Chapter 19
Yuanzhou Group
Before leaving the office, Lin Tianqiu turned to the manager sitting nearby.
“Manager Yang, we’re heading out to buy food. Do you want us to bring you something?”
Manager Yang’s expression remained indifferent as he shook his head. “No, I have to report to President Gu.”
The moment the words ‘President Gu’ were uttered, the entire office shuddered.
With trembling voices, they murmured:
“…Good luck.”
Manager Yang nodded, but even he felt a sense of impending doom.
Picking up his folder, he stepped into the elevator. Under the sorrowful gazes of his colleagues—who looked as if they were sending a martyr to the battlefield—he pressed the button for the top floor.
The elevator ascended, floor by floor.
Finally, with a soft ding, it arrived at the top.
The doors slowly slid open—
In the center of the office, a man lounged in the executive chair.
His posture was relaxed, long legs propped up on the desk. Between his index and ring fingers, he twirled a dart.
Whoosh!
The dart cut through the air and struck the red bullseye of a target.
Pinned to that bullseye was a photo of a young man.
The young man had strikingly handsome features—elegant and refined. A small, vivid red mole rested at the corner of his eye, adding a captivating touch.
At that moment, the smile on the photo’s lips was cruelly torn apart by the sharp dart.
Admiring the shredded smile, Gu Hangzhou smirked in satisfaction.
“Ah Sheng, you’re the most beautiful when you look like this.”
Manager Yang: “……” What the hell did I just walk into…
Sensing something was off, Manager Yang hesitated.
Should I still go in and report?
Wouldn’t stepping forward now be like walking straight into the line of fire?
Gu Hangzhou didn’t seem to notice him.
Scattered across the wide office desk were numerous takeout boxes—some plastic, some insulated.
Every single box had been opened.
Inside, without exception, was—
Fried rice.
Slowly, Gu Hangzhou opened another takeout box marked with the Tang Banquet logo. Inside was yet another serving of fried rice.
He scooped up a spoonful, took a bite—
Then frowned, spitting it out.
Staring at the fried rice, his voice was filled with contempt.
“Disgusting.”
The next second, his expression twisted. In a sudden fit of rage, he flipped the bowl of fried rice onto the floor.
“It’s not as good as Ah Sheng’s.” Gu Hangzhou muttered under his breath. “Ah Sheng… have you abandoned me?”
“How could you bear to run away?”
The entire elite circle of the city knew—half a year ago, at a technology expo, Gu Hangzhou fell in love at first sight with a seemingly ordinary university student and pursued him obsessively.
But what they didn’t know was…
Gu Hangzhou had met Ning Sheng long before that.
A long time ago, when Gu Hangzhou was still just the disregarded eldest son of the Gu family, he had gambled away everything he had at a casino. Penniless and abandoned, he was kicked out onto the streets, left to wander—three days and nights without food.
On a dark, stormy night, at the lowest point of his life, he had encountered a boy with a tear mole at the corner of his eye.
The boy hid behind his mother, timidly extending a bowl of fried rice to him.
That fried rice had been the most delicious thing Gu Hangzhou had ever eaten—each grain distinct, perfectly seasoned, rich with the warmth of human kindness.
It was the first meal that had ever made him cry.
For ten years after that, he never tasted anything as good again.
Snapping back to the present, Gu Hangzhou retrieved the dart-pierced photo from the target, studying the young man’s face.
Softly, he murmured:
“Ah Sheng… you left. Who’s going to make fried rice for me now?”
Manager Yang: “……”
My boss is completely unhinged.
*
Meanwhile, at the Yuanzhou Group Street Food Stall…
It was already 10:50 AM. Out of the 100 bowls of fried rice required for the mission, Jian Yunlan had sold 97—leaving just three remaining.
Today’s sales had taken a slight downturn compared to the past few days.
Given the high price of the fried rice and the fierce competition among food stalls in the area, this wasn’t entirely surprising.
To Jian Yunlan, it felt like a crushing defeat. But to the other food stall owners? Not at all.
After all, most of the people passing by were regular employees earning just a few thousand yuan a month. Selling fried rice at 50 yuan per bowl—which was almost half a day’s salary for some—should have been nearly impossible.
Yet, he had already sold nearly 100 bowls!
Unbelievable.
The other stall owners gawked at Jian Yunlan, wondering:
Could his fried rice really be THAT good?
Jian Yunlan stared at his empty wok, looking troubled.
“What happens if I don’t complete the mission?” He wondered anxiously.
Would he get struck by lightning?
At his feet, a large silver-furred dog lazily yawned and strolled over, biting the hem of his pants. A voice echoed directly in his mind:
“I’m tired. Let’s go.”
