Chapter 5
It's a small noodle shop with an old signboard, the wood gleaming from the grease and smoke. The shop isn't big, but it's kept very clean.
An elderly man with gray hair and a slightly hunched back was slowly kneading dough, his movements steady and focused, with an almost devout rhythm.
The bubbling bone broth in the pot exudes a pure and rich aroma, free of any unpleasant additives. The atmosphere in the restaurant is peaceful and clean, carrying the most authentic warmth of the food and a gentle spiritual power accumulated over time.
This is it.
“That place is too noisy.” Zhuohua withdrew her divine sense and dismissed Lu Xiao’s suggestion in a flat tone, as if she were just saying that the weather wasn’t very good today. She pointed in the opposite direction from the upscale Western restaurant, “Let’s go to ‘Old Zhang’s Noodle Shop’.”
Lu Xiao looked in the direction she pointed, somewhat bewildered. Old Zhang's Noodle Shop? He knew it; it was deep in the alley behind the film studio, cheap and plentiful, a place where many low-level extras ate their fill. He used to go there often when he first started out. But… where should he ask his savior for help?
“But…that place…” Lu Xiao was a little embarrassed, his face turning even redder, feeling that he hadn’t been sincere enough. Inviting someone to a place like that would make him seem stingy! Although he was indeed short of money right now, having just paid his rent.
"Clean." Zhuohua said succinctly, without explaining what she meant by "clean." Her gaze swept over Lu Xiao's body, still wrapped in a thick blanket. "Can you walk?"
Lu Xiao nodded hurriedly, struggling to stand up to prove he was alright. But as soon as he moved, his vision blurred and his legs went weak. The life-or-death struggle and the immense mental shock he had just experienced had taken a toll far greater than he had anticipated.
Zhuohua reached out and gently supported his arm. A gentle force steadied his swaying body instantly. "Slow down."
Lu Xiao felt a soothing warmth emanating from where she was supporting him, instantly dispelling the dizziness and weakness. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly steadied himself, whispering, "I...I can walk."
The director and assistant director stood around, wanting to say something to express their gratitude and concern, but seeing Zhuo Hua's aloof and unapproachable aura (except for Lu Xiao), they couldn't quite get a word in edgewise.
The director rubbed his hands together: "Um, young lady, Lu Xiao, why don't you go to the hospital for a check-up? The crew will cover all the expenses! And you, young lady..."
"No need," Zhuohua interrupted him, her gaze falling on Lu Xiao. "We're leaving."
After saying that, she ignored the awkward expressions on the director's and others' faces and walked out of the film set first. Her posture made it seem as if she were the one giving orders.
Lu Xiao was stunned for a moment, then quickly wrapped the blanket around himself tighter, like a newly hatched chick, and followed closely behind.
He could feel countless gazes fixed on his back—inquiring, curious, awe-inspiring… but at that moment, his mind was only occupied by the slender, upright figure in front of him, and the enormous secret that had overturned his entire world.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the film studio in a warm golden light. The two walked one after the other on the street, which was gradually becoming bustling. Zhuohua walked slowly, seemingly deliberately accommodating the wounded man behind her whose steps were still somewhat unsteady.
Lu Xiao followed silently behind, wanting to speak several times, but not knowing where to begin. What was the ice all about? What was the power to alter memories? Who was she really? Countless questions stuck in his throat, only to be swallowed back down by the heavy warmth brought by her words, "I believe you."
He secretly glanced up at Zhuohua's profile, outlined by the setting sun—a look that was both cool and gentle. A few stray strands of hair at her temples fluttered in the evening breeze, brushing against her fair neck.
Thump.
My heart skipped a beat again.
He hurriedly lowered his head, staring at his toes, his ears beginning to burn again. The thought of repaying his life-saving grace... well, it flared up inappropriately and very faintly, before he terrifiedly suppressed it.
What are you thinking, Lu Xiao! He's a god! No, even more powerful than a god!
After passing through several bustling main streets, I turned into a relatively quiet old alley. The aroma of cooking and food filled the air. The sign for "Old Zhang's Noodle Shop" was at the end of the alley, with warm yellow light shining through the glass door.
Pushing open the door, a warm aroma, a blend of bone broth, noodles, and a faint alkaline scent, wafts out, dispelling the chill of the late autumn evening.
The shop was indeed clean and tidy, with only four small square tables. It was past lunchtime, and only a regular customer was sitting in the corner, engrossed in eating noodles.
Old Mr. Zhang, with his gray hair and a clean apron, was sitting on a small stool by the door, slowly peeling a large white radish. His knife skills were so skillful that the radish slices were so thin they were translucent.
Seeing guests arrive, he raised his wrinkled yet energetic face and gave a friendly smile: "You're here? What would you like to eat?"
"Two bowls of plain noodles." Zhuohua found a seat towards the back and sat down, her movements as natural as if she were back at home.
"Alright! Two bowls of plain noodles! Just a moment!" The old man replied, put down the radish, and slowly got up to go to the stove to get busy.
Lu Xiao sat down opposite Zhuo Hua, rubbing his hands nervously and pulling the blanket around him tighter.
