69novels Page 88
Page 88
"Hoo~ hoo~" A faint light flashed in her golden eyes. She raised her chin slightly, her red lips parted slightly, and steaming hot air wafted out from them.
(But...shouldn't this only happen when there's really delicious food? Could it be...I ate too much before, and my palate has become picky?!)
The question that arose in his heart made Baili Xiao doubt his own "definition of food" for the first time - "Having eaten too many acclaimed delicacies in my previous life doesn't seem to be a good thing?" - But the next second, Kobayashi Rindou's muttering to himself dispelled his thoughts.
"What kind of garbage food is this?!"
The spoon, now stained with red broth, is inserted into the Mapo Tofu again—unlike the previous "ladle-up" motion, this time it's inserted straight down!
It's like holding a sharp knife and stabbing it hard into a human body!
"Clang!" With a crisp sound, the tofu block shattered in two!
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
Every sound represents a piece of Mapo Tofu being squeezed and crushed by force!
The bright red broth splattered everywhere, dripping around the edge of the plate, and some even splashed onto the white shirt.
Baili Xiao and Mordred stared blankly at Kobayashi Rindou, who seemed to have gone mad—in fact, at this moment, everyone in the store was focused on the latter, and even the discussions that had been going on before came to an abrupt halt!
"Tap tap tap!" The rapid sound of high heels clicking on the floor...
The waitress strode over with a livid face. If you looked closely, you could see that her whole body was trembling slightly—a sign of being controlled by anger—her hands were clenched tightly, and her knuckles were pale from the force.
"Sir! What are you doing?! Please stop this rude behavior immediately! If you continue, we have the right to kick you out!"
The merciless warning instantly plunged the temperature inside the store to freezing point, and everyone unconsciously held their breath, waiting for Kobayashi Rindou's answer.
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
Surprisingly, the expected argument and even cursing did not occur. Kobayashi Rindou put down his spoon with a grin, casually but elegantly picked up a tissue to wipe the stains on his clothes, then put his hands behind his head, tilted his chair back, and looked at the waiter.
On her handsome face was a smile that could be described as "kind"—Kobayashi Rindou's eyes narrowed into slits, and beneath her long eyelashes, one could vaguely see golden pupils—she waved her hand "apologies" (in the eyes of onlookers 4.9), but said the exact opposite of "sorry"!
"I'm so sorry I couldn't help myself because this dish was so awful!"
After a slight pause, Kobayashi Rindou stared intently at the stiff-bodied waitress, not missing a single, subtle movement.
"By the way, isn't the head chef of this restaurant a graduate of Totsuki Academy? As a junior, I really want to meet him and ask him some questions, like, 'How did you graduate from Totsuki Academy with such terrible cooking skills?'"
With his hands gently clasped together, Kobayashi Rindou's smile became even more "kind":
"Then, I'll leave it to you!"
Chapter 0251 The Second Seat of the Ten Heroes: Kobayashi Rindou! (First Update)
"Buzzing—"
The not-so-large restaurant fell into a deathly silence—a silence even deeper than when Kobayashi Rindou had done something bizarre, a silence so oppressive it was almost suffocating!
All eyes were on Kobayashi Rindou, filled with surprise, confusion, and astonishment, but more than anything, they looked at him as if he were a fool.
Bai Lixiao frowned slightly—Judging from the quality of the Mapo Tofu made, it did indeed fall short of the reputation of Totsuki Academy as the "Kingdom of the Culinary World"... After all, even if one did not reach the level of the Ten Heroes during their studies, as long as they could graduate smoothly, they would still be "one of the 10% of graduates"!
A person who can survive a cooking competition that is like a war would never make a Mapo Tofu dish that is only "spicy"!
But... despite his doubts, Baili Xiao didn't have the thought of questioning, "Is the head chef really a graduate of Totsuki Academy?" He was just a passerby. If Mordred hadn't dragged him out out of interest, he probably would never have come to a place like this in his entire life.
However, Kobayashi Rindou clearly didn't think so. Perhaps it was to protect the reputation of Totsuki Academy, or perhaps it was because "I've eaten such terrible food, I have to argue about it." In any case, she has now launched a direct challenge to the head chef of this restaurant!
"Huh? Is my request too much? Why haven't you said anything?"
Seeing the waiter standing there with a livid face, showing no intention of "calling the head chef out," Kobayashi Rindou smiled mockingly, his golden eyes narrowing into a dangerous arc.
"Is it really okay to put myself in such a difficult position? I just wanted to meet a senior graduate as a junior, since we're from the same academy. Maybe... you could give me some pointers on cooking?"
Kobayashi Rindou's voice wasn't loud, but it was as clear as if it were ringing in everyone's ears—at the same time, the waiter's hesitation and silence also attracted the attention and murmurs of most people.
"Hey, could it be... like that girl said, that the head chef isn't actually a graduate of Totsuki Academy?!"
"Hmm, now that it tastes like it, it's just so-so. Although the flavor is indeed good, it's not particularly amazing..."
"Oh dear, how could poor folks like us ever have the chance to taste the cooking of Totsuki Academy students? We've only heard that every dish is incredibly delicious... There's no comparison at all!"
