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Gastronomic Journey

觅味纪行

17 chapters · 1233 lines · English and Chinese below. Japanese and Korean, voices and theatre mode are in the reader.

Sampler 试菜

In the restaurant at the Oasis' rest area.绿洲休息区，餐馆。

A girl sits at a dining table, elegantly forking the last slice of meat on her plate into her mouth.一位少女坐在餐桌前，用优雅的姿态把餐碟里最后一口肉排塞入嘴里。

MillauThe heat control isn't quite there yet, but the seasoning and preparation is very well done.火候不到位，但烹饪前的处理很不错。

MillauThe meat is tender and finely-marbled with just the right amount of firmness, and the good points of the dish outweigh any of the flaws.肉质鲜嫩，几乎不含肥膘，韧度适中，食材的优点掩盖了配料份量的瑕疵。

MillauIf you don't mind, you might want to use the suggestions on this piece of paper as a guideline for making improvements.如果你们不介意的话，可以按照这张纸上的建议进行改进。

Millau wipes her mouth clean in satisfaction and scribbles several lines down on a slip of paper beside her.米约尔满意地擦了擦嘴，在一旁的便签上写下了几行文字。

服务智能体Thank you very much. We will carefully consider it.非常感谢，我们会认真参考的。

MillauNow then...那么……

As the waiter agent smiles awkwardly at her, Millau leisurely places the plate in her hand onto the miniature mountain of dishes beside her.在服务智能体尴尬微笑的同时，米约尔娴熟地将手里的盘子放到了边上由餐碟垒成的小山顶上。

MillauWhat about the next course?我的下一道菜呢？

ProfessorIf you hurry, you should be able to make it for afternoon tea at the Medical Department cafeteria.在医疗部门的食堂，现在过去的话应该能赶上下午茶。

MillauHuh?欸？

PersicariaPlease come with us, Miss Millau.请跟我们走一趟吧，米约尔小姐。

PersicariaIt's been six hours since you came to the Oasis and the Medical Department has been waiting for you to check in with them.距离你入境绿洲已经超过六小时了，医疗部门一直没等到你的自主登记。

PersicariaDo you know how many people in the Oasis are searching for you right now?你知道绿洲现在有多少人在找你吗？

MillauEr... ah...呃……那个……

The girl's elegance vanishes in an instant and she flails her hands in embarrassment.少女的优雅不复存在，她有些尴尬挥动手臂。

MillauCalm down. I was just a little hungry.冷静一下，我只是有点饿了。

MillauI haven't had a bite to eat all the way till the Oasis, so I...来绿洲的一路上都没吃什么东西，所以……

PersicariaSo you ate in the break area for six hours straight?所以你就在休息区吃了六个小时？

ProfessorI didn't believe it when Willow first told us, but it turns out there really IS a Doll out there who would travel all this way to the Oasis just to have a meal.薇洛儿告诉我的时候我还不相信，居然真的有智能体跋山涉水来到绿洲就只是为了吃几口饭。

ProfessorAnd here I thought something had happened to you.我还以为是你出了什么意外。

PersicariaIt was my fault for underestimating your mania for good food.低估了你对美食的狂热，是我的工作疏忽。

Persicaria and the Professor are practically finishing each other's sentences as they approach Millau.帕斯卡和教授一唱一和，朝前迈步。

MillauWait... I'm not finished yet...等等……我饭还没吃完……

<cmdr> & 帕斯卡You're done.已经完了。

Persicaria and the Professor both sigh as they each take one of Millau's arms. With an apologetic smile to the waiter agent, they hoist her to her feet.帕斯卡和教授双双叹了口气，一人抓住米约尔的一侧手臂，对着服务智能体露出了一个抱歉的笑容，而后将她架了出去。

MillauWait... Just wait! At least let me finish the next course... Just one more... uwahhh—等下……再等一下！至少等我吃完下道菜……下一道……呃啊——

At the Oasis' Medical Department, in the Neural Cloud Examination Suite.绿洲医疗部门，心智检定处。

MillauI knew it! You were the one who sold me out.我就知道！出卖我的人是你。

WillowOh, it was just a trivial thing, really.我只是做了一点微不足道的工作。

Willow is all smiles as she takes a picture of Millau.薇洛儿笑嘻嘻给米约尔拍了一张照。

WillowWhat do you think of "Renowned Gourmet Connoisseur Becomes Oasis Criminal" for a headline?你觉得《知名美食品鉴师成为绿洲阶下囚》这个标题怎么样？

MillauThen the next day's headline will be "Renowned Female Reporter Ends Up Being Eaten By Gourmet Connoisseur".那第二天的报道就该是《知名女记者在绿洲被美食品鉴师享用》。

Millau glares at Willow as she pinches her face.米约尔愤愤地揉捏着薇洛儿的脸。

WillowI wush cuwioush...我唔好七……

MillauWell, I don't have to eat you, but in exchange, hand over the gift!那不吃你也可以，作为代替，快把随手礼呈上来吧！

MillauLet me guess... It's either macarons or Brittany pancakes, right?让我猜猜……是马卡龙，还是布列尼塔煎饼呢？

WillowHm... Unfortunately, it's neither.唔……很遗憾，都没有。

MillauDid you even forget our agreement, Lowy? You wound me—难道小洛儿把我们的约定忘了吗？我好受伤——

WillowYou still need to complete your neural cloud examination, so you can't eat too much. Still, I prepared THIS—Ta-daaah!你等会儿还要做心智检定，不能吃太多东西嘛。不过放心，我准备了这个——锵锵！

MillauHm?哦？

Millau raises an eyebrow and then picks up the chocolate from Willow's hand before sniffing it.米约尔挑挑眉，从薇洛儿的手中拾起了一块巧克力，放在鼻尖轻嗅。

MillauHm... It has a unique and clean smell. The classic hazelnut goes very well with the cocoa; I can tell it's good stuff just from the aroma. Now, as for its taste—嗯~独特纯净的气味，经典的坚果与可可搭配，仅从香气判断确实品质不错。味道的话——

The rich flavor of cocoa blossoms on the girl's tongue, and the smooth chocolate melts in her tongue, filling her entire mouth with its taste.馥郁的可可香味在少女的舌尖绽放，柔滑的巧克力散成液态，包裹了每一处味蕾。

MillauThis is truly—这可真是~——

ProfessorHow do you like it?感觉如何？

MillauMagnifique!Magnifique！

MillauIt feels like silk and melts instantly in the mouth. The nutty taste is simple and delicate, and its bitter and sourness neatly neutralizes any cloying sweetness. Everything is in perfect balance.丝绸一般的质感，入口即化；坚果风味简单细腻，恰到好处的苦涩与酸味冲散了甜腻的感觉，一切都恰到好处。

ProfessorIf you join the Oasis, you can have as many of these chocolates as you want.如果愿意加入绿洲的话，这样的巧克力要多少有多少。

MillauWell, that... no!那也……不行！

Millau's eyes suddenly snap open and she sees Persicaria and the Professor looking at her with files in their hands and smiles on their faces.米约尔猛地睁开眼，教授和帕斯卡正拿着档案笑吟吟地看着自己。

MillauWhew, that was close. I almost fell into your trap.好险，差一点就落入陷阱了。

MillauThe only reason I'm willing to register for this is simply because there are still several restaurants in the Oasis that I haven't tried yet, and unregistered agents can't hang around the Oasis, that's all.我愿意登记只是因为绿洲还有几家餐厅我没尝过，而未经检定的智能体是不能留在绿洲的，仅此而已。

PersicariaHm? So you don't plan to join the Oasis then, Miss Millau?欸？米约尔小姐不打算加入绿洲吗？

MillauOf course. Magrasea's a big place and there are many sectors in it. Naturally, they must have plenty of delicious cuisine.当然，麦戈拉很大，扇区也很多，那么理所当然的，美食肯定也不少。

MillauNothing is more important to me than tasting delicious food. If I end up losing all those dining spots for the sake of the chocolate before me, then that would hardly be worth it.对我来说，没有比品鉴美食更重要的了。如果只着眼于眼前的巧克力，失去了大块的美食乐土，那可就得不偿失了。

PersicariaBut...可是……

ProfessorDon't worry, Persicaria. Willow already told me about this problem.别担心，帕斯卡，这个问题薇洛儿已经告诉过我了。

WillowHehe, the Professor will give you a reason to stay. However, that'll have to wait till after your evaluation~嘿嘿，教授会拿出让你留下的诚意的，不过是在检定工作结束以后~

Millau complies and lies down before turning to the side to look at Willow.米约尔顺从地躺下了身子，侧过脑袋看向薇洛儿。

MillauI hope you're right.希望你说到做到哦。

WillowRelax, I've never failed to surprise people.放心啦，我在给人惊喜这块可没输过。

WillowAw, lighten up a little. Come, say cheese~ The new issue of the gourmet magazine is going to feature a cover page of you being shackled to the examination bench.别这么严肃啦。来，笑一个~新的美食专刊封面就决定是你被固定在检定台上的样子了。

MillauI haven't agreed to anything yet.我可还什么都没答应呢。

Muttering to herself, the girl slips into slumber.少女嘟嚷着陷入了沉睡。

Search 寻觅

Modigliani Station.莫蒂利亚尼，站点。

A girl drags a suitcase off the tram that's almost half as tall as she is. She removes her hat and closes her eyes in exultation, as though there's some kind of scent floating in the air.少女拖着半人高的拉杆箱走下有轨电车，她摘下帽子，沉醉似地闭上了眼睛，仿佛在品味着空气中游离的某种味道。

MillauIt's been a while, Caen, but I've returned to you at last!久违了，卡昂，我的出发之地！

MillauMy journey in search of exquisite cuisine began here, and it shall end here as well. Time for my last meal in France!探求美食的旅程从这里开始，也将在这里结束。法国的最后一餐，我来了！

MillauWithout further ado—那么事不宜迟——

She whips out her cell phone and quickly scrolls down until she reaches the bottom—翻开手机，通讯录飞快地下滑，很快就来到了最底层—— ——朱斯特海鲜馆。

MillauHehe, rich seafood soups, roast scallops, tuna, fried oysters...嘿嘿，海鲜浓汤、烤扇贝、金枪鱼、牡蛎油条……

MillauMmm~ Yes, that's it, the first record of my tastebuds being stimulated in my gustatory systems!嗯~就是这个感觉，味觉系统历史中的第一条味蕾刺激记录！

MillauAhh, just revisiting that flavor makes my neural cloud systems want to give in on the spot. Well, I can't wait any longer, I'm famished!嘶，光是回访了一下那个味道我的心智系统就快缴械投降了。等不及了，我好馋！

Beep—嘀——

As the call connects, Millau wipes away the non-existent drool from her mouth with her sleeve and immediately straightens up, as though she were already sitting at the dining table.接通电话，米约尔伸出袖子抹了抹嘴边并不存在的口水，赶忙端正身形，仿佛已经置身于餐桌前。

MillauHello! Is this the Juste Restaurant? I'd like to book a table for lunch in 20 minutes' time, as well as the following dishes...你好！朱斯特餐厅吗？我想预约二十分钟后的午餐，预定的菜品是……

电话I'm sorry, you've reached The House of Moguri.对不起，这里是蘑菇力之家。

MillauUm... The number's correct, did you change your name?呃？……号码没错，你们改名字了？

电话My apologies, but the restaurant closed down two months ago due to an accident. We now specialize in the sale of agricultural and animal husbandry products.抱歉，餐厅在两个月前因意外倒闭关门了，我们现在主营农产品和畜牧产品。

电话If you wish, you may select your desired merchandise from the following items. The House of Moguri's best-sellers are rice, grain...您可以在以下内容中自由选择中意的产品，蘑菇力之家的营销物包括大米、小麦……

MillauSorry for disturbing you.……不好意思打扰了。

She numbly hangs up. Millau takes out a notebook from her suitcase. The impressions of handwriting on the cover are clearly visible.愣怔地挂断电话，米约尔从箱子里拿出一本笔记，封皮上的手写签痕清晰可见。

—"I'm waiting for the next dish." That is the girl's trademark, her signature quote.——“我在等下一道菜。” 这是少女的座右铭，也是她的口头禅。

MillauWhile understanding the components of a dish is an important part of a gourmet's skills, starting directly from the raw ingredients is a little beyond the scope of my abilities.虽然对食材的判断也是美食家能力的重要一环，但直接从原料选择开始，还是有点超出我的知识范畴啦。

MillauI was thinking that if there was a long queue, I'd be fine with waiting until night-time, but how could it close down after just a year?本来还想着万一排队爆满，等到晚上也行。这才过去了一年，怎么就倒闭了呢。

MillauThis is a headache, am I to stumble at the final hurdle with the end of my gourmet journey in sight? How ungraceful.伤脑筋，好不容易才看到终点的美食之旅，却要卡在结尾吗？真不优雅。

Millau sighs and opens up her notebook before marking a cross beside the name of the restaurant.翻开笔记，米约尔叹着气在餐厅名录的首行边上画了个叉。

MillauOh well, no point getting all mopey about it. I just need to find another restaurant! Good food is the thing, and spending time on anything other than eating would be a waste.算了，没什么好感伤的，换一家餐厅也可以！美食才是重点，把时间用在吃饭以外的地方也太浪费了。

MillauNow, what other choices are there...还有什么好选择呢……

Millau takes out her cell phone and scrolls down through her traveler's chat group.米约尔翻出手机，在同行的群聊里上下滑动。

MillauLimpata... Never mind, I'm not really interested in their specialty.林帕塔……算了，主打的餐品不是很感兴趣。

MillauLakala... The taste of their home-made sauce is far too out there, I'll pass.拉可拉……这家的自制酱料味道太偏门，不去。

Millau continues reading through the chat group messages until she finally spots a piece of information that interests her.米约尔在好几个群聊中来回翻阅，终于看到了一条自己感兴趣的消息。

MillauThey changed their head chef? Hmm, looks like he's pretty famous too. I choose you, then!更换主厨？嚯，来头还不小，那就决定是你了！

MillauThe restaurant's name is the Heikou Caen, and its number is...餐厅名字平幸卡昂，电话是……

She taps on the picture link and gulps in anticipation as she looks through the pictures on the menu.点开宣传图片，少女对着上面的餐品图样不争气地咽了咽口水。

电话Beep—嘀——

MillauHello! Is this the Heikou Caen?你好！请问是平幸卡昂吗！

MillauHave you closed down yet?你们没有倒闭吧！

电话Miss, are you from Finances Publiques by any chance? The restaurant is doing very well and we have filed our tax forms on time.小姐，您是税务管理局专员吗？餐厅的营收状况良好，我们也有按时缴税。

MillauNo! I'm calling to make a reservation! I'd like to have lunch in 20 minutes!不！我是来点单的！我要预约二十分钟后的午餐！

电话...We would be happy to serve you. What kind of meal are you looking forward to? Are there any special requests that you have?……乐意为您效劳，请问您希望预定怎样规模的午餐？有什么特殊需求？

MillauI heard you just had a new head chef, and I'd like to try some of his dishes.我听说你们的餐厅刚换了一位主厨，我希望能吃到他提供的餐品。

MillauSo we'll start with six entrees and if he's good with desserts, you can serve them up as well. As for other requests... I have none for the time being.六道主菜打底，如果他还擅长甜品也可以一并提供，其他的需求……暂时没有了。

电话My sincerest apologies, Miss, but we may not be able to fulfill your request. Our head chef is currently fully booked for the afternoon.很抱歉小姐，我们可能无法满足您的要求，主厨先生的工作已经排到了下午。

电话If you don't mind, we can arrange a booking for dinner this evening.如果不介意的话，我们可以帮您预约晚餐服务。

MillauDinner? Ugh...晚餐？咕……

Millau's face turns pale as she shifts her gaze from her phone to the station clock, and she can distinctly hear the protests from her tummy.米约尔面色惨白地移开手机看了一眼车站边上的时钟，清楚地听见了肚子传出来的提示。

She is hungry.她饿了。

Search 寻觅

On the outskirts of Caen, at the Heikou Restaurant.卡昂市郊，平幸餐馆。

Though it is located in a suburban area, the crowd outside the restaurant is as large as that around any landmark within the city limits.尽管地处市郊，但餐馆外的人流却毫不逊于市中心的任何一处地标建筑。

MillauI was prepared for this, but this amount of people is just...虽然已经做好了心理准备，但这人流量也……

MillauIf I'm not wrong, today should be a working day, right? Do the people in this city not have jobs or something?如果我没记错的话今天是工作日才对吧？这座城市的人都不用上班的吗？

服务员Caen is a tourist destination, and as you can see, we have many guests who have come today.卡昂是一座旅游城市，如您所见，慕名而来的客人太多了。

服务员Even so, are you still going to insist on making a booking in the queue? You'll miss the best time for lunch, you know.就算是这样，您也坚持登记排队吗？这会让您错过恰当的午餐时间。

MillauI have plans for dinner, so how much longer until it's my turn?晚餐我还有其他的安排，轮到我大概还需要多长的时间？

服务员Let me see... Hm... It seems it'll take at least two more hours.我帮您看看，嗯……至少还需要两个小时。

MillauUgh... Two hours... In two hours' time you might end up seating a hunk of malnourished scrap instead.咕……两个小时……再等两个小时你们可能只能在餐厅门口招待一具饿瘪的废铁了。

MillauEh, forget it, I'll book the table.算了，登记吧。

服务员Very well. And what name shall I book it under, Mademoiselle?好的，那么请问小姐的名字是？

MillauMil... Milly Jan.米约……米约翰。

Upon coming to her senses, Millau gives the man a fake name. It's a tactic she used often during the course of her work.回过神来的米约尔报出了一个假名，这是她在工作时常用的招数。

As a gourmand and an E-GAST Doll who's well-known within the industry, she needs to keep a low profile to ensure the food she receives is standard fare and that she is not getting preferential treatment.作为一名美食家，同时还是闻名业内的E-GAST人形，她必须足够低调，以此来确保餐厅为自己提供的餐品是常规而非特制的。

The staffer leaves and returns, but he does not present her with the reservation ticket that she is expecting.服务员去而复返，却并没有带来预想中的排号凭证。

服务员Mademoiselle Jan, are you willing to share a table with another person?约翰小姐，您介意与他人同桌用餐吗？

MillauWhat do you mean?什么意思……？

The staffer bends forward slightly and stealthily indicates at a table in the corner of the restaurant.服务员半俯下身子，遮遮掩掩地示向餐厅里的一角。

服务员The customer on that table has been sitting there all day. She didn't order a thing and spent her time there spacing out.那桌的客人已经干坐一个上午了，也没有怎么吃东西，只是在那里发呆。

服务员For politeness' sake we can't just chase her away, but it's also hard for us to arrange for others to sit with her. If you don't mind...出于礼节，我们不好赶她离开，却也不方便安排其他客人坐过去，如果您不介意的话……

MillauHmm... Shared tables, then...嘶……拼桌啊……

Millau's pickiness about hygiene triggers alarm bells within her neural cloud, but to no avail; the sensation of hunger generated by her sensory simulation systems trumps it.米约尔对于卫生的高要求立刻在她的心智内拉响了警报，但无奈，感官模拟系统创造出的饥饿感在这次比拼中更胜一筹。

MillauForget it, eating is more important than that.算了，还是吃饭要紧。

MillauWell, go ahead and arrange it then! I'm starving!快去安排吧，我肚子都快饿扁啦！

On the outskirts of Caen, at the Heikou Restaurant.卡昂市郊，平幸餐馆。

Willow has been sitting at her table for an entire morning, but she hasn't noticed it yet.薇洛儿已经在餐桌前呆坐了一个上午，本人却对此毫无察觉。

Or rather, the girl has no idea just how long she has been away from the camera lens and the light of the flashbulb.或者说，少女对于自己从镜头与闪光灯前退场了多长时间都没了概念。

MillauExcuse me, Mademoiselle? I'm not disturbing you by sitting here, am I?小姐你好？我坐在这里不会打扰你吧？

Willow doesn't notice Millau at all, even when she sits down opposite her. Her finger unconsciously swirls the spoon in her soup.薇洛儿完全没有注意到落座在对面的米约尔，手指依旧无意识地搅动着碗里的汤匙。

Millau(She seems to be in a bad place mentally and she doesn't dress like a local either. Maybe she's here to lift her spirits?)（精神状态很糟糕呢，穿着也不像本地人，来旅游散心的？）

Millau(Uwah, the sauce on that dish has crusted over and so has the soup... How can you treat haute cuisine like this? This is a crime!)（呜哇，这菜的酱汁都稠了，汤水也是，这……怎么可以这样对待美食！这简直就是在犯罪！）

Millau shakes her head imperceptibly while she takes out her napkin and wipes the table out of reflex.米约尔微不可察地摇了摇脑袋，同时习惯性地取出餐巾，开始擦拭桌椅。

Millau(...I regret this. I should have just lined up instead. Is it too late to change my mind now? I object to sharing a table with other people.)（……我后悔了，该老老实实排队的。现在改口来得及吗？我介意和他人同桌用餐。）

Millau(Especially when it's a table that hasn't been properly cleared by the waiters.)（尤其介意使用还未经服务员处理卫生的桌椅。）

Millau(Ugh—This still feels really uncomfortable, I'll wipe it again, just one more time...)（唔呜——还是感觉很不舒服，再擦一遍再擦一遍……）

Millau's forced movements seem to draw Willow's attention, and the girl suddenly raises her head to meet Millau's eyes before looking away almost immediately.米约尔强迫症一般的动作似乎吸引了薇洛儿，少女木然地抬起头与米约尔对上了视线，一触即分。

