Hot Pot Balls: [AHHH! You’ve changed, Junior! You used to wait to eat with us, but now you’re actually eating in front of us on the livestream! But it looks so delicious!]
Blooming Beauty: [It looks absolutely gorgeous! Ever since Junior appeared, my entire understanding of sweets has been completely refreshed!]
I’m Too Stressed: [As someone who never liked sweets, ever since I found this streamer, I’ve been completely won over.]
Gan Lan finished an entire fruit box in one go. "It’s very simple. You can make more of these at home and put them in the temperature-controlled box. Whenever you want to eat one, you can just take it out. Isn’t that convenient?"
I’m Here to Learn: [Um... Simple? Slicing the fruit is simple enough, but making that sponge cake base is way too hard!]
Love Ugly Shellfish, Love Kale: [So what exactly counts as ’not simple’ in your eyes? This fruit box is way too pretty!]
Sky Blue: [The little cake Junior made for me is the absolute most beautiful! Even though this one looks great too, still!]
Gan Lan and robot Wu cleaned up the kitchen. Si was already waiting off to the side, carrying the temperature-controlled boxes.
"Let’s go set up the stall, then. Once we get there, I’ll sell two hundred skewers of grilled chicken cartilage and thirty fruit boxes on the livestream," Gan Lan said casually to her viewers as she headed out the door.
The green of the Qingtuan is really beautiful: [Why only thirty fruit boxes? I could eat two hundred skewers of chicken cartilage all by myself! Wuwu...]
Surprised Beggar Chicken: [Hehe, I’m already in line. Hurry over, Junior, there are so many people today too!]
A short while later at the stall, a familiar voice called out. "Hurry, hurry, Junior! Bring out the fruit boxes! I’ve been waiting forever. I couldn’t bear to eat the little cake you gave me last time—it’s going to be the main centerpiece for my birthday next month!" Wu Mingyu shouted at her in sheer excitement.
"Junior, Junior! How many Credit Points does a custom mini cake cost? I want one so badly!" Senior Xianhua stared at Gan Lan with eager, longing eyes. While Wu Mingyu had been waiting in line, he had paraded the little cake Gan Lan made for him around the crowd. She had been green with envy, taking a critical hit of jealousy.
The little cake Gan Lan had made for Wu Mingyu was shaped like a peacock spreading its tail feathers. The magnificent display was dotted with dozens of brilliant colors; it was truly stunning.
In contrast, the strawberry cake Gan Lan had made for Yan Yifei was pink, with the edges lined entirely with emerald-green strawberry leaves. The top was completely covered in red and green strawberries—though they weren’t real, but rather masterfully crafted out of sugar by Gan Lan.
Gan Lan had the robots help start the fire while she took the temperature-controlled box filled with the fruit boxes. "Limit of one box per person. There aren’t many fruit boxes, but I did make a lot of chicken cartilage today. As for your questions, send me a private message. I can take cake orders when I have free time."
While distributing the fruit boxes, Gan Lan felt like she had forgotten something, but she just couldn’t put her finger on it.
"Junior! Junior! Tell them to let me through, I’m here for work!" Li Langbai was being blocked by the alumni behind him, preventing him from advancing. He was furious and could only shout at Gan Lan as she walked over.
Gan Lan was left speechless when she saw Li Langbai’s slightly bedraggled clothes and his hair plastered directly to his face. Just how many people had this guy tormented?
"Hehe, Li Langbai, your day of reckoning has come! You only survived before because you ran fast. Let’s see how you run now that you’re stuck at Junior’s stall!"
"Oh my, seeing you in such a pathetic state makes me so happy! HAHAHAHA, the heavens have eyes!"
Looking dishevelled, Li Langbai grumbled internally. Did these people really need to go this far? It wasn’t like he had forced their heads down and made them buy his barbecue! They just had terrible self-control. How was that his fault?
Gan Lan stepped in and rescued Li Langbai from the angry masses. "Alright, alright, he’s here to work. I can’t grill all this by myself. With his help, you guys can eat the barbecue much faster. Let’s let him off the hook for today, shall we?"
