The campus is filled with restaurants and eateries, offering a wide variety of choices.
However, due to the high level of interest in the exchange competition, they were inevitably surrounded by fans no matter where they chose to dine.
People asking for photos are manageable, but those who chase after you for autographs or try to strike up a conversation are a real headache.
These past few days, the two have been staying almost entirely in the villa, relying on takeout for their meals.
To avoid the crowds, Jiang Churan specifically chose Eastern District this time, far from the campus, quiet yet lively.
It was already six o'clock in the afternoon.
Zhou Rui and Jiang Churan left the villa area together and headed straight for the Eastern District.
Eastern District is the most prosperous of the twelve administrative districts in Qingjing City.
In its heart lies a food promenade spanning several streets and alleys, which locals call " Gourmet Paradise."
This place is home to a large number of top chefs and culinary experts, and offers a wide variety of ingredients, from those that fly in the sky to those that run on the ground and those that swim in the water.
If you dare to dream of it, you can basically afford to eat it.
In earlier years, some people even used dragon meat as the main ingredient to create a signature dish that caused a sensation.
A hub of delicious food, bustling with activity, and located in the heart of the area...
The combination of multiple advantages has made the " Gourmet Paradise " increasingly prosperous, becoming a must-visit destination for tourists from other places when visiting Qingdao and Beijing.
The entire block has four entrances: east, south, west, and north.
Just after six o'clock, the crowds began to surge and the atmosphere of lively cooking filled the air.
Each entrance was bustling with activity and filled with the noise of people.
It's November now, and the temperature has already started to cool down.
Yet, girls wearing miniskirts and low-waisted hot pants can still be seen everywhere on the streets.
It's not that they're not afraid of the cold, but rather that modern technology and magic have made keeping warm easy and efficient. With a portable thermostat and a low-level fire scroll, they can simply activate it and feel warmth continuously on their skin, which is more effective than a thick coat and has long been a standard accessory for young girls when going out.
Gourmet Paradise are naturally popular with young people, so this kind of equipment is readily available everywhere.
certainly...
This clean and crisp outfit added a touch of vibrant energy to the entire street.
At that moment, a man and a woman entered side by side amidst the crowd at the east entrance.
The girl looked to be eighteen or nineteen years old. Her long, black hair was tied up high with a red ribbon. She walked lightly, and the ends of her hair swayed gently with her movements.
Her figure is slender yet well-proportioned; even in a simple gray short-sleeved shirt, her chest curves are exceptionally eye-catching.
Beneath the skirt, her legs were straight and long, her skin as smooth and lustrous as cream.
Naturally beautiful and possessing an innate aura.
Every smile and glance has a captivating charm.
Even if she stands still, she stands out like a crane among chickens in a crowd, attracting everyone's attention.
Wow, that's amazing!
"That waistline, those legs, the proportions are just amazing!"
"Perfect score! You really dare to give it a hundred points!"
"..."
Three boys were sitting in the game area next to the east entrance. They looked up and froze in surprise.
"That's right, absolutely perfect!"
Not only is her face flawless, but her figure is also one in a million!
The handsome, sunny boy immediately stood up, quickly straightened his shirt collar, and smoothed the stray hairs from his forehead.
"What are you doing?" The short-haired youth was taken aback.
"Go and talk to her! She's such a rare girl; you'd be lucky to meet her even once in your life!"
"If you miss today, you'll regret it for years to come!"
His tone was firm, and his eyes were intense.
He had truly never seen a girl like this before.
Missing out could truly become a regret.
"They have someone with them." The short-haired young man gestured to the side.
"Where?"
The sunny guy looked closely and, sure enough, there was a young man with the girl he had given a perfect score to.
The other person was not old, but had a calm demeanor. Coupled with his tall and upright stature of 1.9 meters, he appeared exceptionally upright and reliable.
That tall figure resembled a lurking ancient beast; even as it moved slowly forward, it exuded a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.
This oppressive aura wasn't deliberately released, yet it naturally crushed like a predator looking down on its prey, causing one to instinctively tremble and dare not look directly at it.
"So what if she brought a male companion? A Liang will easily win her over."
Another tall, thin boy with a silver stud in his earlobe scoffed, completely unconcerned.
But the moment the sunny young man caught sight of that tall figure, he immediately plopped down on the bench, lazily sinking into the back of the chair.
"You're already chickening out? A Liang, that's not like you."
The boy with the earring was slightly taken aback.
"Heh... that guy looks no more than nineteen, about the same age as the girl next to him."
"But when I scanned him with my Appraisal, the system immediately gave an error, which means his level is at least level 21 higher than mine, conservatively estimated to be level 22 or higher!"
"A level 22 at nineteen... I don't want to die young, I'd better take a detour."
The sunny young man spread his hands, his tone light, but his eyes were very serious.
His family is quite influential in Qingjing City, and in the past, most of the girls he fancied would agree to marry him.
But this time is different.
That girl herself is a level 19 hidden professional; she could try to strike up a conversation and become acquainted with the girl if she fought alone.
But standing next to her was a boy whose background he couldn't even figure out; if he rashly approached him, he'd probably be left with nothing but bones...
"I see."
The boy with the earring paused for a moment, then nodded.
really.
Although they have some wealth, they dare not act recklessly.
