Chapter 162: The Coolest Kid
Chapter 162: Chapter 162: The Coolest Kid
The restaurant Dennis Donovan recommended was situated in a relatively remote alley and wasn’t very large.
If she hadn’t known Dennis Donovan wasn’t one for empty boasts, she never would have guessed from the outside that this little restaurant housed a supposed descendant of an Imperial Chef.
However, after getting out of the car, Arabella Donovan noticed the area around the small restaurant was teeming with luxury cars. If some reckless driver were to accidentally wander in, even scratching one of them would probably be enough to make them lose the will to live.
Upon entering, she saw the place was completely packed. It wasn’t even dinnertime yet, but a long line had already formed along the corridor at the side of the restaurant.
Arabella Donovan studied the customers for a moment and noticed that most were middle-aged people in their forties and fifties. They were dressed modestly, but the accessories they wore, like watches and cufflinks, were anything but ordinary.
With that kind of attire, any single one of them could be a company CEO out in the world.
Yet here they all were, squeezed into this tiny restaurant, lining up for a meal like students.
It seemed what her grand-uncle had said before wasn’t an exaggeration after all.
As if sensing what Arabella Donovan was thinking, the old man tapped his cane smugly and said haughtily, "This restaurant doesn’t do delivery. It doesn’t matter if you’re the king of heaven or the Jade Emperor; if you want to eat, you have to come here, take a number, and wait in line."
"And you’re no exception?"
Dennis Donovan choked, his earlier pride vanishing without a trace. "...I’m no exception either."
Arabella Donovan silently glanced at the long, snaking line and said sheepishly, "So, do we have to go line up now, too?"
"No, no. Today is special. My old friend and his wife are treating us, and they reserved a private room for us early on. We can go straight in."
Arabella Donovan breathed a sigh of relief. If they really had to wait in line with this crowd, they probably wouldn’t be eating dinner, but a late-night snack.
Aurora Donovan, however, immediately understood the subtext. With a half-smile, she said, "So, it sounds like we have our dear Serena to thank for this meal tonight."
Dennis Donovan could hardly miss the sarcasm from the little brat. He gave a cold snort but didn’t retort, thinking to himself, ’Serena is so adorable, how can her own sister be so annoying?’
Then he recalled Mr. Donovan acting as a bodyguard on either side of him and his wife that day, and he suddenly felt that Arabella Donovan must be a genetic mutation. ’She’s without a doubt the best of the whole Donovan Family!’
Because arrangements had been made in advance, the moment Dennis Donovan and his party identified themselves, they were warmly and politely led by a waiting staff member to the largest private room upstairs.
This action, however, struck a nerve with quite a few of the old gourmands downstairs.
"What’s going on? I thought your restaurant doesn’t take reservations? What was that about with that group of people who just went upstairs?"
"Yeah, exactly! Everyone’s following the rules and waiting in line. What gives them the right to cut?"
With someone taking the lead, the other dissatisfied customers also began to indignantly denounce the restaurant.
A veteran employee in charge of maintaining order downstairs quickly came over upon hearing the commotion. He simply said with a smile, "Pardon me, everyone. The party that just went up are the honored guests of our Old Master and Madam. The Old Master and Madam are hosting them here today. My apologies for the misunderstanding."
Hearing that they were the honored guests of the Old Master and Madam, and that the two were hosting them personally, the clamoring customers instantly froze, their faces showing their embarrassment.
"The Old Master and Madam are here? Upstairs?"
"Yes."
"Well, if they’re guests of the Old Master and Madam, then of course there’s no problem. We were being rash."
"You’re too kind. Before going upstairs, the Old Master and Madam left instructions. Since they are hosting guests at Delicacy Pavilion today and it has affected your dining experience, as a token of their apology, the kitchen will be sending out a complimentary side dish for every guest present today. We hope you enjoy your meal."
You don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Since the restaurant had said as much, they couldn’t very well keep pressing the issue.
The previously noisy customers gradually quieted down. The topic of their heated discussion then shifted from the initial issue of cutting in line to just who those people who went upstairs were, to command a personal reception from the two elders.
At that moment, Arabella Donovan had no idea that a conflict had nearly broken out downstairs just moments after she had gone up.
Once on the second floor, she discovered that there was another world hidden within this small restaurant.
Compared to the simple and unadorned first floor, the second floor was far more exquisite, with carved railings, painted beams, and a winding water channel for floating wine cups. It was all very elegant.
The group had just stepped into the private room when the two elders who had been waiting inside immediately stood up. Though they tried their best to remain composed, the sudden light in their eyes betrayed their true feelings.
"Foster, Wyatt, I’ve brought Serena." They were all old acquaintances, so Dennis Donovan didn’t beat around the bush. He enthusiastically made the introductions as soon as they entered. "Serena, these are the people I told you about before we came—my old friend, your Grandpa Foster, and his wife, Wyatt."
Although she knew the couple wanted something from her, Arabella Donovan didn’t put on airs. She followed Dennis Donovan’s lead and obediently greeted them, "Hello, Grandpa Foster. Hello, Wyatt."
"Yes, yes, yes, what a good child. I heard from your grand-uncle that you came straight here after getting off the plane. You must not have had dinner yet. Your grandpa and I don’t have much else, but we have plenty of food. Eat something to tide you over first. Your Uncle Raphael is still busy in the kitchen. There are more main courses to come, and I guarantee they’ll be new things you’ve never eaten before."
Arabella Donovan hadn’t yet figured out who this "Uncle Raphael" was when Dennis Donovan’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Raphael is the one cooking today?"
At the mention of her adopted son, a smile also appeared on Madam Foster’s face. "That boy heard we were treating you to a meal and immediately rushed over from the branch restaurant. He said he wanted to personally cook a few extra-nice dishes and have you try some of the new recipes he’s been working on recently."
"That’s wonderful! Serena, we’re in for a real treat today. Your Uncle Raphael has thoroughly mastered the skills passed down from Wyatt’s ancestors. His craftsmanship is truly impeccable. Even I don’t get to eat a full spread of his cooking that easily on a normal day. We really have you to thank for this today."
Hearing him say this, Arabella Donovan grew a bit more curious about this so-called heir to an Imperial Chef. "If he’s cooking personally, shouldn’t we wait for him before we eat?"
"No, no. Raphael just sent someone up to tell us to eat first. He still has a few dishes to prepare, and if we delay too long, these ones will get cold and won’t taste as good."
As she spoke, Madam Foster stood up and personally ladled a bowl of soup for Arabella Donovan. "You’ve been on a plane all day, you must be hungry, right? Have some soup first to warm yourself up."
Arabella Donovan quickly stood up to receive it. After thanking her, she took a sip. It was indeed rich and mellow, the fragrance lingering on her palate. It was better than any soup she had tasted in over a decade!
"Is it good?"
"It’s delicious!"
"If you like it, then have some more."
Although the two elders of the Foster Family were anxious, they didn’t believe in making someone work on an empty stomach. Seeing that the food suited Arabella Donovan’s appetite, they immediately switched into a frantic feeding mode.
By the time Arabella Donovan had eaten her fill, the "Uncle Raphael" who had prepared the table full of exquisite dishes finally appeared in the private room.