Winter Returns

Chapter 162 Pokémon's Journey Out of the Island (Part 2)

Zhang Shutong recognized the name of the restaurant from the English on the signboard: "Greevette Pizza".

The pizzeria is located at the northernmost end of the long street. Although the storefront is exquisite, it is the only old building on the entire street. The two-story building naturally shrinks in size compared to the other bright and shiny shops.

The surrounding trees and air conditioner units partially obscure it, making it impossible for anyone to guess that this is an Italian restaurant.

He didn't read this information from English; rather, Zhang Shutong had visited this pizzeria before, more than once.

He had attended many gatherings here when he was in high school. The building was originally an old newspaper office, and the solid wood flooring from that time is still there. Even with careful maintenance, it has inevitably faded over time and creaks when you step on it. The freshly baked pizzas also sizzle with oil. These two sounds are mixed together and drowned out by the laughter of the crowd.

The owner was said to be Italian, but Zhang Shutong didn't know if it was true. He only knew that the owner spoke fluent English. The owner was also a man with a story. He had traveled to many countries when he was young. When he came to China, he met the girl he was destined for. Italians are romantic from head to toe, so this city became the last stop on his journey.

The restaurant was small, with fewer than ten tables. Because it was an old building, the windows had small squares and the window frames were filled with potted plants. In addition, there was an art wall in the restaurant, which was filled with travel photos taken by the owner around the world, including gardens in Suzhou and Hangzhou, the countryside in Northern Europe, and ancient temples in Kyoto. What impressed Zhang Shutong the most was the aurora borealis on a glacier. He asked the owner if it was the North or South Pole, and the owner said it was Iceland. There was a horn-shaped record player under Iceland, which was playing a cold and long song at the time. However, the room was warm and the lights were dim, which made people relax and feel a little cozy.

Zhang Shutong liked to choose a seat by the window. He didn't participate much in the conversations, but simply teased the mimosa on the windowsill with his finger and slowly ate a slice of pizza. Night had fallen, and the brightly lit shopping district across the street illuminated half the darkness. Looking out through that large square window, he sometimes felt the world was vast.

He couldn't be called a regular here, but he did leave behind some noisy memories.

Unexpectedly, Gu Qiumian also discovered this place.

For a moment, Zhang Shutong didn't know if it was a coincidence... or if she had planned it all along.

Zhang Shutong suspected that she had her eye on this place last night, which was why she readily agreed to go to KFC first. Perhaps during the quiet time she was away, she secretly switched to her browser and searched for when the Tender Beef Wrap would be taken off the menu. Everything was under her control, and she wanted to make Zhang Shutong understand why she was in trouble.

Zhang Shutong thought to himself, "Class monitor, you're getting more and more amazing. But I never expected that I'd been to the place you chose before, and I probably know it even better than you do."

These past few days, he chatted with Gu Qiumian on QQ and learned some things about the past. Because her social circle has changed, even when she goes out to play on the island on weekends, she rarely brings a large group of people like before.

If it's just a meal, there's no shortage of places to eat in the county town. But if it's a trip to the city, she prefers smaller, more refined places, inviting only a few close friends. For example, the Polar World at the aquarium to watch the penguin and seal shows; the amusement park to scream on the roller coasters; or escape rooms, where Gu Qiu Mian, being a brave girl, often closes her eyes and goes first.

Zhang Shutong realized that he hadn't understood her at all before, and now it felt like he was getting to know her all over again.

At that moment, she turned around and asked, "Do you think eating pizza is a good idea?"

The three boys all said yes at the same time.

She turned around with satisfaction, her hair tossing in the air.

The group of five entered the pizzeria, and the wind chimes at the entrance began to jingle.

The interior and exterior seemed like two different worlds. The view first darkened, and a huge crystal chandelier hung overhead, serving more as decoration than lighting. Candlesticks were placed on each table, casting a warm candlelight, making it feel like stepping into a Western-style mansion.

