Chapter 78
The restaurant manager, Old Hu, wiped his sweat and escorted Mu Mingqiu out:
“Mr. Mu, I’m terribly sorry that the roast duck made by our chef didn’t meet your expectations. They will carefully study how to improve it and strive for—”
Due to an urgent group meeting, Huo Ye had already left, leaving Mu Mingqiu to finish the meal alone.
Mu Mingqiu interrupted him directly: “No need to research, your roast duck is beyond saving.”
Old Hu froze for a moment: “…”
Old Hu felt deeply pained inside.
The roast duck at Zhu Yuan was famous throughout the city. Many young masters and young ladies sought it out just for a taste. How could Mu Mingqiu casually declare it “beyond saving” and effectively sentence their proud roast duck to death?
But since they were VIP clients, Mu Mingqiu was their meal ticket, so Old Hu could only force a smile and say, “Yes, yes, of course, what you say goes.”
“Is there anyone else around here selling roast duck?” Mu Mingqiu’s gaze darkened slightly, and the flamboyant red of his hair shone brightly in the sunlight.
Mu Mingqiu couldn’t explain why himself…
An hour ago, when he walked into Zhu Yuan, the aroma of roast duck that had drifted in with the wind lingered in his mind, and he couldn’t forget it.
Even though he had just eaten a hearty meal of his favorite foods at Zhu Yuan, the thought of that mysterious roast duck scent made Mu Mingqiu’s stomach growl once more.
Hearing this, Old Hu’s heart skipped a beat.
Someone else is selling roast duck?
He immediately thought of the little boy across the street.
But that boy had only set up his stall for thirty minutes—there was no way!
“No, no, there’s no one,” Old Hu chuckled awkwardly. “Mr. Mu, you know how it is around here, Zhu Yuan doesn’t allow street vendors within a hundred miles. How could someone be selling roast duck nearby?”
Mu Mingqiu frowned and nodded.
Even after entering the parking lot and getting into the car, he was still mulling over it.
It shouldn’t be.
The scent didn’t come from Zhu Yuan’s roast duck, and no one was selling it nearby. Could it have just appeared out of nowhere…?
Damn it! It’s just a roast duck!
Annoyed by his inexplicable unease, Mu Mingqiu grew increasingly frustrated.
How could he, the prestigious young master of the Mu family, let a roast duck disturb his thoughts?
If he couldn’t have it, he couldn’t have it—what’s the big deal? It’s just a roast duck.
Hmph!
“Mr. Mu,” the driver, Wu Weiguo, smiled at Mu Mingqiu with a cheerful expression. “Should I take you back to the villa or to the company? Please feel free to tell me… Ah! Ah! Mr. Mu, calm down! I have elderly parents and a young child, I perform arts, not sell myself!”
The next moment, his cheerful smile turned into a panicked scream.
The reason was simple.
—The usually arrogant and aloof Young Master Mu suddenly rushed forward like a ghost, grabbed Wu Weiguo by the collar, and buried his face in his chest, inhaling deeply!
The familiar fragrance of roast duck flooded Mu Mingqiu’s nose.
The crispy, savory aroma of the duck, the rich oil scent, and a hint of fruity wood char—stronger and more tempting than the scent he had smelled earlier when entering Zhu Yuan!
“It’s so fragrant, so fragrant,” Mu Mingqiu inhaled deeply at Wu Weiguo’s collar and murmured, “Old Wu, you smell so good…”
Just smelling this fragrance, Mu Mingqiu could almost imagine the sound of the crispy skin cracking when he bit into the roast duck, the oil flowing out, and the tender, juicy meat texture.
As he thought about it, saliva started to pool in his mouth, and a longing, green gleam appeared in his beautiful eyes.
The other drivers waiting in the parking lot couldn’t help but be startled.
Oh my god.
They had always heard that the young master of the Mu family was passionate and had a deep friendship with the young master of the Huo family.
But they never expected that beneath Mu Mingqiu’s beautiful exterior, there was such an animalistic ambition!
He had actually made a move on a 1.8-meter-tall, sturdy middle-aged driver!
