Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Alright, alright, stop arguing and just order. Today’s budget is five hundred Star Coins. Anyone who goes over pays the difference!”

”Captain, you’re being way too stingy, aren’t you? What can we even get for five hundred Star Coins!”

Sun Yang grumbled, but his hands didn’t hesitate as he quickly flipped the menu to the main course section.

”Fine, I’ll have a large beef with rice, and a roasted chicken leg... Captain, does that count as two items?”

”That counts as one, but don’t add dessert. Leave some for the others!”

Li Chang’an replied casually before sitting down at the table and picking up a menu.

”Qiuyue, what do you want to eat?”

”Whatever. I’m not picky.”

Shen Qiuyue, sitting to one side, took a sip of the complimentary cold drink and said nonchalantly.

”Just order for me, Captain. Nothing too complicated.”

”Then a combo meal with a drink it is.”

Li Chang’an nodded and handed the menu to Bai Lin.

”Bai Lin, what about you?”

”Something light. A vegetable salad will do.”

Bai Lin ordered almost without hesitation, then lowered his head and began fiddling with his terminal.

”I still have some test data to sort through. I’ll finish it when I get back after we eat.”

”Can’t you ever stop working? You’re so serious, even during a meal!”

Han Ruoxi shot him a disdainful look before turning her head toward Sun Yang.

”Look how disciplined Bai Lin is. And then there’s you—all you do is eat, eat, eat!”

”Han Ruoxi, you talk too much!”

Sun Yang was so mad he almost slammed his fist on the table, but he instantly went quiet when he saw a service robot approaching with their food. His eyes were fixed on the trays.

”It’s here, it’s here! The food’s here! Quick, bring it over!”

”Captain, look at him. Doesn’t he look like a starving beast?”

Han Ruoxi couldn’t resist another jab, but before she could finish, Sun Yang had already snatched a plate of beef with rice and started scarfing it down, his words muffled by the food.

”Leave me alone. Don’t bother me when I’m eating!”

”Captain, don’t you think this guy Sun Yang is the squad’s resident jester?”

Watching Sun Yang savagely gnaw on a chicken leg while making a complete mess of his beef with rice, Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but turn to Li Chang’an.

”Look at the way he’s eating. Doesn’t he look like a failed offshoot of the Insect Race’s evolution?”

”Han Ruoxi, don’t think I can’t hear you!”

Sun Yang looked up, half a chicken leg still dangling from his mouth, and yelled indistinctly.

”If the Insect Race heard you comparing them to me, they’d report you to the base and demand an apology! And another thing, I’m the team’s one and only spiritual pillar. It’s fine if you don’t have the taste to appreciate it, but don’t you dare lower my status!”

”Spiritual pillar?”

Shen Qiuyue put down her knife and fork, finally unable to resist chiming in, her voice tinged with mockery.

”Sun Yang, your skin is thicker than a High-Energy Shield!”

”Eldest Miss Shen, you need to base your accusations on something. What do you mean ’thick-skinned’? This is my passion for life! I eat fast to save time so I can focus more energy on training!”

Sun Yang patted his chest and said earnestly.

”Captain, I’m no worse than anyone else. You have to vouch for me!”

Li Chang’an, who was focused on his own meal, glanced up and gave Sun Yang an indifferent look.

”It’s true you’re no worse than anyone else, but you’re not much better, either.

Eating fast is fine. Just don’t choke.”

”Captain, that’s harsh! I genuinely have the team’s best interests at heart!”

Sun Yang muttered, but Li Chang’an’s words had clearly shut him down. He lowered his head and continued eating.

”I really don’t get how he has the nerve to say that!”

Han Ruoxi shook her head and turned to look at Bai Lin.

”Bai Lin, why are you eating so little? Is one salad really enough?”

”It’s enough. I don’t like to eat too much.”

Bai Lin didn’t even look up, still focused on his terminal.

”Besides, there’s no point in eating a lot. We have to train later, and running on a full stomach is uncomfortable.”

”You’re no fun at all!”

Han Ruoxi pouted and turned her attention to Shen Qiuyue.

”Qiuyue, say something. Isn’t Bai Lin just too boring?”

”If he’s happy, that’s all that matters. There’s no need to comment on how other people eat.”

Shen Qiuyue replied coolly and went back to cutting her steak, clearly uninterested in the topic.

”You’re all so boring!”

Han Ruoxi pouted, lowering her head to poke at the dessert on her plate.

”I’m telling you, Sun Yang, if our squad had a ’most boring’ competition, Bai Lin would definitely win first place, and you’d come in second!”

”Han Ruoxi! I knew nothing good could come out of your mouth!”

Sun Yang slammed his chopsticks down and glared at her.

”You think you can just say whatever you want because my mouth is full? Just wait. When I’m done eating, you’re gonna get it!”

”Ooh, I’m so scared!”

Han Ruoxi clutched her chest dramatically, then made a face at Sun Yang.

”If you’ve got the guts, then come at me now!”

”Knock it off. Both of you, quiet down.”

Li Chang’an glanced up at the two of them.

”Are you trying to let the whole restaurant know the Insect Hunter Squad just slacks off all day? Hurry up and eat. I have a mission to assign when you’re finished.”

”Captain, you can’t talk about missions while we’re eating! I could choke!”

Sun Yang immediately changed the subject, taking the opportunity to shovel another huge mouthful of rice into his mouth.

”But what is the mission? C’mon, give us a hint so I can mentally prepare!”

”I’ll tell you when you’re done eating. So you don’t get indigestion.”

Li Chang’an said flatly, then put down his chopsticks and looked at Bai Lin.

”Bai Lin, have you finished sorting this afternoon’s test data?”

”Almost. I should be able to finish it soon.”

Bai Lin nodded and showed his terminal’s screen to Li Chang’an.