At another location in the Food Festival venue, Catherine was still commanding her chefs at the Louis Grand Hotel booth. As the head chef of the hotel, Catherine usually didn't have to cook herself. Her job was just to supervise her chefs.

After working busily for a while, Catherine walked out of the booth and decided to take a break. She looked at the long queues lined up outside her booth, her beautiful face displaying a proud smile.

The longer the queues, the more attractive the food. The several long queues now showed just how great the appeal of the Louis Grand Hotel's food was to the customers. It also proved Catherine's skills as a chef.

But then, Catherine clenched her fists and her eyes sharpened. This was not enough, nowhere near enough. She had to become stronger, conquer more people. One day, she would make the person who taught her cooking but abandoned her realize that he had made a mistake!

Suddenly, Catherine's delicate eyebrows furrowed. She noticed that the length of the queue seemed to have shortened compared to half an hour ago. Although the queue was still very long, much longer than all the other shops envied, it had definitely become shorter.

Catherine couldn't help but frown. It was still peak time, there was no reason for it to be like this.

Just then, Catherine heard some passersby talking next to her:

"Is that fried rice really that amazing?"

"Yes, absolutely! All my friends who have tried it say it's the best fried rice they've ever had in their lives!"

"Don't order a small portion, make sure you go for the large one directly. Because if you have a small portion, you will definitely want the large one later. No exceptions!"

Catherine overheard many customers discussing fried rice.

She couldn't help but be stunned. How could someone be selling fried rice at the Food Festival?

Suddenly, Catherine remembered the owner of that cheap fast food restaurant she had met at the Fack Restaurant booth earlier in the morning. It seemed that he was here to sell fried rice.

Did he steal her business?

Catherine scoffed and shook her head. How could such a thing happen? That guy didn't even qualify to be her opponent.

Then Catherine furrowed her eyebrows again. Before the start of the Food Festival, she had spoken with the Lord of the Lighthouse City, who was close to her. He had introduced someone to taste the food at her restaurant. That person had specifically come to the Lighthouse City for the Food Festival and had a very prestigious status.

If Catherine could make this person appreciate her food, it would greatly benefit her future development.

But it had been so long, why hadn't that person come yet?

At a certain spot in the Lighthouse Square, Raiola, with her stunning violet hair and in a snow-white dress with violet patterns, sat on a chair under a big tree. She touched her swollen belly and suddenly belched in an unladylike manner.

Raiola had a worried expression on her face and muttered to herself: "Damn fried rice, I ate too much. I can't eat anything else anymore."

***

Mu Yunfan's booth remained bustling until the end of the evening.

After the first day of the Food Festival ended, Mu Yunfan and Phyllis cleaned up the booth. The Saks had already left. Saks said that the borrowed stove could be used for the next two days. Cera took some things that couldn't be left overnight here and went back to the shop.

Now, only Mu Yunfan and Phyllis were left at the booth. Since more ingredients were consumed than expected, the two of them would have to go to the market later to buy more.

Mu Yunfan was currently counting today's earnings. After finishing, Phyllis, who was beside him, eagerly asked, "How's today's earnings?"

Mu Yunfan's face showed no expression. He stood up, took a few steps forward, and shook his head, sighing, "Sigh, not enough, still not enough."

Phyllis' hopeful expression disappeared, and her excited mood hit rock bottom. Her fair hands trembled slightly, and she put on a bitter yet determined smile and said, "It's... it's alright, Yunfan. If it's not enough, then just sell my gems..."

Before Phyllis could finish, Mu Yunfan continued, "Sigh, we only made 70,000. We're still 30,000 short of our target of 100,000."

"Huh?" Phyllis froze.

Mu Yunfan saw Phyllis motionless and raised his eyebrows and winked, "Sigh, I didn't expect that we still have to work half a day tomorrow to make enough for 100,000. I didn't expect that we earned so little."Phyllis, although a bit slow to understand, quickly grasped Mu Yunfan's words. When she saw Mu Yunfan looking distressed earlier, she thought they wouldn't earn enough to make a hundred thousand this month. But according to Mu Yunfan, they could earn that amount in just half a day tomorrow!

In an instant, tears welled up in Phyllis' eyes. She rushed forward, raised her small fist, and pounded Mu Yunfan's chest like raindrops, cursing, "You bad, bad, big bad egg! I hate you so much, I hate you!"

Seeing Phyllis in such an excited state, Mu Yunfan couldn't help but apologize, "I'm sorry, just kidding."

Phyllis continued to punch Mu Yunfan with her powder fist. Her mood was like riding a roller coaster. One moment she had decided to sell the only gem her mother had left her, and the next moment she knew she didn't have to buy it anymore.