After that, Willow subconsciously brings her spoon that's covered in congealed sauce to her mouth. Upon seeing this, Millau's eyes go wide.而后，薇洛儿无意识地将盛有干涸酱汁的汤勺喂往嘴里。见状，米约尔睁大了眼睛。

MillauNON!别！

(Crash)叮叮哐哐——

Millau reaches out to stop the spoon from entering Willow's mouth, which also startles the dazed girl awake.米约尔匆忙出手，拦住了将要进口的汤匙，也惊醒了呆滞许久的少女。

WillowEeek!? What... What's happening!噫！？怎……怎么了！

MillauWake up, mon petit chou fleur. Your food's gone cold, to the point where it's hardly even food any more. You'd get a tummy-ache if you ate it, to say nothing of the taste!醒醒，可爱的小姐。你的菜已经凉了。这种食物失温和变质没有区别，直接吃下去口感糟糕不说，而且还会闹肚子的！

WillowI... Whew... You scared me. I'm a Doll, though, and Dolls don't get stomachaches.我……呼……你吓到我了。我是人形，人形是吃不坏肚子的。

MillauThat won't do either! Food is medicine to heal the body and soul, and gourmet food is something to enchant the neural cloud systems. It doesn't matter if you're a human or a Doll!那也不行！食物是治愈身心的良药，美食更是能俘获心智系统的存在，人类还是人形都不是重点！

MillauSomeone who comes to a restaurant without being able to appreciate good food and instead glosses it over by using it to ease their hunger is as backwards as seeing a well-cooked steak and only nibbling on the baby carrot side dish instead!来到餐厅不享受美食，反而只是敷衍地充饥，这就和面对一份烹调恰当的牛排却只吃了旁边点缀的胡萝卜一样本末倒置！

服务员Mademoiselle Jan, your order.约翰小姐，这是您点的菜。

Just then, the waiter delivers the first course of Millau's meal.恰在此时，服务员为米约尔端上了第一道菜。

MillauAlso, no matter what's bothering you, stuff like that which isn't even worth putting in your mouth won't give you the slightest bit of positive feedback.另外，不管你在烦恼什么，这些失去入口价值的事物都不能给予你半分正面的反馈。

MillauTry some of this, mon cheri. There's nothing that a good meal won't solve. And if there is...来试试这个吧，可爱的小姐，没有什么问题是吃不能解决的。如果有……

Millau pushes her steaming plate in front of Willow and smiles brightly at her.米约尔将热气腾腾的食物推到了薇洛儿的面前，露出了明媚开朗的笑容。

MillauTHEN ASK FOR SECONDS!那就再吃一顿！

Search 寻觅

On the outskirts of Caen, at the Heikou Restaurant.卡昂市郊，平幸餐馆。

The waiter divides Millau's dish into two portions. While Willow is still hesitating over what to do next, Millau is already savoring the aftertaste of her share.服务员将餐品分成了两份，在薇洛儿还在犹豫不定的时候，米约尔已经开始享受食物的余韵了。

MillauRich, but not fatty, with varied textures and no excess seasoning, fried in the most basic way. C'est bon, c'est bon!肥而不腻，层次丰富，没有额外的酱料，用的是最原始的煎煮。好吃，好吃！

MillauThe crisp mushroom slices are fragrant and sweet, perfectly offsetting the gristly texture of the meat. To think you could actually cook that way...薄脆的蘑菇片香酥清甜，恰到好处地点缀肉的筋道口感，竟然还有这种做法……

Millau closes her eyes with a blissful look on her face, then greedily pounces on the next dish.米约尔闭上眼睛露出了幸福的表情，而后又贪婪地扑向下一道菜。

WillowDoes, does it really taste that good...真、真的有这么好吃吗……

MillauOf course it does!当然啦！

Millau only turns her eyes from the dish on her plate when she's done chewing her mouthful and fixes her gaze on the shocked Willow.米约尔将口中的菜品品咂完毕，才再度将目光从盘中的美食中抽出，投向眼前面带震惊的薇洛儿。

MillauTasting gourmet food is when I'm happiest! Someone who can remain unmoved in the face of good food is truly a miserable wretch!品味美食的时光就是最幸福的时光！面对食物还无动于衷的人才是真的暴殄天物吧！

MillauHm—Well, don't just stare at it, eat it already. Relax, I won't ask you for money.唔——不要愣着了，快吃吧。放心，不收你钱。

Willow...Okay...……好吧……

The expression on Millau's face and her animated spiel seem to imbue the food with magic. Willow gingerly spears a mushroom slice with her fork and eats it.米约尔品尝食物时的表情和话语仿佛再度给食物赋予了魔力。薇洛儿小心地叉起一块蘑菇片，将其送入口中。

Willow...This taste is really special! It's so good!……好特别的味道！真的好好吃！

MillauHehe, bien sûr. I'm a professional, you know!嘿嘿，当然啦，我可是专业的！

It's as though a switch has been turned on in Willow—she immediately begins digging in.仿佛打开了开关一般，薇洛儿面对着眼前的食物大快朵颐起来。

MillauThat's the spirit! Everyone's bound to feel sad from time to time, which is why humans invented gourmet food.这个表情才对嘛！谁都会有难过的时候，所以人类才发明了美食。

MillauTake me for example. Whenever I feel bad, I look for something to eat. Haute cuisine can cure all of life's little ills~!像我，一旦碰到了糟心事就会去找吃的，美好的食物可以治愈所有小情绪~！

MillauI rarely eat with others, so since I'm sharing a table with someone, and since we're both Dolls, that must mean it's some kind of des... Um... A des-something?我平常也很少和其他人一起吃饭，能有机会同桌进餐，还都是人形，这也是一种缘……嗯……缘……缘什么来着？

WillowA destined encounter?缘分？

MillauExactly! This is a destined encounter... Hm, I'm just no good at remembering these expressions.没错！就是缘分，唔……这个东方词汇我怎么也记不住。

WillowDestiny... and delicious food.缘分……美好的食物啊。

Willow seems to think of something and her eyes seem to drift away for a bit.薇洛儿像是想起了什么，目光中有一瞬的迷离。

WillowYou're right, I feel much better now.你说得对，我现在感觉好多了。

MillauFeel free to order anything you want. I'll foot the bill, so don't hold back.还有什么想吃的东西可以随便点，这家店我来买单，不用客气。

While she had been warm and caring up to just now, Millau takes out her notebook and begins scribbling as she samples her food.点到为止地关怀后，米约尔拿出了笔记本，一边品鉴，一边写下感言。

MillauThe wine has a beautiful luster to it and a full body. Its texture is rich and nuanced yet even, and with a long finish, in stark contrast to its price point...葡萄酒色泽美观，酒体柔嫩，口感浓淡适中，回味绵长，与它的价位相比……

MillauThe medium-rare steak was skillfully cooked, with a good balance of black pepper and sauce. Out of consideration for the smoothness of the texture...七分熟的牛排煎制得恰到好处，黑胡椒与酱料的配比适如其分，其中为了兼顾口感的顺滑……

MillauThe escargots were made differently from before, with a light seasoning of garlic, and I'm guessing the butter it was served with was specially prepared and not greasy in the least. On the whole...焗蜗牛的做法与之前有所不同，增加了蒜蓉的用料，同时应该在上桌前进行了一定的油水处理，不再那么腻人，总体评价……

WillowAre you reviewing the food?你这是在给食物评分吗？

MillauYup~ I'm grading them and then putting them onto my blog to share with other lovers of fine dining.是的~我在给它们打分，然后录入专栏，分享给其他的美食爱好者。

MillauHere, this is it.喏，就是这个。

Millau fiddles with her phone and then shows her blog to Willow.米约尔操作了一下手机，将专栏的界面呈给薇洛儿。

MillauThere are 13 major zones and 96 provinces here, and over a thousand restaurant reviews in total. Hehe, want to see?这上面记录了十三个大区，九十六个省，总计一千多家餐厅的测评，嘿嘿，要看看吗？

WillowWow, 13 major zones—does that mean you've pretty much travelled across all of France?哇喔，十三个大区，这么说你岂不是把法国本土都跑了一遍？

WillowAnd Caen is your endpoint? Ah, no, there's a Caen restaurant among your reviews... So you've come here before?卡昂是终点站吗？啊，不对，测评里已经有卡昂的餐馆了……你已经来过这里了？

MillauWell, Caen was actually my starting point.卡昂其实是我的起始站啦。

MillauI went in a big circle before coming back to the beginning so I could eat one more time at the restaurant where I had my first experience, in order to neatly wrap up my gastronomic tour de France.我跑了一圈回到原点，想要在当初体验过的第一家店再吃一次，为法国的美食之旅收个尾。

MillauWhat do you think? A romantic plan, non?怎么样，是不是一个很浪漫的计划？

WillowYup, yup! It's very romantic!嗯嗯！很浪漫！

Willow...How nice, you're brave enough to discover yourself and experience a new journey.……真好啊，有种找寻过去的自己，见证新的旅程的感觉。

As Willow says this, she looks around and takes in the restaurant that she had previously overlooked.薇洛儿说罢环顾了一下四周，打量起先前被自己忽略的店内陈设。

WillowMillau, did you start out in a place like this?米约尔当初就是在这样一个地方出发的吗？

MillauNot really, the place where I first ate was the Juste Seafood Restaurant, but they've already closed down...不是的，当初吃的第一家店其实是朱斯特海鲜馆，不过它已经倒闭了……

MillauBut that's alright. The important thing is the food.但是没有关系，美食才是重点。

WillowHuh? Is it really okay? You'll have regrets, won't you?欸？没有关系吗？这样会留下缺憾的吧？

MillauDoes that bother you? Hm... Well, it's a bit of a shame that I won't be able to eat from there again, but it can't be helped if they've closed down, right? I mean, this restaurant is pretty good too!你很在意这个？唔……虽然没能再度品鉴那里的菜品有些可惜，但毕竟倒闭了也没办法嘛，这家店也很不错啦！

WillowIf it were me, I might go back to the original address of that seafood restaurant, and even if I couldn't eat there again, I'd wrap things up in picture form.是我的话，或许会回到那家海鲜馆的原址，即使吃不上饭，也会用拍照的形式做收尾。

MillauThat sounds very romantic, but having a lady who lives for gourmet cuisine take a picture at an agricultural supplies store isn't a very good idea.虽然听起来很浪漫，但让一位以美食为生的淑女去农产品商店里拍照可不是什么好主意。

MillauYou seem to have a very strong sense of formality, Miss Willow.薇洛儿小姐的仪式感很强呢。

WillowWell, it's because of my job. While my physical appearance is modelled after Westerners, I've actually spent all my life in China.因为工作地的缘故吧，虽然形象上是依照西方人种设计的，但我其实一直生活在中国。

WillowThe people there value "sentimentality" more than others, and they're willing to accept some concessions in exchange for that.那里的人比较看重“情怀”，为此就算其他的方面折中一下也愿意接受。

WillowI kind of like that notion.我还蛮喜欢这种理念的。

MillauHm — Well, after thinking about it for a bit, I don't get it at all!嗯——思考了一下，我完全无法理解！

MillauThere's no soul without food. Food is my focus.没有美食就没有灵魂，食物才是我的重点。

Millau nonchalantly tilts her head, but just as she's about to put her phone away, Willow stops her.米约尔不以为意地歪了歪脑袋，就要把手机收起来，却被薇洛儿拦住。

WillowHang on. I have a few suggestions about your blog.等一下，关于你的专栏，我有一些建议。

Saying so, Willow takes the phone from her, then retrieves pen and paper from her bag and begins scribbling and drawing while looking at the screen.说着，薇洛儿再度接过手机，从背包里抽出纸笔，对着屏幕写写画画。

WillowIt might be better if you change your layout so it looks like this and then change your navigation bar as well.你的专栏如果这样修改排版，再把告示图改成这样的话可能会好一些。

WillowUnfortunately, I'm drawing it by hand so the effect will be a bit limited. I hope this helps.条件有限，只有手绘，效果会打一些折扣。希望能帮上你的忙。

MillauOh! C'est genial! It looks great!喔！C'est génial！好好看！

MillauThank you very much, you've done me a great favor! Are you a professional in this field?多谢！帮大忙了。你是专门做这个的吗？

WillowMe? Oh, right, I forgot to introduce myself.我？对了，我好像还没有自我介绍。

WillowMy name is Willow, and I'm a...我叫薇洛儿，是一个……

Willow's mouth opens, and then her smile fades as she rubs her nose a little awkwardly.薇洛儿张了张嘴，笑容黯淡，她有些尴尬地摸了摸鼻子。

WillowI'm a reporter... Hm, no, I WAS a reporter.记者……嗯，不对，应该是前记者。

Millau(Merde, I think I just stepped on a land mine.)（Merde，我好像踩雷了。）

MillauUm—Oh look, it's a new dish! Let's try it!唔——新菜上来了！我们来尝尝看吧！

WillowHuh...?咦……？

WillowYeah, let's try it out!嗯！我们来尝尝看吧！

WillowThank you, Millau!米约尔，谢谢你！

MillauHehe, you're welcome!嘿嘿，不用客气！

Search 寻觅

On the outskirts of Caen, at the Heikou Restaurant.卡昂市郊，平幸餐馆。

Several glasses of red wine later, the two of them are looking visibly flushed.几杯红酒下肚，二人的脸上多了少许红晕。

Millau(I didn't activate my alcohol filtration modules due to my work habits, but what's up with Miss Willow?)（我是因为职业的习惯没有激活装置滤清酒精，薇洛儿小姐她又是为什么呢？）

Millau(Eh, never mind, I shouldn't be probing into that.)（算了，这不是我该探究的事情。）

MillauIs there anything you plan to do after this, Miss Willow?薇洛儿小姐之后有什么打算吗？

Willow...I don't know. Maybe I'll continue walking around outside. I don't know what I should be doing next either.……不知道，可能继续到处走走逛逛吧，我也不知道接下来该做什么。

MillauHow nice! It feels like you don't have any life stress at all! Your employer must be very kind.真好啊，感觉完全没有生活压力呢！你的雇主一定很良心。

Willow(Rather than having no life stress, it would be better to say I'm on the verge of being tossed away... Is there even a reason for unwanted Dolls to exist?)（与其说是没有生活压力，不如说是快被遗弃了吧……不被需要的人形，真的还有存在的意义吗？）

WillowWell, let's leave me aside for now. What are you going to do after this?先不说我啦，你接下来有什么计划吗？

MillauI'll still be running around to try gourmet cuisine, since my backers are starting to press me for more reviews. Granted, I do enjoy the process, hahahaha.我得继续为了品鉴美食而奔波，身后的企业催报告催得可紧了。虽然我本人也很享受这个过程就是了，哈哈哈哈。

WillowHmm... But haven't you traveled all of France already? Are you going to travel it again?唔……你不都已经逛遍整个法国了吗？难不成要再走一遭？

MillauAgain? Non, non, non, I'm done with France. Next on my itinerary is the entire world!再走一遭？不不不，法国已经收尾，接下来我的征途是全世界！

WillowYou're working toward such a well-defined goal. I'm so envious...有坚定的目标可以前进，真让人羡慕啊……

MillauYou must be kidding. Surely everyone has an aim in mind. Don't you, Miss Willow?说笑了，目标这种东西，大家都有的。薇洛儿小姐没有吗？

WillowI do... Or rather, I did... a long time ago.有的吧……在……很久以前。

Willow rests her head on the table. Her cheeks are so red they're practically steaming, and a look of sadness slowly fills her unfocused eyes.薇洛儿下巴搁在桌上，脸颊的红晕呵出了些微热气，迷离的眼眸透着颓丧。

Millau looks like she's about to say something, but then she closes her mouth and remains silent.见状，米约尔张开嘴巴想要说些什么，唇齿几度闭合后归于沉默。

In the end, all her attempts at speech are reduced to simply reaching out and lightly patting Willow on the back.所有的言语最后都化作无声的行动，她伸出手轻轻地拍打了几下薇洛儿的后背。

WillowIt's so hard to work for your dream...为理想努力好难……

MillauMhm.嗯哼。

WillowIt wasn't even my fault to begin with, but why did things end up being pinned onto me!明明是不对的事情，但为什么后面变得好像都是我的错一样！

MillauIt must have been hard.辛苦啦。

WillowFine then, I'll quit! Maybe I WILL take them up on their suggestion and go into public relations! I can excel there too!不干就不干嘛！大不了听他们的安排去公关部门，我也能做得很好！

MillauI'm sure you did your best.你很努力了哟。

Slowly, with Millau soothing her, Willow begins to calm down.慢慢的，在米约尔的安慰下，薇洛儿的情绪波动逐渐平缓。

Willow...But... I guess I still...……但是……但我果然还是……

服务员Sorry to disturb you, ladies. This is Caen-style beef offal, our restaurant's signature dish. Enjoy.打扰二位了。卡昂风格牛内脏，本店特色招牌，请慢用。

MillauAh, this should be the last course, right?啊，这应该是最后一道菜了吧？

MillauCome, Willow. Have a bite to eat and something to drink. The star of the show has arrived!来，薇洛儿，吃点东西喝点水。这可是压轴菜品哦！

Willow sniffles and mumbles a "'kay" under her breath.薇洛儿抽了抽鼻子，哼出了声好。

MillauThat's right, let it aaaall out. There's no end to the bitterness of life, so when you can rest, you should properly enjoy all the flavors that the dining table has to offer.对啦，把烦恼吐出来就好。生活的苦是吃不完的，所以休息的时候，就好好品尝餐桌上的百味吧。

MillauThey say this dish is the masterpiece of the Heikou Caen. Many of my colleagues recommended it to me.这道菜可是平幸卡昂的一绝呢，很多同行朋友都和我推荐了这道菜。

MillauUm... Willow?欸……薇洛儿？

Millau is halfway through picking up the jug to give Willow some warm water when she finds that the latter has stopped eating at some point. Her eyes are brimming with tears.米约尔拿起杯子作势要给薇洛儿添温水，却发现后者不知何时已停下了进食的动作，眼底盈满了水波。

Willow(Sniffle) This dish... (sob)呜……这道菜……呜呜……

MillauAre you alright, Willow?薇洛儿你还好吗？

WillowThis dish... It's just like... (sob) It's just like Uncle Lin's beef tripe...这道菜……和林叔……呜呜呜……和林叔做的牛杂……好像。

WillowIt's good... (sob) It's so good...好吃……呜呜呜……好好吃……

MillauOh, my...哎呀……

Millau puts the jug back down and hurries to take a piece of tissue from her backpack while silently dismissing the waiter with her free hand.放下水壶，米约尔赶忙从背包里拿出纸巾，同时不动声色地挥手示意服务生离开。

WillowI want to go home... (sniffle) I want to eat Uncle Lin's cooking...我想回家了……呜呜呜……我想吃林叔做的菜……

Willow(Sobs) I wanna go home... I wanna go home...呜呜呜……我想回家……我想回去……

MillauOui, oui, oui, we'll go home at once, there's not a moment to delay! I'll book a ticket for you right now!好哒好哒！回去！马上回去，一天都不耽搁！现在我就帮你订机票！

MillauGo on then, tell me where you live! Even if it's in the Antarctic, I'll send you there while fighting off polar bears if I have to!说吧，你家住哪！就是南极我也顶着北极熊给你送过去！

Millau places her cell phone on the table with a thud. The combination of her words and actions startles Willow to her senses and she chokes back her tears. There's a hint of laughter amidst her sobbing.米约尔迅速地把手机拍到餐桌上，这动作和说辞震得薇洛儿蓦地呛声，眼泪被硬生生地憋了回去，哭腔中陡增几分笑意。

WillowPfft... Hehehe... What... hehehe... What the heck... Why would there be polar bears in the Antarctic?噗……咳咳咳……什么……哼哼……什么……什么样的南极会有北极熊啊。

MillauBeats me, I just made it up. I mean, there's a dish by that name, Antarctic Polar Bear Soup.我也不太清楚，瞎说的，有道菜名不就是这样嘛，南极北熊汤。

Willow(Pants)呼……呼……

After a long time, Willow finally manages to regain her composure.好半天，薇洛儿才收拾好自己哭花的脸。

WillowPardon me, it seems I made a fool of myself in front of you.抱歉，让你见笑了。

MillauOh, it's no problem. We're tablemates, after all.没关系，谁让我们现在是饭友呢。

MillauAlso, taking care of her companion is basic etiquette for an elegant lady~而且，照顾同伴可是优雅淑女的基本礼节~

WillowThank you, Millau.谢谢你，米约尔。

WillowPerhaps this meal might not have meant a lot to you, but it was very important to me.今天的邀饭可能对你来说是一件微不足道的小事，但对我来说却很重要。

MillauI'm just glad I could help. It gladdens the heart to see others enjoying one's dishes, after all.能有帮助就再好不过了，制作美味的人也会为你高兴哦。

Willow...You're right. I need to thank the chef too.……你说得对，我还得谢谢这道菜的厨师。

Willow calls the waiter over and after tipping him while addressing him in French, she adds a few words of thanks in Chinese.薇洛儿唤来服务生，用法语递交了小费的同时，并用中文说了句感谢语。

服务员Um! Thank you for your kindness, mademoiselle, but... What did those last few words mean?呃！谢谢这位美丽可爱小姐的馈赠，不过……最后这句话的意思是？

服务员Pardon me, but I'm not very good at Chinese.很抱歉，我的中文不是很熟练。

MillauNo problem, I'll translate for you.没有关系，我来给你翻译吧。

After recalling what Willow said, Millau carefully considers her choice of words and repeats her statement in French.回忆了一下薇洛儿方才的发言，米约尔仔细斟酌着词句，逐一用法语将原话复述。

