"Haha, this herbal clear broth really is delicious—made me drool a little."
Nicole laughed to cover her embarrassment.
The herbal clear broth was tasty, but compared to Su Chen's bone broth noodles, it just didn't hit the same.
The aroma from the black bowl bone broth seemed to seduce her—she just couldn't look away.
Su Chen saw the look on Nicole's face but didn't call her out. He just smiled and said, "If you want it, why not order a bowl of bone broth noodles too?"
"No thanks! I don't want something that greasy!"
Nicole turned her head away. The black bowl bone broth noodles were a steep 5,000 Dennies—she couldn't bear to spend that.
Watching her deny herself while clearly tempted, Su Chen quietly chuckled.
Since Nicole didn't want to spend the extra money—then they could share.
Su Chen picked up a mouthful of noodles with his chopsticks and brought it to Nicole's lips. "I think it's pretty tasty. Want a bite?"
The aroma hit her again, making her waver. She gave a weak refusal. "No!"
And right as Nicole opened her mouth to speak, Su Chen, moving with strength ten times the human limit, popped the noodles right in.
"Mm!"
Nicole instantly tasted the rich flavor of the meat-infused noodles, unable to stop herself from chewing slowly.
"So good!"
Nicole's face lit up with bliss as the meaty broth enveloped her palate.
"Here's another."
Su Chen picked up another bite and fed it to her.
This time, Nicole opened her mouth on reflex, taking the chopsticks in without resistance.
After several more bites, a third of Su Chen's noodles were gone before Nicole came to her senses.
She looked at the chopsticks hovering near her mouth again and blushed bright red, turning her head aside.
"I don't want any more. You eat the rest."
Nicole's voice was as soft as a mosquito, and her pale ears had turned bright red.
Why was she like this? The moment Su Chen fed her, she just ate it.
She had just said it was too greasy, but then couldn't stop taking bite after bite.
"If you want more, I'll keep feeding you."
Su Chen smiled as he spoke.
Enjoying good food was a joy—but feeding Nicole was an even greater one. Maybe this was what they called food served with beauty.
"Shhh~"
Nicole was so embarrassed she couldn't speak, softly slurping her clear broth noodles.
Her heart was in turmoil. Was this an indirect kiss? Su Chen was about to eat with the same chopsticks he'd used to feed her!
She secretly glanced at Su Chen, recalling the feeling of falling through the air in his arms.
But just as Su Chen was about to eat again, Anby looked over with a small gesture. "I haven't tried that flavor before. Just one little bite."
"…Alright."
Su Chen picked up another bite and offered it to Anby.
Next to them, Nicole—who had just been blushing—now wore a slightly darkened expression. Her teeth left visible marks on her chopsticks.
So, it wasn't just her who got that kind of treatment?
"Chomp!"
Anby gobbled up the noodles in one bite, looking completely satisfied.
Then, she picked up a bite from her own bowl and held it out to Su Chen.
Reciprocity—it's only polite.
"No!"
Nicole, who had been watching Su Chen the entire time, pushed Anby's chopsticks back into her bowl and said sternly, "Anby, you eat a lot. If you give noodles to Su Chen, you'll go hungry. Let him eat my herbal broth noodles instead."
She and Su Chen had already indirectly kissed. If Anby joined in now, what would that make it?
"…Alright."
Anby didn't insist.
A few noodles weren't a big deal, but Nicole seemed to be getting worked up.
"Here, eat."
Nicole brought her own chopsticks up to Su Chen's mouth and fed him out of spite.
So, it wasn't just her he was being nice to. He really was like a human furnace—warming everyone around.
"Well, don't mind if I do."
Su Chen had no hesitation, slurping down the noodles.
Seeing him eat like that, Nicole's heart softened again.
He had just fought off dozens of Ethereal, run around with them all day—he must be starving.
And despite that, Su Chen had fed her a third of his bone broth noodles before eating any himself.
He's just too kind.
Nicole pulled back her chopsticks and said gently, "Try alternating the bone broth with the clear broth—it'll taste even better."
"Mm."
Su Chen slurped a bite of his rich bone broth noodles—savory and intense.
Then followed it with a bite of Nicole's herbal broth noodles—light and refreshing.
Alternating like that, the flavors really did blend wonderfully.
There was no denying it—whether handmade or machine-made, this ramen was flawless. Compared to any bowl of noodles he'd eaten before crossing over, it was ten times better.
The collision of herbal and bone broths seemed to make the flavor even more rich. Or maybe, it was the presence of the two lovely girls beside him that added to the taste?
Wait—why were there bite marks on Nicole's chopsticks? They were supposed to be disposable.
Su Chen said considerately, "Nicole, don't bite so hard when you eat. You might swallow bamboo splinters."
"Eat your noodles!"
Nicole snapped playfully and shoved another bite of noodles toward Su Chen's mouth.
Those marks weren't from her chewing while eating—it was from her biting down in jealousy.
"Okay, okay, whatever you say~"
Su Chen accepted Nicole's offering and slurped it up.
Nearby, General Chop stood in stunned silence.
"Good grief… I really misjudged that kid!"
General Chop muttered in the kitchen, clearly amazed.
He had assumed this guy was just some poor sap duped into being the Cunning Hares' unpaid labor.
Now it was clear—this kid came for the girls. Two of them, in fact!
Still, with the Cunning Hares' mountains of debt, could he really carry them all?
Half an hour later…
The three had slurped their bowls clean.
"Today was great. Not only did I get full, I got to try a new flavor."
Anby patted her belly, content.
I suppose I'm a little happy too…
Nicole thought quietly.
She had shared two bowls of noodles with Su Chen today. Embarrassing, yes—but also a really nice feeling.
Only one thing bothered her…
Nicole glanced at Anby.
Maybe I should give her 5,000 Dennies next time and send her off to eat a burger combo instead.
Feeding each other back and forth was fine—but throwing in a third party? Not ideal.
"Now that we're full, let's get some rest."
Su Chen said with a smile.
"Mm, after a long night like that, sleep is essential. Otherwise, our skin will suffer."
Nicole and Anby both nodded.
The three got up and left the [Waterfall Soup] handmade ramen shop.
Before leaving, Su Chen turned to General Chop and said, "Your ramen is excellent."
"Thank you! You've got good taste, customer!"
General Chop looked proud—he was always happy when others appreciated his work.
"If I come back, maybe you can finally tell me—is it handmade or machine-made?"
Su Chen added with a mischievous grin.
Before General Chop could reply, Su Chen pulled Nicole and Anby away.
Their steps were light and happy, as if they'd forgotten something.
"..."
Watching them leave, General Chop suddenly recalled Su Chen's question.
He scratched his head and muttered in confusion, "Should I change the sign from 'handmade' to 'machine-made'?"
Unable to decide after much pondering, General Chop finally put a sign at the door:
[No nitpickers allowed!!!]
...
An hour later, Billy walked out of the arcade, looked at [Waterfall Soup] across the street, and said with a blank stare:
"Eh? Where'd my teammates go!?"