"Tohru, do you want to buy some clothes too?" Liu Ming asked, looking at Tohru beside him.
"There's no need for that. The clothes I'm wearing are transformed from my dragon scales and can change appearance at will," Tohru said proudly.
"I remember your clothes can be taken off, right? If you take off these clothes, does that mean you're taking off your dragon scales?"
Liu Ming was quite curious about this question, but he didn't realize how blunt his words were.
Tohru was completely stunned, as if steam was rising from her head.
"What's wrong?" Liu Ming asked curiously.
"Xiao Ming, you… you pervert!" Tohru whispered, then ran off.
Liu Ming was speechless, feeling it wasn't like her usual carefree personality.
'Oh my god, Tohru, this infatuated dragon, is actually shy,' Liu Ming couldn't imagine.
"Big Brother Xiao Ming, how do I look now?" Encouraged by Miyu, Xiao Lingyin, wearing her new clothes, shyly approached Liu Ming.
Liu Ming scrutinized Xiao Lingyin for a while, then gave her a thumbs-up. "I never thought Xiao Lingyin could be so cute."
He wasn't lying; after putting on the white dress, Xiao Lingyin was like Cinderella transformed into a little princess. Coupled with her innocent and cheerful smile, it was impossible not to be moved.
"Really?" Xiao Lingyin became even shyer, her cheeks flushed, but her eyes were filled with anticipation for the next outfit.
"Of course. I wouldn't lie to you. Go try on some other clothes," Liu Ming gently patted her small head.
Xiao Lingyin happily returned to Sora and the others.
Just like that, after trying on more than ten outfits, they finally chose eight.
Children at this age are growing rapidly, and clothes are outgrown quickly, but eight pieces would be enough for a long time.
Liu Ming originally intended to buy some for Sora and the others as well, but they refused him.
Liu Ming knew what they meant by doing so and didn't reject their kindness.
After only selecting one item for Kanna and Xiao Hina, he led everyone out of the area.
At this point, Tohru, who had been hiding, also reappeared. Apart from her still slightly red cheeks, her demeanor had returned to normal.
"Xiao Ming, are we going to buy school supplies now?" Compared to clothes, Kanna seemed more concerned about these, her eyes already sparkling.
"Yes, we're going now. Kanna, are you really looking forward to school?" It was the first time Liu Ming had seen Kanna so enthusiastic about something other than eating.
Liu Ming gave half of the bags to Yuta; only he and Yuta were men here, so only they could carry them.
"Mm," Kanna nodded, not denying it.
The school supplies section wasn't far from here; in less than five minutes, everyone had arrived.
Kanna was curious about every single school supply, pulling Liu Ming to teach her how to use them.
Tohru, having recovered, occasionally added to the chaos from the side.
Kanna clearly preferred the brightly colored items; whether it was pens or erasers, she chose those with such appearances.
Just as she was about to pick a pencil case with a unicorn on it, Xiao Hina ran over.
Xiao Hina waved the pencil case in her hand and happily said, "Big Sister Kanna, it's Luna! It's Luna!"
This pencil case also had a character printed on it, but it was the protagonist of a currently popular children's animation—Magical Girl Luna.
Kanna immediately put down the pencil case in her hand. "Where did you find it?"
"Over there," Xiao Hina said, pointing the way and leading Kanna towards a spot not far away.
That location was the hot-selling shelf in the middle of the aisle.
Seeing how well the two got along, Liu Ming felt some relief.
"Don't you have anything to buy? I can watch them here," Liu Ming turned to Yuta.
"My things aren't urgent. With so many children here, I'll stay and watch them with you," Yuta had no intention of leaving.
Liu Ming shrugged, not intending to persuade him. After all, Yuta was a university student, already an adult.
...
There was a small issue when choosing school bags: Xiao Hina was the only child going to kindergarten, and she didn't need a school bag.
However, if she was the only one without a school bag, she would definitely get upset.
In the end, Liu Ming bought her a small rabbit-shaped bag, and only then did her tears turn to joy.
The remaining school uniforms needed to be purchased at a designated school location, so they couldn't buy them today.
After finishing their shopping, everyone had no intention of lingering.
Liu Ming checked the time; it was almost 5 PM.
Everyone, regardless of their image, hurried towards the restaurant, carrying large and small bags of items.
Upon returning to the restaurant, a considerable number of people had already gathered in front of the main entrance.
It seemed the news of the restaurant reopening had spread, and many regular customers had come.
They hadn't tasted the food here for almost a week, and their cravings had long since flared up.
Looking at the crowd at the main entrance, Liu Ming had Sora and the others enter through the side door, while he himself went through the main entrance.
Arriving at the main entrance, he spotted several acquaintances.
"Tamako, Anko, why are you two here too? You're not planning to freeload on dinner again tonight, are you?" Liu Ming said, laughing as he opened the main door.
"Big Brother Xiao Ming, that's so rude! What do you mean by freeloading? I brought a gift tonight!" Tamako retorted, holding up a bag containing daifuku.
Liu Ming rolled his eyes. Did bringing a gift mean it wasn't freeloading?
"Alright, I won't argue with you. Come on in. Tamako, you two sisters can sit at the counter. I'm a bit busy, so I won't be able to look after you."
With Tadokoro Megumi absent, he was once again promoted to head chef.
"No problem, we can take care of ourselves. Do you need our help here?" Tamako asked, noticing the restaurant seemed a bit short-staffed.
"No need, Sora and the others will be down shortly."
Not long after Liu Ming left, Sora hurried down.
Yesterday, seeing Sora and the others in cheongsams, he thought they looked incredibly beautiful; his own apron couldn't compare.
"Tamako, Anko, you're here too!" Sora greeted the two.
"Mm, I brought some daifuku from our shop. Sora, do you want to try some? They're very delicious," Tamako said, holding up the bag again.
"Sure, but I'm working right now, so it'll have to wait until my break." Sora also wanted to try them, but she was very serious about her work and wouldn't slack off during working hours.
Unlike Miyu, who often slacked off; he wondered who she learned it from.
Liu Ming, in the kitchen, suddenly yawned.
"Why do I feel a chill down my spine?" he muttered to himself.
"Eh, is that okay?" Tamako was first startled, then delighted.
Although Anko didn't speak, her eyes were filled with eagerness.
As a girl, seeing such beautiful clothes, she had long wanted to try them on.
"Of course, no problem. Big Sister Megumi went back to school today, and her cheongsam is still here; you can try hers. Anko can wear my sister Miyu's; your figures are similar, so it should fit."
There were indeed many cheongsam uniforms in the restaurant; almost every female staff member had five sets, so there was no need to worry about not having enough.