Chapter 25
Very quickly, the first serving of fried rice was ready.
Golden strands of egg coated the surface evenly, each grain of rice distinct, glistening with an inviting golden hue. The rich aroma of the fried rice mingled with the refreshing, tangy scent of lemon.
Tiny bits of luncheon meat, pan-fried to a slight crisp, were scattered throughout, accompanied by finely chopped green scallions and flecks of bright yellow lemon zest.
As the steam rose from the hot dish, Wen Moli’s mouth began to water uncontrollably. She couldn’t hold back any longer—she scooped up a large spoonful and took a bite.
The rice was perfectly fried—fluffy and light, infused with the fragrance of eggs. The charred aroma of the eggs combined with the scent of the rice created an unbelievably satisfying taste. The luncheon meat, seared over high heat, was crispy on the outside yet incredibly tender inside. As she chewed, the savory juices of the meat seeped out, only to be balanced by the sweetness of the corn and the refreshing acidity of the lemon.
Wen Moli had never eaten fried rice with lemon before. She had doubted it at first, thinking it might be some bizarre culinary experiment. But to her surprise, the addition of lemon was a stroke of genius.
Its fresh, citrusy notes cut through the richness of the luncheon meat and rice, bringing a touch of brightness that elevated the dish. The combination of savory, tart, and aromatic flavors, the satisfaction of crispy pan-fried luncheon meat, the comforting warmth of the rice, and the crisp acidity of the lemon all blended together into an irresistible harmony—a multi-layered taste that was utterly addictive!
Wen Moli: “It’s so good—too good! Wuwuwuwu!”
The hunger that had tormented her all day was completely cured. Every bite was filled with pure happiness.
She ate in huge mouthfuls, completely throwing away any sense of decorum, lost in the sheer enjoyment of the food.
The hesitant onlookers, seeing the enticing fried rice and Wen Moli’s reaction, no longer hesitated.
They made their decision on the spot:
“Boss, I’ll take a fried rice too!”
“That lemon smells amazing—give me a bowl! Extra lemon, please!”
“One for me and one for my daughter, thanks!”
Orders poured in like a snowstorm.
The once-deserted fried rice stall suddenly became packed, and a small queue even started to form!
The surrounding street food vendors all took notice.
The stall had changed owners—had they called in reinforcements?
But this wasn’t just any reinforcements.
This was someone who revived a struggling stall in just ten minutes.
They weren’t an ordinary helper—were they a god-sent warrior?!
Gu Xingzhou’s face darkened.
He refused to accept that his two hours of effort had been completely outshined by Jian Yunlan’s mere ten minutes.
He looked at the enthusiastic customers, then at the steaming, fragrant fried rice in the pan, his brows furrowing tightly.
…It’s just a street food stall.
Was all this really necessary?!
Suddenly, Jian Yunlan’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Jian Yunlan glanced at him and, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, gave him an order:
“What are you standing around for? Help serve the customers. Hand out napkins, keep track of the queue—don’t let it get messy.”
Gu Xingzhou instinctively wanted to refuse.
Who the hell do you think you are, Jian Yunlan, to boss me around?!
But then… he saw the customers’ expectant eyes.
So many people—men and women, young and old, all kinds of people in different clothes and styles—but every single one of them wore a bright smile, their faces full of excitement and anticipation for the food.
Those vivid, lively expressions, those eyes shining with eagerness, in the heart of the bustling night market, radiated the simple joy of life.
Something stirred in Gu Xingzhou’s heart—a strange feeling he couldn’t quite put into words.
“Big brother, can I have a napkin for me and my mommy?”
A little girl with braided pigtails looked up at him expectantly.
It was the same little girl he had scared to tears earlier.
But now, drawn in by the food, she was no longer afraid. She had worked up the courage to ask him for a napkin.
Almost against his will, Gu Xingzhou reached for the napkins on the counter and handed her one.
“Thank you, big brother!” The little girl beamed at him sweetly.
More and more people started looking at Gu Xingzhou, asking him for napkins.
So many people.
So many pairs of eyes.
All waiting for him.
Before he even realized what he was doing, his body moved on its own.
He handed out napkins.
He managed the queue numbers.
