"Sister Aisha, Sister Mia and I are learning a dance called 'Spring Is Here' with the Mushroom Little Elf. Would you like to learn with us?" Amy walked up to Sally with a music box, glanced into the kitchen following her gaze, and said with a smile, "Although I know Daddy is very handsome, but you shouldn't stare at him for too long. Teacher Luna said that's not very ladylike."
"I…" Sally opened her mouth, looking at Amy's all-knowing expression, and didn't know how to explain. She promised that she was really just thinking about new dishes, although… she also admitted that Mai Ge looked quite handsome when he was cooking seriously, but she was definitely not secretly watching him.
"Spring Is Here?" Sally blushed inexplicably and quickly changed the subject, going along with Amy's suggestion.
"Yes, it's super beautiful." Amy nodded seriously, put the music box on the table, pressed start, and said with a smile, "If you don't believe me, you can take a look first."
As the music of Gokuraku Jodo began to play, the sound of unknown instruments struck, giving Sally an inexplicable urge to get up and dance to the rhythm. The little figure standing in the middle of the music box also began to dance to the music, its movements both graceful and powerful.
This dance looked completely different from any of the dances she had learned since elementary school. Those graceful and ethereal dances were entirely different in style from this one, making her feel inexplicably ashamed. Yet, her gaze was so captivated that she couldn't look away, and she even had the urge to stand up and dance along.
"How about it, do you want to dance 'Spring Is Here' with us?" Amy asked Sally expectantly after the song ended.
"Yes, Aisha, come dance with us! We don't have anything else to do anyway." Yabemia also extended an invitation. Although she had spent some time alone with Sally that morning and their relationship had become a little closer, but dancing together would definitely make things even better, right?
For Yabemia, "friend" was a distant concept. Even the female workers who helped in the kitchen looked down on her, and the men's eyes were filled with ill intent, just like the boss's lecherous son.
However, at the Restaurant Mai Mi, everything changed. Even the beautiful elf who used to seem aloof to her became less difficult to get along with. She also liked to eat tofu pudding and could eat a bowl of vegetable noodles that cost ten copper coins.
Mai Ge is the boss, and Amy is still young, so she hopes that her first real friend can be Sally, if possible.
"Well, if you two don't mind that I learn a little too slowly, then add me." Sally looked at Amy and Yabemia's expectant eyes, hesitated for a moment, then smiled and nodded. Since the name of this dance is 'Spring Is Here,' then the slightly seductive dance moves must be to celebrate the beautiful season of spring.
"How could that be? Sister Aisha and the Mushroom Little Elf look so alike. You'll look beautiful dancing." Amy shook her head, her voice full of anticipation.
"We can begin now." Yabemia had already quietly moved two tables aside, making it big enough for the three of them to learn to dance together.
"Three-person mode begins. If there are three of you, you can form a group dance. Although each person's movements are slightly different, but the effect of dancing together will be better..." The Mushroom Little Elf split into three and began a detailed dance instruction.
"This is amazing! Is she really a little elf?" Sally looked at the scene in amazement and asked in surprise. She originally thought it was just a toy that Mai Ge made for Amy, but the little elf inside looked just like the real thing. She was so smart and seemed to know a lot. She could sing and dance.
"Yes, it's true. Although I sometimes feel sorry for the Mushroom Little Elf, but Daddy says we can't let her out. She doesn't belong to this world, and she'll die if we let her out." Amy nodded, looking at the little elf in the music box with some pity.
"How pitiful." Sally and Yabemia looked at the little elf with pity.
"Let's start learning! Good luck!" The little elf's cheerful voice rang out as she began to demonstrate the movements earnestly.
"I'm so touched. She's so pitiful, but she still maintains such a positive attitude towards life and teaches us to dance so earnestly. We should learn to dance properly." Yabemia said earnestly.
"Yes, we must learn the dance seriously." Sally and Amy nodded in agreement, then began to learn with earnest expressions.
"Huh? Sally joined in too. A cheongsam elf, a maid-outfit half-dragon, a mage loli… this kind of Gokuraku Jodo seems pretty good." Mai Ge glanced back and, seeing Sally had joined in learning Gokuraku Jodo, was surprised but also somewhat excited
The song of Gokuraku Jodo, accompanied by the Mushroom Little Elf's earnest and detailed explanation, echoed in the restaurant. Although the three people had only known each other for a short time, but they already seemed very harmonious. They would occasionally correct each other's movements and laugh together, looking very happy.
While cooking, Mai Ge watched his daughter learn to dance, feeling quite content. Of course, it was also quite pleasing to the eye to watch the two beauties dance.
Yabemia's dance moves were a bit stiff, while Sally, who was clearly good at singing and dancing, although she started learning later, but had a foundation and quickly learned to dance quite well. Wearing a cheongsam and dancing with swaying movements, she already had some of the charm of the Mushroom Little Elf.
An hour later, Mai Ge came out of the door carrying four servings of braised chicken on a tray, gently placed them on the table, and then went back inside to get rice.
As soon as the kitchen door opened, the enticing aroma of braised chicken wafted out. The delicious chicken and fresh mushroom fragrance immediately drew the attention of the three people who were immersed in dancing. Their eyes lit up when they saw the four clay pot bowls on the table.
Before long, the Ugly Duckling, who had been perched on the counter, stared wide-eyed at the braised chicken on the table and crawled to the edge of the counter.
"Wow! It smells so good, Daddy! Is this braised chicken?" Amy was the first to run over. Looking at the golden braised chicken in the bowl, she asked Mai Ge, who was carrying four bowls of rice out of the kitchen.
"Yes, everyone go wash your hands and eat. There's only one dish for lunch today—braised chicken." Mai Ge nodded with a smile, setting down four bowls of rice.
"Okay! I want to eat delicious rooster!" Amy nodded happily, turned off the music box, and was the first to head to the kitchen.
"It must be delicious!" Yabemia also headed towards the kitchen.
"Although I can't eat too much meat, but...these shiitake mushrooms smell so good, and they seem kind of familiar." Sally's eyes lit up, and she followed them into the kitchen to wash her hands.
...
"Yes, that's the one!" Two carriages drove towards the restaurant. Goodinia lifted the curtain and glanced at the restaurant, gritting his teeth as he spoke.