Chapter 49
Inside the Multiverse Live Broadcast Room.
Ten minutes after the forced mission began, streamers were already getting eliminated.
One streamer walked into the KTV, immediately acted like a domineering young master, and ordered Yu Ming to sit on his lap and feed him grapes.
Yu Ming was just here working part-time for money, not selling himself—so he coldly resigned on the spot and left.
That streamer was eliminated instantly. No suspense.
Another streamer, however, had been more strategic. Two days prior, he transferred into Yu Ming’s class and had already established a budding friendship with him. Now, as a “friend,” he pleaded with Yu Ming to feed him a grape.
Just as the audience thought this streamer had secured victory, the screen suddenly blacked out.
Because the mission’s requirements were clear: “Role-play an extravagant, willful, and overbearing young master/lady of the wealthiest family.”
A spoiled, willful young master pleading for a grape?
That’s not following the rules. And not following the rules means… elimination!
[This mission seems simple but is full of hidden traps…]
[Oh my god, Liyue, hold on! Don’t fall here!]
[Phew… Luckily, my favorite streamer is being extra cautious, analyzing every step before making a move. (wipes sweat)]
As time passed, more and more streamers were eliminated.
Many fans clenched their fists in anxiety, fervently praying for their favorite streamers.
And the remaining streamers, realizing the high stakes, became hyper-vigilant, meticulously observing their surroundings, treating each move like a chess game.
Thus, in most of the live broadcast rooms, the atmosphere was incredibly tense—barrages of comments discussing strategies, streamers carefully analyzing the task, brainstorming, and not daring to make a single reckless move.
…Most.
It was obvious that Jian Yunlan’s stream wasn’t included in that “most.”
*
[This is a KTV room, right? But it feels like the only person actually singing is Boss Jian. (.)]
[LOL, while other streamers are racking their brains over the mission, Boss Jian is just… singing his heart out.]
[No, the problem isn’t just that he’s singing—he’s completely immersed in it, so passionately devoted! AAAHHHHH!!! My ears! Someone save my ears! (screaming) (waving hands frantically)]
[Requesting a tutorial on how to make Boss Jian shut up.]
[+1]
[+10086]
[……]
[What are you all talking about? Boss Jian sings beautifully! Boss Jian, can you come back to the Paranoid Possession dimension and sing for us? User [Gu Xingzhou] has gifted the streamer [Jian Yunlan] a spaceship x1.]
[Thanks for the invitation. I’ve recorded the entire song and plan to loop it every night before bed, falling asleep happily while imagining the aroma of spicy hot pot. Who wants the recording? User [Ning Sheng] has gifted the streamer [Jian Yunlan] a Carnival x1.]
[Great idea! I want a copy too~ User [Ming Ruogui] has gifted the streamer [Jian Yunlan] a luxury cruise ship x1.]
[I want one as well! User [Wang Jianhua] has gifted the streamer [Jian Yunlan] a rocket x1.]
[Xiao Ning, send one here too. User [Gu Tiancheng] has gifted the streamer [Jian Yunlan] an aircraft carrier x1.]
Ning Sheng: [Sent.]
[You Paranoid Possession fans are seriously insane!]
[How can these people be so crazy and yet so rich?! QAQ]
[I get it now. They’re using gift donations as punctuation marks—casually chatting while making money vanish into thin air. (cold sweat)]
[Wait, wait—THIS SONG??? Looping it on repeat??? Huh???? You guys seriously love Boss Jian that much?!?]
*
Meanwhile, in the Dark River Bright Lanterns dimension—
Inside the luxurious Gilded KTV private room, Jian Yunlan was passionately belting out his song.
The waiters, who had started out frozen in shock, then slowly adapted, had now fully joined in the maraca-shaking parade.
After all, they couldn’t let all the tip money go to just Yu Ming!
They even began singing backup vocals for Jian Yunlan.
