A Bowl of Braised Pork; The King Doesn't Care (Seeking Follow-up Reads!)

After a quick tidy-up, Bai Zhou slung his suit jacket over his shoulder and was about to leave.

Ya's voice suddenly came from upstairs—

"Bai Zhou, someone's looking for you."

[I hope readers will remember our domain name Taiwan Novel Network → ⓣⓦⓚⓐⓝ.ⓒⓞⓜ]

"--You'll never guess who."

"...?"

Bai Zhou truly couldn't guess.

At this time, at this place, who else would be looking for him besides the pursuers with knives and guns, intent on slicing him into eighteen pieces.

Bai Zhou immediately tensed up.

Then, he stood by the window and saw a figure pacing hesitantly below.

Melancholy long hair, a sharp beard.

One hand rested on a steel rebar staff, the other held a paper bowl.

...Was it him?

The bearded man from last night?

What was he doing here?

"Uncle, this isn't your territory too, is it?"

Stepping out of the villa, listening to the incessant chirping of cicadas...

Bai Zhou put on a confused expression.

But in reality, his left hand, hidden behind his back, had already secretly gripped a short club.

It couldn't be ruled out...

that it was because of those two missing subordinates.

If that's the case, then it's regrettable...

"It really is you?"

The man leaned on his steel rebar amidst the weeds, his clothes tattered, and a strong odor emanating from him.

But before the smell, his rough voice and a barrage of words hit him—

"--So young, drifting out here, does it feel good?"

"Are you really not planning to go home?"

...But before Bai Zhou could answer, the accusatory momentum he exuded collapsed on its own.

Because he clearly saw the dilapidated house behind Bai Zhou, and Bai Zhou's robust mental state.

It didn't seem like he was putting on a brave face.

Then, he frowned and asked in a muffled voice:

"You stayed here, alone, for one night?"

Not exactly alone...

Bai Zhou blinked.

"Someone told me they saw you around here while picking up trash today."

"I was a bit worried, so I came to check..."

"I didn't expect you to actually be here."

Saw him? How did they see him?

Bai Zhou pondered. It must have been when he was washing his face by the river at noon and was spotted by a passing scavenger.

He remembered seeing the scavenger, but he hadn't expected this scavenger to be one of the bearded man's people.

--Do you scavengers even have territorial divisions?

"It seems you're not just a willful rich kid, as I initially thought."

Shaking his head, the bearded man actually bent down:

"I apologize, I judged you prematurely."

"No, no..."

Hearing this, Bai Zhou waved his hands repeatedly.

He couldn't entirely blame the man.

Just looking at Bai Zhou's age, his decent clothes, and the heavy briefcase, it was hard not to make assumptions.

Having no parents since childhood, his hometown bombed into ruins, and then being hunted across the city by a mysterious organization...

Such experiences were indeed too bizarre.

Even ordinary people couldn't imagine it, and if Bai Zhou said it himself, he'd be sent to a mental hospital for treatment.

"So, you're looking for me because..."

Bai Zhou asked uncertainly.

"Everyone has their difficulties, I won't pry into the specific reasons, it's the rules of the trade."

The Bearded Man waved his hand, "But honestly, being a scavenger is tough, and shameful. Everyone looks down on them."

"You're still young, you can find a job in the city!"

The Bearded Man paused, "...But if you truly feel you can accept this kind of life, that's fine too."

"If any other scavengers give you trouble, just say you're with me, that you've paid your dues."

"My surname is Qiao, they all call me Old Qiao, Old Qiao of South City."

As he spoke, the Bearded Man gestured back the way he came:

"If you get lonely and want some company..."

"Come find us at last night's spot."

"I take back what I said yesterday."

"--But if you come, you have to hand over a portion of your daily earnings, that's the rule."

"It's fine if you don't come, it's up to you."

With that, Old Qiao handed over the paper bowl in his hand.

His movements were stiff, clearly unaccustomed to such an action, and the paper bowl almost hit Bai Zhou's chest.

"This is...?"

Bai Zhou blinked.

"Braised Pork!"

"I guessed you haven't eaten in a while."

Old Qiao's voice was dry, as if he wasn't used to saying such things.

"You're lucky, kid. Today is the settlement's monthly meat day. I exchanged money for half a pig and cooked it myself."

"The bowl... is clean... unused, don't worry."

In the small paper bowl were several pieces of glistening, fatty meat.

Rich oil and dark sauce, the trembling fat reflected the dazzling sunlight, the smell of burnt soy sauce mixed with the aroma of meat and a hint of sweetness wafted over.