MillauThank you for the dishes you made. They helped me see the streets of my hometown and the elders who are important to me. I offer this humble gift in the hopes that you will continue making ever more delicious food.谢谢你做的菜，让我看见了故乡的街道还有重要的长辈，这是我微不足道的谢礼，希望以后你能做出更美味的饭食。

服务员And we are grateful to you as well, generous miss. We are very happy that you experienced such joy in our establishment. I will convey your well wishes to the chef as they were told to me, and I hope you will have happy days ahead of you.我也感谢您，慷慨的小姐。我们很高兴您能在餐厅里收获这份特别的喜悦。您的祝福我会如实转达给这道菜的厨师，祝您生活愉快。

MillauHow's that? Did I get it right?怎么样！我翻译得对吗？

WillowThat's amazing, were you self-taught? If I'm not wrong, food-taster Dolls aren't equipped with polyglot modules.很厉害，是自学的吗？我记得美食品鉴师人形应该没有搭载多语言功能模块。

MillauThat's right, I learned it myself.没错！是自学的。

MillauAlthough the company doesn't have plans for it yet, learning foreign languages is essential for a gourmand whose ambition is to try food from around the world!虽然企业还没有相关的计划，但作为立志要吃遍全世界的美食家，学好外语可是一件必须的事情！

MillauChinese took me forever to learn! There are so many tongue-twisting phrases in it, especially that one you said just now, er...中文我可是学了好久呢！好多词汇都很拗口，特别是你刚刚说的那个……那个……

Millau frowns a little.米约尔微微蹙起了眉头。

MillauSeeing the streets of my hometown and the elders who are important to me...看见了故乡的街道还有重要的长辈……

MillauThat's not right, I had that dish too, and I'm pretty sure there were no hallucinogens in it... And even if there were, they shouldn't have had an effect on neural cloud systems.不对啊，我吃过这道菜，里面也没有致幻成分……就算有也不可能对心智系统起效才是。

Millau tentatively scoops up a spoonful of the broth.米约尔试探性地舀起一勺酱汁品了品。

WillowWhat's the matter? What are you talking about, Millau?怎么了吗？米约尔，你在说什么？

Millau...I was just wondering if the restaurant spiked their food. Ah, I didn't mean to make fun of you.……我在想店家是不是给这道菜下药了。啊，没有嘲笑你的意思哦。

MillauIt's just that I've been a gourmet for a long time now, but I've never seen anyone react that strongly to food, and certainly not to the point where they'd see their homes and ancestors.只是我当了这么久的美食家，还从未见过有人因为食物情绪变化得如此激烈，更不要说看到故乡和长辈什么的。

MillauIt all sounds so surreal.听起来总觉得很离奇。

WillowPfft... It's not what you're thinking. Hm... How should I explain this.噗……不是你想的那种见到啦，嗯……怎么说呢。

WillowFood is a very special thing to the Chinese. I guess I've been infected by it too since I've stayed there for so long.食物对于中国人来说，是很特别的东西吧，在那片土地上生活久了，我也被感染了一二。

WillowThis dish is a lot like the signature item of an eatery I used to visit often, and the boss was a mean-looking old guy who was actually really sweet.这道菜很像我以前常去的一家饭店的招牌菜，老板是一个看起来很凶实际上很可爱的中年大叔。

WillowWhat I ate tonight reminded me of that time, and it reminded me that I've been away for too long and that I ought to go back and look around.这道菜让我想起了那段时光，也提醒了我离乡太久了，该回去看看了。

MillauHm—唔——

MillauI still don't quite understand. Is Chinese food really that amazing? Or is this that Oriental logic you were talking about just now at work?我还是有点没办法理解。中国菜有这么厉害吗？还是说这是你之前讲的东方的思维在作祟？

WillowA bit of both, I guess. Also, Chinese food IS amazing! I daresay that it's the best in the world!二者皆有吧，而且，中国菜本来就很厉害呀！它敢说二，世界上没有哪个菜系敢说一呢。

WillowTake that eatery I was talking about just now for example. It's located in a super secluded place and doesn't have normal business hours, but the boss' skills were so good that he could set up shop in a bustling city and attract a crowd of die-hard customers.就像我刚刚说的这家店一样，它是一个非常非常偏僻，开门时间也不符合正常作息的饭馆，但老板就是凭着一手好厨艺，立足在了繁华的大都市里，还吸引了很多死忠的顾客。

WillowIf I hadn't left that place, I'd probably be eating there now.如果我没有离开那里的话，现在说不定就在饭馆里用餐。

MillauSo it's that amazing, huh...这么厉害啊……

Millau nods, though whether or not she actually understands what Willow is saying remains to be seen. Her gaze turns to the list of exquisite dishes that fill her cell phone's screen.米约尔似懂非懂点了点头，目光重新落在了屏幕中满满当当的美食品鉴列表上。

MillauIn that case... You should take me home with you, Willow!既然如此……那薇洛儿你带我一起回家吧！

WillowEh... EHHHHHHH!?欸……欸？！！！

WillowIs... Is that really alright? Although... Although I heard the French are all outgoing and passionate, this is a little too...这……这不太好吧？虽……虽然我是有听说法国人很热情，但这怎么说也……

MillauI want to try the food that Uncle Lin of yours makes! A secluded little eatery boasting such amazing dishes is like one of those old monks sweeping the floor in a monastery who's actually a super badass in disguise, like in those Chinese stories!我很想试试你说的这个林叔做的菜！偏僻的小饭馆却有着超厉害的招牌菜，简直就像是中国小说里那种扫地僧一样嘛！

MillauPlus, I've always thought Chinese food had an inflated reputation, like how those movies and animes show people ripping their clothes off and their faces contorting in delight when they take a mouthful of it, as if they were drugged.而且，以前我一直都以为中国菜是吹出来的，你看那些影视作品，只是吃个饭而已动不动就撕衣服，表情扭曲，跟下了药一样。

MillauBut when I saw you today, I began to think... Maybe it might be real!但今天看到了你，我感觉……那些东西可能都是真的！

Millau suddenly lunges forward and grabs Willow's hands, her eyes aglow with an indescribable longing as she stares eagerly at Willow's face.米约尔突然握住了薇洛儿的手掌，身体前倾，双眸闪烁着难以言喻的渴求，一动不动地从下方紧盯薇洛儿的脸庞。

MillauI want to try it! I really want to try it! That amazing Chinese food of yours!我想吃！超想吃！厉害的中国菜！

WillowEr... Of... Of course, no problem.呃……当……当然没问题。

MillauIt's a deal, then! Since you want to go home too, I'll go book tickets for the two of us. Now when's the next flight to China from Carpiquet Airport in Caen...那就这么说定了！刚好薇洛儿你也想回家了，我现在就定机票，卡昂加布里克最近飞往中国的班机是几点来着？

WillowHahaha... You're moving too soon! No need to rush, Millau.哈哈哈……太快啦！米约尔，不用着急的。

MillauHm... You're right, I was being too abrupt.呼……你说得对，是我唐突了。

WillowYup, we'll finish the food here first, and then...对嘛，我们先把这里的菜吃完，然后……

MillauI hear about how there's all kinds of pre-meal rituals before you get to eat when it comes to Chinese cuisine, so I suppose it was a mistake on my part to have hustled you so hard when I don't even know how the process works.我听说吃中国菜之前都要焚香沐浴，我现在什么流程都还没有了解，这么匆忙就让你领路确实太失礼了。

MillauHow about this, Willow—tell me all about all the rituals and materials needed to prepare yourself to eat Chinese food and I'll make a list of them.这样，薇洛儿，你把吃中国菜以前需要准备的材料和仪式都告诉我，我先去打点好它们。

Willow...I told you, it's not what you're thinking!……所以说不是你想的那样啦！！

Culinary Arts 庖艺

Jinghai City, at the Dongqiao International Airport.静海市，东桥国际机场。

Two girls disembark from their plane, walking side by side. One of them is perky and excited, while the other looks sleepy.两位少女并肩走下飞机，一人神采奕奕，一人神色困顿。

MillauWake up, Willow, wake up! We've made it past customs!醒醒，薇洛儿，醒醒，我们出安检了！

WillowI know... (yawn)我知道啦——哈欠——

MillauHmph, You're a mess!唔——你现在这个样子太邋遢啦！

MillauIt's rude to go around outside looking like that, you know, both for yourself and for others.顶着这个形象在外走动很不礼貌哟，不管是对自己还是对别人。

Millau puts down her suitcase and raises Willow's arms before issuing orders in an unquestionable tone.放下行李箱，米约尔抬起了薇洛儿的双臂，用不容置疑的口吻下达命令。

MillauNow stand still and don't move. I'll clean you up.抬好别动，我来给你打理。

MillauIt's one thing to not wear makeup, but if you're going around barefaced, then you need to take care of it too.不补妆就算了，裸露在外的皮肤还是要清理的。

MillauEspecially in a place where people come and go like an airport—you need to pay attention to hygiene! You can't be careless just because you just woke up.机场人来人往，尤其需要注意卫生情况！不能因为刚从休眠状态醒来就疏忽哦。

Millau tugs and pulls on Willow like a marionette and the latter slowly comes to her senses.薇洛儿像个木偶一样被米约尔拉扯着上下擦拭，意识也逐渐清醒。

MillauAaaaand done! I'll give you a box of Doll cleaning goods when I go back.搞定！回头我再送你一箱人形专用保洁工具。

Willow...Thank you, although I think most Dolls don't need stuff that's so extreme.……谢谢，虽然我觉得可能大部分人形都用不上这么夸张的东西。

Willow sounds a little deflated.薇洛儿的声音有气无力。

MillauI've been meaning to ask, but why do you look so lifeless? You fell asleep shortly after getting on the plane. Are you not used to long journeys?刚才我就想问了，你怎么这么没精神呀，上飞机没多久就进入休眠状态了。难道你不习惯长途旅行吗？

WillowMaybe it's because I haven't rested properly over the past few days. Whenever I thought about how I'd be coming back here, my heart filled up with conflicting emotions...可能是因为这几天都没有好好休息。想到马上要回到这里，我就觉得心情复杂……

MillauAhah! I get it! I felt the same way too when I just arrived at Caen, like the city was waiting for my return.啊哈！我懂！刚到卡昂的时候我也是这样，总觉得这座城市在等待我回来一样。

Willow...Millau, I'm really impressed by how you can describe things in a way that seem almost the same but are different in subtle yet important ways.……米约尔总是能说出有些类似，但又有点微妙偏差的形容呢。

WillowIf I had to describe it with a local saying, then I suppose it would be "feeling uneasy as you approach your home."用这边的成语来说明的话，准确的形容应该是近乡情怯。

MillauHmm? Is that how it is? Well, that doesn't matter.嗯哼？是这样的吗？哎呀，那些都不重要。

MillauThere are soooo many restaurants here, which one should we visit first!?这里有这么多的餐厅，我们该去哪一家先试试水呢？！

WillowNaturally, the answer is—none of them! Let me teach you an ancient, unchangeable truth—当然是——哪一家都不要尝试啦！让我教给你一条亘古不变的真理——

WillowIn any city, the airport restaurants serve the least edible food at the most expensive prices!不管什么城市，飞机场里的餐厅都是最难吃而且最贵的！

MillauEst-ce vrai? I thought things were different here. I mean there are many more restaurant signboards here than in France! And the illustrations on them look so tempting too!诶诶？——我还以为这里会不太一样呢，明明就连餐厅的招牌也比法国多得多呀！而且招牌上的图样看起来也很诱人！

WillowTrust me, once you've seen the eateries at one airport, you've seen them all.相信我，在有关于机场方面的餐饮服务上，哪个国家都半斤八两。

WillowAs an ace reporter... As a former ace reporter who's been there and done that, you can take it to heart.作为……作为曾经四处走访的金牌记者，这点发言权我还是有的啦。

WillowIn any case, let's get to the city first. If you want to understand Chinese cooking, then I suggest you read this.总之我们先进入市区吧，如果你实在是想先了解一下中国菜的话，建议你先看看这个。

Willow hands Millau a travel brochure from a nearby rack.薇洛儿随手从一旁的架子上拿过一册旅游宣传画。

MillauAlright, this is your turf, so we'll play by your rules.好吧，这里是你的地盘，你说了算。

MillauWill we be looking up this Uncle Lin of yours once we enter the city? I can't wait to see him.我们进入市区以后是直接去找林叔吗？我已经快等不及了。

MillauWhile I've never seen those teppanyaki or egg pancakes or soup-filled dumplings or whatnot before, just hearing your stories is making my neural cloud press me for a meeting!之前你告诉我的那些铁板烧，蛋饼，灌汤包小笼包什么的，虽然还没见过实物图，不过我的心智系统已经在催促我了！

MillauI! Want! To! Eat!我！要！吃！饭！

WillowCalm down.你先别急啦。

Willow opens up the complimentary lollipop from the airline and pops it into Millau's mouth.薇洛儿撕开空乘赠送的棒棒糖塞进了米约尔嘴里。

WillowUncle Lin's restaurant only opens at night. Honestly, I told you so much earlier, but the only thing on your mind is eating.林叔的饭馆晚上才开门，明明之前和你介绍了那么多东西，结果你就只记得吃的。

Millau(Pouts) It must be because of the time difference! That's right, I'm sure it's because of the timezone. I haven't adjusted to it yet, so my body thinks it's nighttime.唔唔唔……因为时差啦，没错！一定是因为时差的缘故，我还没适应过来，以为已经到晚上了。

Millau glances at the clock out of the corner of her eye, then tugs on Willow's sleeve and gives her the most pitiful puppy eyes she can muster.用眼角的余光瞟了眼时钟，米约尔扯住薇洛儿的袖子，故意作出了可怜兮兮的样子。

MillauBut it's SO early, surely you won't let me starve until nighttime, will you?可现在也太早了，你总不能让我一直饿到晚上吧？

MillauPlease, ma cherie Willow, I bought you a generous meal, you know!拜托，亲爱的薇，我可是请你吃了好一顿大餐！

Willow can't help but laugh as she takes in Millau's attitude, as though it's helped her recover more of her emotions.米约尔的姿态让薇洛儿不自觉地笑出了声，她好像找回了更多的情绪。

Before the setback, Willow had lived every day full of drive and energy.在那一次打击之前，让薇洛儿每天都充满干劲，活力十足地过好每一天的高昂情绪。

WillowOf course, how could I let a food buddy go hungry? Although I haven't thought everything through yet, I've already decided what I want to do first!当然，我怎么会让饭友饿着呢？虽然还没有想通一些事情，不过我已经决定要先做点什么了！

WillowI want to revisit my days as a reporter, starting with a special article on haute cuisine.就从做一期美食专题开始吧，我想重温一下当初当记者的日子。

WillowHow about it? Are you interested in delving into this city with me and embarking on a gastronomic adventure?怎么样，有兴趣跟我一起深入这座城市来一次愉快的美食探险吗？

MillauJ'ai la banane! On y va~!好耶！我们走我们走~！

Willow takes out a camera that has languished in her backpack for a very long time.薇洛儿拿出了放在背包里不知多久没有见到阳光的相机。

Culinary Arts 庖艺

Jinghai City, on Qilou Old Street.静海市，骑楼老街。

It is evening and the stuffy air that fills the crowded street seems to be trying to hold back the coming of the night with its clamor.时值黄昏，车水马龙的街景滞涩了此间的空气，像是想要用喧闹留住脚步匆匆的日落。

From roast meat stalls to push carts hawking hand-made snacks, all manner of unique-looking food outlets decorate this corner of the streets, and a hunger-inducing aroma combines with the shouts of the vendors to produce an atmosphere that is unique to city life.烧烤摊、手作推车、三三两两的美食铺姿态各异地占据着街道的一角，馋人的香味与卖力的吆喝缠牵交织成了人间独有的烟火气。

WillowTadaaah! Here it is!铛铛！就是这里啦！

WillowQilou Old Street is the most famous foodie spot in all of Jinghai City. Not only does it feature local delicacies, even famous dishes from other places have authentic restaurants here!骑楼老街可是静海市最有名的美食街啦，不仅是本地的特色小吃，就连外地的名菜这里都有可称地道正宗的铺子！

WillowAre you ready!? I'm going to take you eating from one end of the street to the other!准备好了吗？！我这就带你从街头吃到巷尾！

WillowMillau?米约尔？

Millau(Heaves)呃——呕——

WillowAre you alright, Millau? What's wrong with you? Did your systems malfunction?没事吧？米约尔？你怎么了？系统出故障了吗？

Millau backs far away from the entrance and waves Willow over.米约尔朝远离街口的方向退了一大步，对薇洛儿连连摆手。

After that, she takes a pack of tissues from her bag and vigorously rubs her mouth.接着她从背包里拿出纸巾，用力地擦了擦嘴巴。

MillauSo the gourmet stalls you were talking about are places that just... just expose their kitchens to the street? Like this?你说的美食铺子，就是这种……直接把厨房暴露在大街上的地方？

MillauAnd there are so many people watching! Surely it must be terribly unhygienic, right?而且还有这么多人在围观！这也太脏了吧！

WillowUm... These stalls are all really clean, though. I mean, just look at the glass panels and the hot cases, they have permits to operate issued by the local health authorities and hygiene inspection seals on them.呃……这些摊子都很干净的，你仔细看橱窗还有烤架，上面贴的是食品经营许可证，还有卫生检查的盖章。

WillowRoadside stalls are a pretty common form of eating establishment, and a lot of people grew up eating that way, but I guess you can't quite accept that?路边摊其实是很常见的一种店铺形式，好多人都是从小吃到大的，你不太能接受吗？

MillauI'm sorry... I've seen places like these on the streets of France, but hygiene conditions like these are just...抱歉……虽然我也有在法国街边见过，但这种卫生情况，我无论如何都……

Before she can finish, Millau's face turns pale again.话音未落，米约尔的脸色再次变得惨白。

MillauMon dieu! He's lit the fire, he's starting to cook.天啊！他开锅了，他点火了。

MillauHe's stir-frying the food right there on the street! Won't the dust and other things get in it!?竟然直接就在大街边上炒菜，街边的灰尘什么的不都进去了吗？！

路边摊主Yo~ Yeah, that little foreign missy over there who's freaking out over nothing.喔~少见多怪的外国大小姐。

路边摊主Isn't food the same no matter where you cook it? The kids eat it all up even when you cook it in a stall.炒粉炒饭在哪儿炒不都一样？搁店里炒小年轻们还不乐意吃呢。

路边摊主People nowadays are always complaining about how microwaves and the like don't have any wok hei to them. Haiyah! Food without wok hei is even less healthy than that!现在的人啊，都嫌电磁炉啥的做出来没有锅气，嗨！没有锅气的饭菜那更不健康。

The middle-aged man readjusts the cigarette in his mouth with a grunt, and as Millau watches in horror, he accurately tosses the butt into the bin with his left hand and skillfully dumps the fried vermicelli into the porcelain bowl in front of him.大叔叼着烟嘿了一声，在米约尔惊恐的目光中，左手精准地将烟蒂扔进垃圾桶里，同时右手还恰到好处地将炒粉颠进边上的瓷碗中。

路边摊主Want some?来一份不？

The mouthwatering aroma of the fried vermicelli reaches Millau's nose and she subconsciously gulps.色香味俱全的炒粉被递到了米约尔的跟前，少女下意识咽了口口水。

The temptation of this delectable cuisine is eating away at her neural cloud systems, but her cleanliness-obsessed personality is doing its best to keep Millau from sliding down that slippery slope.美食的诱惑正在侵蚀她的心智系统，而洁癖根深蒂固的性格特征则在拼命阻止米约尔底线的滑坡。

MillauI...我……

Willow...Teehee.……嘻嘻。

Willow giggles quietly and she squats down, her camera ready, waiting for the right moment to press the shutter.薇洛儿轻咬下唇窃窃笑了起来，她蹲到一旁，举起相机，等待着按下快门的时机。

路边摊主Come on, dearie. Eat up, it's good.来咯噻，小丫头，好吃的哈。

The older man holds up the bowl before Millau. Her eyes are fixed solidly on it, shifting slightly with the food's movements.大叔拿着碗在米约尔跟前不住地晃悠，少女的瞳孔中心也对准了碗不断地移动着。

But just as Millau is about to give in and accept, the girl notices a change in the man.就在米约尔彻底动摇的前夕，堪堪将要说出好字时，少女敏锐地注意到了大叔身上的改变。

MillauYou... you... you...你……你……你……

路边摊主Say what?咋了噻？

MillauYou're actually smoking while serving the food!你竟然在上菜的时候抽烟！

Millau(Heaves) I can't take it any more!呕——我不行了——！

Culinary Arts 庖艺

Jinghai City, in a chain hotel.静海市，连锁酒楼。

Graceful music plays in a brightly-lit hall, which has guests scattered throughout it.优雅的音乐，明亮的大堂，还有小猫三两只的零星顾客。

Faced with Millau's unrelenting insistence, Willow has no choice but to temporarily delay their plan as she accompanies Millau to a hotel of her choice.在米约尔的不懈坚持下，薇洛儿只能暂缓预定的计划，领着米约尔来到了一家她自行决定的餐厅。

MillauWhew — I'm alive again.呼——活过来了。

MillauNow THIS is a place for dining. That uncle just now was just too scary.这才是吃饭的地方，刚才的大叔实在是太恐怖了。