Not only was he grabbing his collar and inhaling deeply, but he was also drooling and his eyes were gleaming with desire.
The scene was so beautiful they couldn’t bear to watch.
“My employer can’t possibly have such thoughts toward me, right? How terrifying…”
“Oh my god, being a luxury chauffeur is such a dangerous job, sob sob sob.”
“Young Master Mu is too extravagant. Poor Old Wu, he’s only 38 this year, and his daughter is only 6.”
The drivers in the parking lot cautiously hid in their driver seats, whispering and shivering.
Meanwhile, Mu Mingqiu had no time to care about the strange looks from the others.
He stared at Wu Weiguo, his eyes shining brightly: “Old Wu, this roast duck smell…”
Wu Weiguo’s heart skipped a beat.
This is bad.
The young master is after the roast duck.
Today’s roast duck was already taken by Miss Xu Shishi, so does this mean tomorrow’s roast duck will be monopolized by the young master?
Wu Weiguo’s mind raced, and just as he was about to come up with an explanation, he heard Mu Mingqiu say:
—“Old Wu, I didn’t expect you to be so hidden! You’re only 38, yet you can make such delicious roast duck. Being a driver is such a waste of your talent!”
“Master, please let me explain… Ah? Wait a second??”
Wu Weiguo scratched his head, confused.
Mu Mingqiu continued, rummaging through the Maybach: “Old Wu, you don’t need to explain. I know you have a secret roast duck skill, but as a hidden expert, you don’t want to reveal your identity.”
“Don’t worry, as long as you’re willing, I, Mu Mingqiu, will appoint you as the Mu family’s chief private chef with a salary of ten million a year. How does that sound?”
Wu Weiguo: “…”
Although ten million a year sounded tempting.
He didn’t even roast the duck!
Young master, you’ve misunderstood.
Wu Weiguo felt helpless.
In order to find the hidden roast duck, Mu Mingqiu searched the car like a hound, even checking the floor mats under the seats: “Strange, where is it? I clearly smelled it, but why can’t I find the roast duck…”
Wu Weiguo wiped a cold sweat from his forehead.
—Fortunately, he had been quick-witted. Knowing how powerful the aroma of roast duck was, he had already given the packaged roast duck to his daughter at the nearby kindergarten before coming to pick up Mu Mingqiu.
Right now, the roast duck isn’t in the car, but in the hands of his daughter at the kindergarten.
If he had left the roast duck in the car and Mu Mingqiu found it… it would be like a meat bun hitting a dog—no way out!
That was a close call.
On the other hand, Mu Mingqiu, who had searched the car for a long time without finding the roast duck, snorted in frustration.
“Fine, the person who makes the roast duck is with me, so why worry about not getting to eat it?”
Mu Mingqiu thought this to himself, exhaled, and straightened up.
He adjusted his collar and regained his elegant demeanor.
“Old Wu, I’ll have my secretary transfer a million to your account right now,” Mu Mingqiu cleared his throat and said. “How about you make me a roast duck?”
A roast duck… for a million???
Wu Weiguo was stunned.
But…
“Master, the roast duck really isn’t mine,” Wu Weiguo said with a troubled frown. “The people in my Wu family have always acted with integrity, we don’t cheat or take credit for things that aren’t ours. I’m just a driver, what do I know about making roast duck?”
Mu Mingqiu gave him a doubtful look, patting his shoulder and comforting him: “Old Wu, I know you’re a master of roast duck, and you have that sense of integrity. But you can be honest with me, I won’t expose your identity.”
“…” Wu Weiguo said, “No, really, it wasn’t me. The reason I smell like roast duck is because I bought it from a street vendor today, that’s where the scent comes from!”
“A street vendor?” Mu Mingqiu froze for a moment.
He stroked his chin, deep in thought.
He had smelled that scent when he entered Zhu Yuan. Although Zhu Yuan officially prohibited street vendors in the area, such a fragrant roast duck could easily sell out in just a few minutes—no one might have noticed…
Maybe, just maybe, what Wu Weiguo said was true.
“What street vendor? What did the owner look like?” Mu Mingqiu asked, half-believing.
