The NO.1 Food Stall in the Wasteland novel Chapter 245

Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Have I Seen You Before?

Shen Lu smiled but didn’t say anything. She was confident in her skills, but not so arrogant as to think she could outshine everyone.

Bai Wanwan probably only said that because she was looking at things through the filter of friendship.

"The Kitchen King Competition is starting soon. Are you going to enter?" Bai Lei suddenly asked. "You should, right? Pretty much every restaurant in the Imperial City, big or small, participates."

"I won’t," Shen Lu said. She wasn’t interested in competitions. Right now, she just wanted to keep a low profile, make money, and complete her quests to max out her shop’s defense as soon as possible.

It was best for her to avoid anything that would draw too much attention.

"Huh? Why not?" Bai Lei had been all ready to go and cheer for Shen Lu, hoping he could maybe snag some free food and drinks in the process, but now she wasn’t even entering.

Bai Wanwan said, "If Little Deer doesn’t want to go, she doesn’t have to. Why do you need a reason?"

"I’m too busy to get away," Shen Lu offered as an explanation.

Just as Bai Wanwan was about to speak, a maid knocked on the door to announce that a Miss Li had arrived.

"Sister Qin is here?" Bai Wanwan was pleasantly surprised and quickly stood up. "I’ll be right down."

Bai Wanwan rushed into the walk-in closet, then turned and pulled Shen Lu in with her. "Hurry, let’s change and go down."

Shen Lu didn’t want to budge. "She’s your guest. I don’t need to go down, do I?"

"Don’t dawdle. Come on."

Since Bai Wanwan insisted, Shen Lu had to oblige. The two changed their clothes, quickly tidied their hair, and went downstairs with a similarly changed Bai Lei to meet the guest.

The moment she saw the woman sitting poised on the sofa, Shen Lu froze.

"Sister Qin! I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to make it," Bai Wanwan said, warmly taking her hand.

Li Qin smiled. "Today is your eighteenth birthday. Of course I had to come and wish you a happy birthday in person."

She turned her head and noticed Shen Lu, who was a couple of steps behind.

"You... Have we met before?"

Bai Wanwan, who had been about to make the introduction, let out a small "Oh?" "This is my friend, Shen Lu. Do you know her, Sister Qin?"

Shen Lu stepped forward. "Oh, Researcher Li. I visited the institute a while ago."

"It’s you!" Li Qin remembered. "I can’t believe you’re friends with Wanwan."

Shen Lu smiled and nodded. Bai Wanwan, curious, asked how they knew each other, and Li Qin gave a brief explanation.

"I’ve never even been inside the institute!" Bai Wanwan pouted.

"It’s not like it’s a nice place to visit," Li Qin said.

"But I’m curious," Bai Wanwan said.

The importance of the research institute to the Imperial Capital Survival Base could not be overstated. It was no exaggeration to say that every aspect of life for everyone in the Imperial City—their food, drink, shelter, and transport—was inextricably linked to the institute.

Li Qin had only taken a two-hour leave. Factoring in travel time, she couldn’t stay long at the Bai Family’s home. It was a rare trip out for her, and she still needed to visit her parents.

Shen Lu wasn’t about to waste this opportunity. She proactively asked Li Qin if they could exchange contact information.

Li Qin didn’t agree right away, only offering a faint smile.

Shen Lu wasn’t surprised. They’d only met once before, so it was perfectly normal for Li Qin to be unwilling to exchange contact information.

"Well, you see, I happened to plant a pot of scallions a while ago." Shen Lu pulled up a picture on her Light Brain, sharing it for everyone to see. "They’ve sprouted, but they’re growing very slowly. I’ve never grown anything like this before, so I’m worried something might go wrong. I was hoping to get Researcher Li’s contact information so I could ask for advice if that happens."

Shen Lu had casually taken the picture a couple of days ago while relaxing in her courtyard in the afternoon sun. Under the warm light, a few thin, green shoots in the flowerpot looked especially frail against the vast, yellow-brown expanse of soil.

A Light Brain’s camera automatically records the time and location of a photo. Li Qin glanced at the metadata: it was a recent picture, and the location was listed as Xiao Jin Street·Little Deer Cuisine.

"You grew these?" Li Qin asked.

"I did."

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