"You shouldn't have brought a gift, just coming is enough!"

Lin Xu took out the braised pork rice he had set aside for Shen Jiayue from the insulated box and handed it over:

"Give it to my mom when she gets here. Eat first. If you want chicken feet or lotus root, just ask Chezi. I have to go get busy."

After seeing Lin Xu,

Shen Jiayue's originally gloomy mood instantly brightened.

"Okay!"

She took the braised pork rice, ordered five chicken feet and a plate of ginger lotus root, then found a seat near the kitchen and sat down.

This way, she could eat while watching Lin Xu.

After being forced to go on blind dates all afternoon,

in the end, my Xu-bao is still the best looking and easiest on the eyes!

As evening approached,

more and more customers came into the restaurant.

Everyone felt it was great to have the cashier at the entrance.

This way, when eating inside, you didn't have to be affected by the crowds waiting in line anymore.

"I'll take ten chicken feet and a plate of ginger lotus root to-go."

"I want twenty chicken feet, also to-go."

"I want two large bowls of noodles with braised eggplant and pork sauce, six chicken feet, a plate of ginger lotus root, and four bottles of beer."

"I want three small bowls of hand-pulled noodles with the works and one plate of ginger lotus root, also three bottles of North Pole."

"..."

Some of these customers ordered to-go to share delicious food with their families,

while others sat in the shop to eat and drink.

When the place was almost full, Wu Kexin stopped sitting and live-streaming, and instead gave up her seat for customers.

Panda also went back to drink beer with Yue Liyue.

"It's only just after five, look at the crowd in here tonight—so lively! If you plan to come check us out and eat, make sure to come early."

After filming the bustling scene in the restaurant,

Wu Kexin went near the kitchen to shoot a bit of Lin Xu making hand-pulled noodles.

"Oh my god! Boss Lin's noodle-making skills are insane!"

"Seriously, it only took him a couple of moves."

"All these customers and just Boss Lin making the noodles himself—must be exhausting."

"Didn't Panda just say it? Boss Lin gets up at four in the morning to buy groceries. Looks like good business, but he's working his butt off."

"There's no such thing as easy success in this world."

"Yeah, but even so, I still want to say: Go, Boss Lin, go!"

Even though at this point Wu Kexin wasn't eating anymore,

she didn't even show her face,

but the livestream's popularity kept climbing.

The fans weren't just chatting about Lin Xu's noodle-making skills and the store's business.

Some were even bored enough to start counting how many bowls of noodles Lin Xu had cooked.

Close to six o'clock,

Wu Kexin held up her phone and said goodbye to Shen Jiayue:

"Boss lady, I'm wrapping up the livestream. When I have time, I'll come play here again."

Shen Jiayue smiled at her:

"If you're ever free, you can come livestream again. The shop might have new braised pork rice in the next couple days. He says it'll taste even better than what we had today."

Upon hearing that,

Wu Kexin immediately felt hungry again.

Today's braised pork rice was already perfect.

If it's going to be even better, what kind of flavor does that have to be!

So looking forward to it!

Once she walked out the doors of Lin Ji's Food,

the pretty streamer showed her fans the long line still outside.

Only then did she say goodbye to everyone, feeling satisfied.

"Xinxin, we did it, it was a huge hit! At its peak, your stream ranked fifth on the overall charts. Even when you covered five-star hotels, it didn't get this popular."

As soon as the stream ended,

her manager, Sister Weiwei, called.

Wu Kexin was a bit surprised at these results:

"It's all thanks to boss Chen's arrangements. Her setup helped me find my original motivation for streaming again. Sister Weiwei, help me thank Boss Chen. I'll work hard from now on."

Sister Weiwei on the other end: "..."

Boss Chen's 'arrangement' had such deep meaning?

Wasn't it just because her cousin begged her to help promote the restaurant?

7:50 p.m.

Once again, all the ingredients in the shop had sold out.