Qingjing City is full of hidden talents; if you carelessly offend the wrong person, your entire family could be wiped out...
The man and woman they were secretly talking about were Zhou Rui and Jiang Churan, who had just left Qingjing University and stepped into this neighborhood.
" Gourmet Paradise, indeed, it lives up to its name."
"The aroma alone, wafting in the air, makes my throat itch and my stomach tighten."
Zhou Rui followed the crowd into the street, his eyes sweeping over both sides. Rows of stalls were steaming, charcoal fires were crackling, and the aromas of oil, soy sauce, and charcoal filled the air, making it hard to move.
"It smells so good!"
Jiang Churan took a deep breath, her eyes instantly lighting up.
This is a place highly recommended by Liu Yang, who says it gathers nearly half of the flavors of the Central Xia Country!
You should know...
The Eternity Game has been integrated with reality for over three hundred years.
With the rise of the professions of chefs and culinary artists, coupled with the emergence of countless magical beasts and exotic plants, the variety of dishes on Blue Star has already exceeded ten million!
As one of the top powers on Blue Star, the Central Xia Country has innovated and created countless delicacies in this wave.
So when Liu Yang said that "it brings together half of the country's delicacies," she was still somewhat skeptical.
Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I realize that those words were not an exaggeration at all.
"Brother Zhou Rui, let's go!"
The aroma wafted in, Jiang Churan couldn't resist. She grabbed Zhou Rui's wrist and pulled him deeper into the street.
Wow! These meatballs are so bouncy they seem to dance! The main ingredient is actually fish meat from a deep-sea monster, a predator of level 30 or higher that dominates the abyss!
"Wow~ this is amazing! The spiciness hits you right in the head!"
"Brother Zhou Rui, try this!"
"..."
The two strolled through the Gourmet Paradise, stopping at almost every stall to try a bite.
For an ordinary person, they would probably be too full to walk after turning two blocks.
However, Zhou Rui possessed the Frost Titan Bloodline, Jiang Churan had the body of a succubus, and their appetites far exceeded those of ordinary people, so they were not afraid of overeating.
Along the way, they strolled and ate their way through the city, encountering many rare and unheard-of items.
Some vendors even brought out the flesh and blood of legendary-level magical beasts.
Of course, the price is also quite shocking: a small portion weighing less than ten grams is priced starting at 100,000 Zhongxia coins...
However, there are also plenty of affordable options; you can buy a snack made from ordinary monster meat for just a few dozen yuan, which is full of local flavor.
And so, the two walked and tasted, and four hours passed in the blink of an eye.
"Phew... it's been so long since I've had such a satisfying meal!"
Zhou Rui sat back on a bench in the open square, a little sauce still on his fingertips, his face full of satisfaction.
Since awakening his Frost Titan Bloodline, he has found it difficult to experience the same sense of peace and contentment that ordinary people feel when they "eat until they burp".
"We spent a full four hours exploring, and we still hadn't even seen half of the Gourmet Paradise!"
Jiang Churan sat beside him, a bit of chili powder still on her lips, her tone full of amazement.
It was already 10 p. m.
In other words, they lingered on this street for nearly four hours.
Forget about the whole picture, it didn't even cover half of the stalls.
Although eating while walking slowed down the pace, it was enough to show that this place is truly enormous.
" Gourmet Paradise is made up of five or six blocks pieced together; how could you possibly explore it all in one morning?" Zhou Rui shook his head with a smile.
Unlike at Qingjing University, almost no one recognized him during those four hours.
Occasionally, a few glances would fall upon them, but those glances were drawn only to their striking appearances, not to the exchange match.
This sense of ease and freedom made him feel exceptionally relaxed.
That's understandable.
Although the National University Freshman Exchange Tournament is a major annual event in Central Xia Country, only a small number of die-hard viewers actually follow it closely.
Most people are too busy making a living to hear his name by chance in the news or catch a glimpse of one or two highlights in a TV replay.
Want to spot Zhou Rui on the street at a glance?
The probability is even lower than winning the lottery.
"Fifty-year-old aged green fruit wine! Two hundred thousand Zhongxia yuan per bottle!"
"It has a refreshing taste and can slightly boost agility. Only ten bottles left, while supplies last!!"
A loud shout suddenly erupted from a stall in the distance.
"Fifty-year-old green fruit wine?"
Jiang Churan's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Zhou Rui and ran over there.
Most food stalls in the street operate openly, and this place is no exception. Wooden tables are set up under the streetlights, and copper kettles steam with a pale blue aroma of liquor, creating Pyro.
This is a small stall specializing in alcoholic beverages, with rows of neatly stacked wine jars behind it.
Ten celadon wine bottles were displayed on the stall, each about 20 centimeters high and 10 centimeters in diameter, with a clear and lustrous glaze.
Bring it closer and smell it carefully; a refreshing fruity fragrance quietly enters your nose, neither like plum nor pear, subtle yet not weak, and soothing to the soul.
By this time, a crowd had gathered around the stall; they were all passersby who had come after hearing the shouts and following the scent.
"A 50-year-old aged green fruit wine, 200,000 yuan a bottle? That's a bit pricey."
"Not bad, worth the price of 200,000. Give me a bottle!"
"This wine is only effective for professionals with an agility attribute below 200. Once it's above 200, it's just for fun. Forget it, I won't buy it."