CH 55

The rumor-denying live broadcast in City S ended successfully. Although many netizens still have doubts deep inside, the trend of superstition on the internet has greatly improved. Especially compared to the eerie and terrifying atmosphere in the recorded live stream of Hu Dan San San, this TV station’s live broadcast undoubtedly exudes a positive vibe and even has some humorous moments.

Many netizens realized that the atmosphere can vary greatly depending on the people and the setting in the same place on the same night. Hu Dan San San’s live stream started as a supernatural broadcast, leading netizens towards a superstitious direction from the very beginning with its mysterious storytelling and strange events. It’s no wonder that people felt eerie when Hu Dan San San was sweating and sitting motionless later on.

However, looking at it from another perspective, sweating profusely in a supernatural live stream might not necessarily be caused by fear; it could be due to… eating something spicy!

The impressions left by the two staff members of City S TV Station on netizens were profound. Among the experienced and savvy anchors, the awkwardness and discomfort of these two individuals stood out, giving them an extraordinary and elegant charm. But what really surprised everyone was how they turned a live broadcast that should have been filled with fear and gloom into a late-night spicy food mukbang (eating show) – and they ate so deliciously!

This unexpected twist left netizens wailing in the live stream, with everyone clamoring to eat something too! As for “A Piao”, after recording for the entire night and not even seeing a single cat, does “A Piao” really exist?

As the online atmosphere changed, Hu Dan San San also faced backlash, with many netizens calling him a fraud. They pointed out that without “A Piao,” there is no “A Piao.” It’s one thing to hype up the atmosphere in a live stream, but it’s another to lie about seeing “A Piao” with such certainty. This is blatant deception!

Due to suspicion of promoting feudal superstition, Hu Dan San San’s live stream was also shut down. He is frustrated because he genuinely saw “A Piao”! He didn’t deceive anyone!

……

After the TV station’s live broadcast, the results were immediately apparent. The number of people at the Three Thousand Food House decreased significantly the next day, and Bai Xianzhi finally found some free time to check out the Three Thousand World. After warm recruitments, the restaurant hired several new servers and apprentices. The daily reservation slots expanded from a thousand to fifteen hundred, and the restaurant’s capacity reached saturation. Even with the busy staff, there wasn’t enough space. Warmth accessed an interface on the machine, suggesting that they consider purchasing another space folder.

Bai Xianzhi checked it out and found that the space folder could expand the area by approximately 500 square meters, which was impressive. However, it was a bit expensive, requiring one million space coins. Nevertheless, the restaurant had sufficient funds, so Bai Xianzhi decided to make the purchase.

After paying the one million, Bai Xianzhi went to the kitchen, where Tu Linlin was teaching a few apprentices, and Zhuo Long was assisting him. Although Tu Linlin and Zhuo Long hadn’t been learning for long, they were genuinely committed. Bai Xianzhi observed that they had almost grasped all the key points for preparing dishes listed on the menu. He also tasted the food they prepared, and it was delicious.

The reason they learned so quickly was due to their dedication. After Bai Xianzhi thoroughly taught them the necessary details, they practiced extensively. They spent a lot of time in the kitchen, resulting in both Tu Linlin and Zhuo Long having wounds on their hands. Additionally, the dishes at the Three Thousand Food House were mostly common and easy to prepare, making it easier for them to adapt.

After observing for a while, Bai Xianzhi called them over and informed them that they would be in charge of most of the restaurant’s affairs from now on. With one or two apprentices capable of helping out, their workload would be reduced. Tu Linlin would handle external matters, while Zhuo Long would be responsible for the kitchen’s internal affairs.

Both of them felt a bit overwhelmed but honored by the trust placed in them. Bai Xianzhi assured them that he would still be around on the second floor and would visit the restaurant daily. He made it clear that he had no intention of leaving.

Although they were curious about some of Bai Xianzhi’s peculiar ingredients and drinks, they never asked about them. As the two individuals who had been with the restaurant for the longest time, they noticed all the unusual occurrences involving Bai Xianzhi. However, they didn’t pry and would only listen if he chose to share.

….

The next day, Xiao Zheng and Xiao Du slept the entire day. When they returned to the station, they received teasing looks from everyone.

“Xiao Zheng, Xiao Du, you guys were amazing! You went viral the night before!”

“Exactly! You’re both trending on social media!”

