37 The Rejection and the Heir Dilemma

Throughout the time, the director kept looking directly at Zane.

He kept thinking to himself if the words he just said would be hard for him to refuse?

On the other hand, Erina, while sneakily glancing at Zane, noticed that his expression didn't change after hearing the words. He remained calm and composed.

She couldn't help but wonder if he was considering or hesitating...

"At Totsuki Academy, it's indeed a wonderful stage."

"But for me, it's perhaps not the place where I can fully showcase my talent."

"Right now, I just want to focus on managing this tavern. As long as I see the customers enjoying my cooking and smiling happily, I feel content!"

"I understand."

"As the Totsuki director, I definitely respect and honor your choice."

"After all, being able to do what you love in this life is a kind of liberation, isn't it?"

Failing to recruit such a talent for Totsuki Academy, the director naturally felt disappointed. However, he quickly eased his feelings. After all, the fact that Zane directly refused such a generous offer indicated that he wasn't the type of person who sought fame and fortune.

In this world, many people are constantly busy throughout their lives, bound by material possessions, wealth, and fame, preventing them from paying more attention to their interests and hobbies, and from focusing on their inner world and emotional experiences.

His granddaughter, Erina, was a prime example. She was always troubled because she cared too much about the power of the god's tongue and meaningful work.

Hence, Zane's choice made the director appreciate him even more!

Huh? Wait!

Why did he... why did he refuse?

What's wrong with being a lecturer at Totsuki Academy compared to being a tavern owner?

Upon learning that Zane flatly rejected the position of a lecturer at Totsuki Academy, Erina felt incredulous and extremely disappointed!

...

In fact, the Nakiri family, which advocates the "elite" education philosophy, had already shown a rift in the issue of the heir after the events of Mana running away from home and Azami being expelled from Totsuki Academy.

According to logical reasoning, the most suitable person to become the next director was actually Alice Nakiri, who was from the "Main Family".

However, Erina, who possessed the god's tongue, seemed to replace her!

Of course, this was because the Nakiri family didn't pay much attention to the issue of bloodlines.

From the marriage of Azami into the Nakiri family and the subsequent change of surname to Nakiri, it was clear that at that time, the director already wanted to entrust the whole family business to this "outsider", that is, to have a son-in-law become the heir.

Indeed, Alice's background was more superior than Erina's.

However, starting from Mana, the Nakiri family had already had two generations in a row with the phenomenon of the god's tongue.

Naturally, given the BUG of the god's tongue ability, it wasn't surprising that the third-generation heir of the Nakiri family was designated as Erina.

But if you really want to be serious, it can also be regarded as a very helpless choice.

After all, apart from Erina and Alice, who were both powerful descendants of the Nakiri family, who else could be chosen?

...

Time passed slowly.

As the director finished the bottle of sake completely, the tavern was just about to close.

Whether it was because the alcohol itself could promote the release of dopamine in the brain, making the director feel a sense of joy and contentment, or because he truly witnessed Zane's cooking skills today in the tavern, he was visibly happy.

All in all.

He was clearly happy.

Zane's Ascending Dragon Dumplings actually showed him the potential for changing the entire culinary era in the future!

Moreover, unlike the hopeful Azami at the time, Zane was more "correct" in his perception and understanding of cooking.

Although Zane never talked too much about Totsuki Academy in front of him, knowing that his cooking could satisfy Erina's god's tongue was the best reward for him during this visit to the tavern.

The Nakiri family really couldn't afford to have the same incident as ten years ago.

If, in the end, Erina's fate were to become the same as her mother, Mana, then it would be the end of hope for the entire Nakiri family!

...

"Ah, time really flies!"

In the end, with the arrival of midnight, the tavern was closed.

Although meeting Zane made the director feel a bit of regret, in the end, he obediently followed the tavern's closing time rules and had to settle the bill and leave.

 "Here, Erina, this is a thousand-layer cake. You can enjoy it on your way back."

However, just as Erina was about to leave the tavern, Zane gave her a thousand-layer cake!

"Is this... for me?"

This little "gift" naturally caught Erina by surprise. Suddenly, a strong scent of cake reached her nose. Normally, she didn't like this kind of junk food from a street vendor! But it depended on who made it. If it was Zane, then... she would actually like it.

"Who else can I give it to besides you?"

"I didn't expect you to be quite nice, actually giving me an extra thousand-layer cake."

Blushing, Erina took the exquisitely boxed cake with one hand.

"Since the tavern is closing, I must clear out the unsold dishes."

Erina: ???

"So, are you giving me close-to-expiry food?"

"No?"

"Then I'll take it back!"

Regretfully, Zane said, "This kind of thousand-layer cake is made with real 1000 layers of pastry! It has received many compliments from customers at the tavern. Someone here doesn't know the value and has wasted something good!"

After saying this, he gestured for Erina to take the cake back.

"Who said I didn't want it?"

Hearing this, Erina responded with a cold hum.

Then, she protected the cake in her hand tightly, fearing that Zane would actually take it back.

"Miss, the leader has already left. We should also leave quickly!"

Seeing that Zane always managed to hold Erina in check, Hisako chuckled and urged Erina to leave the tavern.

"Zane, I will come back again!"

After saying this, Erina walked out of the tavern.

As two black cars disappeared into the brightly lit street, the tavern officially closed for the night!