Sara's words drew unanimous agreement from Lumine and the others.
In their eyes, Han's manga shop was indeed an extraordinary place.
"Sara said before that Boss Han is a top-class culinary master… If only we could taste a dish cooked by him."
Paimon's eyes gleamed with longing.
"Dream on. I bet Boss Han would rather fry you up as emergency food."
Lumine reached over and squished Paimon's cheeks.
Hmph, serves her right for laughing at her earlier.
Though of course, Lumine conveniently forgot she had been the one to tease Paimon first.
"Paimon is not emergency food!"
Paimon stomped her tiny feet angrily and muttered under her breath,
"Just you wait, when I sell you to Boss Han, I'll be able to eat whatever I want."
"Come, have a taste. Tell me how it is."
Sara smiled warmly as she beckoned them over.
This was her first time making the dish—she was eager for feedback.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the plate of Golden Fried Rice on the table.
Golden in color, fragrant and mouthwatering.
Just looking at it stirred their appetites.
"Well then, we won't be polite!"
The three, plus one bard and one cat-beast, each took a portion and began eating.
"Well?"
Sara asked nervously when none of them spoke at first.
She herself had tasted it and thought it delicious, but would the others agree?
"Wow, it's amazing! I've never eaten anything this good before!"
Paimon was the first to gush in delight.
Her long wait had paid off.
To taste such heavenly food—it was worth every second!
"It's delicious, Miss Sara! Even better than Sticky Honey Roast!"
Lumine gave her a big thumbs-up.
Looked like the Good Hunter had just gained a new signature dish.
Venti didn't say a word.
But the way he buried his face in the plate, shoveling down giant mouthfuls, said more than enough.
"Hey! Bard! Slow down—you'd better leave some for me!"
Paimon yelped and joined the fray, desperate to defend her share.
"As long as you all like it."
Sara let out a relieved breath.
So it was true—delicious food transcended differences.
Good flavor would always win hearts.
I should visit Boss Han's shop again when I have time, she thought, If I could learn just one more dish like this, it would be incredible.
By now, the customers who had been drawn by the earlier golden light had arrived.
Catching the rich aroma, their faces lit up with yearning.
"It smells amazing—what is that? I don't think I've ever smelled anything like it…"
"Someone said there was a golden flash earlier—was it from this dish?"
"No way… a dish that glows?"
"It's true! I swear by the Anemo Archon, I'm not lying!"
"Then I have to see for myself!"
Soon, one curious voice after another turned into orders:
"Miss Sara, I'll have one plate!"
"And me—actually, make that two!"
Overwhelmed but delighted, Sara hurried back to the kitchen.
Her heart was pounding with excitement.
The Golden Fried Rice had truly been accepted—this was thanks to Boss Han!
The once-quiet Good Hunter was now bustling, every seat filled.
Everyone was astonished, but when they thought of the dish's taste…
Yes, it deserved every bit of the hype.
"Wait—Miss Sara said this Golden Fried Rice comes from that manga Little Master Chef, right?
If just one dish could cause such a stir…
What if Boss Han brought all the dishes in that manga to life? Wouldn't it shock not only Mondstadt, but the entire continent of Teyvat?"
Paimon spoke in awe.
Normally, such a statement would sound absurd.
After all, taste is subjective.
What one person loves, another may find unpalatable.
Take Liyue's famous restaurants—Xinyue Kiosk and Liuli Pavilion.
Their "Liyue Cuisine" and "Cantonese Cuisine" were world-renowned, Praised even by Morax himself.
But many in Mondstadt couldn't get used to those flavors.
And yet…
Sara's Golden Fried Rice was undeniably Liyue-style.
Still, it won unreserved praise from Venti and the Mondstadters.
The truth was simple:
Boss Han's reward was too extraordinary.
It transcended regional tastes and conquered every palate.
As they chatted, Sara returned with more steaming plates.
Having succeeded once, her hands now moved faster, more confidently.
"Here it is—the Golden Fried Rice you've been waiting for!"
The eager customers lifted their lids in unison.
And in that instant—
Rays of golden light burst forth, illuminating the entire city square.
"Wha—?! It's the golden legend!"
"By the Archons—how is food doing this?!"
"Did she add glowing ingredients?!"
"I've eaten across all seven nations, but I've never seen anything like this!"
"At this rate, who needs lanterns at night? Just order this dish!"
People shielded their eyes with their hands, peeking through their fingers, completely overwhelmed by the brilliance.
Even Lumine and the others found themselves dumbstruck again.
So many dishes opened at once, releasing waves of golden radiance…
It would go down as one of Mondstadt's most unforgettable scenes.
"Everyone, eat quickly! It won't taste as good once it cools."
Sara laughed, reminding them gently.
Even when she had first seen it in the manga, the glowing dish had stunned her.
But nothing compared to the real-life spectacle.
From this moment, she knew,
Golden Fried Rice's fame would spread through all of Mondstadt—
Perhaps even across Teyvat.
And the person she had to thank most was none other than Boss Han.
"Right, right—we were so shocked we almost forgot to eat!"
"With a glow this dazzling, the flavor must be even better!"
"Just the smell already has me drooling."
At her urging, the crowd dug in.
And once they tasted it—
Silence fell over the square.
Not a word was spoken.
Only the sound of chopsticks clinking and lips smacking filled the air.
Minutes later, every plate was spotless.
Some even licked them clean, unwilling to waste a single grain of rice.
Yet their faces still brimmed with longing.
"This fried rice is unreal—it's the best thing I've ever eaten."
"I've been to Liyue, but I've never tasted fried rice like this there."
"How on earth did Miss Sara learn it?"
"I asked her—she said it came from a reward at some manga shop."
"A manga shop? You mean that place people talked about this morning? The one that charges 100,000 Mora per book?"
"That's the one. Apparently, there's a manga called Little Master Chef, and this Golden Fried Rice came straight out of it."
"Now that you mention it… makes sense. After all, this dish never existed before. And most importantly—it glows!"
"Then I'm going tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe I'll get a reward like that too!"
As word spread, more and more people were shaken to their core.
Many had thought it was just a scam, a shady business trick.
But now, after seeing the golden brilliance with their own eyes, after tasting the heavenly flavor—
Hiss…
It just might be real after all.
And suddenly, half of Mondstadt was curious about Boss Han's manga shop.
~~--------------------------
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