Jian Yunlan: “Let me keep you in my heart~”
Waiters: “Keep! You! In!”
The rich kids: “……”
Jian Yunlan’s mood soared along with the music.
Pure joy!
It felt like returning to the good old days of running a food stall!
…This good mood lasted until the kitchen brought out a bowl of fruit salad.
The guy with the yellow hair wiped the sweat off his forehead and said, “Isn’t Boss Jian fond of snacks?”
“We got this fruit salad for Boss Jian. We invited a top chef from a private kitchen to make it. Boss Jian, would you like to try?”
If you try it, please don’t sing anymore!
Save their ears, please, sob sob sob.
To their surprise, Jian Yunlan immediately put down the microphone.
Before the others could breathe a sigh of relief, Jian Yunlan suddenly picked up the fruit salad, inspecting it with a very professional and serious attitude.
It was obvious that the quality of the fruits was good, all fresh and expensive varieties.
But the quality of the fruit salad itself…
The bananas were cut sparingly, one apple was completely smashed into pulp, and the top was decorated with fruit peel sculpted into a flower. The coconut milk was poured in excess, making the entire bowl of fruit salad look strange.
It was clear that the chef had tried to create something “high-end” to elevate the fruit salad beyond a street snack and make it look more upscale.
But the result was a mismatch, with the presentation appearing unbalanced and awkward.
…During this whole process, Jian Yunlan’s expression grew darker and darker.
His face shifted from joy to anger.
Everyone cautiously observed his expression, their hearts sinking. It seemed that the overbearing young master was getting angry again…
But why?!!!
Jian Yunlan furrowed his brows and, lowering himself to pick up the spoon, took a bite.
…What should have been a sweet and sour refreshing snack, this bowl of yogurt fruit salad had a weirdly off-balance honey-to-fruit ratio. It was too sweet, and the lemon’s sourness clashed with the other fruit flavors, making it taste sickly sweet and a little overwhelming.
He couldn’t eat it!
This classic street snack—fruit salad—had been ruined into this hideous state.
As a food stall owner who had set his life’s ultimate goal on street snacks, he could not accept this!
…At that moment, a ‘ding’ sound rang in his ears:
“Your item [Overbearing CEO Aura] has been activated. With the commanding presence and authority of a domineering CEO, go ahead and conquer!”
Nice.
Jian Yunlan thought, this is just the right moment.
…The next second, Jian Yunlan slammed his hand on the table and stood up angrily.
Everyone jumped in surprise, their eyes filled with fear, including the guy with the yellow hair.
Jian Yunlan rolled up his sleeves with a commanding presence and said in a tone that left no room for discussion: “Did the kitchen understand how to make this fruit salad?”
—”Let me do it!”
“…”
Everyone was once again stunned.
The waiters: “?”
The rich second-generation youths: “???”
It was the guy with the yellow hair who reacted first.
He scratched his head and said, “No, Boss Jian, are you joking—”
Jian Yunlan pointed at him: “You, take me to the kitchen.”
The guy with the yellow hair quickly straightened up and saluted: “Yes, Boss Jian!”
…??? Wait?
In Jian Yunlan’s intimidating gaze, for some reason, the guy with yellow hair just felt compelled to do as he was told. And why was he calling Jian Yunlan ‘Boss Jian’?!
His body acted on its own!
Jian Yunlan continued to point at the rich second-generation youths and waiters, picking and choosing:
“You, go buy coconut milk, condensed milk, and yogurt.”
“Yes, Boss Jian!”
“You, organize the fruits and toppings separately.”
“Yes, Boss Jian!”
“You, peel the grapes and remove the seeds.”
“Yes, Boss Jian!”
After issuing these commands smoothly, Yu Ming suddenly paused, his dark eyes showing a bit of confusion.
Wait, why was he also…
Once everything was prepared, Jian Yunlan flashed a wicked smile: “It’s getting cold. It’s time to bankrupt the KTV kitchen.”
