Chapter 21: It’s Immortal-Grade! Cradle It! Worship It

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: It’s Immortal-Grade! Cradle It! Worship It

Xiao Qian was packing up after her club activity when she heard her friends suggest going to the nearby night market for food.

An idea struck her:

"How about some egg fried rice?"

"Sounds good."

The one who nodded was Feifei, Xiao Qian’s best friend.

Feifei was beautiful and came from a wealthy family, making her something of a goddess figure at their school.

Once she nodded, everyone else naturally agreed.

The group set off for the night market at once, arriving in no time.

They hadn’t arrived particularly late, but the scene before them still left them stunned...

"Is this fried rice stall new? How is business this good?"

A guy with them was so shocked his glasses almost fell off!

They were all regulars at the night market. Aside from yesterday, when they had a club dinner, they were here almost every day. They knew which stalls were popular like the back of their hands.

’Did the entire landscape of the night market change in just a day or two?’

Just then, the crowd shifted, revealing a small gap.

Through the gap, they saw the figure behind the food cart—cool and detached, like a character from an ink painting.

Someone let out an audible gasp.

Someone else muttered:

"No wonder business is so good..."

"That’s not it!"

Xiao Qian, who had brought them here, blushed with anger and shot back loudly,

"The owner is just that good! Stop making baseless assumptions!"

Nearby passersby couldn’t help but glance over at the commotion.

The person who’d made the comment was the most embarrassed. With Feifei there, he couldn’t very well lash out:

"I was just messing around. I didn’t mean anything by it."

But Xiao Qian was still fuming.

Feifei placated her and pulled her through the crowd toward the front of the stall.

"Come on, it’s my treat today."

Afraid Feifei wouldn’t believe her, Xiao Qian said with earnest conviction:

"This egg fried rice is seriously delicious. It’s absolutely the best egg fried rice in the whole world!"

Feifei nodded with a smile, though she was inwardly skeptical.

Her family was far wealthier than her classmates knew, and she was truly worldly.

She had eaten at nearly all the top-ranked, long-standing Yanjing restaurants on the Gourmet Record—Hua Country’s definitive food guide, on par with Michelin.

When it came to egg fried rice, even one made by a state banquet chef was, more or less, just egg fried rice. It wasn’t something that could be truly stunning.

But Feifei was good-natured, so she went along with Xiao Qian’s suggestion, ready to try the night market stall’s fried rice.

The fried rice was cooked quickly, so the line moved fast.

Soon it was Xiao Qian and Feifei’s group’s turn.

Seeing Nan Zhi, Xiao Qian leaned in close.

"Boss! I’m back!"

Behind the food cart, Nan Zhi glanced up, her eyes meeting an enthusiastic young face.

A small smile touched her lips.

"Oh, it’s you!"

Xiao Qian was instantly thrilled.

"Boss, you remember me?"

Nan Zhi answered patiently:

"Of course. I’m grateful for your patronage on my first day. Thank you."

After all, Xiao Qian had been her very first customer.

"Hehe, don’t mention it."

The praise immediately sent a delighted Xiao Qian spinning; she was so happy she couldn’t think straight.

Feifei sighed in amusement. She turned her head slightly, and her gaze suddenly met Nan Zhi’s.

Her cheeks grew warm, and she was surprised to feel a pang of shyness.

After all, Feifei herself was a stunning beauty who was used to being the center of attention wherever she went.

Yet standing here, she still felt a sense of involuntary admiration.

It is said that true beauty lies in the bone, not just the skin.

Perhaps it was because this owner, though looking a bit too slender, possessed an elegant and refined charm—a captivating grace that seemed to emanate from her very core.

Just as Feifei was lost in thought, an incredibly pleasant, cool and clear voice asked her:

"Would you like to order?"

Feifei snapped back to reality. Seeing Xiao Qian’s teasing grin, she struggled to maintain her composure.

"Is it only egg fried rice?"

After receiving a confirmation, Feifei ordered six portions for her group.

Nan Zhi gave a slight nod.

"Coming right up."

She then fired up the wok, her movements once again a fluid, artistic performance.

Moments later, the fried rice was ready.

Xiao Qian quickly took the food, then pulled Feifei aside to make room for the next customers.

Feifei started to say, "Shouldn’t we find a place to sit..."

But when she turned her head, Xiao Qian had already opened her container and started eating.

Feifei couldn’t help but laugh and decided to follow suit.

Seeing this, how could the others possibly not dig in?

This was a treat from Feifei, after all!

And so, as all six of them held their portions of egg fried rice and took their first bite...

"Wow."

It was impossible to tell who said it first.

But it was followed by a chorus of enthusiastic praise:

"This makes every other egg fried rice I’ve ever eaten taste like pig feed!"

"Oh my god, what kind of culinary god is this owner!"

"Don’t eat it like that!"

"Huh?"

"You have to hold it! Revere it!"

"...Makes sense! This stuff is divine!"

"..."

The friends who had just been doubting the fried rice were now eating their words.

Especially the guy who had made the snide comment earlier; he was so ashamed he could have cried, wanting nothing more than to slap himself and take back his awful assumption.

’It’s so good! It’s so good! How can it possibly be this good!’

...Even Feifei was thinking the exact same thing.

She had eaten at countless famous restaurants and tasted the finest ingredients, but when she thought back on it all, none of it compared to the bowl of egg fried rice in her hands!

She, who had been taught to eat slowly and elegantly since childhood, suddenly wanted to just shovel it all down!

"BURP."

Turning her head, Feifei saw that Xiao Qian’s bowl was already empty.

And the burp had indeed come from Xiao Qian.

Feifei: "You..."

Xiao Qian rubbed her belly and smiled sheepishly.

"I ate a little too fast."

Before Feifei could comment,

Xiao Qian was already rushing back to the stall to buy another portion.

Feifei grabbed her.

"Why didn’t you just order another one earlier?"

"I figured getting in line again would help boost the owner’s popularity!"

Xiao Qian said, looking rather sheepish.

Then she heard Feifei say:

"I’ll go with you."

’Even though the carb overload feels like a cardinal sin...’

’If it’s this delicious, the calories don’t count!’

"We want more too!"

The other friends also followed, and everyone got in line together.

This time the line was even longer than before.

While they were waiting, one of the guys in their group made a sound of surprise.

The others asked him what was wrong.

The guy scratched his head.

"The person I just saw... I think it’s a food vlogger I follow."

Hearing this, the others curiously stood on their tiptoes, looking around.

They soon spotted a rather furtive-looking figure in the crowd.

Xiao Qian was instantly on guard.

"What’s that person up to? Is he trying to poison the food?"

Everyone fell silent, floored by the girl’s wild leap of imagination.

The guy who’d first spotted him opened an app and pulled up the vlogger’s account:

"Huh? Turns out he’s livestreaming right now!"

Mystery solved.

The group exchanged glances.

For a moment, they didn’t know if they should tell the owner.

In the short time they hesitated, that mysterious food vlogger had already reached the front of the line and said to Nan Zhi:

"Hello, one order of egg fried rice, please."

"Mm."

Without looking up, Nan Zhi expertly fired up the wok and began to cook.

However, it was Nan Yi, standing on a small stool to help with bagging, who sensed something was off. With eyes as bright and cold as a wolf cub’s, they quickly locked onto the customer.

The young man, who was in fact the food vlogger, offered an ingratiating smile.

Nan Yi leaned back, their face a mask of pure disgust.