Chapter 101 - Exercise
"I enjoy them very much! They were all delicious and way better than the ones I’ve eaten before."
Xiu Mei didn’t stop there and continued flattering the elderly woman. "Also, I could taste that they all taste very authentic. Did you travel to different Asian countries to perfect these recipes?"
What she said was a half-truth and half flattery. If we move the elderly woman out of the picture, Xiu Mei greatly enjoyed and appreciated their food.
Her family would often take vacations in different countries so her tongue is already quite familiar with the signature recipes of each country, and after tasting the food here in ’The Paradise’, all her words are purely admirations and praises.
Being able to cook them exactly as it tastes and some foods, even better than the ones she tasted abroad, is really amazing.
She wanted to genuinely praise the owner, but seeing Mrs.Kim’s character, she easily recognized this kind of person.
Mrs.Kim is definitely the overbearing type of person. After listening in on Lu Chen and Lu Qiang’s story, even though she didn’t know the full story, she can still understand the gist of it.
This may sound too blunt but in her experience with this kind of person, if you don’t want to spend so much time with them, appeasing them a little bit and talking nice would do the trick. After that, you can finally walk off and pray to the heavens that you won’t meet again.
Hmm, let’s say it’s kinda like placating a crying child by distracting it with a toy?
"How did you know?" Upon hearing her response, Mrs.Kim’s high pitched voice returned while she clapped her hands together. Right now, she seemed to be enjoying the compliment she was receiving. "My husband and I did some little traveling back in the day then after studying a little bit, everyone seemed to really like the food so we opened up this restaurant. And look, it became one of the most recommended places to visit in this city."
Then Mrs.Kim suddenly pulled out her handkerchief and laughed a bit arrogantly. "I suppose it’s just a natural talent ah? Hohoho."
The three people at the table looked at each other and discreetly shook their heads, evidently speechless about this situation. The three of them weren’t sure what to comment in that situation.
Really... Mrs.Kim didn’t even hold back and proudly complimented herself that it’s a natural talent.
Xiu Mei did her best to keep that smile on her face when all she really wanted to do was pinch the bridge of her neck after feeling a headache coming.
"Ms. Xiu, you have such a sweet mouth ah. I’m liking you a bit better now."
"..."
But she didn’t say anything though?
She just complimented her with a couple of lines and then she becomes labeled as a sweet talker?
Mrs.Kim’s way of thinking...somehow, she was getting a bit lost.
"So how long have the two of you been married?"
The tense mood decreased by more than half by now after that short bit of conversing done by Xiu Mei. Sensing that, Xiu Mei immediately caught on that Mrs.Kim is the type that’s also very easy to appease ah.
But after the dropping that bomb question to her, she quickly put her guard up and realized that Lu Chen introduced her as his wife.
My god, was she too happy to be introduced as Mrs.Lu a while ago that they forgot their roles in the public?
Xiu Mei barely held herself from pinching herself to seriously return to her senses.
They were dropping such a big secret at the wrong person ah.
But then she took another second again to think of her answer. If she denied that they’re married, would Mrs.Kim forcibly break off their relationship to push her daughter in between?
After foolishly thinking that, she felt a bit stupid.
Xiu Mei ah, Xiu Mei ah... are you smitten now ah? Is she actually worried that some third party would interfere their current relationship?
"Ms.Xiu?"
"Ah! Sorry about that, My darling just really loves to call me his wife that a lot of people who hear it assumes that we’re already married. But we’re not married yet. It’s definitely in the plans though."
Xiu Mei noticed that spark in Mrs.Kim’s eyes slowly reigniting but she quickly put out that fire by continuing her words.
She scooted closer to Lu Chen and leaned on his chest. Lu Chen naturally moved his body to accommodate hers as if he’s been doing it for a long time. This action definitely helped in making their acting more natural.
"My darling and I are just tying a few loose ends before finally taking the next step. After all, my darling is such an eye candy ah!" She cupped Lu Chen’s face and turned it towards her.
Xiu Mei took that opportunity to pinch his cheeks as if she was a woman so in love with his boyfriend to the point that she finds him very adorable.
After playing with his face for a few seconds, Xiu Mei returned her gaze to Mrs.Kim. She looked very uncomfortable seeing her showing affection to Lu Chen, but Xiu Mei didn’t stop there.
She stood of from her seat and as if she was trying to gossip something, she curled her finger towards herself gesturing Mrs.Kim to come closer.
After getting close enough, she raised one of her hands and whispered in her ear.
"Also, my darling loves me too much to look at other girls ah. Every night, he’ll always pull me to do exercises and he loves doing it in different positions every time. Sometimes we’ll get a bit wilder and the next day, I had to be brought to the emergency room for an IV ah."
Xiu Mei shamelessly whispered that to Mrs.Kim and winked. "I’d really love to have a rest but my darling just loves to exercise so much that my back and legs always feel that they’ll fall apart." She sighed, trying to sound a bit whiny as well as if she was facing a difficult problem.
"So Mrs.Kim, how do you control your husband when you do ’that’ ah? I’m pretty sure your husband is still bothering you every night since you’re this pretty ah!"
Of course, she didn’t forget to add the flattery part.
Mrs.Kim looked at her a bit awkwardly but Xiu Mei noticed that she was grinning a little bit as if she was enjoying hearing that kind of gossip. Mrs.Kim did not even notice that after denying their marriage, she didn’t give her the chance to fire again with another bullet by immediately launching another bomb.
Doesn’t matter that they’re not married, Mrs.Kim should understand that she can’t have her way and force her daughter to Lu Chen. So she had to lie about doing night activities with Lu Chen and showing off their affection.
Xiu Mei continued on manipulating their conversation for a little bit longer before Mrs.Kim finally raised the white flag.
"Oh my, look at that time! I’ve been bothering you for too long. Ms.Xiu, let’s continue our wonderful conversation on your next visit, okay?" And after exchanging a few pleasantries, she finally walked away.
Xiu Mei didn’t quickly wipe off that courteous smile on her face and waved goodbye to her until she completely disappeared behind the kitchen door.
After waiting a few more seconds, Xiu Mei slumped back on the chair and deeply sighed.
That was really tiring ah. Mrs.Kim’s gossip capability is through the roof and her knowledge in that area... is very extensive.
Xiu Mei sighed once again while slowly massaging her temples. She came here to eat ah, not to lie and gossip. She felt like pulling her hair out when the realization of all the things she said a while ago was just dawning on her.
My god Xiu Mei, you really had the guts to gossip about the nonexistent nightly activities of you and Lu Chen ahhhh!!
Could she just slap her mouth for once for making trouble like this ah?
What if a reporter hears a word about it ah? Then won’t it be too embarrassing?
Ahhhhh seriously, what was she even thinking spouting nonsense like that! Shameless! Too shameless!!!
While Xiu Mei willowed in shamelessness, she didn’t notice that the other two people on the table were looking at her. It seems like she had completely forgotten the existence of these two people when she was gossiping thoughtlessly.
The little one looked at her with a very confused expression while the other one was acting a bit weirdly.
Lu Chen’s expression still looked a little cold and blank, but if one would look closely, they can definitely see the slight changes in him. His gaze darkened a little bit, and his breathing a bit faster than usual. He was even clenching his fist tightly under the table as if he was trying to suppress something.