Zhao Yuan felt anxious watching the timer run out, wondering what kind of punishment she would face.
As soon as the timer hit zero, a beep sounded before the screen changed and spoke up in a deep mechanical voice.
"Zhao Yuan, a native of Ambirie who was found to have violated the access and control law by visiting and living in a restricted world, is hereby sentenced to becoming a shelter custodian in Baitian (an endangered world). Please remain seated as you are transported to the area of punishment."
Her chair, which had seemed to be bolted down to the ground, suddenly moved before she felt the world around her shift as soon as the mechanical voice finished talking. Holding on tightly to the armrests, she tightly closed her eyes, hoping to avoid feeling nauseous.
"Welcome to the first street shop. The custodian is required to cook and serve requested dishes," the voice spoke again as soon as the world stopped spinning.
Staring up at the screen, Zhao Yuan kept a straight face while listening to the instructions.
"For every serving time, the custodian is required to achieve the objectives given. Objectives may include:
Serving a certain number of dishes or guests.
Fulfilling certain requirements for the serving time.
Collecting a certain amount of money.
Failure to fulfill objectives will cause the custodian to face additional punishment or a decrease in Remorse Points."
Hearing the system speak about objectives, Zhao Yuan nodded along, wondering where the guests would come from.
The system did not give her more time to think before it beeped again, drawing her out of her thoughts.
"To begin the designated serving times, custodians please click on the screen on the counter."
Standing up, she quickly walked to the counter and saw a small screen that had not been there before, then tapped on it.
The tablet-shaped screen was a replica of the big screen and now showed her a 'Start' icon, prompting her to tap on it, which caused it to glow and shake. Tapping on it seemed to activate something, because she felt the room suddenly shift: the previously messy chairs and tables organized themselves, and the counter and kitchen remodeled themselves.
Watching the entire spectacle with wide eyes, Zhao Yuan couldn't help but be in awe of the scene in front of her. While she was busy gaping at the sight, her shirt and skirt floated up and glowed before transforming into a uniform. Looking down at the light pink and white waitress uniform, Zhao Yuan was impressed right when the bell above the door rang.
The sound seemed to be magical, piercing through her thoughts and making her look up at the shabbily dressed man walking in. His figure seemed tired and hesitant as he slowly walked toward the counter. Above his head, a square-shaped icon appeared, making her squint as she stared at the image of a sandwich.
Before he could even reach the counter, a familiar mechanical voice spoke again.
"To prepare a sandwich, first open this chute and take out slices of bread."
Hearing the system's mechanical voice within her head, Zhao Yuan was startled before she opened the glowing chute and took out slices of bread.
"Open this chute to take out the lettuce—"
And so, when the man finally stopped before the counter, his sandwich was ready and handed to him, making him freeze. Staring at the man's wary figure, Zhao Yuan felt confused and pushed the plate closer to him, hoping he would take it.
Wei Ting had been struggling to find anything to eat, so when he had seen the sign saying he would get food here, he had come, albeit skeptical. But now someone was actually handing him a freshly made sandwich. Staring up at the clean and neatly dressed woman before him, he wanted to thank her when the doorbell rang again. Looking back at the person walking in, he quickly took the plate away and walked to one of the tables.
The second guest was another man; his eyes looked at her coldly as he sauntered in confidently. Above his head was an icon, this time for a glass of juice. Just like before, the system guided her while she made him a glass of juice before handing it over to him when he got to the counter. Unlike the shabbily dressed Wei Ting, he was cleaner and glared into her eyes before he took his glass of juice and walked to Wei Ting's side.
The sandwich was delicious, causing Wei Ting to quickly devour it, hoping to finish eating before the man got to his table. Unfortunately, he was too slow and still had a bite left when Fu Zhe sat before him with a glass of juice. Wei Ting was anxious as he tried to avoid the cold, hard gaze being lavished on him when the bell rang once again before a familiar woman walked in.
Seeing her, Wei Ting could not think anymore before shoving the remaining sandwich into his mouth and running out. Thank the heavens they could not talk within the restaurant.
In the kitchen, Zhao Yuan did not notice all this because she was busy making her new female guest a glass of juice before handing it to her. This time, the guest seemed to be upset and glared at her scornfully before angrily grabbing her glass of juice and walking to the table Fu Zhe was sitting at.
As they sat there, slowly sipping their juice while silently communicating with their eyes, Zhao Yuan managed to serve two more people before the system told her she could close the restaurant.
Looking out at the man and woman still sipping their juice, she scoffed before tapping on the icon to close the restaurant.
Fu Zhe, who had been slowly sipping his juice, suddenly felt a strong force strike his head, with one word ringing: "Get out!"
His ears felt as if they would burst while he struggled up and held onto a staggering Shi Wan before they both fled from the restaurant.
Back in the kitchen, a humming Zhao Yuan was cluelessly cleaning up happily.
"Brother Zhe, what was that?" Shi Wan asked as soon as they made it out and felt the ringing in their ears stop.
"I don't know," he answered nonchalantly.
Fu Zhe was contemplative, staring back at the closed restaurant door. Something was going on with that woman, he concluded before turning away. He had to report her. His tall, muscular figure looked determined as he walked away.
Watching them leave, Wei Ting quietly stepped out from the shadows with a plan brewing in his mind.