He helped Jian Yunlan with side tasks.
He even packed meals, handed out takeout boxes, and called for more customers.
One hour later—when Gu Xingzhou finally snapped out of it—
—his sleeves were rolled up high, he was wearing an apron like a seasoned pro, drenched in sweat, and hustling at the stall just like those ‘common street vendors’ he used to look down on.
Gu Xingzhou: “?”
Who the hell put a spell on him?!
His face darkened.
An air of absolute authority and cold determination radiated from him as he opened his mouth to declare:
“I’m not—”
I’m not doing this anymore!
“This is utterly ridiculous!”
“Little brother, I need two napkins and a pair of chopsticks, please!” An auntie next to him poked her head over.
Gu Xingzhou’s composed demeanor shattered in an instant. A sincere, businesslike smile appeared on his face. “Sure! Please wait a moment.”
Gu Xingzhou: “???”
Had he been possessed?!
His body moved on its own!
Gu Xingzhou looked at the bustling crowd before him.
One after another, customers received steaming hot fried rice fresh from the wok. Some sat nearby and started eating on the spot, devouring the food with enthusiasm, sweating as they ate, occasionally letting out sounds of satisfaction:
“This is so good, it’s so comforting. My stomach feels warm.”
“Xiaobao, go buy a portion for your grandpa too. It’s rare for him to take interest in street food, haha.”
“Sis, let me have a bite! Quick, I’m starving!”
A few high school students gathered together, chatting and laughing about exams, relationships, and family. Each held a bowl of fried rice, occasionally sneaking bites from each other’s portions, making a ruckus as they enjoyed their stolen moments of youthful joy.
An elderly couple stood in the gentle evening breeze—
The old man leaned on a cane, the old woman wore dentures. They supported each other, heads touching as they quietly and happily shared a single serving of fried rice. Love and time blended into one.
A mother and daughter sat nearby—
The mother held the little girl in her arms. The child buried her face in the fried rice, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she smiled. Every now and then, she looked up at her mother, offering the bowl with a bright grin.
“Mommy, you have some too! This is really delicious!”
The mother smiled, gently tapping the girl’s nose and brushing away a grain of rice stuck to the corner of her mouth…
Watching these scenes unfold, Gu Xingzhou felt a tremor in his heart. He couldn’t find the words to speak.
It had been so long since he last thought of his mother.
His memories of her were scarce—she had left too soon. From a young age, he had been expected to grow up quickly, to stand on his own, to help his father. But in the few memories he had of her, there was an ordinary evening filled with the aroma of home-cooked meals. His mother had smiled, tapped his nose, and called him a “little glutton”…
Then, she was gone.
Time passed, and Gu Xingzhou left the warmth of home behind. By the age of ten, he was already accompanying his father to social events.
For nearly twenty years, he had attended countless banquets, rubbing shoulders with the elite—successful businessmen, influential figures, all dressed in tailored suits, wearing luxury watches, speaking in carefully curated words, never slipping up, always exuding perfect decorum. Their faces were adorned with polite, impeccable smiles.
But none of those smiles had ever been as pure or as happy as the ones he saw now.
Amidst this sea of joy, Jian Yunlan stood at the center of it all, surrounded by eager eyes. Holding a spatula, he skillfully and earnestly prepared fried rice, plating one delicious serving after another, spreading smiles to more and more people.
Gu Xingzhou had to admit—Jian Yunlan’s fried rice must really be that good. Otherwise, why would so many people line up for it, buy one portion after another, and display such blissful, satisfied expressions while eating?
And as Gu Xingzhou slowly realized that he had contributed to these smiles, he felt a strange yet familiar sense of happiness.
After all, he was just an ordinary person too.
…Wait. Was he?
No, he wasn’t. He was Gu Xingzhou, the CEO of Yuanzhou Group. A man who stood above all others.
Two voices clashed in his mind, wrestling for dominance. Suddenly, an odd sense of dissonance overcame him—
A sensation as if his soul was being pulled away from his body.
It made no sense.
…Why had he forced Ning Sheng?
Why had he used money to threaten Ning Sheng?
Why had he even considered destroying Ning Sheng’s career?
Gu Xingzhou suddenly felt disbelief at his own past actions.