"It's hard to say, it's hard to say. Just watch the show, the main event is coming up!"
Many people have become suspicious of chefs who claim to be "graduates of Totsuki Academy"—a situation that is extremely common in life. To exaggerate a bit, there are people using the name of "Totsuki Academy" to swindle and deceive people (using this as a gimmick to attract customers) all the time!
The waitress's originally pretty face was flushed—she had heard the whispers around her, which made her already confused mind go blank.
"I don't know what you're talking about! If you're questioning our head chef's qualifications, I have the right to kick you out! I..."
The stern voice abruptly stopped—after Kobayashi Rindou revealed a smile that said, "I knew it," she also realized the hidden meaning in her words—anyone could hear it!
"No! I, I...it's not what you think!" Her panicked explanation confirmed everyone's suspicions once again. As they cast "suspicious" glances at her, they also stopped eating—the once delicious food had now become tasteless, because something much more interesting was about to happen!
"Hey, isn't this woman going a bit too far?" Mordred leaned towards Baili Xiao's direction, covering her mouth with her hand, and continued in a voice only Baili Xiao could hear, "If this keeps up, they might get into a fight!"
(You keep saying "That's too much," but your face shows an eager expression. What are you hoping for?) Baili Xiao rolled his eyes helplessly. Unlike the others, his gaze was fixed on the door with the sign "No Entry for Non-Staff" not far away. His hearing, far beyond that of ordinary people, allowed him to clearly hear the sounds inside.
Just now, the whooshing sound of the flames abruptly stopped!
"Rena, what happened?"
The door was pushed open, and a man dressed in a neat chef's uniform came into view. He first looked at his companion, the girl named "Rena," who was a waitress, and then turned his gaze to Kobayashi Rindou.
"Second seat... Senior Rindan?!"
Shock mingled with barely concealed bewilderment, the man, after a moment of stunned silence, quickly turned to return to his previous room, but...
"Hey! You recognized me at first glance, which means you were at least a student at Totsuki Academy, right? If that's the case, then stop trying to hide it! A chef from Totsuki should at least have that kind of awareness!"
Whether it was a reprimand or a warning, at least after Kobayashi Rindou finished speaking, the man's movements slowed down—and finally, Bao 407 froze in his push-door posture!
"Turn around! This dish you made is absolutely terrible! You've gone overboard with the spiciness and masked all the other essential flavors! Is this how you learned to cook at Totsuki? Don't just casually use the 'Totsuki' name to serve up this awful food, you bastard!"
Completely disregarding the atmosphere around him, Kobayashi Rindou extended a finger, reprimanding without mercy like a teacher wielding a ruler in class—not only the men, but everyone present unconsciously shrank back!
"Tell me! Who are you? Don't tell me you're some 'graduate'! I often get to eat Kuga's cooking—including Mapo Tofu—if you're a graduate, even if you're not as good as that bastard Kuga, you shouldn't be this bad, right?"
As he spoke, he paused slightly, and the curve of Kobayashi Rindou's lips widened. His sharp canine teeth were no longer as cute as before; instead, they gave off a chilling feeling.
"Or... do you want to keep stubbornly holding on? OK! No problem! Let's have a culinary showdown then. I've actually always wanted to compete with the alumni from previous years. Have I finally found my chance?"
P.S.: Updates officially begin in August!
Chapter 0252 Kobayashi Rindou's Invitation! (Two Updates)
A cooking competition with Kobayashi Rindou, the second seat of the Elite Ten? Are you kidding me!
The man lowered his head, his brown hair obscuring his eyes—he finally realized what the biggest mistake he had ever made was!
I'm not pretending to be a "Totsuki graduate"! I'm not opening a restaurant in a conspicuous location! I'm not complacent or even arrogant, thinking, "I'm probably no worse than those Elite Ten members of Totsuki now, right?"
The biggest mistake was... encountering Kobayashi Rindou!
I met this woman—who doesn't care about anything, only wants to eat all the delicious food in the world, and is also an extremely skilled cook!
“Acheng…” The waitress named “Rena” looked at the man with a worried expression—her childhood friend—she knew everything about him and knew that he must be going through a very intense struggle in his heart at this moment.
Should one choose to "admit their identity" or... "engage in a culinary duel with Kobayashi Rindou"?
"So, so, which one will you choose?" Kobayashi Rindou smiled and walked towards A-Cheng's direction. Each step was small and the frequency was not fast, but... it brought the latter immense pressure.
Finally, when Kobayashi Rindou's golden eyes met his gaze, A-Cheng took a deep breath, crossed his hands above his head, and slowly bent his knees to kneel on the floor, thus bowing down at Rindou's feet!
"I am so sorry! I have deceived everyone! I am not a graduate of Totsuki Academy! I am just an ordinary, even a failure, student who was rejected by the academy's entrance exam!"
"I know it's wrong of me to impersonate someone, but... but if I were a graduate, more people would be willing to try my food, right?! It was because of that thought that I... I..."
The sobs in his voice were clearly audible. Although Ah Cheng's face was pressed against the floor and his expression could not be seen, his trembling shoulders and body still made many people understand – right now, he must be trying his best not to cry out loud.
