The afternoon sun streamed through the sushi restaurant's glass window, casting warm yellow light spots on the bar counter.
Jusaburo Sekiya sat in the corner, clutching a stack of ledgers, tapping away at a calculator for a long time.
He wiped away non-existent sweat from his forehead and turned to look at Shirou, who was in the back kitchen teaching Ah Bao how to use a modern Gas Stove.
"Shirou, come here for a moment."
Shirou put down the spatula in his hand and walked out of the back kitchen. Ah Bao also poked his head out, his fluffy big head perfectly wedged in the kitchen door frame.
"Uncle, what's up?"
Boss Guan Gu took a deep breath, his expression as complex as an overturned spice rack.
He pointed to the numbers in the ledger, then to Ah Bao, and finally sighed.
"I've calculated it. Based on how much Ah Bao ate for breakfast just now—if he eats like this for all three meals, my shop might not last a month before closing."
Ah Bao's ears instantly drooped, and his round face was full of grievance.
He had only eaten seven large bowls of Zha Jiang Mian and ten salmon sushi just now. Back in the Valley of Peace, at his father's Steamed Bun Shop in Pingguo Village, he could eat fifty steamed buns in one sitting.
"But, Boss, you said food and lodging were included—"
"I know, I know," Boss Guan Gu quickly waved his hand.
"I'm not trying to kick you out. It's just—your appetite is a bit beyond my budget."
Shirou, watching Ah Bao's panda face that looked about to cry, suddenly spoke.
"Uncle, what are you planning to do?"
"I'm thinking, how about deducting a portion of Ah Bao's salary as food expenses?" Boss Guan Gu said tentatively.
"Of course, the remaining money will still be paid."
Ah Bao immediately nodded, nodding like pounding garlic.
"No problem! As long as there's food, salary isn't important!"
Shirou looked at this panda who had absolutely no common sense for survival in modern society and decided he still needed to help him.
"Uncle, I have a suggestion."
"Tell me."
"Since Ah Bao can make Zha Jiang Mian, why not add it to the menu? As a new item in the shop, charged separately." Shirou's tone was calm and rational.
"This way, every bowl of noodles Ah Bao makes will earn money, instead of just being a cost consumption."
Boss Guan Gu's eyes lit up.
"That's right! Why didn't I think of that!" He slapped his thigh, excitedly standing up.
"A sushi restaurant selling noodles, it's a bit strange, but what kind of weird shops aren't there in New York? Especially authentic Chinese Zha Jiang Mian made by a panda chef!"
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, already conceptualizing advertising slogans in his mind.
"We'll call it 'Dragon Noodle'! It sounds powerful!"
"dragon warrior zha jiang mian!" Ah Bao corrected, a hint of pride in his voice.
"Alright, alright, dragon warrior zha jiang mian." Boss Guan Gu's eyes squinted into slits as he smiled.
"Set the price a bit high, after all, it's a limited edition, and it's handmade by a panda."
Yuna had also come over at some point. She leaned on the bar counter, propping up her chin, looking at Ah Bao with eager eyes.
"Ah Bao, can I have your noodles tonight?"
"Of course!" Ah Bao thumped his chest, promising.
"Everyone in the Valley of Peace says my noodles are delicious!"
"Ah Bao, you always talk about the Valley of Peace, Valley of Peace, but where exactly is it?" Yuna asked curiously.
"Uh—" Ah Bao scratched his head, "It's my hometown, a very, very distant place."
"How far?"
"Probably—a lifetime's walk?" Ah Bao said, unsure.
Yuna paused, then laughed.
"Ah Bao, you're so cute, there's no place that far."
Shirou did not participate in this conversation. He turned and returned to the back kitchen, continuing to prepare the ingredients needed for the evening.
Ah Bao also followed him in, his small eyes under his dark circles staring intently at the knife in Shirou's hand.
"Shirou, when you're cutting fish, are you using 'qi'?"
Shirou's hand paused.
"Qi?"
"Yeah, I feel like there's something flowing between the knife and the fish when you cut it," Ah Bao said seriously.
"It's like what Master said when he taught me Tai Chi: everything has 'qi,' the key is to feel it."
Shirou was silent for a few seconds.
