Chapter 90: Checking In at the Luxury Cabin Animal Restaurant

Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Checking In at the Luxury Cabin Animal Restaurant

Hearing Hoder’s call, Liang He snapped back to reality and hurriedly stepped into the elevator.

The moment the doors closed, a figure hidden around the corner finally revealed itself. It stared at the changing floor numbers as the elevator ascended, lingering for a long time before finally leaving.

"What were you spacing out for just now?" Hoder looked at Liang He curiously. She just shook her head slightly.

"That person just now... I felt a strange sense of familiarity." But Liang He was certain she had never seen him before. "Maybe I’m overthinking it. Let’s just take Cyril to get something to eat first."

The Platinum Giant Lion was so hungry he had started chewing on his own paws. Liang He figured if she didn’t find him some food soon, the little lion would probably throw a tantrum.

"Good idea. I just asked around and found out there’s a specialized animal restaurant here. We can eat there."

After entering their upgraded luxury double cabin, Hoder did another inspection while Liang He had to disinfect herself again, taking the opportunity to remind the Platinum Giant Lion not to run around lest he accidentally ingest the rubbing alcohol. The two of them quickly finished tidying up and took the Platinum Giant Lion to the animal restaurant.

"Hello, welcome to... our restaurant?"

The moment the waiter saw the Platinum Giant Lion behind Liang He, his body stiffened. He froze, almost unable to finish his greeting. Fortunately, the manager’s death glare kept him in check, forcing him to brave through his duties.

"Are you the two newly arrived VIP guests?"

As the manager of the luxury cabin restaurant, he constantly kept an eye on the entire floor, ready to dash wherever he was needed. Seeing the Platinum Giant Lion, he immediately recalled his superior’s instructions and rushed forward to personally receive Liang He and Hoder.

"Yes, I’d like to buy some food that Cyril can eat," Liang He replied.

Hearing the name Cyril, the manager knew his guess was spot on. This Platinum Giant Lion was none other than the Imperial Crown Prince, the future Emperor! He had to put on his best performance.

"No problem, no problem at all. Please follow me."

The manager was highly perceptive. Ever since receiving orders from above, he had reserved a relatively spacious booth for Liang He and Hoder so the Platinum Giant Lion could dine comfortably with them.

"Wow! Mom, Dad, it’s a lion! A super handsome big lion!"

As they walked through the restaurant, the Platinum Giant Lion naturally attracted a lot of attention, with the children having the most enthusiastic reactions.

"I really want to pet him! Will the big lion bite me?"

"I don’t know. Is he a boy lion or a girl lion? Can he have baby lions?"

"Dummy! Of course he’s a boy lion! Girl lions don’t have manes! Isn’t that right, Miss?"

Perhaps because they were in the luxury cabin, the other passengers had a strong sense of boundaries. They didn’t give Liang He’s group weird looks. Once they confirmed the Platinum Giant Lion was harmless, they quietly went back to enjoying their dinners. However, the naturally curious children, seeing that the Platinum Giant Lion didn’t mind them getting close, boldly started asking Liang He questions, their little hands itching to reach out.

"That’s right, Cyril is a very handsome boy lion," Liang He explained on the lion’s behalf. "He doesn’t bite people randomly—unless they’re bad guys." Since Cyril was still hungry and the manager was waiting by their side, she didn’t linger to chat.

After they sat down, the manager personally handed them menus. Thanks to Liang He’s vigorous promotion of Blue Star cuisine, the Starship had recently launched a Blue Star food service, saving her and Hoder from having to drink weird-tasting nutrient solutions.

"I’ll have the potato and beef brisket, and an exclusive beast combo meal, please." The exclusive beast combo Liang He ordered for the Platinum Giant Lion consisted mostly of beef and mutton in generous portions.

"Then I’ll have the braised pork ribs, sour mustard greens fish, and the iron pot stewed goose!" SNAP. Hoder closed the menu, looking at Liang He, fully satisfied and brimming with anticipation.

Seeing this, Liang He couldn’t possibly refuse him. She simply smiled and asked the manager to prepare the food.

"ROAR!"

Since food for beasts only required simple preparation, the Platinum Giant Lion’s massive dinner plate was the first to arrive. He started drooling the moment he saw the meat. After getting Liang He’s permission, the Platinum Giant Lion opened his maw wide, clamped down on the biggest leg of mutton, and focused intently on tearing into it.

"Eat slowly, no one’s going to snatch it from you." Watching the Platinum Giant Lion scarf down the meat, Liang He rested her chin on her hand and let out a helpless sigh. "I really wonder how this little guy managed to leave the reserve, bypass security, and sneak onto the Starship."

Fortunately, her business trip this time was to the Greenfield Star, a planet inhabited by all kinds of flora and fauna where the Platinum Giant Lion could run and live freely. If it had been an ordinary planet, she wouldn’t have known how to settle Cyril down and probably would have had to ask Hoder to send him back to the reserve first.

"Out of all the fluffballs, Cyril spent the least amount of time with you. Who would have thought he’d be the one most reluctant to part with you, haha!" Hoder’s iron pot stewed goose had arrived, but it still needed to simmer for a while. Looking for a distraction, he took the opportunity to tease Liang He.

"Oh, please. He’s just being mischievous." Liang He affectionately tapped the Platinum Giant Lion’s nose. Meeting his adorably clueless green eyes, she chuckled and picked up a piece of beef, popping it into his mouth.

"ROAR~" The Platinum Giant Lion happily accepted Liang He’s hand-feeding, carefully avoiding her fingers so as not to bite her.

"What a well-behaved lion." Just as Liang He was about to enjoy her dinner, an elderly gentleman suddenly appeared by their table, staring at the Platinum Giant Lion.

"Thank you," Liang He politely replied to the old gentleman’s praise. At the same time, she caught sight of a little monkey perched on his shoulder, curiously looking around with wide eyes. "Huh? Is that a monkey?"

Liang He had never seen such a tiny monkey. It looked to be only about ten centimeters tall. To the untrained eye, it could easily be mistaken for a small plush toy.

"Yes, it’s a Dwarf Marmoset named Koko." The old gentleman turned his head with a kindly gaze, looking at the little marmoset on his shoulder. He gently stroked the fur on top of its head with his fingertips, treating it like a precious treasure.

"It looks so cute." Her interest piqued, Liang He stood up and walked over to the old gentleman’s side. She curiously met the little marmoset’s eyes, though she refrained from presumptuously reaching out to touch it.

Seeing that she liked the little marmoset, the old gentleman seemed quite pleased. He cheerfully scooped it into his hands and offered it to Liang He.

"You can hold it," he offered. People who brought animals to dine at a restaurant were generally very compassionate toward them. Furthermore, the old gentleman prided himself on being a good judge of character, which was why he felt comfortable letting Liang He interact with the little marmoset. "However, it’s a bit timid, so it might be scared."

Hearing this, Liang He, who had been about to take the little marmoset, paused her hands in mid-air. Instead, she merely gave it a gentle stroke. She never wanted to force any furry friend into doing something they didn’t want. Even with the old gentleman’s permission, she still wanted to gently seek the little marmoset’s consent first. If it didn’t like being touched, she felt that a simple stroke was just as good.

"Koko, can I hold you?"

In response to Liang He’s question, much to the old gentleman’s astonishment, the little marmoset hooked its slender little tail around Liang He’s finger and, using the momentum, hopped nimbly to land securely in the palm of her hand.