That thought flashed by and was quickly set aside by the Mo Family heiress, Sophie Mo.
She really didn't want to doubt her childhood friend, someone she'd grown up with.
Especially someone who had silently cared for her for more than twenty years.
Sophie Mo quickly went downstairs. As soon as she entered the hall, she saw David Zhou sitting leisurely on the sofa, sipping tea.
It was as if he had come here just to drink tea.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Sophie Mo said, walking over quickly.
"Not at all, I was just early," David Zhou replied with a smile. "Unlike my older brother, who has to inherit the family business and is always busy. Being the second son of the Zhou Family is much more comfortable than being the eldest. So, is there anything you especially want to eat? If not, I'll make the arrangements."
"Alright, you decide," replied the Mo Family heiress, Sophie Mo, with a smile.
"It's my pleasure," David Zhou said, his face full of joy.
David Zhou picked a really lively spot—a famous pedestrian street in Newport City.
Newport City has three pedestrian streets, and one of them is packed with every kind of food from all over the country.
Lots of food lovers come here, even if it means traveling far, just to eat their fill.
So, when it’s mealtime, this place is especially crowded.
Almost every shop here is packed to the brim.
As Miss Mo, Sophie usually picks quiet, elegant spots to eat, chatting comfortably with friends over delicate dishes. She rarely comes to such a down-to-earth place.
But you have to admit, the popularity of these affordable restaurants is unmatched—they really get your appetite going.
Even Sophie Mo, who wasn’t feeling hungry, started to crave something just from the smell of street food.
"Today I’m taking you somewhere real local," David Zhou said as he got out of the car, naturally taking Sophie’s hand, looking worried someone might bump into her.
Sophie hesitated just a little, then let David Zhou hold her hand.
She also wanted to know if David Zhou was the one pulling the strings.
The protectors sent by the Mo Family quickly blended into the crowd, keeping a steady pace as they watched over Sophie.
Feeling safe, Sophie followed David Zhou boldly, walking straight ahead.
They crossed a street corner, turned this way and that, and finally ducked into a small alley where there were way fewer people than on the main street.
"This is the spot," David Zhou said with a playful grin. "This is a famous internet restaurant—people actually fly here just to check in and eat."
"Japanese ramen?" Sophie looked up at the sign and said helplessly, "We have a Japanese chef at home, and our ramen is pretty authentic."
"No, no, no. If it’s too authentic, it’s not as tasty. The whole point is that it’s not authentic," David Zhou laughed. "Trust me! My family’s in the food business—we know better than anyone what flavors suit us locals."
"Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you," Sophie said with a laugh. "You’re in charge today."
As soon as they walked in, two pretty girls in maid outfits greeted them in Japanese: "Welcome home, Master! What flavor of ramen would you like tonight?"
"Wow, maid costumes?" Sophie laughed, glancing at David Zhou. "You sure know how to have fun."
David Zhou replied, a bit embarrassed, "It’s a chain restaurant—over a hundred branches worldwide, all with the same decor and service style. The main store’s in Osaka, so…"
"Alright, alright, I get it," Sophie Mo couldn’t help but laugh, then turned and answered the two cute girls in Japanese: "We’ll take a look first before we decide."
The two girls enthusiastically led them inside.
Soon, a very handsome young man came out to greet them: "Welcome, Masters. I’m your server, here to help you order. Please follow me—I’ll assist you throughout the process."
"Thank you." Sophie Mo was always more tolerant of good-looking people, especially this young man—he was just adorable.
"You’re welcome, beautiful Master." The young man blushed a little when he saw Sophie—he’d never served such an elegant and lovely guest before.
"Here are the ramen options. You can choose small, medium, or large portions, and here are the toppings—you can pick what you like. These are the side dishes, and these are the different soup bases..." The young man gave a thorough introduction, and whenever Sophie lingered on a dish for more than three seconds, he’d give a detailed explanation.
His voice was especially pleasant, and his explanations were thorough.
Sophie started to understand why this restaurant was so popular.
Food and beauty go hand in hand.
Everyone loves beautiful things.
Even if the food was just average, having such a cute server made it all worthwhile!
Who says you always have to eat at Michelin-starred restaurants or fancy hotels?
"Then you recommend something for me," Sophie said with a smile. "It’s my first time here, so I’m not familiar with the menu."
"Of course, Master." The young man’s ears turned even redder as he quickly pressed a few buttons, picking out some side dishes and soup for Sophie. "This should be enough for the two of you, but if you want more, you can always order again."
"Thanks for the recommendation." Sophie glanced at the young man’s nametag and memorized his employee number.
After they finished ordering, another server politely led them to the dining hall up front.
The small dining hall had over twenty tables, and the space was packed.
But the layout was clever—it didn’t feel crowded at all.
Really thoughtful design.
Sophie sat down, and a server immediately brought over some tea.
"This is pretty interesting," Sophie said to David Zhou. "I like it, even if it’s a bit crowded."
"Eating should be lively!" David Zhou replied with a smile. "If you always go to those quiet, fancy restaurants, eventually you lose your appetite. Sometimes it’s nice to come to a bustling little place like this and watch all kinds of people."
"True." Sophie nodded. "Next time, I’ll bring Cici, Rona, and Morgan. I bet they’d like it too."
"You can tell you’re all really close," David Zhou sighed. "I’m honestly a bit jealous!"
Sophie smiled. "Yeah, we are."
While they were chatting, the ramen and side dishes were served.
Sophie glanced at the other diners and, just like them, didn’t worry about order or manners—she dumped all her favorite toppings into her ramen bowl.
She took a bite and was surprised—it was actually pretty good.
Sophie kept eating, nodding as she went.
"If you like it, have some more," David Zhou said, using the serving chopsticks to add several slices of beef to Sophie’s bowl. "You have to eat it with the beef."
"Okay." Sophie let go of her heiress airs and, just like an ordinary citizen, slurped down the whole bowl.
"So satisfying!" Sophie wiped her mouth, feeling content. "I haven’t eaten this happily in ages!"
"I’m glad you enjoyed it," David Zhou said, his eyes full of satisfaction.
After dinner, the two of them kept strolling along the pedestrian street.
David Zhou would buy Sophie all sorts of snacks from the street vendors, though she just held them and didn’t eat any more.
David Zhou didn’t mind—he just kept buying.
The way they wandered the streets looked just like a couple in love.
When they reached the parking lot, Sophie finally spoke up: "The King family’s been pretty lively lately. Who do you think is behind all this?"
"You’re not suspecting me, are you? Do you really think I could pull it off?" David Zhou was sharp, and jumped right into the topic. "If I could, I wouldn’t have let you marry Julian King in the first place."
"True," Sophie laughed, changing the subject. "I had a great time tonight—thanks for the treat."