Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

After the brothers greeted Xie Jing one by one, they followed Shang Song through the front hall and into the actual banquet area, which connected to a semi-open terrace.

The moment they stepped into the banquet area, the brothers' earlier annoyance at being forced to watch the couple was instantly shattered.

What you see before you is less of a buffet table and more of a circular exhibition area composed of small open kitchens.

Dressed in pristine white uniforms, Chinese and Western chefs stood behind their respective areas, some cutting up patties on the spot, others carefully plating them.

On the long dining table in the middle, a variety of easily accessible noodles, desserts, and drinks were already laid out...

Against the backdrop of all this is the dazzling night view of the city skyline.

As the full moon rises on the Lantern Festival, the evening breeze is cold, but it cannot dispel the warm atmosphere throughout the venue.

Xu Zhao was the first to recall the voice that had been fading away, "My goodness, Shang Xiaosong, you've really made something of yourself! This isn't a dinner invitation, it's like you're filming a food documentary!"

The eldest brother's glasses started slipping again. He hurriedly steadied them, his gaze fixed on the row of seafood covered with crushed ice, his mouth watering uncontrollably.

The third brother instinctively grabbed the eldest brother's arm. "Big brother, pinch me quickly, am I hallucinating because of low blood sugar...?"

Shen Yan was also somewhat stunned.

He knew Shang Song's boyfriend was no ordinary person, but the scene before him still surprised him a bit.

Shang Song was instantly thrilled.

It turns out he wasn't the only country bumpkin; his brothers were just as naive and unsophisticated.

He chuckled and shoved them, "What are you standing there for! Professor Xie's treating! Let's eat! Eat as much as you want!"

The brothers instantly abandoned all restraint and charged towards their respective targets with roars.

Sure enough, the eldest brother plunged into the seafood section, his eyes shining as he watched the chef handle a king crab leg that was thicker than his arm. "Master! Yes! This leg! Could you please crack the shell for me? Thank you, thank you!"

Xu Zhao first pulled Shen Yan to quickly inspect the Western food area, then his family's culinary genes stirred, and as he reached out to start grilling himself, Shen Yan helplessly pulled his sleeve: "Don't make things worse."

Xu Zhao finally gave up, but he was not giving up. He immediately started chatting with the chef in charge of grilling the meat, talking about everything from the heat to the quality of the meat, from the sauce pairings to the different ways of eating different parts of the meat.

He had been around customers since he was a child, and his smooth and witty speech made the chef laugh out loud. The chef grilled steaks for him in countless ways, making Xu Zhao exclaim with delight.

The third brother, carrying a small plate, began to check each location.

He took only a tiny bit of each item, then took a flurry of photos, exclaiming, "This crab roe bun has eighteen pleats!"

"These lotus flower pastries are so beautiful... I can't bear to eat them... These rabbit cakes are so cute... Ah, custard buns!"

So happy was Sister Su that she immediately had her assistant bring over a beautiful box, packed the whole set for him, and told him to take it back as a souvenir.

Xie Jing sat alone in a corner of the terrace, holding a bowl of mushroom soup, sipping it slowly, but her gaze remained gently following the busiest figure in the room.

Shang Song is extremely busy.

He carried his plate, weaving between the tables, searching for what he considered the best food.

"The scallions in this braised sea cucumber are amazing!" His eyes widened instantly, and he immediately ran to Xie Jing's side with the plate, eagerly offering the scallion to Xie Jing's lips, his eyes sparkling and his voice soft: "Quick! Try it! It's really better than sea cucumber!"

Xie Jing obediently lowered his head and took a bite from his hand. Shang Song stared intently at his expression until he saw him nod slightly, then smiled contentedly and turned to rush back to the dining table.

A moment later, he came running back with a new plate of spoils. "This! This foie gras cone! The crust is so crispy it crumbles! The foie gras inside is so fragrant and smooth! You have to try it!"

"Ah! This almond tofu! It's amazing! So tender and smooth, and not too sweet! Here you go!"

"Xie Jing, look! The skin of this roast duck is so thin and crispy! I'll roll one up for you!"

He tirelessly shuttled back and forth, carrying the best food he had eaten, the food he thought was worthy of Xie Jing's consumption, to Xie Jing, one trip after another.

After running around several times, Shang Song finally noticed Lin Zhou standing like a pine tree beside the pillar, calmly controlling the entire scene.

He blinked, ran to the soup section, ladled out a bowl brimming with ingredients for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and placed it in front of Lin Zhou. "Brother Lin Zhou! You've worked hard on this shift! Warm your stomach!"

A look of surprise flashed across Lin Zhou's face. He didn't take the bowl, but simply bowed slightly. "Mr. Shang, thank you for your kindness. I've already had my lunch. I'm on duty now, and I have responsibilities to fulfill, so it's not appropriate for me to eat."

"Sit down and have something to eat with us," Xie Jing's voice came calmly. "They're just kids; you don't need to watch over them all the time. It's too much work for you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhou was stunned for a moment before looking up at Xie Jing. He met the calm yet unquestionable gaze of the family head, and then quickly glanced at Shang Song, who was holding a bowl and refusing to put it down.

After a two-second silence, Lin Zhou bowed slightly again before taking the bowl of soup from Shang Song's hand. "Yes, thank you, Patriarch. Thank you, Mr. Shang."

Seeing that Lin Zhou had relaxed, Shang Song immediately ran off with a smile.

After watching Shang Song run away, Lin Zhou picked up his bowl and walked to Xie Jing's area. He sat down at a seat not far from Xie Jing and began to eat quietly.

Shang Song immediately started a double feeding mode, sending Xie Jing sizzling lamb chops one minute and Wagyu beef to Lin Zhou the next.

Xu Zhao seemed to be having a pleasant conversation with the barbecue chef, and was even allowed to grill a small portion of fish fillet for Shen Yan under the chef's guidance. As expected of someone from a family with a long history in the catering industry, the finished product was quite good.

He proudly held it up to Shen Yan, seeking praise. Shen Yan smiled, tried it, and said it was delicious. Xu Zhao immediately became arrogant and started shouting that he would add this dish to the restaurant once it was renovated and reopened.

The eldest brother pointed to the butter-baked lobster and said, "Another serving, please!"

The third brother held a plate, waiting for the chef to bake a fresh mango soufflé.

Shang Song was still flitting between the various tables, his joy practically overflowing.

Seeing the flushed face of his excitement, Xie Jing, whose expression had been otherwise blank, revealed a faint, gentle smile.

Although the smile was faint, it genuinely softened his overly aloof aura, making him seem less unapproachable.

Lin Zhou silently ate the food that Shang Song had forced him to share, watching the lively and vibrant young people not far away, and then catching a glimpse of the rare expression on the patriarch's face. It seemed that a smile had suddenly appeared at the corner of his eye.

He spoke in a low voice, in a volume only Xie Jing could hear, "Mr. Shang... is very lively."

Xie Jing withdrew his gaze from the happy little bear, the smile in his eyes still lingering. He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then sighed softly:

"Yes, just like a child."

After he finished speaking, he paused, then added:

"It's very cute."

Lin Zhou looked at the rare tenderness in the head of the family's eyes, then turned to look out onto the terrace at the full moon that had been hanging high in the sky for some time. His thoughts suddenly became a little dazed.

More than twenty years ago, the head of the family was still a child.

The Xie family's Lantern Festival banquet was also a joyous occasion.