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بيت / Emotional Realism / I Had My Life Work's Stolen And Was Chased Out / Chapter 4

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Chapter 4

مؤلف: Coconut Scared of Cold
I smiled. “Because I’m waiting for someone to help us promote this place for free.”

My phone vibrated. Harvey had sent me a message.

[Mr. Lane, how’s the new restaurant going? Want to check out my place? I was worried it might be too quiet for you on your own, so I set up a live stream just for you to get a feel of the lively atmosphere here.]

A link followed the message, and I tapped on it.

The live stream loaded and showed Harvey’s store packed with people.

The comments rolled by one after another.

“Isn’t this where Lane’s Kitchen used to be?”

“The food tastes great, just like it used to!”

The camera panned, and Harvey made a heart shape with his hands toward the lens.

“Thanks for everyone’s support! It’s our grand opening today. There’s 20% off all food and free beer! If you’re not here yet, hurry on over. There are already more than twenty tables waiting in line!”

The chat box exploded with messages.

Suddenly, a line of text popped up in the bottom right corner of the screen. [Jordan’s Diner has tipped you a hundred dollars, with the message: Go for it, Mr. Lane!]

He tipped me on live stream in front of thousands of people.

It was humiliating.

His actions were telling everyone, “Look, here’s the guy I beat. I’m giving him a hundred dollars out of the goodness of my heart.”

I did not notice when Bernard had stood behind me. The veins on his hand were bulging as he gripped a kitchen knife.

“Mr. Lane, I’m going to his restaurant.”

“What for?”

“To slam this knife down on his table.”

I snatched the kitchen knife out of his hand.

“Don’t rush over. Let’s wait and see!”

Harvey’s food would taste off after being served for a while.

Without the balancing effect of my herb and spice seasonings, prolonged high-heat cooking released alkaloids that irritated the throat. Customers would feel increasingly parched and dry-mouthed as they ate. Their throats would eventually swell and ache.

Soon, I noticed more and more customers frowning.

Different comments began appearing in the live chat.

[To be honest, it was fine at first, but it tasted a little off toward the end.]

[Why does my throat feel a little uncomfortable?]

[I feel the same way. As I ate, my mouth became drier. I’ve been drinking water nonstop.]

Harvey was completely oblivious, and he even sent me another text to provoke me.

[Mr. Lane, your secret recipe really works. The customers all say the food tastes exactly the same as before.]

I sneered inwardly. Was that so?

Suddenly, a burly man with tattoos in the live stream threw down his cutlery.

“Get your boss out here!” he shouted angrily.

The restaurant’s customers all turned to look at him.

Harvey was startled, and his voice cracked. “Sir, what’s the matter? Is there a problem?”

“Let me ask you,” the tattooed man said as he pointed at the food and grill on the table. “What did you put in this? The more I eat, the weirder it tastes. Now, my throat feels like it’s on fire. My buddy says his throat’s swollen.”

The burly man next to him leaned in and opened his mouth.

The comment stream immediately filled with messages like [It’s so red!] and [His tonsils are swollen!].

Harvey’s face went pale.

“T-That’s impossible. We learned our recipes from the original Lane’s Kitchen.”

The tattooed man raised an eyebrow in displeasure. “So, this isn’t the original Lane’s Kitchen? Where did the original go?

Harvey bit his lip and said nothing.

The tattooed man then turned his gaze to Flora. “Tell me, where did the original Lane’s Kitchen move to?”

Flora’s hands trembled. “I-I don’t know…”

The atmosphere in the shop grew tense.

Suddenly, a highlighted comment floated through the live stream chat box.

[Lane’s Kitchen has opened a new location! Show your receipt from the old store to enjoy a 20% discount. Valid for three consecutive days. Address: Bliss Alley.]

[I found the owner’s Stories. Everyone, hurry over there!]

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  • I Had My Life Work's Stolen And Was Chased Out   Chapter 10

    Organophosphates? That was a pesticide, right?Someone had put pesticide in my food.My fingers were shaking.That night, I opened the local forum and saw a shocking headline. [Suspected food poisoning at Lane’s Kitchen in Bliss Alley. Multiple people rushed to the hospital!]There were already over three hundred replies to the post. Most of them were berating me.Some said, [A heartless boss like that should be arrested and sentenced.] Others said, [I always thought the food there tasted off. Turns out there really was a problem.]There were even some who said, [I’ll never eat in that alley again. How terrible.]I did not reply to a single comment.At this point, whatever I said would be wrong. I would only have the right to speak after the truth came out.Bernard called, and his voice was very low.“Mr. Lane, there’s something I need to tell you.“Around 9 a.m. today, Zack took out the trash once. He was gone for a long time, about fifteen minutes, before he came back. I