However, the next words out of Wu Weiguo’s mouth made Mu Mingqiu’s face change completely—
“Yes, it was just a street vendor,” Wu Weiguo earnestly gestured. “The owner’s name is Xiao Lan, a three-and-a-half-year-old little boy. But his roast duck skills are extraordinary—authentic!”
Silence.
Endless silence.
“Old Wu…”
“Even if you’re trying to fool me, couldn’t you come up with a more convincing excuse?” Mu Mingqiu sneered and shook his head, unable to believe what he was hearing. “A three-year-old boy… making roast duck?”
If it had been an ordinary roast duck, Mu Mingqiu might have believed it.
But such an incredibly fragrant roast duck.
Fragrant enough that just a whiff had made him, Mu Mingqiu, obsess over it for so long.
And Wu Weiguo said it was made by a three-and-a-half-year-old boy.
How could that be possible?!?!
There must be a limit to how much one can lie.
Seeing the unmistakable disbelief in Mu Mingqiu’s eyes, Wu Weiguo felt like crying, but any attempts to explain seemed utterly powerless: “Master, what I’m saying is the truth, there really is a three-year-old boy selling roast duck, just outside Zhu Yuan…”
He regretted so much not taking a picture of Xiao Lan, the little roast duck vendor, while he was enjoying the duck earlier.
Now, it’s too late.
The young master has already convinced himself that Wu Weiguo is the genius chef behind the incredible roast duck!
“Alright, alright, there really was a three-and-a-half-year-old kid selling roast duck,” Mu Mingqiu said distractedly, as he dialed the butler:
“Butler, prepare the roast duck tools and get ten fresh ducks ready, I’ll bring a great chef home to cook roast duck—yes, yes, also clean the room, set up the golden silk cage, lay down a soft cushion, and get the foot chains ready, don’t let Chef Wu escape.”
Chef Wu: “…”
Wife, daughter, I might… not be home tonight…
Wu Weiguo thought painfully.
The other drivers, who were eavesdropping, couldn’t help but murmur:
“My god, this is so intense, he chases him, and there’s no escape.”
“Dominant young master forces love: Chef-driver can’t run!”
“I have to say, Old Wu didn’t even try to make his lie convincing. A three-year-old? Can’t even walk properly, selling roast duck? Who would believe that?”
“Being a driver really is a high-risk job, I’m sweating bullets here.”
Just before Wu Weiguo was shoved into the car, he was still wailing: “Master, master, please believe me, it wasn’t me, it was that three-and-a-half-year-old Xiao Lan!”
Mu Mingqiu grinned, a wicked smile on his face: “Whether or not you made the roast duck, I’ll find out myself—”
“Get in the car!”
Meanwhile, about a thousand meters away from Zhu Yuan, at Sunflower Kindergarten.
Unlike Wu Weiguo, who was in deep trouble, his little daughter Wu Tongtong was living it up at kindergarten.
Wu Tongtong sat in the classroom like a little monarch, holding a box of sliced roast duck and basking in the admiration of her peers.
— The moment the lunch break ended, Wu Tongtong stepped into the classroom carrying the roast duck her father had given her, only to be instantly surrounded by all the children.
Not just the children—even the kindergarten teacher, caught in the irresistible aroma of the roast duck, had a dazed look and couldn’t help but swallow.
“This is chocolate, cookies, pencils, and erasers that my mom brought back from abroad—all for you.”
“Princess Tongtong, I’m begging you, just let me have one lick of the roast duck!”
“It smells so good, so delicious!” A little girl with pigtails sucked on her fingers, her big eyes watery. “Please, Tongtong, aren’t we best friends? I really, really want to taste it…”
The little girl was Wu Tongtong’s close friend.
“I’ll give you this piece because you’re my best friend. But no one else gets any!”
Wu Tongtong slowly opened the takeout box.
Everyone’s eyes widened. The roast duck’s skin was glistening with oil, impossibly crispy, with tender duck meat visible beneath.
Even though it had cooled slightly, its mouthwatering appearance remained unaffected.
Wu Tongtong dipped a slice of roast duck in sauce, added cucumber and scallions, wrapped it in a spring pancake, and handed it to the little girl.
