Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 344: Family Dinner (5)

Dragon Raja 3

Who the hell is this other Lu who took my table? Lu Mingfei fumed. “I think there’s been a mistake. Take me to meet this Mr. Lu.”

“Mr. Chen, are you into Western cuisine?” Uncle gracefully speared a slice of Iberian ham from his salad with his fork, taking a slow sip of perfectly chilled champagne afterward. He felt like every movement radiated an aura of power.

“How could you say that? Mr. Chen outranks you; he’s seen it all. Eating Western food is no big deal for Mr. Chen. He just prefers his wife’s home cooking, which is why he doesn’t eat Western food often,” Aunt said, her face flushed from a few sips of champagne. Although her words were humble, she, too, felt like she was shining with importance.

Uncle was someone who placed great importance on appearances, and this dinner was the perfect opportunity for him to feel a sense of pride. Inviting Director Chen’s family to such a prestigious restaurant made him feel as if the gap between them had narrowed, perhaps even giving him the illusion that he was now standing above Director Chen.

Aunt, on the other hand, was secretly proud of her decision. The previous afternoon, while she was bored and fanning herself in the hotel lobby, a man in a black suit and white gloves approached her. He introduced himself as the manager of Chateau Joel Robuchon, a restaurant near the Westin Hotel, and respectfully handed her an elegant invitation. Aunt, not fully understanding the French name, heard “Robuchon” as “Radish Singing” and scoffed, asking if they were a vegetarian restaurant. Aunt was a frugal woman, believing that the best things in life were hidden and never advertised, so she typically ignored promotions like this.

The manager, a bit flustered, patiently explained that Chateau Joel Robuchon was a Michelin three-star restaurant, with its main branch in Paris, specializing in French cuisine. Normally, the restaurant didn’t invite guests, but they were currently collaborating with the Westin Hotel and randomly selected foreign guests for a 50% discount. He remarked on Aunt’s elegant demeanor, believing she would appreciate French cuisine.

Although Aunt was a housewife, Uncle loved fashion and often educated her on high society matters. Aunt knew that Michelin three-star restaurants were the crown jewels of the dining world, frequented by elites. There were very few such restaurants even in all of China. Aunt’s interest was piqued, and she said, “Reserve a table for six for me, but I can’t promise I’ll come.” The manager agreed and noted that only the following evening had an available table. He wrote the time and location on the invitation, specifying it was under “Mr. Lu,” and then gracefully left the Westin lobby.

After he was out of sight, Aunt rushed back to her room to consult Uncle. “We should strike while the iron is hot! Let’s invite Director Chen’s family to dinner at ‘Radish Singing’ tomorrow. I have a 50% discount! We’ll enjoy Western cuisine and champagne, and while we’re there, we can bring up the idea of Jiajia and Mingze becoming a couple. A few years down the road, they can get engaged! It’s better than Mingze going to America alone and finding some random girlfriend.”

Uncle, having heard of Michelin restaurants but never having dined at even a one-star establishment, was thrilled at the chance to visit one under the pretext of discussing his son’s future. The discount sealed the deal for him.

Both families arrived at the restaurant dressed to the nines. Uncle proudly carried his three most prized possessions: his Dupont lighter, iPhone 4S, and Longines watch. His suit was perfectly pressed, and even Aunt wore high-heeled sandals for the occasion. However, when they reached Chateau Joel Robuchon, they were taken aback by its grandeur. Everything was so orderly, in stark contrast to the noisy, chaotic atmosphere of Chinese restaurants. Brass trolleys carrying wine and desserts glided silently between tables, and the waitstaff, dressed in tailcoats, exuded elegance. The thick, white shirts they wore seemed of a higher quality than Uncle’s own. To top it off, some of the staff were even French.

When the waiter confirmed that “Mr. Lu’s” table was ready, Uncle let out a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Aunt had been tricked, which would have embarrassed him in front of Director Chen.

The waiter seated them by a window in the second-floor hall. Unlike in Chinese restaurants, where customers order their own dishes, the waiter handed them menus and explained that the executive chef had already prepared a “Chef’s Tasting Menu.” All they needed to do was indicate if they had any dietary restrictions. This saved Uncle from a major headache since not only did he not understand French, but he also struggled with English. If the waiter had asked him to order, he would’ve been doomed. The pre-selected wines and champagne, though unfamiliar to him, tasted refined and elegant—each sip was a taste of sophistication, no less than the 15-year-old Maotai he’d drunk in the past.

Amidst the fragrance of perfume and the warm glow of candlelight, Director Chen gradually loosened up after a few glasses of wine. He began chatting with Uncle like an old friend, and Aunt and Mrs. Chen developed a sisterly rapport. Even the usually quiet Jiajia found common ground with Lu Mingze, discussing the intricate and unfamiliar ingredients of the dishes. Aunt, watching all this unfold, felt more and more convinced that her son and his “future wife” were a perfect match. She began hinting to Mrs. Chen about how difficult life in America could be, and how having a companion would ease the worries of parents whose children were alone abroad. Mrs. Chen, in turn, sighed and agreed, saying, “If Jiajia had a boyfriend, I’d feel more at ease. But you know how honest she is. I’m just afraid she’ll be deceived when she’s in America.”

Mrs. Chen was well aware of Aunt’s intentions, but she hadn’t been fully convinced about Lu Mingze. She worried that aligning with their family might lead to future complications. However, tonight’s lavish dinner had left her impressed by the family’s means, and she began to view Lu Mingze more favorably. Aunt’s “final push” was about to pay off, and she was just thinking about how to break the ice and solidify the arrangement…

Just then, a waiter approached with a man and woman in tow, cautiously asking, “Excuse me, are you with this Mr. Lu? He says you’ve taken his table.”

Everyone was stunned.

Lu Mingfei hadn’t expected to run into his uncle and aunt in Tokyo. Filled with annoyance, he had been ready to confront whoever had taken his table, but the moment he saw his aunt’s familiar, heavily made-up face, his bravado melted away like ice cream in the sun.

Aunt hadn’t anticipated this intruder either. She had been so focused on ensuring her son outshone her devious nephew, and on surpassing her nephew’s glamorous mother, Giovanni. Yet, just as she was about to succeed, this pesky troublemaker had appeared, like a ghost haunting her.

Uncle, aware of Aunt’s deep resentment toward Lu Mingfei over his opportunity to study abroad, feared a public confrontation would embarrass them in front of Director Chen. Though Uncle bore no personal grudge against Lu Mingfei—after all, he was family—he was always intimidated by his wife. When she forbade him from contacting Lu Mingfei, he obeyed.

Director Chen’s family, on the other hand, wondered if they had mistakenly taken someone else’s reservation and if the rightful guest had finally shown up.

Lu Mingze’s gaze was firmly fixed on Erii. The girl, dressed in a blue-purple dress with black lace, adorned with luxurious ribbons, looked tall and cold like a princess from the Bourbon dynasty. Yet, she timidly held her cousin’s arm, half hiding behind him.

Everyone stared at each other in awkward silence for what felt like a full thirty seconds. Finally, it was Lu Mingfei who broke the silence, awkwardly saying, “What a coincidence…”

Series Navigation

<< Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 343: Family Dinner (4)Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 345: Family Dinner (6) >>