The Tan family cuisine and Sichuan dishes were as authentic as one could hope for.
At a friend's suggestion, Aetheris had tried this place once before. The taste had been so genuine, it reminded him of his mother's cooking.
Outside, the winter wind howled icy, sharp, and unrelenting. But inside the He Family Restaurant, the warmth and liveliness felt like spring.
Aetheris deliberately ordered a yin-yang hot pot, knowing most Americans couldn't handle the full heat of spicy broth.
Besides, the stunning Hill would be joining them. Watching her fan her mouth in distress from too much chili was hardly the mood he wanted to set.
"May I help you with anything?"
A waiter approached, speaking in a crisp London accent. Yet despite his fluent English, he was clearly Asian, with black hair and dark eyes.
Aetheris smiled."You wouldn't happen to be a student from abroad, would you?"
The young man shook his head."I'm the owner's son. You can just call me Morgan."
Aetheris nodded."What are your specialties here?"
Morgan handed him a menu brimming with dishes, ranging from Sichuan and Tan family recipes to Cantonese and the more delicate Huaiyang cuisine. It was almost enough to rival the famed Imperial Banquet.
Aetheris ordered hot pot, a few of the house specialties, and a grouper.
Ten minutes later, Cyclops walked in with Hill. Both wore heavy black trench coats, trailing a gust of cold air behind them.
Hill, already an ice-cold beauty, seemed even more untouchable framed by the winter chill.
Attendants rushed forward to hang their coats, their service meticulous.
Cyclops chuckled."Tony, you really know how to pick your spots. Walking in here feels like The Last Emperor—every gesture comes with servants. Almost unnatural."
Hill accepted a warm towel and a hand-warmer with polite thanks, then glided over to sit across from Aetheris.
With her coat off, Aetheris saw she wore only a thin, form-fitting black sweater despite the twenty-five-degree warmth inside. The soft knit hugged her graceful figure.
Her long, slender neck, pale as a swan's, shimmered with a platinum necklace that caught the light.
For a fleeting moment, Aetheris thought he could turn into the Hulk and launch a world-shaking battle right here and now.
But he quickly reined himself in.
After all, he was already surrounded by beauty every day his maid Victor alone could outshine most. He was no longer the man who, upon first crossing over, would throw himself at any woman who smiled at him.
He handed Hill the menu with a faint smile."I've already ordered. See if there's anything else you'd like."
Hill added a scoop of ice cream, while Cyclops, unreserved, ordered a generous plate of caviar—joking that he intended to bankrupt the wealthy Tony Stark.
Aetheris chuckled inwardly. Baldy, even if you gorge yourself tonight, it won't equal what I make in a single minute.
Once everyone was settled, the food arrived, and Aetheris invited the two S.H.I.E.L.D. powerhouses to begin.
Though the hot pot had two broths, the spicy dish was especially tempting. Hill, unable to resist, finally tried a small bite.
After three rounds of wine and countless dishes, Aetheris set his chopsticks down."Director, you didn't bring me here tonight just for dinner, did you?"
Cyclops sipped his wine, plucked a slice of lamb from the clear broth, chewed, swallowed, and sighed contentedly."We've found Steve."
Aetheris was still distracted, his eyes lingering on Hill's faint blush. He wondered if it came from the warmth inside or the spice on her lips.
"What did you say? Steve?"
Snapping out of his daze, he frowned.
Steve? The name meant nothing to him.
Cyclops immediately understood. Clearly, Stark had been too distracted by Hill to remember Captain America's real name.
So he clarified."Steve Rogers—the American symbol of the last century. Captain America."
Aetheris nearly choked. Captain America is fine, why on earth are you calling him Steve?
In the movies, nobody ever called him that. He was always just "Captain."
Why was Cyclops even bringing this up now? What did Captain America's return have to do with him? They weren't relatives. Sure, Rogers had known his late father, but that hardly made them family.
Cyclops, unconcerned, kept eating with relish.
Tony Stark really knew how to live. A place like this… being rich truly had its perks.
Aetheris, unfazed, calmly dipped another slice of lamb and placed it onto Hill's plate.
She thanked him softly, then dipped the marbled lamb into sesame sauce before savoring it. The tender meat, paired with the nutty aroma, bloomed across her taste buds.
Even the ice queen couldn't resist a subtle smack of her lips, secretly resolving to bring her best friend here next time.
Aetheris, meanwhile, helped himself to duck intestines—the perfect balance of crunch and tenderness his favorite.
When he still didn't comment, Cyclops grew puzzled."Tony, you don't seem surprised to hear the Captain's back? Remember, he was from your father's time. By now, he should be nearly a hundred years old, yet he looks younger than you."
Aetheris curled his lip. He hated people bringing up age. Sure, men were said to bloom in their thirties, but as Ma Weidu once said, if you could trade wealth for youth, he'd give it all up.
"Hmph. So what if he's young? Everyone was young once. Life experience that's the real treasure."
With a huff, Aetheris dipped another slice of lamb in garlic sauce and swallowed it whole.
(End of Chapter)
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