87: Chapter 87 Playing with the Spirited Young Girl

The well-trained greeter pulled open the heavy glass doors and bowed in greeting.

Stepping into the restaurant, the air conditioning was blasting, and a faint scent of incense and food wafted through the air.

The environment was quiet with few customers, and well-dressed servers moved about silently.

The five girls subconsciously lowered their voices to a whisper, walking with a hint of restraint, their eyes filled with curiosity and a touch of unease.

Their exaggerated makeup and clothing seemed a bit out of place in this relatively elegant setting.

Cao Kun requested a quiet private room.

After they were seated, a server in a cheongsam handed over a heavy menu. As the girls flipped through it and saw the prices, their eyes widened significantly.

"One order of sweet and sour pork ribs... 88?" Xia Qingzi covered her mouth, nearly crying out in surprise.

"This soup... 128?" Pan Tiantian stuck out her tongue.

"Brother... maybe we should just..." Guo Changge tried to make one last stand.

Cao Kun took the menu and smiled. "It's fine. See what you like."

Without asking further, he told the server, "Bring one of each signature dish: Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish, Slow-cooked Veal, Crab Roe Tofu, stir-fried seasonal vegetables... and an Old Duck Soup. For drinks, freshly squeezed juice, and bring a large fruit platter first."

He ordered with a natural and smooth tone, as if he were just ordering a few skewers at a roadside stall.

The server noted it down and respectfully withdrew.

While waiting for the food, the girls were initially a bit reserved, sipping the lemon water poured by the server and not daring to speak loudly. But as the colorful and exquisitely arranged large fruit platter was brought out, their eyes immediately lit up.

Cao Kun pushed the fruit platter toward them. "Have some fruit first."

Only then did the girls relax a bit, carefully picking up toothpicks to eat the fruit.

Then, dishes full of color, aroma, and flavor were served one by one, their fragrance filling the air and their presentation as beautiful as works of art.

"Wow! This fish is so beautiful!"

"The beef looks so tender!"

"This tofu... how is it made? It's like pudding!"

Faced with the delicious food, the girls' last bit of reserve was broken.

Encouraged by Cao Kun's "Don't be shy, eat as much as you want," they finally let loose and began to feast.

The sound of chopsticks clinking against dishes filled the private room, along with the girls' hushed exclamations and sighs of satisfaction.

"Brother, this is delicious! Try it!" Guo Changge placed a piece of beef in Cao Kun's bowl.

"Brother, this soup is incredible! It's better than my mom's!" Shen Nana said, blowing on her soup spoon.

"So this is what food in a big restaurant is like..." Wen Wanlin said, taking a small bite of the crab roe tofu, her eyes curving into crescents.

Seeing them go from being reserved to relaxed, and finally eating with beaming smiles, Cao Kun also felt very satisfied.

The meal lasted over an hour, and in the end, the plates were almost licked clean.

The girls rubbed their stomachs, their faces flushed with the happy glow of being full and satisfied.

"Full? Let's go walk it off next." Cao Kun settled the bill and led the five girls out of the restaurant.

The afternoon sun was blazing as Cao Kun drove them to a large shopping mall in Zhongzhou.

After parking, they walked into the well-air-conditioned, spacious, and bright mall. The dazzling array of shops and the bustling crowds excited the girls once again.

"Come on, I'll take you to buy some clothes." Cao Kun walked straight toward a chain clothing store that focused on young fashion with mid-to-high prices.

"Brother! No! Really, there's no need!" Guo Changge hurriedly pulled him back.

"Exactly, Brother, the clothes here clearly aren't cheap!" Wen Wanlin added in a low voice.

Although Shen Nana, Xia Qingzi, and Pan Tiantian's eyes were already glued to the beautiful clothes, they also shook their heads in agreement.

Cao Kun stopped, looked at them, and deliberately put on a stern face. "What, I can't even give you some gifts? Just consider it a meeting gift. Listen to me, everyone pick one outfit, whatever you like."

His tone was beyond dispute, yet it carried the concern of an elder brother.

The girls looked at each other, their eyes exchanging a mix of embarrassment and uncontrollable desire.

