The dish emitted a golden light.
Those who had seen it before, although they gasped, weren't too surprised.
However, those who hadn't seen it were incredibly shocked.
Were they hallucinating?
Or was this just a magic trick?
They actually saw the dish glowing.
How could such a situation occur in the real world?
It wasn't scientific at all.
But, if it was a hallucination,
it was far too real.
"Wow, it's actually glowing!" Xiao Hina didn't think so much, instead happily clapping her little hands.
"Yes, the dish is glowing," Sora murmured, her gaze distant.
Yuta was speechless, his mouth wide open.
Miyu's eyes sparkled; this dish was too dazzling.
Like the starlight in the night sky, so striking, so brilliant.
As the light receded, a lotus leaf was revealed at the mouth of the jar.
Liu Ming, as if treating some peerless treasure, slowly and delicately lifted the lotus leaf.
A puff of steam erupted, followed by an overwhelming fragrance.
It was too overpowering.
Almost in the blink of an eye, the aroma filled the entire room.
"What is this smell? It's so good!"
"I smell abalone."
"I smell chicken."
"Ugh, but I smell sea cucumber."
"Where is this aroma coming from?"
"Exactly, it's so fragrant, my mouth won't stop watering."
Unbeknownst to them, the aroma had already drifted very far.
Within a radius of several thousand meters, centered around the Chinese Restaurant, everyone stopped what they were doing.
They all stood still, breathing greedily,
desperately trying to inhale more of this peculiar fragrance.
Those who had dined at Liu's Restaurant immediately guessed the source of the aroma,
turned around, and rushed towards the restaurant.
Others, seeing this, followed suit.
Unconsciously, the crowd gradually grew larger.
But when they arrived at the restaurant, they found it was already closed.
A notice was posted on it:
'Owner busy, closed for half a day.'
They immediately became displeased, all of them clamoring and complaining.
"Oh my god, it's not open!"
"Are you kidding me? Closing at this time!"
"Oh my god, I definitely didn't smell wrong, this aroma must be coming from this restaurant!"
"I guess there are people inside, let's knock on the door!"
"Right, call the owner out!"
More and more people arrived, and soon hundreds of people gathered outside the door.
With so many voices, the noise immediately grew louder.
"When the jar is opened, the aroma wafts to the four neighbors; upon smelling it, Buddha abandons meditation and jumps over the wall."
Using this poem to describe Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is no exaggeration.
The people inside the restaurant, who had originally been enjoying themselves, were suddenly startled awake, and their expressions were not very pleasant.
Tohru's face was very displeased, and even Kanna showed signs of an impending outburst.
Xiao Hina looked as if she was about to cry.
Foodies are not to be trifled with, especially when they are eating.
"You all, go outside," Chitawara Natsume gestured to all the bodyguards, pointing towards the door.
The meaning was clear: she wanted them to go out and deal with the crowd outside, not to let them disturb their meal.
Although the bodyguards were a bit reluctant, they obediently exited through the small gate in the courtyard.
They didn't dare to open the main door, fearing that the people outside would rush in.
Not long after, the people outside quieted down, but they still didn't leave; they just stood there, as if they wanted to at least smell it even if they couldn't eat it.
Woken by the commotion, everyone inside the restaurant also began to examine the contents of the pot.
The abalone, crystal clear and covered with a thin layer of oil, shimmered with tiny points of light.
The dark sea cucumber resembled a swimming dragon, majestically yet lazily resting within, while the amber-like broth occasionally rippled, releasing waves of rich aroma.
The fragrant aroma of the wine wafted directly into their hearts.
Everyone couldn't help but swallow, their throats constantly dry.
Liu Ming was the first to regain his composure; he walked back to the dining table where everyone was seated.
He first served some to Grandma Doma, then said to everyone, "Why are you all dazed? You can start eating now."
Hearing this, Kanna immediately snapped back to reality, but her height was a major disadvantage.
No matter how much her short legs kicked, she couldn't reach.
"Xiao Ming," she looked at Liu Ming pitifully.
"Haha," Liu Ming couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh; he took Kanna's bowl and filled it to the brim.
"Thank you, Xiao Ming," Kanna took the bowl and deeply inhaled the fragrant aroma wafting from it.
A joyful smile immediately appeared on her small face; it smelled even better than any dish she had ever eaten before.
"Xiao Hina wants some too, Xiao Hina wants some too!" Xiao Hina cried out, tears welling in her eyes, refusing to give up.
Liu Ming shook his head helplessly.
Sora and Miyu's gazes were entirely focused on the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall on the table, seemingly having forgotten that they had a younger sister.
Liu Ming had no choice but to also serve a bowl for Xiao Hina.
"Thank you, Uncle," Xiao Hina stopped being sad when she saw that she also had some.
After attending to the two older and two younger ones, Liu Ming finally had a chance to taste it himself.
He gently bit into a piece of abalone; it was soft and chewy, thick yet not greasy, and blended with the advantages of other ingredients, various delicious flavors intertwined, numerous yet not muddled, truly making one's taste buds endlessly delighted.
Liu Ming gently sipped some of the broth; the aroma of wine, the fresh savory taste, and the clear fragrance repeatedly assaulted his taste buds, like a symphony of flavors being performed.
His body felt as if it had returned to his mother's embrace, so warm and reassuring, making him unconsciously sink into it, not wanting to resist at all.
Top-grade ingredients and top-grade culinary skills created a top-grade dish; to be able to eat it once in this life was truly to die without regrets.
Chihiro Orie had already forgotten how she had despised her sister before; at this moment, she too was conquered by Liu Ming's delicious food.
Everyone in the restaurant was immersed in a culinary paradise; everything outside seemed to be cut off from them, quiet and peaceful, calming and soothing, their bodies and souls seemingly revitalized, and a surging vitality was gradually awakening.