"I want more people to taste my cooking! I want more people to say 'delicious'! Even after being expelled from school, I never stopped pursuing higher levels of culinary skill! I don't want others to subconsciously deny my identity as a chef just because I'm a 'dropout'!"
"I...I really want to continue making delicious food..."
His hands, which were originally palms, had somehow clenched into fists, and the veins on the back of his hands were particularly prominent due to the excessive force.
“Acheng…” Rena hugged Acheng’s shoulders tightly, tears streaming down her face. As his childhood friend, she knew clearly how much effort he had put into cooking. She vividly remembered his excitement when he was accepted into Totsuki Culinary Academy, and she also remembered the heart-wrenching feeling she had when she saw him looking haggard and dejected, instead of the hope that he would become the most successful chef.
Whether it was because of the renewed silence in the store or because the emotional fluctuations became more pronounced, the previously inaudible crying gradually became clearer.
"Hey! You're really stupid, aren't you? No wonder you failed the student assessment!" Kobayashi Rindou said as he squatted down, propped his cheek on his right hand, and tilted his head to look at the person on the ground. "Which rule says that 'people who are eliminated from Totsuki Academy can't become good chefs'?! In the end, it's just your own opinion, isn't it?"
He extended his left index finger and tapped Ah Cheng's shoulder firmly: "What makes a good chef... that's a rather profound question, but personally, I think anyone who can make dishes that I find delicious is a good chef! Obviously, you haven't reached that level yet..."
"But have you heard what these diners here have to say about your cooking? Without exception! They all say it's delicious!"
"In that case, of course he deserves the title of chef! A dropout from Totsuki Academy? What's that? Does that mean he's denied the possibility of becoming a chef? Are you kidding me!"
Kobayashi Rindou spoke with a serious expression, saying things that would damage the reputation of Totsuki Academy—Ashiro, whose face was covered in tears, looked up and stared blankly at the senior who was so close to him, then followed her finger and turned to the people sitting around him.
Everyone wore a faint smile, and their gazes towards him contained nothing but encouragement, not a trace of disdain or disgust—they had indeed tasted a dish that they could call "delicious," and for that reason alone, regardless of the chef's identity, they should feel "gratitude" and "appreciation" towards him!
"See? This is what you got after leaving the academy, and it's the motivation that keeps you going in the culinary world. So, stop worrying about things like 'Totsuki Academy,' just do your best to make delicious food for everyone, and that's enough!"
Kobayashi Rindou grinned, stood up, walked to the shop entrance, and tilted his head slightly to look at the words on the sign: "Remove the words 'Totsuki Graduate'! You don't need such lies to support yourself anymore, do you?"
"Senior Gentian, thank you so much..."
"No need to thank me. You call me 'senior' after all, and it's only right to offer some guidance to a junior like me. Alright, alright, hurry up and bring me your best dish. That Mapo Tofu wasn't what I wanted..."
"Yes, senior! Please wait a moment!"
"Oh, right, remember to order three servings! Including Baili-jun's and...'s!"
...bang..
"Mmm, so full!" Mordred groaned contentedly, clutching her flat stomach. Although Baili Xiao wondered, "Can someone really be full if there's no movement at all?", he quickly dismissed the thought that Mordred's father was the Saber King, Artoria—his father was the kind of person whose size never changed no matter how much he ate, so Mordred must be the same, right?
"Wow, I never expected to find such delicious food here. My decision to come out today was definitely the right one!"
“Yes, you ate two Mapo Tofu set meals and then immediately finished the 'Burgundy Beef Stew Set Meal.' I’m shocked by your appetite.” Baili Xiao shook his head with a light laugh. It was just a casual joke, but Mordred (Ma De Zhao) took it very seriously.
She stopped abruptly, a faint blush rising on her fair cheeks. Slightly embarrassed, she avoided Baili Xiao's gaze, while Mordred scratched her cheek with a finger. "What do you know? You need to be well-fed to fight better—that's what Father says! Besides... I'm growing! I need to consume more energy!"
(Even Mordred can't help but show her feminine strength when faced with this kind of problem? That's quite rare...) The thought in her mind was reflected on the corner of her mouth—a slight upturn—and Baili Xiao's meaningful smile entered Mordred's eyes, making her feel a little annoyed.
Just as she was secretly resolving that "if Baili Xiao makes fun of me about food again, I'll definitely teach him a lesson," Kobayashi Rindou's voice suddenly rang out from behind her.
"Hey! Hyakuri-kun! How about you visit Totsuki Academy sometime? They have lots of delicious food there!"
Chapter 0253 It seems they invited someone extraordinary? (Third update)
"Hmm?" Baili Xiao frowned and looked at Kobayashi Rindou behind him—the two had only just met, and judging from the latter's appearance, he didn't seem to know his identity. Why would he extend an invitation to him?
Noticing Baili Xiao's confusion, Kobayashi Rindou put his hands behind his head and casually explained, "The academy is about to hold its school festival—the Moon Festival, which will be held around mid-October. It's one of the few events that allows outsiders to participate, where you can enjoy a large variety of exquisite delicacies."