  • I Had My Life Work's Stolen And Was Chased Out   Chapter 9

    Torben nodded and did not ask any further questions.He walked to a window seat and opened the menu. “I’ll have one signature platter and two pounds of tripe.”That afternoon, an edited video of the blonde guy causing a scene during his live stream was posted in the local community group chat.Although no one was specifically named as the instigator, people in the comments section were already speculating. [Is it Jordan’s Diner?] [Didn’t someone compare them before? Their food isn’t that great.] [It’s like an actual thief crying for people to catch the thief.]Reputation was a tricky thing. The more you tried to ruin someone else’s, the harder it was to keep your own spotless.With things having escalated to this point, I thought Harvey would back down.However, I underestimated just how shameless he was.A month later, after closing time, I was alone in the shop doing the books.The door opened, and Harvey entered.He looked at me and forced a smile.“Mr. Lane, you’re st

  • I Had My Life Work's Stolen And Was Chased Out   Chapter 8

    It was Flora.I closed my eyes and took three deep breaths.Then, I opened my phone’s contacts and found a number I had saved a long time ago.It belonged to Liam, a reporter for the lifestyle channel at the local TV station.He had interviewed me two years ago. We had added each other’s contacts back then, and he had said, “Mr. Lane, if anything newsworthy comes up, be sure to let me know.”I dialed the number.“Liam, this is the owner of Lane’s Kitchen. Someone’s spreading rumors that I use recycled oil, but I have evidence to prove my innocence. Would you be interested in coming to film a segment?”That evening, five people showed up at the restaurant.The leader was a young guy with bleach blonde hair. He was decked in designer labels, and a big gold chain hung around his neck.He kicked open the glass door, stood in the middle of the dining area, and shouted so loudly the whole alley could hear him.“Where’s the owner of Lane’s Kitchen?! Get out here! You’re cheating us

  • I Had My Life Work's Stolen And Was Chased Out   Chapter 7

    I stepped aside to let them in. Simultaneously, I gave Bernard a look to signal him to open all the ingredient containers in the back kitchen.Bernard got the hint immediately and headed into the back kitchen.The inspection lasted forty minutes.They turned the back kitchen upside down. I took the secret spice blend out of the cabinet and handed it to them myself.“This is my secret spice blend. The ingredients are all edible herbs based on a medicinal formula. If needed, I can provide raw material samples for testing.”The leader handed the jar to a young team member standing next to him. “Take a sample, seal it, and send it for testing.”I nodded in cooperation and asked, “May I ask what specific issue the whistleblower raised? Did they specify what additive? That way, I can assist your investigation more effectively.”The team leader glanced at me. “The whistleblower letter claims you added industrial dyes and anti-diarrheal medication to the grill marinades, which can cause

  • I Had My Life Work's Stolen And Was Chased Out   Chapter 6

    I decided to triple Bernard’s salary next month.After closing, I went over the books.Our daily sales over the past few days matched the busiest times at our old restaurant.Considering the new restaurant’s remote location and the fact that not many people knew about it yet, the profit had exceeded my expectations.I closed the ledger and suddenly smiled.“Mr. Lane, what are you smiling about?” Bernard asked.“I was just wondering. If Harvey knew he’d given us such a huge free advertisement, would he be furious?”The next day at noon, I received a message from Flora.Flora’s profile picture was still the one I had taken for her. She was standing at the entrance of the old restaurant and holding a bouquet of flowers. Her eyes were crinkled with a smile.That was my birthday gift to her. That day, she had said, “Mr. Lane, this is the first time I’ve ever received flowers.”This time, she wrote, [Mr. Lane, Harvey can’t pay his employees right now. He says he’ll have to delay it

  • I Had My Life Work's Stolen And Was Chased Out   Chapter 5

    The man with the tattoo shouted, “This lousy food tastes worse the more I eat it! Turns out it’s a knockoff. Let’s go. I want to eat at the authentic Lane’s Kitchen.”The live chat went completely wild.[I knew something was off. Turns out it’s a knockoff after all.][I’m going to the other alley to find Lane’s Kitchen too!]The customers in the restaurant began to get up one after another. In his panic, Harvey cut off the live stream.I put down my phone and said to Bernard, “Turn on the flames and heat up the grills. The customers are coming!”The moment I finished speaking, the thudding of footsteps echoed from the entrance of the alley.I walked to the shop entrance and pulled open the glass door.The tattooed man came into view around the corner of the alley first.Behind him were the three burly men, followed by a scattered group of customers who had come from Harvey’s restaurant.The tattooed man, Torben, walked up to the entrance and stopped. He looked up at the [Lane

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