I keep scrolling through Douyin's treasure chests; they're showing me their loyalty.

Chapter 14 Cheap Taste

"Opening... Hidden treasure chest successfully opened, granting one dining experience at the Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet sensory restaurant. Upon redemption, the host will gain access to the restaurant for three people for the day, no additional purchase required. Redeem?"

"extract!"

Ning Xiuyang couldn't help but click his tongue; this hidden treasure chest was utterly useless.

But it's better than nothing, and it's a good opportunity to experience it in person and see if it's really as good as the food blogger Xiaolin said.

Besides, girls tend to like restaurants that prioritize form over substance. If you give them a fancy name, they'll think it's great. It's a waste to leave it untouched, so I'll take Bai Xiaoji and Wu Xingyao to experience it and satisfy their vanity.

Upon hearing Ning Xiuyang's words, Bai Xiaoji, who was driving, was startled and said, "Are you serious? That restaurant costs seven or eight thousand yuan per person. For the three of us, a meal there would probably cost me almost half a year's salary!"

Ning Xiuyang shrugged and said smugly, "I've worked my whole life, can't I enjoy myself?"

"...Looks like you really made some money!" Bai Xiaoji glanced at the flamboyant Ning Xiuyang in the rearview mirror, pouted, and didn't refuse again, but drove over directly.

"Didn't they say we need to book three months in advance? Will we be able to go like this?" Wu Xingyao interjected curiously.

"Yeah, why would we go if you didn't book us?" Bai Xiaoji stared at Ning Xiuyang speechlessly.

Ning Xiuyang smiled mysteriously and said, "Just go directly, it's already booked."

Just then, Ning Xiuyang's phone rang.

Bai Xiaoji and Wu Xingyao in the passenger seat exchanged a glance.

Ning Xiuyang also answered the phone.

"Hello, is this Mr. Ning Xiuyang? This is Zhao Xiaoyan, the hostess manager of Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet restaurant. You can call me Xiao Zhao."

A gentle female voice came from the phone.

Ning Xiuyang smiled and nodded, saying, "That's me."

"Hello Mr. Ning, your reservation at our restaurant is for tonight. When would be a convenient time for you to come? I see that you originally booked for three people. Would you like us to notify the other two guests separately?" Zhao Xiaoyan asked respectfully.

Ning Xiuyang: "We're on our way to your store."

"Okay, Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet restaurant welcomes the three guests. Our car will be waiting for you at No. 18 on the Bund, departing at approximately 8:15 PM. Mr. Ning, will this be enough time? Would you like another car to pick you up?"

"There's still time!"

Ning Xiuyang glanced at the time.

Not long after.

The Luman G-Class stopped in the parking lot not far from Bund 18. As soon as the three of them got out of the car, they saw a woman wearing a white shirt, suit pants and high heels running over. Even in the dim light, her hot figure was still visible.

"Hello, are you three here to dine at UVPP restaurant?"

Zhao Xiaoyan looked at Ning Xiuyang, Bai Xiaoji, and Wu Xingyao.

Ning Xiuyang nodded.

"My name is Zhao Xiaoyan. You must be Mr. Ning Xiuyang. And these two must be Ms. Bai and Ms. Wu?"

Zhao Xiaoyan took the initiative to shake hands.

Ning Xiuyang gave a brief introduction, and Zhao Xiaoyan said warmly, "This way, please, all three of you. I am your host for this meal. Please feel free to ask me any questions or concerns. Let's go get our car now."

"Isn't the restaurant over here?" Wu Xingyao asked curiously.

As Zhao Xiaoyan led them toward the van, she explained with a smile, "It's not over here. Because it's a sensory restaurant, we focus more on the sensory experience during the meal, so we'll have different dining locations depending on the type of food available that day."

It sounded pretty sophisticated. Bai Xiaoji and Wu Xingyao exchanged a glance, feeling a little eager to try it out.

Ning Xiuyang wasn't very interested.

He cares more about whether the food tastes good and who he eats with than about sensory experiences.