Emotions of joy and sadness intertwined, and Phyllis punched Mu Yunfan's chest with her powder fist for quite a while before stopping. Although it didn't cause any harm, the intention was clear.

Mu Yunfan looked apologetic and said, "Um, sorry, won't do it again next time."

"Hmph, I'm ignoring you!" Phyllis turned her back to Mu Yunfan, discreetly wiping away the tears in her eyes.

Seeing Phyllis in such a state, Mu Yunfan felt both heartache and guilt.

After a while, Mu Yunfan said, "Phyllis, do you want to see Grandma Ella again?"

Phyllis was taken aback and turned to look at Mu Yunfan, puzzled.

"I promise, one day I will take you back to the elf kingdom, beat up those who wrongly accused you, and let you see Grandma Ella again."

Mu Yunfan said this impulsively. Before, he hadn't said it because he had earned points thanks to Phyllis. But now, he had finally earned a significant amount of points through his own culinary skills. This made him feel that he no longer had to rely on Phyllis all the time and that he finally had his own strength.

Phyllis looked at Mu Yunfan blankly, disbelief filling her beautiful violet eyes. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Really?"

A month ago, she had also seen a glimmer of hope when a group of elf soldiers found her and said they would take her back. But that hope was shattered in an instant. The feeling of thinking one had seen the light only to be plunged into despair was unbearable.

Therefore, Phyllis couldn't believe Mu Yunfan's words. She was afraid he was just deceiving her.

Mu Yunfan's face softened into a gentle smile as he nodded.

"Don't worry, I will make it happen."

In the next moment, Phyllis burst into tears. She ran over and threw herself into Mu Yunfan's arms, crying uncontrollably.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You've been so, so good to me."

Mu Yunfan gently embraced Phyllis's trembling shoulders, his face filled with a guilty smile.

Honestly, ever since Phyllis started living with him, she had been busy running the store while he hadn't done much for her. But now, with just a few words, he received such immense gratitude from her.

After a while, Phyllis's crying finally stopped, but weariness was written all over her face. It was only to be expected since she had been busy all day and had cried so much just now.

Mu Yunfan said, "I'll go to the market myself next. You go back to the store and rest."

Phyllis shook her head and firmly said, "I want to go with you."

Mu Yunfan looked at Phyllis's clear eyes and could only say, "Alright, let's finish shopping quickly and go back to rest."

Phyllis smiled and nodded. "Okay."

So the two of them pushed the cart and headed to the market. Once they arrived, Mu Yunfan began selecting ingredients as usual, and Phyllis helped out on the side.

Even though Mu Yunfan tried to speed up, it still took them over an hour to finish selecting everything. By the end, Phyllis couldn't hide her exhaustion anymore, no matter what she tried.Mu Yunfan asked, "Are you sleepy?"

Phyllis stubbornly kept her eyes open and said, "Not sleepy."

During their time together, Mu Yunfan had learned that although Phyllis had a gentle personality, she could also be stubborn at times. So he didn't press further and instead organized the goods on the cart, making a large empty space.

As Phyllis wondered what Mu Yunfan was going to put in the large space, she suddenly saw him approaching with a smile on his face. Without warning, he reached out and carried her horizontally in his arms.

Phyllis exclaimed, her cheeks turning red. "Yunfan, what are you doing?"

Without saying a word, Mu Yunfan walked with Phyllis to the front of the cart and placed her on the large empty space he had cleared earlier. He smiled and said, "Rest on here."

Phyllis quickly argued, "I'm not tired, I don't need to rest."

She tried to get up.

Just then, a stall owner not far away laughed loudly, "Lady Elf, your husband is showing concern for you! Just go along with his good intentions!"

Phyllis blushed as red as an apple.

Mu Yunfan also felt a bit embarrassed by the stall owner's comment and said, "Rest on the cart. If you fall asleep while walking, what will happen?"

Phyllis sat with her knees hugged on the cart, blushing and staying silent, nodding her head.

Mu Yunfan smiled, bid farewell to the stall owner, and continued pulling the cart towards the store.

The street was quiet on this night, with only the sound of the wheels turning. Mu Yunfan pulled the cart in front, while Phyllis sat on it, as if only the two of them existed in the world.

Phyllis looked at Mu Yunfan and could only see his broad back. Phyllis stared blankly, feeling a warm and sweet sensation welling up in her heart, causing her to smile without realizing it.

As drowsiness gradually took over, Phyllis lay down on the cart and fell asleep.

Mu Yunfan, who was pulling the cart, maintained a steady pace, carefully avoiding any bumps on the ground to ensure that the cart wouldn't jolt a bit.