"Tiantian, go tell the people lining up outside that we're completely sold out, so they'll have to come back tomorrow."

Lin Xu called out to Song Tiantian.

Then he took off his chef's hat.

His hair was completely soaked with sweat, like he'd just showered.

He wiped the sweat off his head and face with a towel.

Then took off his drenched chef's jacket,

and put on a clean one.

Standing nearby, Shen Jiayue had been watching him the whole time, her face full of concern.

So much sweat,

he must be exhausted, right?

Oh, my poor Xu-bao!

"Huh? Why are you still here?"

When Lin Xu put down the towel, he finally noticed Shen Jiayue still hadn't left.

Ate so much tonight.

Not planning to hit the gym later?

Shen Jiayue: "..."

Why do I suddenly want to smack a certain someone upside the head?

Forget feeling sorry for you, just drop dead from exhaustion!

Chen Meijuan, who was helping Chezi tidy up the dishes, shot her son a look:

"Xiaoyue's been waiting for you all this time, and now you're just finished and already kicking her out... Xiaoyue, do you want some of my egg soup? Hang on, Auntie will make it for you right now!"

There was ready-made chicken stock and ingredients in the restaurant.

Making egg soup was actually pretty simple.

Lin Xu said:

"Mom, just stand aside and tell me what to do. I'll make it—I should learn it anyway. If you leave and I want to drink it, I can't exactly take the midnight train all the way back home."

That made Shen Jiayue's heart instantly feel sweet and mushy.

He must know I like it, that's why he's so eager to learn, right?

Stupid Xu-bao, you really know how to make me happy.

Guess it wasn't a waste feeding you snacks for four years.

Chen Meijuan wiped her hands and said:

"Good idea to learn. Make it for Xiaoyue! Xiaoyue, if you ever want some, just ask Xiao Xu. If he won't make it for you, tell me—I'll call and scold him!"

Shen Jiayue was bursting with sweetness inside.

Ahhh, Auntie is so nice.

I, Shen Jiayue, am destined to be your daughter-in-law!

Soon,

With his mom's guidance, Lin Xu started making old-fashioned egg soup.

Beat the eggs,

then mix a bit of starch paste with cold water.

"Back in the day we used flour, like making bump soup, kept you full longer, just didn't look that great, so now we use starch instead."

Once Lin Xu had everything ready,

he set a wok on the stove, poured in chicken stock, and brought it to a boil.

When the broth was boiling, he added a bit of dark soy sauce for color,

then drizzled in the egg mixture in circles,

creating beautiful ribbons of egg swirling in the soup, making it instantly look more appealing.

Then he added some salt and pepper.

After adjusting the taste, he poured in the starch slurry.

"Adding the starch right at the end makes the soup thick, but if you cook it too long it breaks down and gets thin again, so you have to add it last."

Chen Meijuan now looked like a total expert,

instructing Lin Xu as she explained all the key details.

Stir the soup a few times after adding the starch, then turn off the heat.

Put some rinsed dried seaweed and dried shrimp into a bowl, pour in the soup from the pot, finish with a few drops of sesame oil—and the old-school egg soup is done.

As soon as it was ready,

Shen Jiayue scooped a spoonful, blew on it, then hurried to taste it.

Lin Xu watched her and asked:

"How's it taste?"

The girl tasted it seriously, then said:

"Not as good as Auntie's."

"Then put it down!"

"No way!"

Shen Jiayue grabbed her bowl and went off to drink her soup by herself.

Lin Xu ladled out the rest for the staff and a few customers who hadn't left yet.

Let everyone have a taste,

and get their opinions.

To see if it was suitable for the shop's menu.

Old Mr. Gao, who'd just gotten back from his evening stroll, also got a small bowl.

He tasted Lin Xu's soup.

Then said,

"The soup is good, but it's too rich and heavy—doesn't really suit the restaurant's menu… But Boss Lin, if you don't mind, I could teach you a soup instead."

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