Was that really him?
In a daze, he seemed to see a book. The cover bore four words: “Paranoid Possession.”
An overwhelming, god-like force emanated from the book, shaping itself into a voice that whispered in his ear:
“To obtain Ning Sheng, you must stop at nothing. Force him. Possess him. Even if it means ruining his life.”
And then, more voices—
“Ahhh, he’s such a scumbag, but I love it!”
“The more twisted and obsessive he is, the more fun it is to read, trust me~”
“Isn’t the whole point of reading melodramatic novels to enjoy this kind of chaos?”
Those countless whispers transformed into strings, binding him, pushing him forward, dragging an innocent life into the abyss—twisting, consuming, and destroying.
Gu Xingzhou suddenly felt unbearably cold.
“Are you okay?”
A warm voice pulled him back to reality.
The chilling sensation vanished, replaced by the bustling energy of the street and the sizzle of hot oil.
His blurry vision slowly cleared.
Gu Xingzhou focused his gaze, and in front of him was Jian Yunlan’s breathtakingly beautiful face. His deep, almost blue-black eyes were fixed on Gu Xingzhou, filled with suspicion.
“I… I’m fine,” Gu Xingzhou muttered in a daze.
What just happened? What did he see? What did he hear?
It felt as if he had just touched upon some deep secret, but an invisible hand had immediately buried it in darkness, making it impossible to see clearly.
What was he thinking about just now…?
He vaguely remembered something about this lively happiness, the warmth of human existence. But beyond that, he couldn’t recall.
“If you’re fine, then get back to work.” Jian Yunlan shot him a reprimanding look, unimpressed by how he was just standing there doing nothing.
Labor is the most honorable thing. Getting something for nothing is the most shameful!
Gu Xingzhou: “…”
“Oh, by the way,” Jian Yunlan glanced at the ingredient containers. “There’s only enough left for two more servings. Do you want one?”
Gu Xingzhou was clearly not used to manual labor. After just two hours of helping out, he was already drenched in sweat, his clothes completely soaked through.
But Jian Yunlan, with his extensive experience as a street vendor and his naturally formidable strength, remained perfectly fine. He wasn’t even flushed or out of breath, just lightly perspiring.
As a very kind boss, Jian Yunlan, of course, wouldn’t be paying Gu Xingzhou. But if he was hungry, he could graciously cook him a serving of fried rice.
What a generous and benevolent boss he was! Not at all exploitative. Jian Yunlan gave himself a mental thumbs-up.
As they spoke, another batch of fried rice was ready.
“Do you want it? If you do, this one is yours,” Jian Yunlan said.
The golden, fluffy grains of rice shimmered under the light, glistening with oil. The aroma of lemon blended with the crisp freshness of luncheon meat. The entire bowl of fried rice gleamed like a golden legend.
Gu Xingzhou stared at the fried rice, eyes locked onto it.
Without even realizing it, he swallowed.
So many people had been eating with relish, showering it with praise. That meant this fried rice was really good, right?
But…
Gu Xingzhou closed his eyes briefly.
Heh. Interesting.
Even his proud self-control had nearly crumbled.
But—he was Gu Xingzhou, a man who held the global economy in the palm of his hand!
When he opened his eyes again, his once-dazed expression was gone, replaced by a gaze full of defiance and disdain. With an air of superiority, he scoffed, “Street food? Hah. In this lifetime, I only eat the food made by A-Sheng—”
Before he could finish, a nearby student, eyes lighting up at the sight of the fresh serving, eagerly asked, “Boss! If he doesn’t want that fried rice, can I buy it?”
“Sure,” Jian Yunlan replied without hesitation.
He handed the fried rice to the student, who instantly scanned the QR code to pay, thrilled at his stroke of luck. He squatted down excitedly and started devouring the food.
Gu Xingzhou: “…”
Watching his fried rice enter someone else’s mouth, his eyes nearly burned with fury.
It took all of his self-control to stop himself from lunging forward and snatching the bowl from the student’s hands.
That was his. That was supposed to be his!
His eyes flared with an overwhelming, possessive hunger as he stared—no, glared—at the boy holding his fried rice.
