Chapter 429: Mapo Tofu

On Xianzhou, even while conducting covert investigation, Bai Hang knew there was support from Heimu Lady behind the scenes, Xi Tong as backup, and companions to consult.

Bai Hang forced themselves to stay calm.

Panic can't solve the problem.

Bai Hang stood up and began to carefully explore the house.

Most rooms were indeed empty, containing only the most basic furniture, coated with a thin layer of dust, as if no one had lived there for a long time.

Only the bedroom and the adjoining small study showed signs of habitation.

On the study desk were piles of books and stationery.

Bai Hang walked over and picked up the topmost book.

The cover bore unfamiliar characters, yet for some reason Bai Hang could read the title—"Mathematics I".

Opening it, the pages were filled with various formulas and diagrams.

Bai Hang then took another, "Fundamentals of English Communication", and also "Modern Mandarin".

"Mathematics? English? Language?"

Bai Hang muttered to themselves, a bewildered expression on their face, "What are these? Something I'm used to studying?"

Bai Hang rummaged through the desk drawer and found some documents.

One of them was a printed admission notice and identity information.

【Name: Bai Hang】

【Nationality: Shenzhou (exchange student)】

【School: Suiqun Yuan Academy (high school division)】

【Address: Winterwood City, Deep Mountain Town 2-chome XX-banchi】

【Residence status: Cultural Exchange (one-year term)】

Bai Hang held the papers, standing dumb as a wooden chicken.

She recognized every word on them, but the combined meaning made her head spin.

She, Bai Hang, had now become an ordinary exchange student from Shenzhou attending high school in a place called Winterwood City…

What about her fox ears and tail?

She instinctively brushed the top of her head and the area behind her; it was smooth, nothing there.

Her bodily sensations were entirely different, much lighter, the distinctive inner power had vanished without a trace; now her body was a completely feminine teenage form.

"This… this feels like a plot straight out of a story…"

Bai Hang couldn't help but place a hand on their forehead and sigh, feeling the absurdity outweighing the initial panic, "How could this happen to me?"

And the most critical thing was that Bai Hang could no longer contact Heimu Lady!

The sole support seemed to have been completely severed.

What should Bai Hang do?

At that moment, a loud "Gurururu" sound came from Bai Hang's abdomen.

Bai Hang froze for a moment, then realized— they were hungry.

And extremely hungry.

This body seemed to have gone a long time without proper food; the weakness stemmed not only from the loss of power but also from basic physiological needs.

She searched the kitchen and refrigerator, finding only a few packets of instant noodles with unreadable characters, and some items that looked like heating devices.

There was no convenient cooking machine like the one on Xianzhou.

"Looks like… I have to go out to find food," Bai Hang sighed, resigning themselves as they returned to the bedroom.

The wardrobe held several outfits matching the style of this country's high school girls: sailor uniform, shirt-and-plaid skirt, and some simple everyday clothes.

She chose the light‑colored dress and jacket that looked the best, changed into them, and also found a backpack stamped with "Suiqun Yuan Academy" in the desk drawer; inside were some of this world's currency—several banknotes bearing portrait heads and numbers, and some metal coins.

Clutching the unfamiliar money, Bai Hang left the house that had been "assigned" to them with mixed feelings.

The street remained quiet, occasional boxy cars passed by, their sounds dull.

There were few pedestrians, their attire unlike any civilization Bai Hang recognized, exuding a sense of…

simplicity.

The air wasn't particularly fresh.

She wandered aimlessly, observing everything around, trying to find a clue within this unfamiliar scenery.

No Star God, no destiny…

Here the calm was almost oppressive.

After walking for a while, the hunger grew stronger.

She began to pay attention to the shops along the road.

Finally, at a street corner, she saw a small shop.

The sign read "Chinese Cuisine Mapo Tofu Specialty Shop" in red, quite eye‑catching.

Spicy aromas drifted from the shop.

"Mapo Tofu?" Bai Hang tilted their head.

The name… seemed familiar, as if they'd seen a similar dish name on some dining streets of Xianzhou?

A protest from the stomach left Bai Hang no time for contemplation.

She pushed open the shop's glass door.

"Ding—" the wind chime on the door rang with a crisp sound.

Inside, the shop was small, furnished with a few simple wooden tables and chairs, clean but sparsely decorated.

It wasn't mealtime, so there were no other customers inside.

Behind the counter stands a man wearing a white chef's apron.

His black short hair is meticulously combed, his face is proper but expressionless, a pair of dark eyes lack luster, and he watches intently the glass cup he is wiping in his hand, his movements as precise as a machine.

He is tall and broad‑shouldered, and even with the apron on, the solid muscle contours beneath the clothing are evident.

He is the owner and head chef of this shop, Yan Feng Qili.

Naturally, Bai Hang doesn't recognize him; she only feels that this manager…

His demeanor is a bit unusual, not like an ordinary chef, more like… a well‑trained soldier.

"Welcome."

Yan Feng Qili, hearing the bell, lifts his head and says in a steady yet unenthusiastic tone, his gaze falling on Bai Hang, showing no fluctuation.

Bai Hang walks to an empty table and sits, awkwardly flipping through the simple laminated menu on the table.

It mainly lists various variations of mapo tofu: mapo tofu rice, mapo tofu ramen, mapo tofu set meal…

"Um… manager, do you have any recommendations?"

Bai Hang has no clue, asks, her voice sounding a bit thin from hunger.

Yan Feng Qili puts down the cup, walks over, still with that expressionless look: "Our specialty is mapo tofu. Mapo tofu ramen is spicy and stimulating, and can effectively replenish stamina."

His recommendation sounds like stating an objective fact rather than a sales pitch.

"Spicy and stimulating?"

Bai Hang thinks, she does need to replenish stamina now, a bit of spice might whet her appetite.

Xianzhou also has many spicy dishes, and she considers herself able to handle some heat.

"Then… I'll have a serving of mapo tofu ramen," she decides.

"Alright. Please wait a moment," Yan Feng Qili nods slightly, turns and walks back to the back kitchen.

The waiting time is not long.

Soon, Yan Feng Qili returns carrying a massive sea‑sized bowl, places it steadily before Bai Hang.

"Please help yourself."

Bai Hang says thank you, lowers her head to look at her lunch.

The first thing that catches her eye is a swath of deep red that looks like boiling volcanic lava.

A large amount of red chili oil, crushed chilies, peppercorn granules, and some dark chili sauce are mixed together, covering the whole bowl of noodles, with only a hint of yellow noodles and white tofu visible at the edges.

An overwhelmingly domineering spicy aroma, like a tangible heat wave, rushes toward her, striking straight at her nostrils!

Bai Hang is stunned for a moment by the dual visual and olfactory assault.

"Is… is this a bit… too red?"

She carefully lifts her eyes to look at Yan Feng Qili behind the counter.

The manager has returned to his spot, continuing to wipe the cup, expression flat and unruffled, as if the bowl he just presented were just a clear broth noodle.

(Perhaps… it only looks frightening; the taste may be fine, maybe this world's culinary style is just… bold.)

Bai Hang comforts herself internally, and at the same time picks up the disposable chopsticks on the table, breaking them apart.

She looks at the "red inferno" in the bowl, hesitates, then carefully uses the tip of the chopsticks to part the thick layer of red oil and chilies on the surface, lifts a few noodles that aren't fully soaked from the edge, summons courage, and puts them into her mouth.

The noodles themselves are still fairly al dente.

Then—

"Puff—!!!"