Shokugeki No Douluo Dalu (Patreon)

Chapter 101: Lick~

When it comes to desserts, what's most important?

That's right, sweetness.

As the saying goes, a wise remark is like listening to an entire lecture.

Alright, back to the main topic.

For a dessert, the most crucial aspects are its appearance and taste. Traditional sweets like sugar-coated haws instantly captivated Ji Yunruo with their appearance.

The smooth, mirror-like, bright red sugar coating wrapped around plump hawthorns. These hawthorns, specially crossbred through the system, not only had a uniform color with no hint of unripeness, but the surface was also free from any damage or dirt. The crystalline sugar coating was sprinkled with white sesame seeds, making it irresistibly appetizing at a glance.

Carefully picking up a string of sugar-coated haws, Ji Yunruo examined them closely. In the light, the touch of red on the sugar-coated haws was incredibly alluring.

The sugar-coated haws were quite large. Ji Yunruo brought them close to her mouth, delicately stuck out her small tongue, and licked the sugar coating of one.

The sugar coating was made from the purest rock sugar, and with just one lick, Ji Yunruo seemed to have experienced an overwhelming sweetness.

"So sweet." Ji Yunruo couldn't help but show a sweet smile on her face.

Seeing Ji Yunruo's reaction, Fu Ya and Ying Shuang couldn't resist either. Each of them picked up a string and followed suit, licking the sugar coating.

After licking for a while, Ji Yunruo's face showed a hint of rosy blush. Licking sugar-coated haws like this in front of others wasn't particularly graceful.

Her mouth was a bit small, and the hawthorns inside the sugar-coated haws were exceptionally large. It was impossible to eat them in one bite. After some contemplation, Ji Yunruo bit into the first hawthorn at the top, along with the outer sugar coating.

Crunch

A crisp sound echoed. The sugar coating on the outside of the sugar-coated haws wasn't as hard as Ji Yunruo had imagined. There was no situation where she would struggle to bite through the sugar-coated haws. With just one bite, both the sugar coating and the hawthorn flesh entered Ji Yunruo's mouth.

With a series of "crunch, crunch" sounds as she chewed on the sugar-coated haws, Ji Yunruo's eyes sparkled more and more.

The sugar coating was very sweet, but the syrup made directly from rock sugar had a slightly high sweetness level. It was fine at the first taste, but after a few bites, it might feel a bit too cloying.

This was one of the reasons why Ji Yunruo bit into the Crystal Sugar Hawthorns after licking them for a while.

In contrast, the hawthorn flesh inside was different.

This hawthorn flesh, improved by the system, had an intense sweet and sour taste. Although it was also sweet, the addition of the sour taste prevented it from becoming too overwhelming. Mixed with the sugar coating that enveloped it, the sweet sensation dominated the sourness, making the overall taste of the sugar-coated haws sweeter. However, the sourness did not make it unappealing; instead, it was quite appetizing.

Even more wonderful was the white sesame seeds solidified on the sugar coating. White sesame seeds themselves didn't have much flavor. When mixed with the strongly flavored Crystal Sugar Hawthorn, it completely concealed their own taste.

But the faint, unique fragrance of white sesame seeds, something that couldn't be covered by anything else, gradually spread in the mouth and nose with each chew, giving this peculiar snack an even more distinctive flavor.

"Boss, this Crystal Sugar Hawthorn is so delicious!"

Surprisingly, the one who said this was not Ji Yunruo but Ying Shuang beside her. This sweet and sour Crystal Sugar Hawthorn instantly captured the heart of this foodie.

Although Ji Yunruo didn't speak again, a pair of cat ears had long emerged from her head, gently trembling with slightly whitened tips, appearing exceptionally cute.

Fu Ya didn't have a strong desire for sweets, but for such a simple yet exceptionally delicious Crystal Sugar Hawthorn, she also felt quite fond of it. Upon hearing Ying Shuang's words, she couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Seeing the three satisfied expressions, Qi Han nodded with a smile. "If you like it, during the lunch and dinner hours today, these sugar-coated haws will be offered as complimentary treats in the store. As long as you dine in the store, you can receive a string for free. Fu Ya, remember to explain this to every customer when the store is open."

Fu Ya's eyes lit up.

Has the store finally introduced a promotional activity?

"Sure!" Her eyes sparkled.

The boss's first event preparation must be executed perfectly.

"Oh, by the way, customers ordering for delivery are also included, so Yunruo, you need to explain to them when delivering meals."

"I've got it!" Ji Yunruo gulped down the last hawthorn, a satisfied joy filling her face. Even her confidence in speaking seemed to have increased.

"Then," Qi Han checked the time, a composed expression on his face, "let's open the shop."

Fu Ya walked to the door of the small shop, pushed it open, and then glanced at the customers outside, slightly surprised.

Ji Yunruo and Ying Shuang subconsciously looked outside. Ying Shuang was fine, but Ji Yunruo suddenly became a bit nervous. "Hall Master?"

"Oh?"

Before the person entered the store, a deep yet comforting voice echoed inside, "Are you the disciple of my sect working in this small shop?"

With the sound, a majestic figure in a splendid golden robe stepped into the small shop, attracting all eyes as if he were the center of the world.

Qi Han couldn't help but look up at the man. However, when their eyes met, he was directly stunned.

What kind of eyes were those? They were like the starry sky, yet also like an endless and boundless ocean.

With just one glance, Qi Han felt as if he had fallen into an endless starry sea, nearly losing himself.

【Wake up.】

The sudden prompt from the system made Qi Han instantly come to his senses, recalling everything that had just happened. He couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

What kind of existence was this?

Just a brief eye contact was so terrifying that he almost got completely lost.

【The other party is an Limit Douluo, and he had some probing intentions. Naturally, you couldn't resist.】

Limit Douluo?

Qi Han didn't dare to make eye contact with the man again. Turning his gaze, he saw the four Tang Sect branch leaders standing behind him. His face suddenly became somewhat enlightened.

Someone who could make the four branch leaders willingly stand behind him must be a member of the Tang Sect. Moreover, they were a figure with a higher status than the branch leaders. The man in the golden robe facing him was undoubtedly the Sect Master of the Tang Sect.

Although Qi Han didn't know the name, title, or details of this Tang Sect Master, the strength of the Limit Douluo had already made him feel somewhat uneasy.

Seeing that Qi Han had snapped out of his daze in just a few seconds from the deliberate probing, Tang Qianqiu's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

A flash of surprise passed quickly, and Tang Qianqiu turned his head away, no longer looking at Qi Han. Instead, he looked at Ji Yunruo with a smile, "Tell me, what's so good about this little shop that it can attract disciples of my Tang Sect to work as employees?"