Chapter 301 Meeting Aria

Chapter 301 Meeting Aria

She came alone, had already finished eating, and was sitting there slowly sipping champagne. The chair across from her was empty.

Nora wanted to go over and share the table with her.

She walked over and was about to sit down when a female assistant immediately came out to stop her. "Excuse me, please stop."

Nora looked surprised. "Isn't that seat empty? Can't I share the table?"

As she spoke, Aria also looked over, seemingly a casual glance, then froze, turned back, and gazed at Nora with her beautiful eyes, feeling that... she looked very familiar.

"Stop making excuses. You can't share tables here." The female assistant thought she was just someone trying to butter up to Aria.

Aria smiled. "It's fine, let her share the table."

The female assistant was stunned.

Nora walked forward and saw such a beautiful woman for the first time - her bone structure and temperament were top-notch, gentle and elegant, with a graceful bearing.

Nora nodded at her as a greeting.

Then she ordered the restaurant's signature dish, sat across from Aria playing with her phone - she really wasn't here to butter up to Aria, just looking for a place to eat.

After Aria realized she wasn't there to butter up to her, she continued staring blankly at the plane trees outside the window.

After a while, the food arrived.

Nora picked up her spoon, scooped up a spoonful of risotto and ate it. It was delicious. She squinted her eyes, then took out a notebook from her bag and wrote something down.

Aria saw her taking notes and asked curiously, "What are you writing?"

"This rice is really good, right?" Nora glanced at her plate - she had ordered the same dish and eaten half of it. "It's stewed with seven types of meat, with fennel and nutmeg, garlic, tomatoes... pretty interesting indeed."

Aria didn't expect her to be able to taste the ingredients, her eyes showing surprise. "Do you know how difficult this dish is to make?"

"I know." Nora didn't deny this point.

Fine cuisine is always more complex. She nodded. "But the taste could be better."

"What are you saying?" The female assistant heard Nora's words and suddenly got angry. This dish was developed by Aria.

Aria was a world-renowned three-star chef - how could this young girl talk nonsense?

If it weren't for Aria's poor health, why would she have retired at home?

"If the taste isn't good enough, it isn't good enough. Just improve it. Is there any need to get so angry?" Nora said very frankly.

The female assistant's face turned red with anger. Just as she was about to argue with Nora, Aria stopped her.

"How do you think it should be improved?" Aria looked at Nora.

"Add some orange, and it'll taste better." Nora wrote in her notes and gave her answer.

Aria's eyes flickered. She said to the female assistant, "Have the head chef make another risotto and add some orange to it."

The meat for the risotto was stewed during the day and could be served anytime.

Hearing this, Nora was stunned. "You... are the owner of this restaurant?"

Aria smiled. "Yes."

Nora felt suddenly embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you just now."

She just thought the taste could be improved, but she didn't expect to point out the dish's shortcomings right in front of Aria.

"It's fine." Aria smiled gently. "It's been a long time since anyone gave me feedback."

Moments later, the improved risotto was brought up.

Aria took a plate and shared some with Nora. "Let's taste it together."

"Okay, thank you." Nora scooped up a spoonful and ate it.

The taste was indeed better. She smiled and looked at Aria. "See? It tastes better."

Aria was clearly amazed by the improved risotto. Her eyes lit up, and she even got a bit teary. "You have a very sharp palate."

This girl in front of her suddenly made her passionate about cooking again.

She was originally a culinary genius. Over twenty years ago, she was already world-renowned. But after giving birth, her health had never been good, so she retired at home.

Moreover, her twins had no interest in cooking.

Both children were more like George, inclined to develop in the business world.

This made Aria deeply regretful because her renowned recipes were destined to be passed on to others.

She hadn't developed any dishes in many years. She didn't expect that just by chance meeting a girl, her recipe's flaws would be perfected. She felt both moved and a renewed passion to get back on track.

She said happily, "I suddenly want to cook again."

Nora was slightly stunned. "This dish wasn't invented by you, was it?"

"Of course. Mrs. Bennett has developed over a hundred dishes, published many books, and only someone as ignorant as you would dare to talk nonsense in front of her." The female assistant came out to scold Nora.

"She's right. It does taste better with the orange added." Aria glanced at the female assistant, her gentleness fading a bit, revealing the sharpness in her eyes.

The female assistant was shocked and didn't dare speak again.

She didn't expect Aria, who was always strict about food, to actually approve of her.

Nora was very surprised.

Aria asked her, "How old are you this year?"

"23 years old. No, it's after New Year's, I'm 24 now." Nora smiled in response.