Even in September, the weather was still hot. Jian Yunlan was sweating, and so was Taotie, whose thick fur made it even worse.
Jian Yunlan sighed, “Mao Mao, running a food stall is supposed to be tough. If you’re this spoiled, I won’t bring you next time.”
The dog’s golden eyes flashed with fury.
“Awooo!”
Who the hell are you calling spoiled?!
In protest, Taotie ran over to a nearby abandoned flowerbed and plowed through two square meters of dirt like a crazed beast.
Then, as if waiting for praise, he proudly displayed his destruction to Jian Yunlan.
Jian Yunlan: “……”
Well, apparently reverse psychology worked well on Taotie.
But time was running out—only ten minutes left.
Who would buy the last three bowls of fried rice?
A Tesla slowly pulled into a parking space.
Inside the car, Zhang Mo and his girlfriend Bei Shi were having a minor argument.
Zhang Mo was a product manager at Yuanzhou Group. He didn’t have a driver’s license, so he usually took a direct shuttle bus to work.
But today, his alarm didn’t go off, and he missed the bus—so he had to ask his girlfriend to drive him to work.
“Why did you only set one alarm?” Bei Shi yawned, dark circles prominent under her eyes. “I was running schedules with Sister Rui last night. We didn’t finish until 3 AM. And now I have to wake up early to drive you to work…”
Unlike Zhang Mo, who was just an ordinary office worker, Bei Shi was an entertainment manager.
Her career was currently booming—thanks to her artist, Ming Ruogui, who had exploded in popularity after starring in a hit historical drama.
With a flood of invitations and promotions, Bei Shi barely had time to eat, let alone sleep.
She hated driving. The commute from home to Yuanzhou Group took forty minutes—forty minutes she could have spent doing anything else.
So every time she was forced to drive Zhang Mo to work, she was full of resentment.
“I’ll definitely set my alarm tomorrow,” Zhang Mo apologetically promised. “Honey, are you hungry?”
“I’ll go buy you something to eat from the food stalls. You can take it back home.”
He didn’t even need to ask—he knew she probably hadn’t eaten properly last night.
Bei Shi pouted. “The stalls near your office only sell the usual jianbing, baozi, and stuff. I don’t even like those.”
“Let’s just check them out first. Maybe you’ll find something you like.”
She was a little hungry, so she reluctantly agreed. “Fine. But if I don’t find anything good, you’re taking me to that new Japanese restaurant this weekend.”
That Japanese restaurant was supposedly owned by Saito, a chef known as ‘The Fried Rice Immortal’ in Japan.
The price? 2,000–3,000 yuan per person.
They had gone there once when it first opened, and since then, Bei Shi hadn’t stopped thinking about it.
Zhang Mo winced at the thought of his wallet suffering, but still nodded in agreement.
Hand in hand, they walked toward the food stalls downstairs, scanning their options.
By this time, it was already close to 11 AM.
Most of the breakfast vendors had already packed up, leaving only three or four stalls still open:
One selling Cantonese rice rolls.
One selling soy milk and fried dough sticks.
And one more…
A fried rice stall?
Bei Shi glanced at the fried rice stall and froze in place.
Holy sh—
So. Handsome.
The young man behind the stall wore a simple floral apron, his jet-black hair hanging low, and his dark blue-tinted eyes gleaming under the sunlight—so stunning that he looked like he had stepped right out of an oil painting.
As a top-tier entertainment manager, Bei Shi immediately recognized talent when she saw it.
This man was destined to be famous.
That face—whether in historical dramas, modern romances, variety shows, or even the big screen—would fit perfectly anywhere. If his personality was even a little interesting, she might just be able to create the next legend…
Before she even realized it, Bei Shi had already walked up to the stall and handed him her business card.
“Hello, I’m Bei Shi, a talent agent from Xingyang Entertainment. This is my card. Have you ever considered becoming an actor?”
Jian Yunlan was touched but politely declined.
“Thank you for your appreciation, but my purpose in life is running this food stall.”
Bei Shi: “Oh… what a pity.”
“…”
Wait.
Bei Shi: “Hold on—what did you just say? A food stall?”
Her mind spun.
Did he mean that kind of food stall?
Before she could fully process it, Zhang Mo pointed at Jian Yunlan’s wok and said, “Honey, didn’t you always say you wanted fried rice? This stall sells fried rice. Want to try it?”
Bei Shi’s first instinct was to refuse.
She wanted to sign Jian Yunlan, not eat his fried rice!
Besides, when she said she wanted fried rice, she meant the legendary ‘Immortal Fried Rice’ at that new restaurant owned by Saito, which had gone viral on social media. That fried rice cost 888 yuan per serving!
