Chapter 91

Denton exited the restaurant, flanked by his bodyguards. Outside, people were filming the celebrity with their phones. Meeting a wealthy celebrity like Denton Carter wasn't easy for ordinary people. It was exceedingly rare to see Denton in such a small restaurant, especially with so many bodyguards. In the age of the internet, recording the event and posting it on Instagram and TikTok was inevitable—a surefire way to gain likes and followers.

Several luxury Mercedes, which had left earlier, returned to the Evermore Diner. Claire, Harlan, and the restaurant staff came out to see Denton off, waving as the Mercedes, escorted by the bodyguards' cars, departed.

Afterwards, Claire and Harlan were astonished by what happened next. The crowd outside began filing into the restaurant to order food. Harlan looked at Claire in disbelief. "What's going on?" he asked. He recalled his employees' unsuccessful attempts to entice these people to try the food. Why were they suddenly so eager?

Claire was equally surprised to see the restaurant filling up. After a moment of bewilderment, she smiled sheepishly. "It must be because of my grandpa and his bodyguards! They enjoyed the food so much!"

"So, they convinced these people!" Harlan exclaimed, understanding dawning on him. "You and Mr. Carter have advertised our restaurant! That was the best promotion ever! Thank you so much."

Claire shook her head. "No need to thank me! Have you forgotten I'm also an owner?"

"You're right. Since we have guests, I'll get back to work."

"Yes, you'd better!"

Harlan hurried back into the restaurant. Claire's face lit up as she watched the packed restaurant and busy waiters. She smiled broadly. She had recognized the potential of a restaurant incorporating natural healthcare when Gilmore first discussed the concept. After trying the Evermore Diner's dishes, she was confident in its popularity. She planned to secure a location for a branch, find ingredient suppliers, brand the Evermore Diner, and begin the registration process. She knew there would be many cheap imitators once the natural healthcare concept and Evermore Diner gained popularity, so she needed to plan for the future and secure its market position.

About half an hour later, all the guests had sampled the rustic fare. The roast chicken was juicy, tender, and delicious; the tonic drink, made from various wild vegetables, had a unique taste; and the rice noodles were fragrant and soft. Guests also enjoyed the other dishes. The tasty food only increased their appetites. Shouts of "Excuse me, one more roast chicken, please!" "One more tonic drink, please!" and "Let me add one piece of rice noodles!" filled the air. More orders followed. The guests had become ravenous. The delicious rustic food had completely won them over. Even more passersby, drawn by the lively atmosphere and the sight of everyone devouring the food, entered the Evermore Diner. The restaurant buzzed with activity. As soon as one group left, another filled their table. Furthermore, departing guests purchased membership cards while paying their bills, eager to become regulars. The cashiers, waiters, and waitresses bustled about, some serving, others tidying up, astonished by the unexpected boom in business.

In the following days, a video went viral on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, making headlines. It showed Mr. Carter and Claire enthusiastically eating at the Evermore Diner. Titles included "The Big Shot Denton Carter Appears in a Restaurant," "The Hungry Crippled Dragon!," "A Big Shot's Poor Table Manners," and "Rich People are Horrible Eaters!" The video, filmed by an unsuspecting onlooker, depicted Denton and his granddaughter eating with gusto at the grand opening. The video's virality stemmed mainly from Denton's celebrity status and the stark contrast between his table manners and his social standing. The public expected refined dining etiquette from a big shot like Denton, but instead, the video showed him—and his granddaughter, a wealthy heiress—devouring the food. This contrast between expectation and reality fueled the video's popularity. The Evermore Diner also gained popularity alongside the viral video, piquing public curiosity about the restaurant's food and the reason behind the celebrities' enthusiastic—and somewhat uncouth—eating habits.

In addition to the video of Denton and Claire, more videos showcasing the crowded Evermore Diner and its happy, enthusiastic diners appeared online. This successful online promotion naturally translated to offline popularity. At mealtimes, a crowd consistently lined up outside the restaurant. Within days of opening, the Evermore Diner became the most popular restaurant in Newhaven Commercial Plaza.

One evening, Claire stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the vice president's office on the 20th floor, overlooking the plaza and the long queue outside the Evermore Diner.

"Miss Carter, it seems Gilmore was right. Evermore Diner became the most popular restaurant within a month," Irene, standing beside Claire, said admiringly. She hadn't believed Gilmore's assurance of the restaurant's success, but within days of its opening, it had become the hottest spot in the Commercial Plaza. She genuinely admired Gilmore's foresight.

Claire smiled confidently. "You'll soon see our Evermore Diner become popular throughout Oakhaven!"

A knock came at the door. "Claire, it's Gilmore. May I come in?"

Claire immediately turned to open the door, her face brightening at the sight of Gilmore. "Gilmore! There you are!"