Led by the guy with yellow hair, the professional team that Jian Yunlan had quickly assembled rolled up their sleeves, their eyes filled with determination.
They all shouted in unison:
“Yes, Boss Jian!”
*
Multiverse Live Stream.
The Dark River, Bright Light section, after the forced task opened, saw nearly ten million new viewers flood in.
Some viewers went directly to their favorite streamers.
Others browsed the homepage and checked out whatever caught their eye.
Various live stream previews floated on the homepage in bubbles, and one bubble turned golden, with a note from the All Worlds Live Stream system beside it:
[This streamer has a high degree of character restoration.]
Many viewers immediately became interested.
…And at that moment, in Jian Yunlan’s live stream.
[Boss Jian: I lasted 0.000001 seconds in the challenge of not running a food stall. Come try it yourself!]
[As expected of him—no surprises here.]
[Yu Ming, why have you also been influenced by Boss Jian’s undying street vendor spirit?!]
[That Blue Silver Guy… he’s back with his street food stall.]
[Tremble, KTV!]
[…So, the mission only requires the streamers to be ‘extravagant, willful, domineering, and overbearing,’ right? Does that mean even if Boss Jian willfully decides to set up a food stall and overbearingly forces everyone to join him, it still counts…? Ahhh, this is driving me insane!]
*
Multiverse Live Broadcast Headquarters
Gong Siyuan and his subordinates fell into collective silence.
Not long ago, they had made bold declarations, firmly believing that Jian Yunlan would never manage to set up a food stall in a forced mission like this.
Their faces now stung with embarrassment.
Gong Siyuan struggled to speak:
“…But… Gilded KTV is the most high-end KTV in all of A City. I refuse to believe he can actually sell this fruit salad in such an elite, upper-class venue!”
Once he fails to sell anything, he’ll probably wise up and start taking the mission seriously…
…Right?
*
Gilded KTV Lobby
As the most luxurious KTV in the city, Gilded KTV was frequented by the wealthy—especially the idle, party-loving second-generation rich kids.
Even though it was a weekday night, it was well-known that most rich second-gens didn’t need to work. So, even at 11 or 12 at night, they had plenty of time to enjoy themselves.
The lobby was bathed in neon blue and purple lights, bustling with people. Deafening music leaked out from the packed private rooms. Some guests sat waiting for their friends, while others stood around chatting after finishing their KTV sessions.
Wang Xiaofu was an unremarkable nouveau riche.
Tonight, he had arranged to meet an old classmate at Gilded KTV. It had been a long time since they last saw each other, so they planned to book a small private room for just the two of them to catch up properly.
However, his classmate hadn’t arrived yet, and Gilded KTV had a rule: at least two guests had to be present to enter a room, with a per-person minimum spending requirement.
So, Wang Xiaofu sat in a booth in the lobby, sipping a drink, bored out of his mind while waiting.
Midway through, a waiter approached with a bright smile, carrying a bowl of fruit salad.
“Mr. Wang, this is our special limited-edition fruit salad for today. Would you like to give it a try? It’s on a limited-time special—just 288 yuan per serving.”
Ever since receiving a massive payout from a demolition compensation, Wang Xiaofu had adopted a new life motto:
“I refuse to eat anything cheap. If I’m going to eat, it has to be the most expensive.”
He had money to burn!
A fruit salad priced at two or three hundred yuan piqued his interest. It was common knowledge that food in KTVs was overpriced, but at this price, it had to be something special, right?
Maybe it was really delicious?
“Alright, I’ll take one.” Wang Xiaofu waved his hand grandly.
However, the moment the waiter brought out the 288-yuan fruit salad, Wang Xiaofu took two bites and immediately “yue”-ed in disgust.
It was terrible.
Absolutely disgusting.
He wasn’t a professional food critic, so he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong with it. But the taste was just awful—a weird sourness mixed with an overwhelming sweetness. The fruit was clearly fresh, yet somehow tasted like it had gone bad for days. The texture was equally terrible.