Xiao Zheng and Xiao Du awkwardly laughed it off. Just as they settled at their desks, Luo Ge came in and said that Pan Laoda (Boss Pan) wanted to see them.

Both of them: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ

“Luo Ge, can you give us a hint about what this is about?”

Luo Ge opened his computer. “How would I know? As soon as I got to the station, Boss Pan told me to pass a message. But I don’t think it’s anything bad. Just go and find out.”

The two of them were still nervous after the reprimand they received the other day. They nervously knocked on Boss Pan’s office door.

“Come in.”

They entered the office.

“You two are here,” Boss Pan, an elegant middle-aged man, looked at them and said, “There’s nothing else. Regarding the live broadcast you did the other night…”

Xiao Zheng and Xiao Du’s hearts tightened. Their task was to debunk rumors, but they couldn’t help indulging themselves in a food feast during the broadcast, blatantly satisfying their personal appetites during working hours, and it was all in front of so many viewers. They felt like they had let the station down!

“…The live stream you two did the night before last had a small hiccup, not following the rules, but it was very successful. There won’t be any official rewards for that, as it could set a bad precedent. However, as a bonus, your salary for this month will be increased by ten percent. But remember, this should not be mentioned to others.”

“Yes, understood!”

Both of them replied in unison, turning the debunking live stream into a mukbang. They were surprised to find out that they would still receive a bonus for it!

“By the way, there’s another thing,” Boss Pan’s voice snapped them back to attention, and they looked at their superior seriously. “What is it?”

Boss Pan continued, “Did you find any clues about the restaurant I asked you to look for the day before yesterday?”

Xiao Du was about to say they were still searching, but Xiao Zheng nudged his arm and smiled at their boss, “Yes!” He gave a signal to Xiao Du, who quickly added, “Yes!”

“Boss, it’s the restaurant where we did the debunking live stream. The food there is really delicious. The other day, we got takeout from there, and it was gone in no time.”

“And this restaurant naturally attracts attention. When the time comes, we can directly say that a certain supernatural event was debunked at the restaurant. That will attract more viewers!”

Boss Pan waved his hand, “We don’t lack viewership. Are the dishes at this restaurant really as good as you say?”

Both of them nodded confidently, having eaten there all night, “I’ve never had such delicious food!”

“Alright,” Boss Pan looked at the two, “tomorrow at 10:30 am, I’ll permit you to leave the office. Go to that restaurant and bring back a meal for each person in our department. Let everyone taste and see how it really tastes.”

The two: We have to run errands, qwq…

At noon, the employees at the S City TV station were starving and rushed to the cafeteria. The cafeteria only served breakfast and lunch, and the food was abundant and tasted good. It was a must-have.

However, there was a group of people who looked at others enjoying their delicious meals with envy. They were the employees responsible for Boss Pan’s department. They had received a notice earlier to try food from outside, so they reserved seats in the cafeteria but didn’t get food there. They planned to eat the takeout brought back by Xiao Zheng and Xiao Du later.

Starving and watching others eating meat and rice in front of them was torture. About a dozen people sat in the cafeteria, surrounded by the aroma of food. Their stomachs, eyes, and mouths all protested. Someone couldn’t resist and stood up, saying, “I… I’ll go get a bowl of soup to fill my stomach.”

Others raised their hands, indicating they wanted some too. So, a group of them drank soup pitifully, while colleagues from other tables laughed at them, teasing, “What are you guys doing? A collective diet?”

The group gazed enviously at the big chicken leg in their colleague’s bowl. Just then, Xiao Zheng and Xiao Du struggled to carry a stack of tall takeout boxes into the cafeteria, followed by their department head.

Placing the food on the table, others made space for their boss. Boss Pan took his portion of the food and looked at everyone, saying, “Dig in. After you eat, tell me how it tastes.”

After saying that, Boss Pan was the first to pick up his chopsticks and others were already starving, so they eagerly opened their lunch boxes and started eating. After the first bite, many of them widened their eyes and exclaimed, “Boss, where is this food from? It’s so delicious!”

Those who had tasted the takeout from Xiao Zheng and Xiao Du immediately recognized the food and couldn’t help asking, “Xiao Zheng, Xiao Du, is this from the restaurant you got takeout from last time?”

After receiving confirmation, one person scooped up a large bite of rice and vegetables, and after swallowing, they exclaimed, “It’s really delicious! So flavorful!”