The student, sensing the intensity of Gu Xingzhou’s gaze, shivered slightly. Instinctively, he clutched the fried rice closer to his chest and hurriedly shoveled the entire bowl into his mouth.
In just a few bites, it was gone.
Then, he let out a satisfied burp.
“Burp.”
Gu Xingzhou: “…”
A long, speechless silence followed. Then, with a cold, unreadable expression, Gu Xingzhou finally spoke:
“I never cared for that kind of street food anyway. Such petty tricks… they don’t affect me at all.”
A mere fatal wound—not even worth mentioning.
His jaw clenched so tightly he could almost taste blood.
The last serving of fried rice was sold. Jian Yunlan showed the now-empty wok to the crowd and gave a polite bow. “That’s all for today! Thank you for your support!”
To Gu Xingzhou’s disbelief, applause erupted from the crowd.
“It was too good, oh my god! Boss, you’re a genius!”
“Will you be here again tomorrow? Please, I’m begging you!”
“Thank you for this amazing food. It gave me and my family such a wonderful time together…”
Amidst the reluctant farewells, Jian Yunlan elegantly retreated—riding away on a tricycle.
Meanwhile, Gu Xingzhou sat in the back seat of the tricycle, looking utterly disheveled, all traces of his prestigious CEO demeanor completely gone.
Covered in dust and utterly humiliated, he was carried off into the night.
Fried Rice…
That fried rice—oily and greasy—it definitely didn’t look delicious at all!
It couldn’t possibly compare to the fried rice A-Sheng had made for him before!
Gu Xingzhou could only force himself to think this way.
*
The Multiverse Livestream Room
[……]
[????]
[Can anyone explain what’s happening?!]
[Is this really Gu Xingzhou’s character setting??!! Someone, hurry up and explain! Is the plot broken?!!!]
[Boss Jian, well done~]
[I told you all, God Jian has everything under control. This was all part of his plan. mysterious nowing smile]
[User [Mashu Loves Meat] has gifted the streamer [Jian Yunlan] a helicopter x1]
[Sister Mashu, you’re here!]
[Damn, not just Sister Mashu, but Ning Sheng’s fans are also throwing money like crazy! They’re so rich, I’m so jealous… Why are there so many rich women in this world? Can’t there be just one more—ME?! QAQ darkly crawling in despair]
Ever since Jian Yunlan had proposed that brilliantly devious idea of making Gu Xingzhou run a food stall, the plot had completely derailed like a wild horse, rushing toward an unpredictable and absurd direction.
Was this still the same Gu Xingzhou?
The man who once spoke with absolute authority, the arrogant and untamable domineering CEO?!
What kind of domineering CEO would spend an entire night hustling at a street food stall?!
What kind of domineering CEO would sincerely smile at customers and hand out napkins to everyone?!
What kind of domineering CEO would stare at a bowl of fried rice he didn’t get to eat with eyes full of regret and longing?!
Gu Xingzhou’s fans were coughing up blood.
In other streamers’ live broadcasts, Gu Xingzhou was still that powerful and cold-blooded businessman who controlled the global economy with just a flick of his wrist. A mere smile could send entire corporations into bankruptcy.
And other streamers? They had to fight tooth and nail, investing countless efforts just to barely enter Gu Xingzhou’s radar—to become his confidant, his friend, his follower—just to slightly influence the original story’s plotline…
But Jian Yunlan…
What kind of witchcraft did he and his tiny street food stall possess?!
Just a while ago, people were betting on “Jian Yunlan vs. Gu Xingzhou” to see who would come out on top.
Now?
Everyone who bet on Gu Xingzhou lost so badly they couldn’t even afford underwear.
They were all crying and wailing on the rooftops.
Thanks to this completely unhinged plot twist, Jian Yunlan’s livestream soared to the top of the “Plot Breakthrough” rankings, charging straight into the Top 10!
And to make things even wilder—
A fan of Jian Yunlan had clipped a video from the livestream, edited it into a short, clickbait video, and titled it:”The Domineering CEO Gets Humiliated and Forced! Sweating and Blushing All Over…”
The explosive title immediately drew in hordes of… very interested… viewers.
They clicked in, expecting something spicy, only to realize—
“Gets Humiliated and Forced” ? Forced to run a street food stall.