Under the envious gazes of the other children, the girl took the roast duck and took a huge bite—
The spring pancake was paper-thin and slightly chewy, allowing her to immediately sink her teeth into the crispy duck skin.
Rendered fat from the roasting process melted in her mouth, making the duck meat even more tender. With every chew, the rich aroma of the duck fat spread, deeply flavorful yet not greasy.
The contrast between the crispy skin and the succulent meat, the crunch and the tenderness—it was an irresistible combination. The little girl took big bites, her eyes lighting up.
“So good! Even better than it smells!”
And the sauce—sweet, savory, and slightly tangy—had soaked into the duck skin and meat, blending with the refreshing crispness of cucumber and scallions, making it utterly addictive…
When she finished the roast duck, the little girl was still licking her fingers, reluctant to let go of the taste.
Seeing how much she enjoyed it, the other children were filled with longing. They tugged at Wu Tongtong’s sleeves pitifully:
“Princess Tongtong, please, just tell us where you bought the roast duck!”
The one speaking was Huo Yan, usually the most arrogant kid in class. In their Sunflower Class, Huo Yan was always the center of attention—rumor had it he came from a prestigious family and was the grandson of the top-tier Huo family in Beijing.
But even the proud Huo Yan couldn’t hold back his desire at this moment. Though he said nothing, his eyes kept drifting toward the roast duck.
“Yeah, yeah!”
“We want to eat it too…”
Even the kindergarten teacher couldn’t resist joining in. “Tongtong, teacher wants some too. Won’t you tell me where to buy it?”
Faced with their eager and expectant gazes, Wu Tongtong hesitated.
It wasn’t that she wanted to keep it a secret.
It was just that… she didn’t know where her dad had bought the roast duck either…
*
In the courtyard of Ye Qingquan’s rented apartment, a familiar scene played out again.
Under the sunlight, twenty ducks were neatly lined up on the chopping board.
A young boy, adorable in his overalls, dragged a small stool over and diligently used a straw to blow air into the ducks.
— They were in a rush today and hadn’t had time to do this step earlier.
For truly delicious roast duck, it was best to inflate the ducks six hours in advance to make the skin crisp up properly. To further enhance the flavor, after scalding the skin, the ducks should be stuffed with spices.
Jian Yunlan had prepared apples and onions, cut them into small pieces, and mixed them with salt, pepper, and other seasonings before stuffing them into the duck’s cavity.
This way, when roasted, the duck would have a rich fruity aroma, making the flavor even more complex.
Standing under the eaves, Ye Qingquan gazed at his beloved young son with a complicated expression.
His eyes were full of sorrow and confusion.
To anyone else, he would appear to be a loving father, worried about his child taking the wrong path in life.
But what Ye Qingquan was actually thinking was:
Why?
Why had he hesitated and missed out on eating that delicious roast duck himself…
Tomorrow, he absolutely couldn’t lose out again!
Ye Qingquan clenched his fists, steeling his resolve, and stepped forward.
“Baby, let Daddy help you blow the air.”
The little boy looked at him and handed him a straw. “Here.”
Before starting, Ye Qingquan took out his phone, casually filmed a short video, and uploaded it to a social media platform.
— As a single father, Ye Qingquan had been financially supported by Huo Ye after graduating, so he had never held a proper job.
Before leaving the country, the Huo family matriarch had approached him, informing him that Huo Ye and Mu Mingqiu were about to get engaged. She had given him five million yuan to disappear from Huo Ye’s life.
But over three years of lavish child-rearing, that five million had gradually dwindled.
To support himself and Lanlan, Ye Qingquan had casually started a social media account, hoping that if he went viral, he could make some money through content creation and advertising.
Yesterday, he had uploaded his first video—a clip of him putting Lanlan to sleep.
Just as the audience of the “Multiverse Livestream” had expected, the video failed to make a splash. After all, a bizarre bedtime story about “Snow White eating roast duck,” combined with the fact that both father and son had their faces blurred, made for a rather unremarkable post.
The algorithm categorized it as parenting content and pushed it to some viewers, but it barely received any likes or comments.
