Chapter 230: On the Eve of Farewell
"Congratulations to both of you for officially completing your training!" Qi Han announced cheerfully, and Qin Yue and Qin Yao immediately embraced each other in excitement.
The two sisters had practiced day and night for half a month to finally meet Qi Han's requirements and be able to manage Small Shop' operations independently.
"Keke... will he come back?" Suddenly, Qin Yue's voice dropped, her words laced with concern.
At this, the trio fell silent.
Two days earlier, after a storm had swept through the entire Star Luo City, Keke had been taken away that same afternoon by a man named Dai Youyuan. Only then did Qi Han and the Qin sisters learn the truth about Keke's origins.
Qi Han had somewhat anticipated it, but for the Qin sisters, the revelation had been startling.
Qin Yao quickly accepted the news, but Qin Yue seemed to struggle. Over the last two days, she had been listless and downhearted during business hours.
Gently holding her sister's hand, Qin Yao spoke softly, "He probably... won't be coming back."
As the last remaining heir of the late Fourth Prince and the nephew of Dai Youyuan, the Empire's military god and Duke of the East, Keke's current status was simply too far above the Qin sisters.
Qin Yao knew her sister well; perhaps this time spent working together had made her sister grow fond of Keke.
But with such a vast difference in their social status now, she had little hope the two would ever be together.
For now, she could only do her best to console her sister.
"Don't think too much about it. Anything is possible." Qi Han smiled reassuringly, keeping his own thoughts private.
Although Keke hadn't confided in him, Qi Han had a hunch that Keke might return someday.
So he hadn't hired a replacement.
"Tonight will probably be my last night in Star Luo City too. Starting tomorrow afternoon, you'll both be handling business by yourselves," Qi Han said, smiling as he gestured to the ground floor dining area. "Tonight, I'll remodel the first floor to resemble the hot pot dining area on the second floor. I trust that you've both become quite skilled with the cooking equipment in the kitchen."
"I've given you all the keys, and you can stay in the third-floor quarters for convenience if you'd like…"
Is the boss leaving too?
Although they had been expecting it, hearing Qi Han talk about the various aspects of running the restaurant filled the sisters with sadness and reluctance.
"Don't be like that," Qi Han chuckled when he saw their expressions. "Star Luo City and Shrek City are close, just a few hours apart. You can come see me at Shrek City when you're free, and I'll also visit you here from time to time."
Hearing this, they felt a little better.
"All right, it's getting dark. Hurry home and be safe on the way."
With that, Qi Han opened the door for them.
Qin Yue, head lowered, was about to walk out when she collided with a tall figure. Startled, she nearly stumbled, but the figure quickly reached out, grabbing her wrist to steady her.
"You!" Qin Yue was about to vent her frustration when she looked up and froze.
"Uh… Sister Qin Yue? I… I was hoping to make it for the evening shift..."
"Am I... late?" Qin Yue's eyes filled with tears that soon turned to a joyful smile. She playfully punched his chest and pouted.
"You're not late, silly!"
...
After bidding farewell to the Qin sisters and Keke, Qi Han finally returned to the third floor, hugging Pururu as he started packing.
Faint sounds came from the first floor; Ru Yi was already busy helping with the renovations.
When he chatted briefly with Keke, Qi Han learned that Keke had been away the past few days because Dai Youyuan had taken him for some rigorous training, during which he also absorbed his first spirit ring.
Normally, spirit masters would not be able to absorb a millennium spirit ring for their first ring. However, since Keke was already well into his teens with a fully developed body, and had undergone special tempering and nourishment with precious materials, his body strength was at the Spirit Elder level. Absorbing a thousand-year spirit ring wasn't impossible in his case.
Dai Youyuan spared no expense for his nephew's well-being.
From now on, Keke would live in the Duke of the East's residence with his family instead of at Small Shop.
Or perhaps now it would be called the White Tiger Duke's Residence?
Qi Han picked up the invitation to the new emperor's enthronement ceremony from his bedside table and smiled slightly.
Only two mornings after the storm, the coronation ceremony for the new emperor was already set to take place. The invitation had been delivered personally by Xu Changling, and since Qi Han was free, he was more than happy to attend and witness the event before leaving.
The outcome of the political upheaval was that Xu Changling, the former prime minister, became the new emperor of Star Luo.
The empire remained Star Luo and retained its name, without changing its nation's title.
That mischievous girl Xu Yiyun, whom Qi Han vaguely remembered, had also unexpectedly become a princess of the empire.
Recalling her bewildered expression as she donned the princess's crown, Qi Han couldn't help but laugh.
