By the time the hearty breakfast was laid out on the dining table, it was already noon. Fortunately, they had snacked on shredded pork rolls and fresh meat buns earlier to pad their stomachs; otherwise, her friends might have gone on strike.
The table was filled with fresh meat buns, vegetarian three-delicacy buns, regular soup dumplings, giant crab roe soup dumplings, three-shred spring rolls, golden fried shrimp nuggets, mushroom chicken porridge, and soy milk.
The giant crab roe soup dumplings were served on small plates—two per plate, with more available once they finished.
"Be careful of the heat when eating the soup dumplings. You’ve had regular soup dumplings before, right? Eat these the same way," Gan Lan said. Since the crab roe soup dumplings were on the larger side, she grabbed an extra small plate and placed one on it.
She poked a small hole in the outer wrapper with her chopsticks, allowing the rich, fragrant broth to slowly seep out. Lifting the plate, she took a sip. It was hot, but the temperature was just right as it hit her tongue. Savory and aromatic, the chicken broth blended perfectly with the crab roe and meat. The flavor was so divine it sent a shiver down her spine.
After savoring the broth from the dumpling, she carefully picked up the remaining bun and took a massive bite. The filling was steeped in the savory essence of the soup. One chew, and the fresh, sweet flavors were so overwhelming she nearly swallowed her own tongue.
"AOOO... HSSS... So hot, so hot! But it’s so good!" Gao Haiyang exclaimed. He had gently pinched a crab roe dumpling with his chopsticks and taken a huge bite right away. Broth splattered everywhere, and his mouth was scalded red, yet he continued to eat with gusto, leaving the table in front of him a complete mess. "It’s just a mix of fresh meat, crab roe, and crab meat! Why does it taste so different from the regular soup dumplings? Both are delicious, but I think I love the crab roe ones more now!"
Seeing Gao Haiyang’s messy approach, the others wisely decided to mimic Gan Lan’s method. They were elegant people, after all. For a moment, all conversation ceased, replaced entirely by the sounds of slurping, chewing, and swallowing.
In this quiet atmosphere, the delicacies on the dining table seemed even more irresistible.
Spicy Fried Crab Is Truly Fragrant: [Thanks to the host, I already fell in love with eating crabs. I didn’t know how to deep-fry or charcoal-grill them, so I just steamed them and dipped them in soy sauce. After practicing a dozen times, I finally managed to fry them decently and fell in love with fried crabs too! I thought fried crabs were the food of the gods, but yesterday I had the meat crab casserole, and today I’m having crab roe soup dumplings! How did I never realize there were so many ways to cook crab, and that every single one of them is this delicious?!]
Three-Delicacy Porridge Is So Fresh: [I prefer the mushroom chicken porridge! The chicken is fresh and tender, and the porridge base is smooth, creamy, and soft. Every bite warms the stomach; it’s so comforting. I’ve fallen in love with eating porridge! Plus, I discovered that porridge and buns are a match made in heaven! A massive bite of a bun followed by a big gulp of porridge is incredibly satisfying.]
Fried Chicken Drumsticks Are Crispy: [So when are these people leaving?! I’m tired of saying how jealous I am. I want to be the host’s good friend too so I can eat all sorts of delicious food every day! If I can’t be a friend, I can apply to be an assistant. Dear host, do you still need an assistant? I just need to be fed! I can wash vegetables and make buns. I’m also really good at eating—but don’t worry, my appetite is very small~]
Magic Street No. 83: [I’m already waiting at the spacecraft landing zone! I’m guessing the host should arrive at the Red Demon Star by evening. I’m so excited to see my goddess, though I don’t know if I’ll actually get to meet her... Hurry up and come, host! We’re eagerly waiting for you!!]
...
While Gan Lan’s table enjoyed their hearty breakfast in a lively and bustling atmosphere, the mood over at the teachers’ table was rather stiff.
"Dean, have you still not come up with a solution?"
"That Culinary Master has been at the school for less than two years and doesn’t have deep ties to us. Judging by his character yesterday, he’s the type to get jealous even of a student. I think we need to handle this carefully to prevent him from running his mouth to the public."
"Right now, we’ve only restricted his Light Brain to stop him from sending messages out, but this method isn’t foolproof," Chu Yuanyi said, frowning. He was in a terrible mood. "Besides, he technically hasn’t done anything wrong yet. It’s difficult."
He genuinely didn’t know how to handle this. Pay him off? What if someone else offered a higher price?
Yesterday, Chu Yuanyi had looked into the background of that Culinary Master, Zhu Jie. On the surface, there was nothing wrong with his profile. However, a deeper investigation revealed that he was extremely greedy and intensely jealous. The data suggested that as long as Zhu Jie was offered enough of a reward, he would gladly sabotage others without a second thought.
Even if the school gave him enough money now, what if? What if someone else offered a higher price?
The most important thing right now was figuring out how to nip this in the bud. After all, many people had witnessed Gan Lan’s transformation. The only reason no rumors had surfaced yet was because the school had blocked them at every turn, but that wasn’t a long-term solution.
"Then... what should we do? We’re about to arrive at the Red Demon Star. We can’t keep his Light Brain confiscated forever. We can only use the ’malfunction’ excuse for a day, since repairs are usually quick. If we drag it out too long, I suspect he’ll get suspicious."
"Let’s just stick with it for now. Gulu is in there keeping an eye on him and keeping him entertained. He can’t make any waves for the time being. I’ve already told the Vice Principal to wait for us at the Red Demon Star. Since we can’t handle it, we’ll hand Zhu Jie over to him and wash our hands of the matter. As for what exactly the Vice Principal plans to do, I have no idea." Chu Yuanyi took a sip of the mushroom chicken porridge, and his entire stomach felt comforted.
If possible, he didn’t want to hand him over to someone as unreliable as the Vice Principal. If the Principal hadn’t explicitly given the order, he would have kept Zhu Jie detained until he came up with a perfect solution himself.
"Dean, are you sure the Vice Principal can handle this well? Why do I find that so hard to believe?" Liang Cong said. He had just finished a fresh meat bun and was in a fantastic mood.
"Besides, even if we pacify Zhu Jie, there will just be another Zhu Jie. I’m afraid Gan Lan’s transformation won’t stay a secret for much longer. If she wins the championship again in the upcoming finals, then none of this can be hidden anymore..."
At this thought, Liang Cong suddenly felt that the fresh meat bun wasn’t quite as appetizing anymore. He felt a wave of worry. Why did there have to be so much troublesome drama? Wouldn’t it be better to just let culinary civilization bloom and thrive in peace?
"As long as Gan Lan wins the finals and proves her strength, even if we can’t protect her, someone else will. That’s why these finals are incredibly crucial. The championship is very, very important to her," Chu Yuanyi said. Although he was worried, his mouth never stopped moving. Buns paired with porridge really were perfect for an old man like him.
Worrying about these things now was ultimately futile. The main priority was getting Gan Lan safely to the Red Demon Star to welcome the start of the finals.
As if suddenly remembering something, he put down his bun and walked toward the cockpit.
Spacecraft Broadcast: [We will arrive at the Red Demon Star in two hours. Passengers, please prepare for landing.]
"Huh? Why so fast? It isn’t even dark yet," Wen Ningyue said, sounding confused and slightly reluctant. "Logically, we were supposed to arrive at our destination by evening. Why are we three hours early?"
Arriving at the Red Demon Star meant she would have to part ways with Gan Lan and say goodbye to all this delicious food.
After speaking with a face full of reluctance, she grabbed another fresh meat bun and took a massive bite. Since there was still a bit of time left, she was going to eat as much as possible!