“Sweating and Blushing All Over” ? Sweating from handing out utensils and attracting customers.
[Everyone is busy, so let’s not spread misleading information, thank you.]
[Wait… Gu Xingzhou?! Isn’t he that twisted, gloomy CEO from Paranoid Possession?!]
[What in the actual—]
[Which streamer is this? Let me investigate..]
Just as curiosity peaked, Jian Yunlan’s fan army swiftly appeared:
[Room number 6666! Jian Jian Dan Dan, Lan Tian Bai Yun, Yi Lu Tong Xing! Handsome streamer online (Heart) delivering top-tier plot-driven action (Heart)! Follow now, so you don’t get lost!]
[The clouds are light, the wind is blue, a simple little food stall, healing your tired soul~ Happiness is just that simple~]
[We are a very friendly family! New viewers, don’t be scared—come join us… hehehehehe…]
With such a “welcoming” atmosphere, countless curious and unsuspecting new viewers eagerly clicked into Jian Yunlan’s livestream.
And Jian Yunlan’s fanbase—
A bizarre combination of high-energy meme-makers, led by Mashu’s mysteriously prophetic “God Jian Has a Plan” believers—
They smiled lovingly behind their screens, watching as these innocent newbies walked straight into their chaotic and cult-like domain.
“Welcome to the glorious path of enlightenment.”
*
Meanwhile, just as Jian Yunlan’s night market food stall wrapped up for the night—
A proposal video quietly went viral on Douyin (TikTok).
During her free time in evening study, Lu Qiuqiu absentmindedly scrolled through the app—
And stumbled upon a wedding proposal video.
The video was shot from a bystander’s perspective.
In the video, the groom knelt on one knee.
Left hand—holding a diamond ring.
Right hand—holding… fried rice?!
Wait. Fried rice?!
Lu Qiuqiu nearly swiped past, but something nagged at her.
She rubbed her eyes.
Who in their right mind proposes with fried rice?!
Shouldn’t it be roses, stuffed animals, or romantic gifts?
Wouldn’t the bride just flip the table and walk away?!
But—
Surprisingly…
The bride didn’t get angry.
Instead—she was deeply moved and accepted the proposal.
The surrounding crowd was also emotional wrecks, sniffling and saying:
“He loves her so much!”
“This must be the ultimate form of love.”
“I… I want to get married too~”
And then, at the very end of the video—
The newlywed couple chased after a tricycle, shouting:
“Godfather! Godfather! Our one and only wedding wish is to eat another bowl of your fried rice!”
The video had been shared tens of thousands of times, with comment sections filled with laughter.
It was even compiled into viral proposal montages.
And just like that—
A new meme was born: “From now on, all the fried rice belongs to you.”
Countless couple influencers jumped on the trend, using the meme for romantic confessions.
And thus—Jian Yunlan’s fried rice reached legendary status.
Lu Qiuqiu was shocked.
Was it her problem, or was it everyone else’s? Why did it feel like the world was getting a little surreal?
But looking closely, the fried rice in the groom’s hand did look pretty good—tempting colors… slurp slurp—just looking at it made her hungry!
The comment section was flooded with people asking:
[I need all the details on this fried rice within three minutes!]
[Where can I buy this amazing fried rice?!]
[That pickled cabbage looks absolutely divine (drooling)]
Lu Qiuqiu tapped her deskmate, Tong Ling, on the shoulder and called her over. “Look at this video! So weird! Is that pickled cabbage fried rice really that good?”
Tong Ling was the top student in their class. Unlike Lu Qiuqiu, she didn’t even own a smartphone. Because of her family’s poverty, she woke up before dawn every day to help her grandfather set up a vegetable stall at the market before rushing to school. And yet, she still managed to rank in the top ten of their entire grade—truly a genius.
But her family was so poor that she couldn’t even afford a new school uniform. For the past two years, she had been wearing a patched-up, hand-me-down uniform, and even when her shoes started coming apart, she still kept wearing them. Everyone in class sympathized with her.
Tong Ling glanced at the video and caught sight of a familiar tricycle flashing by in the background. She smiled. “That’s Boss Jian’s tricycle.”