Who the hell wanted to eat some random street stall’s fried rice?!
Sure, the owner was gorgeous, but he looked way too young—nothing like the seasoned, experienced chefs running other stalls. His fried rice was probably just mediocre.
Just as she was about to refuse, Zhang Mo already placed an order.
“Boss, we’ll take two bowls of fried rice.”
“Alright, that’ll be 100 yuan total,” Jian Yunlan said.
100 YUAN?!
Bei Shi’s rage exploded as she viciously pinched Zhang Mo’s arm.
“Ow, ow, ow!” Zhang Mo yelped. “Honey, why are you pinching me?!”
Bei Shi: “…” (Useless fool!)
Did he not realize they were being scammed?!
They had just encountered the legendary street food assassin—disguised as a humble food stall but secretly selling ridiculously overpriced food!
She was willing to pay 800+ yuan for a world-renowned chef’s fried rice, but for a street stall? Anything over 20 yuan was already too much!
Even Zhang Mo hesitated before painfully handing over the money.
With no other choice, the two of them squatted by the stall, waiting in silence.
Since they were already ripped off, what else could they do? Just wait.
Jian Yunlan expertly heated the wok and poured in the oil. As the hot oil began to smoke, he swiftly cracked eight or nine eggs into the pan.
The egg shells were dark brown, and the yolks were a rich, vibrant orange—clearly high-quality free-range eggs.
Just one batch of eggs like these would have cost 20 to 30 yuan at a countryside farm restaurant!
As the golden egg mixture sizzled in the hot oil, a fragrant aroma filled the air. The slight crisping of the eggs combined with the rich scent of the oil was immediately mouthwatering.
“Maybe… he’s not scamming us,” Zhang Mo cautiously whispered.
Bei Shi remained skeptical. “Let’s see.”
Under the blazing heat of the wok, Jian Yunlan’s movements were smooth and precise. The key to good fried rice was control of heat, and he had the flame turned up high.
The hot air rolled through the wok, infusing the individual rice grains with golden egg yolk. As the carrots, corn, and scallions were tossed in, their aromas intensified in the stir-fry.
Then, with a slight flick of his wrist, Jian Yunlan lifted the heavy iron wok, flipping it effortlessly.
The golden fried rice arched beautifully through the air before landing perfectly back in the pan.
WOW.
Zhang Mo was mesmerized, almost clapping in admiration.
That wok was so heavy, yet Jian Yunlan just flipped it like nothing?!
(Of course, Zhang Mo had no idea that Jian Yunlan had superhuman strength.)
It reminded Zhang Mo of an old anime he watched as a kid—“Cooking Master Boy”, where the legendary golden fried rice had haunted his cravings for years.
Soon, two steaming bowls of fried rice were placed in front of them.
The golden grains shimmered with a glossy sheen, studded with bright red carrots, yellow corn, and fresh green scallions. The rich aroma of the dish immediately flooded their senses.
Both of them instinctively swallowed their saliva.
Bei Shi was still hesitating, but Zhang Mo already dug in.
Scooping up a large spoonful, he shoved it into his mouth.
Zhang Mo: “Hissss—”
Hot!
Hot—but SO good!
The biggest mistake in fried rice was making it sticky or clumpy.
But this bowl? Every grain of rice was fluffy and distinct, perfectly coated in golden egg yolk. The flavors were intensely rich, with the fragrance of the wok, the deep umami of the sauce, and the soft, savory goodness of the eggs blending into an irresistible bite.
The delicate yet bold taste was so addictive that one bite just wasn’t enough.
The scent of the wok’s intense heat still lingered at the tip of his nose, bringing back memories of helping his family cook over a firewood stove as a child. It was the same familiar and nostalgic aroma.
There were no complex techniques involved—just the purest fragrance of rice, eggs, golden, oily grains, the savory aroma of eggs, and the fresh sweetness of carrots and corn, all enhanced by the awakened fragrance of scallions…
Zhang Mo, scalded by the heat, stomped his feet, his mouth stuffed with fried rice. As he chewed, he let out a series of monkey-like sounds of delight: “Ah! Hiss! Zizi! Chacha! So good!”
Seeing him eat so enthusiastically, Bei Shi finally couldn’t resist. She scooped up a spoonful and put it into her mouth.
Three seconds later.
Bei Shi’s eyes widened.
Delicious. Absolutely delicious!
That so-called high-end fried rice from the Japanese restaurant that cost over 800 yuan per serving—advertised as being made with premium ingredients, cooked with top-tier kitchenware, and prepared by the legendary “Fried Rice Sage”—had all the hype and marketing buzz…
But its flavor didn’t even come close to one-thousandth of this fried rice!
