Chapter 112: A Straight Man’s Method

Although she failed to record it, Han Jiayi was satisfied today: she had finally heard Lao Bai sing!

"You really are something..." She glanced at Bai Renzong and said irritably, "You sing so well, why don't you ever do it at home? You only ever sing on the sly when there's no one around..."

"How do you know I sing on the sly?" Bai Renzong hit the nail on the head with his question.

"I, well, it's just..." Han Jiayi stammered, then decided to shift the blame. "Xiaobei told me. She said she overheard you singing while you were washing dishes once, and that you sounded really good..."

"That girl! Always so sneaky! I have to find a chance to teach her a lesson!" Bai Renzong said indignantly.

*Sorry, Xiaobei, I'll find a way to make it up to you...* Han Jiayi thought anxiously to herself, biting her lip.

The restaurant they planned to visit today was called "Huiyu," a Chinese establishment, and it counted as one of their private food-review outings.

The place had been recommended by a fan who lived next door to it. It wasn't particularly famous, but it had a certain level of quality, with an average cost of 260 yuan per person.

Bai Renzong was using this visit to test his own understanding of Chinese cuisine. After all, he wasn't a chef; he could identify flavors and the level of heat used, but he didn't always know the specific techniques behind them.

Chinese cooking methods were too numerous and complex; he still needed time to learn and accumulate professional knowledge.

After sitting down in the restaurant, Bai Renzong grabbed the menu, took a quick look, and said, "Let's get a few of your signature dishes. The Braised Lion's Head Meatballs, the Pine Nut Corn, and the West Lake Vinegar Fish..."

At this point, he looked at Han Jiayi and handed her the menu. "You pick two more."

"Actually, I think that's enough. Let's just add a snack, something with a stronger flavor..." Han Jiayi scanned the menu. "How about the Dry-Fried Lotus Root Strips? And let's add a serving of rice."

While waiting for the food, Bai Renzong didn't know where to look. He stole a glance at Han Jiayi, only to find her staring right back at him, so he quickly shifted his gaze.

Both of them remembered the telepathic connection they had felt during the singing earlier, and their hearts began to race.

"Recently, some fans have said our reviews are too monotonous. Once we have more of a budget, we'll have to visit some higher-end restaurants," Bai Renzong said, trying to strike up a conversation.

"Ye-yes, actually, there are many high-end Chinese restaurants in the country, with many averaging over a thousand yuan..." Han Jiayi nodded, their gazes wandering aimlessly.

It wasn't until the food arrived that they both finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Let's try it," Bai Renzong said, looking at the dishes before him.

First was the Braised Lion's Head. A fist-sized meatball sat in chicken broth, round and plump.

"There's only one?" Bai Renzong rolled his eyes. "They charged me over seventy for this; I'd better see if it's worth it."

"It's fine to just split it," Han Jiayi said, using her chopsticks to cut the meatball in two.

They each took a bite, followed by a moment of silence.

"How should I put it..." Bai Renzong frowned. "Chicken broth base, water chestnuts and shiitake mushrooms in the meat, fried then braised... It's standard, like someone copied a textbook answer. You can't say it's bad—it's technically flawless—but you can't say it's good either, because every aspect of it is so uninspired..."

"Mm..." Han Jiayi nodded. "That's how I feel too."

They then turned their attention to the Pine Nut Corn, a specialty of the house.

"First of all, they're generous with the ingredients," Bai Renzong noted. "Plenty of pine nuts, so it lives up to the fifty-plus price tag. Let's taste it..."

He took a spoonful and ate it, then tilted his head in thought. "Not bad. They added a touch of sesame oil to boost the aroma, which really brings out the fragrance of the pine nuts. It's a very light, pleasant dish."

Next came the West Lake Vinegar Fish, a dish Bai Renzong had done his homework on.

"I've heard that authentic West Lake Vinegar Fish should be perfectly balanced—sour, sweet, salty, and savory. None of those flavors should overpower the others, and when you eat it, you should be able to taste the flavor of crab," Bai Renzong said with interest. "Let's try it."

After one bite, his expression turned serious. "It does have those four flavors, but... I think the sweetness is a bit heavy, and I don't taste any crab. Is my sense of taste too sensitive?"

"I still think there's something reminiscent of crab in it..." Han Jiayi replied. "It's like... that feeling of crab dipping sauce, don't you think? The kind made with scallions, ginger, and garlic."

Bai Renzong thought about it and shrugged. "If you put it that way, it is a bit similar... but that's not the taste of the crab itself."

"But these Dry-Fried Lotus Root Strips are really good, aren't they?" Han Jiayi said with a happy smile. "The lotus root flavor is so rich, it's very fragrant, and it's not fried too crisp, so you can still taste the texture of the root."

"True, they're actually quite good..." Bai Renzong tasted one and nodded.

His final verdict on the restaurant was: adequate.