Bai Zhou was stunned.

He had thought this uncle was here to recruit him.

But in the end, he carried a disposable paper bowl all this way...

just for this?

"Uncle, you might have misunderstood something."

Bai Zhou waved his hands repeatedly.

"Actually, I don't want to be a scavenger. Even if I eat your meat, I won't join you."

"Hm?"

Old Qiao's eyebrows twitched, then he nodded with relief, "So you're looking for a job? Then you should fill your stomach first..."

"Not really."

Bai Zhou told the truth: "I don't have any plans for that right now."

Old Qiao choked.

"...Then you're going home?"

"I don't have any plans for that right now either."

Bai Zhou's answers were quite honest.

But the more he spoke, the more Old Qiao's face turned red, his beard bristling.

"You won't do this, and you won't do that?"

"--Are you going to sleep in this broken house until you starve to death?"

"So young, with hands and feet, healthy and not sick, how can you not support yourself?"

"Even if you're going to scavenge... you need to have the attitude of a scavenger!"

He said loudly, forcefully shoving the paper bowl of braised pork into Bai Zhou's hands, splashing a few drops of the sauce.

"Forget it, I was just being nosy."

"Whatever you say!"

Old Qiao huffed, cursing under his breath as he turned and left.

He didn't hesitate at all.

It was as if handing the braised pork to Bai Zhou had put his mind at ease.

Not even Bai Zhou's words of thanks and refusal could make him stop.

"...He just left like that?"

Holding the bowl of braised pork, which felt like it had fallen from the sky, Bai Zhou, whose stomach was rumbling, was a bit bewildered by the current situation.

No... what was all this about!

He had just finished telling those two scavenging unlucky fellows the story of the River God and the axe, and unexpectedly, he had encountered another version of it himself--

The bearded River God uncle who emerged from the lake asked Bai Zhou which axe he had lost, but Bai Zhou wasn't a woodcutter at all. He was just a broke ghost passing by, without even a rusty iron axe.

--However, the bearded River God didn't care what he said at all. The River God simply wanted to reward him and give him something...

Everything happened too fast.

Too fast for Bai Zhou to even ask or refuse, and a bowl of braised pork was suddenly in his hands.

Did they know each other before? Why were they inexplicably so good to him?

Regarding this question...

Actually, Bai Zhou had some guesses in his heart.

Because when Old Qiao was talking to him, the way he looked at him was not like looking at Bai Zhou at all.

It was more like looking at the shadow of another person.

He was reminiscing, sighing, and then feeling disappointed that he wasn't living up to his potential.

Perhaps, there were some stories behind it.

--But Bai Zhou had no intention of prying into other people's privacy.

After all, the encounters and partings of strangers were all fate.

He just needed to silently remember the benefits bestowed by others.

For Bai Zhou, this sudden kindness was a familiar yet strange experience.

--It was a bit like the feeling of being taken care of by everyone as an orphan in the alleys of Evening City.

"..."

Thinking this, Bai Zhou lowered his head and looked at the bowl of braised pork in his hand.

It was still warm.

He pinched a piece and put it in his mouth.

It probably didn't have cooking wine, the gamey smell of the pork was quite obvious, the seasoning was rough, the meat was coarse, and the fat was greasy.

But, how should he put it?

Bai Zhou chewed, his cheeks puffed out.

...Perhaps it was because he hadn't eaten in so long, but he actually felt that this meat had a unique flavor.

It was very fragrant.

--At least, in Bai Zhou's opinion.

This braised pork was much tastier than the particularly exquisite meat dishes made in the base cafeteria.

"You're right, Ya."

"Everywhere has good people and bad people."

While eating, Bai Zhou turned his head and looked at the girl in the windbreaker standing beside him.

Ya had been here since just now, listening to the whole conversation.

If she hadn't been there, Bai Zhou wouldn't have dared to easily eat food handed to him by others.

"At least I can be sure he wasn't lying."

Ya shook her head and said uncertainly, "Perhaps, he saw the shadow of his son in you?"

"Who knows?"

Bai Zhou shook his head and pinched another piece of pork belly from the small paper box, putting it into his mouth.

It melted in the mouth.

His stomach no longer growled. The meat's calories converted into a warm current that swept through his body, allowing Bai Zhou to gradually relax.

He smacked his lips, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction.

Then, he handed the box over.

"Do you want to try some? Actually, it's not bad once you get used to it."

"No need."

Ya shook her head.

Wild grass swayed, and the wind blew through her ink-black hair.

