Should Neo-Divinity Be Supernatural?

Chapter 3: An Opportunity (Continued)

Zhuang Xiaojun ultimately chose a self-serve barbecue restaurant called Big Ox Teppanyaki. As soon as the three sat down, they instinctively removed their MR glasses and carefully placed them back into their packaging, treating the new gadgets with the utmost care. The last thing they wanted was for the smoky haze of grilling meat to stain their prized "toys."

"Alright, alright, let's order! I'm starving," Zhuang Xiaojun exclaimed, grabbing the tablet menu eagerly. It didn't take long for him to place an order: three servings of Angus beef, two of thick-cut pork belly, two of chicken wings, and one of shrimp and mushrooms. The raw ingredients soon arrived, neatly arranged on plates, their fresh, glossy surfaces glistening invitingly under the lights.

Li Hao thoughtfully added a serving of pineapple to the order. Grilled pineapple lost its sharp acidity, becoming just sweet enough to cut through the richness of the meat. Zhou Tianyi, on the other hand, balanced the table with some vegetables-zucchini, asparagus, and eggplant-ensuring the spread didn't feel overwhelmingly heavy. Finally, he couldn't resist ordering a large glass of ice-cold beer. It was his unshakable tradition: beer and barbecue were the perfect pair, and nothing beat the refreshing chill of beer washing away the grease.

The sizzling sound of meat on the grill mingled with the rising smoke, spreading an irresistible aroma through the air. Li Hao and Zhuang Xiaojun were fully immersed in their feast, their faces shiny with grease as they devoured slice after slice of perfectly cooked meat. The sound of their chewing mixed with bursts of laughter, creating a lively atmosphere. At one point, Zhuang Xiaojun's eyes wandered to Zhou Tianyi's glass of golden, frothy beer. His throat bobbed involuntarily-he wanted a glass too.

"Don't even think about it," Li Hao said, easily reading Zhuang Xiaojun's mind as he firmly seized the ordering tablet. "You're the only one with a driver's license. If you drink, who's driving us back?"

Zhuang Xiaojun knew Li Hao had a point and begrudgingly gave up on the idea. At least there was one small consolation: Li Hao was allergic to alcohol and wouldn't drink a drop. That thought made Zhuang Xiaojun feel slightly better-at least he wasn't the only one stuck watching others enjoy their beer.

Despite the delicious spread on the table, Zhou Tianyi ate with a faint sense of unease. From Professor Wang's demeanor, it was clear that his real objective wasn't merely for them to "test" ELICIA. Zhou Tianyi was convinced that Wang was trying to recruit them into the Explorers.

Zhou Tianyi was deeply intrigued by the project. As one of the top students at the University of Waterloo, the research was perfectly aligned with his expertise and ambitions. However, his two friends were in completely different situations. Li Hao was studying mathematics and business, while Zhuang Xiaojun was barely passing his telecommunications engineering courses. The fact that Wang treated all three of them equally made one thing clear-he wasn't looking to make them part of the technical team. Yet, his two friends hadn't seemed to realize this crucial detail.

On the way back, the three of them sat in satisfied silence, still savoring the memory of their hearty meal.

The cozy atmosphere of the barbecue restaurant had left Zhou Tianyi drowsy. Slumped in the back seat, he draped his jacket over himself, ready to enjoy a good nap. For a moment, the only sound in the car was the low hum of the engine.

In the passenger seat, Li Hao idly scrolled through his phone. His expression gradually shifted from boredom to focus as the content on his screen changed. Before long, his fingers began tapping rapidly, the strikes on the screen growing increasingly forceful. A few sighs of frustration escaped him as he worked.

Zhuang Xiaojun, keeping one eye on the road, couldn't help but notice Li Hao's behavior. Grinning, he teased,
"What's up? Who are you having another 'passionate debate' with this time?"