Yara Zen opened the door to the private room, and a wave of rich, mouthwatering aromas swept in with the breeze. Several waiters followed, serving the dishes Yara had ordered. There weren't many, but each one was exquisitely prepared. Just the tantalizing scent alone made Shawn Young's fingers twitch with anticipation.
"Hehe—these are all Yung Kee Restaurant's famous signature dishes! Hmm—this one's 'Scrambled Eggs with Shrimp,' 'Traditional Braised Garoupa Tail,' this is 'Lychee Pipa Prawn,' and 'Honey-Glazed Char Siu'—oh, and here are the shrimp dumplings! Everything tastes amazing—" Yara Zen introduced each dish to Shawn Young, her voice full of pride.
"Oh—these shrimp dumplings look great, let me try one—" Shawn Young eyed the steaming basket of translucent dumplings in front of him, his appetite instantly piqued. He grabbed his chopsticks and popped one straight into his mouth.
A burst of hot, savory juice exploded in his mouth. Shawn couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in delight—the dumpling skin was thin, the filling generous, and best of all, it was packed with fresh, fragrant shrimp, coated in a special sauce. The taste was incredible. Starving, Shawn couldn't resist and began wolfing them down, forgetting all about manners.
"Hehe—don't rush, the best dishes are still coming! Don't fill up just yet—" Yara Zen giggled, gently reminding him.
"So good! Honestly, I feel like I could eat a whole cow right now—" Shawn Young shouted, not holding back at all.
Soon, a platter of golden, aromatic roast goose was brought to the table. The presentation was impeccable—bright, glistening slices, and a bowl of clear golden oil on the side. Just looking at it made Shawn's mouth water. As a true 'meat lover,' his eyes lit up. After the waiters set out the dipping sauces, they politely left. Yara Zen introduced, "Look—this is Yung Kee Restaurant's most famous dish, the 'Signature King Roast Goose!'"
"Mmm—the signature dish—I've got to give this a proper taste—" Shawn Young declared enthusiastically.
"Hehe—Master, let me feed you! This is the best way to enjoy roast goose—" Yara Zen giggled, picking up a piece of goose, dipping it in the sauce, and gently bringing it to Shawn's mouth.
Enjoying the beauty's attentive service, Shawn Young took a big bite—sure enough, the flavor was rich and savory, lingering on his palate. The combination of crispy goose skin and tender, fragrant meat was truly worthy of its reputation. Shawn couldn't help but praise it, "Hehe—this roast goose is fantastic! If I ever settle down in Hong Kong, I'll definitely come here often!"
"Hehe—Master, Hong Kong is famous worldwide as a food paradise. Every street and alley on the island is packed with all kinds of delicacies. Even the smallest corner shop has its own signature dish and preserves authentic flavors. That's part of Hong Kong's charm! So don't fill up yet, okay? Later, I'll take you to try some famous local desserts! Dessert after a meal is a true Hong Kong tradition. Everyone here loves sweets—young and old alike! These days, dessert buffets are all the rage, with shops packed day and night. Tasting desserts has become a way of life here—" Yara Zen explained with a smile.
"Oh! Sounds good, I'll go with the local custom! Hehe—" Shawn Young's eyes lit up. After all, no one can resist good food, and as a Southerner, Shawn loved sweets. He'd long heard about Hong Kong's famous desserts, especially how they're the best in the region.
"Hehe—Master, honestly, having dessert after a meal is totally my thing, too! That's why Hong Kong is my favorite city—" Yara Zen giggled.
After their meal at Yung Kee Restaurant, both were about seventy percent full. By now, it was past 9 PM, so they paid the bill and left. Once they picked up the car, Yara Zen led Shawn Young straight to Tai Leung Eight, a famous dessert shop at 9 Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok. Its bright yellow and red sign was eye-catching—the four golden characters "Tai Leung Eight" stood out, with another eight bold red characters below: "Dessert Expert, Dim Sum King."
"Hehe, Tai Leung Eight is one of Hong Kong's oldest and most authentic dessert shops. It's ranked among the top ten in the city, and I'm a loyal fan!" Yara Zen giggled, her excitement obvious. Shawn could tell she loved sweets. No wonder people say girls always find room for dessert—no matter how full they are! It's not entirely true, but faced with the allure of sweets, most women just can't resist.
They found a parking spot, and Yara Zen affectionately linked arms with Shawn Young as they walked into Tai Leung Eight. The shop was clean and bright, bustling with people. It was midsummer, and Shawn noticed that besides the Cantonese-speaking locals, there were also many short-statured patrons chattering excitedly over desserts—in Japanese, no less.
"Hmm? Japanese people like sweets this much too?" Shawn Young asked, curious.
"Yep—Japanese folks are pretty savvy, and their tastes are famously picky. But once they approve of something, they'll become loyal fans. Some Japanese customers are just like me—regulars here!" Yara Zen explained.
As they chatted, three men from one of the Japanese tables stood up and walked over. The first was a handsome young Japanese man in his twenties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He approached Yara Zen directly.
The Japanese man looked at the lovely Yara Zen, a sly grin on his lips and a flash of greed in his eyes. He barely glanced at Shawn Young, clearly not seeing him as a threat. Adjusting his glasses, he greeted Yara in awkward Cantonese, "Hi—Manager Zen, what a surprise to meet you here! Life is full of coincidences, isn't it? Looks like we really are destined to cross paths!"
"Oh—hello! Mr. Yamada, you do love to joke. We've only met twice, right? So, what brings you here for dessert tonight?" Yara Zen replied politely, all the while clinging to Shawn Young's arm and snuggling close to him.
Mr. Yamada noticed this and was clearly annoyed. He shot a quick, fierce look at Shawn Young before forcing a smile and asked Yara Zen, "Hehe—Manager Zen, and who is this gentleman beside you?"
"Oh—this is Shawn Young—he's my—my man! Yes, he's my man!" Yara Zen's cheeks flushed, but she declared it firmly, making sure Mr. Yamada understood.