A faint fragrance wafted out, barely perceptible.

"I no longer need to rely on low-level energy like protein and fat to maintain my life functions."

As she spoke, she took two coffee beans from her pocket and gently put them in her mouth to chew.

This added a hint of burnt coffee aroma to the humid wind.

"This is enough."

Life's encounters are always quite strange.

Just now, Bai Zhou was eating the scraps offered by a stranger, a beggar uncle.

Now, he was preparing to head to the city center for a meal at an expensive Michelin three-star restaurant.

The braised pork was just an appetizer.

Especially since Bai Zhou had walked for another three hours according to the map to get to that restaurant.

Ya hadn't followed him; she said she had something to do.

Mysterious.

...All the way, Bai Zhou never took off his mask, maintaining a very low profile.

Although walking was tiring, it also gave him a lot of new understanding of this unfamiliar city.

Surprisingly, bears in Tinghai City could "eat people" on the street.

--He witnessed it with his own eyes!

In front of a shop called "Sweet Snow Hegemony City,"

A person's arm suddenly emerged from the gaping mouth of a brown bear!

Clearly, a human was struggling inside.

At that moment, Bai Zhou almost rushed forward to slide-kick the bear away.

But a little girl passing by, a step ahead of him, screamed and rushed forward to hug the bear, saying inexplicable things like "Such a cute bear."

--This made Bai Zhou suspect again if there was another hidden reason.

Finally, before the sun completely set.

Accompanied by the fiery sunset glow filling the sky, around 6:30 PM, Bai Zhou arrived at the bustling city center, crowded with people.

--Incidentally, the first time he saw the fiery sunset glow, Bai Zhou thought Ya had arrived!

So this Blue Star is really strange. The sun is golden, and the moon is white, so why is the transition between day and night red?

They have a Blood Moon in Evening City, so it's quite normal for it to turn red in the evening.

What right does your Blue Star have...

Isn't it very abnormal?

--But he quickly didn't have time to think any further.

Because he saw "acquaintances" here.

Several men in black suits were looking around nonchalantly on the street.

The silver briefcases in their hands were very familiar to Bai Zhou.

--The Special Management Department's field team!

Bai Zhou's first instinct told him...

They were here for him!

His heart grew solemn, and Bai Zhou quickly lowered his head, wearing his mask as he hurried through the crowd.

They came so fast...

Have the matters at the base been handled?

A tense pressure permeated Bai Zhou's heart.

The bustling street had become a midnight graveyard, no longer offering him even a shred of security.

At any moment, he might run headlong into pursuers from the Special Management Department...

Fortunately, Bai Zhou didn't need to linger on the street.

Because he had arrived at his destination for this journey--

[L'Ambroisie]

He was here for the "pocket money" left behind by Ya.

Knowing full well there would be danger in Tinghai City, he had still resolutely come here--

Solely to obtain the equipment and supplies Ya had left for him.

Interestingly...

L'Ambroisie, meaning food fit for the gods.

Also known as "The Feast of the Gods," its signature dishes were Black Truffle Duck Liver and mille-feuille, as well as Chocolate Tart.

--Of course, these were all things Ya had told him.

It seemed Ya had frequented this restaurant quite a bit in the past, even hiding some of his "pocket money" here.

"...Huh?"

Suddenly, Bai Zhou spotted a blind spot--

At that time, Ya should have at least still been eating.

"Dress code for entry: Gentlemen must wear shirts and trousers, ladies must also be dressed appropriately?"

Bai Zhou read softly from the sign at the entrance.

--Isn't this a coincidence?

Bai Zhou glanced at himself.

A white shirt, trousers, and a suit jacket slung over his shoulder.

Though he looked a bit slovenly, he met the requirements.

--Could it be that this was also within Ya's expectations?

At the restaurant's entrance, various golden plaques were plastered, densely layered:

[A Century of Traditional French Cuisine]

[Tinghai City Purple Pearl Three Diamonds]

[Michelin Guide Three Stars, Consistently Awarded Annually]

[Tinghai's Must-Eat List, Number One]

[...]

Impressive, though he didn't quite understand.

With a "snap"--

He pushed open the door, shutting out the outside world.

Bai Zhou inexplicably let out a sigh of relief.

As if a sudden sense of urgency had drifted away.

"Welcome to [L'Ambroisie]!"

Pushing open the door exuding the scent of truffles and money, an attendant greeted him politely.