The quality of the dishes had room for improvement. At least the materials were fine—the fish was fresh, the meat wasn't frozen, and the techniques were authentic—but there was nothing unique about it.

Among the heavy meat dishes, it was the small side dish of Dry-Fried Lotus Root Strips that left the deepest impression.

After the meal, the two went to the cinema to watch a movie.

"Popcorn?" Bai Renzong asked, turning to Han Jiayi.

Han Jiayi paused, perhaps recalling the time she had to go to the bathroom during their last movie, and turned her head away with a pout. "No!"

"Well, I guess that bridge is burned," Bai Renzong joked.

After queuing and entering the theater, the movie began.

"Luo Xiaohei in cat form is so cute..." Han Jiayi laughed, cupping her hands.

"Yeah, domestic animation is slowly starting to rise," Bai Renzong replied distractedly, while his mind raced: *Should I tell her now? Should I do it at the restaurant or wait until we get home? No, confessing at home would be too weird. I'll find a restaurant with a better atmosphere...*

After the movie, because he had something to say, Bai Renzong specifically chose a quiet and romantic restaurant and found an empty corner to sit in.

The restaurant was playing the saxophone theme from *Ghost*, and the warm lighting and decor made them relax involuntarily.

Neither of them knew what to say, so a silence fell over the table.

Bai Renzong looked at Han Jiayi. She was leaning against the sofa, her languid posture like a cat basking in the sun.

He felt his heart race, and blood rushed to his head.

"Um, Jiayi..." Bai Renzong cleared his throat and called out, sounding very serious.

"Hmm?" Han Jiayi, who was sipping lemon water, widened her beautiful eyes and looked at him curiously.

"What did you think of... these two blind dates?" Bai Renzong tried his best not to appear too stiff.

"It, it was pretty good..." Han Jiayi gave a start, suddenly feeling panicked. *Why is he asking that?*

"Then..." Bai Renzong stammered for a moment. "What do you say, should we try dating? I feel pretty good about you too. Both your appearance and your personality are exactly to my taste."

"Huh?!" Han Jiayi froze, staring at him in astonishment, her mind a mess. *What did the critic Bai just say to me? Did he say the word "dating"?!*

Seeing her stunned, Bai Renzong added, "Of course, just trying it out. If we feel it's right, we can continue. If not, we can go back to the way things are, and it won't affect our work... What do you think?"

Han Jiayi sat there, stunned, trying to process it: *Did he—did he just confess to me?! He wants to date me?*

As she thought about it, her mind gradually went blank.

Seeing her sitting there in a daze, Bai Renzong sighed, then stared at her with unprecedented seriousness. He spoke quickly: "Jiayi, I like you. Let's date."

"!" Han Jiayi finally came back to her senses, feeling a mix of laughter and tears.

On one hand, she felt helpless. Bai Renzong's rational declaration of dating, combined with this timing and setting...

*At least buy a bouquet of flowers! Or coordinate with the waiter to give me a surprise! Such a dense guy!*

But on the other hand, she was very happy: *He feels the same way about me!*

At that moment, she felt a sense of happiness expanding in her chest like a balloon, making her feel as if she were floating.

Subconsciously, Han Jiayi wanted to agree, but then she suddenly remembered something.

"Um," Han Jiayi nervously smoothed her hair and turned her head away. "Can, can you give me a few days to think about it before I give you an answer?"

Bai Renzong's heart sank instantly, and he felt as though he were about to be rejected.

But Han Jiayi quickly added, "No, it's not that I'm thinking of how to reject you! Definitely not! It's just, it's all so sudden, and... I, I want, a few days to think about it..."

By the end, she was incoherent, stammering, "I promise, I'll give you an answer within this month!"

Bai Renzong had thought he had no hope left, but hearing that, he instantly regained his vitality: *This girl wants to wait until she gets that two-star Michelin rating before she agrees!*

As for the reason...

Given what he knew about Han Jiayi, it was likely because she was very bothered by Yang Hua's repeated remarks that she was "just a one-star chef" and not worthy of being his partner.

*This guy is really just causing me trouble!* Bai Renzong thought, rolling his eyes inwardly.

But now that it was out in the open, he wasn't in a hurry anymore.

Because from Han Jiayi's attitude, it was clear she was willing to try dating him; she was just proud and couldn't save face, so she wanted to wait until she received the two-star rating.

Since the Michelin inspectors would be coming to Yijiaxuan for their review this month, that was why she said she would reply within the month.

He'd been single for over twenty years; could he not wait a few more days?

"I understand," Bai Renzong said calmly. "I'll wait for your answer."

Han Jiayi looked relieved and smiled slightly. "Yeah, I'll think about it carefully."

Just then, the food was served.

Bai Renzong looked at the dry-fried meatballs in front of him and suddenly thought: *What if she doesn't get the two-star rating?*

Michelin usually only audits once a year; if she didn't get it this year, she'd have to wait until next year...

Bai Renzong frowned. *No, I have to help her get it this month! The God of Tongues was born for moments like this!*