Chapter 162: Closing Shop! The Feast Ends

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Closing Shop! The Feast Ends

The news that Nan Family’s Small Restaurant would be closing in two days spread like wildfire.

Some customers had gotten the news early and were already mentally prepared.

For others, who were just hearing it now, the news hit like a bolt from the blue.

Unfortunately, no matter how reluctant they were, they had to accept reality—

And so, for the diners, these last two days were like a festival!

Countless people rushed over from far and wide, waiting for hours just for a taste of the famous cured pork and bamboo soup;

The long line outside the restaurant snaked nearly to the street corner; amidst the sea of people, the police had to come out to maintain order;

There weren’t enough tables inside, so nearby businesses contributed their own tables and chairs, filling every last nook and cranny where a person could sit;

Diners gave up on waiting for staff, running a nearly self-service operation from getting their food to clearing their tables. When they left, their plates were so clean they hardly needed washing, and even the tables were wiped spotless;

...

Someone passing by saw the spectacle and, not knowing what was going on, came closer to ask:

"Are they giving something away for free?"

The person who was asked shook their head solemnly:

"No, this is a small restaurant."

Their solemn expression suggested that this small restaurant was a holy land in the hearts of foodies!

...

A reality show camera was set up outside the restaurant.

At first, someone had the creative idea to run up to the camera and record a video message for Boss Nan.

This lovely customer earnestly thanked Boss Nan, reminding her to notify the entire internet the next time she opened a restaurant, promising they would be waiting.

Soon, other customers started following suit, turning the camera into a de facto check-in spot!

"It’s our good fortune to be able to eat such delicious Food!"

"I’m sorry I was biased against you at the start, but now I truly love your cooking!"

"I hope I can eat your cooking again someday."

"Boss Nan, stay healthy and happy!"

"..."

Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought it was some kind of fan meet-and-greet!

...

#NanFamily’sSmallRestaurantClosing# hit number one on the trending charts of all major platforms, and its popularity didn’t fade for a long time.

Major media outlets, Official Accounts, and more all scrambled to write articles about it, trying to ride the wave of popularity.

Countless netizens who couldn’t be there in person were no less enthusiastic in their online discussions!

Some were shocked, some excited, some wistful, and some even shed tears—

[I’ve been following since Nan Zhi’s first livestream. From being cursed by thousands to being adored by countless people now, I have very complicated feelings.]

[Who would have thought that the unpopular kid-focused reality show would turn out like this?]

[The bustling scene at Nan Family’s Small Restaurant is a perfect reenactment of her night market fried rice stall! First a Night Market King, now a Small Restaurant God! What’s next?]

[They probably can’t film together for the next phase, right? I really don’t want the four of them to separate, and the little ones too. It’ll be so boring for them without their friends around all day!]

[Why does everyone sound like the show is over? They’ve only filmed two phases! Am I the only one who’s more excited to see what Nan Zhi will do next?]

[Me too! Me too!]

...

Among the onlookers of this lively scene was Zhong Yu.

Three days after agreeing to film the documentary, she had appeared at Nan Family’s Small Restaurant and had been showing up every day since.

However, as an excellent documentarian, she never interfered with the lives she filmed.

So, throughout the entire filming process, she kept a low profile.

She and the few staff members with her moved through the noisy din of Nan Family’s Small Restaurant, and they were often mistaken for members of the reality show’s crew.

She never explained, simply recording every little detail unfolding before her eyes.

In her lens, Food became the bond between people.

This connection, filled with the warmth and bustle of life, was something irreplaceable in this world.

’Perhaps I’ve found the original purpose of my documentary.’

Zhong Yu thought.

...

But this grand festival eventually came to an end.

Late on the night Nan Family’s Small Restaurant closed, the show’s official social media account posted a message—

[The feast is over. See you next time.]

-

For the diners, Nan Family’s Small Restaurant was over.

But for Nan Zhi and the others, there was still the final day of settlement.

However, the settlement day wouldn’t be livestreamed. The results would only be revealed in the edited version later, as a way to attract viewers to watch it on TV or log into the streaming platforms.

With no livestream, filming was much more relaxed for the guests.

Nan Zhi and Nan Yi still woke up in the attic of the small restaurant.

When Nan Zhi got up, she looked around the room. A sense of melancholy washed over her at the thought that she wouldn’t see this sight when she opened her eyes tomorrow.

"Mommy..."

Beside her, Nan Yi turned over, murmuring in his sleep, his brow tightly furrowed.

Nan Zhi’s worried gaze fell upon him, and she gently patted his shoulder.

"Yiyi?"

Nan Yi’s eyes snapped open.

The depths of his dark eyes were filled with a piercing coldness, reminding Nan Zhi of the wary, icy gaze of the little wolf pup she’d seen when she first returned.

Nan Zhi’s brow furrowed slightly.

"Did you have another nightmare?"

The moment he saw his mother, Nan Yi transformed back into that warm, sweet little boy.

He grinned, revealing his small white teeth.

Then he rolled over and sat up.

"I did have a dream."

His tone was deliberately casual.

But Nan Zhi felt this was no small matter, and her brow furrowed deeper.

"Why are you dreaming every single day? Are you not feeling well? Should we go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow?"

No child likes to hear the word "hospital."

At the thought of the smell of disinfectant and sharp needles, Nan Yi’s small body couldn’t help but shudder.

"No! We don’t have to!"

He raised his voice, scrambled out of bed, and bolted straight for the bathroom.

"I’m going to wash up!"

A clean getaway from the topic of the hospital!

Nan Zhi found it a little funny.

But the worry in her heart didn’t lessen one bit.

’What exactly is the problem?’

’Nothing in our lives has gone wrong or changed, so why is Nan Yi having such frequent nightmares?’

Nan Zhi couldn’t shake the feeling that a pair of cold eyes was secretly watching her and her son’s lives, that a pervasive malice was silently creeping in.

’Who... could it be?’

"Mom?"

Nan Yi had already finished washing up and come out.

He had dawdled in the bathroom for a while, and when he emerged, he saw Nan Zhi was still in the same position, head bowed in thought.

Thinking she was unhappy, he quickly sidled up and rested his head on her lap like a little puppy.

"Are you worried about me, Mommy?"

"Yes."

Nan Zhi wrapped her arms around him, wishing she could shield him with her own body and protect him from all danger.

"I just feel like something isn’t right. Yiyi, what have you been dreaming about?"

Nan Yi didn’t even have time to feel shy or happy before her words made him pause.

He tried his best to recall, realizing it was the same things over and over again, and said:

"It’s pretty much the same as the first day."

In that instant, a bolt of lightning struck Nan Zhi.

Her thoughts rippled out like concentric waves in a lake, growing more and more turbulent!

’Why would he keep dreaming about the Tactician who disappeared?’

’Could it be...’

’That person is still in this world?’