"Wow, a candlelight dinner..." Du Kang said quietly as soon as he entered, "Why are there foreigners here too?"

He carefully stepped onto the wooden floor, afraid of breaking the tranquility of the room.

"Western food, huh?" Qingyi always had a poker face, but her voice lowered unconsciously. "This is my first time in a place like this. It feels very high-class."

"It must be very expensive," Ruoping said softly.

“It’s definitely expensive. Look, there’s even a dedicated wine cabinet over there,” Du Kang said matter-of-factly. “My dad said that for restaurants, as long as there’s a dedicated wine cabinet, the cost of drinks is definitely a major expense. Restaurants that make money from drinks are bound to be expensive.”

The three of them looked at the figure in front of them at the same time. While they hesitated, Gu Qiumian had already started talking quietly with the waiter who was wearing a black vest and white shirt. Then the waiter bowed slightly, stretched out his arm, and led them to a table.

"Don't just stand there," Ruoping said, pulling them both aside. "You're already here, why are you still being so hesitant..."

Du Kang gritted his teeth and took the lead, thinking that even though they were from two different worlds, they had spoken to each other at school before, and the four of them weren't the only ones from the whole school who had come out to eat with Gu Qiu Mian, so there was no reason for them to be shy here.

But as soon as he sat down, he was stumped again. The waiter brought over a tray with a hot towel on it, which he knew was for wiping his hands. Then he was served a glass of lemon water. Since there were lemon slices, it should be for drinking, not for rinsing his mouth. But there was also a flower-shaped napkin folded on the plate. How was he supposed to use that? Tuck it into his collar like in the movies?
"Take it away."

Zhang Shutong waved to the waiter, for he had never understood the purpose of this thing back then.

He then pointed to the wine glass:

"And the cups, we don't need them..."

Before she could finish speaking, Gu Qiumian slammed the menu shut.
"Want some wine?"

"Drink... wine?" Ruoping glanced subconsciously at the wine cabinet that looked very expensive.

"Hmm." Gu Qiumian said nonchalantly, "I'm free this afternoon. Do you guys usually drink beer? You shouldn't get drunk."

She whispered something to Ruoping, and Ruoping actually nodded in agreement. As long as Ruoping agreed, the three boys would be out of the picture.

The waiter withdrew his hand as he was about to put away the wine glass.

Zhang Shutong couldn't help but wonder if Gu Qiumian really liked drinking.

I remember when they were shopping at the supermarket on the island, Gu Qiu Mian stood by the cocktail shelf for a long time and asked him if he wanted to buy a few cans to drink with his friends. At that time, he asked her if she drank often, and she said that it was okay, she would drink a little when she was in a good mood.

Zhang Shutong didn't understand the subtext of those words at the time, but now she does. She's in a good mood quite often, so she probably has plenty of alcohol at home. She just doesn't know how much she can drink.

Red wine or white wine?

Gu Qiumian rested her chin on her hand and asked again.

She's starting to act like President Gu again, dominating the four of them with her imposing presence. It's as if this Italian restaurant is her personal canteen. She barely glanced at the menu, and while discussing wine, she had already casually ordered the dishes, from appetizers to main courses to desserts. Sometimes she would stop to ask about their preferences, and everyone listened without complaint before she smoothly moved on to the next segment.

"You keep an eye on it."

Zhang Shutong couldn't help but speak up to remind him.

The four of them don't drink very often. When they shout "Give me a bottle of baijiu!" in a restaurant, they're actually referring to a bottle of nutritional drink. If they actually drink, they'll be exposed.

He typed in the group chat again, saying that he had been here before and that it wasn't as expensive as people thought, although the decor was indeed a bit intimidating.

The young lady pondered for a long time but still couldn't choose a wine. Everyone says that red wine goes with red meat and white wine goes with white meat. Every kind of meat has a suitable wine, with considerations for acidity, astringency, aroma, and even the season.

