NOVPUB"What would you like to drink? Feel free to choose anything," he handed the menu to Tilan.
Looking at the dazzling array of drinks on the menu, many of which Tilan saw for the first time, she had only recently arrived in the Central Star Domain and was not very familiar with the variety it offered.
"A 'Sour Kadi Juice with Snow Nephelium', please." This T5 level drink was mid-priced on the menu.
"You don't have to be so frugal. Why not try the most luxurious T3 level drink in the shop?" Milowan flicked his special titanium co-branded payment card between his fingers and handed it to the black cat-eared waitress. The card had a rich purple hue, distinguishable at a glance from ordinary payment cards.
"That's too expensive," Tilan shook her head. There were only three T3 level drinks in this establishment, each priced in the tens of thousands.
"It's fine, life is all about the experience."
He had seen this kind of modesty before; the girls always insisted on not needing anything fancy, but every time he ended up ordering for them, they were overjoyed.
That's human nature for you, who doesn't like a good deal?
"How about I pick one for you?" he motioned for the waitress to bring the menu to him.
The black cat-eared waitress hesitated briefly, her gaze shifting to Tilan. Though the young man beside her was a wealthy heir, the opinion of the young girl opposite her seemed more important.
"Really, it's not necessary. T3 level drinks are extraordinary, but there's no need for that now," said Tilan, raising her hand slightly to signal a stop, which made the waitress put down the menu.
"Are you sure you don't want to try?" Milowan across from her was somewhat disbelieving, thinking the young girl was still feigning modesty.
"Indeed, there's no need," she insisted.
The clear and pure tone of the girl's voice, free of any impurities, caused Milowan to hesitate, as he might have truly misunderstood her.
Seeing that the two seemed to have made up their minds, the waitress bowed slightly, excused herself, and stepped away with the menu.
Soon after, two drinks were served.
In the glass before Tilan was a blue and red fruit juice containing washed and cut Snow Nephelium, a crispy and sweet fruit with green skin and flesh, deliciously sweet without any tartness when eaten raw. The Sour Kadi was a special fruit developed in the Sixth Era, featuring large translucent flesh that oozed a sweet and sour juice at the slightest bite. It could be quite tart on its own, but when combined with the softer Snow Nephelium, it was delightful.
As for Milowan, his glass contained half a peeled Saint Mango with black raspberries adorning the other side, and a bit of green vine hanging down the side of the glass for decoration. The 'Saint Mango,' 'Cat's Eye Raspberry,' and 'Cease Green Gardenia' were all special Transcendent plants, quite pricey, but not so perfectly matched when put together.
Milowan was not particularly concerned with these subtle differences. His focus had shifted to the young girl opposite him.
Tilan, seated in the cafe, pulled her hood back to reveal her snow-white long hair. This snow-white was different from the dull white hair of the elderly—it was healthy and sleek, matching her equally pristine complexion, captivating to behold.
Dying one's hair snow-white in this Transcendent era was not difficult. In fact, many did so, but not everyone could pull it off. If one's skin quality was poor, the snow-white hue would only make the imperfections stand out, highlighting any lack of beauty, which is why silver-white hair was still rare on the streets.
The hair dye cream was actually a gift from Audrey to Tilan, their family's own product. Because of the popularity of 'Hong Hu Pure White,' many people needed it.
After briefly commenting on the style and decoration of the cafe, Milowan changed the topic and inquired about Tilan's personal situation.
"I haven't asked the beautiful lady's name yet. My name is Milowan, the current heir of 'Purple Huaishan.' My visit to the Harp Coronet is also to expand our family business," he said.
"My name? I can't really say my true name for now; it would be quite troublesome. If you would like to address me, you can call me 'Dantalion,'" Tilan replied, taking small sips of her juice and occasionally glancing at the scenery outside the window.
"'Dantalion,' a title that's full of ancient mythological style. To have such a name shows that Miss Dantalion is a person of profound knowledge," he praised her before segueing into other subjects.
"Miss Dantalion is still pursuing further studies at the university, I presume?"
"Yes."
"There are many prestigious universities in the Central Star Domain. It's fortunate to be able to study here. I too wanted to come, but my father intervened and sent me to a specialized business school instead, saying that what I learned there would be more suitable for taking over the family business," he remarked, shaking his head regretfully.
"Where does Miss Dantalion like to go for fun on weekends?" he asked, trying to find an opening, as Tilan was not talking much.
"Sometimes I attend concerts or just rest at home." That was indeed the truth; aside from being dragged out by Ailu Kelu for performances, she spent much of her time sleeping.
"All excellent choices, a good balance of work and leisure. However, I have a small invitation and suggestion for you," he said.
"Would Miss Dantalion be willing to visit our store over the weekend?"
"It's not necessarily about being a model. I'm new to the Central Star Domain and not very familiar with the current trends. I hope Miss Dantalion could give me some advice. Not only are you a student here, but also a learned young woman, so your suggestions would surely be more insightful and reflect the public's preferences," he proposed.