Millau(Winces) No, no, no, I can't let myself recall it. I feel like my hard disk and my appetite were both dirtied by it.嘶——不行不行，不能再回忆了，感觉我的存储硬盘连带着食欲都要脏了。

Willow(Sigh) You don't get it, roadside stalls are where you find the essence of good food.唉……你不明白，路边的小摊才是美食的精髓所在。

WillowIndividual chefs often have their own secret skills that make them famous but are never passed on to outsiders.作为个体厨师，能做出名气的，往往都有密不外传的特殊技巧。

MillauYou mean like those master martial artists and their hidden skills? Um... That kind of makes sense... But hotels like this are also rated highly, right?就像武林高手的秘籍一样？唔……你这么一说倒是……但这家酒楼的评分也很高嘛。

WillowWell, just take restaurants like this for example, especially when it comes to franchise outlets. While their quality is generally above average, it's hard to say that anything they produce is really outstanding.像这样的餐厅，尤其是连锁餐厅，虽然餐品质量上乘，但是却很难说有出彩的美食。

MillauReally? I mean, I'm not doubting you, but what you're saying runs completely counter to common sense.真的吗？不是我想要怀疑，但你说的实在是太反直觉了。

MillauSo the pinnacles of taste hide in roadside stalls, while lavish restaurants like this are just average? I... I find that a little hard to believe.街边的小摊藏着人间至味，这样华丽的酒楼却餐品平平？嗯……不太能相信。

WillowYou'll know once you try it. There, the food's arrived. Let's get started.你试一下就知道了，喏，菜也上来了，我们开动吧。

MillauYup~! It smells great! Hang on, let me guess what we're having!嗯~——！好香！先等等，让我对着菜单的名字猜一下！

MillauThis is Jinghai's crispy pork hooves, this is sweet and sour pork with pineapple, these are fried onion pancakes, and those are black bean paste pork ribs!这个是静海酥咸蹄，这个是菠萝咕咾肉，这个是农家葱油饼，这个是豆豉排骨！

WillowIndeed. Although the exact ingredients aren't quite the same, the fact that you know their names is already quite impressive in itself.没错，虽然菜品本身差别就挺大的，不过你能准确对上名字，确实不容易。

MillauHehe, of course! I'm a famous gourmand, you know. I take food and eating seriously.嘿嘿，那当然！我可是赫赫有名的美食家，食物和我的羁绊可不是开玩笑的。

WillowOh? Then what's this?哦？那这个是什么？

Willow takes the lid off a bowl beside Millau's hand.薇洛儿顺手揭开了米约尔手边的碗盖。

MillauHm... Let me think... It's white, and comes in little lumps...呃……我想想……白色的，一颗一颗的……

MillauI've got it! This is the legendary plebian's breakfast—meat wontons!我知道了！这是传说中的便民早餐——鲜肉小馄饨！

Willow...Nope. These are glutinous rice balls fermented in wine.……不，这是酒酿小圆子。

MillauEhhh!? C'est pas vrai!? Are you kidding me!?噫？！真的吗！？你没有骗我？！

WillowHow could wontons be so tiny? They'd slip out through the gaps in your teeth.怎么可能会有这么丁点大的馄饨，塞牙缝都不够。

Willow resists the urge to laugh as she helps ladle the rice balls into her bowl and hands over a pair of chopsticks.薇洛儿忍笑帮她把酒酿圆子舀进碗里，顺便抽出了筷子。

WillowThis... Well, this is the first time I've seen someone call fermented rice balls... wontons... Pfft... Pfhahahaah (chokes)我……还是第一次见到有人把酒酿小圆子……称作馄饨……噗嗤……哈哈哈哈咳咳。

MillauHEY! Don't laugh at me!呜——！不准笑话我！

Willow(Coughs) No, no, not at all. By the way, do you know how to use chopsticks?咳——！没有没有，那个，筷子你会用吗？

MillauHumph. I can learn right now. There's no eating utensil I don't know how to use!哼，不会我可以现学，只要是餐具，就没有我不会的！

WillowChopsticks are pretty tricky, you know. Don't force yourself if you can't do it. You can download a chopstick tutorial from the net.筷子还是蛮复杂的，如果学不会不要逞强，可以连网下载筷子使用教程。

MillauDon't look down on me! I'm a veteran independent food connoisseur who's been everywhere!不要小看我哟！我可是走南闯北，独当一面的美食家！

WillowThen by all means, regale me with your spectacular skills.那我就先期待一下你的表演好了。

10 minutes later...十分钟后——

MillauWillow, could you ask the waiter for a fork?薇洛儿，你帮我找服务生要个叉子好不好呀。

WillowBahahahahahaha!哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈。

MillauQuit laughing! And what did you do just now?不准笑！还有你在干嘛啦！

WillowOh, I was just taking a picture of the food, don't worry about it. This is... pffft... Ahem, it's a local custom. Right. Everyone loves taking pictures of their food.给食物拍个照而已，你不要多想，这是……噗嗤……咳，这是这里的习惯，对，大家都喜欢给吃的拍照。

MillauUgh—You're all too evil. Chopsticks are in no way an eating implement!呜——你们太可恶了，筷子这种东西，根本不是吃饭用的餐具嘛！

MillauIt's actuating too many parts in my hands and my drivers keep throwing up errors. Are you sure it's not something meant for training kung fu?手部要运转的零件太多了，程序一直在报错，这真的不是练习功夫用的教具吗！

Millau indignantly forks a piece of meat into her mouth.米约尔愤愤不平地用叉子将肉块塞入嘴中。

MillauKnives and forks are the true doctrine. Chopsticks and whatnot are heresy!刀叉才是正统，筷子什么的都是异端！

MillauAs I thought, good food is the only thing that will never betray your neural cloud. I'm going to use it to cure this little upset.果然只有美食才是心智一心一意的好朋友，我要用它来治愈我的小情绪。

WillowYou might end up disappointed, though.那恐怕要让你失望啦。

MillauSurely not! I mean, it tastes pretty good... Hm... Huh?没有啊！尝上去味道还不错……唔……咦？

MillauThe taste... It's kind of bland. There's no depth to it. It tastes just like pork with sweet and sour sauce... This sort of cooking is just too crude and slapdash.味道……好单调，一点层次感都没有。甜酸酱汁混合着猪肉，这种烹饪方式太敷衍粗暴了。

MillauHow could this be? It looked and smelled pretty good...怎么会这样，明明外观和气味的感触都还不错……

WillowIt doesn't smell of smoke or fire, and no local special techniques went into making it. Still, it's to be expected of food that rolled off an assembly line.没有烟火气，也没有独属于地域的特殊技巧，这种就是流水线上生产出来的食物，倒也在预料之内啦。

MillauBut the information I found doesn't say anything like that. Isn't sweet and sour pork a traditional dish of this country's southeast?可是，我查到的消息不是这么说的，咕咾肉不是这个国家东南方的传统名菜吗？

WillowThe same recipe produces a completely different dish when made by a different chef. That's one of the special features of Chinese cuisine.一样的菜谱，不同的厨师，可能会做出完全不同菜系的餐点，这也是中国菜比较特殊的地方啦。

WillowThe recipe data over here isn't as exact as in French restaurants. Things like a spoonful, half a bowl to taste, that sort of thing—it means the data is vague and the skill of the chef is what sets them apart from the pack.这边的菜谱工序上的数据不像法餐那样精细，动辄一勺、半碗、少许等，数据模糊，全靠厨师的技艺拉开差距。

WillowYou're right to say sweet and sour pork is a traditional dish from this region, but it's like taking pictures; different people will achieve different results even though they're photographing the same subject.咕咾肉的确是东南方的传统名菜没错啦，但这个东西就像拍照，即使是同一个目标，不同的人也会拍出截然不同的效果。

Saying so, Willow hands over three pictures.说着，薇洛儿递上了三张照片。

WillowAs you can see, all of them are of you learning how to use chopsticks. One of them shows a klutz and another shows a hard worker.你看，明明拍摄的都是同样在学习使用筷子的你，一个看起来就很笨蛋，一个看起来就很努力。

MillauHumph! So you WERE secretly taking pictures of me just now... Hm, no, wait. There's another picture here.哼！你刚刚果然在偷拍我……咦，不对，这还有一张。

WillowThis one shows a hardworking little oaf~还有一张是一个看起来很努力的笨蛋~

Millau...I didn't think you'd be like this, Willow. You were so cute when you were down in the dumps.……没想到你是这样的薇洛儿，明明消沉不说话的时候还是很可爱的。

WillowHehe, sorry about that, I couldn't resist.嘿嘿，对不起，一个没忍住。

WillowAnyway, do you get it now? Pictures are all about framing and the balance of light and darkness, just like Chinese cuisine. There are many different paths one can follow and these things aren't just reflected in the cooking process.所以你明白了吗？照片讲究构图和光影，中国菜也是一样，里面的门道是很多的，而且这些东西还不只是体现在工序上。

WillowThe prevailing food theory on your end seems to be "ingredients should be fresh and courses should be distinct." However, it's not the same over here. We don't just take "colors, scent, shape, taste, and nutritional value" into account, but we also infuse our food with feeling, history, and culture.你那边的主流理论是“菜生而鲜，食分而餐。”但这边不同，我们不仅关注“色香形味器”，在此之上更是为其赋予了诸多情感，历史和文化。

MillauHm...唔……

The spoon rises to Millau's mouth and she shakes her head.米约尔含着汤匙，摇了摇头。

MillauIt feels like you're making food sound so complicated, what with all this stuff about story and feelings and culture.感觉你们把食物讲的好复杂，什么故事，情怀，历史文化。

MillauBut food is food! Does it taste good or not? It's that simple. I get the feeling that you're just messing with me.可是食物就是食物啊！好吃，不好吃，就这么简单，我现在感觉你是在忽悠我了。

MillauEverything you said just now sounded like a sales pitch...这套说辞好像营销……

Saying so, Millau samples a spoonful of the wine-fermented rice balls and wrinkles her brows.说着，米约尔舀起一勺酒酿圆子品了品，眉头微蹙。

Millau(Sigh) I'm starting to miss caviar.唉，我开始想念我的鱼子酱了。

WillowThere, there. Uncle Lin's cooking will satisfy you for sure. It's about time, we should be off.安啦，林叔的菜会让你满意的，时间也差不多了，我们该走了。

MillauHang on, I haven't finished eating yet.先等等，我还没吃完。

WillowHm? I thought you didn't like it? Also, we can bag it up to go.呃，你不是不喜欢吗？而且实在不行还可以打包外带。

MillauFinishing what a chef brings you with gratitude is a basic courtesy to the chef and also a critical form of professional etiquette for a gastronomist.把厨师呈上来的食物饱含感激地吃完是对厨师的基本尊重，也是美食家必要的职业道德。

MillauAnd while it does taste quite ordinary... It's still something I must do.虽然口感真的很一般，但……这是我必须做的事情。

MillauAnd bagging it up is out of the question. That would make an already average texture downright disastrous. Give me a while longer, Willow. I'll be done soon.外带那就更不行了，那会让本就一般的口感变得极其糟糕。等我一下吧，薇洛儿，我很快结束。

Willow scratches her head, and then decides to go wait off to the side with her camera in hand.薇洛儿挠了挠头，端着相机蹲到了一旁。

WillowWhile I don't quite get it... I guess I should at least take a picture of you taking your job seriously!虽然不是很理解……不过我还是先把你敬业工作的场景拍下来好了！

After eating her fill, Millau totters out of the restaurant, dragging her wheeled suitcase behind her as she walks with Willow's support.酒足饭饱后，米约尔在薇洛儿搀扶下撑着拉杆箱，踉踉跄跄地走出餐厅的通道。

WillowAre you alright? Do you want to go back to the hotel to rest for a bit?没关系吗？要不还是先回酒店休息一下吧？

MillauNo... (burp) I'm fine...没有……嗝儿……关系……

MillauWhew. I'm alright, I'm equipped with a special digestive system, it's just that the stuff I ate today was a little... (urp)...呼——没事的，我搭载了独特的食物消化系统，只是今天吃的实在有点……嗝儿……

MillauWas a little bit much, so the system is taking some time to cope. Sorry, but I think I should go stand aside for a bit. It would be terribly unladylike to go around in this state.有点多，系统一时半会运转不过来。抱歉，我先站一会儿，这样走路实在是太不优雅了。

As Willow looks on worriedly, Millau closes her eyes. While she digests her food, she browses through her system's library of tastes for the flavors she encountered just now.在薇洛儿担忧的目光中，米约尔闭上了眼睛，一边消化着食物，一边在系统中回访先前品尝的每一丝味道。

Millau(There really IS a big difference. The ingredients are the same, but the taste is worlds apart...)（差别真的很大啊，同样的食材，味道天差地别……）

MillauI think I might need a drink to help it all go down.我觉得我可能得喝点什么消消食。

WillowYou're going to stuff your tummy with even more things?你竟然还想着往肚子里塞东西？

MillauI AM a gastronomist Doll, after all. I have systems to deal with food, so digesting it is no problem at all.我可是美食品鉴师人形，食物有固定的系统处理，消化什么的当然不在话下。

MillauRight now, however, the more important thing is to have something I like to soothe my poor unsatisfied taste modules!这时候更重要的是——来点喜欢的食物慰藉一下得不到满足的味觉系统！

WillowFair enough, that's a blind spot in my knowledge. What do you want?好吧，这就是我的知识盲区了，你想来点什么？

MillauAn apple brandy, for starters. And some Brittany buckwheat crepes would be even better.苹果酒吧，要是再来一份布列塔尼荞麦煎饼就更好了。

MillauI always have them with every meal.我每次吃完饭都会来份这个搭配。

WillowUm... I don't think we have anything like that here.呃……我们这里好像没有这种东西。

MillauEh?诶？

Millau freezes, and she unconsciously looks around.米约尔愣住了，目光下意识往外看去。

The novel sensation of coming to a new country after disembarking from a plane is long gone, and Millau, who was insulated from the outside world by sitting in a restaurant, has completely failed to notice the shift in her feelings.飞机落地异国的新鲜感早已散去，坐在餐厅与外界景光的隔绝让米约尔全然没有意识到心态上的变化。

Up till now, she was subconsciously assuming that she was still in France.她潜意识仍旧以为自己还在法国的土地上。

Willow...Millau?……米约尔？

MillauI...我……

Unfamiliar buildings, rapid, interspersed bursts of Chinese, and the passersby who look far removed from what she knows...陌生的建筑，嘈杂的中文，还有体态外貌特征相去甚远的行人。

Millau's neural cloud systems seem to freeze up for a moment.米约尔的心智系统如同停滞了一瞬。

MillauThat's right... I came to China with you.对喔……我出来了，我和你来到中国了。

It's not like Millau isn't experienced with long journeys. She DID travel all of France, after all.米约尔并非没有远行的经历，她曾走访了一整个法国。

However, she always managed to find something familiar no matter where she went, just like how there were little eateries scattered throughout China's cities, no matter their size.然而不管她在哪里，米约尔都能在当地找到一些熟悉的东西，就像中国的大小城市都有某某小吃一样。

But this is different.可这次不一样。

MillauSo... There's no apple brandy or buckwheat crepes here...所以……这里没有煎饼和苹果酒啊……

WillowWell, we have pancakes, but they might not be like the kind you're thinking of.煎饼倒是有，但可能和你想的不太一样……

MillauUm... Forget it, then! I'm almost fully recovered now. Let's go look for this Uncle Lin of yours!唔……那就算了！这会儿也差不多缓过来了，我们直接去找林叔吧！

As she follows behind Willow, Millau suddenly recalls how Willow's eyes were filled with tears as she ate.缀在薇洛儿的身后，米约尔脑海中突然浮现不久以前薇洛儿一边吃饭一边落泪的模样。

At that moment, the hazy barrier keeping Millau from understanding Chinese food seems to have cleared up a little.在这一刹，米约尔面前关于食物那模糊不清的壁障似乎稍微清晰了一些。

MillauSo they put their feelings, their history and culture into food... Hm?给食物，赋予了诸多情感，历史和文化……吗？

New Taste 尝鲜

Jinghai City, on a residential street.静海市，市井弄堂。

Past the towering buildings and the lights of cars and neon signs, the clamor of modern society and the harshness of reinforced concrete seem to fade away, along with the other traces of the modern age.越过高楼大厦、车灯霓虹。钢筋水泥与繁华喧嚣连同时代的味道一并褪去。

The scenery is replaced by brick walls as Willow expertly guides Millau through the alleys. Soon, they reach the destination of their journey.砖瓦入目，盈沸渐熄，薇洛儿熟络地领着米约尔在小巷间兜转，不多时便接近了此行的目的。

There's still some time before the eatery opens, so the two of them walk and look around their surroundings.离饭馆开门尚有一段时间，二人便在周围的街铺间走走停停。

MillauHm—Wow.唔——哇哦。

WillowWhat's the matter?怎么了？

MillauNo... it's just... it feels strange.不……就是有点……感觉很奇特。

Millau looks around and her gaze lingers on the mottled stone walls and the wooden doors and windows.米约尔环顾四周，在斑驳的石墙与木制的门窗上停留了许久。

MillauI can't believe there's actually a place like this in the big city. I don't get it. France has its fair share of old buildings that have been preserved for posterity, but none of them have given me a feeling like this before. It's like... like I've stepped into another world.大都市中竟然有这样的地方，真奇怪，明明法国很多地方也保留了旧时代的建筑，为何却从来没有给过我这样的感受。

MillauWhat was that saying again, "like an age gone by"?就好像……进入了另一个世界，有一个词是怎么说来着？仿佛隔世？

WillowLike a bygone age.是恍如隔世。

Willow smiles and turns a circle in front of Millau, her fingertips running over the uneven marks on the walls.薇洛儿轻笑着在米约尔身前转了个圈，指尖拂过墙面上凹凸不平的痕迹。

WillowThe Chinese imbue objects with their sentiments. Nostalgia is a common form of expression among them, so they like to fix their items in order to retain the history that they've had with them.因为中国人习惯寄情于物，眷恋是当地人常表现出来的情感，他们喜欢修补挽留一切过往的岁月。

WillowWe move forward so we can leave things behind. So it goes for the scenery, for buildings, and for food, of course.所有的前行都是为了留住身后的风景，建筑如此，食物自然也是。

WillowThey say you can taste the land, the people and their feelings in a bite of food. Do you believe that?你相信吗？食物是可以品出山川、风光、还有人情的。

Willow takes out her camera and shows the pictures of the street she just took to Millau.薇洛儿拿出相机，将不久前拍摄的街头照片展现给米约尔。

Like before, the pictures' theme is still the food stalls that line the side of the road. The girl looks through each of them, but her gaze lingers on the final one.画面的主题仍旧是街头巷尾的美食铺，少女一张张翻阅，在最后一张照片上停留许久。

Sparks fly from the burning charcoal as a spatula scoops and flips in the hand of a middle-aged man. The contrast of the flickering flames and the steady beacon of a lit cigarette give Millau a dramatically different perspective on the scene she saw earlier.柴火跃动，锅铲在中年人的手里上下翻飞，明灭不定的火焰衬着香烟星点光亮，带给了米约尔与先前截然不同的观感。

MillauIs that... Is that the uncle from just now?这个……是刚才那个大叔？

MillauNo way, he's so different here! Did you Photoshock this or something, Willow?我不信，这差别好大！薇洛儿你用软件修过照片了吗？

WillowI've never done anything like that before! Whether then or now, my principle has ALWAYS been to report the truth as I see it!我从来不做这种事情哦！不论是现在，还是从前，纪实是身为记者自我规范！

WillowI'm simply showing you what I saw from my perspective. Now then~ what do you think?我不过是给你看看我眼中的视角而已，那么~有什么新感想吗？

MillauI think... I don't dislike it that much any more.好像……也没有那么讨厌了。

MillauThat uncle and all the customers around him who are waiting to eat... How should I put this? It feels like there's a special kind of mood in the air, and I don't quite know how to express it.这个大叔，还有他周围等着吃饭的食客……该怎么表达呢，感觉有一种很特殊的气氛，我不知道该怎么形容。

MillauI... I kind of want to try it now.我好像……有点想试试了。

WillowThey call it "smoke and fire", an air of life and authenticity that you can only find in certain places! For instance—right here!那种氛围啊，叫做烟火气，只有在特定的地方才能清晰感受到哦！比如——就在这里！

WillowHehe, do you regret not accepting that bowl of vermicelli now?嘿嘿，是不是后悔没接下那一碗炒粉了？

MillauTsk! It's just ONE bowl!啧！只是一碗炒粉而已！

MillauHm? And what's this?唔——这个又是什么？

WillowThese are hand-formed cakes. You see, they look like this after they come out of the oven.这个叫手抓饼，你看，出炉的成品是长这样的。

MillauAh, I know these! They look like Brittany crepes. Mmm—I want to try them! Why didn't you tell me about them before?啊！我知道这个！和布列塔尼荞麦煎饼好像，呜——我想吃这个！为什么之前你没有告诉我。

WillowHow was I supposed to know what you liked!? Also, there are lots of tasty things out there, and hand-formed cakes are just a very ordinary kind of food.我怎么知道你喜欢吃什么啦！而且好吃的东西多得很，手抓饼不过是很普通的一种而已。

WillowNow take a look at this.你再看看这个。

MillauIs that bamboo? No, wait, what's in there?竹子？不对，里面怎么是这样的。

WillowThat's bamboo rice. I used to be really into it for a while, and I'd have a portion whenever I got hungry while taking pictures outside.这个东西叫竹筒饭，我有段时间可迷它了，外出拍摄饿了就拆一节。