Ultimately, their love for beautiful clothes and gratitude for Cao Kun's kindness won out.

"Then... thank you, Brother!" Guo Changge was the first to give in, pulling Wen Wanlin as she rushed into the store.

"Thank you, Brother Kun!" The other three girls also cheered and followed them in.

Once inside, the girls were like little mice that had fallen into a rice vat; they didn't know where to look first.

A sales assistant greeted them warmly. Seeing several young girls with a handsome man, she tactfully began recommending the latest seasonal styles.

Cao Kun sat on the lounge sofa in the store, watching them weave through the racks, holding clothes up against themselves, giving each other advice, and discussing excitedly in low voices. Their faces were filled with the pure happiness belonging to their age.

He suddenly felt that the money was well spent.

The system rewards were secondary; seeing them so happy was an enjoyment in itself.

In the end, each girl picked out a complete outfit.

Guo Changge chose a floral dress and a pair of sandals.

Wen Wanlin picked a simple shirt and a pleated skirt.

Shen Nana chose a cool denim overall skirt.

Xia Qingzi took a fancy to a pink short-sleeved top and shorts set.

Pan Tiantian boldly tried on a stylish off-the-shoulder jumpsuit.

When they emerged from the fitting rooms, having swapped their "spirit girl" uniforms for new clothes and standing before the mirror, their entire temperaments underwent a subtle change.

There was less of the deliberate, flashy "cool" persona and more of the freshness and charm belonging to young girls.

Even they themselves looked at their reflections with a mix of surprise and shyness.

"Brother, does it look good?" Guo Changge did a twirl.

"It looks good, it suits you very well." Cao Kun nodded sincerely.

"Brother Kun, is this outfit a bit too youthful?" Xia Qingzi asked, feeling a little unsure.

"Not at all. It makes your skin look fair, and it's very cute."

"Brother Cao Kun, is this... a bit too revealing?" Pan Tiantian tugged at her shoulder strap.

"This is a popular style right now. It looks good and shows off your figure."

Cao Kun's affirmation gave them a huge boost of confidence.

Finally, Cao Kun readily swiped his card to pay. The five sets of clothes and shoes totaled just over three thousand yuan.

But the girls were already as happy as if they had received priceless gifts, buzzing around him incessantly with "Brother, you're so good" and "Brother Kun, you're the most handsome," maxing out the emotional value.

After buying the clothes, it was still early.

Cao Kun saw a large arcade on the fifth floor of the mall and suggested, "Want to go play there?"

"Yes, yes!" The girls, being at an age where they loved to play, immediately responded.

In the arcade, the music was deafening and the lights were dazzling.

Basketball machines, racing simulators, dance machines, Taiko no Tatsujin, claw machines...

The variety of gaming equipment was dizzying.

Cao Kun went straight to the front desk to exchange for a large basket of game tokens and distributed them among the girls.

"Wow! So many tokens!" The girls cheered, each rushing toward the games they were interested in.

Guo Changge and Shen Nana went to play the dance machine, swaying their bodies to the rhythm. Although their moves weren't professional, they were full of youthful energy, drawing many glances.

Xia Qingzi and Pan Tiantian became obsessed with the claw machines, diving into the battle with shouts and cheers.

Wen Wanlin quietly tried Taiko no Tatsujin and actually played quite decently.

Cao Kun himself played a few rounds of racing.

For a while, the arcade was filled with their laughter, exclamations, and sounds of mutual encouragement.

Cao Kun followed behind, occasionally helping them insert tokens, giving tips on techniques, or acting as a dutiful spectator and clapping.

Watching them cast aside all worries and enjoy themselves like ordinary girls their age, he felt a simple sense of happiness.

After playing for over an hour, the game tokens weren't finished yet, but the girls were already a bit tired.

Cao Kun then took them to the cinema downstairs, picked a popular comedy currently showing, bought popcorn and cola, and enjoyed two hours of air conditioning and laughter.

When they came out of the cinema, the city lights were already starting to twinkle.

The evening breeze blew away the heat of the day.

"What do you want to eat for dinner?" Cao Kun asked.

This time, the girls spoke in unison.

"Barbecue! Food stalls!"

...