The shop was quiet, with only the faint sounds from the stove and the slurping of noodles by a regular customer in the corner. This quiet only made Lu Xiao more nervous, and the earth-shattering scene began to replay in his mind.
He secretly glanced at Zhuohua. She was quietly watching the pedestrians walking through the alley outside the window. Her profile looked particularly soft in the warm yellow light, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes. She showed no intention of taking the initiative to explain anything.
“Um…” Lu Xiao mustered his courage, his voice still a little dry, “Just now… on set…” He stammered, unsure how to describe that inexplicable scene.
Zhuohua withdrew her gaze and looked at him, her eyes calm and unwavering: "You saw it?"
Lu Xiao nodded vigorously, his heart pounding in his throat.
"Afraid?" she asked, her tone flat, as if asking "How's the weather today?"
Lu Xiao paused for a moment, then shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum: "No... I'm not afraid!" Realizing his reaction was too strong, his face flushed, and he quickly added, "It's just... too... too shocking..."
He paused, then cautiously, with immense doubt and awe, asked softly, "Are you... are you a deity?"
He regretted asking the question as soon as he did, feeling like a fool. What kind of immortal would wear a faded, worn-out extra's T-shirt and sit in a tiny noodle shop waiting for plain noodles?
A faint, almost imperceptible smile seemed to flash across Zhuohua's eyes, so fleeting it was like an illusion. "No."
She answered bluntly, "Just...live a little longer."
Live a little longer? Lu Xiao blinked. How much was "a little"? A hundred years? Two hundred years? He couldn't imagine.
But looking at Zhuohua's young, even somewhat childish face, he felt that these words were full of an indescribable sense of mystery.
"The noodles are here!" Old Master Zhang's booming voice broke the brief silence. He carried an old, red-lacquered wooden tray and steadily placed two steaming bowls of noodles on it.
A large blue-and-white porcelain bowl holds a clear, transparent broth. Thin, white, and chewy noodles lie neatly in the soup, garnished with a few bright green scallions, a small handful of finely chopped pickled mustard greens, and a glistening, fragrant, and evenly sliced piece of char siu pork. Simple yet exuding an incredibly tempting and pure aroma of food.
Only after smelling the aroma did Lu Xiao belatedly realize that his stomach was terribly empty. Having just faced death on the brink of death, his adrenaline had surged, and now that the dust had settled (albeit in a terrifying way), exhaustion and hunger surged over him.
"Eat it while it's hot." Zhuohua picked up her chopsticks and naturally separated the noodles.
Lu Xiao quickly picked up his chopsticks as well. He carefully blew on the hot noodles, then picked up a small piece of noodles and put it in his mouth.
hiss--
An indescribable deliciousness exploded on the tip of the tongue!
The broth is crystal clear, yet exceptionally rich and flavorful, with the unique sweetness and collagen from long-simmering of bones, without any trace of MSG.
The noodles are smooth and chewy, with a subtle wheat aroma and just the right amount of alkaline flavor. The savory and refreshing taste of scallions and pickled mustard greens perfectly balances the richness of the soup.
The char siu was the perfect finishing touch, with its perfect balance of lean and fat, melting in your mouth, and the rich aroma of the sauce spreading throughout your mouth along with the meat juices.
Delicious! So delicious that Lu Xiao almost swallowed his tongue! He had never thought that a simple bowl of plain noodles could be this delicious! It was as if every bite contained a warm and comforting power, soothing his tense nerves and empty stomach.
He couldn't resist taking another big bite, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction, like a cat finally getting a treat. The harrowing scene from just moments before seemed to have been temporarily overshadowed by this warm and comforting bowl of noodles.
"Is it good?" Zhuohua's voice came.
Lu Xiao suddenly looked up, his mouth still full of noodles, and nodded vigorously, mumbling, "Mmm! So...delicious! Especially delicious!"
He swallowed his noodles, looked at the almost untouched bowl of noodles in front of Zhuohua, and asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Zhuohua... Sister, why aren't you eating?"
He almost called her "sister" again, but remembering her "command," he forced himself to add a title after her name.
Watching his satisfied expression as he ate, his cheeks slightly puffed out and his eyes shining, Zhuohua felt that slight itch in her heart resurface, carrying a strange and unfamiliar sense of satisfaction. She picked up her chopsticks, took a small handful of noodles, and slowly and deliberately put them into her mouth.
"Mmm," she responded, taking it as an answer to Lu Xiao's question. The taste was indeed quite good.
More importantly, the spiritual energy contained in this bowl of noodles was gentle and pure, like a mountain spring, slowly nourishing her mortal body. Compared to those high-end restaurants with murky spiritual energy and empty appearances, this was a place where one could truly "eat".
Seeing that she had finally started eating, Lu Xiao felt a sense of relief and buried his head in his own bowl of noodles. For a moment, the only sounds in the small noodle shop were the soft chewing sounds of the two of them and the satisfied sigh of a regular customer in the corner.
The warm yellow light, the rising steam, the aroma of food, and the person quietly eating noodles across from him... As Lu Xiao ate, his movements gradually slowed down.
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