taste merely passable.
As superhumans with physiques far surpassing ordinary people, they quickly polished off the dishes on the table. It wasn't so much about being full as it was about satisfying their taste buds.
"Having a feast like this once in a while is quite nice, much better than those nutrient pastes~"
Having cleaned her plate, Ayano rubbed her stomach with a contented expression.
The Kannagi family had a dedicated branch specialising in medicinal cuisine, generations of which had researched special dishes for Flame Adepts.
Though the taste was also excellent, after years of eating it, Ayano had grown somewhat tired of it.
So occasionally indulging in high-calorie dishes and desserts was her way of spicing things up.
As for Luo Shu, he was equally satisfied with this feast—or rather, he was satisfied whenever someone else was footing the bill:
"We should come back to this place again sometime."
Luo Shu pulled a tissue from the restaurant's provided pack, wiped the corner of his mouth, then glanced at Asuna Yuuki, leaving the adjacent seat, before casually remarking:
"Excuse me for a moment. I'm going to the restroom."
"Go ahead, go ahead." Ayano Kannagi waved her hand, signalling that Luo Shu could leave freely.
Seizing the moment, Luo Shu stood up and headed towards the restroom.
After he left, Ayano also took a tissue to dab her lips before immediately retrieving a lip balm from her small bag. Just as her hand grasped the tube, she noticed her phone buzzing.
Ayano glanced at Yukari's incoming call display, then turned to look at Yukari Shinomiya's seat. Seeing the other girl holding up her phone and gesturing at her, she promptly answered the call.
Precisely as Ayano and Yukari began their phone conversation.
At the restroom exit on the third floor of the restaurant.
Asuna Yuuki, having just finished using the facilities, approached the sink, turned on the tap, and prepared to wash her hands.
Just then, a male voice sounded behind her:
"You're Ayano's friend, right?"
"?!?!"
Asuna Yuuki started in surprise, turning her head to see a tall figure approaching the sink next to hers.
She looked up at Luo Shu's profile and found herself speechless.
Oh god!! How could she get caught red-handed like this?!
She knew Nanase's idea of secretly observing was unreliable - now they were totally screwed!!
As Asuna Yuuki tensed up nervously, Luo Shu smiled and said:
"No need to be so nervous. I bear you no ill will."
"As for how I guessed your presence - firstly, given Ayano's personality, she wouldn't consider my Chinese background when choosing a Chinese restaurant for dinner."
"Secondly, I'm personally quite sensitive to others' gazes, so I noticed your observation from the start."
As he spoke, Luo Shu shook water droplets from his hands, squeezed some foaming soap from the dispenser, and began washing his hands:
"What's your name?"
"Asuna... Asuna Yuuki," she answered softly, her face flushing.
"Ah, Asuna?" Luo Shu repeated the name with a smile. "Mind if I call you that?"
"...N-no, not at all." Asuna managed an awkward yet polite smile.
In Japanese social norms, using someone's given name was reserved for very close relationships.
For Asuna Yuuki, apart from her parents and brother, fewer than five close friends called her that. Normally, acquaintances would use "Yuuki-san" or "Yuuki-kun".
Frankly, Luo Shu's casual use of her given name slightly crossed Japanese social boundaries. But knowing he was foreign, Asuna chose to be more tolerant.
After all, she wasn't the type to bluntly correct others' phrasing.
Still, this proximity made Asuna - who'd attended all-girls schools for years - extremely uncomfortable.
Their sinks were adjacent, differing only in height, so Luo Shu easily noticed Asuna's discomfort.
Seeing the girl's reticence, Luo Shu naturally didn't press further:
"Well then, Asuna, there's something I need you to remind Ayano about."
"Eh?" Asuna blinked, wondering why Luo Shu couldn't tell Kannagi Ayano directly.
The next second, Luo Shu's smiling explanation answered her unspoken question:
"Ayano might not know - currently, I'm the only male member in the Hidden Management Department."
Instantly, Asuna's expression froze.
The only male member?
Then wasn't Ayano's arranged marriage partner... Luo Shu himself?
Suddenly, Asuna felt like a screaming groundhog was rampaging through her mind.
The thought of Kannagi Ayano asking Luo Shu all those questions right in front of her supposed fiancé - with Asuna, Nanase and Yukari watching - made her want to die of secondhand embarrassment.
Not just because of her friend's social suicide - she wanted to die too!
At this moment, seeing Asuna Yuuki's reaction, Luo Shu suppressed a laugh, rinsed the foam off his hands, and, while drying them, said with a smile:
"You know how it is, I can't really explain this directly to Ayano, so... I'm counting on you."
'Don't just casually dump this kind of thing on someone else!!!'
Asuna Yuuki let out a silent scream in her mind.
"Here's my contact details. Feel free to reach out when you're free. Though right now, what I'm most curious about is how Ayano will react later."
"Oh, and remember to tell Ayano I left first. If I stayed to watch the show, given her personality, she'd probably get so embarrassed she'd resort to violence."
Luo Shu handed her a card, which the dazed girl numbly accepted, then turned and walked away without another word.
By the time Asuna Yuuki came to her senses, he was already long gone.
She picked up the card, glanced at its contents, and immediately felt torn between laughter and tears.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu, having left the restroom area, didn't return to his seat but instead headed downstairs to settle the bill at the counter.
After exiting the main door, he glanced back at the third floor with evident satisfaction before walking off.
At the same time.
After much internal preparation, Asuna Yuuki finally resolved to leave the restroom area and re-enter the third-floor hall.