Gourmet: From a Stall in Northern Europe-Chapter 126 - 112: Meals Taste Even Better When Slacking Off at Work (Part 2)

Over a pound of staple food and nearly a pound of seafood down his belly, along with fizzy cola and watermelon juice, even with Gray's large appetite, he couldn't handle it. Soon, he was burping repeatedly and waving the white flag, indicating he couldn't eat anymore.

Elise cleverly avoided the cola, sipping only a few mouthfuls of watermelon juice to relieve the spiciness, leisurely savoring the hot and spicy seafood while enjoying the afternoon sea breeze.

She wasn't worried at all that Gray would snatch her seafood; it's the most basic decency as a person.

It's AA, after all, definitely split in half, unless he wants to ruin his own reputation, which he definitely wouldn't do by touching her share of seafood.

As for the staple food... doesn't matter, he can have it all.

Seizing the free time now, as soon as Lucas caught his breath, he didn't stay idle. He held up his camera to record Lin Chen's process of making hand-grabbed seafood, preparing to make it into a promotional video while also editing it into his vlog.

Speaking of vlogs, after filming continuously for more than three weeks and uploading seven or eight videos on major platforms, there was no progress. The views were all in the hundreds, with the most being over a thousand, and the followers hadn't even broken thirty. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He understood that this line of work is tough, and it requires perseverance. One never knows; you might wake up one day to find it suddenly viral, so you have to keep a balanced mindset.

After dining, Elise and Gray's bellies were round and high like they were pregnant, their faces showing radiant smiles they didn't have when they came.

"Then we're heading back, thanks for the treat. The food was super delicious, and we'll definitely visit again when we have the chance!"

Just after getting in the car, Gray couldn't resist and finally asked the question that had been on his mind for a long time.

"Why doesn't Chef want others to recognize him? Can it affect the restaurant and the group's reputation?"

"Of course it can."

Elise, being a receptionist, was quick-witted. She figured it out before coming and explained clearly and simply.

"If Chef is already a well-known head chef in the industry, then it wouldn't matter setting up a stall. People would just say that this food truck belongs to a certain renowned chef, so it must be delicious, with guaranteed taste and quality, and the prices are reasonable. That way, it can further boost the restaurant and Chef's own reputation."

"But if Chef isn't famous yet in the industry, coming out and being recognized by the diners would lead people to remark that the head chef of this restaurant is just a food truck operator, and consequently, the restaurant's standard would be perceived as just food truck level. Understand?"

Gray had a moment of realization: "So that's how it is, it indeed needs to be kept secret. Besides us, has anyone else seen Chef?"

"Probably... not? Chef just arrived two days ago, and I've been the point of contact. Even Vanessa hasn't seen him, just make sure you don't spill it. Regular diners don't have the opportunity to see him in the restaurant anyway."

Amidst the idle chat, the pickup truck had already returned to the hotel rear door.

Elise snuck back into the hotel lobby with the fragrant hand-grabbed seafood, seeing no tourists inside, she quickly signaled to Vanessa.

"It's here, it's here, let me see what tasty treat you brought!"

"I'm telling you, it's super tasty, way better than the American style, and a portion costs only forty euros, such a deal! You start eating, I'll be outside keeping watch, just leave me a little, that's fine."

"Such a big bag for only forty euros??"

Vanessa was stunned, quickly opening the bag to see it packed with shells, huge oyster meat, and yellow-tinged scallops.

Judging by the size of this oyster, it should be a No. 1, and the individual price at outside restaurants would be seven or eight euros each, and the scallops beside it also looked big, definitely not cheap.

Just by the cost-effectiveness of the seafood, in her opinion, it already surpassed most of the outside restaurants.

It's work time now, and even though she wasn't busy, she dared not leave her position for long, lest the boss might catch and dock her pay.

Hastily putting on gloves, disregarding the heat, she grabbed a piece of the plump oyster meat, soaked it in the sauce, and bit down with her mouth wide open.

"?!!"

The amazing, never-tasted-before flavor made her eyes widen with astonishment.

