Chapter 1199: Chapter 1199: Extra Story of the Eel 36

“Would this be considered the best Western restaurant in Shanghai?” Su Man asked.

Lu Yuwen glanced around, “It’s high-end, but not exactly top-tier.”

Su Man looked at him curiously, “Is there something more upscale than this?”

— Because of her family background, she had attended countless banquets since childhood, though primarily Chinese ones, leaving her with limited knowledge of local Western restaurants.

Lu Yuwen pondered for a moment before slowly saying, “If we’re talking about the most premium Western restaurant, it would have to be Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet. You’d need to book a month in advance. It’s the world’s first multi-sensory immersive dining experience. The entire restaurant has only one table and accommodates just ten guests at a time.”

“Only ten guests?” Su Man exclaimed, astonished, “That’s way too few!”

Lu Yuwen chuckled and explained, “At Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, a meal takes five hours, covering twenty dishes paired with fourteen different beverages. There’s even rest time in between courses. There are over thirty staff members serving these ten guests. If the guest count were any higher, the quality of service would inevitably decline.”

Su Man listened, completely flabbergasted. “That’s so over-the-top. I couldn’t possibly sit through a meal for five hours.”

“That’s why it’s called a multi-sensory immersive dining experience,” Lu Yuwen smiled. “It’s less about eating and more about enjoying a theatrical performance—engaging your taste, smell, sight, and hearing for a full-scale, layered experience. If I manage to secure a reservation next time, I’ll take you there.”

Su Man found it exhausting just hearing that and shook her head, “Let’s stick to more normal restaurants…”

Her voice faltered slightly, remembering Yuwen’s purpose for this trip. She then reluctantly added, “But if you want to start a place like that… I could go there with you…”

Lu Yuwen laughed softly, “Don’t worry, the restaurant I want to open won’t have such flashy gimmicks.”

Su Man instantly let out a breath of relief, “I agree. What truly matters in a restaurant is how good the food is. Why bother with all that flashiness? It feels so pretentious.”

“Hmm, a wonderfully grounded perspective. Very nice.” Lu Yuwen gazed at her gently, “Though you misunderstood a little—while the gimmicks might be big, the food is genuinely excellent. The chef behind it is incredibly creative and ambitious, aiming to deliver a unique culinary experience. This approach is akin to an artist pursuing their own innovation. As for me, it’s different…”

He smiled again, speaking in a mild tone, “I’m just a businessman who focuses on maximizing profit. Doesn’t that sound terribly mundane?”

Su Man’s lips curled slightly upward.

She noticed that Lu Yuwen was always like this—polite and composed, never hurried. Even when disagreeing with someone, he would first acknowledge part of their viewpoint before gently presenting his own, maintaining the ambiance without discomforting the listener.

Considering others’ feelings even in his speech—how tender of him.

Good looks, intelligence, a pleasant personality, and a successful career. She couldn’t help but wonder: did Lu Yuwen have any flaws at all?

“Su Man?… Su Man?!”

A male voice suddenly interrupted.

Both Su Man and Lu Yuwen froze and turned to look. Not far away stood a man and woman arm in arm.

The woman had the typical features of an internet celebrity with a graceful figure, while the man wore an eye-piercing zebra-patterned suit. At this moment, he was staring at Su Man with evident shock.

“Oh my, it’s really you!” The man strode over, visibly elated. “I nearly didn’t recognize you!”

Lu Yuwen glanced at the man, “And you are…?”

“Wu Xinghai.” Su Man’s expression turned complicated. “He’s… a friend from my childhood. Haven’t seen him in years.”