The three of them got into a black minivan, which also contained other guests.

The van drove through the city streets and alleys, eventually arriving at a place that looked like a warehouse. It looked desolate and dilapidated, clearly an abandoned warehouse that had been abandoned for a long time.

Bai Xiaoji and Wu Xingyao even subconsciously grasped Ning Xiuyang's hand.

"What kind of place is this?"

"Could they be human traffickers?"

Bai Xiaoji and Wu Xingyao muttered to themselves in low voices.

Not only the two of them, but the other guests traveling with them were also completely bewildered. In addition, it was already dark and the surroundings were unusually quiet, which made them even more uneasy.

"Don't worry, everyone. It may look a bit dilapidated from the outside, but there's a whole different world inside."

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoyan stepped forward, smiled and spoke to everyone, then took the lead and led everyone into the warehouse. After many twists and turns, they finally arrived at a room where almost all four walls were covered with large screens.

The room was furnished with a long table and ten wine glasses. Various messages were displayed on a large screen. The room was extremely dark, and people could only see the screen and the light strip on the table.

The seats on both sides of the long table were all labeled with the guests' names, and everyone sat down according to their names.

Apart from Ning Xiuyang and his two companions, the other seven guests for the evening also took their seats.

While waiting for their meal, everyone started chatting with each other.

This relatively private yet face-to-face dining style undoubtedly possesses certain social attributes. As for the degree of social value, it is up to the individual to weigh it.

For example, according to Ning Xiuyang's understanding through the Eye of Truth, the lady sitting next to Wu Xingyao, who looked quite pretty and acted elegant, was actually just a saleswoman at a second-tier brand, and this meal probably cost her a month's salary.

For someone like her, a restaurant like this is more of a way to show off and satisfy her vanity.

Just for this capital, she may have to spend a month, or even several months, paying the price.

People like this, who mortgage their future in order to access the so-called high society, naturally have little social value.

The conversation had barely begun when the scene on the big screen suddenly changed. Burning candles appeared on the screen, and a group of waiters, bathed in candlelight and carrying food containers, slowly entered with ceremonial steps.

The lights in the entire restaurant dimmed instantly, and a somewhat religious background music began to play, while Zhao Xiaoyan's explanation reached everyone's ears.

"Distinguished guests, we are about to present our first dish of the day, named Holy Body..."

Accompanied by the waiters' highly ceremonial... but actually incredibly awkward steps, the first dish was placed in front of each person. Ning Xiuyang opened the lid and took a look; it was a palm-sized apple slice, entirely green.

"..." Ning Xiuyang raised an eyebrow and directly picked up his chopsticks and stuffed them into his mouth.

It's alright, but the texture isn't particularly good.

Wu Xingyao and Bai Xiaoji, however, were completely different. Like the other women, they were already filled with excitement by the atmosphere. As if on a pilgrimage, they first took out their phones to take a picture, then carefully picked it up, first gently sniffed it, then took a small bite, and savored it with pursed lips...

As the first course was finished, the scene on the screen changed again, and the whole place was filled with smoke.

The waiters then brought out the second dish.

The second dish was rather strange. In front of each person was a utensil that resembled an ashtray, on which was placed a long, cylindrical food that looked like a cigarette. And where the ash was shaken off, there were condiments that looked like ash.

Is this what is meant by sensory experience?

"Distinguished guests, this is the second course of the day, called 'Foie Gras and Cigarettes You Can't Quit.' To eat it, pick up a foie gras cigarette and lightly dip it in the sauce..."

"..."

Twenty dishes, 8888 yuan per person, four hours, with even a half-hour break in between.

Ning Xiuyang suddenly realized that the way rich people dine wasn't so elegant after all.

It always gives people the feeling that it's like forcing a new poem to express sorrow.

Midway through, Ning Xiuyang glanced at the comments section of the previous video and found one comment that he thought was very insightful.

"Nouveau riche need an obvious display of artistry to package their cheap taste!"

[PS: Reference source: A video from a YouTuber, experiencing the most expensive restaurant in the country]