Chapter 12: A Stamped Seal!
"Of course." Luca Hale nodded and tapped a picture on the menu. "We’ll take the 8,888 set meal. Two portions."
The waitress blinked in surprise for a split second before her professional smile returned, even brighter than before.
Many guests came here specifically for the restaurant’s famous private dishes, but very few ordered the most expensive set menu without even glancing at the price.
After all, one set cost 888.8 dollars. Two of them came to more than 1,777 dollars, enough to make most people hesitate.
"Certainly, sir. Please give us a moment."
She bowed politely and hurried away.
Across the table, Naomi Monroe stared at the menu in disbelief, her tongue peeking out slightly.
A single meal costs almost two thousand dollars...
’What is this food made of? Gold? Is it supposed to make people immortal?’
Then she remembered that Luca Hale had casually spent hundreds of thousands that very morning.
Compared to that, this amount suddenly seemed insignificant.
A moment later, Naomi froze.
’Wait... since when did I start thinking nearly two thousand dollars is a small amount?’
"What’s wrong?" Luca asked, noticing the constantly changing expressions on her face.
Naomi immediately straightened up and put on a fierce expression.
"It’s too expensive! If it doesn’t taste good later, I’m arguing with the owner."
Luca couldn’t help laughing.
This girl’s train of thought really went wherever it wanted.
Soon, the appetizers arrived.
The delicate aroma instantly filled the air, making both of them reach for their chopsticks.
The biggest difference between them was their eating style.
Luca ate quietly and elegantly.
Naomi, on the other hand, was busy doing two things at once: enjoying the food and chatting with her livestream viewers.
Fortunately, their table was tucked away in a quiet corner. Since there weren’t many customers during lunchtime, they weren’t disturbing anyone.
Meanwhile, the livestream chat was exploding.
"That lobster looks amazing!"
"I can’t afford it, but at least I can watch someone else eat it."
"Streamer, take another bite of that matsutake mushroom!"
"Food aside, Streamer is the real feast."
"Beautiful girl plus expensive food. This stream is dangerous."
Most viewers would probably never get the chance to eat such premium ingredients.
But watching someone else enjoy them was entertainment in its own right.
Besides, Naomi’s stunning appearance made the stream even more enjoyable.
The meal stretched on for nearly an hour and a half.
Not because there was too much food.
The restaurant simply served each dish one at a time, treating every course like a small performance.
And to be fair, every dish deserved the attention.
At least for Luca and Naomi, this was easily one of the best meals they had ever eaten outside.
Of course, no matter how luxurious a restaurant was, there was still one thing it could never surpass.
Home cooking.
The food your mother makes may not be the most expensive, but somehow it always tastes the best.
Maybe because she knows exactly what you like.
Or maybe because every dish carries something no restaurant can replicate.
A feeling called family.
A warmth that stays with you long after the meal is over.
After they had eaten their fill, Luca stood and headed to the front desk.
[Ding!]
[Host spent 888.8 Dollars and received a 10x rebate. Reward: 8,888 Dollars.]
Luca smiled.
Not bad.
Getting nearly nine thousand dollars back from a meal was already satisfying.
Then another notification appeared.
[Ding!]
[Host spent 888.8 Dollars on Naomi Monroe and triggered a critical hit.]
[Reward: Master-Level Culinary Skills.]
Luca’s eyes widened slightly.
A skill reward?
This was the first time the system had given him something other than money or property.
For a moment, a massive flood of information poured into his mind.
Cooking techniques.
Ingredient knowledge.
Knife skills.
Seasoning control.
Countless recipes and years of culinary experience seemed to merge with his memories.
It felt as though he had spent decades mastering the culinary arts.
[Hehehe! Host, don’t underestimate this system!]
Luca’s eyebrow twitched.
"Why does that laugh make you sound like a villain?"
[???]
"Seriously. Your character settings seem a little suspicious."
The system instantly fell silent.
In the afternoon, Luca drove Naomi back to her apartment complex.
The car slowly came to a stop beneath the shade of several trees near the entrance.
"Go on," Luca said. "And don’t forget to bring your ID when you pick up your car in a few days."
Naomi lowered her head.
"Mm."
Yet she didn’t move.
She simply stood there beside the car.
Luca raised an eyebrow.
"What? Don’t tell me you’re reluctant to part with me."
"I am not!"
She immediately stomped her foot.
The reaction only made Luca laugh harder.
"Alright, alright. I already explained it. It’s not that I don’t want to go with you when you pick up the car."
His expression softened.
"I just need to go home."
"I haven’t seen my parents in a long time."
It had been nearly a year since his last visit.
Going home had already been part of his plans, and it was one of the reasons he had rushed to buy a car.
Naomi nodded quietly.
"I know."
Then she folded her arms.
"You leave first. I’ll go upstairs after you’re gone."
"So stubborn."
"Hmph."
Luca smiled and returned to the driver’s seat.
He closed the door and reached for the ignition.
"Luca Hale!"
A voice suddenly called out.
He turned in confusion.
"What is it?"
Before he could react, a soft fragrance drifted toward him.
Then came a warm, delicate touch.
Light as a dragonfly skimming across water.
For a brief moment, something soft brushed against his cheek.
Luca froze.
Naomi quickly stepped back, her face completely red.
A mischievous grin slowly spread across Luca’s face.
"Miss Monroe... what exactly are you doing?"
Naomi lifted her chin proudly.
"I’m leaving a mark so you won’t forget me."
The words sounded confident enough.
Unfortunately, her bright red ears completely betrayed her.
Luca pretended to think seriously.
"That doesn’t seem fair."
"Huh?"
"You stamped me."
He leaned slightly out of the car window.
"I should stamp you back."
"You wish!"
Naomi squealed.
With her cheeks burning crimson, she turned and ran toward the apartment gate.
The breeze carried a faint trace of her perfume as she disappeared inside.
Watching her retreating figure, Luca chuckled and shook his head.
’This girl is way too cute.’
After leaving Naomi’s neighborhood, Luca drove toward the Elvis Muskov Villa Complex.
Located in the suburbs, the area felt completely different from the busy city center.
The air was cleaner.
The roads were quieter.
Trees lined both sides of the streets, and beautifully maintained gardens stretched across the community.
Most impressive of all was the artificial river winding through the estate.
The most expensive villas had all been built along its banks, offering both privacy and stunning scenery.
As Luca’s black G-Class approached the entrance gate, a young security guard immediately stepped forward.
"Good afternoon, sir."
The guard offered a respectful smile.
"Welcome to Elvis Muskov Villa Complex. How may I assist you today?"
