SailorStar9: Well, I've uploaded Chapter 14, and here's Chapter 15. So, read and review. Come on boys and girls, is it so hard for you to leave a review other than putting this on your favorited lists and alerts?
Disclaimers: Me no own, you no sue.
Chapter 15: Galaxy Noodles
"I'm stuffed." Shilou gushed, having gobbled up the last plate of food, the younger boy having insisted of tugging along.
"I can't eat another bite." Mao sighed.
"Do we even have enough money to pay for all this, Mao-sama? Ya Xue asked.
"Don't worry." Mao assured. "The four of us worked hard to earn some money. There's still a lot left."
"He's exactly right." Shilou agreed. "I have the money right here." he felt into his pocket, only to find a gaping hole in his trousers. "It's... gone!" he exclaimed.
"Shilou, where did you lose it?" Ya Xue pressed.
"Did you misplace it somewhere?" Mao asked.
"I hope you're not going to stiff us on the check." one of the waiters glared at the group.
"Mao-sama!" Ya Xue ran over to her young master's side after they were tossed out.
"Don't be so rough." Mei LI chided. "It's true. We did lose the money. We have no intention to eat and run."
"It doesn't matter because you can't pay us anyway." the waiter retorted.
"Fine, go report us to the police then." Shilou snapped.
"We don't have to involve the police." a voice interjected. "It's a serious crime to eat a dish cooked by a Senior Chef for free. You must be taught a lesson. Don't hesitate just because they're kids. Beat the four of them up and throw them into the river."
"Wait." Eagle defended the group before Ya Xue reached for her acupuncture needles. "Come on, they're still children."
"Eagle, are you saying we should let kids eat for free?" Harry glared.
"No, I'm not." Eagle protested. "But you cant' beat them up."
"You're so considerate." Harry tsked. "As usual. I don't have to listen to a Third-Level chef let you. Get back to work and cook for tomorrow's wedding." with a nod, he signaled his lackeys to attack.
"I won't allow you to lay a finger on Mao-sama." Ya Xue was immediately on the offensive, her custom-made acupuncture needles were between her fingers. "Too slow." she muttered, somersaulting over a thug's head and letting two needles fly, hitting the attacker on the back of his neck and causing him to collapse on the ground. Another two more needles stuck the second thug's arms, rendering both limbs useless. Two more needles went flying towards the third thug's thigh, sending him buckling to the ground.
"You're all useless!" Harry barked, seeing his subordinates easily taken down by a mere slip of a girl.
"Master Yang has arrive!" someone announced. "Lady Laya is with him."
"You have arrived, Master Yang, and Lady Laya." Harry pushed past Eagle and greeted the father-and-daughter pair who had stepped out of the carriage. "If only you informed me earlier, I could have picked you up."
"We're just dropping by." Maser Yang replied. "We just have to visit a few people before tomorrow's wedding.
"I apologize for not being able to come along." Harry remarked. "I can't just leave the restaurant unattended just because of personal business."
"Did you hear that, Laya?" Master Yang looked at his daughter. "He thinks so responsibly, as a head chef leading the restaurant. He's a great Senior Chef. I was right to have chosen him for you. Harry, please take good care of Laya and Xinghan Restaurant."
"Sir, you can count on me." Harry assured.
"Lady Laya, allow me to congratulate you on your marriage." Eagle bowed.
"Lady Laya," Harry took Laya's hand. "I'm looking forward to see you in a wedding dress tomorrow."
"I'm so happy." Master Yang gushed. "I have nothing to worry about now. I'll see you tomorrow at the wedding." he boarded the carriage, after allowing Mao's group to work off their debt.
"Thank you, Eagle." Mei Li voiced.
"Thanks for helping." Laya noted, seeing the group ready the hall for the wedding. "I made some refreshments." she placed the plate of buns on the table. "Please have some. How is it?"
"It's quite tasty." Mao remarked, taking a bite.
"You'll make a great wife." Shilou praised. "I guarantee it. But why are you marrying such a jerk? Don't you deserve a better man than that?"
"Laya!" Mei Li called out, as the sobbing Laya took off running.
"Could it..." Ya Xue frowned, recalling the not-so-secret glances Laya had cast at Eagle earlier.
"I'm sorry, everyone." Laya wiped off her tears as she turned to face the teens. "Please don't mind me."
"Miss Laya," Mei Li voiced, the two girls stood on either side of the older woman. "Can we ask you a question?"
"We were just wondering, perhaps, you are in love with someone else?" Ya Xue suggested. "I apologize for my imprudence."
"That river..." Laya looked at the flowing water. "It's called the 'Small Galaxy'. Last year, at the night of Qi Xi, we were on that bridge. Since this village is far away from the ocean, pearls are very rare and are treasured keepsakes here. So, that was Eagle's way of professing his vow of eternal love to me. But a while after that, Harry, a Senior Chef, came to our restaurant. His title impressed my father. He decided to put Harry in charge of the kitchen. But he planned to give him much more than that."
"Even if your father wanted it, you shouldn't have to marry a man you don't love, Laya!" Shilou protested.
"After my mother died, my father raised my single-handedly." Laya replied. "I don't want to go against him. Since then, Eagle started to avoid me. He doesn't even want to make eye contact."
"So, how about the pearls he promised?" Mei Li asked and Laya shook her head.
"But it's all right." Laya assured. "Like my father said, I will marry Harry."
"Naughty." a woman chided Harry as he cuddled her. "Can you still stay here? You're getting married tomorrow."
