......

“B-bathe?” Rice Shower blinked in confusion.

Was it a difference in customs? Where she came from, you didn't need to bathe when helping out with cooking. It was like how you didn't need to slap yourself when going down the stairs.

“That’s right, bathing the rice.” Lu Jue nodded affirmatively.

But how could he not hear the confusion in Rice Shower’s words? He was, of course, deliberately teasing her.

“Bathe now...? But, but I already bathed when I came today.”

Respecting customs, if she really had to bathe, Rice Shower wouldn't refuse. But there was no bathroom here.

“You bathed?” Lu Jue had just scooped a certain amount of rice into a basin of clear water. He looked up at Rice Shower with an amused expression. “I’m talking about washing the rice. Which ‘rice’ are you talking about?”

Rice Shower’s breath hitched, and she wished she could find a hole to crawl into out of embarrassment. She had thought Lu Jue was telling her to go bathe herself.

She remembered Uralala’s past complaint—Trainer sometimes loved to tease people.

Seeing Rice Shower’s shy expression, her flushed cheeks almost dripping with water, Lu Jue decided not to tease her further.

“Rice Shower, go help me wash the rice. I’ll make Egg Fried Rice for you all.”

Rice Shower let out a soft breath, carried the basin, and went to the side to calm down. “O-okay.”

......

Scallop Egg White Fried Rice, the scallops in it are dried scallops.

Before cooking, the dried scallops need to be soaked in clear water in advance. After soaking, they are torn into fine shreds and set aside, usually requiring 1 to 2 hours.

He had prepared them when he arrived at the restaurant, and the timing was just right now.

“Rice Shower, you don’t need to be too meticulous. Washing it two or three times is enough. You can come over and watch first.”

“Okay.” Rice Shower pulled her hands out of the cold water, carefully poured out the water from the basin, and then returned to Lu Jue’s side.

“This dish, actually, isn’t difficult. First, you need to understand that no matter what ingredients you add, they are all to give the rice a unique flavor. The focus is on the rice; it shouldn’t be overshadowed.”

Lu Jue spoke as he demonstrated his skilled knife work.

The continuous “clack, clack, clack” sound of the cleaver echoed, and the cabbage heart was cut into evenly thin slices.

Rice Shower watched intently, always feeling as if the sharp knife was about to cut Lu Jue’s fingers, ready to grab a band-aid at any moment.

Although her concern was a bit excessive, it was well-intentioned.

“Next, prepare the crab meat, egg whites... Never mind, I’ll add the whole egg. Don’t waste the yolk.”

“Looking at the ingredients that were transported, there’s still some ham, but not much... Rice Shower, do you want some?”

Rice Shower seemed to imagine the deliciousness of the finished product, swallowing her saliva repeatedly. “Can I? Oni Sama…”

“I’m the one asking you.”

“Want, want to eat, want some…”

“Then it’s all for Rice Shower.”

......

Soon, the rice was cooked and ready to be stir-fried.

To achieve perfection and ensure the Egg Fried Rice was thoroughly flavored, Lu Jue stir-fried every two bowls of rice separately, ensuring each grain was distinct.

He really liked this high-powered gas stove, which could efficiently stir-fry the rice thoroughly.

The iron spoon and iron wok played a symphony, while the endlessly talking Lu Jue seemed to be annotating the wonderful and unique aspects of the music.

However, his apprentice was not as focused as he was. Although her mind wasn't wandering, her gaze shifted from the fried rice to the person frying the rice.

Rice Shower watched Lu Jue’s profile as he earnestly tossed the wok, and for a moment, she was completely captivated.

It wasn’t that Rice Shower was infatuated, but a boy who was serious was inexplicably attractive.

Even if another Uma Musume were here, her attention would be on Lu Jue at this moment. Uralala was no exception.

A flash of flame in the wok finally broke Rice Shower’s scattered thoughts.

She averted her gaze, then couldn't help but secretly glance at Lu Jue’s profile again. Unlike the stunning appearance she first saw, she now felt that Lu Jue was truly handsome at this moment.

Just then, Lu Jue put down the spoon and looked at her. “Rice Shower, did you understand everything I just said?”

“Huh?” Rice Shower didn’t expect that Lu Jue had already finished speaking after her brief distraction. “I didn’t understand, big brother... Can you explain it again?”

“Absolutely OK!” With one “Oni-chan,” his arm suddenly didn’t feel sore anymore. He scooped two bowls of the freshly cooked rice and said gently, “There are three more bowls. I’ll explain slowly, and you listen slowly.”

“Mm!”

Time was spent amidst the fragrant steam of rice.

From a young age, Rice Shower had an unyielding pursuit of shining things, just like now, she developed a great interest in Lu Jue’s miraculous cooking skills.

However, “shining things” don’t necessarily refer only to “objects.”

Just like later, she set her sights on becoming an excellent Uma Musume, Mihono Bourbon—a shining thing can also be an excellent person.

......

While Lu Jue was stir-frying, the three Uma Musume doing cleaning work successfully completed their tasks.

These three, full of vigor, cleaned the restaurant inside and out. They were tired now and sat on chairs resting.

The three stared eagerly at the kitchen, like three hungry swallow chicks waiting for their parents, who had gone out to forage, to feed them.

“Fried rice is here~” Lu Jue carried a large platter with five bowls of Scallop Egg White Fried Rice on it. To emphasize the sense of ceremony, Lu Jue even covered the bowls with lids.

Rice Shower, behind him, imitated Lu Jue and said, “T-tofu pudding is here~”

Nu Tao, Taiki Shuttle, and Eishin Flash swallowed in unison.

Were they going to lose their composure again? But for the deliciousness before them, they were more than willing to lose it a few more times.

“I’m digging in!”

......

Full and satisfied.

This afternoon’s meal was enough for the four Uma Musume to savor for a long time.

After eating, Taiki Shuttle and Rice Shower had something to do, so they left first. Eishin Flash and Nu Tao voluntarily stayed behind to help Lu Jue clean up the mess.

Lu Jue inadvertently glanced at Eishin Flash washing the dishes and chopsticks, and he felt that her movements were very skilled and quick, forming a stark contrast with Nu Tao, who was washing slowly beside her.

“Little Ei, can I call you that?” Lu Jue, out of curiosity, walked to Eishin Flash’s side.

Upon closer inspection, he realized that her hands were not as fair and delicate as those of other Uma Musume.

“You can, Mr. Lu Jue... I didn’t get that wrong, did I?”

“Calling me Boss is fine too.” Lu Jue joked, pulled over a chair, and sat down. “You seem very skilled.”

“Yes, because I used to work part-time at a restaurant. There were more dishes and chopsticks there, and if I didn’t wash them quickly, I wouldn’t be able to go home until very late,” Eishin Flash said truthfully.

Lu Jue suddenly remembered that Nu Tao had said before that this child was the only one who gave up the festival and voluntarily came to work part-time.

However, he and she had only just met this afternoon, and it wasn't appropriate to ask about some personal circumstances.