My Restaurant's Guests are All Abnormal

Chapter 424: Chapter 284: Smithing still requires... leaning back?

Chen Ze sat in the kitchen, propping his chin up in his hands, idly daydreaming, feeling as though he might turn into a mushroom during this time.

Growing quietly in this place and then dying, after all, it was really too boring.

Chen Ze had gone to the basement several times to check on his paper, the results of which still couldn’t be determined, but it didn’t look appealing at all.

Indeed, the ancient paper Chen Ze made wasn’t very pretty or neat; it belonged to the type you’d worry about being too rough even to wipe your butt with.

"Tsk, tsk, would chicken wrapped in this paper even taste good? Why do I feel like it’s a trap?" Chen Ze was somewhat worried, but thinking it was his first attempt, he didn’t care too much. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

After all, where were there lost recipes that were perfect on the first try? If he’d succeeded on his first attempt, Chen Ze would have doubted whether he was indeed the so-called chosen one.

"What is this place? You open pretty early." The door was pushed open, the sound of wind chimes rang, bringing in a mature voice.

"Welcome to Dream Restaurant, dear customer~" Betty immediately went to greet them. Having customers now was a good thing; otherwise, Betty felt she might fall asleep. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Chen Ze didn’t look over but instead slapped his face to wake himself up a bit, as a mistake in cooking later would not be good.

"How strange, I always thought I was the only one up at four in the morning in Los Angeles. I didn’t expect you to be open. Well then, get me something to eat," the steady voice said with a hint of surprise, and Chen Ze froze for a moment upon hearing the words.

Four in the morning in Los Angeles? Which programmer is this miserable to be working overtime again?

"Right, I don’t want anything too spicy... Sorry, give me a Wellington steak, and a salad as well," the man’s voice was a bit downcast but he quickly adjusted his mood.

Chen Ze was a bit curious, as the man’s mere speech gave off an aura of someone with a story. Thus, Chen Ze wanted to see who exactly was such a unique customer.

Chen Ze peeked out to take a look and then saw a black male sitting on a chair, with Betty serving him a glass of lemon water.

Chen Ze stared at the man’s face and was stunned.

In January of that year, a lot had happened. The children of Huaxia collectively became homebodies, quite a few gained weight, quite a few became pregnant.

But among those days, for some basketball enthusiasts, it was a thunderbolt from a clear sky.

Chen Ze still remembered that day, refreshing the news, when suddenly he saw a headline with a black and white photo of Kobe Bryant in his No. 24 jersey.

But there was a string of numbers above it, 1978-2020.

Chen Ze was taken aback. Although he was not a basketball fan, more accurately a pseudo-fan, he had heard of Kobe Bryant’s name from his roommate.

He was a basketball star, humorously referred to as the leader of the ’brick throwers’ club, and ’four shots for three bricks’ was also a joke often mentioned.

Yet, in January 2020, the retired basketball star left forever in a helicopter.

Instantly, the news was filled with messages about Kobe Bryant’s death. Fans mourned, and some said Kobe hadn’t really gone; he had just gone to heaven to practice basketball at four in the morning.

Chen Ze rubbed his eyes, finding it hard to believe. The man in front of him was indeed the Kobe.

"You recognize me?" Kobe looked at Chen Ze. Indeed, he was often recognized, even though he had retired.

"Hmm, I do know, please wait a moment, guest, I’ll go make your steak right now," Chen Ze nodded, then walked into the kitchen.

The Wellington steak, a name that might remind people of the Filet Mignon and other steaks, was in fact more similar to Huaxia’s Puff Pastry Meat, in terms of preparation.

The Wellington steak needed to be wrapped in puff pastry, so a well-prepared Wellington steak looked like an oversized Puff Pastry Meat, although this description wasn’t quite correct, but that was the general idea.

The preparation of the salad was even simpler, so before long Chen Ze had finished a Wellington steak and a salad, then asked Betty to serve it.

Chen Ze silently stood in the kitchen, watching Kobe Bryant, knowing he could never meet Kobe again in his world, but perhaps he could change the destiny of another world.

Chen Ze was conflicted for a long time, he really wanted to take a photo, but felt that sneaking a photo wasn’t right, so he refrained.

Kobe ate slowly, finding the restaurant a bit strange. After all, he only wanted to revisit the path he took at four in the morning after his retirement, but he hadn’t expected to see this wooden door on one of those roads.

"But it tastes really good," Kobe said as he ate another piece of steak, very satisfied with the flavor and the quality of the meat.

"Phew—waiter, check please, how many US dollars?" Kobe put down his knife and fork, his face full of pleasure.

Being able to enjoy such wonderful food early in the morning, Kobe felt he should have discovered this restaurant sooner.

"Sir, if possible, could you take a photo with me?" Chen Ze smiled and came out.

"A photo? Sure, but it can’t be used for commercial purposes," Kobe agreed readily.

Then, Chen Ze took a photo with Kobe, who also left a signed shirt at the restaurant.

"Well, I’ll be leaving," Kobe waved and prepared to leave.

"Mr. Kobe," Chen Ze stopped Kobe.

"Hmm?" Kobe turned around.

"Mr. Kobe, although I don’t know what time it is in your world, please be careful—helicopters are very dangerous means of transportation. Please do not ride in a helicopter in 2020," Chen Ze looked very seriously at Kobe.

"Ha? Thanks for your advice," Kobe clearly didn’t take it to heart.

"Mr. Kobe, after you go out, please look back. This isn’t a dream or an illusion. If you ride in a helicopter in 2020, something will happen," Chen Ze urged again.

This time Kobe didn’t respond and walked away directly, visibly upset.

However, Chen Ze didn’t mind; he knew Kobe would believe him if he just looked back.

Kobe left, feeling quite uncomfortable as being cursed by someone was never pleasant.

"I won’t come to this place again," Kobe turned back, then to his astonishment found that the wooden door had gradually dissipated into the air, leaving only a wall in its place.

Kobe couldn’t help but touch it; it indeed was a wall, and there was no strange TV crew nearby.

"Is this... real?" Kobe fell into deep thought, realizing it was only the year 2018.