Opening a Restaurant in the Animal World [Gourmet]

[Business, food, farming, and cozy vibes]

Ye Su opened his eyes to find himself the only human in a world of animals.

Pandas used holographic screens to weave bamboo baskets, dogs rode hover motorcycles on patrol, elephants were busy putting out a fire at a rabbit's house, and whales fished from airships... Meanwhile, a cat had adopted him as a pet and kept him in a smart cage.

Huh? Huh?? Huh???

Was this world even remotely reasonable?! Everything was upside down!

Clutching the snacks the cat had given him, Ye Su munched away. "There's no way I'm letting a cat keep me as a pet. That's just..."

The cat glanced at him lazily and pushed over a cup of warmed goat's milk. "Want some?"

Ye Su's eyes lit up. He eagerly flopped onto his back. "Yes!"

After a week in captivity, he happened to see the astronomical bill for his snacks. There were so many zeroes that his eyes went wide. He pinched the new soft flesh around his waist and fell into deep thought.

In this world, where the tech tree had gone completely off course, the animals only ate raw lettuce leaves, frozen fish slices, and stale canned food?!!

The food-lover's DNA in him stirred.

While his cat master was out, Ye Su sneaked into the kitchen. Fresh fish sizzled in the frying pan, golden on both sides. Mushrooms simmered in thick soup, giving off an irresistible aroma... Before the meal was even ready, the animals all along the street twitched their noses at once. Then someone knocked on the door.

A German Shepherd came charging at the front with a food bowl in its mouth. The rabbit next door bounced excitedly, and even the haughty Persian cat sunbathing on the roof pretended to be passing by as it sauntered over to the door...

And just like that, Ye Su's little shop opened by accident!

Salmon steaks, crisp outside and tender within; creamy seafood chowder; chicken and mushroom stew simmered until the meat fell off the bone; and a silky, specially blended animal milk tea that all the animals went crazy for...

The little shop quickly became a sensation throughout Animal City!

And that wasn't all. Once Ye Su's business sense kicked in, he began building his "food supply chain."

He partnered with a whale captain to have the freshest deep-sea catch delivered straight to him. From the king of the forest, a tiger, he secured a steady supply of the finest free-range poultry. He traded with the squirrel family for their treasured mountain delicacies, and even received specially delivered flower nectar from the bees, sweet with the freshness of morning dew... He was busy from dawn till dusk, but loving every minute of it.

*

- Bonus scene -

Late at night, after closing, the little shop was warm and peaceful.

Ye Su leaned over the counter, frowning at the open ledger. His fingers absently tugged at his soft hair as he muttered, "That's strange... Why don't Uncle Bear's fish payments add up?"

The cat, perched at the highest spot on the counter, raised its head. Its ice-blue eyes seemed to say, "Just as I thought."

It leaped down lightly and placed a furry paw with a soft thump on one column of the ledger.

-- Idiot pet, can't even keep the books straight. Honestly, what an idiot.

-- Whatever. Why bother arguing with an idiot? This household will need me, the cat, to manage the books in the end anyway.

-- So many people like this idiot. I'm mad!!! He's mine!!!

Ye Su watched his cat master help him check the ledger with an expression that clearly said "disgusted," and couldn't help reaching out to gently scratch its wonderfully soft chin.

"Meow..." The cat purred contentedly, leaning into his touch, its tail wrapping tightly around his wrist.

Theme: Food comes first!