The private room had a large window, through which the heavy snowfall outside was clearly visible.
White steam gradually rose.
The fragrance of the soup base slowly filled the room.
"Awroo~"
Taotie leaped from the top of Xiao Xiao's head onto the table.
It wasn't afraid of the heat.
It went straight to the hot pot.
Its tiny body nearly sprawled across the rim of the pot.
Xiao Xiao shook his head with an amused smile.
He reached out and stroked Taotie's head.
"Wait a little longer."
"The dishes haven't arrived yet."
Speak of the devil, and he appears.
"Knock, knock—"
"Ah!"
The server let out a startled cry.
The tray in her hands tilted, about to topple to the side.
Just as the "disaster" seemed unavoidable—
"Are you all right?"
The voice that reached the server's ears brought her eyes back into focus.
Huh?
As her vision gradually cleared, she saw the tray in the young man's hands.
Wasn't that...?!
"Ah?!"
She couldn't help but cry out.
"This..."
She looked down.
There was no tray on the floor.
Much less the various hot pot ingredients that had been on it.
The tension in her heart suddenly eased.
Her shoulders sagged without her realizing it.
She looked gratefully at the young man before her.
"Thank you."
It was obvious what had happened: this young man had "saved" her tray.
"Thank you so, so much."
And... "You're amazing."
She hadn't even noticed when the young man had come over.
She'd only been caught off guard.
There was no way he could have known in advance.
He hadn't been anywhere near the door just moments ago.
And yet he'd made it from the table to her side in such a short time...
It was unbelievable.
So things like this