WillowPlus, the ones in this picture don't quite follow the traditional recipe. They've got Nanyang pineapple rice packed in there, which isn't too authentic, but it still tastes good.而且这家的做法还和传统的不太一样，里面的配方是南洋的菠萝饭，虽然不是很正宗，但是味道不错哦。

MillauUwah—Quit tempting me, go on to the next one.呃啊——不要再诱惑我了，下一张下一张。

The two girls huddle over the camera, squatting at the base of a nearby wall while they go through Willow's photo album, with the occasional jostle or squeal. The light of the camera's display reflects off their faces.两位少女并肩蹲在墙根处翻看着照片，不时碰肩打闹。相机的光亮映着二人的面庞。

That is, until a gentle light fills the air and the apartment over their heads turns its lights on. Millau instinctively looks up.直到某一刻，柔光忽现，二人头顶的住户打开了灯，米约尔下意识仰起头。

It seems to be some kind of signal because the entire street's lights come on shortly afterward, coursing down the rows of buildings until they are all lit within the space of a few breaths. The sight of it roots Millau to the spot.像是某种信号，灯光绵连亮起，顺着小巷两侧无限延伸，在短短的几个呼吸间映满少女的瞳孔，米约尔一时间愣怔在原地。

MillauIt... It's beautiful.好……漂亮。

WillowOh, hey, it's time! Uncle Lin ought to be opening up soon!嘿！时间到了！林叔应该也快开门了！

Willow gets to her feet and stretches.薇洛儿蹭地一下站了起来，伸了个懒腰。

Creak—吱呀——

The wooden door behind the pair opens.二人身后的木门被推开了。

A middle-aged man with graying hair holds a broom as he looks at the two of them.一位鬓角发白的中年人手持扫帚，与二人对视。

New Taste 尝鲜

Jinghai City, at Uncle Lin's restaurant.静海市，林叔饭馆。

The middle-aged man remains where he is. The look in his eyes is unreadable in the shadow cast by the doorway.中年人停驻在原地，目光在门扉的阴影下看不真切。

WillowUncle Lin, I...林叔，我……

Before Willow can finish her sentence, the middle-aged man's eyes narrow, and a sudden pang of nervousness runs through Willow. Her originally cheerful tone turns gloomy as well.回来啦三个字还没出口，中年人眯起了眼睛，薇洛儿突然有一瞬的畏怯，原本高昂欢快的声调也蓦地低了下去。

WillowI'm back.我回来了。

Willow(What if Uncle Lin asks how my job's been lately?)（要是林叔问我最近工作怎么样了怎么办？）

Willow(What if Uncle Lin asks why I haven't been coming back to eat?)（要是林叔问我怎么都不来吃饭了怎么办？）

Willow(What if...)（要是……）

林叔You're back?回来啦？

She doesn't hear any of the questions that she was expecting. The middle-aged man reaches out to pat Willow's head.预想中的问询没有出现，中年人伸出手揉了揉薇洛儿的脑袋。

The same way he always used to do.就像过去的每一次那样。

林叔Welcome back.欢迎回来。

Suddenly, the corners of Willow's eyes turn red and her nose starts to stuff up.一瞬间，薇洛儿微红了眼眶，鼻子也有些酸酸的。

Willow...Yeah!……嗯！

林叔And you brought a friend. Well, come in, both of you.还带着朋友呐，都进来吧。

林叔Tell me what you want to eat, and Uncle will make it for you.想吃什么，叔给你们做。

Millau follows the two of them inside. The restaurant is old but clean, and the aged wooden furniture is scattered around randomly.米约尔随二人进屋，老旧却干净的厅堂内，古朴的木制座椅随意地摆放着。

Despite never having lived in such an environment before, she suddenly feels a touch of kinship with this place.明明没有在这样的环境下生活过，少女却意外地感受到了一丝亲切。

林叔Will it be the usual, Little Willow? And what would you like, little miss?小洛儿还是老样子吗？还有这边的小姑娘，你想吃点什么？

MillauI'm okay with anything. I'd like to try your specialty, Uncle Lin.我都可以，想试试林叔的招牌菜。

MillauWillow said you were good at beef tripe, teppanyaki, soup dumplings, pork rib gaifan, egg sandwiches, fried noodles...薇洛儿说叔叔你擅长牛杂、铁板烧，蛋饼，灌汤包小笼包，猪排盖饭，鸡蛋三明治，酱油炒面……

MillauAnd nekomanma, chazuke, potato salad, butter-fried rice, and...猫饭茶泡饭土豆色拉黄油拌饭，还有还有……

林叔Pffft. Little miss, I know what I can make. Just tell me what you want.噗咳咳咳。小姑娘，我记得自己会做什么，你只要说你想吃的就可以了。

MillauYup! I'm telling you what I want. I want it all!对呀！我就是在念想吃的，这些我都要！

林叔Little Willow, is this friend of yours alright in the head... I mean tummy?……小洛儿，你这朋友，脑子……肚子没事吧？

WillowHeehee, it's fine! Millau's just like me, we're okay no matter how much or how little we eat. Just make it for her, Uncle.嘻嘻，没事的！林叔，米约尔和我一样，吃多少都没关系，叔你看着做就好。

林叔Oh, I see.噢，原来是这样。

林叔Even so, I can't make all that food for you.但也不可以，叔可不能答应你做这么多菜。

MillauBut why!? I'll eat it all! I won't waste the food!为什么！我都会吃完的！不会浪费食物。

MillauIf you don't have enough ingredients, I can go get some!如果是食材准备的不够，我可以去买！

林叔No, no, it's alright. I believe you won't waste the food, but there's such a thing as eating too much.不用不用，叔相信你不会浪费食物，但吃饭这件事过犹不及。

林叔Eating enough will fill the stomach, but too much will hurt you. Also, you won't be able to savor the aftertaste.适量的饭食能填饱人的肚子，但再多，就是毒害了，而且也尝不出后面的味道。

林叔I'll make you one of my specialties. Have a seat and wait.叔会给你准备拿手菜的，先坐下来等一等吧。

MillauI... Alright, then.那……好吧。

Millau purses her lips and quietly grumbles to Willow.米约尔撇了撇嘴，伏在薇洛儿耳旁小声抱怨。

MillauDoes he know gourmet Dolls can reset their tastebuds so our palates never get numbed no matter how much we eat?叔叔是不是不知道美食品鉴师人形可以重置味蕾系统啊，吃再多东西也不会串味的。

WillowI never told him about this... But even if Uncle Lin knew, he wouldn't make that much for you anyway.我还真没跟林叔提过这件事……不过就算林叔知道，他也不会给你做这么多的啦。

WillowYou mustn't overdo anything, be it food or otherwise. In any case, just relax.不管是吃饭还是做事，都不能太过，总之你先别急。

MillauHm~ China has all sorts of weird rules.呜——中国有好多奇奇怪怪的规矩。

WillowHahahaha, they aren't rules, they're habits! Just habits!哈哈哈哈，不是规矩啦，是习惯！习惯！

WillowAlso, Uncle probably treats you as a child, and he's not the sort to thoughtlessly spoil a child.而且啊，叔估计也把你当孩子啦，他可不会肆无忌惮宠溺孩子。

MillauA child? But I'm not a child. That's terribly rude.孩子？我可不是孩子。这种善意很不礼貌。

Millau frowns unhappily.米约尔蹙眉，神情不悦。

Willow(Sigh) you've gotten it wrong. That's just the way the older generation here treats the younger ones.唉，你误会了，这是这边长辈对待年纪小的人特有的态度。

WillowI'll explain it all to you on the way back. Just have a seat first, I'm going to help out in the back.回头我再跟你解释吧，你先自己坐坐，我要去后面帮忙。

MillauHelp out? You're going to cook? Is that one of those Chinese eating rules too?帮忙？你要下厨吗？不会这也是中国人吃饭的规矩吧？

WillowNope! It's the same reason, a habit!不是的哦，还是那个原因，习惯！

WillowThere's a sense of satisfaction when you make your own meal. Haven't you cooked before, Millau?自己动手帮忙做饭，会有种满足感，米约尔没有自己做过饭吗？

MillauI'm a gourmet, not a chef...我是美食家，又不是厨师……

WillowNeither am I, but that's not important. I'm going in~我也不是厨师，但这不重要，我先进去了~

Willow puts down her things and rolls up her sleeve before heading into the kitchen.薇洛儿放下随身物品，挽起袖子就进到后厨了。

Alone now, Millau boredly surveys her surroundings. She's looking for signs of gourmet cooking, but instead she finds pictures on the walls.独自一人的米约尔百无聊赖地环顾四周，想要在这间屋子里寻找美食留下的痕迹，而后便看到了挂在墙角的相片。

MillauAre these pictures of the customers? I would never have guessed that such a small place would have so many patrons.是食客留影吗？看不出来，这么一个小小的地方，原来来过这么多人？

MillauUgh... it's making me hungry... Hm? Is this... Willow?唔……看饿了，咦……这是……薇洛儿？

Millau's gaze lands on a big picture where many people are gathered around a table, hoisting their glasses to the camera.米约尔目光落在了一张大相片上，许多人聚在一张桌子前，举杯迎向镜头。

The heat haze from the hotpot in the center distorts their features, but Millau can still make out Willow in the photo.火锅缭绕的热气模糊了众人的样貌，但米约尔还是分辨出了照片中的薇洛儿。

MillauHow lively... Hm? Wait a minute, aren't they going to portion it out to each of them?真热闹啊……嗯？等一下？他们煮这一锅菜是不分餐的？

MillauWhy is everyone sticking their chopsticks into the pot? Is this some kind of horror movie!?为什么所有人都在这个锅里下筷？这是恐怖片剧照吧！！！

As Millau exclaims, the sound of creaking can be heard again.米约尔惊诧间，吱呀声再度响起。

Customers have arrived.有客人来了。

New Taste 尝鲜

Jinghai City, at Uncle Lin's restaurant.静海市，林叔饭馆。

Shortly after the customers seat themselves, Willow emerges from the kitchen with Uncle Lin.食客们落座不久，薇洛儿便端着食物和林叔一同走出后厨。

WillowTime to eat! Hehe, you owe me one now, Millau. After begging and pleading with Uncle Lin, he eventually gave in and agreed to make some extra dishes for you.开饭啦~！嘿嘿，米约尔，你可是欠我一个人情了。我刚才和林叔软磨硬泡了好久，他架不住就答应了多给你做几样菜。

WillowBehold! Beggar's chicken, sake-steamed clams, Lanzhou lamian aaaaaaand—actual pork wontons this time~瞧，叫花鸡，酒蒸蛤蜊，兰州拉面还有——真真正正的鲜肉小馄饨~

WillowRemember! Wontons look like this!记住了啊，小馄饨长这样！

MillauUgh...呃……

Millau covers her pale face with her napkin and tries to soften her stiff features.米约尔用餐巾掩着嘴，面色惨白地平缓着情绪。

WillowHuh? What's the matter?噫？发生什么了？

MillauI... I saw you in a picture just now.我……我在墙角看到了你的照片。

MillauAll of you were eating from the same pot and drinking together! Je suis choquée!你们一大群人对着一口锅下筷，吃饭喝酒，好可怕！

MillauI didn't know you were like that. How can you bear it? You ate separately from me when we had dinner together!我都不知道你是这种人，你究竟是怎么接受得了的？明明你和我吃饭的时候都有分餐！

Willow(Sigh) But there's nothing special about it, is there?啊哈，这个没什么特别的吧？

WillowThat's the hotpot I was telling you about, and we also have the practice of eating from separate hotpots, so you don't need to worry.那个就是我之前跟你讲的火锅，而且现在也有吃火锅用公筷分餐的习惯，不用那么紧张。

MillauAck—What do you mean by "also"? Vous êtes insupportable! Only one thing works! And that is to dine completely separated! Apart! Apart from each other!嘶——什么叫也有，我不能接受！只能、必须是全部！分餐！一定要分餐！

WillowYes, yes, yes, separate portions it is. Uncle Lin! More bowls and chopsticks please.好好好……分餐，分餐。林叔！再给我们上一些碗筷。

林叔Coming.这就来。

New bowls arrive, and Willow's expression is somewhere between laughter and tears as she gives Millau her portion.新的碗筷入桌，薇洛儿哭笑不得地给米约尔分餐。

Millau watches Willow carefully, as though terrified the latter will spike her food. Her gaze does not waver even as the steam hits her electronic pupils.紧紧盯着薇洛儿的动作，好似生怕对方偷下黑手一般，即使食物的热气浸润机械瞳孔，米约尔也没眨眼哪怕一下。

WillowPffft... Millau, you're just adorable.噗嗤……米约尔，你这也太可爱了。

WillowIf I had a free hand, I'd love to take a picture of you now and paste it on a gourmand's magazine, titled "Foreigner Eating Chinese Food for the First Time".要不是腾不出手，我真想给你拍张照，回头放到美食报刊上，名字就叫第一次吃中餐的外国人。

WillowThere, there, no need to keep looking, your portion's ready.好啦，别看啦，分好了。

Millau(Winces)呼——————————

MillauQuelle horreur! When I think about all the dishes in China I haven't encountered yet and that they might end up being like this hotpot, wouldn't that mean I would...我害怕！想想中国还有这么多菜我没有尝试，万一以后再碰到几个类似火锅这样的，我岂不是……

MillauUgh—My head hurts.呜——头疼。

WillowHahahaha, well, your head's going to hurt a lot from now on. Can't help you there.哈哈哈哈，那今后可有的你头疼的了，这我可帮不上你的忙。

WillowHere, have some sour plum juice. Uncle Lin said we look underage, so we aren't allowed alcoholic drinks. The sake-steamed clams were already a huge concession.来喝点酸梅汁吧，林叔说我们长得像未成年，不准喝酒。酒蒸蛤蜊已经是极大让步了。

MillauThat doesn't really bother me... Sour plum juice, you say? Hmmm, the name alone sounds challenging. Let me give it a try.我倒是不在意这个……酸梅汁？嗯哼，光听名字就很有挑战性，让我来试试。

After recovering somewhat, Millau picks up her glass and studies it.缓过气来的米约尔端起水杯上下打量。

Just then—就在这时——

食客Uncle Lin, bring on the hotpot. Everyone's here.林叔，上火锅吧，人齐了。

林叔Got it. I'm preparing the ingredients, so have an appetizer first.知道了，食材备着呢，你们先吃小菜。

Smash—哐——

Millau's glass crashes onto the table and her hands tremble.米约尔的水杯磕在了桌上，双手微微颤抖。

Jinghai City, Uncle Lin's restaurant.静海市，林叔饭馆。

After much pleading from Millau, the two of them have transferred to a corner table, some distance away from the hotpot customers.在米约尔的强烈要求下，二人换到了更角落的一桌，稍微远离了一些火锅的食客们。

Granted, they're still less than a meter away from them.虽然也就是一米不到的差距。

WillowHow about it, then, oh grand gastronome. Won't you rate this humble establishment?怎么样，大美食家，给咱们这个小店来个评价。

MillauUgh—Guh—唔——咕——

Millau slowly downs the sour plum juice from the high-stemmed wineglass she brought along and smiles in satisfaction.手端自带的高脚杯，米约尔缓缓饮下酸梅汁，露出了满意的微笑。

MillauThe beggar's chicken is tender and juicy while crispy on the outside. The garlic seasoning lingers without being oppressive, and the mild spice offset by the sweet and sour beverage is most excellent.叫花鸡外层酥脆，肉质滑嫩，蒜香绵长，再加上微辣的酱料，辅以酸甜的饮料，非常不错。

MillauThe sake-steamed clams are good too. Stewing it in sake brought out the freshness of the clams, while the umami of the soft meat and rich broth easily captures my tastebuds.酒蒸蛤蜊也很棒，酒液闷蒸勾出了蛤蜊的鲜香，软肉与浓汁在入口的一瞬便轻松占据了整个味蕾。

MillauThe other spices you brought up were also superior items. I rarely use condiments in my tastings, but this dish is special; even the seasonings were very appealing.另外填充其间的香料也是上品，我享用美食很少会专门品尝辅料，但这道菜不同，辅料也很有吸引力。

MillauAnd finally, this plate of Lanzhou lamian. I would give it 100/100 as a main course. The broth is fragrant, while the noodles are chewy and with a texture that's completely unlike Italian pasta. The sole minus is that it is too filling. If I were not a Doll, I probably wouldn't have been able to finish the other two dishes.最后就是这盘兰州拉面，作为主食，我可以给它打上一百分。汤料醇香，面条筋道，口感与意大利面完全不同，美中不足是过于饱腹，如果我不是人形，估计另两道菜是吃不下去了。

WillowTeehee, I'm glad you weren't disappointed.嘻嘻，没让你失望就好。

MillauAlthough...不过……

Millau pauses and frowns slightly.米约尔顿了顿，眉头微蹙。

MillauI still haven't encountered that taste you experienced in France, the kind that fanned the flames of your emotions.我还是没吃出你在法国时的那种味道，能激发炽热情感的味道。

MillauThese dishes are rare delicacies, but they're nowhere near unique. After that, I began to suspect that they just happened to suit your tastes, and it was a subjective thing.这些菜的确是少有的美味，却还远称不上离奇。我后来怀疑这跟你的个人偏好有关，属于主观因素。

MillauBut now, after seeing you eat this food... You don't seem to be reacting unusually to it.但现在跟你吃了这顿饭……也不见你有什么很特别的反应啊。

Millau looks puzzled, but she doesn't stop talking.米约尔面上不解，但嘴可是一刻没停。

MillauWhy is that? Is it because of some secret formula?为什么？是因为秘方吗？

MillauI hear the Chinese have closely guarded secret recipes and the like when they make food. Could it be that Uncle Lin didn't use them because he doesn't trust me yet?我听说中国人做菜都有什么独门秘方，是不是林叔还没有信任我，所以没拿出来？

WillowHahaha, honestly, you're reading too deeply into this.哈哈哈，你真的是，想得太多了。

WillowIf I had to put it into words, then the beggar's chicken and the condiments for the sake-steamed clams would be a secret recipe in themselves, and so would the soup stock for the lamian.硬要说的话，叫花鸡还有蛤蜊的佐料就已经是独门秘方啦，拉面的汤底也是。

WillowBut... The biggest secret is probably the story.不过……最重要的秘方，可能是故事吧。

Willow looks past Millau and at the picture on the wall.薇洛儿的目光越过米约尔，投向了后方墙上的照片。

Millau turns and follows Willow's gaze, and then she grabs the other girl's cheeks in annoyance and straightens her head up.米约尔转过头顺着薇洛儿的目光看了眼，随后气呼呼地捏住少女脸颊的两侧将她的脑袋掰正。

Millau...Willow! I'm speaking to you in terms of science, not occult mumbo-jumbo!……薇洛儿，我在跟你探讨科学！不是在谈玄学！

WillowAie—Owie, owie, ouch.噫——疼疼疼。

Willow...It's just that I don't know how I should answer you right now.……主要是你这么问，我一时间也不知道该怎么回答。

MillauOh, forget it!算了！

Clatter!哐——

Millau suddenly downs her sour plum juice and then thumps it on the table. There is a look of mortal resolve on her face.米约尔突然将酸梅汁一饮而尽，将杯子磕到了桌上，露出了视死如归的表情。

MillauI want to try that hotpot.我要试试那个火锅。

Willow...Are you THAT hungry?……你馋了？

MillauPffft—!噗——！

The pompous air that Millau had tried hard to build up crumbles in an instant.米约尔好不容易才酝酿出的气势眨眼崩溃。

Millau...HEY! Do you know how much courage it took to make that decision!?……喂！你知道我花了多大的勇气才下定决心的吗！

MillauPlease respect my upbringing as a gourmand!请尊重一下我身为美食家的素养！

WillowYou know, if you really can't take it, you can always order a hotpot for yourself.实在难受的话，我们可以自己点一锅呀。

MillauI know that, but... It won't be the same. I'm sure there must be something I don't know about in that roadside stall and the hotpot right now.我当然知道可以这么做，但……不一样嘛。之前的路边摊，还有现在的火锅，里面一定有我不知道的东西。

MillauThat's why I've decided to play by the Chinese rules for once and eat hotpot with lots of people.所以，我决定完完全全遵守中国的规矩试一次，和很多很多人一起吃火锅。

MillauJust like what you were doing in that picture!就像照片里你做的那样！

WillowUm—I understand what you're thinking, but...嗯——我理解你的想法可是……

MillauIn any case! I want to join them! I want to try... the hotpot on their table.总之！我想加入他们！我想试试……他们那桌的火锅。

WillowAh...这个……

MillauWillooooooowwww~薇~洛~儿~——

MillauPleeeeeeease? Let me try it, just this once?拜托了！就让我试一次，就这一次！

MillauI'm sure I'll be able to learn the secrets within it! Won't you trust me?这一次我肯定能窥见这里面的秘密！相信我好不好？

WillowAh... Alright, then!那……好吧！

Unable to resist the pleading look on Millau's face, Willow has no choice but to play dumb with her and try to mix with the others who are having their meal.架不住米约尔渴盼的表情，薇洛儿不得不同意与她一并犯蠢，尝试中途加入其他正在用餐的客人中。

Fortunately, this is fairly commonplace in a small restaurant like this. However—好在这种事在这个小食堂里并不算特别，然而——

The hotpot in the center of the table discharges and billows steam, spreading a tempting scent in all directions. Countless ingredients are lined up beside it in a great array of bowls and dishes.桌子正中的铁锅冒着热腾腾的雾气，向外逸散诱人的香味。边上摆满了繁复食材，碗碟交错。

