The manager took us to her picked spot.
They all rode flying brooms like it was nothing. I hitched a ride with my senior, holding on tight.
I’d flown with others before, but each senior had their own style. Tang Yihan was behind the broom this time, and I was a nervous wreck, scared I’d fall off.
Now I get why everyone loved Bai Yu’s flying—so smooth.
We ended up at a quiet little restaurant. I thought Xia Li, with her loud personality, would’ve gone for a wild place, like a bar or karaoke joint, where we’d drink and cut loose.
Turned out I was wrong.
We flew through the sky, and Tang Yihan kept boasting about their big win. I pieced together some details.
The whole thing started because of Manager Xia Li. As for what’d she do? I should’ve guessed.
She nabbed this year’s top recruit, and she pulled it off. Tan Han, the hotshot, was already at the academy, getting settled. That poor little thing.
I checked the academy’s system. That top mission? Done. The person who completed it used their real name; I could see Xia Li and her crew weren’t listed.
They were probably just there to help, I guessed.
Still, Xia Li’s grin said she scored something good.
What I didn’t know was Xia Li only got the deal Ying Shiqian set up—no extra perks. Her joy? All from tricking some San Angel School kids.
Nobody knew why she was enjoying it so much.
“This place is reservation-only,” she said, leading us in. “Booked it yesterday. Win or bust, tonight we’re eating big!”
We walked a bit, then a guy in plain chef’s clothes came out, smiling big.
“Xia Li! Long time!” he said. “Got your call yesterday and started prepping the menu right away. It’s gonna be good!”
It seemed that Xia Li was buddies with the owner.
I’d never been to a fancy reservation-only spot like this. Total rookie. But my seniors seemed chill, so I figured it was no big deal.
“No way!” Xia Li said, all excited. “What’s the main course? I’m dying here! Oh, and I brought the new guy—making this a welcome party too!”
Xia Li grabbed my hand, pulling me forward. “Let me introduce you—this is… uh…” She froze, shooting an awkward glance at Ying Shiqian.
Clearly, Xia Li hadn’t bothered learning my full name. She only knew the seniors called me Yuehan.
“Hey, Senior,” I said politely, bailing her out. “I’m Yang Yuehan. Just call me Yuehan.”
Talk about a half-baked manager. She didn’t even ask my name beforehand? I only knew the owner’s name from the seniors.
It stung a bit, but it showed how little she cared about me. I was just a part-timer, after all.
“Yuehan, huh? Nice name,” Xia Li said. “You’re a freshman, right? Starting early at the academy?”
“Yeah, wanted to get a feel for campus life,” I replied.
“Ha! Settling in okay? Mornings like today’s are rare. Don’t let it give you the wrong idea about the place.”
“Nah, I’m good,” I said quickly, fading into the background. Better not steal the spotlight. This party was for Xia Li’s win, even if she called it a welcome for me too.
Should I toast her later? Did this world even do toasts? Probably not. I didn’t care much either way.
Inside, the restaurant was small, with just a few seats. The kitchen was right up front, like they were cooking a show for us.
So that’s the vibe? No wonder it was reservation-only and tucked away in this hidden spot. They didn’t care about foot traffic. Did they make bank off regulars alone?
Or maybe, like Xia Li, the owner had a side hustle?
Seeing how chummy they were, I couldn’t help but wonder. What if the owner was even shadier than Xia Li?
It wasn’t impossible.
I watched the owner head to her domain, then noticed a younger girl nearby, looking a bit green compared to her. Probably her apprentice. I’d still have to call her Senior.
She seemed as out of place as me, though she hid it well, staying quiet behind the owner.
Once we sat, the vibe loosened up. The seniors relaxed too. It felt less like a meal and became more like a chit-chat.
They asked about my food allergies and stuff. Pretty professional, at least so far.
Then came the ingredient showcase. I had no clue what I was looking at—some kind of transcendence creatures. Not just meat soaked in high-energy transcendence solution, but actual high-level beings with their own powers. Now? Just food, about to hit my plate.
The whole fancy setup felt new and exciting, but I was more curious about how the food would taste.
“Yuehan, want a drink? It’s low-alcohol, like a cocktail.” Tang Yihan, sitting next to me, plopped a fancy-looking bottle down. Had to be pricey.
“Uh… maybe just a little,” I said.
“Go for it. Don’t hold back—Xia Li’s footing the bill,” she whispered, leaning in.
Guess she noticed I was quiet. With Ying Shiqian and Xia Li deep in their own chat, Tang Yihan slid over to talk to me.
“Yuehan, see that meat in the display case?” she said, pointing. “When it comes out, dig in. It’s tasty and expensive.”
“Got it,” I mumbled, nodding.