"Aunt, why do you have time to look for me?"
After getting into the car, Yao An sat with her legs together and fastened her seatbelt, looking exceptionally well-behaved.
She knew Yao Qiuran would most likely be wearing all black, so today she wore an apricot-colored, off-the-shoulder, ruffled dress, which could neutralize the sharp aura of the other person.
"I told you I was just passing by."
"Oh, okay then."
Yao An didn't press the issue; she knew Yao Qiuran would eventually say it herself.
Sure enough, Yao Qiuran began to complain to her while fiddling with a delicate lighter in her hand.
"Sigh, your damn father harasses me every day, saying that I, as an aunt, am not doing my job, saying that you've been in Shanghai for almost a month and I haven't even visited you."
"If I don't come to see you soon, that daughter-obsessed father will probably sever our sibling relationship."
Yao An pursed her lips, a hint of a smile in her eyes.
"What do you want to eat?"
"Anything is fine, just something economical and practical."
Yao Qiuran pouted dismissively.
"If Yao Yuanping knew I took you to eat cheap food, he'd probably write 'stingy' on my forehead."
"Steak, Japanese cuisine, Italian food, pick one..."
"Forget it, don't pick. I recently found an omakase place with great food and decor. I'll take you to try it."
Yao An shook her head.
"It's very expensive, let's just eat something simple."
Omakase is a type of Japanese cuisine, and its translation means 'I'll leave it to you, Chef'.
There's no fixed menu; the chef improvises based on the day's ingredients and the customer's preferences, serving small, varied portions. But in essence, it's still Japanese food.
The prices are exorbitant, several hundred to a thousand per person, mainly for the ambiance and atmosphere. However, some sophisticated female white-collar workers do prefer this kind of stylish restaurant.
Just like Yao Qiuran.
"You're in your aunt's territory now, so your aunt must treat you well. Today, you just enjoy yourself; don't worry about anything else."
Since the other person said so, Yao An couldn't say much more. She quietly pulled out her makeup, and just as she was about to draw her eyebrows, her peripheral vision caught Yao Qiuran preparing to shift gears.
She couldn't help but remind her:
"Aunt, don't drive in high heels, it's very dangerous."
Yao Qiuran waved her hand.
"Your aunt is an experienced driver, very steady."
"No!"
Seeing her frown slightly, her foxy eyes serious, and a hint of sternness on her face, Yao Qiuran couldn't help but concede.
There was no other way; this was the only treasure in the family, and everyone had to pamper her.
"But I don't have any other shoes in my car."
She looked at the flat shoes Yao An was wearing.
"Our feet seem to be about the same size. Let's switch."
With that, she had already taken off those beautiful instruments of torture and handed them to her niece.
Yao An, of course, wouldn't dislike her aunt, and quietly took off her flat shoes to exchange with her.
Yao Qiuran couldn't help but click her tongue in admiration when she saw Yao An's fair, flawless, delicate feet.
"So beautiful! Promise your aunt that from now on, your feet can only be used for walking."
Yao An instantly understood, and a few black lines appeared on her face.
Sure enough, her aunt was just as she said, indeed an experienced driver, the kind who frequently speeds onto the highway.
"Let me tell you about the itinerary for the next two days, okay? We'll have dinner first, then go to the club for a full body treatment. Tonight, you'll sleep with me, and if you behave well, your aunt will reward you with 2000 yuan for your hard work tomorrow."
Yao Qiuran recounted her plan while driving, making Yao An's mouth twitch and her eyeliner skew.
"Aunt, can you please be normal? I have class tomorrow morning, so I need to go back to school tonight."
"Give me your counselor's phone number; I'll help you ask her for leave."
"Aunt!"
Yao Qiuran looked back at her, displaying a pitiful expression.
"Tonight, your Uncle isn't home, and I'm all alone. Your aunt is very lonely, both physically and mentally. And you know, I lost my father when I was young, and I'm very afraid of the dark. Will you keep your aunt company, please?"
She couldn't shake the feeling that her words sounded like a scoundrel luring an innocent girl to stay overnight outside of school.
Yao An sighed helplessly.
"Just this once."
Yao Qiuran beamed.
"Don't worry, the next time I remember I even have a niece like you will be who knows when. You can just fend for yourself at your broken University of Finance and Economics."
The Japanese restaurant Yao Qiuran mentioned was in a bustling area of Xuhui District, requiring reservations two days in advance. However, her aunt must have been a frequent visitor, as she simply called the manager to secure a table.
After getting out of the car, because she had never worn high heels before, Yao An predictably twisted her ankle after only a couple of steps.
"No way, really? You have such long legs, and you've never worn high heels before?"
Yao Qiuran quickly went to support her, a worried expression on her face.
"Does your ankle hurt?"
It certainly hurt, but not that much. After all, her physical fitness was now significantly better than before; Yao An was no longer the delicate, willowy soft girl she once was.
It just meant she'd be limping tonight.
"N-nothing too serious..."
"Quick, change back into your shoes."
"You need to learn to wear high heels in the future. You don't know how good you look in high heels. If I were a man, I'd be completely smitten by you and want you to hook your arms around me with those two legs."
Yao An was speechless, choosing to ignore her.
Women who casually make such suggestive remarks are truly captivating, especially when it's her own aunt.
The Japanese restaurant's decor and atmosphere were excellent, and there were quite a few foreigners dining there. Upon seeing two tall, beautiful women enter, everyone's eyes lit up.
However, most men who dine in such places usually have female companions, so no high-quality men came over to chat under the guise of treating them.
After they were seated, the chef, speaking in a foreign language, began to prepare ingredients in front of everyone. Regardless of anything else, at least the ingredients displayed in the cabinet for him to cook were not the stale frozen goods found in other Japanese restaurants.
At the very least, they looked very fresh.
It was Yao An's first time experiencing this style of Japanese cuisine. Initially, she approached it with a critical mindset, but as each delicious dish entered her mouth, she gradually came to appreciate the chef's skill.
The salmon and tuna were tender and fresh, the sweet shrimp and sea urchin were savory and sweet, without any hint of fishiness.
The king crab legs and sushi were perfectly seared, offering rich layers of flavor with each bite, leaving one wanting more.
The Japanese desserts were also very good; Jiang Jingya, the dessert connoisseur, would definitely love them. The chef even specially presented the aunt and niece with an extra dish of salted sweet tofu with almonds.
It was hard to say whether it was because of their outstanding beauty or because the chef knew Yao Qiuran.
All in all, the dining experience was quite good.
At least, it felt good before seeing the bill.
When settling the bill, the two spent a total of 2305 yuan, with service fees alone exceeding 500 yuan. One could only say it was indeed Shanghai; one meal cost as much as Yao An's monthly living expenses during high school.
Afterward, the aunt and niece went to a club for a spa, and in addition to massages and treatments, there was another round of eating.
Of course, they couldn't escape compliments on their figures and looks from the female masseuses.
It was a good thing that both Yao An and her aunt had metabolisms that prevented them from gaining weight easily; otherwise, with the amount of food they consumed tonight, they would have gained at least three catties by tomorrow.
It was already late when they left the club. As soon as they got into the car, her aunt received a call from a woman.
The woman seemed to be her aunt's former superior, calling her "Qiuran" repeatedly, with a beautiful voice that, in the description of a domineering CEO novel, would be like the texture of ice colliding. Her tone was also very much like a domineering CEO's, suggesting she was likely a very serious and meticulous person. Even the usually free-spirited Yao Qiuran adopted a somewhat formal tone when speaking with her on the phone.