"We’ll listen to you, Junior. Right now, this guy’s grilling skills are his only redeeming quality."
"Li Langbai! You better grill properly. If we catch you slipping anything weird into the food, next time we’re throwing a sack over your head and beating you up!"
Li Langbai hung his head, following pitifully behind Gan Lan, turning a deaf ear to all their warnings.
"Senior! Time to work!" Gan Lan yelled loudly at Li Langbai, whose eyes were vacant as he spaced out.
Li Langbai jolted, snapping out of his vivid daydream of violently beating up every single one of those students.
"Hehe, how many skewers do I get to eat today, Junior? I’ve actually never grilled this before!" Li Langbai took the tools Gan Lan handed him, put them on, and grabbed thirty skewers of chicken cartilage to start grilling.
Gan Lan explained the important things to watch out for when grilling chicken cartilage, then added, "Your wages for today will be two fruit boxes and fifty skewers of chicken cartilage. Is that alright with you?"
Hearing the pay, Li Langbai grew ecstatic. All he had to do was help grill some meat, and he could eat Gan Lan’s delicious food without having to wait in line or spend a single Credit Point. This was such a steal; he was making a massive profit!
Standing at the very front of the line, Wu Mingyu was carefully savoring his fruit box. Sweet and sour strawberries were enveloped in rich, decadent cream, with a soft, fragrant layer of cake sitting underneath. The cool, refreshing bite was incredibly satisfying!
When he heard Gan Lan’s offer to Li Langbai, he grew immensely jealous. "Junior, I want to help grill meat too! I might not know how, but I’m a fast learner. I also want to eat your food every day without having to wait in line!"
Gan Lan smoothly changed the subject. "Senior Wu, when is your birthday? I’ll make you another large cake, for free! Consider it my birthday present to you."
Just as expected, Wu Mingyu stopped eating his fruit box the moment he heard that. He stared at Gan Lan with shining eyes. "Really? Are you serious? My birthday is on the sixth of next month. Is there anything more beautiful than the peacock you made?"
Gan Lan flipped the sizzling chicken cartilage. "The peacock is very beautiful. If you like it, I can make you an enlarged version. Or, I could make you a Phoenix; that’s also extremely gorgeous. However, I’m heading to Banan Star next month, so I’ll make it for you before I leave."
Wu Mingyu practically jumped with excitement. "I want the Phoenix! I don’t know what a Phoenix is, but it sounds super impressive! I’m already looking forward to it! Junior, how are you so amazing?"
Meanwhile, the viewers in the livestream all turned sour with envy upon hearing Gan Lan’s promise.
I’m Too Stressed: [I’m jealous, I’m so jealous, I’m dying of jealousy. I really want one too! Even though I don’t know what a Phoenix is, I just want it so badly!]
Osmanthus Rice Cake: [I’m getting excited too. For past birthdays, Wu Mingyu always had cakes made by Master Li Tian. I wonder how Junior Gan Lan’s will compare? I can’t wait! Junior’s whimsical ideas are truly breathtaking!]
Sky Blue: [I don’t care, I want Junior to make me a birthday cake when it’s my turn! I refuse to be outdone by Wu Mingyu!]
Feiran: [Mm.]
Hot Pot Balls: [I want one too, I want one too! I’m going to send Junior a private message right now to pre-order! I’m so excited to see what she’ll make for me!]
Suddenly, Gan Lan’s Light Brain began pinging non-stop with private messages, giving her a bit of a headache.
She handed the freshly grilled chicken cartilage to Wu Mingyu, who was so thrilled he didn’t know what to do with his hands. "Senior Wu, do you still want to eat the chicken cartilage?"
Wu Mingyu grinned, looking a bit silly as he replied, "Eat, eat, eat!" He took the skewer from Gan Lan, stepped to the side, and began to devour it. "AHHHH! This is so crispy and tender, spicy and refreshing!"
Among the crowd still waiting for their turn, a chorus of loud gulps echoed all around. It just smelled too good. The rich, mouth-watering aroma wafted through the air, and just a single whiff was enough to make everyone’s mouths water. They all fought the urge to rush forward and snatch the grilled skewers right out of Wu Mingyu’s hands.