A Chinese person should eat Chinese food!
Just like Zhang Mo, she was scalded yet couldn’t stop eating. While shoveling rice into her mouth, she let out the same primal sounds: “Ah! Hiss! Zizi! Chacha! So good!”
Passersby turned to stare.
What the hell kind of noises were these?
…Was this fried rice so good that it triggered some sort of evolutionary regression?!
Could fried rice really be that exaggerated?
Bei Shi was genuinely moved.
Just a moment ago, she had doubted why someone as handsome as this stall owner would waste his youth running a food stand.
But now, she understood—Jian Yunlan had made the right choice.
If he joined the entertainment industry, he could easily become a top star. But that would only mean adding another insignificant celebrity to the world.
However, running this food stall was different.
Through his stall, he could spread happiness, giving meaning to people’s lives. This was true humanitarianism!
With tears in her eyes, Bei Shi grasped Jian Yunlan’s hand. “Boss, you’re practically doing charity work.”
How could she have thought he was overcharging?
Such an incredible meal—he wasn’t charging 1,998, not even 998, not even 98—just 50 yuan!
Jian Yunlan had no idea that, in Bei Shi’s mind, he had already been elevated to the rank of a “savior.”
Smiling, he made another pitch: “If you think it’s good, why not buy a portion for your family or friends? I just happen to have one last serving left today.”
Bei Shi: “Alright, I’ll take it!”
She quickly paid for it.
It was too good to share—she was going to take it home and secretly savor it all by herself.
However, things didn’t go as planned.
After dropping Zhang Mo off at his office, Bei Shi had just returned to her car when she received a call from Ming Ruogui:
“Sis Bei, can you come over? I’m stuck at my brother’s Linshui Villa, surrounded by paparazzi. So annoying.”
Bei Shi sighed deeply.
This job had one major downside—you always had to be on call.
Resigned, she turned her car around and headed for Linshui Villa, entering through a side gate.
When she arrived, three or four makeup artists were touching up Ming Ruogui’s makeup while she examined her freshly manicured nails.
“These paparazzi are so annoying,” she grumbled. “I’m just hanging out at my brother’s villa, and they’re already making up scandalous rumors about me.”
This villa belonged to Gu Xingzhou, CEO Gu.
Ming Ruogui’s real surname was Gu—she was Gu Xingzhou’s biological cousin. They had grown up together and had a good relationship. However, since she had concealed her family background when entering the entertainment industry and changed her surname, the media had been constantly speculating, claiming she was Gu Xingzhou’s secret lover.
It was exhausting.
Ming Ruogui was a striking beauty with an aura of dominance—one of those national goddesses with bold features, black hair, red lips, and long, wavy locks cascading like seaweed.
As Bei Shi approached, Ming Ruogui tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and narrowed her eyes.
“Sis Bei, you smell like fried rice.”
Bei Shi was instantly on alert, hugging herself. “What do you want? Don’t try anything funny.”
“Relax, I was just making an observation,” Ming Ruogui smirked slightly.
She sniffed again. “Smells pretty good.”
“I got it from a street food stall. You definitely wouldn’t like it,” Bei Shi said.
Ming Ruogui was even pickier than she was—she only dined at restaurants with a per-person minimum of over a thousand yuan. If a place wasn’t Michelin-rated, she wouldn’t even consider it. Her family’s private chefs were all high-paid, world-renowned culinary masters.
After all, she was a true heiress, born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
“Oh.”
As expected, the moment she heard it was street food, Ming Ruogui lost interest.
Street food wasn’t even in her vocabulary.
She moved on to another topic. “That live-stream variety show offer—I think I’ll reconsider it. Lately, the hate comments have been overwhelming…”
Bei Shi finally let out a sigh of relief. Her fried rice was safe.
With the help of bodyguards, Bei Shi discreetly escorted Ming Ruogui through a small side door into her Tesla. Ming Ruogui’s own luxury van had to stay in the parking lot—otherwise, the paparazzi would immediately get a “smoking gun” confirming her connection to Gu Xingzhou.
After settling Ming Ruogui in the car, Bei Shi went to retrieve some items from the van.
Ming Ruogui sat in the Tesla, aimlessly scrolling through her phone. But the more she scrolled, the more distracted she became.
There was a distinct aroma of fried rice lingering in the car.
But she would never eat street food fried rice.
Besides, she was on a strict diet for her new movie.
Yet, her eyes darted around unconsciously, searching for the source of the fried rice, and before she realized it, her mouth was watering.
Damn it. Why did it smell so good?!
*
Universal Live Streaming Room.
