Chapter 42: Dinner Plans

Evening

The snack street blazed with light, the moon's glow barely discernible beneath the blaze of myriad lanterns.

Crowds surged through the narrow street, their flow like clogged waterways, desperate to move forward but hopelessly congested. This bustling scene was proof of the market's immense popularity—genuine, organic demand, not the manufactured hype of trendy online shops.

The market's success stemmed from its comprehensive array of exceptional snacks and restaurants.

This was precisely where Shi Lei and the others had arranged to meet.

"Wow, this looks amazing!" The two casually strolled through the market, waiting for their agreed-upon dinner time. Unfamiliar with the area, they had arrived early to explore.

They ordered a salad, which proved surprisingly delicious. Still, they couldn't help but wonder what the "Cerydra Salad" from the game truly tasted like.

As they walked, Ke Lu discreetly observed her surroundings. The prickling sensation of being watched had persisted ever since they entered the area.

Someone was monitoring them, Ke Lu was certain.

The question remained: Was this surveillance a general measure by the managers of the secret realm, or was it specifically targeted at the two of them?

Unbeknownst to them, high atop a nearby restaurant, a discussion about them was underway.

"Your Highness," a middle-aged man said, bowing. His gaze followed Ke Lu and Su Rou's path. "According to our investigation, that is Ke Lu."

"However..." The man dared not breathe deeply. "Her past seems to have been deliberately concealed. We couldn't uncover any useful information."

"The same is true for the girl beside her, named Su Rou."

"Understood," the youth addressed as "Your Highness" replied. "What about the events in the 'Lost Woods'?"

The middle-aged man gestured to the servants behind him to bring forward the items, then continued, "The Secret Realm incident was recent and nearby, making it easier to investigate. Though also concealed, faint traces still remain."

He accepted the offered items from a servant and presented them with both hands. "This incident bears the mark of the Divine Radiance Knight Order."

The youth tapped rhythmically on the windowsill, his gaze finally lifting from the street below. "It seems it's time to make contact with this new classmate."

He turned, his pristine school uniform somehow appearing both ordinary and even slightly unfashionable.

Yet his inherent charisma elevated the plain uniform, making it seem sophisticated and refined.

"Shi Lei and the others seem to have a dinner appointment today," he murmured softly.

He pushed open the door, descended the stairs, and got into the car with fluid, practiced movements.

Time drifted by, measured by the soft ticking of the minute hand. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the agreed-upon restaurant.

Using their phones for navigation, the pair skillfully navigated the bustling traffic and pinpointed their destination.

"This is it—Tian Ji Restaurant," Su Rou confirmed, checking the sign above the entrance. Satisfied, she pushed open the door and took in the scene inside.

The restaurant was impeccably clean, with spotless windows that offered a clear view of the street scene outside, creating a charming interplay between the interior and exterior.

Through the pristine glass partitions, they could see the immaculate kitchen area. Fresh, vibrant produce was neatly arranged, with not a single wilted leaf in sight, and the meat displayed a rich, rosy hue, radiating freshness. Every detail spoke volumes about the restaurant's uncompromising commitment to hygiene.

The tables and chairs were arranged in an orderly manner, providing diners with both privacy and a sense of spaciousness. The overall ambiance was immediately comforting.

Su Rou couldn't help but remark, "This place is actually quite nice."

As soon as they entered, the restaurant boss waved them over. "You must be Xiao Qiu's classmates. I've seen your photos. Xiao Tian and the others are in private room 203 upstairs."

"Thank you, Uncle," the two girls said, heading upstairs. They quickly found their private room by following the room numbers.

"Hey, you're here!" The five boys at the table had already tossed various vegetables and meats into the hot pot, with several small side dishes arranged on the table.

Swept up in the lively atmosphere, the girls sat down and joined the feast.

At a classmates' gathering, there were no rules.

Among the five boys, Shi Lei and Bai Yu were natural conversationalists, instantly warming up the atmosphere at the table.

Suddenly, Shi Lei's phone buzzed insistently. He checked the screen, his expression turning slightly awkward.

"Um..." Shi Lei unconsciously rubbed his Demon Horn with his fingertip. "My boss, Gu Yunfan, happens to be here today and asked if he could join our table. He said it would be a good chance to meet the two new classmates."