Every bite was pure torment on his taste buds.
Even someone as generally good-natured as Wang Xiaofu couldn’t help but complain:
“What the hell is this fruit salad? It’s awful!”
The waiter awkwardly rubbed his hands together.
This wasn’t the first complaint about the fruit salad tonight.
As a professionally trained employee, he smoothly began making excuses:
“This is a fruit salad prepared by our top Michelin three-star chef. The concept behind it focuses on global climate change awareness, environmental protection, and animal welfare…”
Wang Xiaofu: “???”
He instinctively dug his finger into his ear. What the hell kind of nonsense was this?!
“I won’t be ordering any more food from this place tonight,” Wang Xiaofu huffed. “Your chefs are seriously incompetent! How do you mess up a fruit salad this badly?! This is daylight robbery!”
The waiter simply smiled. “It’s not that our chefs are incompetent—it’s that some customers don’t know how to appreciate fine cuisine~”
Since Wang Xiaofu was just another random rich guy waiting in the lobby instead of heading straight into a private room, he was probably not one of the city’s true elites—just another nouveau riche or mid-tier second-gen.
The waiter, used to serving actual big shots, judged people accordingly. He didn’t bother being overly respectful and even subtly mocked Wang Xiaofu for lacking taste.
Wang Xiaofu: “???!!!”
“Oh? Oh?? So now ‘the customer is king’ doesn’t apply anymore, huh?! You’re just gonna mock your customers like this?!”
Wang Xiaofu was furious. He looked around the room—
And just then—
A spotlight lit up at the entrance of the lobby.
Everyone froze.
Under the spotlight, near the wide-open entrance, a… street food stall had somehow been set up without anyone noticing.
A handwritten banner in front of the stall read: “Boss Jian’s Fruit Salad.” The stall was neatly arranged with a dazzling variety of fruits.
Each piece was cut into evenly sized, vibrant chunks, looking fresh and juicy under the warm glow of the lights.
Apples, pears, watermelons, grapes, cantaloupes, avocados…
Besides fruit, there were also classic street-side fruit salad toppings—ice jelly, fruit jelly, pudding, and crushed Oreos.
The entire stall looked down-to-earth, almost identical to the fruit salad stalls seen at night markets.
It was so humble that it completely clashed with the extravagant environment of the KTV.
The stall’s owner was a handsome young man with a brilliant smile on his face:
“Fruit salad! Delicious fruit salad! Just 10 yuan per serving—choose any toppings you like!”
Beside him stood another silent young man.
This young man was also remarkably good-looking, with serious yet slightly bewildered eyes.
He wore an apron, a mask, and gloves, quietly peeling grapes and cleaning the cutting board—seemingly acting as an assistant.
The people passing by in the lobby couldn’t help but whisper among themselves:
“Fruit salad? It does look fresh… but how is it only 10 yuan?”
“Wow, those fruits look so refreshing. Even the yogurt seems smooth and creamy. I wonder how it tastes.”
“Isn’t the fruit salad sold here at the KTV priced at 288 yuan per serving?”
Just like everyone else, Wang Xiaofu couldn’t resist pointing at the stall and asking the waiter:
“Is this the fruit salad sold by your KTV? Why is theirs only 10 yuan per serving?!”
The waiter was just as confused.
The fruit salad coming out of their KTV kitchen was priced at 288 yuan per serving—so why was this one only 10 yuan?
Could it be that this stall wasn’t actually part of the KTV? But since the management hadn’t stepped in to stop it, did that mean it was allowed to operate here?
The waiter hesitantly explained:
“That fruit salad may be cheap, but it can’t compare to our 288-yuan version! Our fruit is airlifted fresh from Southeast Asia, and more importantly, it’s crafted by a Michelin three-star chef with an exquisite, high-end design concept!”
