Chiba Mako sniffed, and a tempting aroma immediately wafted in.
"It smells so good!" Mako couldn't resist anymore; she also started eating.
"Mmm~" With just one bite, Mako couldn't help but let out a joyful sound.
These dishes seemed almost too delicious.
They could make the body involuntarily produce various reactions.
Feeling the power of these dishes, she suddenly made a decision. Wasn't this restaurant hiring? And she just happened to be unemployed. More importantly, her daughter, Sagiri, seemed to really love the food here.
Except for Natsuno Kirihime, who often dined here and could maintain her etiquette, the other three had already started wolfing down their food.
However, no one laughed at them, as such things were already commonplace here.
Twenty minutes later, the three of them—Eriri, Mako, and Sagiri—lay back in their chairs with blissful expressions.
"If only every day could be like this," Eriri sighed.
"Do you think these are the best dishes? He still has even more amazing ones he hasn't brought out yet," Natsuno Kirihime said faintly.
Eriri and the other two couldn't help but swallow, thinking, 'There's something even more delicious than this?'
Wow! Just thinking about it felt like going to heaven.
"Besides this regular menu, there's also a special menu here. It doesn't have many dishes, but each one is incredibly delicious."
Eriri and the other two swallowed again.
Eriri searched for a while with anticipation but found nothing.
Natsuno Kirihime knew what she was looking for and explained, "That menu isn't real. If you really want to know, you can ask Liu Ming later. This is something only regular customers usually know."
"Thank you~" Eriri said with a smile.
Natsuno Kirihime nodded, then stood up and left the restaurant.
However, Eriri and her companions still had matters to discuss with Liu Ming, so they didn't leave.
After waiting for over an hour, the restaurant finally closed.
After Liu Ming finished his lunch, he came back to them.
Because they had already interacted once, the group didn't feel too much like strangers, and things progressed very smoothly.
Liu Ming explained some of the requirements and key points, and Eriri diligently took notes.
Perhaps because of the delicious dishes earlier, Sagiri didn't hide when facing Liu Ming. Although she was still a little shy, she listened attentively to Liu Ming.
Noticing Sagiri's change, Mako's thoughts in her heart became even more certain.
The group chatted for a full two hours before concluding their conversation.
"Teacher Liu, please rest assured, I will definitely complete this task with all my heart," Eriri stood up and said seriously.
"Well, just do your best, no need to overexert yourself. It's not urgent anyway. Of course, if your final work satisfies me, I can continue to entrust you with the illustrations for my remaining works, and even their manga adaptations," Liu Ming said with a chuckle.
Eriri's eyes gleamed with excitement. Liu Ming's words meant he wanted them to be his exclusive artists.
To be the exclusive artist for a world-class author, no matter how she thought about it...
"Yes! I will absolutely not let you down!" Eriri said loudly.
Then the two couldn't help but look at Sagiri, who had been mostly unresponsive.
Sagiri's face stiffened, and she wanted to hide, but she forcibly suppressed the urge.
She looked at Liu Ming and said weakly, "I'll work hard too."
"Then I'll wait for your good news," Liu Ming said, then stood up.
"Wait, Mr. Liu, I still have something to say," Mako quickly called out to Liu Ming.
Liu Ming looked at her strangely, but he didn't rush to leave and sat down again.
"Is there something you don't understand?" Liu Ming asked.
"No, it's not about this matter, but something else," Mako explained.
Liu Ming looked at her, not understanding what else she could possibly want.
Eriri also didn't rush to leave, watching Mako curiously.
Sagiri also looked at her mother with curiosity.
Mako took a deep breath, then asked, "Are you hiring here?"
"Yes," Liu Ming nodded.
"Then, what do you think of me?" Mako was a little nervous. After all, she had only drawn before and had never truly worked a job.
Liu Ming was stunned. Her words were too sudden.
Sagiri was dumbfounded. Her mother was a shut-in just like her. If it weren't for taking care of her, she probably wouldn't even leave the house much.
How could such a thought suddenly come to her?
Eriri looked at Mako strangely. She always felt something was off.
If it was for the delicious food here, she could simply come as a customer. There was no need to work here.
Was it because of a lack of money?
No, that shouldn't be possible.
After all, she was the original Eromanga Sensei. While she might not compare to the wealthy, she certainly had some money.
"Are you serious?" Liu Ming asked.
"Of course, how could I make a joke like that?" Mako said.
"I'm only hiring waitstaff. Have you done that before?"
"Uh..." Mako was immediately stumped. This question really stumped her. She quickly explained, "Although I don't have experience, I can learn! I'll learn seriously, believe me..."
Liu Ming quickly extended his hand to stop the agitated Mako.
"I was just asking. The job of a waitstaff isn't complicated; in fact, it's very easy to pick up. I just don't understand why you have this idea, why you suddenly want to work here."
Mako didn't speak immediately, but subtly glanced at Sagiri.
Although the movement was small, Liu Ming still noticed it. He stood up and said to Mako, "Come with me for a moment."
Mako was startled for a moment, then quickly reacted and followed him quickly.
After reaching the small private room.
"No one's here now, you can speak, right?" Liu Ming asked.
Mako looked at Liu Ming in surprise, not expecting him to be so thoughtful. She said, "Mainly, Sagiri likes it here."
"She likes the food here?" Liu Ming asked.
"That's only one aspect. More importantly, she doesn't dislike you."
Liu Ming was completely bewildered. What was all this about? He didn't understand at all.
"It might be because of me. Sagiri has been by my side since she was little and picked up my habits, always staying in her room."
"Originally, this wasn't a big deal; after all, it wasn't anything major."
"But ever since her father passed away unexpectedly, her personality changed greatly. Not only did she shut herself in her room, but she even refused to speak to anyone other than me."
"Wait, wasn't her reaction just shyness?" Liu Ming was dumbfounded.
"Who told you she was shy?" Mako looked at Liu Ming strangely.
Liu Ming scratched his head and said nothing more. It turned out he had misunderstood.
"I'm really worried about her situation. I even once thought about whether to find her another father. Perhaps a warm family could change her heart." Mako's tone was a mix of helplessness and tenderness.
Liu Ming blinked. He probably understood, but it didn't seem to have anything to do with her working here, did it?