Chapter 304 - 301: President Jiang Didn’t Come Σ( ° △ °|||)

Chapter 304: Chapter 301: President Jiang Didn’t Come Σ( ° △ °|||)

Arriving at Maxim’s Restaurant by taxi, Zhang Yuanyuan looked up at the glowing French letters spelling out the name, a smile involuntarily spreading across her face.

On the way over in the taxi, she had already looked up Maxim’s Restaurant on her phone. She learned that it was the country’s first Sino-French joint-venture Western restaurant, which had officially opened its doors in 1983. In the ’80s and ’90s, Maxim’s was considered one of the most cosmopolitan places in the Imperial Capital, and for many, it was their very first definition of "high-class."

Zhang Yuanyuan was overjoyed. ’President Jiang chose this place for our first date; it really shows how much he values me. I just wonder if he’ll like how I’m dressed today.’

She took a light breath, steadied her emotions, and slowly ascended the steps. Passing through the transparent glass doors, she officially stepped into the restaurant.

At a glance, the restaurant floor was tiled with geometric mahogany panels, and the walls were adorned with gilded vine patterns. Chandeliers and wall sconces shaped like maple and chestnut leaves hung from above. There were crystal glass walls that seemed to stretch on endlessly, classical murals from the Louvre Museum, and a magnificent, colorful floral ceiling. It was as if she had stepped into a 19th-century French palace.

Flickering candlelight danced throughout the grand hall, which was filled with the fragrant, enchanting scent of roses. Soft, classic music drifted to her ears. In that moment, romance and elegance, classic and modern, were perfectly embodied.

She glanced casually at other people’s tables: red wine, French-style baked escargot, cream of mushroom soup, Angus ribeye steak, herb and garlic bread...

Although Zhang Yuanyuan had never been to France and this was her first time eating Western food in such a formal setting, she felt that this was what true French romance must be like.

She didn’t see the handsome President Jiang in the grand hall, but she wasn’t supposed to. President Jiang had just texted her saying he was on the second floor.

The second floor was quieter than the grand hall. From the window seats, one could see the hustle and bustle of Chongwenmen West Street.

But after scanning the room, she still didn’t see the President Jiang she was so eager to meet.

So, she hesitated for a few seconds before taking out her phone and dialing his number.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off. Please try again later." ℴ

Zhang Yuanyuan froze for a moment. She thought she might have dialed the wrong number. She checked it carefully—it was correct. She tried calling again, but it still didn’t go through.

It was only then that she noticed President Jiang had also sent her a message, one she had somehow missed before.

"Darling, something suddenly came up that I have to take care of. When you get there, just go ahead and order. Get whatever you want. I’ll be there in a bit."

She couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

’So he just had to step out for something urgent.’ She thought about it. ’It makes sense. After all, President Jiang runs such a big animation company, and with Cat and Mouse being so popular right now, he must be busy every day.’

Just then, a waitress gracefully approached her, a professional smile on her face. "Ma’am, is there anything I can help you with?"

Zhang Yuanyuan pursed her lips, looked at the waitress, and asked tentatively, "Excuse me, did a Mr. Jiang Qiao make a reservation here beforehand?"

"Yes, Ma’am. Please follow me." The waitress nodded slightly.

Zhang Yuanyuan was completely relieved. She followed the waitress to a table by the window. Delicate stemware, cutlery, and plates were arranged on a silky chiffon tablecloth. The chairs were also mahogany, exuding a very elegant style. ’Dining here,’ she thought, ’must be like experiencing the life of European nobility.’

She sat down and looked around at the exquisite interior decor: the bar filled with the air of European aristocracy, the elegant high-stools, and the pervasive air of pure French elegance.

An indescribable excitement suddenly welled up inside her. She had never even dared to dream of such a high-end Western restaurant before. ’But after today,’ she mused, ’eating like this for every meal should be no problem at all.’

"Ma’am, would you like to order now, or wait for your friend?"

Zhang Yuanyuan hesitated slightly. Logically, she should wait for President Jiang to arrive before ordering, but she hadn’t eaten dinner since returning from Qitian Animation Company, and her stomach was already growling with hunger.

"I’ll order now."

’I’ll order the food first,’ she thought. ’That way, we can eat as soon as President Jiang arrives. It’s perfect.’

’Besides, didn’t President Jiang tell me in his text that I could order first?’

"Of course."

Zhang Yuanyuan took the menu and admired the beautifully crafted booklet, once again marveling at how high-class Maxim’s Restaurant was. Then she looked at the prices. ’Wow, so expensive! A single dish costs several hundred.’

’But if it weren’t expensive, how could it reflect the restaurant’s quality?’

"I’ll have the wild porcini mushroom soup with black truffle oil."

"The Australian scallops with caviar, seasonal vegetables, and raspberry sauce."

"The grilled ribeye steak with black pepper sauce."

"And also a cream of mushroom soup and the classic French baked escargot."

"And to finish, the pan-fried deep-sea bass with phoenix-tail prawns, a strawberry Napoleon mille-feuille, and a cranberry red velvet cake."

She ordered eight dishes in one go. She had never tried any of them before, but judging by their long names, they all sounded delicious.

"Anything to drink, Ma’am?" the waitress asked.

Zhang Yuanyuan thought about it seriously. ’A little red wine on a date can bring two people closer. Buoyed by the alcohol, I could even do something a bit more daring. It’s the perfect way to set the stage for an unforgettable night.’

She nodded, a faint blush on her cheeks. But when she saw the expensive prices for the red wine, she thought, ’Well, I’m not the one paying anyway,’ and ordered a bottle of Bordeaux that cost over three thousand.

"Of course, Ma’am. Right away." The waitress bowed respectfully and left.

After ordering, Zhang Yuanyuan let out a long breath. She glanced around, observing how other people were dining, and even took out her phone to check: was it fork in the left hand and knife in the right, or the other way around?

’If you don’t pay attention to these details,’ she thought, ’people will spot you as a country bumpkin in a second, even in a high-end restaurant.’

After a long wait, the waitress began bringing out the dishes one by one until the table was completely filled.

She leaned down to smell the classic French baked escargot. The scents of snail meat, butter, mashed potatoes, egg yolk, and fresh cream blended together perfectly. It smelled so fragrant.

’Truly a famous French delicacy!’

Zhang Yuanyuan swallowed hard, her stomach letting out an embarrassing growl. She glanced at the time—it was already past eight, but President Jiang still hadn’t arrived.

She resisted the tempting aroma, had the waitress open the red wine, and filled both glasses one-third full.

Time ticked by. By eight-thirty, Zhang Yuanyuan could no longer bear her hunger and called President Jiang again.

His phone was still off.

’He must be tied up with work,’ she reasoned. ’But since he said he’d come, he’ll definitely come. After all, he even called me "darling." It’s obvious he wants to sleep with me tonight.’

And so, Zhang Yuanyuan decided she wouldn’t wait any longer. She would eat first.