Other people couldn’t even find the time to talk as they mumbled in agreement, “Delicious! Delicious!”

A colleague from the neighboring table who had spoken to them before curiously approached them, saying, “What are you eating? It smells so good, let me try.”

The person whose box was approached immediately protected their lunch and turned it away from the colleague.

The colleague who tried to speak to them earlier: “…” It’s just a box of food, is it that serious?

After lunch and unanimous praise from everyone, Boss Pan gave his approval, and that settled it!

Xiao Zheng and Xiao Du immediately called Bai Xianzhi and told him about the situation.

This news came quite suddenly, but it was a rare opportunity to promote Three Thousand Food House. Bai Xianzhi immediately agreed, and the restaurant would fully cooperate. After ensuring everything was settled, Bai Xianzhi also asked about the filming schedule of the program. He realized it would take a few more months, and he felt a little disappointed, thinking it would be sooner.

….

That day, Bai Xianzhi was in the kitchen cooking. After debunking the rumors, there were fewer customers, but compared to before, there were still quite a few customers, with some becoming regulars.

Suddenly, his communication device rang. He quickly plated the cooked dishes, took a look, and saw it was Tu Linlin calling, saying that there was a woman in the restaurant who wanted to see him. Bai Xianzhi hurriedly had the summer intern waitress take the dishes out, as there were no new customers at the moment. He quickly exchanged a few words with the waitress and then went upstairs.

He came down from the other side of the stairs and walked to the lobby. He saw a tall woman standing in the specially designated waiting area.

Bai Xianzhi remembered this woman, mainly because her temperament was quite unique. At first glance, she seemed to be a sturdy boulder, making it easy to overlook her gender. However, upon closer inspection, she was actually quite good-looking.

“Excuse me, ma’am, do you need anything?”

The woman had only dined at the restaurant once, and Bai Xianzhi couldn’t figure out the reason for her visit.

“I’m here to see my son.” The woman’s voice was cold, and even her gaze carried a chill.

Bai Xianzhi: “…Um, may I ask who your son is?”

“Shui mo.”

Bai Xianzhi suppressed the smile on his face and asked, “You are Xiao Long’s mother?”

“Yes.”

Bai Xianzhi looked at her and said, “How do I believe you?”

The woman immediately took out an identification document, and Bai Xianzhi took it. He saw that it was a comparison of Xiao Long’s and the woman’s bloodlines. The result showed a 60 percent match in blood between Xiao Long and the woman, confirming their mother-son relationship.

Although there was this document, who could say if it was genuine, especially since there were many fans of Xiao Long’s biological mother.

Seeing Bai Xianzhi’s doubts, the woman made a call with her communication device. After she hung up, Bai Xianzhi’s device rang, and it was a call from the Temporal Bureau, telling him that the woman named Ji Lan in the restaurant was indeed Xiao Long’s mother.

Putting away his communication device, Bai Xianzhi asked, “Ji Lan?”

The woman nodded, “That’s me.”

Since her identity was confirmed, according to the handling instructions given by the Temporal Bureau last time, Bai Xianzhi had no right to interfere with Xiao Long’s parents visiting him, and she was indeed Xiao Long’s biological mother, so of course, he should let them meet.

He brought Xiao Long downstairs, intending to give the mother and son some space, but he didn’t expect Xiao Long to tightly grab onto his clothes. Bai Xianzhi had to sit down next to Xiao Long.

Ji Lan didn’t mind the extra person and introduced herself to Xiao Long, “I’m Ji Lan, your mother.”

Xiao Long looked at the woman across from him, pursing his lips without saying anything, holding Bai Xianzhi’s clothes even tighter.

“I came here to apologize to you. It was my carelessness that led to your sufferings and hardships. I’m sorry.”

Hearing this, Xiao Long’s eyes became somewhat moist. He took a deep breath and asked, “Why did you… abandon me?”

In the child’s heart, the hardships and difficulties they experienced were not that significant. Being young, they were good at forgetting. However, there was one thing they could never forget. As long as they were alive, they would continuously seek answers: Why did my parents abandon me?

Ji Lan sighed lightly and answered, “It was my mistake. The divine give birth to live offspring, while the dragon clan lays eggs. After a battle, I fell into a deep sleep and unknowingly gave birth to you. At that time, you were still in an egg. I thought it was just a wild animal’s egg in the cave, so when I woke up, I left.”