There's no sign of them eagerly partaking in the food and drink or any commotion. All the diners are just playing with their utensils, as though they aren't here to eat.没有觥筹交错，没有打趣吵闹，一桌的食客垂首玩弄餐具，好像他们来此的目的并不是为了吃饭。

体型宽大的食客...So you're not going to say anything?……大家不说点什么？

娇小可爱的食客What's there to say?还能说什么？

体型宽大的食客How about something festive?说点喜庆的！

面无表情的食客And then we'll just go our separate ways?然后就散伙？

体型宽大的食客(Sigh)唉——

The table is enveloped in a gloomy air until a sudden request breaks the silence.沉闷的气氛笼罩着餐桌，直到一声突兀的请求出现。

MillauAllô! Mind if we cut in?嗨嗨！请问我们可以加入进来吗？

WillowSorry to disturb you, but we absolutely need to have some hotpot.不好意思打扰了，我们无论如何都想吃一次火锅。

WillowBut it's no fun with just the two of us, so...但就两个人，热闹不起来，所以……

体型宽大的食客Is... Is it okay? Guys?可……可以吗？各位？

The question is like a spark that triggers everyone's urge to speak.询问仿若一个引子，勾起了众人的交流欲望。

娇小可爱的食客Fine by me.我觉得可以。

面无表情的食客Wasn't that how we met in the first place?我们不就这么认识的么。

体型宽大的食客In that case... Welcome! Have a seat, both of you!那……欢迎！二位请坐！

MillauMerci~ Don't mind if I do, then!感谢~！我就不客气啦！

MillauI've never had hotpot before, and there are so many dishes. So what do we do now? Dump them all into the pot?我还没吃过火锅呢，这么多菜，接下来要怎么做？直接倒进锅吗？

娇小可爱的食客Hm... Let's start with the seasonings?嗯……你先弄一下调料吧。

面无表情的食客What do you want to mix in? We have tahini paste, fermented bean curd, mashed garlic, sesame oil, chili oil, chive flower oil, vinegar, seafood soy sauce, mini chilis, chili and spice sauce, pepper, mustard...想拌些什么料？这里有麻酱，蒜泥，豆腐乳，香油，红油，韭菜花，生抽，海鲜酱油，小米椒，香辣酱，花椒，芝麻……

MillauI'm okay with anything!我都行！

MillauThere's so much stuff here! I thought I'd only see this many condiments in a kitchen.好丰富啊，我还以为只能在厨房才会见到这么多的调料。

Millau excitedly begins adding them in, completely failing to notice the strange mood in the air.米约尔兴致勃勃地开始配料，完全没有察觉到氛围的异常。

MillauSo you can just put all these dishes into the pot?这些菜，直接放锅里就行？

MillauZut alors, I still haven't mastered chopsticks yet. Will...糟糕，我还没学会怎么用筷子，薇……

Millau(No, if I ask Willow to help me out while having hotpot, wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the whole thing?)（不对，一起吃火锅还求助薇洛儿的话，不就完全没有意义了吗？）

MillauPardonnez moi, but could you lend me a hand? I'm still not too good at the cooking part.不好意思，可以麻烦你帮帮忙吗？煮菜什么的，我还不太会。

面无表情的食客Huh?呃？

娇小可爱的食客Let me do it. What would you like? Will beef do?我来吧，你想吃什么？牛肉可以吗？

MillauMerci beaucoup! Le boeuf it is!非常感谢！就牛肉吧！

MillauHmm—I see you're swishing the meat up and down while holding it. Why is that?唔——你这样夹着肉片一上一下是为了什么？

娇小可爱的食客Oh, it's a little trick to cooking your meat in a hotpot. There's a saying that goes "seven times up, eight times down", implying that your food will be done once you've finished doing that.一种涮火锅的技巧，有句口诀叫七上八下，次数够了就意味着东西好了。

MillauWhat a strange way to put it. Seven times up, eight times down... I get it now!好神奇的说法，七上八下……我学到了！

Millau holds her bowl and watches the meat bobbing up and down in the bubbling pot, her eyes aglow with anticipation.米约尔端着碗，两眼发亮地盯着锅中上下翻腾的肉片，写满了期待。

娇小可爱的食客Pfft... (coughs)噗嗤……咳咳……

面无表情的食客Are you okay? Did you choke?没事吧？呛到了？

娇小可爱的食客No, but... Don't you think she's just like Brother Yue?不是……你有没有觉得，她现在这个样子好像月哥。

体型宽大的食客Hm? What does that have to do with me?嗯？跟我有什么关系。

娇小可爱的食客This is just like how we first met you, Brother Yue! You know, when you were ordering roasted meat.就是我们第一次和月哥见面啊！你点烧腊那天。

面无表情的食客The way you say that is a little...你这么一说好像是有点。

The girl simply laughs but does not reply as she transfers the meat slices to Millau's bowl.少女笑而不语，将肉片送到米约尔的碗里。

MillauMerci infiniment! Don't mind if I do!十分感谢！我不客气了！

MillauMm~!嗯~——！

Millau closes her eyes in please and her hands ball up in fists which tremble lightly in front of her chest.米约尔幸福地闭上了眼，双手握拳置于胸前微微晃动。

MillauTrès bien! C'est délicieux!好吃！太好吃了！

MillauFreshly-cooked and tender beef slices with just a hint of seasoning, ah, this distant yet sweet aftertaste.刚熟的滑嫩牛肉配上点缀的酱料，这份悠远的回甘。

MillauI want more! May I?我还要！可以吗？

Millau opens her eyes and proudly holds her bowl forward, unable to hold back the delight in her eyes.米约尔睁开了眼，盈满了止不住的笑意，大大方方地把碗递了上来。

娇小可爱的食客Pffft—hahahaha!噗——哈哈哈哈哈。

娇小可爱的食客Brother... Brother Yue, she really DOES act like how you were back then.月……月哥，她真的跟你当时好像。

娇小可爱的食客You ordered takeout food all the time, and you'd never eaten hotpot before. You were flailing around, and Sis Yin had to help you with the meat.整天吃外卖，没怎么吃过火锅，第一次来手忙脚乱，肉还是音姐帮你下的。

体型宽大的食客As if! Don't talk nonsense.哪儿有的事情！你可不要乱讲。

娇小可爱的食客It left a deep impression on me! You had that same look on your face too, and Sis Yin even wondered if she'd poured something strange into the pot.我印象很深哦！你当时也是这个表情，音姐还以为自己往锅里倒了什么奇怪的东西。

There's a look of nostalgia on the girl's face as she feeds an entire platter of beef into the hotpot while Millau watches.少女露出了怀念的神色，在米约尔期待的目光中倒下了一整盘牛肉。

娇小可爱的食客There's plenty left, no need to rush.还有很多，不要着急。

MillauMmm! Mm-mm!嗯嗯！嗯嗯！

MillauAh, I feel bad for making you help me all the time. Allow me to serve the drinks.啊！总让你们帮忙也不好，端茶送水这种事情就交给我吧！

Millau rises to her feet and goes around the table pouring drinks for everyone, but her eyes do not leave the meat in the pot.米约尔蹭地站了起来，绕着桌子逐个倒饮料，双眼却一刻没有离开锅里的肉片。

MillauWhy aren't you putting anything in? It's not because of me, is it?你们怎么不下菜？不会是因为我在不好意思吧？

MillauDon't do that! It's bad to keep the food waiting, you know!别这样！让美食久等可不是什么好习惯！

体型宽大的食客That... That's right! Let's bring it on!对……对！下菜下菜！

体型宽大的食客Come, come, don't just sit around, let's eat.来来来，别都愣着了，开吃开吃。

His friends don't respond. Instead, they grow gloomier.同伴并没有附和，反而愈发消沉。

面无表情的食客(Sigh) Sis Yin... She's been gone for so long. I still remember how she used to like crabsticks.哈……音姐……音姐都走好久了，我还记得她喜欢吃的是蟹柳。

体型宽大的食客Hey, don't be like that...唉，你别这样……

As she watches the mood at the table about to deflate again, Millau leans over, as though she's completely oblivious to it.眼看着气氛又一次滑向沉闷，米约尔却恍若不觉般弯下腰。

MillauSay, what are crabsticks? Are these it?蟹柳是什么？是这个东西吗？

面无表情的食客...Huh? Y-yes.……诶？是……是的。

MillauThen I want to try them too! Since someone else likes them, then there's got to be something good about them!那我要尝尝看！既然是别人喜欢的美食，那一定有可取之处！

MillauWould you mind helping me?可以拜托你帮帮我吗？

面无表情的食客Of... of course.当……当然。

面无表情的食客No problem, here you go.没问题，给。

Millau happily brings it to her mouth, and then a blissful expression fills her face once again.米约尔高兴地送入口中，而后再度露出了幸福的表情。

She looks like she's sipping a mouthful of ice-cold soda on a hot summer day, and it draws everyone's attention in an instant.那犹若喝到了夏天第一口冰汽水般的治愈神态，在一瞬间夺走了所有人的注意力。

体型宽大的食客(Gulp)咕噜——

MillauIt's so good!好吃——美味！

MillauThe soft texture, the slightly sweet meat, and the salty sauce... I like that too!松软的口感，微甜的肉质配上鲜咸的酱汁……这个我也喜欢！

MillauWillow, Willow, you MUST try this! The crabsticks taste amazing!薇洛儿，薇洛儿，你也快试试看！蟹柳味道很好的！

Millau frantically gestures as she approaches Willow, as though she's trying to describe the deliciousness of the crabsticks with her hands.米约尔手舞足蹈地靠向薇洛儿，向她比划形容蟹柳的美味。

面无表情的食客...Heh.……呵。

The diners unconsciously exchange looks, and they break into smiles.食客们下意识对视了一眼，不约而同地低低笑了起来。

体型宽大的食客The little missy's right! Come on, dig in!吃饭吃饭！小姐姐说的对！

体型宽大的食客It's bad to keep the food waiting.让美食等太久可不是什么好习惯。

Saying so, the man scoops up a piece of meat and imitates Millau's movements.男人说着迅速捞起一块肉片，模仿米约尔的样子做出了类似的动作。

体型宽大的食客Mmm~ it's delicious!嗯~美味！

娇小可爱的食客Please don't, Brother Yue. It looks cute when she does it, but in your case...月哥，别这样，人家小姐姐做了可爱，你做了……

面无表情的食客It just makes me want to dunk you in the soup.只会让大家想把你扔进锅里涮。

娇小可爱的食客Hahahahaha.哈哈哈哈哈哈哈。

And with that laugh, the chill in the air dissipates.笑声渐起，氛围解冻。

Upon seeing this, Willow happily adds more ingredients into the pot and lightly bumps Millau with her shoulder.薇洛儿见状，一边高兴地加菜夹菜，一边用肩膀顶了顶米约尔。

WillowWell done.干得好哇。

MillauHmmm? What do you mean?唔唔唔？你说什么？

Millau turns to face her, holding her bowl like the very picture of a Chinaman, with meat slices in her bowl and on her fork.米约尔转过头，像个标准的中国人一样端着饭碗，嘴里和手里叉子都挂着肉片。

Willow...It's nothing. Getting used to it?……没什么，吃得惯了？

MillauOf course! Hotpot is great!当然！火锅超棒！

New Taste 尝鲜

Jinghai City, in Uncle Lin's restaurant.静海市，林叔饭馆。

As the atmosphere at the table warms up, Willow begins to feel a little uncomfortable. The emotions that had calmed on her way back from France are beginning to stir again.餐桌上的气氛愈发热烈，薇洛儿却感到一丝不适。原本在法国归途上平复的心情又再次涌动了起来。

An image flashes through her visual systems, and for some reason, Willow wants to speak with her past friends very much right now.她的视觉系统闪过一张张图像，不知为何，薇洛儿此时很渴望能和过去的朋友说几句话。

Thus, as Millau is blending in with everyone, Willow quietly excuses herself and retreats to the kitchen.于是趁着米约尔和大家打成一片时，薇洛儿悄悄离开了餐桌，绕到后厨。

林叔Not going to eat with your friend?不和朋友一起吃饭吗？

The middle-aged man can tell who it is from the sound of her movements along even without looking back.不用回头，中年人也能从动静中分辨来的人是谁。

WillowOh, we've had lots!我们已经吃一路了哟！

林叔I see, then it seems I still haven't lost it yet.这样啊，那看来我的手艺还是很有吸引力的。

WillowOf course! Your food's the best, Uncle Lin! Especially your beef tripe!当然啊，林叔做的饭最好吃了！特别是牛杂！

林叔Oho, since you're praising me this highly, it seems I'll have to make a better serving for you next time.嚯，这么夸叔，那下次来得做份更好吃的给你尝尝才行。

WillowSure thing! I'm looking forward to it. I wonder just what a better version of your beef tripe will taste like~好哇好哇，我很期待！林叔的牛杂更上一层楼究竟是什么味道~

林叔Relax, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.放心，肯定不会让你失望。

Uncle Lin turns around and produces a sweet from inside his apron.林叔转过身来，从围裙兜里摸出一颗糖果递给薇洛儿。

Willow...So you had one in store, Uncle Lin.……原来林叔你还备着啊。

林叔You always take a sweet to cleanse your palate after every meal. I still remember that, so that means I have to be prepared.你每次吃完饭，都要吃颗糖清清口，叔记得，那肯定要备着。

林叔I still remember how you looked the first time you ate here. You were so depressed back then and worried that you wouldn't be able to understand the language.你第一次吃饭的样子叔记得可清楚了，那时候愁的哟，担心自己不会说外语，万一你听不懂咋办？

WillowI might not be a Chinese Doll, but I work here! I know SOME Chinese at least, la~我虽然不是中国的人形，但我在这边工作呀！中文还是会的啦~

林叔Oh, work, is it? You were a mess, and all covered in mud. I was wondering where you'd gone running around back then, and in the end, I had to wash your face for you.还说工作呢？毛毛躁躁的，一身泥，当时在想这孩子跑哪儿野去了，好说歹说才帮你洗了把脸。

WillowHehe... I'd just done an interview at a construction site back then, it couldn't be helped.嘿嘿……那时候上工地去采访了，没办法嘛。

林叔I remember that one. You exposed that foreman and the company behind him. Well done, Little Willow.知道，那个包工头和背后的建筑公司还被你曝光了不是，小洛儿厉害的。

At some point, he'd finished cleaning up the kitchen, and the two of them end up sitting side by side on a bench, looking out at the scenery through the tiny window.不知不觉，后厨已经收拾完了，两人并肩坐在矮凳上，望着狭小窗户透出的景色。

The older man mutters to himself, like he's talking to his child.中年人絮絮叨叨地念着，像是在对自己的孩子一样。

Willow(Sniffle)……呜……呜……

林叔Hm?……唉？

The middle-aged man suddenly stops as he hears sobbing from beside him.听闻身边突然传来的抽泣，中年人止住了话头。

林叔Sorry, it was my fault for not looking at the wrapper closely and getting you the wrong brand. Is it too bitter?抱歉，是叔不好，买糖果的时候没有认真看牌子，是不是味道太苦了？

Willow presses her mouth shut and vigorously shakes her head.薇洛儿抿着嘴使劲地摇了一下脑袋。

WillowIt's sweet.甜的。

林叔Really?真的嘛？

WillowReally!真的！

林叔Then... Do you still want to buy more sweets?那……薇洛儿以后还想去买糖果嘛？

Willow starts to nod, but then she shakes her head.薇洛儿先是点点头，而后又摇了摇头。

WillowI don't know. I bought lots of sweets for everyone, but many of them ended up getting tummy aches.我不知道，我买了很多糖果送给大家，但很多人吃坏了肚子。

WillowRight now, I don't know if I should keep buying sweets anymore.我现在已经不明白自己应不应该继续买糖果了。

林叔Well, I think that the problem is with the sweets and not with you. Remember that rice noodle dish?叔觉得啊，糖果有问题并不是小洛儿的错，你还记得米烂那道小吃吗？

Willow...I do. I think that was the first time you messed up, Uncle.……记得呀，那好像是叔你第一次失手。

林叔Oh yes, there was something wrong with the seasonings I bought and it was my first time making it, so I thought that was how it was supposed to taste.对啊，买回来的调料出了问题，叔第一次做，还以为就该是这个味。

WillowUgh—Don't say it, Uncle Lin. Just remembering that taste scares me.唔——林叔你别说了，那个味道想想就可怕。

林叔And what did I do after that?后来叔是怎么做的？

Willow...You went to the market and looked it up, and then you bought the proper seasonings. The rice noodles after that tasted great.……去菜市场做了一遍调查，然后买回了正宗的调料包。后面做的米烂，就很好吃了。

林叔You see? So if there's a problem with the sweets you bought, Little Willow, then you just need to go to a different store.是吧，小洛儿买的糖果有问题，那就换一家商店嘛。

林叔Or perhaps you could learn from me and study how to make the sweets taste good and get rid of their weird taste.或者小洛儿可以学学叔，研究怎么让糖果变得好吃，怎么把糖果里的怪味道去掉。

林叔Once you do that, it'll be okay when you give these sweets out to everyone, right? And if anyone tries to say your sweets taste bad, I'll help you starve them.小洛儿再把这样的糖果送给大家，不就没问题了吗？到时候谁说小洛儿的糖果难吃，叔帮你饿着他。

WillowHahaha... Alright! Thank you, Uncle Lin.哈哈哈……好！谢谢林叔。

Uncle Lin doesn't answer. Instead he simply ruffles Willow's hair.林叔没有接话，只是笑着揉了揉薇洛儿的脑袋。

林叔You should head on back. Don't keep your friend waiting.回去吧，别让你的朋友等急了。

WillowYup!嗯！

Willow gets to her feet. Her expression is much brighter now.薇洛儿站了起来，表情也明媚了许多。

WillowThank you, Uncle Lin. While I haven't made up my mind to not buy sweets in the future, I think I can at least do a feature article on a sweet shop!林叔，谢谢你。虽然现在还没能下定决心以后要不要买糖果，但我觉得，我可以先做一期糖果店的报道！

WillowIn any case, I'm going to start by making your place famous! I'll let everyone know that this place has the best sweets!不管怎么样，总之先帮林叔把店的名气打出去！让大家都知道，这里有最棒的糖果！

林叔Nah, you don't have to. I don't want to have to expand this place.不用不用，叔可不打算把这店做大。

林叔After all, once it gets big, you and all those other kids won't have a place to rest, right?做大了，小洛儿和那些哥哥姐姐，不就没地方休息了吗？

Willow(Sniffle) Uncle Lin...呜——林叔——

林叔Aiyah, don't cry. I misspoke, don't take it to heart.欸欸欸，别哭别哭，嗨！叔说错话了，你别往心里去。

WillowYou're not wrong, Uncle Lin. You treat me the best.林叔没有说错话，林叔对我最好了。

Jinghai City, in Uncle Lin's restaurant.静海市，林叔饭馆。

Willow exits the kitchen with Uncle Lin. By this time, all the diners have left, leaving only Millau in the store, deep in thought.薇洛儿和中年人一同走出后厨，此时店里的食客都已散去，只剩下米约尔一人在店里沉思。

The girl walks around the hotpot, standing and sitting down from time to time, attempting to divine some kind of secret from the food that has already gone cold.少女绕着火锅，或蹲或站，试图从这盘已经冷掉的饭菜里看出什么门道。

林叔...Dear, are you still hungry? I'll make some more for you.……这孩子，你是不是没吃饱？叔再给你做一锅。

MillauOh! You guys came out at last. I was wondering if I should go in and look for you.喔！你们总算出来了，我还在想要不要进去找你们。

MillauEveryone else has gone.其他人都走光啦。

WillowHow was it? Did you manage to taste it at last? Delicious food filled with emotions that move the heart?怎么样，这下尝到了吗？饱含情感，让人激动的美食。

Millau...That was what I wanted to ask.……这正是我想问的问题。

There is a puzzled look on Millau's face, as she gives an unexpected answer.米约尔露出了困惑的表情，给出了一个预料之外的答案。

MillauI didn't... I didn't manage to taste it at all!我完全……完全没有尝到！

MillauThe hotpot WAS delicious, but I still don't get it! Why were they crying while they were eating?虽然火锅很美味但是，我还是不明白啊！为什么他们能吃着吃着就哭起来？

MillauIt's not like there was anything strange in it, right?这里面也没有加很奇怪的东西啊！

Millau pulls up an analysis menu in her systems.米约尔在系统中拉出了解析菜单。

MillauThe vegetables are plain, and so are the seafood and meatballs...荤菜素菜、海鲜菌菇、丸子主食……

MillauI even checked the organ meats used, but it was the same as the beef offal I first had with you.就连蘸料的种类我都过了一遍，结果和当初你吃的牛杂一样。

MillauThey're all ordinary ingredients, and hand-cooked by them to boot. It's not like any extraordinary cooking technique went into it.都只是很普通的食材，而且还是他们自己动手煮的，根本称不上有什么烹饪技巧。

林叔It's because they added another ingredient to it, I'll bet.因为他们还加了其他的配料吧。

林叔Separation is a painful seasoning. Those kids will be leaving this place after today.别离，可是很伤身的佐料啊。今天过后，这群孩子就要走了。

MillauI... I don't understand.我……我不明白。

MillauIf they're crying because of that, then doesn't it have nothing to do with the hotpot!?如果哭出来是因为这样的理由，那不就跟火锅完全没有关系了嘛！？

WillowHow could that be? Rather, it's closely linked to why they shed their tears.怎么会，应该说关系密切才对。