Currently, 6,743 viewers were online.
[Feeling bad for the students at Beijing University. The cruelest thing in the world is giving someone hope… only to crush it completely~~]
[Hahaha, even if they find Boss Jian’s stall, he doesn’t sell wontons anymore. He’s only making fried rice now.]
[Beijing University students: My fleeting first love (referring to the wontons).]
[Did anyone notice Ming Ruogui appeared? She showed up way earlier than in the original novel, even though it hasn’t affected the plot yet…]
[Hehe, Goddess Ming! Love her.]
[Will Ming Ruogui also fall at the feet of Boss Jian’s three-wheeled cart?]
Since Sunday, Jian Yunlan had set up his food stall many times, but the plot hadn’t progressed at all.
His livestream had once ranked in the top ten of the Plot Progression Leaderboard, but now, it had dropped to the middle-lower ranks, overtaken by other streamers actively advancing their stories.
As a result, the audience had given up trying to push him forward.
There was no use hyping him up—Jian Yunlan did whatever he wanted. He didn’t even remember Ning Sheng’s name at first! What more could anyone expect from him?
However, fans of Gu Xingzhou and CP shippers had always been pessimistic about Jian Yunlan’s chances. Knowing Gu Xingzhou’s personality, successfully pursuing him and fully completing Paranoid Possession seemed nearly impossible.
But even though Jian Yunlan’s leaderboard ranking had dropped, his livestream was raking in more gifts than ever. Aside from the ever-mysterious rich lady, Mashu, most of the money was coming from Ning Sheng’s fans.
[I don’t know about anything else, but I do know that in this stream, Ning Baby is the happiest! QAQ He hasn’t smiled like this in so long!]
[User “Ning Baby’s Little Strawberry” gifted a Porsche x1]
[User “Love My Ning Ning” gifted a Rocket x1 and left a message: “Boss Jian, we’ll always support you! Even if you can’t win over Gu Dog and get eliminated, thank you for changing Ning Ning’s life!”]
There was no denying it—Ning Sheng’s fanbase was filthy rich.
Their daily routine consisted of wandering through various livestreams, throwing huge amounts of money at any streamer who made Ning Sheng happy.
And ever since Jian Yunlan earned Ning Sheng’s “Full Conquest” gold badge, Ning Sheng’s fans had practically crowned him a deity.
Some fans even declared:
“Boss Jian, just say the word, and we’ll make you the one and only true protagonist of Paranoid Possession! We’ll bind you and Ning Sheng in a sweet, loving relationship and kick that Gu Dog to the curb!”
That way, Ning Baby could eat delicious wontons for the rest of his life!
Ning Sheng’s fans: Perfect plan.
Other viewers: “…”
These people are insane. But somehow, that’s reassuring.
*
The Next Day
Since Jian Yunlan had to start selling food at 9 AM, he dragged himself out of bed at 4 AM.
Time to hit the market for fresh ingredients.
Sitting on his bed, he felt completely dazed.
Not enough sleep. Exhausted.
At that moment, his God of Cooking System app sent a notification:
[Running a food stall is hard work. Please remember to balance rest and labor~ Friendly reminder: You can delegate tasks to employees. As the head chef, there’s no need to personally handle everything~]
[Note: Using the ‘100% Obedience Collar,’ the God of Cooking System can temporarily grant employees the ‘Chef’s Eye’ ability!]
A light bulb went off in Jian Yunlan’s mind.
He rushed upstairs to the guest room and shook awake the ancient beast sleeping inside:
“Taotie! Taotie! Wake up!”
The mythical glutton, Taotie, was curled up in a Pikachu onesie Jian Yunlan had bought him. His silver hair was messy, and there was a pillow crease on his flawlessly handsome face—giving him an unexpectedly down-to-earth look.
Suddenly being woken up, his golden pupils flared with rage, and the bone pauldrons on his bedside shelf floated into the air, radiating a menacing chill:
“Human. You cannot afford the price of disturbing me.”
Jian Yunlan blinked innocently.
“Lord Taotie, I thought you were extremely capable. But now…” He slowly looked Taotie up and down, his expression meaningful. “Perhaps… you should just go back to sleep. I’ll go do all the work myself.”
Taotie’s gaze darkened.
Suddenly, blue-red hellfire flared around him, scorching the air with an oppressive heat:
“A mere human dares to challenge me?!”
The sheer intensity of his power instantly incinerated his Pikachu onesie, revealing eight sculpted, bronze-toned abs and perfectly defined arm muscles.
—I am extremely capable!
Jian Yunlan’s eyes sparkled like stars as he let out a long “Wow~”:
“Lord Taotie, how will you prove it?”
