The boss was from Wuzhong, and Wuzhong cuisine emphasizes freshness, delicacy, and balance, with dishes that are both beautiful in appearance and taste. So when the sweet osmanthus lotus root, red water chestnut with gorgon fruit, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, and shredded tofu soup in chicken broth were served, they truly delighted the senses in every way.

Brian Foster and Julia Bennett had been hungry for a while and immediately started eating, while Chris Brooks and the restaurant owner smoked at the entrance.

The two of them barely spoke; the owner was a man of few words to begin with, and since he thought Chris Brooks was just a college student, he wasn’t much in the mood for conversation.

Chris Brooks didn’t mind. After finishing his cigarette, he sat down at the table and was momentarily stunned to see that there were only a few dishes left, and the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish was down to just the bones.

Brian Foster nearly swallowed his rice bowl, and Julia Bennett ate a bit more gracefully, but her cheeks were still puffed out, and she looked innocently at Chris Brooks.

She also felt her behavior was a bit rude, but she just couldn’t resist the melt-in-your-mouth fish, so she simply lowered her head and, like Brian Foster, pretended not to notice.

“Was that really necessary?”

Chris Brooks quickly scooped some rice to fill his stomach, and soon the three dishes and one soup on the table were completely gone, with the porcelain bowls so clean they could be used as mirrors.

The food was delicious, but not cheap—156 yuan in total. Brian Foster was secretly shocked; he hadn’t expected it to be so expensive.

Brian Foster wanted to bargain, but Chris Brooks stopped him. This place always charged the real price, and in the future, even these few dishes would cost over a thousand yuan. Besides, some things just can’t be measured by money.

Neither Brian Foster nor Julia Bennett had any intention of splitting the bill. In 2002, this kind of social custom was still rare; they both planned to return the favor next time they treated.

For Chris Brooks, it didn’t matter if they returned the favor or not. He left his luggage at the restaurant and took Brian Foster and Julia Bennett for a stroll around Changshou Lake Park.

Changshou Lake wasn’t actually very big, but after a short walk, Brian Foster started complaining about being tired.

“It’s so close to the train and bus stations. Next time, let’s just come here before heading home,” Brian Foster suggested.

“Stop whining. This is your first time visiting Changshou Lake—maybe even your last,” Chris Brooks said firmly.

He spoke from experience. Chris Brooks had studied in Jianye for four years and worked there for over ten, visiting almost every tourist spot except for Changshou Lake, which he’d never really explored.

At first, he’d thought the same as Brian Foster: just visit before heading home for the holidays. But every time, he ended up rushing to catch a ride, and the only place he really knew was the square across from the bus station. Even this private kitchen was introduced to him by someone else.

Julia Bennett, however, thought it was nice. Changshou Lake was a small inland lake, surrounded by dozens of high-rise buildings and two major transportation hubs.

To have a clear bay of water in such a place, with willows swaying along the embankment and bright lotus flowers blooming here and there, this blend of green and red scenery truly reflected the cultural atmosphere of an ancient capital of the Six Dynasties.

But such daydreams were quickly shattered by reality. Around three in the afternoon, as Chris Brooks and the others were heading to the school to register, a few people approached them near Jianye Train Station.

“Handsome guy, need a place to stay?”

“Pretty lady, want to take a rest?”

“There’s something fun here, handsome—want to check it out?”

...

They weren’t gangsters; Jianye’s public security was much better than in eastern Guangdong. It was just a few women in their fifties holding “accommodation” signs, asking every passerby.

Chris Brooks was walking in front, looking like a tourist with his sunglasses. Young single men like him were prime targets, so the women focused all their attention on Chris Brooks, their words getting more and more suggestive.

“Handsome, our girls are really pretty.”

Julia Bennett blushed, spat in annoyance, and hurried past. It was Brian Foster’s first time encountering something like this. He didn’t have the guts to go himself, but he was curious.

Brian Foster’s thought was: it’d be best if Chris Brooks tried it out and then told him all about it.

Chris Brooks just smiled and politely declined, “Sorry, we’re in a hurry. Please let us through.”

The women couldn’t stop them and had to give up, but they still called out loudly behind them, “Handsome, since you’re traveling, you should have some fun!”

Julia Bennett walked faster and faster, only stopping when they reached the bus stop. Clearly, Jianye Train Station hadn’t left her with a great first impression—though that was also because she lacked much experience with the world.

Here, it was time to part ways again. Brian Foster’s Jianye University of Technology was at the Xianning campus, so he needed to take bus 97, while Julia Bennett and Chris Brooks’s schools were both in Jiangling University Town, directly accessible by bus 137.

“Little Brooks, I’ll come visit you in Jiangling next time.”

Brian Foster waved, his eyes full of reluctance.

“Alright, take care.”

Chris Brooks replied easily. Sooner or later, Brian Foster would become more than familiar with this city.

After seeing Brian Foster off, Chris Brooks turned to Julia Bennett and said, “That annoying third wheel is finally gone. Now it’s just the two of us.”

“Be serious, don’t talk nonsense.”

Julia Bennett was a little embarrassed. Seeing Chris Brooks staring at her—though his sunglasses hid his eyes, it couldn’t be anything good—she added, “And don’t let your mind wander!”

“My mind is wandering on its own, what can I do?” Chris Brooks said with a grin.

“You—”