The hotpot pulled everyone closer — especially Jackie. He ate until his face was flushed, then declared that the overly sweet stuff in Little China was garbage. He was already excited for the burger Vash had promised earlier, convinced the quality would be just as insane.
The red-oil broth hit hard: spice, depth, and that addictive heat that crawled up slow and refused to let go. Add Vash's dipping sauce — his "secret blend" — and it hooked you from the first bite.
Judy and Evelyn ate until they were sweating. The hotpot didn't just satisfy their taste buds — it left them warm all the way through, the kind of cozy heat you rarely felt in Night City.
"That was preem!" Jackie slouched in his chair, patting his belly like he was checking whether it was still attached. Built like a tank and eating like one too, he still asked eagerly, "V — can you do this more often?"
"Occasionally." Vash said, "Don't start treating me like your personal chef."
"Course not." Jackie replied, grinning, "You're a pro. Occasionally's fine." He leaned back, already planning ahead, "Next time, I'm bringin' Misty. Gotta let her try it."
Vash's attention drifted back to the two women.
Judy had developed a weird affection for the little green vegetables, eating them like they were snacks.
Evelyn — the cold, elegant socialite — handled the spice like it was nothing. At some point she even started savoring the broth itself, slow and deliberate, like she was tasting a high-end cocktail.
Eventually, the meal ended.
"V." Judy said, genuine admiration in her voice, "You live up to the hype. Your cooking beats anything in Little China." She shot Jackie a look, "And yeah — I agree with him. You should do this more often."
Evelyn dabbed her mouth with a napkin and gave a small, approving nod, "Delicious. On par with a top-tier restaurant."
"As long as you enjoyed it." Vash said.
He looked calm, but inside he was practically celebrating.
Nobody could resist his food. Now that he'd tested his skill, he knew the truth: if he wanted to win people over, starting with their stomachs was always the cleanest first step.
"I'll handle the dishes." Judy offered, already moving toward the kitchen.
Evelyn watched her wash up, humming quietly.
Something about Judy's smile felt brighter tonight. Because of V?
The thought left Evelyn with a strange, tangled mix of emotions.
Beep Beep Beep!
A comm alert pinged. The moment Evelyn saw the caller, her expression snapped from distracted to professional — smooth, alluring, perfectly controlled.
She said goodbye to Vash and Jackie, then left Sunshine Estate without wasting another second.
"Hello, darling."
"Evelyn, why'd it take so long today?" A man's voice came through, puzzled.
"Sorry, darling." Evelyn said softly, "Just got out of the shower."
"Mm. Was wonderin' why you declined the video call." The man chuckled, "But c'mon — after everything between us, you really gonna be shy about a call while you're showering? It's not like I haven't seen it before."
"I'm just being shy."
"Never mind. Come keep me company at Konpeki Plaza tonight. I miss you. You can come up direct."
The line cut.
A flicker crossed Evelyn's eyes.
Then she walked to the car and spoke to the Mox driver, voice steady, "Konpeki Plaza."
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Judy came out of the kitchen after finishing the dishes.
"Where's Ev?"
"Got a call. Left." Vash said.
Judy nodded once, like that explained everything, "Alright. I should head back too. Got a lot of BD editing to do." She picked up her motorcycle shard from the table and headed for the door, "See you next time."
After Vash saw her off, only he and Jackie remained.
Jackie leaned forward, lowering his voice like he was about to confess something criminal.
"V… what the hell you been doin' when we weren't workin' together? Getting Judy to come over is one thing. But even Evelyn showed up."
Vash stayed silent.
Jackie stared at him for half a second, then sighed, "Alright — secrets." He shook his head, "You nomads love your secrets."
Then his grin came back.
"But I'm different. I'm an honest guy." Jackie jabbed a finger toward Vash, "V — wanna make a name for yourself?"
Vash gave him a sideways look, "Cut the crap and get to the point."
"The rescue gig we did? Wakako was real satisfied." Jackie said, "Word's out. We got a rep on the street now." He leaned back, enjoying the sound of it. "These past couple days, while I was out workin' my contacts, Dex DeShawn's people approached me."
His eyes shone like he was talking about a legend.
"You know Dex." He continued, "One of Night City's biggest fixers. The gigs he deals? Top shelf. The pay? Highest. Working with him means we're for real. Hook up with Dex, V… we flyin' high."
Vash didn't flinch, "Eddies aren't that easy. The more they offer, the more you pay. No such thing as a free lunch."
"V." Jackie said, confident as ever, "Fortune favors the bold. There's that saying too — nothin' ventured… nothin'… what?"
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Vash said. He stood up, decision already made, "Go make contact. Just tell me when it's time to act."
Jackie exhaled like he'd been holding his breath, "V, you're a real one." He clapped Vash on the shoulder, "With us as partners? We're unstoppable. No doubt about it."
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want 20 chapters ahead, smut chapters or spicy images of this novel for just $5, or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations (free or starting at $1.5): MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)