At that, Jiang Cheng didn't dare glance at the Flight Attendant again; every thought that had just surfaced vanished.
He lowered his head and devoted himself to the fried rice in front of him.
He hadn't had lunch today, and his stomach was growling.
As the saying goes: a full stomach stirs desire, but an empty one leaves even beauty lacking.
Chloe, sitting beside him, saw Jiang Cheng ignore her and her face fell.
Sensing her disappointment, Jiang Cheng turned, still wolfing down food, and urged between bites, "Eat up, stop dawdling. We don't have long—this isn't an international flight. Hurry."
The moment he finished, Chloe's gloom lifted and the corner of her mouth curved upward.
She'd understood exactly what he meant.
This wasn't a long-haul flight; it was a short hop, and by his timetable they really had to move.
With that thought, she lowered her head, picked up knife and fork, and started on her meal.
Watching her slice the steak with practiced, fluid grace, Jiang Cheng asked off-handedly, "You've been in France all this time?"
"Yes. These past months I've been busy house-hunting and moving."
Her voice carried unmistakable cheer, especially when she mentioned moving; excitement flashed across her face.
She looked at Jiang Cheng and rattled on, "Our house is over thirty years old, a traditional wooden one. It's falling apart—leaks, rot, you name it. The worst is the roof."
"Dad got a quote; repairs would cost so much we might as well sell and buy new."
She popped a piece of steak into her mouth, chewed slowly, and her expression turned blissful.
After a moment she sighed contentedly.
With theatrical relish she said, "Mmm, I haven't tasted steak this good in ages—juicy, tender, true M5 grade."
Jiang Cheng lifted the Evian, drank deeply, then asked, "Isn't steak a daily staple for you guys, like rice for us?"
Chloe nodded, then shrugged. "It is, but only well-off families eat it every day. Ordinary folks buy the pre-marinated supermarket stuff—no comparison."
Her words made Jiang Cheng recall TikTok clips of foreigners' daily meals: cold salads, milk with cereal, rock-hard baguettes, baked potatoes, cheese, yogurt, soft-boiled eggs.
The better-off might fry a steak.
After watching, he could only conclude their diet lacked the warmth of life; it couldn't match the fragrance of his simple fried rice.
Between bites she explained, "Our GDP is high, but so are prices and labor. My dad's a factory worker—take-home pay €1,550 a month. Know what fixing our roof costs? €500 a day for labor alone. Total bill over €30,000."
Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow; he didn't know much about France.
"€1,550 is about 15,000 chinese yuan—not bad—but over 200,000 to fix a wooden roof? Ridiculous."
Chloe nodded emphatically, eyes resigned.
"Exactly. So you see why I scrimped in London. Dad's wage is average, but any manual service is crazy expensive. After decades his savings aren't even €70,000.
"A €30,000 repair, plus the mortgage still unpaid… But thanks to the hundred thousand dollars you gave us, we've moved to a better neighborhood—stone house, no more wood."
Jiang Cheng had heard that in developed countries wages are high but so are costs.
Online jokes say a Gree AC costs only €700 abroad, but installation starts at €2,000—15,000 yuan just to fit it.
That's the downside of developed economies: labor is dear; shrinking populations bring social problems.
Before the chat ended Jiang Cheng had polished off his rice.
Seeing Chloe take only a few bites before sipping wine, he asked, "That's all you're eating?"
She nodded. "It's delicious, but I have to watch my figure."
She drained her glass and poured another half.
Watching her lift the glass elegantly, Jiang Cheng glanced at the deep valley and towering peaks below.
He mused to himself, Aren't those just fat? If she doesn't eat, how do they gather there?
Drinking? But shouldn't that be our Hainan coconut milk?
He tossed his napkin aside. "Ready to work?"
At his words Chloe set down her glass.
Wine had lent her clear eyes a flirtatious glint.
"Young Master Jiang, are you taking me up high for a look?"
She leaned to his ear, whispered, and daringly flicked his earlobe with her tongue.
The warm touch, plus her hand's accidental brush, made Jiang Cheng draw a sharp breath.