"This isn't 'qi,' it's Structural Analysis," he explained simply.
"I can'see' the internal structure of the ingredients and find the most suitable place to cut."
"Wow—" Ah Bao's eyes widened, "That's amazing!"
"Your martial arts are also very impressive," Shirou said.
"Hehe." Ah Bao scratched his head shyly.
"It's alright, I just practiced for a few years."
Two people from different Worlds, in this small back kitchen, understood each other's abilities in their own ways. A subtle understanding quietly formed in silence.
As night fell, the sushi restaurant opened on time.
Tonight's customers were still no fewer than last night, and soon, a long queue began to form outside the shop again.
Shirou stood behind the bar, skillfully preparing each dish. Ah Bao was in the back kitchen, guarding the pot of sauce that had been simmering all day, waiting for the first customer to order Zha Jiang Mian.
At 8 PM, the shop door was pushed open.
A figure wearing a black hoodie, sunglasses, and a mask walked in. Even though she was completely covered, her unique aura still made the customers in the shop turn their heads.
Uta.
She had said last night that she would come again today.
Yuna's hand, which was pouring tea for a customer, noticeably stiffened.
She watched the woman walk directly to the bar and sit down in front of Shirou, a strange sense of irritation rising from her heart.
"Welcome." Shirou's tone remained formal, without any fluctuations.
Uta took off her sunglasses, her heterochromatic eyes particularly striking under the dim yellow light. She scanned the menu on the bar, then suddenly noticed a new option.
"dragon warrior zha jiang mian?" she read aloud, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"Since when did your sushi restaurant start selling noodles?"
"It's a new item added today," Shirou answered briefly.
Uta raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting, I'll have one then."
She paused, then added: "And that Ootoro Sushi from yesterday, another piece."
Shirou nodded and turned to the back kitchen.
"Ah Bao, a customer ordered your noodles."
Ah Bao, who was gnawing on a steamed bun, instantly perked up. He put down the half-eaten bun, clapped the flour off his paws, and tightened the towel around his waist.
"Coming, coming!"
He deftly scooped the cooked noodles from the pot, shook off the excess water, and arranged them in a bowl.
Then he ladled a large spoon of thick sauce, evenly pouring it over the noodles. Finally, he sprinkled a handful of finely shredded cucumber and chopped green onions, completing a bowl of Zha Jiang Mian that was perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
Shirou carried the noodles out of the back kitchen and placed them steadily in front of Uta.
"dragon warrior zha jiang mian, please enjoy."
Uta looked at the glistening sauce in the bowl, smelled the rich aroma in the air, picked up her chopsticks, and mixed the noodles and sauce.
With the first mouthful of noodles, her eyes visibly brightened.
This taste—completely different from last night's sushi, but equally stunning.
The chewiness of the noodles, the savory aroma of the sauce, and the crispness of the cucumber created a simple yet irresistible deliciousness in her mouth.
This wasn't an exquisitely refined gourmet meal, but rather a warm, comforting, down-to-earth food that could satisfy both hunger and soul.
She ate quickly, almost devouring it.
In the back kitchen, Ah Bao secretly observed through the small window. When he saw Uta finish every last noodle, even scraping the sauce from the bottom of the bowl with a spoon, a deeply satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"Shirou! She ate all the noodles! Not a single bit left!" Ah Bao whispered excitedly.
"Mm, I saw," Shirou was processing a sea bass, "Well done."
Ah Bao scratched his head and grinned foolishly.
Outside the bar, Uta put down her chopsticks and looked up at Shirou.
"You're not the one who made the noodles, are you?"
Shirou did not deny it.
"It's our new chef."
"New chef—" Uta mused.
"Can I meet him?"
Shirou turned to the back kitchen. Ah Bao was peering through the window, his large, fluffy face almost pressed against the glass.
"Come out, Ah Bao, a customer wants to see you," Shirou said.
Ah Bao swallowed, carefully walking out of the back kitchen. When his massive body appeared before Uta, the entire shop instantly fell silent.
The dining customers' eyes widened, their chopsticks suspended in mid-air.
Uta was also stunned.
But before the customers and Uta could react, a voice was heard:
"I didn't expect this small sushi restaurant to have three players. It seems I've arrived at just the right time!"