Grace Bennett was just thinking that two versus two made a perfect group of four, when she saw Ethan Bennett and Brian Young appear at the entrance of the alley with their other two dorm mates, the four of them looking around curiously. Grace Bennett had deliberately set the meeting time quite late, and by now the four were so hungry their eyes were gleaming like wolves, barely able to muster any energy.

But the dilapidated alley still made the four secretly uneasy. Eric Brooks muttered, “It can’t be here, this isn’t a place to eat, even a pigsty wouldn’t look like this!”

David Thompson looked around and said, “But it seems like this is the only alley at the south gate.”

Just as they were feeling confused, Grace Bennett’s voice came from deep within the alley: “What are you doing! Come in!”

The four had nothing to say, and could only tiptoe cautiously inside. They all kept shaking their heads, unable to connect such a shabby, dirty place with a pretty girl.

Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: The Clash at the Dinner Table

The alley had already shocked the four, and the restaurant inside made them feel even more unsteady. Ethan Bennett took one look at Grace Bennett’s smug expression and knew she had done this on purpose. Not to be outdone, he straightened his back and walked right in, putting on his signature “I didn’t see anything” face.

Brian Young and the other two wanted to back out, but thinking of the girls, they just couldn’t bring themselves to leave. Grace Bennett had already said on the phone that she’d bring her dorm mates. With that in mind, the three seemed to make some major decision and strode inside.

Grace Bennett followed behind them with a beaming smile. Looking around the room, the four saw a girl sitting nervously at a table in the corner, her face somewhat familiar. They looked back at Grace Bennett, who cheerfully pointed at the table and said, “Sit down, don’t be shy.” She was clearly very pleased with the effect the alley and restaurant had produced.

Brian Young asked suspiciously, “Didn’t you say all your dorm mates were coming?”

“Oh, two of them had something come up at the last minute, they’re not coming.” Grace Bennett lied without missing a beat. Of course, she couldn’t admit that what she’d planned to use to scare the others had actually scared off her own friends.

Brian Young and the other two immediately felt disappointed. It was supposed to be four versus four, but now two of them would have to sit alone.

The owner probably hadn’t seen so many customers in ages, and excitedly brought over the menus himself. The greasy menus left a fingerprint with every touch, making all six of them shudder again, mentally equating the dishes with the state of the menu. In their hearts, they were all thinking, “It’s not too late to leave now.”

But in the end, all six stayed. Since everyone avoided the menu like the plague, the host Grace Bennett had to order. Grace Bennett also wanted the menu as far away from herself as possible, so she pointed at random. Then she grinned at the four and said, “I’ve already ordered drinks for you.”

Eric Brooks quickly said, “I don’t drink.”

Grace Bennett smiled sweetly and said, “What guy doesn’t drink?”

Eric Brooks was stunned, and blurted out, “Then I’ll have a little!”

Ethan Bennett and the other two all thought to themselves, “Spineless.”

After that, Grace Bennett waved her hand, and the owner personally brought over a case of beer. Ethan Bennett saw there were twelve bottles in a case—if the girls didn’t drink, that was only three bottles per person, still within his limits. He couldn’t help but smile with relief. But Grace Bennett noticed everything, immediately guessed what Ethan Bennett was thinking, and quickly waved to the owner again. The owner hesitated, but Grace Bennett nodded seriously, so he brought over another case without a word.

Ethan Bennett and the other three acted nonchalant on the surface, but inside they were wailing, wondering if they’d be going home upright or carried out tonight.

Under Grace Bennett’s watchful gaze, the four grimaced and each downed a glass.

Grace Bennett chuckled, poured herself a glass, and muttered, “I’ll drink a little with you!” Then she took a tiny sip, made an even more exaggerated face than the four guys, and complained, “Beer is so gross!”

The four were speechless.

They were the only customers in the little restaurant, and soon the dishes started arriving one by one. The food looked no different from anywhere else, but because of their first impressions, everyone couldn’t help but associate the food with the alley outside, the greasy menu, and the flies buzzing everywhere.

All six silently chanted the motto “A little dirt won’t kill you,” but no one dared to be the first to pick up their chopsticks.

Brian Young’s eyes suddenly lit up. He raised his chopsticks high, and under everyone’s gaze, picked up a braised chicken wing. With a flick of his wrist, the chicken wing landed in the bowl of the girl next to him, and he smiled flirtatiously, “Here, eat more.”

The girl was startled and quickly said, “I’ll do it myself,” but Brian Young had already, in a flash, filled her bowl with a sample of every dish on the table. The empty bowl in front of her was now piled into a pyramid of food, while Brian Young grinned mischievously on the side.

Ethan Bennett suddenly realized: if you give the food to others, you’ll have less to eat yourself!

No sooner thought than done, Ethan Bennett made two quick moves with his right hand, and Grace Bennett’s bowl now had two extra helpings.

But Grace Bennett was just as quick to react, and more importantly, she was nothing like her reserved dorm mate. She immediately rolled up her sleeves and, in no time, returned three helpings to Ethan Bennett. The two exchanged several rounds, and soon both of their bowls were piled high.