"Super rich guy… entire month…" Colleen muttered those words, a sense of déjà vu washing over her. Her eyes widened. 'This rich guy… could his name be Danny Rand?'
Rex was surprised. 'Hey! How do you know?'
"He distracted me the other day and paid me three months' worth of Dojo rent!"
An awkward silence descended. Rex ground his teeth, his voice rising in anger. 'Three months? That jerk values looks over friendliness! I've only got one month's worth of compensation!'
Colleen looked at Rex, surprised by his outburst. She avoided talking about money and sat down at a table. 'So, your offer is still on?'
Rex nodded. 'Of course! So, do you want the usual, or would you like to try my new Ki barbeque?'
Colleen's eyes lit up. 'Alright, I'll try that out!'
Rex grinned. 'Great! Coming right up!'
Rex quickly brought a large plate of sliced raw meat and began cooking it with Ki, his movements precise and fluid. Colleen watched in fascination. She had seen Jan Ken before, but this technique was completely different. As Rex finished cooking the meat, Colleen couldn't help but marvel. 'That's astonishing! What's this technique? How did you do it?'
"This is a basic skill, but it's not a move. I'm just releasing Ki. It's about channeling life energy to produce heat. Cooking with Ki is a good way to practice control."
Rex handed Colleen a knife and fork. 'Try it!'
Colleen smiled. 'Thanks!'
Rex grinned. 'Enjoy! I need to greet the guests. See you later!'
Colleen waved him off. 'Go, don't worry about me!'
As dinner time approached, the restaurant filled up. Rex, anticipating a busy night, made more preparations than he had for lunch. After Colleen finished eating, she joined him, helping to serve the customers. A short-haired girl, about 17 or 18, joined them without speaking. Rex noticed she was Colleen's disciple. Her ease and skill with the service made it clear she was no stranger to waiting tables.
With Colleen and the new girl helping, the dinner rush went smoothly. Once the last customer left, Rex turned the closed sign. Colleen went to the girl. 'Take a break. Let's sit down and chat.'
The three sat around a table. Rex introduced himself to the new girl. 'Hello, I'm Rex Lee, an old friend of Colleen.'
The girl had delicate features that hinted at a Germanic heritage. Her face was thin, framed by a fringe of dark hair that fell across her forehead. Her body was slender, almost ethereal, with pale white skin that seemed to glow in the dim light. Despite her fragile appearance, her eyes held a surprising intensity, a contradiction that made her seem both vulnerable and strong. Her hair, a stark black against her pale skin, was a further departure from the blonde she might have been expected to be. She looked at Rex with her big green eyes, her gaze guarded. 'Lorna Lehnsherr,' she answered.
Rex asked, 'May I call you Lorna?'
Rex paused, waiting for her nod. 'Lorna, I can offer you a monthly salary of $1500. You'll have two three-hour shifts, one at noon and one in the evening. You'll also get free accommodation and food. Since I don't have any kitchen assistants, I'm willing to pay an extra $8 an hour if you're willing to help with preparations. Think about it and let me know if you have any questions.'
Lorna had been an orphan since she was young, and had spent time living on the streets. She had worked as a waitress for a while. She had a theft on her record, and no one was willing to hire her. Rex's offer was incredibly generous, and she immediately nodded. 'No problem, I accept your offer. I'd love to do extra chores for extra money.'
Rex nodded. 'Alright! What do you think, Colleen?'
Colleen smiled. 'I have no objections. Just don't you dare bully my student!'
Rex laughed. 'Alright, then it's settled! Welcome to Lee's Chinese Restaurant, Lorna!' He extended his hand.
Lorna was stunned for a moment, then she stood up and shook Rex's hand. 'So, should I call you boss?'
Rex shrugged. 'As you like! This is a small restaurant, no need for formality. You can call me boss, Rex, Mr. Lee, whatever you want.'
Lorna paused for a moment, then said, 'I'll stick with Boss.'
Rex nodded. 'Ok! Lorna, do you have a place to live, or…'
Colleen cut him off. 'Rex, she doesn't have a place to live. You have to arrange a room for her.'
Lorna looked at Colleen, her voice a soft murmur. 'Sensei…'
Lorna turned away, her face flushed. 'I live outside, and I can take care of myself.'
Colleen shook her head. 'No! Live where? Some abandoned building? You don't want to get caught and have Property Invasion added to your record.'
Lorna's patience snapped. 'SENSEI! I'm free to choose where I live! You can't make that decision for me!'
Colleen's voice was firm. 'I'm your Sensei.'
Rex coughed, interrupting them. 'Colleen, don't worry. Lorna, I'll arrange a room for you on the top floor for now. We can decide where you'll stay permanently later, alright?'
Lorna nodded silently, glancing at Colleen. 'Boss, there are some tables to clean up. I'll go to work!'
Rex nodded. 'Go ahead. Clean up, wash the dishes, and then you can get off work.'
Lorna smiled. 'Great!'