Chapter 386: I Don't Make Friends with Heretics!
"Yunruo, Yunruo, was the breakfast shift busy?"
"Yeah, it was your first time working as a server—were you able to handle it?"
In front of Han Shi's doors, four bright and lively girls huddled together, chatting away in excited whispers.
Naturally, their topic was the breakfast service.
Ji Yunruo, already changed back into her delivery uniform, gave a gentle smile. "It was fine. Most of the diners were regulars, and with Pururu helping me out, I got the hang of things pretty quickly."
Glancing at the nervous Ping Xinyan beside her, Yunruo reached out and held her hand.
"Xinyan, you'll do great for tonight's late-night shift!"
"Mm-hm!" Ping Xinyan nodded firmly, a spark of confidence lighting her face.
"Yunruo, what kind of dishes did you serve at breakfast?" Ying Shuang couldn't resist asking.
She and Fu Ya had planned to drop by during breakfast hours, but since they had class that morning, they missed it.
"Yeah, Yunruo, tell us about the breakfast menu!" Xinyan's eyes lit up too, urging her on.
Seeing the curiosity on all three faces, Yunruo chuckled softly and began describing the dishes.
Soy milk and cahkwe sticks, served as a set with two different ways to enjoy them. Century egg and lean pork congee with two customizable side dishes. Lamb pao mo, where the diner had to tear the flatbread into pieces themselves. Oil-splashed noodles served in bowls as big as your face. Tofu pudding, both sweet and savory…
As Yunruo listed off each item, the three girls grew increasingly envious and eager.
Fu Ya gave Shuang's hand a squeeze. "Shuang, we don't have class tomorrow morning, right? Let's come then!"
She was already itching to try Han Shi's breakfast.
"Mm-hm!" Shuang nodded vigorously.
Meanwhile, Xinyan's face fell into a pout. There was no way she could wake up that early.
As a self-proclaimed night owl, she rarely managed to roll out of bed before ten.
Which meant all those delicious breakfasts were basically off-limits to her…
"Xinyan, at least you'll get the late-night menu." Noticing her thoughts, Yunruo gently comforted her.
…True enough.
Remembering that she'd get to eat night-shift meals every day, Xinyan's mood quickly brightened again.
Still… how many dishes would the night menu have?
There were twelve for breakfast. If the late-night offerings had even more, that would be perfect.
Hmm… but if there were too many, memorizing the menu would definitely be a pain.
As they chatted and laughed, Fu Ya suddenly glanced around. "Hey, have any of you seen Mo Ran?"
"Mo Ran?" Shuang blinked, then realized. "Oh right, that new hire from yesterday. He hasn't shown up yet?"
Yunruo and Xinyan exchanged a look and both shook their heads.
None of them knew the boy called Mo Ran very well.
"Did he forget the time?" Xinyan speculated. "If he's late, he won't even get to eat the staff meal, right?"
"I'm not sure, but hopefully not…" Fu Ya began, only to stop as the restaurant door stirred. "The door's opening!"
She turned her gaze inward—and was startled to see the very person they'd just been talking about.
Mo Ran, standing right behind Qi Han.
So… he hadn't been late at all. He'd actually arrived earlier than them?
The realization struck Fu Ya, and whatever annoyance she'd felt at the thought of a tardy new coworker evaporated instantly.
Feeling their eyes on him, Mo Ran scratched his head and gave an embarrassed smile. "It's my first day, so I came early to familiarize myself."
With the misunderstanding cleared, the group entered together.
After greeting the waiting customers in line, Qi Han closed the door and turned to them. "So, what do you want for your staff meal at noon?"
"Hotpot!" ×4
The four girls clearly had already decided, answering in perfect unison.
Qi Han gave a small nod, then shifted his gaze toward the still-bewildered Mo Ran. "And you, Mo Ran? What would you like for your staff meal?"
"I'll have a hotpot too."
Mo Ran came back to his senses and answered without hesitation.
First, everyone else was eating hotpot. If he ordered something else, it would only trouble the boss in the kitchen and make him look out of place.
Second, since he was about to become the server in charge of the second floor's hotpot section, it was only natural to understand this dish better.
"And what about you, Lingqing?"
"Teacher, I'll have hotpot as well." Fresh out of the kitchen with freshly washed hands, Ye Lingqing spoke up immediately.
He'd been craving hotpot for a long time now.
"Alright then, let's head upstairs." Seeing that everyone had chosen the same dish, Qi Han couldn't help but smile.
It wasn't their first time seeing the second floor's lifelike bamboo-grove décor, so while they still admired it, they no longer gawked in shock. Once seated, under Qi Han's guidance, they quickly found the hotpot menu.
Other than Mo Ran, who had already looked it over, and Fu Ya, who had eaten hotpot before, the others stared wide-eyed, unable to hold back their gasps.
So many dishes… I think it's in the hundreds?
Was hotpot really served with this many choices?
And on top of that, with all the different broths and dipping sauces… even if you were to eat it for a lifetime, you might never exhaust all its combinations!
As expected of the boss!
…
Outside Han Shi.
Yun Qing's eyes drifted over the waiting crowd. Around him, whispers of conversation all circled around the same topic: Han Shi's new dish to be launched today—hotpot.
But Yun Qing himself wasn't especially interested.
As a new customer, all of Han Shi's dishes held about the same appeal to him. Hotpot wasn't any more enticing than the others.
So, according to plan, today he wanted to try the Bodhi Vegetarian Dish, honey-glazed grilled ribs, and tin foil roasted brain flower.
At the thought of Mr. Darn, the man who had recommended the pig brain and praised the ribs so highly, Yun Qing let out a faint sigh.
A gentleman indeed… shame he turned out to be a heretic.
Originally, he had gotten along quite well with this Mr. Darn—well enough to become friends.
But then he discovered that Darn liked savory tofu pudding!
That was simply incomprehensible.
Anyone who liked savory tofu pudding was a heretic!
Eh?
His eyes suddenly sharpened—he'd spotted Darn standing in line not too far from him.
His face darkened. "Hmph."
Heretic!
…
Darn rose on his toes for a better look at Han Shi's storefront, his face brimming with anticipation.
Word was that Han Shi would be unveiling hotpot at noon today, and just thinking about it made Darn itch with impatience. He wanted nothing more than to charge inside and feast immediately.
While the Douluo Continent wasn't exactly fast with news, it wasn't completely cut off either.
Plenty of diners who had visited Han Shi's Star Luo City branch had already spread the word about hotpot to Shrek City. Though the rumors had grown increasingly exaggerated, Darn had at least learned the basics.
Choosing your own broth. Cooking your food in the pot yourself. Mixing your own dipping sauce.
Going to a restaurant, only to cook your own meal—utterly unheard of.
And yet, despite never having cooked for himself in his life, the thought of such a hands-on meal stirred something inside Darn. He found himself more than a little eager to try.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort rang out not far away, hitting Darn's ears. He turned his head instinctively—only to see the very man he'd met that morning.
No! He would never be friends with a sweet tofu pudding heretic!
Rolling his eyes, Darn let out his own retort.
"Hmph!"
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