Shi Lei paused, then added, "Of course, it's just a suggestion. If you two aren't comfortable, we can politely decline."

Su Rou recognized the name. "Isn't he the second-highest scorer on the recent theoretical exam? I don't think he's in Class 8."

"Yeah," Shi Lei confirmed.

Su Rou glanced at Ke Lu, her eyes filled with curiosity. "I don't mind. What about you?"

Ke Lu took a small sip of her drink.

Meeting Gu Yunfan was inevitable. With a System quest hanging over her head, avoiding him wasn't an option.

Seeking him out herself would lack a plausible reason and put her on the defensive, hindering her efforts to gather useful information. His proactive approach was the perfect opportunity she had been hoping for.

She set down her glass, its base clinking crisply against the table. "Of course," she replied.

Soon after, a young man knocked on the private room's door.

As he entered, his face came into view, revealing a figure of elegant refinement and striking features. Even Ke Lu couldn't help but glance at him more than once.

"Hello everyone," Gu Yunfan greeted in a clear, pleasant voice. "Nice to meet you, new classmates. I hope we'll get along well."

After the initial pleasantries, the meal proceeded as usual.

Ke Lu didn't rush into conversation. Firstly, she wasn't the type to strike up conversations easily. Secondly, on their first meeting, it was best to simply become familiar with each other and gradually build rapport.

Despite Gu Yunfan's presence, the atmosphere at the table didn't become awkward; in fact, it became even more convivial.

Ke Lu noticed how adept Gu Yunfan was at storytelling, making even mundane topics captivating and intriguing. Combined with his handsome face, it was clear he could easily fit in anywhere.

Most people would immediately take a liking to him, perceiving him as approachable and easy to get along with.

However, Ke Lu wasn't one of them.

Gu Yunfan's performance still showed some immaturity.

Ke Lu gazed at Gu Yunfan, focusing on the core surrounded by countless particles—his soul.

A remarkably resilient soul, Ke Lu observed.

Yet deep within that soul swirled a vortex as black as spilled ink—suppressed, profound, and far from the amiable surface he presented. Ke Lu withdrew her gaze and continued eating.

The first round of hotpot ingredients was quickly devoured. Several diners, still hungry, requested another pot of broth.

As their own establishment, Tian Qiu saw the growing crowd and went to the kitchen to help carry dishes. In a moment of carelessness, he burned his fingers on a scalding pot.

"Ssss—" He hissed, nearly dropping the pot.

As a Support Class cultivator with his current Power Level, his physical abilities were roughly on par with an ordinary person.

Bai Yu, who was closest, swiftly took the pot from him, while Ma Fei immediately rose to find the first-aid kit.

Shi Lei frowned. "Being this clumsy in your own shop?"

Tian Qiu grinned sheepishly, his burned fingers reddening slightly.

"Let me handle this," Su Rou said without hesitation. With a gentle tap of her fingertip, a soft Healing Spell landed on Tian Qiu's burned fingers. The swelling visibly receded, and the pain vanished almost instantly.

"Ha, having a Healer Class around really makes you feel safe and secure!" Tian Qiu flexed his fully healed fingers, grinning widely. "Too bad our team doesn't have one."

The group laughed and chatted, dismissing the minor incident without much thought.

Except for Ke Lu and Gu Yunfan.

The sound... something's off, Ke Lu thought.

After becoming the Lord of the Secret Realm, it wasn't just her "vision" that had undergone a qualitative change; all five of her senses had been greatly enhanced.

Moreover, having broken through to the Experienced Tier, the enhancements to every aspect of her abilities were impossible to ignore.

Combined with her heightened focus on System quest-related characters, she had detected an anomaly.

Just moments ago, in this very room, someone's breathing had suddenly quickened, and their heartbeat had accelerated.

It was Gu Yunfan.

While the others had shown initial signs of concern when Tian Qiu was injured, Gu Yunfan hadn't.

Soon, the others' conditions returned to normal.

But after Su Rou cast her healing skill, Gu Yunfan's physiological reactions became abnormal.

Ke Lu lowered her eyes, subtly scanning the surroundings.

His pupils were slightly constricted, and his muscles were somewhat tense.

These are signs of nervousness and excitement, Ke Lu analyzed.

But why?