Chapter 13: The Taste of First Love

"The fish itself isn't anything special."

Huo Yuhao skillfully flipped the grilled fish and explained with a smile, "What's special is the technique of grilling. As for the taste, I guarantee it's worth the price."

Humans are strange creatures. Even though they know something is unreasonably expensive, they still hold onto a mindset of, 'I have to see what's so special about this that it's sold at such a high price,' and end up trying it.

Only after realizing that it's no different from something cheaper do they understand they've been fooled.

They say, 'learn a lesson from experience,' but the next time something similar happens, they'll make the same mistake again.

As a middle-aged man who had been through the rough and tumble of society, the vendor thought he wouldn't fall for such tricks anymore.

But… but it smelled so good.

Watching the sizzling oil as the fish skin turned golden and curled slightly under the heat, revealing the tender, juicy white flesh inside, the vendor swallowed hard.

For a moment, he felt as if the scene before him changed. The grilled fish in front of him wasn't just grilled fish—it was the girl he had silently adored for so long. The one who had disappeared from his life before he even had a chance to confess.

Wasn't the motion of flipping the fish just like the graceful dance of that girl?

Wasn't the golden fish skin like the hem of her long skirt?

And the tender white flesh, wasn't it like the glimpse of her fair skin, unintentionally revealed as the breeze lifted her skirt?

That… that was the unfulfilled love of his youth!

Even the aroma of the grilled fish had transformed in his mind into the scent of that girl.

The books say that first love is always restrained and innocent, never resulting in a happy ending. But now, after all these years, it felt like he could finally grasp it!

As if understanding some profound truth of the universe, the vendor hesitated no more. He gritted his teeth, took out a silver coin, and handed it to Huo Yuhao.

"I want to see just what's so special about your grilled fish that it costs so much."

"Thank you for your patronage."

Huo Yuhao's expression turned odd. He reached out to take the coin but then hesitated and pulled his hand back slightly, unsure of whether to accept it. After a long moment of hesitation, he finally took the silver coin from the vendor, though he couldn't help but feel like he had just absorbed some sort of lustful sin from this man.

What the hell is this guy thinking!?

I'm just selling grilled fish, aren't I?

Suppressing the shivers running down his spine, he stiffly continued flipping the fish. As if casually, he asked, "Do you want it spicy?"

The vendor closed his eyes for a moment, recalling something, his voice now hoarse and magnetic.

"Just a little."

Though his memory was fuzzy, the girl he once loved seemed to have had a bit of a spicy personality too.

"...Alright, be careful, it's hot."

Huo Yuhao sprinkled on the final touch of chili powder and handed the first grilled fish of the day to the vendor. He smiled, discreetly wiped his hands, and then, feeling it wasn't enough, wiped them again.

Golden oil dripped from the fish skin, carrying a tempting aroma. It really did look as if it had been dusted with gold powder. Everyone subconsciously swallowed, their eyes glued to the vendor, waiting for his reaction.

As soon as the fish was in his hands, the vendor couldn't wait to take a bite.

Crunch—

The crispy fish skin crackled under his teeth. The hot fish flesh danced on his tongue, and with each bite, the spices exploded in his mouth, stimulating his taste buds.

"Ahhh!"

Like a dragon's breath, the man opened his mouth and exhaled a wave of hot air. Even though he was flailing his arms and contorting his face from the heat, clenching his fists, he refused to spit out the grilled fish.

This… this was the taste of first love!

No matter how hard it was, no matter the challenges, this time he wouldn't let go!

Seeing the vendor's expression as if he were being electrocuted, a passerby couldn't help but glance at their companion.

"Is it good or not?"

"I don't know. It smells great, but from his reaction, it doesn't seem like normal grilled fish…"

"Is he crazy or something?"

The vendor didn't pay any attention to the comments around him. He slowly raised his trembling fist and held up three fingers.

"I… I want three more!"

Huo Yuhao couldn't help but twitch his eyelid, but he smiled politely and said, "Due to limited supply, each customer is only allowed to buy two. I hope you understand."

"Then give me one more!"

After receiving payment again, Huo Yuhao handed over another grilled fish. Watching the vendor happily devour it, others finally couldn't resist the tempting aroma and decided to give it a try.

"I'll take one too."

"Yeah, give me one. Let's see what all the fuss is about."

Just then, a clear, pleasant voice sounded from outside the crowd.

"It smells so good! Please make way."

As the voice fell, a delicate-looking girl squeezed her way through the crowd. She appeared to be around the same age as Huo Yuhao, with long black hair tied into a ponytail, and her bright phoenix eyes were gleaming as she stared at the grilled fish.

"Excuse me, how much for the grilled fish?"

Smelling the aroma, the girl's little nose twitched as she asked about the price. However, when she looked up at Huo Yuhao, the rest of her words got stuck in her throat.

She hadn't expected the person selling the grilled fish to be so young.

Huo Yuhao also froze for a moment when he saw the girl, but quickly looked away, continuing to flip the fish as he softly answered, "Ten copper coins per fish, with a limit of two per customer."

The girl was taken aback. "Why is there a limit?"

Without stopping, Huo Yuhao motioned to the crowd behind her with his chin. "I only sell fifty fish a day, and many have already been reserved. If you want some, you'd better decide quickly."

Hearing this, the girl glanced at the expectant crowd and nodded.

"Then… I'll take two."

…

"Little brother, your grilled fish is amazing! I've never seen you here before. Will you be selling again tomorrow?"

"I just arrived in Heaven Dou City with my mother two days ago."

Huo Yuhao replied as he cleaned up his stall. "Grilled fish is a family recipe. I'm just trying to make a bit of extra money. I'll be here every day around noon."

The fish had sold out faster than he expected. Even without using his spiritual detection, his strong mental power allowed him to grill several fish at once. In just over an hour, he had sold all fifty fish and made five gold soul coins, more than enough to call it a day.

"Are you familiar with this street?"

"Of course!"

Puffing out her chest proudly, the girl smiled. "I come here all the time. I know exactly what's good, but now your grilled fish is number one on my list."

Then, as if remembering something, she added, "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Tang Ya. What's your name, little brother?"

"I'm Huo Yuhao."

After packing up his grill and putting it in his storage ring, Huo Yuhao patted his hands and looked at Tang Ya.

"Tang Ya, do you know where the largest pharmacy in Heaven Dou City is?"

(End of Chapter)