The waiter added:
“Someone as wealthy as you, Mr. Wang, eating a 10-yuan fruit salad… wouldn’t that be lowering your status?”
That one phrase—”lowering your status”—immediately snapped Wang Xiaofu out of his temptation.
That’s right! He was a nouveau riche now! His life wasn’t like before.
The old him could squat in a run-down neighborhood, wearing flip-flops and shorts, eating instant noodles.
But the new him had to dine in the most luxurious KTVs, order a 300-yuan fruit salad, and—for the ultimate display of wealth—take one bite and throw the rest away.
That’s how he showed off his status.
It was clear that many others in the room shared the same mindset.
They were all second-generation rich kids.
In Gilded KTV, even a simple plate of peanuts cost 80 yuan, so how could they possibly eat a mere 10-yuan fruit salad?
And yet…
Wang Xiaofu’s gaze involuntarily drifted back to the stall’s neatly arranged fruits—
The vivid red strawberries, plump and glistening with moisture. The round, full green grapes. The evenly cut chunks of dragon fruit.
He could almost imagine the sensation of pouring cool, silky yogurt over the fruits, sprinkling some crushed Oreos, and taking a bite—sweet, tangy, and refreshing…
Wang Xiaofu forcefully tore his eyes away.
No! He couldn’t look anymore.
If he kept looking… he wouldn’t be able to resist.
But even so—
Many people, including Wang Xiaofu, couldn’t stop sneaking glances at the fruit salad stall.
The colors of the fruits were simply too vibrant, too tempting. Some fruits were still whole and uncut, appearing even fresher than those that had been sliced.
Even the arrangement of the toppings was carefully designed. The milky yellow pudding sat next to crystal-clear ice jelly, while a half-cut avocado rested in a small dish nearby, its flesh a perfect shade of green. Next to it, dewy, ruby-red strawberries shimmered under the lights…
There was no denying it—
A fruit salad stall like this, where all the fruits and toppings were displayed in full view, looked far more appetizing than the pre-plated fruit salads served by the KTV kitchen.
At the KTV, the chefs decided everything for you—which fruits and toppings you got.
But the true joy of fruit salad was in customizing it yourself.
Everyone had different tastes.
Some people loved bananas, others hated strawberries.
The real fun came from picking out your own ingredients, watching the street food vendor prepare it fresh, and choosing your perfect combination.
Even without ordering, many people had already started picking in their minds:
“If I ordered one, I’d definitely get extra dragon fruit and strawberries. The mango looks fresh, so I’d add that too. No kiwi, but I’d take some avocado… I’d drizzle it with lots of yogurt, then top it with sago pearls and raisins…”
Meanwhile, Jian Yunlan had also set up a small pot on a stove.
He placed soaked red beans into the pot, sprinkled in some sugar, and let them simmer over low heat.
Soon, the boiling water turned into a translucent golden syrup, and the plump red beans bobbed up and down in the pot.
As the steam rose, a rich, sweet aroma spread through the air—
A warm, sugary fragrance that made people’s mouths water.
Jian Yunlan sprinkled a little more sugar into the pot, stirring slowly to let the sweetness gradually seep into the red beans…
Before long, amidst the rising mist, a pot of soft, sweet honeyed red beans was ready.
“So this is how honeyed red beans are made.”
“Freshly simmered red beans? That looks kind of delicious.”
“Wait, this fruit salad stall looks way too cozy.”
Most of the people present had tasted honeyed red beans in desserts or milk tea before, but this was their first time seeing them made in person. They couldn’t help but watch, captivated.
And Jian Yunlan’s movements were smooth and fluid, a visual pleasure in itself.
“…”
Next to the fruit salad stall, Yu Ming sat on a small stool, quietly peeling grapes.
His dark eyes carried a misty, unreadable depth, making him seem mysterious.
But in reality, Yu Ming’s mind was starting to go blank.
Who was he? Where was he? Where was he headed…?
