'This boss is actually quite good-looking.'
Because of her family situation, and even more so because of Terry's twisted behavior, Mandy was inherently very self-conscious, so much so that she considered herself trash.
Due to her low self-esteem, when facing Dexter's kindness toward her, she immediately figured he wanted to sleep with her, and she started thinking about it, muttering silently.
Just then, Mickey snapped back to reality. Annoyed, he threatened fiercely, "I'm warning you, don't even think about hitting on Mandy. She's not even eighteen yet."
Hearing that, Mandy immediately got anxious and blurted out, "Mickey! Don't talk nonsense!"
These two siblings are something else.
Dexter chuckled, not bothered. "Mickey, what's going through your head? Look, I'm busy. So, is it settled?"
Mandy nodded with a smile toward Dexter. "Yes, thank you."
"No problem," Dexter replied, turning to Mickey. "Mickey?"
"Just that fried rice thing you were talking about," Mickey said with a nonchalant attitude.
Dexter said nothing more and turned to head back to the kitchen.
Mandy watched Dexter leave, feeling quite good about him. Once Dexter was in the kitchen, she started curiously looking around the restaurant.
After taking a look, especially when she saw Vivian still focused on her book...
Mandy was truly puzzled and whispered to Mickey, "This place is so weird. It looks like a restaurant, but it doesn't feel like one."
Mickey wasn't interested in any of that. He pulled out a cigarette, lit one up, adjusted his sitting posture to an aggressive, cool-guy slouch, and looked out the window.
The crowd outside the restaurant had grown even larger, with most people waiting for some drama to unfold.
Until...
The first hint of aroma drifted out of the kitchen!
In a blink.
Both Mickey and Mandy smelled it.
Instantly, Mickey stiffened, staring disbelievingly at the kitchen.
Mandy's reaction was just as intense; her already large eyes widened even more, her face filled with shock. "It smells amazing!"
A few moments later.
The onlookers outside the restaurant, one after another, shifted their attention. Many couldn't stop their stomachs from growling.
"That smells too good!"
"What kind of amazing food are they cooking?"
"I've never smelled anything this fragrant!"
"No wonder the price is so high."
"This boss has some serious skills!"
A flurry of chatter rose up.
Amidst the discussion, a few people felt for their wallets, starting to hesitate and struggle. They wanted to eat but hated to part with that much cash—what a tough decision...
Just then, Tommy, who had bolted over right after finishing work, arrived nearby. Seeing so many people gathered outside Dex Restaurant, he immediately panicked and went into a full sprint.
He dashed to the edge of the crowd and, seeing only Mickey and Mandy sitting inside, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Gasping for air, he started pushing his way in.
Some of the onlookers recognized Tommy. Seeing his urgency, it looked like he was trying to go in and eat...
"Tommy! You're going in to eat?"
"Tommy, did you see the prices?"
"Tommy, did you just hit the lottery or something?"
Tommy had already spotted the whiteboard inside the restaurant and knew the price and the limited quantity. With no time to waste, he answered without turning his head while squeezing through, "That price? It's not expensive at all! It's totally worth it!"
The crowd: "????"
Tommy didn't mess around anymore. He squeezed and pushed his way successfully into the restaurant. He took a deep breath and called out loudly to Veronica, smiling, "Veronica, get me a bowl of that noodle dish."
Tommy was a regular at the Alibi Bar, so Veronica knew him well. Seeing him and hearing his request, she couldn't help but grin. "Tommy, what made you suddenly decide to splurge like this?"
Tommy had already casually sat down at an empty table. "I couldn't help it. After eating it last night, I've been thinking about it non-stop. I seriously couldn't control myself."
"I strongly suspect your boss put something in that food!"
"Haha," Veronica actually felt the same way. "Don't go spreading rumors. If you talk like that, no one else will dare to come in."
By this time.
Among the onlookers, the few who had been tempted after smelling the aroma felt their wavering mental scales slowly starting to tip...
A few minutes later.
One person steeled their resolve, figured 'what the heck,' and said, 'Meal plus tip, that's only 185 bucks, I'll just consider it lost.' He then walked into the restaurant.
Once someone broke the ice, everything else fell into place.
In barely half an hour.
The shop was full with sixteen customers, and the fifteen limited-edition meals were sold out.
"Sorry folks, lunch service at this restaurant is now over. Please feel free to come back tonight at five," Vivian said with a smile as she reached the restaurant door. After speaking, she prepared to lock up.
Just then, Carl, standing in the crowd, came into Vivian's sight.
Seeing Carl, Vivian paused what she was doing. She gave him a little wink, ready to say hello.
But before she could utter a word.
Carl suddenly spun around and bolted.
"Huh?" Vivian felt a little surprised but didn't think much of it. She swallowed the greeting that was on the tip of her tongue and locked the door.
---
Carl ran fast, not stopping until he reached the entrance of the Alibi Bar. He stopped and turned his head to look at Dex Restaurant, where the crowd was starting to thin out.
After a few seconds.
Carl pulled his gaze away, shaking his head with a frustrated sigh. He kept walking, all the while racking his brain, trying to figure out how he was going to make some dough!
Carl hadn't forgotten what he'd told Dexter—that he was going to save up money to eat at his restaurant and support him.
In this moment, for the first time in his life, Carl desperately wished he could earn some cash.
So, after thinking and thinking.
Carl made an immediate decision: forget school. He headed home to find Frank!
At this time of day, only Frank was home at the Gallagher residence.
Fiona had taken Liam out to a part-time gig.
Everyone else was at school.
Frank was slumped in his wheelchair, clutching a nearly empty liquor bottle, snoring away.
Carl walked up to Frank, called his name a few times, but couldn't wake him up. So, he lifted his foot and kicked Frank's left leg.
The kick worked instantly...
"Aargh!!" Frank immediately woke up with a yell. "Carl, what the hell are you doing?!"
Carl ignored Frank's outburst, his face expressionless, as if he hadn't been the one to kick him. "I need to make money. Got any ideas?"
Frank's eyes immediately lit up. "A partnership, the two of us?"
"No problem," Carl answered flatly.
Frank grinned. "Then it's easy. Come on, push me outside. We'll talk as we go. Son, I'll tell you, with the way things are for me right now, you partnering up with me to make money is a huge favor to you. So, I get 90% of the cash we make, and you get 10%..."
"Fifty-fifty!" Carl's demand was absolute.
"Eighty-twenty!" Frank haggled.
"Fifty-fifty! Say one more word, and I'm walking away!" Carl stated, his tone brooking no argument.
Frank was silent for a moment. "Fine."
"So, how are we going to make the money?" Carl asked.
"Heh heh, easy. We'll start by begging, and then we'll look for an opportunity to stage a little car accident..." Frank's lips moved rapidly as he listed off a stack of ideas.
Carl listened quietly, and a spark gradually ignited in his eyes!