Lu Qiuqiu’s eyes widened. “Wow, you know the fried rice vendor?! The whole internet is looking for where to buy this pickled cabbage fried rice!”
“It’s not just that,” Tong Ling said proudly. “The pickled cabbage in that fried rice—it was made by my family.”
Seeing her family’s pickled cabbage being cooked into something delicious by Boss Jian and loved by so many people made Tong Ling feel overjoyed.
Lu Qiuqiu looked at the video, then back at Tong Ling. Suddenly, an idea popped into her head. “Hey, if you advertise that the pickled cabbage in this fried rice is from your family, then open a little online shop… wouldn’t that be a golden opportunity?”
Tong Ling’s eyes lit up, but then quickly dimmed again as she shook her head. “I don’t understand that kind of stuff.”
She couldn’t even afford a smartphone. People like Lu Qiuqiu and her classmates were used to navigating the internet, but Tong Ling wasn’t.
She only knew how to study. As long as she kept studying hard and got into a good university in the future, maybe—just maybe—her life would change.
Lu Qiuqiu pushed her. “What are you afraid of?! If you don’t understand, I do! I’ll help you!”
She acted immediately, getting a few pictures of the pickled cabbage from Tong Ling and posting them on social media.
They thought it would take a long time to get their first customer, but to their surprise, someone reached out almost instantly:
[Is this really the pickled cabbage Boss Jian uses? I ate his fried rice once, and I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve been craving it ever since.]
Tong Ling replied: [Guaranteed!]
The first customer picked up their order from the market that same day. After trying the pickled cabbage, they were delighted.
Even though their cooking skills weren’t on par with Boss Jian’s, the pickled cabbage had the same rich, tangy flavor—intensely sour and incredibly fragrant!
The satisfied customer shared a glowing review in their social circle, and soon, more and more people came knocking.
As Lu Qiuqiu and Tong Ling watched the sales numbers climb, their eyes widened in shock.
Tong Ling was so overwhelmed with emotion that she burst into tears.
Even working at the market for an entire month, she wouldn’t be able to make this much money. Now, next month’s rent, her grandfather’s medical expenses, and food costs were all covered.
“Qiuqiu, thank you,” Tong Ling said, wiping her tears. “I really don’t know how to repay you.”
“We’re friends! No need to thank me.” Lu Qiuqiu was just as happy to have helped her.
Tong Ling thought of Boss Jian again.
If it weren’t for the exposure from his fried rice, she wouldn’t have had this opportunity.
The next time she saw Boss Jian at the market, she would have to thank him properly—maybe even give him some free vegetables. Tomatoes, chili peppers, pickled cabbage—whatever he wanted!
Just then, the online shop notification chimed. A new customer had placed an order.
Tong Ling quickly grabbed her phone.
The new customer had ordered a jar of pickled cabbage and sent a message along with it:
[Hello, may I ask… do you know Boss Jian from the fried rice stall?]
The customer’s profile picture flickered on the screen—a mother and son in a warm embrace. The mother looked kind and gentle, but the son’s appearance was especially striking. His features were sharp and cold, with a single teardrop mole at the corner of his eye—he was even more handsome than a celebrity.
Tong Ling gasped, her eyes sparkling.
So handsome!
She quickly replied:
[Not exactly, but he has bought vegetables from me a few times.]
The new customer hesitated for a moment before sending another message:
[Sorry to bother you, but… do you know where he has been setting up his stall lately?]
—Meanwhile, at the dormitories of Beijing University.
Ever since Boss Jian stopped setting up his stall at the south gate, Li Mingxi and his roommates had been in a terrible state. And it wasn’t just them—the entire dorm building echoed with soft cries at 7 PM every night, making it sound like a haunted house:
“Wontons… I need wontons… wuwuwu…”
“I hate this… I hate this…”
“That heartless man, the one who stole my heart—where is he?!”
Ning Sheng set his phone down with a quiet sigh.
He was suffering just as much as the others. Over the past few days, he had searched every street market and food stall in the area, but he still hadn’t found Boss Jian.
His dark lashes cast shadows over his eyes, and his usually indifferent expression carried a trace of loneliness.
—Day four without eating Boss Jian’s wontons.
Boss Jian… hungry… food…
