Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Not Even Pretending Anymore

’Let me go, let me go.’

Reading only this desperate plea in the other man’s eyes, Number Three frowned.

Number One’s eagerness didn’t seem like an act. Still, half-believing and half-doubting, Number Three shook his head.

"No need. I’ll go myself."

’I took the money, so I have to do the job. If I try to slack off, what if the boss doesn’t hire me again?’

And just like that, Lu Wu’s jianbing stall welcomed its third customer.

Just as he was about to ponder the situation, Number Three saw a half-finished jianbing on the griddle. It was a Sweet Bean Sauce Family Combo Jianbing, ordered by Qin Zhan.

His request was for extra of everything.

’That Old Deng... I hope he eats until he bursts.’

Qin Zhan glanced at the nagging messages from his master on his One World Communication, reluctantly took the jianbing, and placed it on an Array to teleport it to the Heavenly Wind Taoist.

Old Deng was blackmailing him.

He’d said that if Qin Zhan didn’t bring him a jianbing, he would expose Boss Lu’s location.

Right now, many foodies who had heard the news were still wandering around Yuanhai City. Just like Lou Xiaotian, Qin Zhan wanted to enjoy the food for a few more days, so he had no choice but to give in to the threat.

The jianbing vanished, but its lingering aroma prompted Number Three to point at Qin Zhan and declare in a firm tone, "I want the same kind."

"That’ll cost extra."

Lu Wu piped up weakly.

The Family Combo Jianbing had also been written on the sign: fifteen Spirit Stones a piece.

Lu Wu, who was having an unusually difficult time running her stall today, saw the customer wave his hand grandly.

"Extra cost is fine. Give me ten of them."

’It smells too good. Just for this aroma, I have to get a few more. Besides, the boss is reimbursing me.’

Having received a huge order, Boss Lu humbly got to work making the jianbing.

Lu Wu’s movements were nimble and efficient, and every flick of her wrist was a display of beauty.

The perfectly proportioned batter spread into a crepe that didn’t stick to the griddle. On the golden-brown surface, the sauce was applied in just the right amount, never overwhelmingly rich.

The third foodie, who knew a good jianbing by its smell, chose to eat it hot, just like the first two.

The savory aroma of the sweet bean sauce flowed silkily through his mouth. Every inch of flavor his tongue experienced brought him a unique sensory pleasure.

He tore open the springy crepe, licking the bit of sauce that got on his fingertips. His cheeks were puffed out, his expression one of pure satisfaction.

"I want the next one with garlic sauce."

The frantically eating foodie, Number Three, managed to speak, his mind so consumed by the food that he didn’t realize he’d just slipped up.

’It’s happening again!’

Lu Wu’s hands never stopped moving, but she watched him out of the corner of her eye.

’How does this customer also know the names of my "exclusive" sauces?’

’Something’s not right. Something is very not right.’

Sensing something fishy, Lu Wu suspected they were an organized group.

’But what could they be after?’

Unable to figure it out, Lu Wu saw her mission progress bar rising and ultimately chose to ignore it.

’I’m just a small-time boss selling jianbing, that’s all.’

Taking a little time, Lu Wu finished making all the jianbing the customer had ordered.

She thought he would take the food and leave, but instead, he squatted right down by her stall and began to feast.

The crispy cracker inside the jianbing made a faint "CRUNCH," a sound so crisp it was tempting.

The moment he bit down, juices burst forth in his mouth, and a delicious flavor instantly spread.

The customer bit off a tender slice of meat, which, combined with the perfectly seasoned sauce, made it impossible to stop after just one bite.

Number Three didn’t even look up, completely focused on devouring his food.

Not far away, when Number One and Number Two saw what Number Three was doing, the last of their hopeful expectations died.

It was clear Number Three had been conquered. To avoid having his identity exposed, he had chosen to eat on the spot. That way, if he wanted more after finishing, he could just order again.

"Wait a minute."

Number One looked over at the stall, and it suddenly dawned on him.

’Who says I can’t be a repeat customer?’

’It’s delicious, and I want more, so what’s wrong with coming back to buy another?’

Having convinced himself, the foodie shot a look at Number Two and then swaggered toward the stall.

Number Two understood implicitly and followed him.

"Boss, I’m back!"

To avoid any awkwardness, Number One greeted her proactively and started pointing things out.

"This one, this one, and this one... give me all of ’em. Adding extra stuff costs more, right?"

The overly familiar Number One earned a glance from Number Three, his eyes full of mockery.

Number One snorted, not planning to stoop to his level, while Number Two silently placed his order, staying out of their little conflict.

But Lu Wu could still detect their unspoken chemistry.

’These three are a team.’

Lu Wu had a realization.

’If you’re just buying jianbing together, then just buy them. Why act like you’re doing something shady?’

However, thanks to the contributions of these three foodies—who ate on the spot and got more to go—Lu Wu’s mission progress finally broke one hundred.

’What a joyous occasion.’

Stuffed to the brim, Number One rubbed his belly and contentedly took out his One World Communication.

"Boss, mission accomplished."

After seeing the reply telling them to come back for the final payment, Number One uploaded some of the footage he had just filmed to his One World Communication.

’It’s hard to find a job and do business these days.’

’Being a shill isn’t a long-term plan.’

So, he decided to make a "daily life" post on One World Communication to broaden his sources of income.

Looking at the tempting jianbing in the video, Number One hit "upload."

"Discovered some heavenly jianbing made by a godly boss today. Everyone should come and try it."

He also attached the specific address.

Only after finishing all this did Number One say goodbye to Lu Wu.

Number Two and Number Three followed, arms slung over each other’s shoulders. A single glance showed they were close.

’They’re not even pretending anymore, huh?’

Lu Wu’s mouth twitched slightly. She looked at the barely-lit dawn sky and continued to wait for the next customer.

...

「Somewhere in Yuanhai City」

Waking up in the middle of the night, Mumu rubbed her eyes and pulled out her One World Communication to check for messages. The first thing she saw upon opening it was a food post.

Because she and Tian Tian were food bloggers, One World Communication often recommended such content to them.

Some people called it "big data filtering."

The jianbing on the cover photo looked golden and crispy. Silky sauce oozed from the edges, and the scallions and sesame seeds embedded within adorned the crepe.

’It looks quite appetizing.’

But the title... Mumu was skeptical.

’Could it really be more "godly" than Boss Lu?’

With a skeptical mind, Mumu clicked on the post and scrolled through it. What she saw instantly woke her up completely.

Number One hadn’t included Lu Wu in the shots, but he had filmed plenty of footage of the stall itself.

And while Lu Wu’s food stall was slightly modified depending on the food she was selling, its overall style was largely the same.

Not to mention the big yellow dog sleeping by the side of the stall.

’Isn’t that Boss Lu’s pet?’

The surprise came so suddenly that Mumu could hardly believe it. She rushed into Tian Tian’s room and shook her awake.

"Tian Tian, wake up! Look at this stall, does it look familiar?"

"Hurry up!"

She urged, shaking a groggy Tian Tian.

"What is it?"

Tian Tian grumbled unhappily, forcing her eyes open.

The familiar stall and Dahuang the dog came into view. Tian Tian also noticed that the corner of one photo showed a character from the sign.

The handwriting belonged to Lu Wu.

"It’s Boss Lu!"

Tian Tian was wide awake now.

She scrambled out of bed and, in turn, started pushing Mumu to get changed.

"Let’s go! We’re going to find Boss Lu!"

’That foodie said Boss Lu is still at that location!’

’Delicious jianbing, here I come!’

’Let’s go!’

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