WillowIn the future, they'll be in different cities and different times, but they'll think of each other when they taste the same flavors.往后他们在不同的城市、不同的时间里，品尝着相同的味道，就能想起彼此。

WillowThe hotpot has become a vessel for their story. How could it not be important?火锅成了故事的载体，还有比这更重要吗？

MillauWhy have you gone back to stories again...怎么又绕回故事了……

MillauTrying to make sense of this vague and insubstantial explanation is making my systems throw up errors!用这种虚无缥缈的说法，系统一直在报错诶！

林叔Relax, little miss.小姑娘，你先别着急。

林叔If Willow and these kids couldn't help you understand, then how about we try a more interesting way?如果小洛儿和这群孩子不能让你理解，要不要尝试一些更有趣的体验？

林叔As in, a way to help you experience the significance of stories in food.能让你感受到故事之于食物的意义的体验。

MillauWhen I do, will I experience gourmet cuisine that will move my neural cloud and make it tremble!?体验过后就能尝到让心智系统感动乃至战栗的美食了吗？！

林叔I can't make any promises, but...我不敢保证，不过……

林叔Once you've experienced it, I can give you the meal you're looking forward to.我可以在体验结束后提供一顿你所期待的美食。

MillauWill it excite my emotions?会让我心情激动吗？

MillauCan it make me cry!?可以让我哭出来吗？！

林叔If that's what you want...如果你想的话……

MillauPlease do! I'll be counting on you!务必！那就拜托您了！

The middle-aged man looks at Millau's serious face, and the compassion in his eyes for someone his junior fades, to be replaced entirely by earnestness.中年人望着米约尔认真的模样，也敛起了眼中看待后辈的慈祥，尽数转为认真。

林叔I am a chef, and I believe that my purpose is to meet my clients' expectations, even if that means giving them food that their hearts long for but which they haven't realized yet.我是厨师，坚持的就是为客人提供他们所期待，甚至内心渴望却没有察觉的美食。

林叔Since you've gone this far... Then leave it to me. You're welcome to visit this store again after a week.既然你都已经拜托到了这个份上……那么交给我吧，一周后，欢迎再次光临本店。

MillauIt's a deal!那就这么说定了！

Cocktail Party 飨饮

Jinghai City, at the Mica Hotel静海市，云母酒店。

The next morning, a neatly dressed Millau knocks on Willow's door.翌日清晨，米约尔穿戴整齐地敲打薇洛儿的房门。

Knock, knock—砰砰——

MillauRéveille-toi, chère Willow! Bonjour!起床啦！小洛儿！早上好啊！

Knock knock—砰砰——

MillauRéveille-toi! It's time for breakfast!起床啦！我们该吃早餐了！

Creak—吱呀——

WillowDo you know what time it is?你知道现在几点吗？

Millau5:30AM?早上五点十分？

WillowWho would wake up this early for breakfast unless they were making breakfast themselves!?除了做早餐的怎么会有人这么早起来吃早餐？！

MillauEr... I... Pardonnez. When I thought of how I could experience cuisine that unites stories and food, I got so excited that I couldn't sleep.呃……我……抱歉。一想到今天能体验到讲述故事和食物关系的美食，我就有点兴奋得睡不着觉。

MillauMy neural cloud refused to enter sleep mode all night, and all my attempts to initiate shutdown were interrupted by a new alert prompt.整个晚上心智系统都在拒绝休眠，不管怎么关闭进程都会有新的任务跳出来。

MillauSo, what's our plan for today?所以说我们今天的行程是？

Willow...Zzzzzzzzz...……呼……呼。

While Millau frantically gesticulates, Willow falls asleep while leaning on the door.这边还在手舞足蹈地比划，那边却已经靠着门沿打起了呼噜。

Upon seeing this, Millau scratches her head and half-carries Willow into the room.米约尔见状挠了挠头，半抱起薇洛儿走进房间。

MillauHm—I think I got carried away.唔——我好像有点得意忘形了。

MillauHonestly, not being able to sense a companion's fatigue isn't a lady's style.真是的，察觉不到同伴的疲惫可不是淑女的作风啊。

Rustle—嚓——

As she puts Willow down, she feels something strange under her foot. It is only then that Millau realizes that the floor is covered in handwritten notes.放下薇洛儿，脚底传来异样的触感，米约尔这才看清房间地上散落着许多的手写纸张。

MillauHm? What are these?嗯？这些是？

MillauSuxiao Mingcai, Xiangyixuan,Huige Yayuan... Mon dieu!苏萧名菜、湘艺轩、徽阁雅苑……天呐！

MillauWere you working on this restaurant itinerary last night? That's amazing... um.这些都是你昨晚做的餐厅攻略吗！好棒……呃。

WillowZzzzzzzzz...呼……呼……

After Millau comes to her senses, she bends down and pulls the covers over Willow.回过神来的米约尔蹲下身子，为薇洛儿盖上棉被。

MillauThank you for your hard work.辛苦啦。

On the train to the restaurant, Willow swats away Millau's hands and clears her throat.坐在前往餐馆的车上，薇洛儿拍开米约尔的手掌，清了清嗓子。

WillowAhem. First things first, I didn't go out of my way to stay up all night to organize all this information for you.咳，事先声明，我可不是专门为你熬夜整理这些资料的。

WillowIt's just that I haven't done journalism in a long time, so I was just preparing for my gourmet cuisine article.太久不做报道，我只是在为我的美食专刊做前期准备而已。

MillauMhm~ mhm~ I understand!嗯嗯~我明白的！

WillowThe heck do you understand? You're smiling in such a creepy way.你明白个大头鬼啦！笑的这么不怀好意。

WillowHere, pick one. Uncle Lin especially instructed me to have you experience the eight main cooking styles in China and their associated cultures.喏，挑一家吧。林叔特意嘱咐我带你体验一遍中国的八大菜系还有相关的文化内容。

WillowSo, which do you want to eat first?你想先吃哪个？

MillauLet's see... There are eight main cooking styles? Are they really that complicated?我看看……八大菜系？竟然这么复杂吗？

MillauWhen I saw that restaurant itinerary this morning, I thought it was just that there were a lot of restaurants...早上看到你写的餐厅攻略，还以为只是单纯的餐厅比较多……

WillowHehe, this is the foundation of Chinese cooking!哼哼，这就是中国菜的底蕴！

MillauBut French cuisine isn't bad either! Our cooks know a lot of culinary techniques too!法国菜也不差的！我们的厨子也会很多做菜技巧！

WillowOho? Then do you know how many types of cooking arts there are in Chinese cuisine?嗯哼？那你知道中国菜的制作工艺有多少种嘛？

MillauEight... No, assuming there's two kinds per style, that would be 16, right?八……不对！算你一个菜系两种，那就是十六种？

WillowThere are 24! The preparation techniques here don't just cover 20 dishes; there are at least 24 ways to cook the ingredients alone!是二十四种！这里说的制作工艺可不是说只会做二十种菜，而是说光食材在烹饪上的处理就有二十四种方法！

Millau...Urgh, I might not be a chef, but I feel strangely disgruntled by this.……唔，可恶，虽然不是厨子，但感觉微妙的不甘心。

MillauI won't back down, though!不过我是不会退缩的！

MillauI'm staking my pride as a gourmet on this! Chinese food, here I come!赌上美食家的尊严，中国菜，我来啦！

WillowLet's put the grand speeches aside for a moment. Have you decided where you want to begin?豪言壮语先放一边，从哪家开始你选好了没？

MillauUm, I want to eat all of them, though. Can't we take them all at once?呜——看介绍我都想吃，不能一起来吗？

WillowHaste makes waste. You only get one restaurant a day!欲速则不达，一天只能一家哦~！

MillauThen... Then let's go in order and start from Jiangsu cuisine!那……那还是按照顺序来吧，我选这个！苏菜！

Cocktail Party 飨饮

Jinghai City, at the Suxiao Mingcai.静海市，苏萧名菜，西厅。

MillauThis layout... Isn't it strange?这个布局……好奇怪啊？

MillauIs this really a restaurant? Are we sitting in the wrong place?这里真的是餐厅吗？我们是不是坐错地方了。

WillowDon't worry, this IS a restaurant. Look, aren't there little tables in front of the chairs?安心好了，这里是餐厅。你瞧，椅子前面还有小桌板不是吗？

Millau...Do restaurants normally use furniture like this? And there's a stage in front. Is this a cabaret club or something?……一般来说餐厅会用这种样式的桌椅吗？而且前面还有个舞台，这里真不是戏剧厅？

WillowActually, you would be right from a certain point of view.某种意义上来讲，其实你说的没错。

WillowCome, look at this before you eat.来，吃饭前先把这个看了。

Willow takes two catalogs from the waiter and hands one to Millau.薇洛儿从服务员手里接过两张图册，分给了米约尔。

MillauAnd what's this? Are these nametags?这又是什么？名帖？

MillauDo you collect these before eating? What a strange rule. Is it unique to Jiangsu cuisine?用餐前还要收这种东西吗？好奇怪的规矩，是苏菜专有的吗？

Baffled, Millau opens the picture catalogs but finds that it is filled with pictures of strangely-dressed humans, as well as long passages of English text.米约尔不解地翻开了画图册，却发现上面绘制有穿着奇怪的人类，以及长篇中英文字。

MillauThe fall of the Qin Dynasty, the Chu-Han Contention, the King of Han Liu Bang appointed Han Xin as a general and bade him to attack the Chu...秦朝灭亡，楚汉争雄。汉王刘邦拜韩信为大将，进袭楚地……

MillauIs this... a Chinese history book?这个是……中国历史书？

服务员Pardon the intrusion. We're about to serve the soup, so please move your hands.打扰了，小姐，请收一下您的手，我们要上前汤了。

While Millau is still clueless, the server places a small bowl of soup on the little table and then begins explaining.米约尔不解之际，服务员将一小碗汤食置于小桌板上，而后开始了说明。

服务员This is a theater program that briefly explains the contents of the upcoming Peking opera that you are about to witness.这是背景说明文册，简单了解一下内容好方便您观看接下来的京剧。

MillauAn opera?京剧？

MillauHang on, I came to eat...等等，我是来吃饭的……

服务员Please calm yourself, miss. The main course will be served after the performance, so we seek your patience. You will be afforded the chance to dine.小姐稍安勿躁，主题菜会在演出结束后呈上，还请您稍作等候，不会误了用餐。

MillauWillow, what is this...?薇洛儿，这究竟是……？

WillowShhh—嘘——

WillowYou'll find out soon enough~ Just try the soup, it's one of the signature dishes of Jiangsu cuisine.很快你就知道啦~先尝尝前汤，这可是苏菜的招牌之一呢。

MillauHm, I'll give it a try...唔，我试试……

The moment the spoon enters her mouth, Millau's eyes light up.菜才入口，米约尔的眼睛便亮了起来。

MillauThe soup is clear, yet the taste is rich and fresh. The chicken and turtle meat is fresh and tender, and with a smooth texture.汤汁清澄，味道却浓郁鲜美。鸡、鳖肉质鲜嫩酥烂，口感顺滑。

MillauTrès bien! Truly an exquisite dish. What is it called?好菜！真是好菜，这道菜叫做什么名字？

WillowYou'll find out when you watch the opera afterwards! It's a name!这就是你等会儿要看的京剧啦！它们是一个名字！

Gongs and drums are beaten, and the actors begin filing onto the stage.锣鼓响，幕布掀开，演员们开始逐一登台。

MillauWow—哇——

Millau's eyes go wide. A performance she has never seen before unfolds in front of her.米约尔睁大了眼睛，从未见过的演出在她面前徐徐展开。

The brief show ends quickly enough, and the clamor of guests once again fills the west hall.简短的演出很快结束了，西厅里恢复了客人交流的嘈杂。

MillauWhat a unique form of art... Is "Farewell, My Concubine" the name of this ancient dish?好特别的艺术……霸王别姬，竟然是道这么古老的菜品吗？

WillowOf course. Its original name was "Dragon and Phoenix Stew", and it came from the capital of the Western Chu Empire.当然咯，霸王别姬原名龙凤烩，起源可是西楚王朝的国都。

WillowThis dish was meant to commemorate the hero Xiang Yu and the famed beauty Lady Yu.这道菜啊，正是为了纪念英雄项羽，还有绝代佳人虞姬所创制的菜品。

WillowIts ingredients of chicken and turtle are meant to reflect the dragon and the phoenix in its name, adding an extra layer of meaning to it.原料鸡、鳖更是在形象，以及音译上烘托了这道名菜，使得它有了更深邃意蕴。

MillauI truly didn't expect that its origins would be so... so...我是真的没想到，他的典故竟然如此的……如此的……

Millau gestures for quite a while before she can finally think of a way to describe it.米约尔伸手比划了半天，想了半天才找到一个形容词。

Millau...So grand.宏大。

MillauAre there many dishes in China with such a grand origin as this?像霸王别姬这样能寻源出这样宏大典故的菜品，在中国有很多吗？

WillowMaybe you should ask which parts of China DON'T have such things.或许你该问，什么地方没有。

WillowAlright, oh great gourmand, time to try the main course of "Farewell, My Concubine".好啦我的大美食家，来尝尝霸王别姬的本菜吧。

WillowMake sure you tell me how you feel about it.可要好好说说感想哦。

Millau takes the bowl and chopsticks and samples the "Farewell, My Concubine" again.米约尔接过碗筷，再次品了口霸王别姬。

Though it's clearly the same dish, at that moment Millau can taste a hint of something different in it.明明是同一道菜，此时米约尔却好像尝到了一丝别的什么不同的东西。

MillauI see... Is this the true meaning of imbuing food with emotions, history and culture?原来……给食物，赋予了诸多情感，历史和文化，真正的意思是这个吗？

MillauIt feels like... I understand a little about the seasoning called "stories" in food.我好像……有点明白了，食物里名为故事的佐料。

Cocktail Party 飨饮

One week later, in Jinghai City.一周后，静海市。

Millau gulps down mouthfuls of ice water while startling Willow with her wails. Meanwhile, Willow is fiddling with her camera.米约尔一边往嘴里猛灌冰水，一边用哀鸣打扰正在处理相机照片的薇洛儿。

MillauGlug... glug... glug...咕咚——咕咚——咕咚——

MillauPfhaaah... That was terrifying!哈呼……真是太太太太恐怖了！

MillauThat was a bit too much chili, don't you think? I was wondering if it was cooking or a chemical weapon!这究竟是生化武器还是美食啊，这个辣椒份量是不是离谱了点！

MillauI picked moderate spiciness, but it was over ten times hotter than that perverted spiciness from that street stall's crispy pancakes! Did the waiter make a mistake or something!?我点的只是中辣，但是比街摊手抓饼的变态辣还要辣十倍不止，是不是服务员搞错了什么！

WillowHahaha... That's how Szechuan cuisine is.哈哈哈……川菜是这个样子的啦。

WillowAnd besides, you chose it. I did warn you that Szechuan cuisine was best left to the end.你选的嘛，我有劝过你的喔，川菜放在最后会比较好。

WillowStill, this is a little troublesome, don't you think? Uncle Lin's already sent word so you won't have time to try the last two dishes. Everything's ready, so all you have to do is drop by~这下麻烦了吧，还有两道菜你是来不及尝了，林叔那边发消息过来了，一切都准备就绪，只等你光临啦~

MillauReally? I'll be able to eat the best Chinese cooking, then?真的吗！我能吃到最厉害的中国菜了吗！

Millau(Sigh) Although, it's a bit of a shame about the two remaining dishes... "Dragon Prince Sheds His Robes" and "Poetic Ginkgo".唉，不过还是觉得可惜，剩下的两道菜……子龙脱袍，诗礼银杏。

MillauAfter eating at all those restaurants, just hearing their names is enough to conjure up deep and meaningful stories for them.吃了这么多家店，感觉现在我光听这两道菜的名字都能脑补出意蕴悠长的故事了。

WillowThere are too many meaningful stories and even more dishes; you could eat for another month and still not go through them all.意蕴悠长的故事太多了，菜更多，再给你一个月也吃不完。

WillowSo do your best to eat it all up, my great gourmand.加把劲去吃吧，我的大美食家。

MillauBut of course! However, the most pressing thing at the moment is to try Uncle Lin's dishes.那是必须的！不过当务之急还是先尝一尝林叔做的美食。

MillauGiven what you know of him, what dishes will he make for me?以你对林叔的了解，他会做哪个菜系的食物给我？

WillowI don't know about that. It won't taste as good as the beef tripe, anyway.这我就不清楚啦，反正都没牛杂好吃。

MillauIs beef tripe all you can think of!你就惦记着你的牛杂吧！

WillowWhat's wrong with it? It DID bring you all the way to China, didn't it?牛杂怎么了，它还把你拐来中国了不是嘛。

MillauYou're one to talk. You hooked my appetite, but I still haven't eaten anything that's moved me yet.还敢说呢，把我的胃口吊起来了，结果现在也没吃到能让我感动的美食。

MillauI wonder what sort of taste will make my neural cloud tremble... ah!那种能让智能体心智都颤动的滋味究竟是怎么样呢……啊！

MillauI want to know, I really want to know!想知道，好想知道！

WillowEhe, I know, I know!诶嘿，我知道！我知道！

Millau reaches out to Willow with ill intentions in mind.米约尔没好气地朝薇洛儿伸出魔掌。

WillowHeh—Hehehe—Hahahaha~呼——呼呼呼——哈哈哈哈——

WillowDoooon't... Don't do that, it's so ticklish... Haha.别……别这样，好痒……哈哈。

MillauWhen this is all over and I go back to France, I'll take you to other restaurants to try their food and hold YOUR appetite hostage so I can watch you beg for mercy.等这次结束回法国，我带你去其他餐厅感受的美食的时候也吊你胃口，看你到时候求不求饶。

WillowAh... That might not be possible.啊……关于这个，恐怕不行啦。

WillowI, for one, plan to stay.我呢，打算留下来了。

MillauHm?咦？

WillowI want to start over as a reporter. The truth is, I've been pondering that question while I've been doing interviews for the past few days.我想重新开始记者的工作了，这几天做采访的时候，其实都在思考这个问题。

Willow hands a set of sorted pictures to Millau.薇洛儿将整理好的相片呈给了米约尔。

WillowWhile I only intended to do one simple food article when I started taking these pictures...虽然最开始拍照的时候，只是打算做一期简单的美食报道，但……

Willow presses her hand to her chest, where her core is.薇洛儿将手放在了心口，那是她心智核心所处的位置。

WillowAfter so many interviews and visits, the feeling from before is starting to come back to me.经过这么多天的走访，过去的感觉又渐渐回来了。

WillowA lot has happened, but I still want to try my hand at being a reporter again.尽管发生了很多事情吧，但我还是想要再重新尝试一下，记者这个职业。

WillowAlso, I want to meet my old friends from before one more time and tell them that Willow is back!而且，我也想再和以前的朋友见一见面，告诉他们，薇洛儿又回来啦！

Willow spreads her arms, but then she suddenly feels a thump on her shoulders. Millau has embraced her at some point.薇洛儿舒展着双手，肩上陡然一重，米约尔不知何时抱了上来。

MillauCongratulations, mon amie!恭喜你！我的朋友！

WillowHehe.嘿嘿。

MillauIn order to celebrate ma petite Willow's return, let's head out for Uncle Lin's place!为了庆祝小洛儿回家，向着林叔的店，出发！

WillowYoupi! Allez!好耶！出发！

Cocktail Party 飨饮

Jinghai City, late at night at the restaurant.静海市，深夜饭馆。

The pair arrive at the restaurant. Uncle Lin is still busy in the kitchen.二人抵达饭馆，此刻林叔还在后厨忙碌。

MillauHup, mhmhm~嘿咻，嗯哼哼~

WillowWhy did you bring your suitcase along?你怎么把行李箱都拖过来了？

MillauBecause it's time to go all-out.因为到了需要全力以赴的时候了呀。

MillauNow, which of my darlings will I use today?那么，今天该使用哪个小可爱呢？

She undoes the latch and the long suitcase displays her elegant interior to all viewers.打开锁扣，狭长的箱子向访客展露她优雅的内在。

The insides are not filled with exquisite jewelry or lavish upholstery, but a veritable armory of dining silverware.箱子里盛装的并非是精致的首饰，也不是华丽的装扮，而是琳琅满目的银质器具。

Like soldiers standing at the ready, they quietly await selection by their commander.它们就像待命的士兵，安静地等待长官的选拔。

WillowWow~ Can I take a picture of them? There's so many... Are they all eating utensils?哇哦~我可以拍张相片吗？这么多的东西……它们都是餐具？

MillauOf course, they're my pride and joy.当然，这是我的荣幸。

WillowWhy haven't I seen you use them before?为什么之前从来没有看见你使用过？

MillauBecause my darlings will only take the field in the most intense battles.因为我的小可爱只有在决战的时刻才需要出场。

MillauFor instance, during gourmet food-tasting competitions, and right now, when I'm about to achieve my heart's desire.比如美食品鉴的比赛，又比如即将达成心愿的现在。

WillowI can't believe it...真是不可思议……

MillauHehe, did that startle you? They've been my security during my year of wandering, and also my trump card when facing off with other gastronomes.嘿嘿，被镇住了吧？它们可是我一年来走南闯北的保障，也是我与其他美食家过招的底牌。

WillowNo, I was more surprised by the fact that despite knowing how to use all these eating utensils, you STILL can't master a pair of chopsticks.不，我感慨的是掌握了这么多餐具用法的你，竟然奈何不了一双筷子。

