CHAPTER 511: CHAPTER 511: GETTING BETTER AND BETTER

Flora Lane had been to high-end restaurants like this before, so she shouldn’t have felt so self-conscious, but her confidence seemed to mysteriously vanish whenever she was around Lucian Quinn.

Today’s outfit was also chosen after trying on several others back in the dorm.

"Have a look at the menu, I’m not too familiar with your preferences yet." Lucian said, handing the menu he just received from the waiter to Flora.

Flora smiled awkwardly, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and opened the menu in her hands.

Seeing the strange and exotic dish names on the menu, she couldn’t help but furrow her brows slightly.

Noticing her puzzled look, Lucian explained with a gentle laugh, "They’re just regular dishes, the owner of the restaurant just gave them fancy names. Just look at the pictures and don’t worry about the names."

Flora dryly laughed and nodded, "...Oh, okay."

After flipping through a few pages, Flora couldn’t decide. She loved cold century eggs and stir-fried shredded potatoes, and when she went out to eat with Audrey and the others, these were must-orders. However, ordering a plate of stir-fried shredded potatoes here might seem low-class, and she feared Lucian would look down on her. After some thought, Flora handed the menu back to Lucian, saying, "...Why don’t you order? You come here often, so you’re more familiar with their specialties."

Lucian nodded and didn’t refuse, asking her casually, "Is there anything you particularly like?"

Flora: "I’m okay with anything, not picky."

Lucian asked again, "Do you eat spicy food?"

Flora: "I do."

Lucian paused flipping through the menu, looked up at her and asked, "Very spicy or just moderate?"

Flora smiled and said, "The spicier, the better."

Lucian chuckled, "Then I know what to order."

Seeing his expression, Flora’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

It felt like he had some kind of special magic that always managed to make her heart flutter unconsciously.

She never denied his looks, but she hadn’t had a chance to observe him this closely.

Indeed, she had no reason to reject him because he completely exceeded her criteria for an ideal partner.

"Mor, why didn’t your brother come today?" A man wearing a manager’s badge walked over and greeted Lucian.

Lucian glanced at him and replied with a smile, "He has something to do."

The manager glanced at Flora, who was sitting opposite Lucian, and with a hint of curiosity in his smile, said, "And who is this young lady?"

Flora was startled for a moment, then heard Lucian confidently introduce, "My girlfriend."

The manager raised an eyebrow in surprise, "You lucky devil, such a beautiful girlfriend and you didn’t bring her earlier."

Lucian smiled and didn’t explain, handed the menu with the selections to the manager, and asked Flora, "Wine or soft drinks?"

Flora opened her mouth but hadn’t answered yet when Lucian continued, "Better stick to soft drinks; girls should drink less alcohol."

Flora, although she could hold her alcohol well, felt that she should still be a bit reserved in front of her new boyfriend. Even without Lucian’s suggestion, she would have chosen a soft drink, wanting to leave a good impression on him.

She hoped she wouldn’t end up like Seraphina and the others said, where after spending time together, Lucian would discover her many flaws and then kick her to the curb.

Though Flora talked indifferently about being okay with breaking up, she hoped she could continue being liked by Lucian. Otherwise, getting dumped would really be a blow to her pride.

The manager, after glancing at the menu, puzzledly asked Mor, "I thought you didn’t eat spicy food? Why order a spicy pot?"

Lucian laughed, "Isn’t it one of your specialties? I’ve been here so many times and never tried it, so I thought I’d give it a taste."

The manager smiled, "Then I’ll ask the kitchen to tone down the spiciness."

Lucian: "No need, the spicier, the better."

Manager: "Alright, just don’t come complaining to me later."

After the manager walked away, Flora apologetically said, "You don’t eat spicy food?"

Lucian: "I don’t eat it often, but I feel like trying it now and then."

Flora could tell Lucian was accommodating her taste: "Actually, it’s okay whether I eat spicy food or not. For someone who doesn’t eat spicy, it can upset your stomach if it’s too spicy. Maybe we should change the dish."

Lucian smiled softly, "It’s fine, I should get used to it sooner or later. Since I have a girlfriend who loves spicy food, how can I not learn to eat it? What, are we supposed to cook two separate dishes in the future?"

Flora suddenly froze, her heart racing uncontrollably, filled with daydreams by Lucian’s mention of "in the future."

Moreover, he, someone who didn’t eat spicy food, was willing to learn it for her without a second thought and spoke so casually about it. She had never met a man willing to do so much for her.

But having encountered too many insincere men, Flora still maintained a level of skepticism towards Lucian.

She feared that his thoughtful and considerate manner might change after some time.

"Is your cold getting better?"

Flora blinked, then just went along with her lie, laughing awkwardly, "Much better."

Lucian: "You seem to be dressed lightly. It’s cold these days, so wear more clothes when you go out."

Flora nodded with a smile, lifting a warm cup of tea from the table to her lips.

She didn’t have the heart to say she’d dressed less warmly because she didn’t want to appear too bundled up for the date.

After standing outside in the cold wind for so long, she felt she might actually need the cold medicine Lucian had given her later.

Lucian didn’t usually talk much, whereas Flora typically loved to chatter.

But today the roles were reversed; Lucian was the one continuously finding topics to discuss, while Flora remained reserved and couldn’t completely relax in front of him.

After sitting at the table, Flora realized he really couldn’t handle spicy food. After just one bite, he drank a large glass of water.

His face reddened from the spiciness, yet he maintained a calm facade, as if not wanting her to notice.

Flora didn’t expose his feigned composure; she just found this side of him unexpectedly adorable.

Audrey Sutton and Shane Warner walked out of the hot pot restaurant, and Audrey said she was too full to take a cab, worried that she’d get car sick and throw up, so she wanted to walk home.

Shane also thought some exercise would do her good, so he took her hand and strolled leisurely down the street, heading home.

"Honey..."

"Hmm?"

Audrey turned her head to look at him, smiling with pursed lips without saying anything.

Shane asked again, "What’s up?"

Audrey squinting her eyes with a smile, clutched his arm tighter, and said sweetly, "I like you."

Shane chuckled, gently tapping her on the head, feeling delighted inside but jokingly complained, "Why have you become so syrupy now?"