Sitting at the front desk, Elise's eyes darted across the lobby. She quickly took a piece of mint lemon-flavored gum from the drawer and chewed it.

This thing was incredibly effective at removing odors, a must-have for her during work hours.

Five minutes later.

Vanessa stealthily emerged from the break room, holding a mirror, applying lipstick. She had changed the shade to bright red, although it still looked a bit peculiar.

"How was it, tasty?"

Just after sitting down, Elise leaned over with a grin and asked in a low voice.

She nodded vigorously, instinctively licking the corner of her lips: "Indeed, it was delicious, kind of addictive, couldn't stop, the portion was large, and I feel so full."

"I finished the oysters and scallops for you. I saved some mussels and razor clams along with some potato slices and noodles. You can go eat, and I'll transfer 35 to you later, that okay?"

"Okay."

Meanwhile.

In the practice room, Anna lay lifelessly on the sofa, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

"Ah... the second day of craving iced jelly..."

"No iced jelly, milk tea will do, or red bean soup. In such a big city, can't even order drink delivery?"

But the only response was the rhythmically rich sound of footsteps.

"Dreya! Aren't you tired, don't you want iced jelly and milk tea, don't you miss Lin's cooking, are you even human, do you not have desires!!"

Still, no one paid her any attention.

Angry, Anna leapt off the sofa and rushed over to yank off Dreya's headphones, where loud rock music was playing.

"Hmm?"

Dreya looked at her in confusion, "You called me?"

"......"

Anna opened her mouth, deflating like a leaking balloon.

"Seriously, I yield to you, no wonder you're famous!"

"?" Dreya tilted her head, "What did I do now?"

"You've been walking the runway for four hours straight, haven't even eaten lunch, aren't you tired?"

"Lunch? You mean the sandwich on the table? Have it if you want, I don't feel like eating it anyway."

"I don't want it either! I want iced cold fruity jelly, rich milk tea, refreshing watermelon drinks, and tasty food from Great Xia..."

"That's a good thing, I want that too."

Dreya nodded, continuing to pose in front of the mirror, not forgetting to pinch the flesh on her waist and arms.

"With Lin around, it's too easy to gain weight. Since he's been away for a while, I should take this period to lose all the gained weight, hopefully even more, then I'll feel free to eat when he returns."

"?"

Anna's jaw dropped, "Is that really your mindset? What a scary woman."

"But speaking of which, I asked Lin last night. He said he was currently in Dieppe, not far, only about an hour's drive. When can we find time to visit?"

"Dieppe? That close?"

Dreya was clearly tempted, visible hesitation on her face.

"But I can't drive, can you?"

"Uh, I can't either."

"We definitely can't have Anthony drive us there; if the agent finds out, we'd be doomed."

"Cough~"

Suddenly, a cough sounded at the practice room door. Joel, carrying four cups of milk tea, was waving with a cheerful smile.

"Lovely ladies, it's lunch break and here's some iced low-sugar brown sugar milk tea, and sugar-free jasmine milk green tea, brought back from Paris."

"Oh my gosh!! How did you know I was just craving milk tea?"

Anna dashed forward to grab the milk tea from his hand, eagerly piercing a straw into a cup and taking a big sip, her face filled with a content smile.

"Yes, yes, that's the taste, oh, how refreshing! Dreya, what flavor do you want?"

"How much for one cup, I'll pay you."

Dreya apparently couldn't resist the temptation of milk tea, grabbed her wallet from the table, and handed over a ten-euro note.

"No, no need, you're Anna's good friend, in the style of Great Xia, this should be on me~"

"But this isn't Great Xia; in my style, I pay for what I get."

Dreya clearly wasn't interested in getting closer, holding the bill persistently, indicating she wouldn't drink unless he took it.

Helplessly, Joel accepted it with a wry smile.

Anna, munching on the pearls with delight, beckoned him over: "You just got back from Paris? Come in and sit for a bit?"

He didn't dare come in, just stood at the door, looking around nervously.

"Uh, that guy isn't around, is he?"