THE NEXT DAY
XAVIER
I thought yesterday had already been surprising enough. Finding out Hin was still alive. Learning that she had searched for Wei after leaving the palace. Discovering that someone from my new body’s past actually cared about him. That was already a lot, but apparently, this world disagreed. Because the next morning I walked into the dining hall and saw something I never expected.
"Hin?"I asked.
"Good morning, Master Wei."The older woman turned around while carrying a tray of tea.
I stared at the tray, then at her, then back at the tray.
"What are you doing?"I asked.
"Working."Hin smiled
"Working?"I blinked.
"I spoke with Ana yesterday."She nodded.
Right on cue, Ana walked out from the kitchen carrying fresh bread.
"We made an agreement."Ana said.
"An agreement?"I looked between them.
"Hin will help at the inn."Ana placed the bread on the counter and smiled.
"Wait."I froze.
"She is going to work here?"I pointed at Hin.
"Yes."She said.
"But."I looked at Hin. "She used to work in the palace."
"And?"Hin tilted her head.
"And you are okay with becoming a waitress?"I asked again.
"Master Wei."She laughed softly as she placed the tray down. "Do you think working here is beneath me?"
"No."I immediately shook my head.
"Good." She smiled. "Because I don’t think so either."
"Besides, I need help."Ana crossed her arms proudly.
She looked around the busy dining hall. Ever since Hawthorn Liquor became popular, the inn had become impossible for one person to manage. Customers came from nearby villages, and merchants stopped by. Everyone wanted to try my cooking.
"I was starting to think I would lose my legs from running between tables." Ana sighed dramatically. "So when Hin offered to help, I accepted immediately."
"I have experience serving important guests." Hin smiled.
"Important guests?"I raised an eyebrow.
"Palace officials, nobles, royal visitors."She nodded. Then she looked around the small inn. "But honestly this feels much warmer."
I became quiet. Because I understood what she meant. The palace had been beautiful, but beautiful didn’t always mean happy. The morning rush began soon after and I quickly discovered something. Hin was terrifyingly good at being a waitress.
"Two bowls of soup for table three."She said. "One Hawthorn Liquor for the merchant near the window. The customer near the door requested less spice."
She remembered everything. EVRY SINGLE DETAIL. It was terrifying.
"Hin."I stared.
"Yes?"She asked.
"How are you doing that?"I asked.
She looked confused.
"Doing what?"Hin asked.
"Remembering every order."I said.
"Master Wei, I served you for years."She smiled. "Remembering details is part of my job."
I scratched my cheek. That was honestly impressive.
Ana watched from behind the counter with a happy expression.
"You two work well together."She said and smiled.
I looked at her.
"We do?"I asked.
"Yes."She nodded. "When Wei first came here, he looked like someone who had lost everything."
I became quiet.
"But now." She looked at the crowded inn. "Look at him."
I followed her gaze. Villagers laughing, customers enjoying food, Hin smiling while serving tea. The kitchen warm from cooking and for the first time since waking up in this world this place really felt like home.
Later that afternoon, a customer entered the inn. He looked around curiously.
"I heard this is the place where Chef Wei works."He said.
Immediately several villagers pointed.
"There he is!"One villiger pointed at me.
"The chef himself!"Another one grinned.
"You are Wei?"The man looked surprised.
"Yes?"I nodded.
"I heard about your Hawthorn Liquor." He smiled. "And your cooking."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"I sighed.
"Becaus it’s true."The customer laughed.
"You should accept compliments, Master Wei."From behind me, Hin smiled.
"You too?"I looked at her.
"Yes." Ana laughed. "You are surrounded."
I looked at the three of them. Ana, Hin, the villagers. A strange feeling appeared in my chest. Not fear or confusion, but happiness. That evening, after closing the inn, Ana counted the day’s earnings. She looked shocked.
"Wei."She began.
"Yes?"I asked.
"We made more today than we usually make in a month."Ana grinned.
I looked surprised.
"Really?"I asked.
She nodded happily, then she looked at Hin.
"And now I have help."Ana said and smiled.
"I am glad I can contribute."Hin smiled.
"Don’t say it like you’re just working."Ana shook her head. "You are family now."
Hin froze slightly, and then smiled softly.
"Family." I whispered.
I looked away, pretending to organize ingredients. Because for some reason that word felt surprisingly nice.
A few days later, I have realized that life at Ana’s inn had become strangely comfortable. Almost too comfortable. I woke up every morning, cooked breakfast, experimented with new recipes, served customers, and somehow ended each day exhausted but happy. It was a completely different life from the palace, no nobles, no political games, no worrying about whether someone powerful remembered my existence, and a small inn that was slowly becoming famous, but then, one morning, while preparing ingredients, a memory suddenly surfaced. The novel. "The Lycan Emperor’s Secret Male Concubine." I stopped chopping vegetables.
"Wait..."I whispered.
A detail from the story came back. The capital festival. It was supposed to happen soon, every year, the capital held a massive celebration after the first harvest. Markets filled the streets, merchants gathered from every territory, nobles attended, commoners celebrated and according to the novel this was the first major event after Wei was abandoned by the palace. The original Wei stayed hidden, he spent the festival alone, watching everyone celebrate from a distance. A forgotten character watching an important scene happen without him.
"That sounds depressing."I frowned.
Hin, who was arranging ingredients nearby, looked over.
"Master Wei?"She asked.
"Nothing."I shook my head.
But then another thought appeared. The festival wasn’t just a story event, it was a market. A huge one with thousands of people. Merchants from everywhere. People looking for new food.
"Wait."I smirked.
"What?"Ana looked up from cleaning cups.
"The festival."I said.
"The capital festival?"She asked.
"How long until it starts?"I nodded.
"About two weeks."Hin thought for a moment.
Two weeks, more than enough time. I smiled and Ana immediately looked suspicious. That expression meant trouble.
"Wei."Ana began.
"Yes?"I asked.
"Why are you smiling like that?"She asked.
I looked at the kitchen, then at all the ingredients, then back at them.
"Because I have an idea."I grinned.
"Whenever you say that, something happens."Ana sighed.
"The festival needs food stalls, right?"I ignored her.
"Yes. Many merchants compete for attention."Hin nodded.
"So..." I leaned against the counter. "What if we open one?"
"A stall?" Ana blinked.
"Yes."I nodded.
"But we already have the inn."Hin looked confused.
"I know." I smiled. "But the festival is different. People will come from everywhere. If they taste our food there, they will come here afterward."
"You mean..."Ana’s eyes slowly widened. "We advertise the inn. You are turning a festival stall into a business strategy."
"Exactly."I pointed at her.
"Master Wei has become quite ambitious."Hin covered her mouth, hiding a smile.
"I prefer prepared."I looked offended.
"Of course you do."Ana laughed.
The problem was I needed a festival dish. Something easy to make, something portable, something people could eat while walking, something that would make them remember us. A second later, it hit me. Of course... this is it! It will be delicious.