Time passed pleasantly, and soon it was evening again.
After the restaurant's operating hours.
Because Liu Ming, Sora, and Miyu were going back to their old residence tomorrow to handle transfer procedures, Tadokoro Megumi specially prepared a grand feast tonight.
Mystical Mapo Tofu, goes without saying, ever since Tadokoro Megumi learned how to make it, the foodies in the house almost begged her to make it every day.
Tadokoro Megumi, being honest and gentle, never refused and always satisfied their requests. This caused Liu Ming's status as a 'salted fish' at home to plummet.
To reclaim his prestige as the owner and head chef, he specially prepared a new special dish tonight.
Simple yet noble.
Elegant yet embodying simplicity.
However, Elma couldn't manage it; she still couldn't create it.
As a dragon, she was proud, making it difficult for her to genuinely desire to serve customers. Perhaps due to the difference in life-level, she could easily replicate all of Liu Ming's actions. However, when faced with conceptual things, she couldn't easily achieve them.
Perhaps only when she truly integrated into the human world would she be able to create Shining Dish.
...
Everyone in the hall saw Liu Ming personally carrying a covered plate.
Their eyes gleamed with anticipation. After all, ever since the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall last time, Liu Ming hadn't cooked, truly being quite lazy.
"Uncle, this dish you're carrying must be something you made yourself, right? How much effort did you put into it?" Miyu swallowed, her expression full of expectation.
She wasn't the only one; the others were just as eager.
Because the shock from the last Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was truly astounding.
Xiao Hina, the adorable one, directly hugged Liu Ming's leg, looking up with starry eyes.
"Hehe," Liu Ming freed one hand, took Xiao Hina's small hand, and they slowly walked towards the dining table.
"It might be slightly inferior to the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, but it's certainly no worse than the Mystical Mapo Tofu. You can definitely look forward to it." Liu Ming wasn't disparaging the dish.
It was just that the ingredients used for the last Buddha Jumps Over the Wall were too luxurious, each one a top-grade delicacy. Both dishes were made by him, so naturally, the one with better ingredients would be superior.
Everyone straightened their backs, and under their expectant gazes, the cover was slowly lifted.
This time, the golden light was accompanied by a bird's cry.
Loud, clear, and exceptionally melodious.
Then, everyone saw the silhouette of a phoenix appear above the golden light, circling above them once before transforming into specks of starlight and merging into the dish.
When everyone recovered, they realized that what was before them was not a dish at all, but a lifelike Crystal Phoenix.
It looked as if it was about to spread its wings and soar.
"What a beautiful dish."
"This is already art, isn't it?"
"Master is truly amazing; he can create such a magnificent and elegant dish with just some bean sprouts," said Tadokoro Megumi.
"Megumi-jie, you mean this is made from bean sprouts?" Sora was stunned.
The others who heard this were just as flabbergasted; they couldn't imagine any connection between the Crystal Phoenix before them and bean sprouts.
Tadokoro Megumi, however, nodded seriously. As Liu Ming's disciple, he had, of course, called her over when he made this dish.
She had witnessed the entire process.
Last time was the extremely luxurious Buddha Jumps Over the Wall; this time was the ultimately simple Phoenix Crystal.
Liu Ming could effortlessly control two extreme dishes. Tadokoro Megumi's admiration for her master grew ever stronger.
Elma couldn't describe her feelings at the moment.
It was very complicated.
She never expected that hateful human who tricked her could create such a dish. As a seasoned foodie, how could she take revenge?
She simply couldn't resist.
"Why are you all just staring? You can start eating now." Liu Ming saw everyone staring at the Phoenix Crystal without any intention of picking up their chopsticks.
"How can I even start? I just can't bear to," Yuta said with a wry smile, raising his hand but then lowering it again.
"Exactly! How could anyone bear to destroy such a beautiful dish?" Sora, Miyu, and the other girls echoed.
"Elma, you're not thinking the same way, are you?" Liu Ming looked at Elma in confusion. In his understanding, Elma would never hesitate to eat a dish just because it was too beautiful; that was impossible.
"Uh..." Elma gave an awkward laugh.
It wasn't that she didn't want to start, but whenever she had that thought, everyone else at the dining table would stare at her, even the adorable Xiao Hina.
That kind of gaze, that kind of look, even she, a mighty dragon, found it a bit hard to bear.
"Seriously, dishes are made to be eaten! If you all don't eat, aren't you wasting my efforts?" Liu Ming raised his hand, ready to pick up his chopsticks.
"Wait, Xiao Ming-ge, wait for me!" Miyu immediately spoke up, and without waiting for Liu Ming to reply, she quickly ran to the other side and picked up her phone.
"Jie-jie, please take a picture for me." After returning, Miyu handed her phone to Sora. She then leaned towards the Phoenix Crystal, striking various playful poses.
"Me too, me too!" Seeing this, Tadokoro Megumi and the other girls also became interested.
Even Yuta, a man, silently took out his phone.
Liu Ming was speechless.
Fifteen minutes later, everyone finally quieted down and returned to their seats.
"Seriously, the food's cold now," Liu Ming grumbled.
"Hehe, it's fine, we don't mind at all," Miyu said with a giggle.
"Let's eat!" Everyone then began their dinner.
Everyone focused their interest on the Phoenix Crystal dish.
"Crisp, refreshing, and after eating it, a ball of fire seems to ignite within the body, burning fiercely, making one unable to help but utter sounds of comfort."
"Unlike the rich and delicate Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, it's like a peaceful and tranquil detachment. Yet, it also seems to contain a phoenix reborn from ashes, displaying unparalleled vitality.
Calm and turbulent,
Peaceful and stirring,
Two completely opposite states, constantly clashing, leaving one radiant."