The Nutrition is Too Good - Chap 12.2

Rong Mian was taken aback.
He didn’t expect Zhong Yi to ask him to order for him. After hesitating for a moment, he looked up at the waitress and said, “I’ll stick with the usual.”

He must be a regular customer here.
The waitress covered her mouth and giggled a little, saying okay.

Rong Mian lowered his head again, seeming a bit conflicted. He kept his eyes down and flipped through the menu for a while.
Then Zhong Yi watched him slowly point at the menu and say to the waitress, “And give him another one, the regular set meal.”

Zhong Yi: “……?”
Zhong Yi thought to himself that this person’s emotional intelligence was really out of touch. Why did he order the most basic set meal for him while he himself ordered something different?
“Kid, you can’t do this.”

Zhong Yi pointed to his still swollen right hand and said with a serious tone, “I’ve at least taken the injury for you. I understand that you may be short on money, but we can’t lose our conscience as human beings.”
Rong Mian was stunned for a moment.

He explained in a low voice, “No, mine is a bit different, you might not be able to accept it…”

Zhong Yi had eaten at similar restaurants before, where the space for Japanese cuisine was limited. It was just wagyu sushi and sashimi, maybe some blowfish and sea urchin at most. What could be so unacceptable?

Zhong Yi clicked his tongue.

He shook his head and said to the waitress, “I can accept it, give me a set meal exactly like his, thank you.”

Then he turned to Rong Mian and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll treat you to this meal.”

The waitress hesitated, looking at Rong Mian beside her.

Rong Mian opened his mouth, wanting to explain that it wasn’t about the money at all, but seeing Zhongyi’s resolute profile, he finally chose to remain silent.

The private room door was closed again.

Zhong Yi had eaten at similar Japanese restaurants before and knew the general routine of the set meals here.

However, he didn’t expect that after sitting for half an hour and having his tea refilled three times, not even a single appetizer was served.

When the waitress entered the room for the fourth time, she had a pen and paper in her hand and asked Zhong Yi if he could leave a signature.

Zhong Yi confidently dropped his name and couldn’t help but ask, “Is the serving speed… a bit too slow?”

“We… need some time for your dishes,” the waitress’s expression was subtly restrained, as if she was holding back some emotions. “Transporting them also requires some manpower. Please wait a little longer, sorry for the inconvenience.”

Zhong Yi was completely puzzled and could only respond with a simple “Okay.”

Ten minutes later, the door to the private room was opened again.

Four male waiters stood at the entrance, with two people forming a row, carrying two large wooden boats that were approximately one and a half meters long.

The boats were filled with a variety of thickly sliced sashimi, meticulously arranged with beautiful patterns, presenting a magnificent sight. Without exception, all the sashimi looked incredibly fresh, as if they had just been taken out of the ocean.

The sashimi was adorned with lemons and pretty flowers, and there was even a salmon head on the bow of the boat, as if gazing at the starry sky.

Zhongyi’s expression gradually became stunned, while Rong Mian’s eyes lit up in an instant, after waiting for so long with chopsticks in hand.

The waiter bowed with a smile, “Here are your two portions of Royal Deluxe Sashimi Platter. Your meal is complete, please enjoy.”

Zhong Yi had never been so speechless in his life.

Especially when Rong Mian, who was sitting opposite him, hesitated before eating, he said, “If you can’t handle it, you can order some cooked food…”

Zhong Yi’s face turned pale and he said, “No need, shut up.”
Rong Mian felt that Zhong Yi seemed unhappy.

But now his mind and eyes were full of the fish in front of him, so he nodded and happily picked up his chopsticks, and started eating by himself.

It was already cool in early spring, and Zhong Yi frowned after eating two pieces, feeling a chilling sensation in his stomach.

Moreover, he himself wasn’t fond of seafood, especially sashimi. Zhong Yi always felt uncomfortable eating half-raw fish, and trying a few pieces for a taste was fine, but ordering such a large amount was a bit excessive.

Oh no, it’s two large boats.

Zhong Yi had a splitting headache, and based on his conservative estimate, there were at least 30 to 40 pieces of sashimi on each boat. Some of the fish of unknown species even had a blood-red color that made one lose their appetite just by looking at it.
Finally, Zhong Yi couldn’t help but ask, “Can you finish all of this?”

A small area on Rong Mian’s boat had already been emptied.

He seemed to enjoy eating the fish as is, without dipping it in soy sauce or mustard from the dish. He then stuffed a thick slice of tuna into his mouth.

Rong Mian’s cheeks bulged as he looked up at Zhong Yi, chewing and mumbling, “Of course I can.”

Zhong Yi remained silent.
Rong Mian didn’t know what he said wrong. He blinked, swallowed the fish in his mouth, and quieted down for a while.

After a moment, he looked at Zhong Yi’s right hand and suddenly seemed to have an epiphany. He asked, “Is it because you’re not able to use chopsticks easily that you’re eating so slowly?”

Before Zhong Yi could answer, Rong Mian picked up his own plate, stood up, and sat beside him.

Rong Mian, who was in high spirits after eating something delicious, enthusiastically said to Zhong Yi, “Let me feed you.”
Zhong Yi said, “I…”
“I come here to eat by myself every month,”
Rong Mian patiently explained, “This platter is so big that I can eat a lot every time, and then every month I have the motivation to go to work and continue to wait for this day next month.”

“Sandou says that only me would order this strange platter, and she doesn’t want to come and eat with me.”

While swallowing a piece of fish, Rong Mian mumbled, “…So you’re the first person to accompany me to eat this platter at this restaurant. I’m so glad.”

Zhong Yi paused for a moment.

“My favorite is salmon. The meat is very soft and sweet.”

Then Rong Mian slowly picked up a piece of salmon, held it with the other hand underneath, and brought it close to Zhong Yi’s mouth, sincerely inviting him, “Try it.”

Zhong Yi paused for a moment, lowered his head, and took a bite of the fish.

Then Zhong Yi then started chewing expressionlessly, while Rong Mian sat beside him, eagerly waiting for his response.

However, Zhong Yi remained silent for a long time. Rong Mian observed his expression and slowly put down the chopsticks.

“Is it not delicious?” Rong Mian asked softly.

Rong Mian heard Zhong Yi say : “It’s alright.”

Rong Mian was stunned for a moment and then lowered his gaze.

He realized that Sandou might be right. Perhaps only he would love to eat this strange platter, and he seemed to have made Zhong Yi eat something he didn’t like.

Rong Mian felt that he might have messed up. He stared blankly at the table, lost in thought, contemplating what he should do to salvage the situation.
Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of him, taking away another piece of salmon from the small boat.

Rong Mian widened his eyes in surprise and turned his head to see Zhong Yi tilting his neck back and casually swallowing the piece of fish.
Zhong Yi didn’t look at Rong Mian.
He casually wiped his hands and said while chewing, “Well, it’s passable. The meat is indeed fresh.”

“When you come to eat next month, remember to invite me.”
Said Zhong Yi.

Author’s note:

Rong Mian (joyfully): Someone accompanied me to eat fish.