Universe Infinite Canteen

Since the closure of the Universe Infinite Canteen, over 80 fan groups have turned into wailing caves.

A group of diners wails in there every day, blatantly and subtly hinting for Ma Lu to open the doors early, not to pass up the chance to make money.

Unfortunately, there has been no response. Some even camp outside the restaurant, hoping to be the first to eat when it opens.

However, twenty days have passed, and this small restaurant, rated by the Meiping Website as the most recommended restaurant globally, has still not reopened.

At the end of the month, the eagerly awaiting crowd received devastating news.

Ma Lu announced in the group that he plans to close the Universe Infinite Canteen indefinitely.

The wailing in the group reached its peak instantly.

Various supplements and incoherent boss comments flooded the screen.

However, Ma Lu wasn't checking his phone at this moment. He had already contacted a moving company before announcing the news, moving most of the restaurant's contents out.

Looking at the empty restaurant, Ma Lu took out his phone, mounted it on the newly purchased Flow 2 Pro, and set a timer.

Then he called over He Xiaoqian, Ma Youyou, Old Wang, Sun Mei, Mr. Furball, and the Valkyrie people for a group photo in front of the counter.

After the shoot, Ma Lu went alone to the second floor and knocked on Zhen Ye's room door.

This time, the girl wasn't playing games for once. She spent three days cleaning up her room, which was like a junkyard, restoring it to its original state when her parents were still around.

She picked up a family photo from the bedside, wiped off the dust from the frame, and placed it in her suitcase.

Hearing the knock, she ran barefoot to the living room, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

"Are you ready?" Ma Lu asked outside the door.

Zhen Ye nodded.

"I've moved most of the stuff. Are you sure you don't want to rent out the 1st Level again? You'd get a lot of rent in a year."

"We'll be back... right."

"Of course," Ma Lu rubbed his nose, "the outside world is fascinating, and long trips are fun, but after a while, you'll want to come home."

"Let's leave it then," Zhen Ye said, "until we come back. I've already received the rent refund from my aunt, so I'm not short of money."

"It's your call," Ma Lu reached out to help the girl with her suitcase, "let's go."

Zhen Ye took one last look at her house and turned off the power.

Ma Lu brought Zhen Ye downstairs and handed her over to He Xiaoqian for care, then drove back to Aerospace University.

By that time, it was close to 10 PM, but there were still quite a few people on the street outside the West Gate of Aerospace University.

Squid Brother was leaning on his electric tricycle, scrolling his phone while overseeing his son doing homework on a small stool, when suddenly a large vehicle stopped in front of his stall.

It completely blocked his stall.

Squid Brother was conflicted, wanting to curse out loud but fearing to provoke someone he couldn't afford to. Luckily, the window quickly rolled down.

Ma Lu poked his head out, "You haven't packed up yet."

"Ah, it's you, Ma... Boss Ma."

Squid Brother's expression was complicated upon seeing Ma Lu, recalling how just over six months ago, they were stall-holding comrades on the same street.

Now he's a boss, driving a luxury car, living in a big house, and featured in various news and magazines. Squid Brother even saw the news on TikTok about the indefinite closure of the Universe Infinite Canteen recently.

There were thousands of comments below; indeed, comparisons are odious.

"Give me two skewers of rocket squid. I guess I won't be able to eat them for a long time."

Squid Brother sneered internally, suspecting the guy was being boastful.

But he couldn't reject a business opportunity and played along with Ma Lu's words.

"Why, are you planning to go abroad, Boss Ma?"

"I'm planning to develop throughout the Universe." Ma Lu scanned the QR code to pay.

"Haha, Boss Ma, you're so funny," Squid Brother said while grilling the squid.

At this moment, he heard a voice prompt from his phone, "WeChat receipt of ten thousand yuan."

Squid Brother doubted his ears, quickly checked his phone, and indeed, ten thousand yuan had been credited.

"Boss Ma, you accidentally keyed in one zero... no, three extra zeros; your hand seems quite shaky."

"No shake; that's ten thousand," Ma Lu said with a smile, "You keep it, consider it a thank you for always saving my spot."

Squid Brother was genuinely moved, "Boss Ma, you... this is too magnanimous. I also owe you an apology for the past."

"It's okay," Ma Lu patted his shoulder, "just be nicer to the newcomers in the future, so you don't kick the iron plate again."

"Got it."

Squid Brother agreed repeatedly and gave ten more skewers, essentially a buy-two-get-ten-free deal.

Ma Lu took the bag of rocket squid, just as Han Feifei exited the school gate and walked over.

"You can actually leave after finishing your university," Ma Lu suggested, "I can come back for you after you graduate in a year."

"Are you kidding? This is a chance to travel to other cosmic planes. Compared to that, studies are completely irrelevant," Han Feifei said.

"Uh, that's true, but..."

"Stop nagging. I've already completed the paperwork for a break; I can return any time I want to continue," Han Feifei said, "I only have one request."

"What's that?"

"Get me a job on the ship; I don't want to be just your girlfriend enjoying free meals and lodging."

"Okay, what do you want to do?"

"Can I be the pilot?"

"Oh, it happens I do need an actual pilot on my ship."

Ma Lu scratched his chin, "Old Yan is reluctant to leave his hardware expertise behind, willing to accompany me for just a year. If you want to be a pilot, I can have him teach you, and when he leaves, you can take over, maybe even sooner. His skills aren't that impressive anyway."

"No problem."

Ma Lu picked up Han Feifei, and then they went to the airport to pick up a well-disguised female celebrity. By the time he got home, the Female Sorceress had also arrived.

Moreover, Mr. Furball and Flush your Pee had already devoured over fifty bags of chips on the couch.

By then, most members of the Doomsday Squad were there.

Shortly after Ma Lu entered, a white dove perched on the window sill.

Ma Lu nodded to it, "Thanks for your help this time, allowing me to tell my friends the truth."

The white dove cocked its head, "No problem; after all, you saved the Multiverse. The Earth Autonomy Management Committee isn't such an inflexible organization. It was willing to give you this favor, but it's a pity...

"What's the pity?"

"Nothing, I just lamented that with you and Old Wang leaving, Earth no longer has a Cosmic Chef."

"I will certainly return once I become a Cosmic Chef," Sun Mei said, "and I will create my own path as a chef."

"That's the spirit!" Ma Lu praised, "Keep practicing, and maybe you'll represent me in fifty years."

Seeing everyone was present, Ma Lu took out the Seal Pendant from his pocket.

"I have already transformed the Pink Whale's No. 1 cargo hold into a restaurant. We can travel the Multiverse while continuing to run the restaurant. The Universe Infinite Canteen will become a true Universe Infinite Canteen. But before that, I still need to pick up a few friends."

"Your friends, more women? You seem to have too many female friends," Angie complained.

"Can't help it, I am just too popular, no matter where I go, hahaha."

As Ma Lu spoke, he pressed the seal on the pendant.

"Let's go, and let's find some fun in this chaotic universe together!" (The End)