“I want to see tips on putting a three-year-old to sleep. Who wants to watch some weird Snow White story?” A mother holding a baby scrolled past the video, her expression speechless. “And trying to be a baby-showcasing influencer but not even showing the kid’s face? Maybe it’s some shockingly ugly child.”
Many viewers had the same thought. Without much consideration, they quickly swiped past the strange video.
But soon…
As Ye Qingquan posted a second video with the caption, “Three-and-a-half-year-old son selling roast duck, Vlog record,” and tagged it with “roast duck” and “street vendor,” things took a turn.
This video was categorized under food and street vendor entrepreneurship.
In the video, a small, adorable boy squatted on the ground, blowing air into the roast duck, stuffing ingredients inside skillfully, pouring boiling water over the skin—causing it to puff up instantly—and then carefully brushing a crispy glaze onto it.
Many viewers were about to scroll away but couldn’t help rubbing their eyes and replaying the video.
On second glance, more and more people found themselves unable to hold back.
[Three and a half??? Selling roast duck????!!]
[Is this for real? Skipping fifty years of struggle here (facepalm)]
[These days, baby-showcasing influencers have no shame. What does a three-year-old know about roast duck? Clearly just a gimmick for social media sales…]
[Agreed.]
[=?= But the kid’s actions look so professional. There’s a strange sense of expertise. The more I watch, the more I feel there’s something to this.]
[Such a tiny little guy, seriously blowing air into the duck. It’s so cuteeee (covering face). Go, baby, go!!!]
[Roast duck… again with the roast duck. I’m visiting Beijing right now, and I smelled the 4,000-yuan-per-duck Zhu Yuan Roast Duck earlier. The aroma almost took my soul away. Now I come home, scroll my phone, and get hit with more roast duck content.]
[No way this kid can actually make a good roast duck. I don’t buy it.]
[I need to see how this little guy runs his stall. Content creator, please post more videos! I want to see what a roast duck made by a three-year-old looks like.]
[Curious +1. I want to see the finished roast duck…]
Strangely enough, while the first baby content video fell flat, this one—pushed into the food category—started gaining traction, fueled by skepticism, curiosity, and sheer fascination with the adorable child.
By that very night, it had surpassed 100,000 views and quietly made its way onto the local trending list!
*
Multiverse Livestream Channel.
Watching this bizarre turn of events, many viewers were utterly dumbfounded.
[100,000 views?? You’re telling me this video got 100,000 views???!!!]
[Ye Qingquan has officially taken his first step as a baby-showcasing—ahem—food blogger. orz]
[I can’t believe this. Qaq Over at the baby influencer scene, even Little Cotton, a child star, only managed 30,000 views with an insanely cute bedtime video. And that was already top-tier among all baby streamers.]
[Is he actually going to carve a path on this strange road and go viral? (coughs blood)]
[Even if he goes viral, if he can’t win over Mu Mingqiu, he’ll still get eliminated, right? Baby Lanlan, you have to work hard to meet Uncle Mu!]
[Speaking of which, what’s Mu Mingqiu up to in this world? Why is he butting heads with his family driver, Old Wu…]
In the ‘Happy Little Blue’ livestream room, chaos erupted among the viewers.
*
Dark River Bright Light Universe.
Yu Ming clicked into the livestream room at precisely this chaotic moment.
Standing on the balcony, his posture was upright, but his usually bright eyes were now clouded with sorrow.
“Boss Jian, where are you?” he murmured, “We’re all looking for you…”
Compared to the diners from Dark River Bright Light, those from Paranoid Possession were actually lucky.
—At the very least, after losing Boss Jian, they could still watch his livestreams to ease their cravings.
But for those from Dark River Bright Light, they had just received the devastating news of Boss Jian leaving their world.
Now, they couldn’t even find his livestream.
All they could do was reminisce about his delicious spicy hot pot and fried chicken…
And stare up at the sky, crying.
At this moment, Jian Yunlan’s fans had scoured every dog-blood novel universe, but to no avail.
Until now.
With almost no hope left, Yu Ming absentmindedly clicked into the Genius Baby at Three and a Half section…
