Maron's face turned pale as he watched Shennong pull out a small vial filled with an ominous-looking clear liquid. His unease only deepened when he glanced toward his wife, who was drinking something with a pleased expression. His heart pounded as he rushed forward.
"What are you drinking? Elise!" Maron demanded, his voice tense.
Shennong merely smiled, unfazed. "Relax, Sir Maron. Just as you requested, I brought the finest sweets to surprise your daughter." He gestured toward the table, where an unfamiliar golden-brown loaf rested. "This is called a cake, a new product from our company, which I hope will become a tradition for birthdays. And the drink? A sweet beverage extracted from a rare plant called Sugary Dew."
Maron's wife beamed. "It's delicious, darling! Our daughter will love this."
Maron forced a nod, though his face remained pale. He turned to his wife. "Why don't you take our daughter and get ready? After this surprise, we'll head to our planned dinner."