Xu Changling's ascent to the throne could have faced countless obstacles, yet with his excellent reputation among the people and the willing abdication of Dai Youyuan, the last remaining royal bloodline, any potential hindrances were swiftly overcome.
Of course, Dai Youyuan could no longer retain his princely status.
The Star Luo Empire had no precedent for granting noble titles to those outside the royal family.
Yet, Xu Changling's first act as the new emperor was to bestow Dai Youyuan with a unique title: a hereditary Grand Duke, known as the White Tiger Duke.
After two days of anxiety, countless residents of Star Luo City were taken aback as the royal coup came to a peaceful resolution, defying expectations and bringing about a stable transition of power.
Looking out the window at the night-lit Star Luo City, Qi Han saw celebrations unfolding—singing, dancing, and cheering for the new emperor. A sense of tranquility filled the air.
A smile crept onto Qi Han's face as he petted Pururu and murmured, "Pururu, tomorrow we'll head back to Shrek City."
"Oh, you haven't seen the little store in Shrek City yet, have you? We've got two new friends waiting for you there—Ying Shuang and Ji Yunruo."
"I'm sure they'll love you! And there's Fu Ya too; she's part of the Shrek store crew…"
…
"I'm craving fried rice again…and Dongpo Pork Knuckle," muttered Tai Lei, slumped on a lounge chair with vacant eyes, gazing wistfully at the sky as he swallowed hard.
It had been a month since he last enjoyed Qi Han's food.
Would Small Shop ever open its doors again?
He had already heard from his unlucky apprentice nephew that Small Shop had become wildly popular in Star Luo City, with dishes like hot pot and some fancy-sounding... Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat!
"Those first few words mean nothing," he grunted. "All that matters is the word 'meat'!"
Apparently, that dish cost 1,200 gold coins…
Tai Lei patted the money pouch at his side, swallowing once more.
Meat that expensive must be delicious, right?
"Yeah, I also miss the taste of Small Shop," said Zhao Yunsheng, beside him, his rare agreement with Tai Lei evident in his similarly wistful expression.
He reclined in his chair with a resigned expression.
Rumor had it that Small Shop now offered a supreme dish called "Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth," visually simple, subtly fragrant, with a long-lasting taste.
Thinking this, Zhao Yunsheng patted his own wallet, swallowing hard.
A dish as refined as this was surely costly, right?
"Old Sparrow, Qi Han left with the Shrek students, didn't he?" Tai Lei suddenly sat up, his tone tinged with urgency as he remembered something.
"Yes, why?" Zhao Yunsheng, lazily leaning back, had no intention of moving.
"I heard that the Shrek students' competition ended, and they've returned! So why hasn't Qi Han come back yet?" Tai Lei's thick eyebrows furrowed, and his face grew more irritable.
"Maybe... he got delayed by that political upheaval in Star Luo City," Zhao Yunsheng answered with a lazy yawn.
"But the coup ended three days ago, didn't it?"
"It…did?" Zhao Yunsheng's face grew serious, and he slowly sat upright. "Then...why hasn't that kid Qi Han come back?"
A troubling thought flashed simultaneously in the minds of the two Titled Douluo.
Could it be...that Qi Han would be staying there a while longer?
"Hey, Old Monkey, where are you going?" Zhao Yunsheng called out instinctively as he saw Tai Lei standing up and heading for the door.
"Oh, there's this Power Hall Master in the Star Luo branch named Tai Jiong. He's my distant cousin," Tai Lei replied without looking back as he headed out the door. "I haven't seen him in a while, so I figured I'd pay him a visit."
Zhao Yunsheng thought back, his expression growing peculiar.
This so-called "distant" relative was indeed...very distant.
If he recalled correctly, they'd have to trace back at least twenty generations to find the family connection.
"Hey! Old Monkey, wait up. I'll go with you!" Zhao Yunsheng got up quickly and followed Tai Lei.
"You?" Tai Lei paused, giving Zhao Yunsheng an odd look. "I'm pretty sure you don't have any relatives in Star Luo City, do you?"
"Says who?" Zhao Yunsheng straightened his neck with feigned confidence. "The Speed Hall Master in the Star Luo branch—what was his name again? Oh, whatever! Speed Hall is one family, and that makes him my kin! I should go check on him!"
Tai Lei's expression grew increasingly peculiar.
If he remembered correctly... The Speed Hall Master in Star Luo was a direct descendant of the Bai family, right?
And hadn't Zhao Yunsheng, years ago, been humiliated by a Bai family disciple to the point of declaring a lifelong grudge against the entire family?
And now they were "kin"?
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