Aphrodite.
It harvests life, not by its sharpness, but by its beauty that captivates all beings, just like its name, the legendary goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, born from the blood of others.
Zhao Bai knows none of this; he only uses it when harvesting chives.
Furrowing his brows, he looked at the rose at the junction of Aphrodite’s handle and blade, sketching its essence with a few strokes of ketchup.
“Poor hospitality!” Zhao Bai held the omelet rice adorned with roses and solemnly invited Rita to sit down.
Rita smiled indulgently, picking up chopsticks while asking, “Changed your mind in just one day?
Is this what they call employee meals?
No wonder Lady Fu Hua is so eager to work at your restaurant; I completely understand now.” “That’s just her obsessive-compulsive disorder acting up.” Zhao Bai said helplessly, “Come, try it!
This is my highest masterpiece in both cooking and artistry.
Many have tried to uncover my secrets, but after tasting my food, they all become my friends with tears in their eyes.” “Is that so?” Rita’s smile remained indulgent: “Then I really must give it a good taste.” Setting down her chopsticks, Rita picked up the special tool for eating omelet rice in the restaurant.
To maximize the preservation of the food’s original flavor, the spoons in the restaurant are made from ground pearl shells, sourced from a certain unfortunate mollusk Honkai Beast.
In an instant, Rita felt the warm, smooth touch of the shellfish.
It was strange; this restaurant resembled those commonly found in bustling markets, and the boss wasn’t a Michelin-starred chef, yet everything about it was perfectly balanced.
The spoon cut through the egg skin, slicing open the rose made of ketchup and mayonnaise.
The steaming rice flowed on the plate, releasing all the locked aromas of chicken, onion, and potato in an instant, like a grand fireworks display.
Did they also use breadcrumbs to create a crispy layer besides the egg?
Rita, who is also an excellent cook, immediately understood Zhao Bai’s intention.
A single layer of egg skin was insufficient to lock in all the aromas; he must have used other means.
Such care in a small omelet rice indeed showed a chef with a rich spirit of exploration.
“White onion, carrot…” “The rice is stir-fried, carrying a faint charred aroma that complements the sweetness of the curry, with a delicate texture.
The mayonnaise is also very fresh; your cooking skills are truly impeccable.” Don’t just critique it; hurry up and cry!
Zhao Bai was destined to be disappointed this time.
Rita did not, as he had anticipated, shed tears of joy; instead, she expressed sincere admiration for his culinary skills with the heart of a fellow cooking enthusiast.
Delicate texture, complementary flavors, impeccable.
Is that all?
Though it was praise, it wasn’t what Zhao Bai was waiting for.
It was clear that Rita genuinely liked the omelet rice made by Zhao Bai.
Coupled with Zhao Bai’s focus on flavor over quantity, Rita, with her fingers resting on the pearl shell spoon, quickly finished the entire plate of rice.
“Thank you, Boss.” She completely regarded herself as an employee of the restaurant: “Thanks to your hospitality, I got to experience the employee meal in advance.
If I can eat such dishes while working, it would indeed be a beautiful enjoyment.” “So, when can I start working?” “…” Completely different from what he imagined, Zhao Bai felt a bit flustered.
He noticed a small box at the entrance containing various cleaning supplies.
Rita rested her hands under her chin, looking up at him with an inscrutable smile.
“Uh…” “Today is my birthday; can you give me a gift?” The great Schicksal employee Rita is now officially a proud cleaner under Zhao Bai.
Zhao Bai thought carefully; he just needed to be vigilant.
When closing up to go home, he would check several times to ensure he didn’t leave any weapons in the kitchen, and also check the cameras before cooking each time.
This woman had pointed out all the thoughts he put into making the omelet rice.
The stir-fried rice, the tender and mild white onion, and the breadcrumbs that locked in the flavor—all sourced from expired baguettes, with some roasted salt and parsley leaves added—were all painstakingly figured out by him.
Rita pointed them out one by one; in terms of surprise, it was no less than a hidden Easter egg being discovered by players or a plot twist finally being revealed by a novelist.
Moreover, he had a trump card.
In the evening, after closing up, Zhao Bai did not rush home but instead blocked the path to the bar, stopping the woman in the white servant’s outfit.
“Fu Hua, after careful consideration, Zhao’s restaurant officially extends a job offer to you.
To prevent the secret recipe from being stolen, I need a dedicated guardian knight.” Zhao Bai extended his hand under the streetlight, the atmosphere solemn and fervent, his shadow stretching long in the glow of the insects and dim light.
“Fu Hua, be my security guard.” “What?”