Compared to the harmonious atmosphere around the restaurant, this group arrived aggressively, each of them wearing a cold, hostile expression.
Some people immediately sensed something was wrong. The man at the front was none other than Pi San, Yuan Gaofei’s most notorious lackey from Gaofei Base.
“Why is Pi San here?” someone whispered. “This looks dangerous. Should we leave first?”
“Something’s definitely off. Pi San never leaves the base for no reason. He’s usually glued to Yuan Gaofei, doing his bidding.”
“Could it be Yuan Gaofei heard about Alive Restaurant and wants to…”
The speaker did not finish, but everyone understood.
Who did not know what kind of man Yuan Gaofei was?
Greedy, lustful, insatiable, and ruthless.
Anyone he set his sights on never ended well.
He had likely heard about the restaurant somewhere, then sent people to seize it.
The people working on tasks outside immediately wanted to retreat. They still needed to survive in Gaofei Base. If someone recognized them lingering here and reported it, they could be driven out.
They exchanged glances, went inside to tell Hua Yue, then hurried out.
The moment they stepped through the gate, Pi San called out.
“You, over there. Stop!”
They looked at each other, despair flashing in their eyes.
It was over.
Even so, they did not dare run. They stopped obediently.
“What are you doing?” Pi San demanded as he approached.
The man who answered was named Shang Da. He forced a careful smile. “Third Master, we ate at this restaurant. We’re heading back to the base now, haha.”
Pi San ignored the flattery. “What’s the deal with this place?”
“Uh…” Shang Da hesitated, not wanting to tell him.
That single pause infuriated Pi San.
“Why aren’t you answering? Thinking up a lie for me?” Pi San grabbed Shang Da by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
With one hand, he hoisted a man who weighed well over seventy five kilos.
Gravity dragged Shang Da downward, but Pi San’s grip was like iron tongs, not loosening even slightly. Shang Da’s face turned bright red.
The man beside him blurted out quickly, “Third Master, it’s not that we won’t say it, it’s that we really don’t know much!”
Pi San threw Shang Da to the ground, then casually blew on his hand. “Keep talking.”
Shang Da lay there coughing violently. The other man rushed on, words spilling out in a torrent. “The owner is a young woman. The only employee is Hua Yue, the one our base kicked out before. The food selection is huge, but we don’t know where it comes from. We didn’t see anyone cooking, but dishes just kept coming out of the kitchen nonstop. We guessed the owner has a storage ability.”
“Only two of them?” Pi San asked.
“Absolutely,” the man said quickly.
“You know what happens if you lie to me,” Pi San said, leaving a threat behind as he turned away and led his people toward the restaurant.
As they got closer, they saw a fenced yard and a wooden gate. The only gate stood open, since a few people had just left. It looked flimsy, with no real security at all.
Pi San signaled his underlings to go first.
He had abilities, but he was cautious. If someone could be used as a shield, he never took the first step himself.
The men under him resented it, but in the apocalypse, whoever had the stronger fist made the rules.
Creeeak.
The wooden gate swung wide. An underling stepped inside to test, and found no traps.
Only then did Pi San stroll in with a few men. Qu Ming and the rest were stationed outside, waiting as backup.
Inside the restaurant, everyone was still unaware. They were working enthusiastically.
He Lingyu sat at the computer, pleased as she watched tasks complete. Hua Yue was directing and supervising.
Pi San entered without kicking the door or smashing anything. He did not know what he was dealing with yet. If the young woman was dangerous, it would be troublesome. He planned to probe first.
“Order and pay first,” He Lingyu said, getting up to greet them. “What would you like to eat?”
They looked menacing, but as long as they had not done anything, she had no reason to refuse them at the door.
One of Pi San’s men spoke first, loud and rude. “What do you even have? No menu? What kind of restaurant is this?”
It was clearly a test.
He Lingyu was inside the restaurant, and she was not intimidated. No one could hurt her here. Worst case, she would throw them out.
“Sir, our shop is small and the selection is limited for now. If you want to know, I can list the dishes for you. But if you are here to cause trouble…”
She left the sentence unfinished. Anyone with eyes could see this group meant trouble. Those who recognized Pi San barely dared breathe.
In her previous world, He Lingyu had been an office worker who often got scolded. Now she was in a game world and already the boss. Being talked down to again was something she could not tolerate.
So she spoke back directly. The others inhaled sharply, convinced the young owner was finished.
The man who had spoken did not expect to be retorted at. He froze briefly, then sneaked a glance at Pi San.