The crystal chandelier's light was dazzling, the wall decorations were ornate and elegant, and through the window, one could see the swaying trees outside. Everything exuded a soft, refined atmosphere, seemingly out of place with the modern city beyond.

--And Bai Zhou, was the uninvited guest who was out of place in both environments.

The patrons were all in formal wear, their expressions serious, and they deliberately lowered their voices when speaking, as if speaking any louder would make them seem inferior.

Only Bai Zhou looked around, unconcerned by the gazes of others, curiously taking in the surroundings.

"Good evening, sir."

The attendant spoke again, his voice not loud, but within his politeness, there was a faint, indescribable pride.

The attendant naturally extended his hands, intending to take the suit jacket from Bai Zhou...

But he glanced at the beads of sweat on Bai Zhou's forehead, and the suit jacket that was visibly dirty with traces of dust, and then subtly withdrew his white-gloved hands.

Oh... I see.

An insurance salesman on a business trip.

And so, the polite attendant blocked Bai Zhou's path and very tactfully stated:

"Get out!"

"We don't allow insurance sales here!"

Bai Zhou: "?"

What is insurance?

There was something called insurance on the "Arbitrator-300"...

Was this person asking him to pull out his gun?

Or was this also part of the secret code exchange?

...After Bai Zhou stated he was here to eat, the attendant eyed him suspiciously:

"Excuse me, do you have a reservation?"

"Reservation?"

Bai Zhou recalled what Ya had taught him before they came and replied uncertainly:

"I... shouldn't need one?"

"What?"

The attendant was shocked.

By Bai Zhou's frankness.

--You said you weren't selling insurance!

No, you're definitely not selling insurance--

You're here to pick a fight, aren't you?

[L'Ambroisie] had been open for nearly two hundred years, and had never had a guest who didn't need a reservation!

They had to search all over Hai City, which distinguished figure, noble, executive, or official wouldn't be proud to secure a table at [L'Ambroisie]?

So, he quietly made a gesture behind him.

Immediately, two more attendants quietly surrounded them.

...Then, the two attendants who had moved closer, all clearly heard Bai Zhou's next words:

"Room 103, [L'Étoile Voilée]."

Uttering the awkward name, as if reciting a mystic incantation learned during past special training, Bai Zhou recited the meaningless lines as if reading a scripture:

"I have come to listen to the unfinished nocturne."

After saying it, Bai Zhou himself blushed.

What an embarrassing line!

--Doesn't Ya feel ashamed leaving such a secret code?

I really don't understand you Extraordinarys from the Mystic World!

But on the other side--

Room 103?

The three attendants were stunned for a moment.

Immediately after, a plump figure flashed past them like a nimble gust of wind.

That was...

The manager?

One attendant called out blankly.

At this moment, as the crowd at the entrance grew, the "Upper Class" figures in the lobby cast their gazes here.

--And then, they all suspected their ears had misheard.

"Of course--"

"Of course, you do not need a reservation."

Facing the young kid wearing a mask at the entrance, the usually proud and steadfast Mr. Manager showed a humility they had never seen before, his smile stretching to his mouth like a flower:

"--Because, [L'Ambroisie] will always reserve the best seat for you!"

He glared fiercely at the three still-stunned attendants, shooing them aside, then bowed deeply, raising an arm slightly:

"--This way, please."

Under the speculative gazes of the lobby, Treading the deep red carpet, breathing in the aroma of truffle and red wine in the air, Bai Zhou walked straight towards the depths of the restaurant, where others were forbidden to go.

Just then—

"Tap, tap..."

A few more men in black suits carrying briefcases hurried past outside the restaurant's window.

A floor-to-ceiling window separated the inside from the outside, dividing two worlds.

Bai Zhou walked towards the depths of the lobby, while the Special Management Department's pursuers searched in the distance.

—The figures of both sides inadvertently crossed paths, yet gradually drifted apart.

The evening sky, the sunset glow receded, darkness surged.

Vaguely, large masses of dark clouds gathered.

The wind and rain were coming—

And inside the air-conditioned, Golden Splendor high-class restaurant...

The usually quiet lobby was bustling.

The manager led the way, attendants followed, and even the legendary, proud, and rarely seen head chef hurried after them.

They thus surrounded Bai Zhou, who looked bewildered under his mask, his eyes flickering.

—Like stars surrounding the moon.

The self-proclaimed upper-class patrons in the lobby could only gaze at his back view with shining eyes, discussing him endlessly.

Yet they gained nothing.

This was no longer within the scope of a VIP...

It was as if a king had returned to his loyal territory.

The center of attention—

But the king did not care.