"It's my last night as a bachelor." Harry teased.
"You made out like a bandit, Harry." one of Harry's companions joked. "You get Xinghan Restaurant and a beautiful bride in one fell swoop."
"An old man and a naive girl sheltered from the real world." Harry scoffed. "It was so easy to tame them. I'll turn Xinghan Restaurant into a high class bar and make lots of money."
"Harry!" the passing Eagle barked. "I can't believe what you just said."
"What is it?" Harry snorted. "Mind your own business. Get out of my sight. Listen up." he whispered. "Whatever you do will only be a waste of time. Xinghan will be mine tomorrow."
"Excuse me." Shilou pushed past the crowd in the marketplace, the group finding the beaten-down Eagle in the middle.
"Mao-sama, this is..." Ya Xue picked up the pearl bracelet that had dropped out of Eagle's pocket.
"Ow..." Eagle winced as Ya Xue applied her healing balm on his injuries.
"By the way, Eagle, what is this?" Mao asked, holding out the bangle. "Did you buy that as a present for Miss Laya?"
"How did you know?" Eagle asked, reclaiming the bracelet.
"I'm sorry." Mei Li replied. "Miss Laya told us the whole story. Why did you do it? Run away from Miss Laya?"
"Milady would have a better future if she marries a Senior Chef, instead of me." Eagle replied.
"So, you don't hate here after all?" Mei Li beamed.
"No way!" Eagle protested. "I would never hate her. But I didn't know Harry was such a cruel man."
"Eagle, can you lend me that pearl bangle?" Mao requested. "A good dish brings happiness to people. Therefore... it may also be able to detect and confirm happiness in people."
"It's started..." Ya Xue shook her head, seeing Mao's determined expression.
Back in the Yang mansion, Mao went to work in the kitchen, tossing the threads of dough into the boiling wok to make noodles, before preparing the squid's ink for his dish.
"Dear honored guests," Master Yang greeted his guests. "Thank you all for coming to witness the wedding between my daughter Laya and Harry. The ceremony is about to start. Laya, give the ring to the groom."
"Thank you for waiting!" Mao's group chorused, bringing in a clay pot before Laya could give Harry the ring.
"Miss Laya, a friend sent us to deliver this in celebration of your wedding." Mao informed. "Shilou, let's do it." he instructed, after the pot was placed on the table.
"Here it is, Mao-nii's special noodles." Shilou grinned and the two lifted the cover.
"Mei Li, Ya Xue!" Mao turned to the girls.
"Yes!" Ya Xue nodded and the two girls opened the doors, the wind blowing out the lamps.
"Is that the night sky?" Master Yang was astonished to see the glitter in the pot. "A galaxy of stars glowing on the table. Countless stars are twinkling in a huge bowl. Is this a real dish?"
"That's right." Mao beamed. "There are my special Galaxy Noodles. Two bright stars are located at opposite ends of the Milky Way: the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. They are separated by the Milky Way, and can only see each other for one day each year. Yet, they renew their love each year. We celebrate their reunion every year on Qi Xi."
"I see." Master Yang nodded. "A fitting dish, carrying a wish for a couple's eternal love. I thank whoever sent it. What a very deep and mysterious flavor." he gaped, tasting the noodles. "The black soup is made from squid ink. But what are the twinkling stars on the soup surface?"
"Right, that's made from pearl powder." Mao replied.
"But pearls are quite rare here." Master Yang noted. "How did you get them?"
"That's right." Mao nodded when Laya looked at him. "This came from a pearl bangle Eagle bought for you, just as he promised." he handed Laya the bracelet. "I'm sorry. I broke off two or three pearls for the soup."
"What is the meaning of this?" Harry glared.
"Yang-sama," Ya Xue spoke. "Having a Senior Chef title does not automatically make someone a wonderful chef."
"His purpose was to seize control over your restaurant and turn it into a bar." Mao accused.
"What nonsense are you blabbering about?" Harry retorted. "Master Yang, would you trust the words of a boy who has no credentials at all?"
"No credentials at all, you say?" Shilou scoffed, untying the cloth Mao tied over his Super Chef emblem. "He's the youngest Super Chef in history, Liu Mao Xing!"
"Harry, explain yourself." Master Yang looked at his potential son-in-law.
"Oh man." Harry muttered. "I was so close to winning the grand prize."
Ya Xue pushed Mao aside before Harry could kick him and sent the disgraced chef out of the hall with a punch to the stomach and causing him to land on a serving table on wheels in the corridor. The said table then tumbled down the staircase.
"Mao, I apologize." Master Yang remarked. "I told myself that I was doing this for Laya's sake, but.. I only cared about Xinghan Restaurant. I'm so ashamed of myself."
"Master Yang, please look at that." Mao pointed to the covered object in the corner.
"I was wondering what that was..." Master Yang noted.
"Now!" the teens pulled down the cover to reveal the ice phoenix sculpture Eagle had curved.
"Eagle made this for Miss Laya." Mao explained. "The Xinghan Restaurant has a great chef whose potential is no less than that of a Senior Chef. Miss Laya, Eagle is waiting for you at the place where he promised you the pearls.
With a nod, Laya ran off.
"How pretty." Mei Li gushed. "The river is reflecting so many stars."
"Now I understand why it's called 'Small Galaxy'." Ya Xue noted.
"How romantic." Mei Li raved. "I wish someone would give me such a bangle..."
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.