Pi San rolled his eyes impatiently and said, “Then list the dishes.”
He Lingyu did not dare show her irritation openly. She only rolled her eyes in her heart.
Help. Why was she still doing customer service even after getting dragged into a game?
She took a breath and began.
“For noodles, we have plain noodle soup, buns, and dumplings. The dumplings come in vegetarian and meat fillings. For stir fry, we have a simple farmhouse stir fry. For meat, we have roast duck. Drinks are spring water and fruit juice.”
With every dish she named, their eyes brightened.
Some were even swallowing hard.
Even though they were ability users working under Yuan Gaofei, they did not eat well either.
The apocalypse had lasted more than a year. Meat was rare. Most of what people found had already spoiled. Even they had not eaten it for a long time. Any good stuff was hoarded by Yuan Gaofei.
Pi San saw how pathetic his men looked and felt his face burning. He was tempted himself, but he could not show it.
Under everyone’s eager stares, he said, “Bring a bit of everything.”
“Certainly,” He Lingyu replied smoothly. “We serve after payment. Please put your payment into the collection box. Crystal cores, gold, and paper money are all accepted.”
Pi San’s expression turned sour. “What, you think we can’t pay? Let me remind you, we’re all ability users!”
So what? Ability users still needed to eat.
He Lingyu kept her smile. “If there’s no payment, the kitchen won’t serve. I’ve always heard ability users are amazing at hunting zombies, so you must be able to afford it, right?”
Please. If they dragged this out any longer, she genuinely would not know what else to say.
Her gaze drifted through the room, and at last she spotted Hua Yue.
Auntie Yue, save me.
Hua Yue saw the look and felt conflicted. She had no real power, and she had been kicked out of Gaofei Base. If she stepped in, it could stir up trouble.
But He Lingyu clung to her like she had found a lifeline.
“Auntie Yue! Please handle this table. I’ll go check what’s happening over there.”
Hua Yue could not pretend not to hear now. She steadied herself and put on a polite smile.
“Of course, boss. Go ahead.”
It was not that Hua Yue was upset with He Lingyu. She was giving her boss face in front of outsiders.
It also made Pi San and his men hesitate. If she called her Xiao Yu’er in front of them, they might look down on He Lingyu. Then they would not sit quietly at all.
Hua Yue smiled warmly and spoke in a practiced, respectful tone. “Third Master, isn’t it? What brings you to our little place? If we’ve fallen short, please forgive us. Our rules are simple. Pay first, then we serve. That’s how it has to be, you understand.”
It was specifically for people like him.
Pi San did not clearly remember Hua Yue. People like her, cast out as useless, were far too common for him to bother memorizing.
Still, this useless woman had gotten lucky and found shelter here.
“Hua Yue, right?” Pi San leaned back, voice lazy. “We’re not too poor to afford one meal. But think carefully. Do you really want to make us pay for it?”
The threat was obvious. Hua Yue paused.
Pi San’s lips curled, sure she was frightened.
Then Hua Yue answered calmly, “Yes, sir. Payment is required. Those are our boss’s rules, and as an employee, I can’t change them.”
She was afraid of Pi San, but she trusted He Lingyu to handle this. She had no right to decide for her boss.
He Lingyu was young enough to be her daughter, yet Hua Yue felt safe around her. It was strange, but real.
At this point, Pi San could not hold back anymore. He had wanted to freeload on a good meal before starting trouble, but now he had lost patience.
He slammed the table and stood. People watching in the shadows felt their hearts jump.
“Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit,” Pi San barked. “Fine. We’ll eat after we take everything. Brothers, smash it!”
At his command, more men poured in from outside.
He Lingyu’s sharp eyes caught Qu Ming among them.
So that was it. She had wondered why so many people arrived so quickly when the earlier customers were still here. She had an old acquaintance delivering the message.
Qu Ming saw her looking. He bared his teeth in a grin.
Little bitch, no one’s protecting you now. Let’s see what you do.
He Lingyu cursed silently.
A petty scumbag.
Did they think she was scared?
This was inside the restaurant.
“Auntie Yue, stand behind me,” He Lingyu said, pulling Hua Yue back. “So these blind idiots don’t bump into you.”
He Lingyu knew the contract protected Hua Yue anyway. She said it because she wanted to mock them.
Then she faced Pi San, voice clear and cold.
“So you can’t eat for free, and now you want to rob the place? I’ll give you a chance. I’ll stand right here and not move. If you can hurt me even a little, I’ll hand this restaurant over to you. How about it?”