Tears welled up in Xiao Long’s eyes. He had always thought that his mother didn’t like him, which was why she abandoned him. But now he realized that his mother didn’t even know about his birth and mistook him for the offspring of some other creature. This realization hurt him more than the thought of his mother disliking him because she hadn’t even acknowledged his existence in her heart!

With a trembling voice, Xiao Long shouted at Ji Lan, “I hate you!” After shouting, he let go of Bai Xianzhi’s clothes and ran upstairs in a hurry. Bai Xianzhi glanced at Ji Lan, who showed no emotional fluctuations, and asked, “What now?”

Ji Lan replied, “I’ll wait here in the store.”

Bai Xianzhi left her be and turned to go upstairs to check on Xiao Long.

On the second floor, where the lights were dim, stifled sobs came from near the sofa. Bai Xianzhi walked over, and he saw Xiao Lu holding Xiao Long, trying to comfort him. When Xiao Lu saw him, her emerald eyes were also filled with tears.

Bai Xianzhi sat down on the floor and embraced both children. Soon, the subdued sobs resonated on the second floor.

With one child in each arm, he thought about what Ji Lan had said downstairs about her accidental birth of Xiao Long and how she mistook him for an animal’s offspring, completely unaware of his true identity. How deep was this wound? Moreover, there were wild creatures in that cave, and Bai Xianzhi had no doubt that Xiao Long’s luck was perilously close to ending, as he almost died in the jaws of a beast at a young age. Actually, when he thought about it again, it was incredibly fortunate that Xiao Long survived until the age of five. From the moment he was born, he faced extremely dangerous challenges. Later, he encountered Xiao Lu and her grandmother. How could two young children survive with an old woman like that? Just thinking about these things made him realize how difficult Xiao Long and Xiao Lu’s lives had been.

As the crying gradually subsided, Bai Xianzhi tightened his embrace around the two little ones and softly said, “If you don’t want your mother, then you don’t have to have her. Your uncle will always be with you.”

Xiao Long wiped his eyes and said in a choked voice, “I don’t want her!”

Xiao Lu climbed off Bai Xianzhi’s shoulder and hugged Xiao Long, saying tenderly, “I will always, always, always be with you. Don’t want that bad mother!”

Xiao Long held onto Xiao Lu firmly and declared, “I don’t want her!”

The three of them embraced each other for a while. Bai Xianzhi then put down the two kids and asked, “She’s still waiting downstairs. Should I ask her to leave?”

Xiao Long nodded firmly.

Bai Xianzhi wiped the children’s faces and went downstairs. Ji Lan was indeed still sitting there. Bai Xianzhi walked over and said, “Ms. Ji, you can go back now. Xiao Long won’t see you today.”

Ji Lan nodded, “Okay, I’ll come back tomorrow.” She turned and left.

Tu Linlin happened to walk out and watched Ji Lan disappear before asking, “Is that Xiao Long’s mother?”

Bai Xianzhi nodded.

Tu Linlin sighed, “It’s so cold!”

Bai Xianzhi sighed too. It was indeed cold. Xiao Long didn’t even show a little bit of response. His apology fell flat, and when Xiao Long cried and ran away, it felt more like he was being interrogated than trying to reconnect as family.

However, Bai Xianzhi didn’t stop Ji Lan from continuing to try. Sometimes, children would make a significant decision based on their emotions at the moment. Xiao Long’s decision was undoubtedly genuine and heartfelt, but as time passed, after the strong emotions faded away, the true voice within his heart would be heard. Bai Xianzhi’s intention was to always leave a chance for Xiao Long to regret his decision.

—–

Author’s Note: Sending love~

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or gave nutrient solutions from August 11, 2020, 14:22:14 to August 12, 2020, 14:16:19~

Thank you to the little angels who planted landmines: Ha Lomo Potato (4); White Peach Oolong Duck (1);

Thank you to the little angels who gave nutrient solutions: Ha Lomo Potato (80 bottles); Small Lobster (60 bottles); Yu Qinghe (16 bottles); Rest, Not Feeling, Bamboo Forest Wood Wood (10 bottles); Cherry (5 bottles); Smoke Zhi Zhi, Fu Zhu Zi, A Zhen, Qing Li (1 bottle);

Thank you all for your support. I will continue to work hard!

1 TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you ”