Taotie proudly displayed his flawless physique and overwhelming power—he would never allow anyone to question his strength.
“Simple. What do you need me to do?”
Jian Yunlan smiled. “It’s a very simple task. For Lord Taotie, it should be a piece of cake.”
Taotie lazily glanced at him. “Murder? Robbery? Arson? Massacre? Or… the destruction of an entire nation?”
He licked the corner of his lips, a bloodthirsty gleam flashing in his golden eyes.
Jian Yunlan: “Go grocery shopping.”
Taotie: “?”
Jian Yunlan held up a shopping list.
“Here’s the list. Today we need onions, beef, carrots, leafy greens, and a few other things—all written down.”
“Oh, and I’m lending you the ‘Chef’s Eye’ ability. If you see ingredients with a faint purple glow, buy them at all costs.”
“Lord Taotie is so capable—surely, this tiny errand will be no problem, right?” He gazed at Taotie with admiration.
Taotie: “…”
“Of course.”
Taotie replied, somewhat awkwardly.
‘Grocery shopping’? What the hell was that? He had never even heard of it.
But it should be simple—go to this so-called ‘market,’ slaughter everyone, and stuff all the goods into his dimensional storage. That should work… right?
Taotie nodded to himself, satisfied with his flawless plan.
But Jian Yunlan saw right through him and quickly added:
“Lord Taotie, to avoid causing a commotion, you must stay in your dog… I mean, beast form while shopping.”
“Oh, and here’s cash. Just exchange it with the vendors for food—it’s super easy.”
Taotie: “Wait—”
*
30 minutes later.
At Chenguang Farmers’ Market, among the bustling morning crowd, an unusual figure was drawing attention.
It was a large, imposing dog with a sleek, muscular frame. Its silver fur shimmered in the morning light, carrying an almost majestic aura.
And yet…
The dog was wearing a harness, with a cash pouch hanging from its neck and a small, pale-yellow cart trailing behind it.
…For all its grandeur, it looked a little ridiculous.
The dog strode past the various market stalls, scanning them with an intense, regal gaze.
It stopped before a vegetable stand, lowered its head, and sniffed at the carrots.
After evaluating the surrounding produce, it returned to the same stall, clearly having chosen the best batch.
The vendor eyed the massive dog nervously.
The dog lifted a paw and tapped the carrots, then carefully pulled out two ten-yuan bills from its pouch and handed them over.
Vendor: “Buying twenty yuan worth of carrots, huh?”
The dog nodded solemnly.
The vendor chuckled, weighed out the carrots, and placed them into the dog’s little cart.
A small crowd had gathered. Some people pulled out their phones, whispering excitedly as they recorded:
“What a majestic dog, hahaha!”
“It’s so smart! Helping its owner with grocery shopping—amazing.”
“Ugh, my cat is so lazy. It’s already past sunrise, and it’s still sleeping. Look at this doggo…”
Taotie: How dare these mortals compare me to mere household pets?!
…But…
At least they had good taste.
Humph.
Basking in their praise and admiration, Taotie lifted his head proudly and walked with even more grace and dignity.
Suddenly, his nose twitched.
A scent of fresh meat.
His instincts led him to a butcher’s stall tucked away in the corner. A middle-aged man stood behind the counter, displaying several cuts of deep red beef with intricate marbled fat. The rich, fresh aroma filled the air.
Using the Chef’s Eye, Taotie immediately saw that a few pieces of meat had a faint purple glow.
Premium beef!
He nudged the meat with his nose and let out a small, commanding “Woof.”
The butcher chuckled, looking at his unusual customer. “Buying beef, little buddy?”
“Is it for yourself, or for your owner?”
Owner?
Taotie bristled.
Jian Yunlan was not his owner—just a mere servant tending to his needs!
But… he couldn’t speak human language in this form.
So, he had no choice but to suffer in silence.
Dragging his fully-loaded cart, Taotie returned to Jian Yunlan’s villa.
Jian Yunlan rubbed his fluffy face with a bright smile.
“Mao Mao, you’re such a good dog!” He praised, “So obedient! You even picked out top-quality ingredients—amazing!”
Taotie: “…”
“Human. Do not disrespect me.”
In a flash, he transformed back into his human form—a tall, silver-haired man with a flawless, godlike face and glowing golden eyes, glaring down at Jian Yunlan.
Jian Yunlan’s hands were still cupping his face.
Jian Yunlan: “…Lord Taotie, could you turn back?”
Where was his dog?
His big, majestic dog?!
Taotie’s face darkened with fury.
“Insolent brat! How dare you—”
Who are you calling a dog?!
The butler happened to walk in, saw the scene, then shyly covered his eyes and walked out again.
