Ning Meng held the plate, her face fixed in the effortful, standardized smile of a corporate wage slave.
"Um... would anyone like to try some?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but in the fragrant kitchen, it carried clearly to everyone’s ears. No sooner had she finished speaking than a figure darted over in a flash.
It was Lin You!
She looked like a bear that had caught the scent of honey, her eyes shining brilliantly as she stared intently at the golden-brown meat skewers, which were still emitting a faint wisp of heat.
"Me, me, me! Ning Meng! I want to try!"
Her voice was edged with urgency, and she unconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva. The sound was distinct in the quiet kitchen.
【【【Hahaha, Lin You is the first to charge in!】】】
【【【The sound of that swallow was so real!】】】
【【【I can feel her craving through the screen!】】】
【【【A true foodie’s nature exposed. Youzi is too cute!】】】
Ning Meng found it amusing to watch Lin You’s greedy display. As expected of her best friend, she was the number one supporter. Besides, she remembered that when Lin You had eaten half a soft-boiled egg that morning, she had contributed five hours of Life Value. These toothpick beef skewers were of even higher quality, and given Lin You’s stronger reaction, perhaps the reward would be even greater?
As she thought this, her hands moved quickly. She picked up a few skewers, placed them on a small plate, and handed it to Lin You.
"Here you go, watch out, it's hot."
"Mm-hmm!" Lin You nodded repeatedly. She carefully picked up a skewer, blew on it, and impatiently popped it into her mouth.
"Mmm——!!!"
Lin You’s eyes instantly went round! She paused mid-chew, followed by an explosion of incredible surprise and satisfaction on her face!
"It’s delicious! So good!!" She shouted, her cheeks bulging. "It’s crispy on the outside and so tender on the inside! So fragrant! This taste... it’s amazing, Ning Meng!"
【Beep! The target of your share, Lin You, has experienced 'Taste Bud Shock'! Obtained Life Time reward: 6 hours!】
Six hours!
Ning Meng felt a surge of joy. Sure enough, both quality and the intensity of the other person's reaction mattered! Lin You, this "queen of support," was truly her lucky star!
At this moment, Qin Zeyu also wandered over. He watched Lin You eating with such happiness, then glanced at the plate in Ning Meng’s hand—where the number of skewers had clearly diminished—and flashed a theatrical, overly charming smile.
"Little Ning Meng, look, I worked pretty hard finding clues earlier. So... could you let your big brother have a taste, too? Just one skewer, let me feel your loving heart?"
He intentionally winked, trying to turn on the charm.
【【【Young Master Qin is at it again! He’s desperate!】】】
【【【Hahaha, is this forced cuteness really working?】】】
【【【To get a bite of food, he’s thrown his idol image away!】】】
【【【Ning Meng: Men only hinder my career (and my quest for survival).】】】
【【【Just give Young Master Qin a skewer, look at how pitiful he is. [Dog head]】】】
Ning Meng’s mouth twitched as she watched Qin Zeyu’s affected, dashing persona. This guy... he really thought about showing off like a peacock every second of the day. However, considering he had contributed pork belly (even if she hadn't ended up using it) and had been robbed of the brisket clue by her... and mainly, because one more person tasting it meant one more chance for a reward. Every little bit helped.
She handed him one, her expression neutral. "Just one skewer, no more." Her tone was cool and businesslike.
"Alright!" Qin Zeyu took it happily. Not fearing the heat, he stuffed it straight into his mouth.
"Hiss... ha..." He gasped from the heat, but his eyes lit up instantly! "Oh, wow! This beef! It’s legit, Ning Meng! It’s much better than that pork belly I had earlier! Crispy outside, tender inside, the flavor is just right!"
He mumbled while chewing, his gaze drifting back to the plate in Ning Meng’s hand, clearly wanting more.
【Beep! The target of your share, Qin Zeyu, has experienced 'Taste Bud Shock'! Obtained extra Life Time reward: 20 minutes!】
Hmm, not bad. It seemed Qin Zeyu’s taste buds weren't as easily satisfied as Lin You’s, or perhaps his level of shock wasn't as high. Ning Meng mentally noted the assessment.
The others in the kitchen, while not as excited as Lin You and Qin Zeyu, were intrigued by the fragrance and the reactions of the two. Su Manni and Gu Xinglang exchanged a look.
"Ning Meng, it really looks delicious," Su Manni said gently.
Gu Xinglang nodded with a smile, "Indeed, the aroma is quite overwhelming." Although they were busy making seafood pasta, their eyes were clearly drawn over.
Jiang Yuwei adjusted her glasses, her gaze behind the lenses analytical. She wasn't just looking at the food; she seemed to be evaluating Ning Meng herself. A girl who could make food of this standard on a dating variety show was not as simple as she appeared. Perhaps... there was a possibility for a business collaboration? She began to calculate quickly.
Zhou Yichen had long been tortured by the fragrance. He stood nearby, his eyes longing, but he was a bit too shy to approach.
Ning Meng’s gaze swept over the group and finally landed on the figure leaning against the bar—Lu Jingchen. He hadn't moved from that spot since the toothpick beef went into the pot. He was still holding his glass of water, his posture languid. His eyes seemed to be cast elsewhere, but Ning Meng could feel that a portion of his attention was definitely fixed on the plate of beef. She could tell by the slight movement of his Adam's apple and his current position. He hadn't retreated as he usually did in non-essential social situations; instead, he had stayed near the kitchen entrance, which was unprecedented.
Top-tier ingredients, exquisite (in her own opinion) cooking skills... and this man, the movie star written in her files as being extremely picky and having no interest in food. If she could trigger a "Taste Bud Shock" in him, the reward would certainly be substantial!
Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Ning Meng took a deep breath to psyche herself up. It’s just giving someone a bite of food, right? For the sake of her life! Go!
She carried the remaining half-plate of toothpick beef, which held about seven or eight skewers, and walked over to Lu Jingchen. The man was tall, and she had to tilt her head slightly to see his expression. He possessed a cool, distant air, like a streetlamp that kept everyone at a distance. But in Ning Meng’s eyes right now, he was nothing but walking Life Value.
"Teacher Lu," she said, trying to make her voice sound natural while maintaining that standard, slightly stiff smile. "Would you like to try some? I just made these toothpick beef skewers."
She held the plate forward, her eyes filled with anticipation—anticipation for more Life Value!