Universe Infinite Canteen

"'Guess I shouldn't have asked,'" Angie rubbed her temples, "'of course, it's the signature dish.'

"'I recommend the Salted Pork with Eggplant clay pot to you not just because it's this week's signature dish, but because it indeed suits you well,'" Ma Lu said.

"'Suits me?'" Angie raised her eyebrows, "'You know I'm a public figure and need to manage my figure, yet you recommend such an oily dish to me.'

"'The eggplant in my restaurant isn't as oily as it is in other places,'" Ma Lu said, "'Moreover, this dish has an additional effect.'

"'What effect?'

"'Riding Skill Enhancement, it might come in handy if you're planning on shooting a horse-riding scene later.'

"......."

"'You know, I once went to Thailand for an advertisement, and there was this famous beautician who claimed she could slim down your face by slapping it, and you had to pay her five thousand Thai baht, almost a thousand yuan, just to get slapped.

"'I thought that was the most ridiculous advertisement I'd ever heard in my life, until today, when I came here and you tell me that eating your eggplant will improve my riding skills.'

Angie looked at Ma Lu again, "'Is it because I have a face that looks easy to deceive?'

"'I have no reason to lie to you, believe it or not, it's up to you,'" Ma Lu said.

Although Angie hadn't even tasted the food here yet, she was already beginning to feel disappointed.

Ma Lu's wild boasting had turned her impression of the restaurant negative, making it seem like just another hyped-up Internet-famous restaurant.

But by this time, it was a bit too late to look for a new place to eat, and although Angie had lost confidence in Ma Lu, she still trusted Zhang Yang more.

She almost never missed an issue of Zhang Yang's public WeChat food column and had already checked in at quite a few shops recommended by him; any place Zhang Yang affirmed was basically bomb-proof.

And it was precisely because she read Zhang Yang's article about Universe Infinite Canteen that she became curious about this quirky little restaurant.

She had read so many of Zhang Yang's articles, but it was the first time she saw him so excited, praising a restaurant so highly, calling it a game-changer in the culinary world.

So, taking advantage of a break in shooting, she sneaked out without telling her assistant.

Thinking of the great lengths she went through to get here, Angie decided to at least try the taste first.

Thus, she said to Ma Lu, "'Then I'll have the Salted Pork with Eggplant clay pot, add a bowl of Healthy Mushroom Soup, and I'll take an appetizer too, oh... what is this Hunter Chicken, forget it, add that too.'

After ordering, she saw that Ma Lu didn't leave immediately and asked, "'What's the matter?'
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"'Aren't you managing your figure?'

"'It's none of your business, I'll pack what I can't finish and give it to my driver and assistant to eat.'

Having lost interest in continuing the conversation with Ma Lu over the Salted Pork with Eggplant issue, Angie stopped talking after placing her order.

Ma Lu didn't mind and went off to serve other tables.

When Old Wang finished cooking the dishes, he brought them to Angie behind the screen, who was fidgeting with her phone, seemingly shopping online.

Ma Lu didn't disturb her, set down the dishes, said 'Enjoy your meal,' and left. When he saw Angie again, she had already put on her sunglasses and mask again and was coming to the counter to scan and pay.

Ma Lu casually asked, "'Do you need a takeout box?'

To his surprise, Angie looked panicked and waved her hands, "'No, no, it's not necessary.'

"Don't waste it, if you can't finish, can't you still give it to the driver and assistant?"

"I asked them, they said they've already eaten and don't need it," mumbled Angie vaguely.

After settling the bill, she didn't linger for another second and bolted for the restaurant's exit, not even bothering to reclaim the deposit for the table and chairs.

Ma Lu watched as she fled in panic, then went outside to fold back the screen, only to discover that all four dishes on the table had been completely emptied, not even a trace of soup was left.

No wonder Angie didn't want a to-go box, there really wasn't anything left to pack after eating to that extent.

Ma Lu didn't really follow the entertainment industry, especially the new generation, aside from one who tread on a sewing machine, and a few who had been 'meme-fied,' he hardly recognized any of them.

Therefore, he didn't take the incident with Angie to heart.

At most, he just marveled at how a beautiful girl could eat so much; no wonder she wore sunglasses and a mask wherever she went.

If the paparazzi caught this, with a headline like "love&five popular idol devours four plates of food in a street eatery," some fans would probably start to drop off.

But who knows, it might actually increase her fanbase instead, as the mental state of netizens these days is truly unpredictable.

Meanwhile, Angie immediately hailed a taxi upon leaving the restaurant and even paid the driver triple the fare.

As the saying goes, 'with great rewards come great efforts,' the driver floored the gas pedal and managed to deliver Angie back to the set just in time.

Once out of the taxi, Angie leaned against the wall, standing there for a good while.

She couldn't help it; she had overeaten before, and having just sped in the taxi, her stomach was churning, yet she couldn't rest for too long.

Soon, she saw her assistant jogging over, "My ancestor, you're finally back. It's almost time for your scene, quickly come with me to change and do makeup."

As she was dragged by the hand, Angie asked while running, "What did Director Xu say, did he agree to use close-up shots, or find a stunt double for me?"

"I conveyed your request to him, but he insisted that we should shoot the actual scene first and only resort to close-ups if necessary. It's too late to find a double now," the assistant replied.

On hearing this, Angie let out a wail, "I really have to ride a horse, I knew I shouldn't have taken a wuxia film."

"You've also said Director Xu is your favorite director, and as long as he was willing to cast you, you would join the project even just for a cameo."

Angie shut her mouth upon hearing that.

But the assistant was ultimately on her side, "Just level with me, if you really can't shoot the horse-riding scene, I'll go confront Director Xu, and if it comes to it, we'll just part ways."

"With your current popularity, it's not a big deal if you don't act. Just singing, joining variety shows, and doing endorsements is enough to keep you busy. Why bother suffering here?"

After a moment of silence, Angie finally said, "Let's try it the way Director Xu suggested, and if it doesn't work, we'll find another solution. Since I've started, I want to finish. I don't like to leave things halfway."

After changing her clothes and finishing her makeup, Angie headed to the riding arena. With a little time to spare, she decided to take a trial ride to get a feel for it.

Surprisingly, everything went incredibly smoothly this time. She seized the reins, stepped onto the stirrups, and with a swift vault, landed cleanly on the horse's back.

Under the guidance of the riding instructor, Angie began with a small jog around the arena to warm up.

Feeling her fear subside a bit, Angie then prompted the horse to pick up some speed, started to trot, and slightly stood up, lifting herself off the saddle and controlling the strength in her legs.

She didn't intentionally recall what she had learned previously, but her body naturally performed the movements. Angie even felt a sense of unity with the horse.