Those who are more particular will consider the wine's origin, which winery, and which vintage. She had seemed completely at ease just moments before, but now she frowned slightly.

Everyone watched with awe, thinking that anything that could make Gu Qiu Mian so wary must be extraordinary.

Zhang Shutong doesn't know much about alcohol, but his previous work gave him some understanding of these things.

"Shutong, why don't we try to persuade her not to order it?" Du Kang asked in a low voice.

Zhang Shutong said, "Let me see." He turned his head and saw Gu Qiumian's gaze lingering on a certain page of the menu. He thought to himself, "So that's how it is."

He was almost fooled, thinking she was seriously considering which wine to pair with the meal. However, Zhang Shutong glanced at the wine names and realized she wasn't picking out wine, but rather beverages.

Most of them are sweet sparkling wines, which are generally used as aperitifs, so there is no need to consider the main course. In Zhang Shutong's words, they are like sweet water, which can be gulped down in one go, just like soda. No wonder Gu Qiumian suggested drinking wine; he thought she was in high spirits and wanted to open a bottle of champagne.

"This one is fine."

Zhang Shutong held up his finger and made the decision for her:

"Moscato Asti, very fragrant, with a faint peach scent."

Zhang Shutong had drunk quite a bit of this brand of liquor before. It wasn't expensive, around eighty yuan. He had a dull palate and couldn't tell the difference between good and bad liquor. When his classmates ate pizza, he would pick up the liquor and drink it as a thirst quencher. He had drunk almost all the liquors here.

Zhang Shutong guessed what she had been whispering to Ruoping earlier. White wine is usually chilled, so she was probably asking if it was convenient for her to drink it recently.

He thought Gu Qiumian would prefer something with a stronger fragrance, so he casually remarked, only to find the dining table quiet down.

"When did you learn about this, Shutong?" Du Kang asked in shock.

Zhang Shutong thought to himself, "Can you please not be so surprised? It's like I didn't know anything before. It's just that the island didn't have the resources." He thought for a moment and then shifted the blame to his mother, saying that she loved to drink it.

But it was strange that Gu Qiumian was also surprised:

"How did you know I like peach flavor?" Zhang Shutong couldn't explain why either; he felt it was more like... intuition.
It seemed as if his subconscious was telling him that Gu Qiumian liked this taste.

"Did you do this on purpose?" Gu Qiumian suddenly looked him over seriously for a while.

"What's the purpose?"

But Gu Qiu Mian didn't speak. Instead, she moved her face closer. The flickering candlelight on the table made her eyes light up and dim, as if they were almost touching her face. Just as Zhang Shutong was about to speak, she glanced at the others and shrank back, as if to say, "I'll settle the score with you later."

Did Zhang Shutong realize that his good intentions had backfired? Perhaps it's best to keep a low profile.

Next up is today's main dish—

When you come to a pizzeria, you naturally come to eat pizza.

Girls are naturally more indecisive than boys when it comes to these kinds of things.

The three boys decided on the mushroom and ham combo after just one glance, but the two girls started whispering to each other.

"I don't really understand, Qiu Mian, you can keep an eye on things." Ruoping was very ladylike.

"It's okay," Gu Qiumian said earnestly, using her interjections. "I come here often, and I always find the food delicious. Can I have some seafood?"

"Okay, but you don't need to take care of me too much. What do you like to eat?"

"me……"

For some reason, Zhang Shutong felt that Gu Qiumian had glanced at him again.

The menu only has five items. This is an Italian restaurant, so it can't be as wild as Pizza Hut, with things like durian, roast duck, and fried chicken...

All are classic, traditional flavors.

Margaritas, seafood, ham and mushrooms, meat sauce.

The last item is seasonal pizza.

Zhang Shutong knew that this was a hidden option at the restaurant. On the surface, it meant that the chef could do whatever he wanted based on the ingredients available that day. However, if you became familiar with the owner, who was also the chef, or if you could communicate with him smoothly, you could actually make some requests. As long as the restaurant had the ingredients, he could bring them to you.

