......

After inviting Rice Shower, Lu Jue left the lounge with her, parting ways along the path.

Lu Jue arrived at the temporary restaurant, which was still under construction.

He had received a message from Symboli Rudolf that an Uma Musume who would be his contact was already waiting for him there.

However, Lu Jue hadn't expected that the Uma Musume sent would be someone he was very familiar with.

"Nu Tao?" Lu Jue asked, looking at the girl in front of him, who was still spaced out with a small clipboard in her hand.

"Ah? Lu Lu Lu Jue, hello."

Lu Jue had taught classes to most Uma Musume, and although he had only met them a few times, the Uma Musume had a deep impression of Lu Jue.

It was Nu Tao, of all people.

He hadn't expected Rudor to send him such a big, cute, and clumsy social outcast.

Nu Tao's hairstyle and hair color were very similar to Special Week's; both had brown hair with a single white fringe over their foreheads.

But Nu Tao's bob cut was fluffier, and well... some other areas were much fluffier than Special Week's. Additionally, Nu Tao had an antenna-like ahoge on top of her head.

Although her name was grand and imposing, she herself was a naturally clumsy and cute girl.

When she spoke, her voice would always fluctuate erratically due to her inner panic, like the random strumming of a violin by an amateur.

Lu Jue really liked her mouth, with its naturally upturned curve at the ends, naturally forming a smile.

But it also often made Lu Jue feel that if her horse ears were replaced with cat ears, Nu Tao would look more like a cat girl.

This reminded Lu Jue of Seiun Sky; she resembled a cat when she was lazy, while Nu Tao resembled one in the shape of her lips and face when she spoke.

"Hello, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"No, no, no, I didn't wait long. You can go inside and take a look now, and tell me if you need anything else."

"Don't be so nervous. Was I fierce when I taught your class?"

Nu Tao covered half her face with the small clipboard. "I-I-I'm sorry~ I... I'll be careful."

"No need to apologize." Lu Jue smiled and entered the temporary restaurant ahead of Nu Tao.

The basic facilities inside the restaurant were already completed.

"Lu Jue, there are two... no, three styles of tables and chairs to choose from. Please see which one is suitable, and I will arrange it as soon as possible."

Lu Jue was preparing a Chinese menu, so the tables, chairs, and decor naturally had to be more Chinese-style.

He pondered for a while, finally choosing one of them and confirming the decor style with Nu Tao.

Afterward, the two walked towards the kitchen.

"Lu Jue, please check if there are any missing kitchen utensils."

Lu Jue looked around and then nodded. "Everything is well prepared. Thank you, Nu Tao."

"No problem, no problem~ It's what I should do~" Nu Tao's smile widened even more after receiving the praise. "Oh, by the way, Lu Jue, the staff you asked me to recruit... because everyone wants to enjoy the festival, almost no one came to work part-time. I only recruited one person."

"It's fine, one is enough. I'll figure something out later." Lu Jue paused, realizing there was already a ready-made one right in front of him. "Nu Tao, will you be busy then?"

"Not busy..." Nu Tao blurted out subconsciously, then immediately regretted it and nervously corrected herself: "Busy, probably..."

She wanted to go to the cafe opened by "Rigil" and see Agnes Digital in a suit.

"Busy?" Lu Jue started his 'drawing a pie' skill. "That's really a shame. A thousand yen a day (about 481.74 RMB) and still no one? You can even enjoy the same dishes as the guests... Nu Tao, did you include these conditions when you were recruiting?"

Compared to the money he would earn later, this amount was not much for Lu Jue, but it was very attractive to others.

"Eh!?" Nu Tao was surprised. Why couldn't her mind recall Lu Jue mentioning that? "I'm sorry~ I'm sorry, I was negligent..."

"It's fine, it's fine~" Lu Jue actually hadn't said anything. "So, what do you think now?"

"But I'm very clumsy..."

"It doesn't matter, just don't knock everything over." Lu Jue caught Nu Tao's compromise and immediately said, "Then it's decided. I just need to find one more Uma Musume."

"O-okay."

"Don't worry, it won't be very busy. You just need to wear a uniform then."

"I understand... No problem."

......

After discussing the decoration direction with Nu Tao for a while longer, Lu Jue left the restaurant and went to find Tojo Hana.

"You mean you want to borrow Taiki Shuttle to be a waitress in your restaurant?" Tojo Hana crossed her arms over her chest, scrutinizing Lu Jue. "Xiao Lu, you're not going to make them wear maid outfits, are you?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jue immediately thought, 'She's a true professional.'

But he wouldn't admit it so easily. "I'm short-staffed, Sister Hua. Besides, your restaurant has enough staff. With Symboli Rudolf, Air Groove, and Fuji Kiseki standing there in suits, customers will keep pouring in... My small shop doesn't have that capability."

"Stop right there. Who doesn't know your restaurant is by reservation only?"

"Sister Hua, please do me a favor. I even offer daily wages here."

Tojo Hana was still thinking and didn't reply immediately.

Lu Jue continued in a low voice, "Otherwise... I think Sister Hua is still quite charming."

"Stop, stop." Tojo Hana slapped the table. "Alright, but you have to go ask that child, Taiki Shuttle, yourself. I can't make the decision."

"Okay, I'll go right now." Lu Jue was actually waiting for Tojo Hana to say that. Before borrowing Taiki Shuttle, he definitely had to ask her guardian.

......

Lu Jue found Taiki Shuttle on the training ground.

"Hello! Trainer Lu!" Taiki Shuttle waved at Lu Jue.

She looked like she had just finished running, with glistening sweat still on her face.

"Tree." Lu Jue responded, then got straight to the point. "I have a great part-time job here. Are you interested?"

Every time Lu Jue called her "Tree," Taiki Shuttle would pause for a moment.

Although Lu Jue had said it was a custom from his hometown, she still felt something different in her heart.

"Part-time job?" Taiki Shuttle was confused.

Then, Lu Jue began a five-minute 'drawing a pie' session, which had a significant effect.

Taiki Shuttle had won a G1 race and had a lot of prize money, so she didn't care much about the salary.

But she was very interested in Lu Jue's dishes.

Festivals happened every year, but Lu Jue's cooking skills weren't something she could taste at this time every year.

"Then it's settled. Remember to come and familiarize yourself with it then. I'll arrange tasks for you."

"No problem!"

......