Arriving in the kitchen, Tohru was already there.
She needed to help in the kitchen now, and wearing a cheongsam would be inconvenient, so she didn't go upstairs to change with Sora and the others.
Upon her return, Tohru went straight into the kitchen and began the initial preparations for the ingredients.
"No more secretly eating, okay?" Liu Ming said to Tohru without turning his head, as he stood in front of his stove.
"I wouldn't!" Tohru immediately retorted, though her tone was a bit low.
While Tohru wasn't as gluttonous as Elma, she wasn't much better. Every time food was prepared, she couldn't resist holding back a little for herself.
Because the restaurant's portions were generous, just a little bit didn't affect anything. However, it was a bad habit, and Liu Ming still hoped she could change it.
If she wanted to eat, she could certainly make it herself.
During their casual chat, Sora also came in with a customer's order.
Liu Ming and Tohru officially began their work.
...
"Mm, this is the aroma. I've really missed it."
"Yes, these past few days since the restaurant closed, I feel like I've lost my sense of taste when eating."
"Exactly, exactly, I feel the same way. It just feels like something is missing."
Once again enjoying the unique cuisine of Liu's Restaurant, the customers were filled with emotion.
At this time, Tamako and Anko had also changed their clothes.
Tamako, being enthusiastic and cheerful, rushed to the first floor as soon as she changed.
Among the dining customers, many were people from the shopping street, and they all knew Tamako.
Seeing Tamako actually dressed in the restaurant's cheongsam uniform, they couldn't help but tease her.
"Oh, isn't this Tamako? Wearing this outfit, are you planning to work for Xiao Ming? Be careful, your father will be sad."
"No, he won't! And my father isn't that petty." Tamako immediately retorted.
"It's hard to say. After all, his daughter, whom he raised, isn't helping out at his own shop, but instead working as a waitress at Xiao Ming's restaurant. He's probably crying by now."
"Needless to say, Uncle Douda is really pitiful." The customer's tone was full of sighs.
"Hmph, I'm not talking to you guys." Tamako glared at those who were talking nonsense, then looked up and waved to Anko, who was not far away, "Anko, why aren't you coming down yet? What are you hiding up there for?"
Don't let Anko's usual liveliness fool you; she was still a bit shy in front of so many people.
Especially after changing into new clothes, she paid even more attention to what others thought.
Therefore, she hid on the second floor, refusing to come down.
Now, with Tamako's shout,
many people's gazes immediately turned towards her.
Anko's fair face instantly flushed crimson. She stomped her foot and huffed, "That idiotic sister."
She turned around and ran back to the room where she had just changed. She jumped onto the bed and covered herself with the quilt.
"Huh?" Tamako was bewildered. She didn't understand what was wrong with Anko or why she had run off.
However, she didn't think much of it and quickly went to the kitchen door, peeking her little head inside.
And then she saw a scene that left her dumbfounded.
Was this still the Xiao Ming she knew? Preparing food was like a performance, full of aesthetic beauty, making people involuntarily mesmerized.
The kitchen became a stage, the utensils became props, every movement, every detail, was so elegant, so charming.
She was a member of the Baton Twirling Club. Although her skills weren't great, she had seen many other performances and had some eye for it.
She felt a rhythm from Liu Ming, as if he wasn't cooking food, but performing.
"Tamako, is there something you need?" Liu Ming also noticed the small head at the door. Seeing that she hadn't spoken for a while, he had to ask.
"Uh, am I bothering you?" Tamako scratched her head and stepped out.
"No, just watching from the side won't bother me. Did you come to the kitchen to find me for something?" Liu Ming looked at Tamako. It was then that he noticed Tamako was actually wearing the cheongsam uniform from his place.
And it must be said, Tamako looked even more playful and cute in a cheongsam. People with her tall figure are truly well-suited to wearing cheongsams.
"Are you planning to work here? That's fine, I agree." Liu Ming saw Tamako wearing a cheongsam and thought she had this idea.
"Eh? Ah! No, I don't have such an idea. I just saw Sora and the others wearing them and thought they looked cute, so I tried one on to see.
Besides, my father wouldn't agree to me working here." Tamako waved her hands repeatedly, explaining in a hurry.
"You mean Uncle Douda? That guy is quite stubborn. If you really worked here, he'd probably come over and tear down my restaurant."
Mentioning Tamako's father, Kitashirakawa Douda, Liu Ming couldn't help but show a hint of helplessness. He was so ostentatious when he was young, how did he become so stubborn in middle age?
Every time he saw him arguing with Uncle Gohei from across the street, Liu Ming felt a bit like laughing.
How old were they, still arguing like children every day?
"So what exactly did you come in for? Don't tell me you want me to praise your cuteness. Tamako, you're already a high school student, you know." Liu Ming said teasingly.
"Xiao Ming, you're still so annoying when you talk. I just came in out of curiosity." Tamako rolled her eyes and said grumpily.
"Heh heh, then feel free. If you want to learn, just speak up. Xiao Ming doesn't mind teaching you."
Although Liu Ming was talking to Tamako, his movements didn't stop. In that time, he had already completed a dish.
"I'll pass. Although I really like the dishes Xiao Ming makes, my favorite is still our family's daifuku." Tamako shook her head and refused.
Liu Ming wasn't disappointed. Everyone has their own story. He had watched Tamako grow up since she was little and knew what daifuku meant to her.
The two chatted casually like this. After all, they had known each other for more than ten years, and Liu Ming spoke without much reservation, occasionally teasing Tamako.
Miyu suddenly walked in and said to Liu Ming, "Xiao Ming, Natsuno Kirihime is here."
"If she's here, she's here. She practically treats this place as her own kitchen anyway, coming to eat almost every day. She's reserved a few special dishes this time. Take her to the small private room and let her dine there."
The small private rooms were specially renovated by the construction team at Liu Ming's instruction last time. There were only two, and they weren't very big.
Each could only accommodate four to five people at most, and even then, it would be a bit cramped.
Liu Ming had no choice; his restaurant was only so big.
The courtyard area had already been used to build new houses. If customers didn't want to expose themselves in public, they could only dine in the small private rooms.
"She came with a friend. It's her friend who's looking for you." Miyu explained.
"Her friend? I don't seem to know her friend." Liu Ming was puzzled.
"It's Editor Hiiragi Suzuna from last time. She said she has something important to discuss with you."
"That guy, why is she bothering me again? She really doesn't give up." Liu Ming said helplessly.