“Oh my, young master’s taste has really changed. Now he likes white-haired, dark-skinned, muscular men!”
Hehe, better write this down in my little notebook.
*
A video of a dog buying groceries for its owner quietly went viral on Douyin.
The dog in the video was not only handsome and obedient but could also help its owner shop for groceries!
It felt like at any moment, it might start talking and haggling with the vendor…
Truly amazing.
People everywhere looked at their own dogs with frustration—why couldn’t they evolve too?!
Of course, that was just a side story.
Because he had almost sold out the previous day, today, Jian Yunlan decided to set up his stall earlier.
At 8:30 AM, he pedaled his tricycle to the front of Yuanzhou Group’s building.
Other street food vendors were more diligent; some had been there since 6 or 7 AM. The chubby owner of the steamed bun stall waved to him from afar, “Boss Jian, morning! Setting up shop again today?”
Jian Yunlan responded with a cheerful smile, “Yep, hoping business is better today.”
The bun shop owner’s wife, however, yanked her husband’s ear and warned, “I’m telling you right now, no eating fried rice today!”
That ridiculously expensive fried rice—one bowl and half a day’s earnings would be gone!
The steamed bun vendor, named Bao Manman, had a wife, Wu Qiuhe, who was famous among the local street vendors.
Wu Qiuhe was incredibly efficient—whether it was buying ingredients, setting up the stall, or attracting customers, she handled everything with ease. She also had a loud, powerful voice, making her the undisputed ‘Queen of Street Stalls’ in this area.
In fact, calling her “boss’s wife” was inaccurate—she was the real boss. Most of the time, she single-handedly ran the bun business, while Bao Manman only knew how to make buns.
Boss Wu Qiuhe was not only highly skilled but also had sharp judgment.
She could take one bite of a dish and immediately tell whether a food stall would become popular or fail within a week. She was highly respected among the other vendors because she often helped them out and even gave out free buns sometimes—she knew how to build connections.
But when it came to young people like Jian Yunlan, who were just playing around with street vending and charging an outrageous fifty yuan per serving, Wu Qiuhe was not impressed.
And since she didn’t approve, the other vendors who were curious about his fried rice didn’t dare try it out of respect for her.
“Boss, what’s today’s fried rice special? We’ll take five servings!”
Unlike yesterday, today’s first customers arrived almost immediately.
It was Lin Tianqiu and his project team members.
They had finally wrapped up their work, and though they weren’t required to be at the office until noon, by 8:30 AM, they had all shown up without even discussing it beforehand.
…That egg fried rice yesterday had been too good.
They had planned to sleep in at home, but their stomachs had growled and urged them to come back for more.
Lin Tianqiu never imagined he’d voluntarily show up early for work.
Truly, a born-to-suffer corporate employee.
“Alright, today’s special is onion and beef fried rice—still fifty yuan per serving,” Jian Yunlan said.
“We’re sending the payment now.”
His coworkers stared eagerly at the large wok, their anticipation visible.
Jian Yunlan lit the stove and heated the pan. As the oil warmed, he slid in the marinated beef cubes.
The moment the bright red, marbled beef hit the hot oil, it sizzled intensely.
Jian Yunlan stirred the beef cubes, ensuring they browned evenly on all sides, locking in the juices. Before long, the meat turned a rich, caramelized brown, filling the air with an irresistible aroma.
This was premium beef—the marbling alone, tsk tsk.
Everyone watching the wok began swallowing their saliva.
Setting the beef aside, Jian Yunlan added sliced onions and garlic cloves to the pan. As the heat released their fragrance, he quickly cracked five eggs into the sizzling oil.
The golden yolks sizzled, and he stirred them rapidly, mixing them evenly with the onions before adding the rice. Each grain of rice got coated in the egg mixture, then the beef was added back in, along with a sprinkle of white sesame seeds and chopped scallions.
Under the intense, longing gazes of Lin Tianqiu and his colleagues, five steaming bowls of onion beef fried rice were finally served!
…Ever since Jian Yunlan started cooking, Wu Qiuhe had been stealing glances at his stall.
She liked egg fried rice too.
But yesterday, when she bought a serving for her husband, she had stubbornly refused to take a single bite.
After all, she was a street food vendor herself and had confidence in her cooking. She could easily fry up a bowl of egg fried rice at home—why waste fifty yuan on some overpriced rip-off?!
Last night, Wu Qiuhe had gone home and fried herself several bowls of egg fried rice.
Yet none of them had that special aroma.
What was she missing?
Was it the ingredients? The oil? The heat? Or something else?
Wu Qiuhe had always been proud of her cooking skills, but now, someone had surpassed her, and the thought kept her up all night.
