A Stay-at-home Dad’s Restaurant In An Alternate World

Amy thought for a moment. “I want to wear my hair in two braids and wear that purple dress with flowers on the chest and the white shoes. Will I look like Mushroom Fairy?” she asked, looking at Mag.

Mag nodded with a smile. “Yes. You’ll be more adorable than Mushroom Fairy. You’ll be a fairy yourself.” He got out of bed, found Amy’s little dress, and helped her put it on. Then he did her hair into two pigtails skillfully. After days of practicing, he had got really dexterous at handling her hair.

Amy still liked the pigtails and showed no intention of changing her hairstyle, so Mag had no chance to show his hairdressing skills.

Amy put on her white shoes and spun in a circle. “Father, do I look beautiful?” she asked as she looked at Mag.

Mag’s eyes lit up. “Yes. You’re such a pretty little fairy,” he answered, nodding.She’s even prettier than the elf in the music box.

“Meow…” Ugly Duckling walked over to Amy. It rubbed its little head against her calf. It was a little upset because no one had paid any attention to its cries.

“Ugly Duckling, the dress would be wasted on you. You won’t look any better in it.” She sighed, stooping down to pick the kitten up.

“Meow, meow…” Ugly Duckling lifted its paws up and widened its eyes as it cried out, trying to prove its cuteness.

“You look even uglier now.” Amy forced its head to one side in disgust.

“Meow…” The kitten looked away, its eyes watery.

Mag shook his head, smiling. Another master would have grown very fond of such a cute orange cat, but not Amy. She is teasing it every day and thinking of it as her future roast goose.

Mag washed up, brushed his teeth, and went downstairs. Several customers were leaning on his window, looking inside. Their faces lit up when they saw Mag. Then came the sound of knocking.

Mag frowned. “System, do you have any window shades?” He felt he had to cover his window during closed hours. Their watching made him uncomfortable.

“You don’t have the right to make me change the layout of the restaurant right now,” the system said solemnly. “You’ll have to upgrade the restaurant to lv2 first. Then I’ll change it for you for free to a certain degree.”

“Measure the size of the floor-to-ceiling window for me please,” Mag said calmly.

“It’s 6.5 meters long and 3.6 meters tall,” answered the system quickly.

Mag nodded. “Then I’d like a right size window shade and tools to hang it up.”

“I’ll say it again: you don’t have the right to make me change the layout of the restaurant for you right now,” it said seriously.

“When did I ask you to change the restaurant for me? I just want to buy it. Don’t be so overzealous in this kind of stuff. Aren’t you a respectable food system?” Mag said sarcastically, his mouth twisting.

“…” An ellipsis went across Mag’s head. Then, it said solemnly, “I’m a respectable system. I don’t have any window shades.”

“Five gold coins?” Mag asked in a calm voice.

“I’m a respectable system,” the system repeated.

Mag raised an eyebrow. “Six gold coins. If you don’t want to sell, I’ll buy a bamboo curtain on the street. It’s as good as any.” His voice was still calm.

The system fell silent, seeming to be agonizing over it. After a while, it asked tentatively, “A little more?”

“No way.” Mag curled his upper lip. And it calls itself a respectable system.

“Pay me four more gold coins and I’ll give you a window shade that best matches the restaurant. It’s totally automatic. It will block all the unwanted prying eyes and become hidden when you pull it up. A set of tools will come free with the window shade to help you punch holes accurately. It’s very easy to install. I’m sure you’ll like it.” The system made an enticing offer.

Mag shook his head in disappointment. “No thanks. It’s too heavy. I can’t even lift it up, to say nothing of installing it. I guess I’ll go find a better seller who would deliver and install it for me.”

The system fell silent again.

Amy took a look at the people who were leaning on the window and knocking at their door, and didn’t understand. “Dad, there are customers waiting outside. Isn’t today our rest day?” she asked as she looked up at Mag.

“Yes, it is. We don’t open today, but they still want to eat here,” said Mag, smiling. “Sit, I’ll bring you a glass of water, and then make breakfast for us.” He turned to walk towards the kitchen.

It’s very clear on the signboard. I’ll have to explain it to the customers when we leave. They may not be happy to hear it, though.

Mag didn’t rush to push the silent system. It was impossible for him to install such a big window shade all by himself; however, he would have to explain away the automatic design if he asked for help. It was best if the system would install it for him.

Amy turned to take a look at her father. “Why won’t they let Father rest one day? Besides, we are to see Teacher Luna today,” she muttered to herself. Then she clenched her little fist and walked to the door with the kitten in her arms.

Outside their door still stood a dozen customers. Some of them hadn’t heard Mag’s explanation yesterday, and others had come here on the off chance that Mag might open because of so many customers coming.

Yet it was already past the opening time, and the door was still closed. They saw the rest day countdown on the screen. Some customers left after waiting for a long while; after all, they wouldn’t let a breakfast mess up all their arrangements for the day.

Those who had come a long way to arrive here refused to leave without their food, so over 10 people remained. They decided to say something flattering—or menacing, if necessary—to make Mag at least cook one roujiamo for them each.

Sargeras was among the crowd. He had been very lucky to find a more difficult quest yesterday. He had killed three flamingos and had been rewarded with 80 gold coins. He wanted to use some of the money to buy breakfast because he didn’t come across a quest like that every day; besides, he had been lucky to finish his quest in such a short time. He had to change his plan of eating 10 roujiamos every meal to eating five.

He had heard Mag’s explanation yesterday, but he wanted to come here to try his luck before going to the guild to find a quest. He was standing at the back of the crowd and didn’t hurry to walk to the door.

When they heard Mag’s footsteps coming downstairs, they all looked to the door with great expectations. They were hoping their enthusiasm would change his mind.

“Ding!”

The door opened slowly. They looked down and saw Amy’s long face and the kitten, disappointed.

“We don’t open today. Father and I are going to visit Teacher Luna. If you want to eat the delicious rainbow fried rice and roujiamo, come back tomorrow.” Then Amy’s face darkened as she lifted her hand. “And if you knock again, I’ll set you on fire! I’m very bad-tempered!!!”