Since middle school, unwilling to ask the Fu family for extra money, Yu Ming had taken on various part-time jobs in his spare time. Yesterday, after his big dog Liangliang went missing, he had spent an entire day searching for it, but to no avail.
He wanted to hire a professional pet search team, but that required money—a lot of money.
So, he accepted an invitation from a middle school classmate to work at the KTV.
Wealthy customers in KTV rooms often liked to get handsy with the young boys and girls serving them. Throughout the night, Yu Ming had encountered all sorts of inappropriate requests.
He had expected that someone might ask him to sit on their lap and feed them grapes. That was a line he would never cross—if anyone tried, he would immediately quit.
But never in his wildest imagination…
Would he end up sitting next to a fruit salad stall, peeling grapes?
—How did this happen?!
What was this eldest young master of the Jian family really up to?
Growing up as an orphan had made Yu Ming instinctively wary of strangers. He always assumed the worst in any situation.
Maybe setting up a fruit salad stall was just a ruse to lower his guard.
Maybe, in the end, Jian Yunlan was no different from the others.
With that thought, Yu Ming’s gaze turned colder.
“…”
To outsiders, it was a heartwarming scene—a vibrant and inviting fruit salad stall, with a handsome vendor patiently simmering red beans, steam rising around him. Beside him, his equally refined and reserved assistant silently peeled grapes.
Yu Ming worked with swift precision, speaking little but moving efficiently—one of the reasons Jian Yunlan had chosen him.
Wearing disposable gloves and a mask, Yu Ming peeled grapes and green seedless grapes with impressive skill. With each movement of his fingers, another perfectly peeled grape emerged—plump, translucent green, brimming with juice, reflecting the soft glow of the lights.
They looked irresistibly fresh.
“Not gonna lie, watching these grapes being peeled right in front of us just hits different,” Wang Xiaofu muttered as he watched.
If pre-peeled green grapes were simply placed on a plate, people might suspect they came from a can—not exactly the freshest option.
But watching them peeled in real-time? Suddenly, they looked incredibly fresh. Just seeing them made one imagine the juicy, tangy sweetness bursting in the mouth…
In the noisy and restless KTV, this cozy little fruit salad stall, bathed in warm light, had an oddly calming effect.
Even though no customers had come up to order yet.
Jian Yunlan wasn’t worried—good food would attract customers naturally.
He had confidence in his skills.
—In his past life, during the most difficult times of his part-time jobs, he had spent countless days researching how to run a fruit salad stall. He had studied it extensively.
In the end, he never had the courage to quit his job and follow through with it, so nothing came of it.
But today, all the fruit had been directly sourced from Southeast Asia by the KTV kitchen—high quality, only ruined by the kitchen’s poor handling.
Jian Yunlan had simply waved his hand, used the power of money, and bought it all.
All he needed to do now was lead his temporary employees to process the fresh fruit properly, display it at the stall, and present it beautifully to potential customers.
Making fruit salad wasn’t complicated—the key was in the yogurt blend, the fruit arrangement, and the combination of toppings.
Now, everything was ready. Whether or not the guests initially wanted fruit salad, their eyes were already drawn to this colorful, inviting stall.
Jian Yunlan even heard several people secretly swallowing their saliva.
It was only a matter of time before customers came.
And sure enough, moments later, a clear, excited voice rang out:
“Boss! I want a fruit salad—with strawberries, dragon fruit, green grapes, mango…”
*
Multiverse Livestream Room
The forced mission had been running for an hour now, and nearly half of the streamers had already been eliminated. The remaining ones were all doing similar things—trying to engage with Yu Ming in the KTV rooms, attempting to earn his trust while keeping up the persona of a spoiled, arrogant young master.
[The tasks and stream content are all pretty much the same. Now, it’s just a matter of who does it better.]
[…Wait, what the hell?! Who is this guy running a fruit salad stall with Yu Ming?!]
