Apocalypse: I'm Bound to a Mobile Lottery Shop

Chapter 294: Chapter 294: Squeezing the Bun

Before long, the timer next to the deep-fryer went off, meaning the batch was cooked and ready to be taken out. The machine’s owner knew the gist of it, even if she’d never made it herself.

She grabbed a disposable bowl and a long pair of tongs, then placed the pieces of tofu into the bowl one by one. One bowl wasn’t enough, so she split them into two and set them in the designated spot.

Then, an invisible pair of large hands used tongs to poke a hole in each piece of tofu in mid-air. The fried tofu was fluffy—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

A spoonful of secret sauce was drizzled over them, followed by chili, pickled radish and green beans, cilantro, and other toppings. A bowl of stinky tofu was now complete.

The aroma was overwhelming. The machine’s owner brought a bowl to Lily Hart and took one for herself. The message was clear: ’Hurry up and eat. Let’s taste it first.’

Lily Hart didn’t hesitate. She grabbed a pair of chopsticks, expertly picked up a piece of tofu, and popped it into her mouth, not forgetting to hold the bowl underneath to catch any drips.

With one bite, the tofu burst in her mouth. The outside had a crispy texture, but the inside was tender and dense, with every nook and cranny soaked in sauce.

It smelled stinky, but it tasted incredibly fragrant.

A nearby customer asked, "Is that actually good?"

Someone else retorted with a laugh, "It’s Boss Hart! Have the good times made you a picky eater now?"

The first person gave an embarrassed laugh. "Well, it smells a bit stinky, you know? I thought it was some weird flavor. But watching Boss Hart eat, it looks so delicious!"

"In the Civilization Era, I think this was a specialty snack from somewhere, but I don’t remember the exact place," someone else chimed in.

At that, everyone stared intently at the two of them eating, just waiting for them to finish so sales could begin. This was the usual procedure.

After sampling the delicacy, Lily Hart tossed her bowl and chopsticks into a trash bag, completely satisfied. She gave a big thumbs-up. "Pretty damn good!"

The weather was getting colder now. A bowl of hot, slightly spicy stinky tofu was the perfect thing to have.

But the woman was smart. She chose to sell it at the night market, which meant it wasn’t for sale right now. The customers, drooling with anticipation, would have to wait until evening!

Lily Hart, however, had special privileges. She bought five bowls and left happily with her prize.

She took a photo and sent it to their group chat. [Who wants stinky tofu? Come and get it! First come, first served!]

Less than a minute after she sent it, the big foodie Roman Rowe came running over with Frost Shaw right behind him. They were incredibly fast, though it was unclear if stinky tofu was what was really on Frost’s mind.

"Well, you got here fast," Lily Hart teased, pointing at the five bowls of stinky tofu lined up on the table. "Dig in, you big gluttons."

Roman Rowe chuckled, shoved a whole piece of tofu into his mouth, and deliberately made exaggerated sounds of enjoyment, though who he was trying to make jealous was anyone’s guess.

After all, there was enough for everyone.

The two little ones, Diana Sharp and Tina Jacobs, shared a bowl.

The more they ate, the better it tasted. The tofu was dark and looked unremarkable, and it even smelled a little stinky, but the flavor was truly unforgettable.

The third to arrive was Seth. After boarding the RV, he just gave everyone a slight nod in greeting, then took a bowl of stinky tofu and sat quietly off to the side to eat.

Everyone was used to it. They knew he wasn’t a man of many words, but he was quite strong and a good cook.

The fourth was Owen Warren, which everyone found very strange. ’This guy is a zombie. Sure, he can eat human food, but... does he love it this much?’

Ignoring everyone’s surprised stares, he took the last bowl, crossed his legs, and began to eat without a care in the world.

In the short time it took Lily Hart to chat with a customer, the five bowls of stinky tofu had been completely devoured—and one of them by Owen Warren.

She leaned in and asked him, "Is it good? What does it taste like to you?"

Owen Warren’s table manners weren’t elegant; they had a kind of rugged charm. He glanced at Lily Hart and replied, "It’s alright. Not as tasty as you."

The moment he said that, everyone at the table was stunned. They all stared at him, their expressions utterly shocked, as if to ask: ’You’ve tasted her?!’

Frost Shaw, in particular, found his breathing growing heavier. He glared at Owen Warren. ’I knew this guy was up to no good!’

Roman Rowe swallowed the stinky tofu in his mouth in shock, nearly choking. He couldn’t wait to ask, "You bastard, you’ve tasted her? What kind of thing is that to say!"

Owen Warren gave him a careless glance and shook his head with a hint of regret. "Haven’t had a taste yet."

’Does he mean he still wants to, and that he’s determined to get a taste in the future?’

"You...!" Roman Rowe was getting angry. He himself didn’t even dare to truly talk back to Boss Hart, yet this guy was going on and on about eating her? ’So bold!’

Frost Shaw said nothing, but his eyes were fixed on him, observing. It was as if he would kick him out the instant he saw the slightest wrong move.

The prerequisite being... that he could actually kick him.

Owen Warren was currently a Tenth-tier Zombie. He was at the Peak of Eighth Rank.

’The gap is huge...’ Frost Shaw was once again motivated to train hard. The last time he’d felt this way was also because he’d been threatened in some way.

Lily Hart shot him a look, not taking his words to heart at all, and cursed lightly, "Get lost!"

Owen Warren obediently shut his mouth, but this was only on the surface. Every time Lily Hart got close to him, her human scent became especially rich and distinct, as if it were constantly drawing him in.

’The fact that I’ve held back this long is pretty impressive, don’t you think?’

Frost Shaw lowered his head, silently finished the stinky tofu in his bowl, threw the bowl and chopsticks into the trash bag, and returned to the convenience store alone.

Roman Rowe copied Lily Hart’s glare, resentfully finished his stinky tofu, and for some reason hated that he was a well-behaved human who couldn’t be as brazen as Owen Warren.

Owen Warren was unfazed. He chewed the food, which he didn’t find particularly delicious, his peripheral vision fixed on Lily Hart, who was now leaning on the table. The exposed skin of her neck and arms was fair and smooth.

She was wearing her hair in a bun today. It was perfectly round and bobbed on top of her head—very cute. It made you want to give it a squeeze.

Owen Warren thought it, and then, involuntarily, he did it.

He reached out and gave the bun on Lily Hart’s head two firm squeezes. He even used his whole hand, squishing it like a stress ball.

After he was done squeezing, Owen Warren froze. Lily Hart froze, too. Across from them, Roman Rowe and Seth were also stunned.

Roman Rowe was floored. ’You’ve got some nerve, brother.’

Seth was equally stunned. ’He did what I’ve always wanted to do but never dared.’

Lily Hart shot upright, swatting Owen Warren’s hand away. "What do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to start a rebellion? If you’re done eating, then get out of here! You’re so damn annoying all the time!"

Owen Warren snapped back to his senses. Hearing her sharp scolding, he felt an odd sense of happiness, and the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

"You’re smiling? Still smiling?" Lily Hart unconsciously clenched her fist and punched him hard on the arm, but it felt like hitting a wall. It was rock-solid... and it hurt her hand.

Owen Warren’s smile grew wider, his scarlet eyes almost impossible to conceal.

Lily Hart shooed him away. "Go, go, go, just get out of here! I get angry just looking at you!"

Owen Warren obediently stood up, playing along. He matched her shooing gestures as he floated away, not forgetting to leave her with a parting shot. "See you tonight, Boss Hart."

Lily Hart crossed her arms. "That Owen Warren is getting more and more out of line! Don’t you guys think so?"

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