Aria nodded with a smile. "Same age as my daughter."

"Why are you two eating together?" A pleasant voice came from behind.

Nora turned around. It was Louis, his ink-black eyes holding a faint smile, his voice clear and pleasant.

"Mr. Bennett?" Nora stood up and glanced at Aria. "You know each other?"

Aria smiled. "He's my son Louis."

Nora was stunned.

This noblewoman was Vivian's mother, Aria...

"This is Nora." Louis said to Aria.

Aria was stunned. "You're Steven's wife Nora?"

Nora immediately felt a bit nervous, afraid Aria would settle scores with her for Vivian's sake.

But Aria just smiled. "You don't need to be nervous. You didn't do anything wrong in this matter."

Nora fell silent.

Was this really Vivian's biological mother?

"All these years, because of my poor health, I've been recuperating abroad and had no time to educate Vivian myself, which made her somewhat domineering." Aria looked at Nora. "Regarding what happened between you two, I've already heard from Louis. Ms. Adams is the victim, and it's Vivian who wronged you."

Nora looked surprised.

Aria said, "Since I've met Ms. Adams, let me apologize to you on Vivian's behalf."

Nora felt this family was actually quite nice.

Although they ran a big business, they were all law-abiding people. When Vivian did things that harmed the company, they all tried their best to stop her.

Speaking of Vivian, Aria's expression became much more indifferent.

Although she was her biological daughter, Vivian had always preferred clinging to George since childhood. During those years abroad, Aria had originally wanted to take Vivian with her, but Vivian kept saying she wanted to stay with her dad in the country. If she wasn't allowed to stay, she would cry loudly, so Aria didn't force her and let her go to school and grow up domestically.

Louis, on the other hand, grew up abroad with Aria and only returned to the Bennett Group domestically for training after graduation.

The three of them chatted well. When Aria learned that Nora loved eating chestnuts, she smiled and said, "I also love eating chestnuts."

"Really?" Nora was very surprised.

Louis touched his high-bridged nose. "I also like eating chestnuts. It seems only Vivian in our family doesn't like chestnuts."

Speaking of chestnuts, Aria's eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Nora. "Actually, I've been developing a chestnut dessert recently. How about I go make it now and let you both try it?"

As Aria spoke, her eyes seemed to shine.

Neither Louis nor Vivian had given her this feeling of being recognized, but Nora gave her this passion to rediscover her dreams.

Over the years, although she wasn't as passionate about cooking as before, she still occasionally developed dishes.

Louis was a bit surprised to see Aria so enthusiastic. "Okay."

After he agreed and Aria left, Louis said, "What exactly did you do? You got her so enthusiastic that you even stirred up her competitive spirit."

She smiled and said, "I just pointed out a flaw in your mom's cooking."

"You really dared?" Louis couldn't help but laugh. "Do you know how famous my mom is in the culinary world?"

Nora shook her head. "I don't follow the food industry. How would I know?"

"I guess it's genius meeting genius, kindred spirits." Louis was in a very good mood and said with a smile, "You might not believe it, but I haven't seen my mom this happy in a long time."

"What do you mean?"

"Over the years, she gave up her dreams for us. Honestly, since I can remember, I've never seen her work." Everyone said Aria was a very prestigious international chef who had shown her talent at countless state banquets, but because of Louis and Vivian, she gave up her ideals.

He only remembered that Aria's cooking was delicious.

Nora smiled and said, "It's not too late for her to pursue it again now. You've both grown up, so she can do what she wants."

"You're right. I've decided to persuade her when I get back to let her pursue what she loves."

"Good." Nora nodded with a smile and took a sip of water.

At that moment, the phone on the table rang.

Nora glanced at it - it was a call from Steven.

She hung up directly.

At the mall entrance.

Steven looked at the disconnected call, pressed his thin lips together, and continued calling.

This time he couldn't get through.

Nora had blocked Steven's number.

He glanced at James beside him. "James, let me use your phone."

James gave Steven his phone.

This time when he called, it went through. Nora's voice came from the other end. "James, what's up?"

"It's me." Steven's face darkened a bit. "You blocked my number?"

"Is there something?" Nora asked.

Steven thought she must be angry about him leaving the cinema and explained, "Scarlett almost went into shock this afternoon, so I had to go handle it."

"Okay." Her attitude was very calm.

In front of a heart patient who almost died from shock, what could she do?

If she showed anger, wouldn't that be unreasonable?

And whether she almost went into shock or died, who knows if it was real?

"It's all handled now. Where are you? Let's have dinner together?" Steven asked, ignoring her coldness.