"Tohru, can you clean? The first floor's cleaning is up to you. I'm going out to run some errands." Liu Ming said.
"No problem, leave it to me with confidence." Tohru patted her chest and agreed.
After gathering all the documents, Liu Ming prepared to leave. However, thinking of Tohru's destructive power, he had to explain in detail how to clean.
He really didn't want to come back to find only an empty hall.
Along the way, many people greeted him, and he responded to each one.
After all, he had lived here for so long, and the neighbors were all very familiar.
Many people were happy to learn that Liu Ming planned to reopen the Chinese Restaurant, and they all expressed their intention to patronize it on opening day.
Liu Ming couldn't help but smile wryly, knowing that the prices he set were not exactly budget-friendly.
"Never mind, I'll offer a discount on opening day. After tasting the food, there shouldn't be any complaints. Such good food is addictive once you've tried it. And compared to those high-end restaurants, his prices aren't high at all, even excessively cheap.
After all, it's authentic Chinese Cuisine. It's just that the prices set before were too cheap, which made familiar people feel that the new prices were expensive."
The procedures weren't a problem, just a bit tedious. Liu Ming ran to several government departments before finally completing them.
He looked up at the sky, realizing he had been out all day. He wondered how Tohru was doing at home.
Although he had explained how to clean the first floor, he was still worried she might mess things up. Also, he hadn't returned for lunch, so he didn't know how she managed her meal.
Tonight, he would make something good to reward her.
On his way home, Liu Ming went to the wet market.
He wasn't sure of Tohru's preferences, but since she was a dragon, she certainly wouldn't dislike meat.
Two catties of pork belly, two catties of large intestines, one three-yellow chicken, and two cucumbers.
He would have a feast tonight. Just thinking about it made his own mouth water.
As he passed a park, he spotted a familiar figure inside.
Liu Ming didn't actually know the person, and they had never even met. The reason she was familiar was because she was Tadokoro Megumi from Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma.
A 92nd-generation student of Totsuki Academy High School, a boarder in Polar Star Dormitory Room 302, skilled in local cuisine, dried goods, and wild vegetables. Her cooking often gave a warm and peaceful feeling, but unfortunately, she was too easily nervous and often made small blunders.
Originally, he didn't intend to bother her, as they didn't know each other, and with Tadokoro Megumi's timid personality, suddenly going over to greet her would only scare her. However, hearing the occasional sobs coming from her, he couldn't pretend not to see her.
Liu Ming scratched his head, then finally walked over.
After placing his things aside, he sat on the empty swing next to Tadokoro Megumi.
Tadokoro Megumi was immersed in her own sadness, completely unaware that someone had joined her.
Her left hand tightly gripped a notice, and her right hand held a charm, her mouth mumbling continuously.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I've disappointed you. I'm afraid I'll be expelled soon. I'm really sorry, Mom. I truly tried my best, I really did try my best. I don't want to be expelled..."
"Cough, cough." Liu Ming coughed loudly, hoping to get her attention.
Tadokoro Megumi looked up, her red eyes looking over. Seeing someone next to her, she was startled and almost fell off the swing.
"Who are you?" Tadokoro Megumi asked weakly.
"I'm just a passerby. I heard crying outside and came to check. Did something happen to you? Why are you crying here alone? It's getting late now, and it's dangerous for a girl to be here alone." Liu Ming asked, lowering his voice.
Tadokoro Megumi lowered her head and sniffled.
"Is it convenient to talk about it? You'll feel better if you do. Having someone listen is always better than silently enduring it alone." Liu Ming persuaded.
"Are you really willing to listen?" Tadokoro Megumi looked up again, her eyes teary as she looked at Liu Ming.
"Of course." Liu Ming showed a gentle smile.
Tadokoro Megumi began to describe her predicament. She had just graduated from junior high, but her grades were at the very bottom. The notice in her hand was an expulsion notice. If she received another E or a failing grade, she would be expelled.
After this Summer Vacation, she would be promoted to the high school division, and the courses would become even stricter. With her current grades, she would probably be expelled very soon.
She carried the expectations of her hometown. If she were really expelled, she truly didn't know how she would face her family back home.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel sad again, and tears flowed like a waterfall.
Liu Ming really wanted to tell her, "You're overthinking it. After school starts, you'll meet a cheat, and your life will undergo astonishing changes. From then on, you'll reach the pinnacle of your life."
But all of this was baseless, and for him, someone who wasn't good at comforting people, to comfort someone else, he didn't know what to say.
After crying for a while, whether it was because she had expressed the worries in her heart or not, her mood had improved quite a bit, and her emotions slowly calmed down.
"Grumble~ grumble~"
Tadokoro Megumi's face flushed. She just remembered she hadn't eaten all day.
"Haha!" Liu Ming couldn't help but laugh out loud. He stood up and gently ruffled her hair.
It was only after he had done all this that he realized his actions might have been a bit too intimate.
"My apologies, I seem to have overstepped. By the way, would you like to come to my place for dinner? Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm also a chef and I run a Chinese Restaurant."
Tadokoro Megumi, no longer shy, looked at Liu Ming timidly.
"Let's go. My restaurant isn't far from here, and it's in a busy area, so you don't have to worry too much."
Liu Ming picked up the ingredients nearby, nodded at Tadokoro Megumi, and gestured for her to follow.
Tadokoro Megumi hesitated for a moment, but eventually followed him.
He should be a good person.