Chapter 14
Hearing Alice say she wanted to tag along, Erina felt an immediate surge of panic.
"Absolutely not!"
"Alice... the gentleman who invited me for this tasting specifically requested that I come alone. It would be best... it would be best if you stayed home and watched television with Grandfather!"
Seeing Erina refuse so adamantly, her demeanor becoming visibly tense, the curiosity in Alice's heart reached a boiling point!
This girl is definitely hiding something from me!
Alice's bright eyes darted around for a moment. A second later, she puffed out her cheeks and spoke with a huff:
"Fine! If I'm not allowed, then I'm not allowed!"
"It's just some useless tasting request anyway, who would even want to go!"
"In that case, Grandfather, I'm heading out!"
"If I don't make it back for dinner tonight... I'll give you a call!"
Erina snatched up her small handbag and hurried out of the house in a rush!
However, the very next second, Alice sprang up from her seat.
"Grandfather, it seems I also have a matter that needs handling. Um, I'll be going out for a bit as well!"
"A matter that... needs handling?"
Senzaemon stared at Alice with a suspicious gaze. He was just about to ask a question, but Alice had already dashed out the door!
Settled inside her private car, Erina immediately showed the location Mineo had sent to the driver.
Just as Erina's car pulled away, Alice whispered to her own private driver:
"Follow them, but be careful. Don't let Erina find out!"
"Second Young Lady, please rest assured. I am a very experienced driver; a simple tailing job like this is a walk in the park!"
Alice sat in the car waiting for a full minute, but the driver hadn't started the engine yet. She instantly grew anxious.
"Why haven't you moved yet? They've already disappeared from sight!!"
"Second Young Lady, didn't you say we shouldn't let them notice? The safest way is not to tail them closely; that way, they won't suspect a thing!"
"Then how will I know where they're going..."
"Second Young Lady, have you forgotten? The one driving for the Eldest Young Lady is my older sister. I'll just give her a call and ask; won't everything be clear then?"
"..."
Looking at the bright smile blooming on her female driver's face, Alice realized she was still far too naive!
Sitting in the car, Erina's breathing began to grow irregular as she thought about the fact that she was about to meet Mineo.
From the time she was a child until now, this was the first time she would be dining alone with a man who wasn't a family member!
Moreover... Mineo was her online friend!
Even though she had known him for several years... an online friend was still an online friend!
Initially, Erina thought she would definitely leave Mineo starstruck with her beauty, but as the distance between her and Mineo closed, her heart began to thud wildly against her ribs.
What does Mineo look like?
How old is he?
Is he tall or short?
Will his aura be very gentle?
Is his cooking really that delicious?
A chaotic swarm of questions swirled in Erina's mind. At this moment, she didn't even notice that her white lace gloves were becoming slightly damp with perspiration...
The female driver handled the car with great stability. Even though Erina was staring out the window, her mind had drifted off to parts unknown.
Soon, the black Mercedes-Benz glided out of the center of Akatsuki Street, turning onto the mountainside highway leading toward the midpoint of Mount Akatsuki.
Only then did Erina ask her driver:
"On this Mount Akatsuki... is there actually someone managing a restaurant?"
"A restaurant on Mount Akatsuki? Miss, are you remembering correctly? As far as I recall, I was here a few months ago, and aside from the beautiful scenery, there seemed to be nothing else up here..."
"No restaurant!?"
Hearing the driver's words, Erina was stunned.
Don't tell me that jerk Mineo is really just playing a prank on this Young Lady?
If that's really the case, then your life is over, Mineo!
But right at that moment, the female driver let out a startled cry.
"Oh my goodness! Miss, look quickly!"
"Right here... there really is a restaurant!"
"This is truly a miracle!"
"When did someone invest and build a restaurant here? The exterior is far too beautiful—it's absolutely magnificent!"
Hearing the driver's exclamation, Erina immediately looked out the window.
There, nestled in the middle of the mountainside and surrounded by maple trees, stood a unique restaurant with an elegant, ancient, yet pure and beautiful style.
A gentle breeze blew, and the wind chimes hanging beneath the restaurant's eaves swayed softly. A clear, melodious sound echoed faintly through the mountain forest.
The stream flowing from the peak also pushed a water wheel, causing it to turn slowly.
No matter which angle it was viewed from, the scenery before her was top-tier!
No, Erina even felt that this place was a true paradise on earth!
Isn't this Mineo's first time in Japan? How could he know there was such a unique restaurant here!
This is truly magical!
Erina suddenly felt that she could no longer wait to see Mineo!
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
100 Power Stone = 1 Bonus Chapter (Up to 5 bonus chapters per week).
Read ahead and support the story on Patreon: patreon.com/FaaanzKun
✅ 45+ chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ 2 new chapters every day (Monday–Saturday), exclusive on Patreon
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —