Chapter 11
Unknowingly, four days had passed since he started running the stall.
These four days had been the happiest of Jian Yunlan’s past ten years. He only needed to focus on one thing—his food stall. Watching the smiling faces of people enjoying his cooking gave him an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
According to the Chef God System’s weekly task, he could only operate his stall at each location for six days, with Sundays off. Next week, he would be randomly assigned to a new spot.
That meant there were only two days left at the South Gate of Beijing University.
He felt a little reluctant to leave.
Because there were only two days left, Jian Yunlan was determined to bring out his best skills and give it his all!
The next morning, he got up early again to buy ingredients at the market.
What kind of wontons should he make today?
The wind had howled all night, and now the weather had fully turned cool—autumn had arrived. The vendors at the farmer’s market had put on long sleeves, gathering in small groups for a chat.
As Jian Yunlan stepped into the market, a faint purple glow caught his attention.
—It was tomatoes!
The glow came from a corner on the left, where a girl in a high school uniform was helping her grandfather arrange tomatoes on the ground. The tomatoes were large, plump, perfectly round, and bright red, with deep green stems still attached and tiny morning dewdrops clinging to them.
They were top-quality tomatoes at a glance.
It seemed the Chef God System’s evaluation of these tomatoes as “premium” was well justified.
“Boss, want to buy some tomatoes?” The girl in the school uniform noticed Jian Yunlan and greeted him enthusiastically. Her Mandarin had a bit of a Henan accent. “Boss, you’re really handsome—I’ll give you a discount!”
Before Jian Yunlan could reply, she had already picked out a particularly plump tomato, rinsed it with water, and handed it to him. “Here, take a bite! My family grows these ourselves—sweet, juicy, no pesticides, super delicious!”
Jian Yunlan took the tomato and bit into it.
A burst of sweet and tangy juice overflowed instantly. The tomato was more juice than flesh, and its texture was soft and grainy—delicious even when eaten raw.
These tomatoes would be perfect for soup.
Tonight’s wonton flavor—Jian Yunlan had an idea.
“I’ll take all your tomatoes,” he said.
The high school girl’s mouth dropped open as she stared at him in shock.
…Lately, there had been rumors in the farmers’ market about a strikingly handsome and extremely generous boss who would clear out an entire stall’s stock with a single purchase.
She hadn’t expected to actually meet him!
“Got it, boss!” she beamed. “I also have some baby napa cabbage—super fresh! I’ll throw some in for free.”
As she packed up the tomatoes, she stuffed in a handful of the baby napa as well. The cabbage was tightly packed, with a uniform pale yellow color—sweet and fresh at first glance.
What a lucky find.
Jian Yunlan happily pedaled away on his tricycle. After securing the tomatoes, he headed to the seafood market to pick out the freshest shrimp.
Tomatoes, baby napa, and shrimp—the perfect combination for an autumn dinner.
After finishing his ingredient run, he returned to the villa with a fully loaded tricycle. Since it was still early, he took a nap.
When he woke up, the house butler knocked on his door. “Young Master, Professor Wang sent someone over with some fresh garlic from his student’s family farm.”
Jian Yunlan recalled the professor had messaged him earlier that morning about sending some garlic.
Taking the bag, he examined the garlic—firm, plump, and weighty.
The Chef God System rated it as “good quality.”
Professor Wang was truly a kind man who knew exactly what to send. If he had gifted paintings or antiques, Jian Yunlan wouldn’t have accepted them. But garlic?
Jian Yunlan gladly took it.
In the afternoon, he began prepping for the evening.
Professor Wang’s garlic was put to immediate use.
After heating the oil in a pan, he added a generous amount of minced garlic. As the fresh garlic fried to a golden crisp, its fragrant aroma filled the air, mingling with the rich wok hei. Next, he tossed in the bright, juicy tomatoes, chopped into chunks, along with seasonings, and let them simmer on low heat.
The baby napa was washed and cut into sections, ready for use. As a personal touch, Jian Yunlan also bought some enoki mushrooms to add to the tomato broth.
For the wontons, he used his usual shrimp filling. Since there was no time to hire male models to peel the shrimp today, he enlisted the housekeeper and maid for the task instead. They carefully deveined the shrimp, keeping them whole instead of mincing them, to create bite-sized wontons filled with plump, juicy shrimp.
As always, he made the wonton wrappers by hand—kneading, rolling, and slicing the dough himself. The key to perfect wonton skins was thinness without breaking, and only someone with maxed-out cooking skills like him could achieve such precision, surpassing even machine-made wrappers.
Everything was ready.
Before he knew it, 6 p.m. had arrived.
Time to set up the stall!
At the south gate of Beijing University, a massive crowd had already gathered.
At a glance, there were at least fifty or sixty people in line. If he enforced the two-portion-per-person limit, the first hundred portions would be gone in an instant.
And that didn’t even include the continuous stream of new customers joining the queue.
Being near a commercial district, the south gate was always bustling—especially on a Friday night. Office workers unwinding after a long day and students from other schools were all drawn in by the unusual sight of such a long queue.
“What are they lining up for?”
“Is a celebrity coming? Or is there some special discount?”
“I’m curious—might as well line up too.”
…Chinese people had an instinct for joining crowds. Even without knowing why, they couldn’t resist queuing up, afraid of missing out on something big.
As a result, the line grew even longer.
Some people, realizing it was too late to get in line, tried different approaches.
When Jian Yunlan arrived, those who hadn’t made it into the queue rushed over, each with their own tactics.
A security guard from the south gate, arriving late today, had also missed his chance. He looked at Jian Yunlan with hopeful eyes.
“Boss, could you make an exception for me? I’ll perform a set of military combat moves for you.”
Without waiting for an answer, he started demonstrating—his movements powerful and precise, exuding an impressive aura.
The crowd: “…”
“Cool!”
“Yeah, super cool…”
“But boss, please don’t sell him any! No cutting in line! If you don’t queue up, you don’t get wontons!”
The security guard drooped his head and walked to the end of the line.
Meanwhile, Xie Anyang and his girlfriend, Ye Ming, linked arms and tried their own approach. Xie Anyang held up a fan sign, a small booklet, and various homemade merchandise—stickers, standees, and badges—all featuring photos and hand-drawn chibi versions of Jian Yunlan taken over the past few days at his stall.
“Boss, we’re the fan club presidents! We absolutely love you! Can we get a special exception to buy a portion?”
Everyone: “…”
Wait, a street food vendor has a fan club?!
Before Jian Yunlan could say anything, several female college students in line were already distracted.
“Whoa, those mini photo cards look amazing!”
“There are also standees and badges?!” Their eyes gleamed as they eagerly asked, “Are you guys selling these?”
Food lovers have food-loving souls.
But that chibi-style badge of Boss Jian riding a tricycle, holding a wonton plushie—it was just too cute!
Several girls were so drawn to the merch that they stepped out of line to get a closer look, causing the queue to move forward significantly. Xie Anyang and his girlfriend took the opportunity to slip into the line.
The female students: “…”
Damn it, tricked!
Next, a group of tech nerds in plaid shirts approached, holding their laptops, attempting a distraction tactic.
“Boss, I need help with this code—do you think mixing concrete with wontons would taste good?”
Their attempt was way too clumsy, and the crowd instantly saw through it.
Then, a professor from the Business School, who had come all the way from the other side of campus, made a serious offer.
“Boss, how about this—I’ll pay 100 yuan per serving. Can you sell me one in advance?”
The crowd immediately erupted in boos.
“No bidding wars among customers!”
But soon, a hesitant voice came from another corner.
“I can offer 150…”
“I’ll pay 200!”
“Three hundred!”
Jian Yunlan: “Alright, alright, let’s not turn this into an auction.”
He was happy that people loved his wontons, but order had to be maintained.
After all, so many hungry mouths were waiting for their turn!
Faced with the excited crowd, Jian Yunlan lifted the pot’s lid.
A rich aroma of simmered tomatoes instantly spread. The tomato broth was thick and bubbling, its sweet and tangy warmth teasing everyone’s senses, making their stomachs growl uncontrollably.
Everyone had come in on an empty stomach. The moment they smelled the fragrance, their eyes locked onto the pot.
“Wontons are still 30 yuan per serving. Today’s special—tomato broth wontons!”
Jian Yunlan announced.
Excited, the customers eagerly lined up to pay.
With practiced efficiency, Jian Yunlan scooped the wontons into the pot. His memory was excellent—despite the crowd, he could still recognize familiar faces.
Li Yun was, as always, near the front of the line.
After so many days, she had become a devoted fan of Jian Yunlan’s wontons! From the first pork and corn wontons to the shrimp wontons and spicy red oil dumplings—every day brought a new delicious surprise.
After a long, tiring day, having a hot bowl of wontons had become the highlight of her routine.
And Jian Yunlan remembered her, too. When he saw her, he nodded and smiled. “You’re here again? Classes been tough?”
Li Yun’s eyes sparkled as she shook her head wildly. “Not at all! As long as I get to eat your wontons, nothing feels hard!”
While waiting for her food, she struck up a conversation. “Boss, why don’t you open a restaurant? You’d have amazing business!”
Jian Yunlan chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t like running a restaurant. I just love setting up my stall.”
At a stall, he could watch customers enjoy their food right in front of him. Running a restaurant would mean dealing with endless administrative work and fewer direct interactions with his diners—that wasn’t what he wanted.
Street vending was his true passion!
Li Yun didn’t quite understand his mindset, but she chose to respect it.
Soon, a steaming bowl of tomato broth wontons was handed to her.
The bright orange-red broth shimmered with a thin golden layer of oil, bubbling invitingly. Whole tomato chunks had been simmered down into a thick, almost creamy consistency, with a rich, velvety texture. A fragrant, tangy sweetness filled the air, making her mouth water just from the smell.
Nestled inside the broth were the pristine white wontons. The thin, translucent wrappers clung tightly to the filling, revealing the plump, pink shrimp inside. Alongside them, baby napa cabbage and enoki mushrooms soaked up the flavorful broth.
Li Yun swallowed hard, unable to wait another second.
Just as she was about to scoop up a spoonful of soup, a commotion suddenly broke out in the crowd.
Someone had collapsed!
“It’s Ning Sheng!”
“The campus heartthrob? What happened?! Why did he faint?!”
“The school clinic is too far! Call 120—someone get help!”
Hearing the name ‘Ning Sheng,’ Li Yun immediately stood up and turned toward the noise.
Sure enough, at the center of the crowd, a tall, slender figure was slumped against a wall. His face was pale, lips dry, and his entire body trembled slightly. The beauty mark at the corner of his eye looked almost like a teardrop, making him appear heartbreakingly fragile.
Several students hurriedly helped him up, their faces full of concern.
“Hey, are you okay? Where do you feel unwell?”
“Dizzy…” Ning Sheng’s voice was faint. “Can’t see clearly… heart’s racing…”
Hearing this, Li Yun immediately said, “He might have low blood sugar! Quick, get him something to eat!”
She knew the symptoms well—she suffered from low blood sugar herself. When she got too busy and forgot to eat, her vision would blur, her head would spin, and nausea would hit.
Ning Sheng’s symptoms matched perfectly.
Food needs to be replenished in time.
“The ambulance is on its way—about ten more minutes. In the meantime, someone find him something to eat!”
Someone pulled a piece of candy from their pocket and held it to Ning Sheng’s lips, but he couldn’t swallow it. His body rejected it, and he ended up spitting it out.
Everyone felt a sense of unease.
If he couldn’t even eat sugar, that meant the situation was serious.
At that moment, Jian Yunlan stepped forward through the crowd, carrying a bowl of tomato broth wontons.
Someone had collapsed right in front of his food stall—of course, he couldn’t just ignore it.
“Can you drink some soup?” Jian Yunlan asked.
Ning Sheng didn’t answer. His lips trembled slightly.
Li Yun took the bowl of wontons, scooped up a spoonful of broth, and carefully brought it to Ning Sheng’s lips. With great effort, he parted his lips and took a sip.
—The thick broth flowed past his lips, carrying a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors, its texture incredibly smooth. The rich umami of the tomatoes, the hint of garlic, and the subtle touch of shrimp oil blended seamlessly. The piping hot broth carried a slight spiciness that spread warmth throughout his body. A stomach left empty for too long suddenly awakened.
And then, a wave of hunger crashed over him.
Unable to stop himself, Ning Sheng took another sip, then another. He soon began eating the wontons along with the soup.
The wonton wrappers were thin, almost translucent, stretched tight over their generous fillings. As his teeth bit through, they revealed whole, juicy shrimp soaked in the rich tomato broth. Every bite overflowed with a deliciously fresh and tangy flavor. The autumn-harvested shrimp had an indescribable bounce and tenderness, wrapped in the chewy wonton skin, blending harmoniously with the thick, sour-sweet tomato broth—impossible to resist.
Not only the wontons but even the vegetables in the soup were delicious. The baby napa cabbage was crisp and slightly sweet, cutting through the slight richness of the shrimp, while the enoki mushrooms, fully soaked in the broth, carried an intense, chewy tanginess.
At first, Ning Sheng ate slowly. But before long, he was devouring the food, completely abandoning the elegant, reserved image everyone knew him for.
In his rush to eat, he even choked, coughing slightly. And then—
Ning Sheng: “Hic.”
Even though he had swallowed too fast and choked, he refused to spit anything out. He forced himself to swallow, his pale face flushing red.
The female students: “!!!”
They understood—the wontons were really delicious—but… ahhh, campus heartthrob, what about your image?!
He looked adorable, yes, but his aloof, untouchable persona was completely shattered!
What kind of “cold and unattainable beauty” sits on the roadside, clutching a bowl of wontons, eating so fast they start hiccuping?!
Some of his once-devoted admirers couldn’t bear to watch. They turned away, feeling a little disillusioned.
…But at the same time, many students realized something for the first time—
Ning Sheng was just an ordinary person.
Just like them, he could feel cold. He could feel hunger. He could cry and laugh. When starving, he could desperately devour food, just like anyone else.
He wasn’t some untouchable genius or a flawless idol. He wasn’t a distant, unattainable figure who lived without wants or needs. He was just like them—a real, living, breathing human being.
And just like them, he, too, could be completely won over by a bowl of comforting, soul-warming food.
At that moment, Ning Sheng’s phone vibrated. After five hours of silence, his mother had finally replied.
[Mom: Everything’s fine. I was helping your grandma move today, didn’t see my phone. What’s wrong?]
His mother was safe.
Sitting on the ground, still holding his bowl, Ning Sheng lowered his head. His nose turned red.
He put down his phone and continued eating, finishing every last wonton and even drinking the broth to the last drop.
In a barely audible voice, he mumbled, “…Delicious.”
Too delicious.
For the first time in a long while, he felt truly alive.
Jian Yunlan, the one who had made this food—he was nothing like the idle rich kid Ning Sheng had assumed. Only someone who lived earnestly, someone who poured genuine warmth and effort into life, could create something so comforting, so full of heart.
In a quiet, unnoticed corner, Ning Sheng kept his head down, his eyes growing misty.
Not far away, several men in black suits—his bodyguards—watched the scene anxiously. After a few phone calls, they eventually gave up and left.
Ning Sheng took a deep breath, calming himself.
What he didn’t know was that, in another timeline, a version of himself had rejected countless acts of kindness, keeping everyone at a distance.
But here, in this moment, in this world—
Ning Sheng lifted his head and looked in Jian Yunlan’s direction. His eyes were slightly red, his gaze wavering. With a hint of embarrassment, he asked, “Are there… any more wontons?”
Seeing the look in his eyes, Li Yun immediately understood—
The campus heartthrob had been completely assimilated.
Welcome to the glorious evolution!
Bow before the divine Wonton Master, Boss Jian, and offer your sincerest worship!
“There are still some wontons, yes,” Li Yun said slowly.
“It’s just…”
She stepped aside and gestured toward the massive crowd in front of the food stall.
“You’ll have to wait in line.”
The queue was terrifying. The entire school gate was packed with people, bustling and jostling, all craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the tiny tricycle at the center. There, bubbling with steam, was the rich tomato broth, and on the chopping board, pristine little wontons.
At the very heart of the crowd, Jian Yunlan stood under the glow of the lights, expertly ladling soup. At that moment, he exuded an almost divine aura.
Ning Sheng’s breath hitched, feeling a bit lightheaded.
“If I start lining up now… how long will I have to wait?”
“Not long.” Li Yun surveyed the crowd and said seriously, “If you start queuing now, in about three days and three nights, you should be able to get a bowl.”
Ning Sheng: “…”
His vision darkened. The world spun.
“Ahhh! He passed out! Call 120!!!”
“120 is already here!”
The ambulance arrived, and the well-trained paramedics swiftly placed Ning Sheng on a stretcher and carried him away.
Many people looked on with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
—Ning Sheng was incredibly lucky. He got to eat a bowl of wontons without waiting in line. Some people had been queuing for days and still hadn’t gotten any.
If only they weren’t so healthy—maybe then they could’ve conveniently had a bout of hypoglycemia too.
Inside the ambulance, Ning Sheng drifted in and out of consciousness. In a half-dreamlike state, he struggled to speak.
“W-won… tons…”
It was the first time the paramedics had ever heard someone sleep-talking about food in such a bizarre way.
They exchanged worried glances.
Such a refined, handsome young man…
Why was his entire brain occupied by food?
—Had he been burned silly by the fever?
HAHAAHAHAH this story is too funny
I’ve been laughing non stop since the professor joined