Chapter 400: Yet at This Moment, I Just Want to Kiss Your Stubborn Lips
Pururu's confusion, of course, went unanswered. Meanwhile, in the dining area, after Yue Lengxin happily finished half of her Pacific saury, her chopsticks suddenly paused midair.
'It feels like… I've forgotten something?'
Her eyes turned toward the glass of pure rye lager beer beside her, where tiny bubbles continued to rise with a faint sizzle. She gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh.
'Right—I almost forgot. Barbecue tastes even better with beer.'
By now, the beer's foam had subsided somewhat. What had once risen slightly above the rim of the glass now leveled neatly with it. Through the crystal-clear mug, she could see that the foam filled about one-third of the glass, while the rest held the deep brown liquid.
The bubbles in beer work much like those in cola—both owe their fizz to carbon dioxide. Beer traps it naturally through fermentation, while cola gets it artificially from carbonation.
But compared to cola's coarse bubbles, beer's were far finer and denser, creating a soft, creamy foam that lingered for much longer.
The difference came down to composition.
Beer—brewed from malted barley and wheat, with hops added, then liquefied, saccharified, and fermented—contains low levels of alcohol but plenty of nutrients: amino acids, vitamins, simple sugars, minerals, and various enzymes. It's even been called "liquid bread."
Its lasting foam was due to the peptides and proteins that hadn't completely broken down into amino acids. These compounds lowered the surface tension of the beer, helping the foam to remain stable.
Many people disliked the foam, thinking it tasted bad. When they poured their beer, they'd wait until the frothy layer vanished before drinking.
But that was completely wrong. Once the foam disappeared, the beer beneath it began oxidizing the moment it met air—dulling its flavor.
The proper way to drink beer was to finish it before the foam vanished—and to avoid drinking the foam directly.
To do that, one had to tilt the glass just right, pouring carefully until the lips touched the liquid itself—not stopping the moment they met the foam.
These tips were all noted on the menu's description of the pure rye lager. Now, with that in mind, Yue Lengxin lifted the large mug to her lips and, without much hesitation, began to drink.
The moment the icy liquid slid into her mouth, she slowly lowered the mug again, savoring the flavor.
A rich, mellow malt aroma bloomed as the beer touched her tongue, filling her mouth and nose alike. The texture was velvety; countless tiny bubbles popped softly against her lips, bringing a refreshing and gentle sensation. The beer itself was mildly bitter—but in a pleasant, invigorating way that only heightened its crispness.
Even better, the lingering aftertaste of grilled saury that had clung faintly to her mouth earlier now melted away into the beer's flavor. The bitterness and carbonation washed it clean, leaving no trace of oiliness—only clarity and freshness.
Unlike strong liquors, which overwhelmed the senses, this beer felt light—almost playful, like a soft drink. It was exactly the kind of flavor Yue Lengxin enjoyed.
After taking a deep sip, she noticed something odd on her upper lip—the residue of the creamy foam that had clung there while she drank. As it slowly dissolved, it left behind a faintly sticky sensation.
Instinctively, she extended her tongue and gave her upper lip a small lick, gathering the remaining foam away—only then realizing how unrefined that looked.
Her cheeks flushed slightly. She glanced around in embarrassment, making sure no one had seen her, before quietly setting the mug down and continuing her meal.
…
Qi Han, meanwhile, quickly averted his gaze like a guilty thief, exhaling in relief when he was sure Yue Lengxin hadn't noticed him watching her just now.
As the image of that breathtaking girl lightly licking her lips flashed again in his mind, Qi Han suddenly felt his heart skip a beat.
"Master, what's wrong?"
Beside him, Ye Lingqing noticed his Master's slight pause and blinked in curiosity.
"It's nothing." Qi Han coughed lightly and smiled, shaking his head. "Go on preparing the skewers."
"Okay." Ye Lingqing nodded obediently and kept his hands moving.
Qi Han left the skewer prep to her. After some quick practice, Ye Lingqing had already gotten the hang of it—every skewer he made fully met his standards.
Qi Han shook his head, trying to erase the vivid image of those rosy lips from his thoughts, and continued grilling while humming a tune to himself.
♪ "But right now, all I want is to kiss your stubborn lips~" ♪
—Why did that lyric come out now?
His hand froze for a moment, the skewer turning tool still in midair, as his carefully suppressed thoughts began to scatter again.
. . .
Nighttime business hours at Han Shi always felt far too short for its eager patrons. Even after closing, those who hadn't managed to get a seat trudged away with heavy hearts—quietly memorizing the headcount limit for the supper shift and vowing to come earlier next time. Those lucky enough to dine there, however, left feeling that every bite had been worth the wait.
Many of tonight's diners had already tried the breakfast menu that morning. Whether it was the breakfast, the hotpot served at lunch and dinner, or the newly revealed supper dishes, every one of them left the crowd in awe.
Most had expected that with the addition of new operating hours, there wouldn't be many new dishes. After all, everyone knew the restaurant's humble beginnings—Han Shi had opened with nothing but a single plate of fried rice. Surely, breakfast and supper would follow the same pattern: start small, then slowly expand.
But Qi Han's preparations had surpassed every expectation.
Launching eleven brand-new dishes at breakfast was already impressive. The hotpot menu at noon, though seen before in Star Luo City, was no less popular. But that evening, Han Shi unveiled nearly four hundred different supper items—leaving the entire city stunned.
The other vendors in the food street could only stare in despair. The middle-aged uncle who sold grilled meat at the entrance of the street had even taken the night off just to try Han Shi's new menu—only to be completely dumbfounded when he saw more than three hundred varieties of skewers lined up.
In his entire life, he'd never seen more than thirty.
And it wasn't just about quantity. Every one of the new dishes—breakfast, hotpot, or supper—revealed a distinct and refined structure of its own.
The breakfast menu, though diverse, was composed entirely of hearty, standalone staples. The supper dishes, in contrast, were light, flavorful, and carefully designed to avoid a heavy, full feeling. As for the hotpot—it broke completely from traditional Douluo cuisine yet somehow felt seamless and perfect, its endless combinations offering infinite delight.
A single stone had been cast into the lake, and now the ripples were spreading endlessly across the water.
As the day's business finally came to an end, Qi Han and Ye Lingqing returned to the third floor to rest—regaining their strength for tomorrow's work.
But the storm stirred by Han Shi's hundreds of new dishes was only just beginning.
<+>
if you want to see more chapters of this story and don't mind playing $5 per month to see my latest update, please go to my Patreon[1]
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed[2]
Latest Chapter in Patreon: Chapter 446: Pheasant Soup[3]
Link to the latest chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/becoming-food-in-148427641[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/becoming-food-in-148427641
[4] https://www.patreon.com/posts/becoming-food-in-148427641