In the end, Gu Qiumian made the decision.

The boys ordered a ham dish, Ruoping wanted a seafood dish, and then she said that since no one seemed to have any particular preference, they could order a seasonal dish and let the chef decide.

Everyone nodded in agreement, and the ordering was finished.

The waiter poured them sparkling wine, and Gu Qiumian took a sip, but then said she needed to go to the restroom.

She tapped Zhang Shutong's chair impatiently, a habit she'd developed when they were deskmates. Knowing she was leaving, Zhang Shutong made way for her.

Gu Qiumian snorted and walked away with her long hair flowing in the wind.

……

Anthony was pondering what flavor his "seasonal pizza" should have for today.

This is the fifth year that "Grevit Pizza" has been in business, and it's also the fifth year he's spent in China.

To be honest, he didn't have much time to think, because all the restaurant seats were booked by noon, which meant he would have to work in the kitchen full of ovens for the next hour.

He adjusted his chef's hat and had just come up with some ideas when the kitchen curtain was pulled open.

"Honey, what's up?" Anthony asked casually.

Usually, only his wife would come to the kitchen to find him.

But this time, a young girl came instead.

With long black hair, an oval face, fair skin, and rosy lips, she wore a black shirt and exuded a cold aura when she was silent and not smiling, like a noble little princess.

For an Italian, appreciating and respecting beauty is almost an instinct ingrained in their very being.

Anthony was taken aback at first, then smiled. He was impressed by the girl. In fact, who wouldn't be impressed by a beautiful and generous customer?

“Oh, it’s you. What can I do for you, beautiful lady?” he said in fluent English.

Whether the other person can understand him or not is none of his business. Anthony can actually speak Chinese and even knows that "fucking shit" is a Chinese swear word.

Sometimes speaking English can be a daunting experience, as some people find foreigners quite amusing, which can be frustrating for him as a foreigner. Sometimes, the more he tries to talk to them, the more annoyed he gets.

Although the girl in front of him would come here to eat every now and then, she had never spoken to him.

In fact, he didn't really want to talk to anyone right now, not even his wife, because he was already overwhelmed with work, but his good manners made him patiently slow down his tone.

"Does the restaurant have beef tenderloin?"

To his surprise, the girl, without any hesitation, asked the question in fluent English as well.

Anthony knew he couldn't stump the girl, so he switched to Chinese and said:

"Beef tenderloin? You mean tenderly grilled, marinated steak?"

"Almost, but put it on the pizza."

“Oh, you mean today’s seasonal pizza? Of course, that’s great idea.” Anthony suddenly realized that the price of a pizza with customizable options wasn’t fixed. He snapped his fingers. “My pleasure. I was just wondering what to do.”

He now had a very fresh idea in his mind: some red Leicester cheese, providing a rich and mellow base flavor and color; some buffalo milk cheese shreds, paired with salty and tender beef tenderloin; and garnished with some basil leaves—it would be a wonderful dish…

"Where's the chili sauce?"

Anthony was stunned again, almost blurting out that his mother was Italian:

"what?"

The girl, however, kept her eyes glued to her phone and then asked:
"And lettuce, diced tomatoes, and tortilla chips?"

"This sounds like Mexican flavor."

"Can it be done, or can't it be done?"

"That's no problem, except that we can't provide corn chips."

Anthony thought to himself that this girl was a bit strange; why would she come to an Italian restaurant to eat a Mexican-style pizza?

"You can figure out the rest yourself."

“Of course,” he repeated.

The girl nodded and left. Anthony breathed a sigh of relief. Actually, he didn't want to take the job, but his professional ethics told him to do it. Although as an Italian he really, really didn't want to make a weird Mexican-style pizza, the customer is always right.

The war that was his alone was about to begin, but the curtain was lifted again.

"Is there anything else you require, beautiful lady?"

Anthony forced a smile.

But this time, it was a teenager who came.

(End of this chapter)