WillowThat's surprising, don't you think?我觉得这真是一件不可思议的事情。

MillauNow, then! Which of my darlings shall I use?那么！今天该使用哪个小可爱呢？

WillowHey! Don't go changing the subject like that!不要生硬地转移话题啊喂！

MillauThen what do you want to do? You can be candid, but you don't have to be cruel! You can take a shot, but don't land a low blow!那你想怎样！打人不打脸！揭人不揭短！

WillowI really am impressed by just how fast you've mastered Chinese.你学习中文的速度真是让人叹为观止。

MillauI've always been able to quickly grasp any form of knowledge that's related to gourmet cuisine.只要是和美食有关的知识，我向来掌握得很快。

MillauFor instance—比如——

Millau whips out a steak knife as she mumbles to herself, then essays a couple of strokes in the air towards Willow's camera.米约尔嘟着嘴拿出餐刀，恐吓似地对薇洛儿的相机比划了两下。

MillauI'll chop it to bits if you keep teasing me.再调侃我我就把它大卸八块。

林叔That isn't appropriate language for the dinner table, little miss.大卸八块可不是饭桌上的常用词，小姑娘。

林叔Also, you can't cook cameras.而且，相机也不能下锅做菜。

MillauAh! You're finished, Uncle Lin?呀！林叔出来啦？

MillauIs it ready? The fine cuisine that surpasses ingredients and culinary techniques and strikes directly at the neural cloud?准备好了吗？能超越食材和厨艺本身，直击心智系统的美食。

MillauI've been looking forward to this for a long time, so don't disappoint me, Master Lin.这边可是做足了期待，千万不要让我失望喔，林师傅。

林叔You sure don't hold back.真是毫不留情的质问。

MillauBut of course! Right now, I am not ma petite Willow's friend or a junior of yours.当然！现在我的身份可不是什么小洛儿的朋友，又或者您的小辈。

MillauI am a diner, and one who has arrived on time for their meal.我是一名食客，准时赴约的食客。

林叔In that case, I can't possibly back down now, can I?既然如此，我怎么也不能怯场才是。

A hint of a smile crosses the middle-aged man's face, and he gestures for her to proceed to the table.中年人的脸上多了一丝笑意，做了个请的姿势。

林叔Here, this is an appetizer.请，这是餐前小菜。

MillauHm—A new drink?唔——是新的饮料吗？

MillauAnd this Chinese-style snack... Are they dough fritters? Or some manner of pastry whose name is unknown to me?中式小吃……油条？包子？还是某种我不知名的糕点呢？

MillauHow exciting! I'm going to open the lid!真期待啊，我要揭盖了！

Millau closes her eyes, takes out her handkerchief, and then elegantly lifts the lid.米约尔闭上了眼，她拿出丝巾，动作优雅地掀开餐盖。

MillauThe freshness of fruit, the sweetness of cream, mmm~水果的清香，甜腻的奶油味道，嗯~——

MillauThe smell alone is tempting enough. As a sweet appetizer, this truly is... It's...光是气味就已然足够诱人，作为餐前甜点，这真是……真是……

Millau's eyebrows suddenly quirk up. Something isn't quite right.米约尔蹙起了眉头，她察觉到了些许不对。

Millau(Why is this smell so familiar?)（这个味道为什么会感觉有点熟悉？）

She opens her eyes, and what she sees makes her freeze.睁开眼，面前呈现的食物让米约尔登时愣住了。

MillauMa... Macarons?马……马卡龙？

MillauMaster Lin, what is the meaning of this? Should you not have prepared an Eastern-style snack?林师傅，这是什么意思，难道你准备的不该是中式甜点吗？

MillauOr are you admitting defeat ahead of the matter? Thinking that you could not move me with Chinese food, you chose to step back and try to win me over with French cuisine?还是说，你提前认输了？认为中国菜并不能打动我，于是退而求其次用法餐来博取我的好感？

林叔You're mistaken. I simply felt that you... no, perhaps I should address you as Miss Millau.你误会了，我只是觉得小姑娘……不，我该称呼你为米约尔小姐。

林叔I simply believed that you were under the effect of a misconception.我只是觉得米约尔小姐似乎走入了一个误区。

The middle-aged man plates the macarons and lays them before Millau.中年人缓缓地将马卡龙择出，装入小碟置于米约尔面前。

This is not a habit of his. He is simply doing this because it aids him in setting the scene.这并不是他的习惯，只是因为这么做更有助于还原某些场景。

林叔Miss Millau, why do you think I had little Willow take you to experience Chinese cuisine?米小姐觉得我之前让小洛儿带你去体验中华的美食是为了什么？

MillauIn order to understand the link between food and stories?为了感受故事和食物之间的关系？

MillauI've heard and eaten a lot over the past few days. While I wouldn't dare say I understand it all, I'm confident in saying I've grasped Chinese dishes to some extent.我这两天吃了很多也听了很多，虽然不敢说了解通透，却也在一定程度上对中国菜有所掌握。

MillauSo? What does this have to do with French cooking?所以呢？跟法国菜又有什么关系？

Millau hesitates briefly before placing a macaron in her mouth and biting down gently.米约尔略有些迟疑地将马卡龙放入嘴中，轻轻咬下。

林叔Which is why I was saying you were mistaken, Miss Millau.所以我才说，米约尔小姐走入了误区。

The middle-aged man's voice is the last intelligible thing Millau hears before a change occurs in her sensory systems.中年人略带笑意的声音成为了米约尔感受系统变化前听到的最后一句人声。

林叔Stories and food, food and stories. Since they're linked to food, then why should Chinese dishes be the only ones with stories to tell?故事与食物，故事与食物，既然是与食物，又何来局限于中国菜一说？

MillauHuh...?唔——？

The crisp outer shell of the macaron crumbles under mild pressure from her teeth, and the soft contents spring free of their confines to embrace the interior of Millau's mouth.马卡龙薄脆的表壳在牙齿的轻触下悄然崩碎，柔软的内里拥抱了米约尔的口腔。

The mild sourness of fruit and the sweetness of the cream blend together to form a silent symphony that draws Millau into her memories.水果的甘甜与奶油的甜腻交缠融汇，化作无声的音乐，催促着让米约尔陷入回忆。

The very Chinese-style decorations of the restaurant slowly fade away, and when she opens her eyes again, Millau finds herself sitting in front of a familiar dining table.极具中国特色的饭馆布景缓缓褪去颜色，再次睁开眼，米约尔坐在熟悉的餐桌前。

电子音Estimated time to update completion: five minutes.预计还有五分钟结束更新。

MillauFive more minutes!还有五分钟！

MillauCould you hurry up a little? Please?能快一点吗？再快一点？

The girl pointlessly urges her gustatory system's progress bar to fill up faster.少女无意义催促味觉系统更新的进度条。

MillauI've been bearing with this for so long! Having me learn so much about taste and flavor but not allowing me to eat a single thing is simply torture!我已经忍耐很久了！让我深度学习了这么多味道相关的知识，却到现在还没吃过一次东西，实在太折磨了！

MillauWhat DOES eating feel like?进食究竟是一种什么样的感觉呢？

MillauWhy do some people enjoy it while others merely go through the motions?为什么有的人乐此不疲，有的人却只是当成例行公事不耐烦地日日敷衍？

MillauI want to find out. I want to eat and learn.好想知道，好想快点吃到。

电子音Estimated time to update completion: three minutes. Preloading specific functions...预计还有三分钟结束更新，部分功能预加载中……

MillauHuh? The update hasn't completed yet, so why is my gustatory system already operational?咦？明明还没有更新完成，味觉系统却已经开始工作了？

MillauThis feeling...这个感觉……

Millau looks at the plate beside her. The color of the macarons which lie upon it is tempting, and the sensory feedback from her recently-activated gustatory systems make her gulp.米约尔看向了身旁的盘子，上面的马卡龙色泽诱人，经由刚激活的味觉系统提供的信息反馈，少女不自觉地吞了口唾沫。

MillauIs this... hunger?这就是……馋吗？

电子音Update complete. Activating gustatory systems–更新结束，味觉系统激——

MillauNOM!嗷！

Millau doesn't bother to wait for the system notice to finish before grabbing a macaron and shoving it into her mouth.根本不等语音提示结束，米约尔就抓起马卡龙塞入嘴里。

MillauMmm— (coughs heavily)唔——咳咳咳——咳咳——

The girl calms her breathing and closes her eyes, quietly savoring the feedback from her new systems.少女平息咳喘，闭上了眼睛，静静地品味新系统传来的反馈。

MillauThis texture... this taste...这个口感……这个味道……

MillauCrispy on the outside, tender on the inside, sweet and delicious, and with a chewy texture... So that's how it feels.“外酥内软，香甜可口，富有嚼劲”……原来是这样的感觉。

MillauThose digitized logs are too bland! I want to let more people know about this!那些数据化的记录都太过单薄了，我想让这份感觉被更多人知道！

MillauI want... to eat more delicious food!我想……吃到更多的美食！

Her laughter fades and the scenery before her crumbles away. Millau blinks, and finds herself back in the restaurant.笑声消弭，光景如琉璃般破碎，晃了晃神，米约尔又回到了饭馆中。

Millau looks at the middle-aged man and opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.米约尔看着中年人张了张嘴，却什么也没有说出来。

MillauI...我……

MillauYou...你……

林叔How was the appetizer?前菜的口感如何？

林叔I used egg whites, almond powder, sugar, icing and fruit syrup.用料是蛋白、杏仁粉、白砂糖、糖霜和水果酱。

林叔And of course, just a little bit of your story.当然，还有一点你的故事。

Millau's gaze turns to Willow, who is standing to the side.米约尔将目光移到了一旁的薇洛儿身上。

WillowHeehee, I didn't violate your privacy. That's a taboo for reporters.嘻嘻，我可没有侵犯你的隐私，这是记者的大忌。

WillowI simply found some clues in your blog.我只是顺着你的专栏稍微找了找线索。

MillauWhew—呼——

MillauThat was just the appetizer, Master Lin.这只是前菜，林师傅。

MillauAlthough... I have to admit, I DID experience something just now... A taste I've never encountered in food before, but—虽然……我不得不承认，我刚才的确是感受到了某些……从来没有在食物上感受到的滋味，但是——

MillauThat was just the appetizer.这只是前菜。

林叔Of course, it was just the appetizer.当然，这只是前菜。

林叔Then, the entrée, s'il vous plaît.那么，请用正餐。

Uncle Lin calmly lifts another lid off a platter.林叔不以为意地又掀一盖。

The unique smell of beef tripe mingles with sauce to form a fragrance that rushes at the nose, accompanied by the gentle waft of apple brandy.牛杂特有的味道混着酱汁的扑鼻香气，在苹果酒的陪衬下缓缓飘出。

林叔Specially-made apple brandy beef tripe. Please, help yourself.苹果酒特制牛杂，请。

Millau's eyes are fixed on the beef tripe lying in the wine. In a rare display, her hands begin to tremble.米约尔双眼死死盯着徜徉在酒液中的牛杂，双手罕见地颤抖了起来。

She brings a piece of tripe into her mouth, her heart filled with anticipation and just a hint of fear. Then, she quickly closes her eyes.她满含期待和一丝畏怯地将牛杂喂入口中，而后迫不及待地闭上了眼。

The taste of the beef tripe spreads across her tongue.牛杂的味道在舌尖逸散。

As expected, the girl returns to that summer day.毫无意外的，少女又回到了那个夏天。

MillauFragrant broth, tender carrots, and springy beef innards. Délicieux!鲜香的汤底，软嫩的胡萝卜，还有口感筋道的牛杂。美味！

??Is that all?只是这样？

MillauUm— Aw, don't be so harsh, this is my first official taste-testing!唔——呜，不要这么严格嘛，这是我第一次正式试菜！

??Don't try to bluff me, I sent the macarons!别蒙我，马卡龙还是我送的！

MillauUm—In any case! It tastes great!唔——总之！味道很棒！

??Why not try some more? You've got to be serious when taste-testing, or you'll lose points—要不你再品品？品鉴结果不要这么敷衍，会扣分的——

??Later? You're eating again!?等会儿？你怎么就又吃上了！

Her memories scatter again. This time, Millau doesn't wait for the middle-aged man to move, but instead she lifts the cover off the dishes on her own.回忆再度破碎，这次不等中年人动手，米约尔先一步掀开餐碟。

Rich seafood soups, roast scallops, tuna, fried oysters...海鲜浓汤、烤扇贝、金枪鱼、牡蛎油条……

Pork platter, beef in red wine, buttered escargots...烤猪拼盘、红酒烩牛肉、黄油烤蜗牛……

Cream puffs, chestnut cake...泡芙、栗子蛋糕……

Every dish is like a mighty cipher key that breaks through the firewall of Millau's neural cloud systems, bringing the girl from one memory of her past to another.每道美食都像是一个个破译了米约尔心智系统防火墙的强大密钥，毫不讲理地把少女带入了从前的一段又一段回忆里。

A year's worth of time unfolds, as she goes over hill and dale, from morning to sunset. It isn't sorrow, but a feeling that could be considered sentimentality begins welling up in Millau's neural cloud.一年的时光流转，从平原过山川，从清晨至日落。称不上悲怆，却足够感伤的情绪在米约尔的心智系统中泛滥。

By the time she comes to her senses, tears are streaming down her face.回过神来，少女已然泪流满面。

MillauWillow...薇洛儿……

WillowI'm here.我在呢。

MillauI... I...我……我……

Millau tries to speak, but in the end she can't stop herself from weeping and begins to sob.米约尔三番两次地开口，终于止不住哭腔，哽咽起来。

As she wipes away her tears, she gobbles down the food which she would normally take her time chewing.少女一边抹泪，一边大口地吞咽着平日里细嚼慢咽的食物。

MillauI... (Sobs) I want to go home... I want to go back to France and take a look around...我……呜呜呜……我想回家……我想回法国看看……

MillauI want to go take a picture of the Juste Seafood Restaurant... You were right (sniffle) I should have done it...我想去朱斯特海鲜馆拍张照，你说得对……呜呜呜……我该拍张照才对的……

Millau(Sobs) It's good... So good...呜呜呜……真好吃……太好吃了……

MillauWhy didn't I ever realize that this food tasted so good?为什么我之前没有觉得这些菜这么好吃呢？

Millau(Sobs)呜呜呜——

At a table not far away, Willow's pen is moving rapidly over a piece of paper, revealing an incomplete column article beneath it.不远处的餐桌上，薇洛儿留下镇纸的钢笔滚动，露出了盖在下方，未完的专栏报告。

[What Is Gourmet Cuisine?]【什么是美食？】

[Gourmet cuisine is the land, the scenery, and the taste of human emotion.]【美食就是山川、风光、还有人情的味道。】

[Gourmet cuisine... Is the longing for home that people have in their hearts.]【美食……就是人们心中固有的乡愁。】

Bottoms Up 共饮

At the Oasis, in the cafeteria kitchen.绿洲，食堂后厨。

PersicariaBeef lungs, beef stomach, beef intestines, beef small intestines, beef spleen...牛肺、牛肚、牛肠、牛粉肠、牛脾……

PersicariaStar anise, dried citrus peel, cinnamon, Chinese licorice, tsao-ko, fennel...八角、陈皮、桂皮、甘草、草果、丁香……

PersicariaThe ingredients are ready, but... are you really going to cook, Professor?材料都准备好了但是……教授你真的要下厨？

ProfessorIt's not bad to cook from time to time.偶尔做做饭也挺好的。

ProfessorIn any case, I'll need to show some sincerity if I want to persuade her to join us.不管怎么说，想要劝说他人入伙，我至少得拿出点诚意。

ProfessorWillow said she likes eating this, so I'll make this for her.薇洛儿说她喜欢吃这个，那就做这个好了。

PersicariaAh... Alright, then. I'll be here, so just call for me if you need a hand.那……好吧，我就在这里，有什么需要搭把手的可以喊我。

ProfessorI'm just making a bowl of beef tripe.只是一碗牛杂而已。

ProfessorSpeaking of which, have you had beef tripe before?说起来帕斯卡你吃过牛杂吗？

PersicariaI don't recall it, so I don't think so?没有印象了，应该是没有吃过？

ProfessorI kind of want to make you a bowl of it in real life.我还挺想在现实生活中给你做一碗的。

PersicariaEhhh?欸？

ProfessorI think when the time comes, there shouldn't be so many troublesome things to worry about.我想到了那时，应该就没有这么多麻烦事了。

Oasis Medical Department, at the neural cloud evaluation ward.绿洲医疗部门，心智检定处。

Millau opens her eyes and stares blankly at the ceiling.米约尔睁开了眼睛，呆呆地看着天花板。

WillowAre you awake?你醒啦？

WillowHelloooo?喂？

Willow reaches out to wave her hand in front of Millau before the latter swats it away.薇洛儿伸出手在米约尔跟前晃了晃，然后被一手掌拍掉。

MillauHonestly, can't you let me just lie down for a bit?真是的，让我再躺会不好吗？

WillowHehe, sure I can, but you looked weird. I'm just glad you're okay.嘿嘿，可以是可以，不过看你的样子怪怪的，没事就好。

WillowWhat did you see during the evaluation?你在检定的时候看到了什么？

MillauI saw some memory data of the past, like what humans call "dreams", I guess.看到了以前的记忆数据，就像人类说的“梦”一样吧。

MillauAnd when I woke up, I was thinking, "wouldn't it be nice if this was just a dream too."醒来的时候我还在想，这里要也是一场“梦”就好了。

WillowYeah, I understand. I was thinking of home too.啊，我知道了，你想家了。

MillauIt's all because of you and Uncle Lin, otherwise I wouldn't be thinking about this so much.还不是你和林叔害的，原来我哪会考虑这么多事儿。

WillowThe longing for home is embedded in the depths of every neural cloud. If we hadn't triggered it, then you'd have triggered it yourself somewhere else sooner or later.对家乡的眷恋根植在每一个心智最深处，你不在我们身上得到启发，迟早有一天也会在其他地方得到启发的。

MillauI guess...大概吧……

Millau sniffs, and then slaps her face hard.米约尔抽了抽鼻子，狠狠地拍了一下自己的脸颊。

Whap—啪——

MillauAlright, that'll do. I was being too nostalgic because you two twisted my emotions.好了，这样就可以了，回顾太深，情绪都被你们带歪了。

WillowYour mouth says no, but the truth is you didn't actually mind revisiting those memories, did you?嘴上说着不喜欢，其实你不讨厌回顾那段经历吧？

MillauWell... I guess.嘛……话是这么说。

MillauIf only I could have some beef tripe now.现在要是能吃到份牛杂就好了。

Beep—滴——

The ward door opens again and the Professor enters, wreathed by a fragrant scent.检定处的门再次打开，教授带着一阵香气步入其间。

ProfessorHere's the beef tripe. How's that for sincerity?牛杂还是有的，这份诚意怎么样？

MillauMhm, thank you for your consideration. I'll give it a taste.嗯哼，有心了，我来品品。

Millau accepts the beef tripe without any hesitation and tries it.米约尔不客气地接过牛杂品鉴了起来。

ProfessorHow does it taste?味道怎么样？

Millau...Frankly speaking, it's kind of ordinary.……实话实说的话，挺一般的。

ProfessorAhem, but you ARE happy with it, right?咳，所以这份诚意你满意吗？

ProfessorUltimately, Magrasea isn't our home, and if we want to go back to reality, we need to be united.麦戈拉终究不是我们的家，想要回到现实世界，我们必须团结一心。

ProfessorBut unlike reality, you'll eventually be able to try all the food in the cloud server, right?和现实不同，云端的食物，总是会尝遍的不是吗？

Millau stares hard at the Professor for a bit, and then she nods.米约尔盯着教授看了好一会儿，而后点点头。

MillauTo think you'd even comply with such a trivial request of mine. I guess it's like Willow said; you're a reliable person.即使是我这样无理取闹的要求你也同意了，看起来的确像小洛儿说的，你是个可靠的人。

Millau...Still, if I end up staying, I want that chocolate!……不过，留下来的话，我要那个巧克力！

ProfessorOf course. The promise still stands, you can have as much chocolate as you want. You may also go out on dispatch to other sectors and try the food that the Oasis doesn't have.当然，承诺不变，巧克力要多少有多少。你也可以出外勤去其他扇区，品尝绿洲所没有的美食。

WillowHehe, looks like I kept my side of the promise we made when we parted ways.嘿嘿，这样一来，我也算实现我们之前分别时许下的约定啦~

MillauWhenever we meet again, you'll show me new food, and I'll bring you a new story...“之后每一次见面，你带给我新的美食，而我带给你新的故事”……

WillowIt's your turn now.接下来，该到你履行诺言啦。

MillauOf course, I've got lots of stories in store!当然，我这边可是准备了很多故事呢！

WillowBut before that...不过，在此之前……

Willow takes a picture of Millau and the Professor together before putting her camera down and spreading her arms wide.薇洛儿先是为米约尔和教授拍了一张合影，而后笑嘻嘻地放下相机张开双臂。

Millau pauses for a moment, and then she smiles brightly before gathering her long lost friend into a big hug.米约尔愣了一会儿，随即露出了一贯明媚的笑容，给了许久不见的朋友一个大大的拥抱。

WillowWelcome to the Oasis, Millau.米约尔，欢迎来到绿洲。

MillauOh, don't worry, I won't hold back, so you'd better take me to try everything in the Oasis.放心，我不会跟你客气的，你得领着我把绿洲吃遍。

WillowNO PROBLEM!~当然没问题~！

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