Over there, Lin Tianqiu and his team were already eating, making happy little noises as they enjoyed their meal.
Lin Tianqiu had been a regular at their bun shop, but he had never looked this happy while eating.
Wu Qiuhe: Jealousy was twisting her face.
Jealousy, curiosity, and a hint of hunger—all these emotions surged at once, making Wu Qiuhe’s ears buzz.
Half a minute later, she finally couldn’t hold back anymore and stormed over to Jian Yunlan’s stall. “I want a serving of fried rice.”
It was just fifty yuan.
She refused to believe it. Since she was spending this much money, she had to figure out the secret to why this fried rice was so delicious!
After paying, Wu Qiuhe crossed her arms and stood angrily to the side, waiting.
A few minutes later.
A fresh, steaming bowl of onion and beef fried rice was handed to Wu Qiuhe.
The rice was vibrant in color, each grain coated in golden egg, soft yet distinct. The fragrance of onions filled the air, carrying a slight spiciness.
Mixed within the fried rice, the beef cubes glistened with a thin layer of oil, their surfaces seared to a perfect caramelized brown, releasing a mouthwatering aroma.
Wu Qiuhe swallowed subtly.
Maintaining a critical expression, she picked up a bite of fried rice with her chopsticks and brought it to her lips.
“……”
The first bite—each grain of rice, evenly coated in egg and perfectly stir-fried, had a slight crispiness on the outside but was soft and flavorful inside. The rich, well-balanced taste lingered on the tongue. But what truly surprised Wu Qiuhe was the beef.
The beef cubes were sizzling hot, crispy on the outside, and juicy within. The moment she bit down, a flood of rich, savory meat juices burst into her mouth! The fibers of the beef provided a satisfying chewiness, while the perfectly rendered fat coated the rice, filling her mouth with an indulgent, almost overwhelming deliciousness. The heat made her exhale sharply, but even as she did, she couldn’t help but take another bite.
The combination of tender beef, fluffy rice, the slight sharpness of onions, and the silky smoothness of eggs elevated this fried rice to another level.
At first, Wu Qiuhe tried to analyze the dish—what ingredients were used, what seasonings, what techniques…
But gradually, she thought—screw it!
It was just too good.
When food was this delicious, the brain simply shut down.
No wonder her husband was moved to tears yesterday—this was the real deal.
Though she was reluctant to admit it, Wu Qiuhe had to concede—this fried rice was on a whole other level.
The owner deserved to make money.
She had to admit, she couldn’t match it.
After finishing her bowl, Wu Qiuhe clasped her hands in a respectful martial arts salute and said boldly, “Boss, your fried rice is indeed incredible. Wu humbly acknowledges defeat!”
A true master knows when to yield.
Jian Yunlan, not entirely sure what was happening, simply smiled and returned the gesture.
The other street food vendors, however, immediately picked up on the signal.
—Sister Wu’s approval!
Many of them had wanted to try the fried rice for a while but had held back out of respect for Wu Qiuhe. Now, they were finally free to indulge.
They had been curious for ages. The smell alone was intoxicating—what did this fried rice taste like?!
And so, one by one, vendors from the pancake stall, soy milk and fried dough stick stall, hand-grabbed pancake stall—six or seven in total—left their own stalls, wallets in hand, and walked up to Jian Yunlan.
“Boss, I’ll take a serving of fried rice.”
“Make mine extra spicy! I’ve been wanting to try this forever!”
“I trust Sister Wu’s taste! Count me in for one too!!!”
Meanwhile, the customers who had been standing in line at the pancake, soy milk, and hand-grabbed pancake stalls: “???”
They were still waiting—where did all the vendors go??
Wait, where was their professionalism?!
The pancake stall owner, happily eating fried rice, waved over his customers. “Forget about pancakes, come try this! This is way better than what I make!”
Customers: “……?”
What kind of business owner advertised another stall over their own?!
Dazed, the customers started queuing up at the fried rice stall too.
So when Bai Shi and Ming Ruogui arrived at Yuanzhou Group’s entrance, they were met with a lively, bustling scene.
Not just customers, but even the street food vendors themselves had succumbed to the fried rice’s charm and were eagerly waiting in line.
Ming Ruogui: “?”
Bai Shi rubbed her nose. “Uh… it wasn’t like this yesterday.”
Yesterday, the fried rice stall had been deserted. By nearly 11 AM, it still hadn’t sold out.
Ming Ruogui adjusted her sunglasses, considering whether to leave.
What kind of fried rice was so good that she had to wait in line for it?
But…
Damn it, why did it smell so good?!
Thank you for the update
This story is so funny and cute