Chapter 4: Ordering Food!

A faint scent of jasmine drifted by.

Jiang Qingqing was roughly wiping away the tear stains on her cheeks when she belatedly turned her gaze.

At her feet sat a bowl of freshly prepared Hundred Flower Soup.

“Mother Consort…”

Jiang Qingqing instinctively murmured.

Back in the palace, whenever she felt sad, Consort Wan would always personally cook a bowl of Hundred Flower Soup for her, saying that sweets could bring happiness.

Jiang Qingqing reached out, carefully picking up the bowl from the ground. Her misty eyes remained filled with confusion.

She lowered her head and took a small sip.

It was sweet.

She was momentarily dazed, her expression blank with disbelief.

But satisfying hunger was a basic human instinct—especially for Jiang Qingqing, who hadn’t eaten in two days. With food placed right in front of her, she numbly surrendered to the moment. Dazed and bewildered, she finished every last drop of the Hundred Flower Soup.

Before she even realized it, the bowl was empty.

Jiang Qingqing finally came to her senses, recalling all the strange things that had happened today. In astonishment, she muttered, “Could there really be gods in this world?”

Had she, Jiang Qingqing, been chosen by some merciful deity at the brink of death?

Otherwise, why else would someone repair her house and send her food?

Thinking this through, Jiang Qingqing quickly got up from the ground, carefully placing the porcelain bowl back in its original spot. She wiped her dirt-stained hands on her clothes and respectfully bowed deeply toward the east.

Her demeanor was both obedient and sincere.

“I humbly thank the deity for today’s grace. Your kindness is as vast as the sea and sky. I have no means to repay you but will forever remember it in my heart. Once I return to the palace, I shall burn incense and make daily offerings in your honor.”

After a brief pause, she hesitated before adding, “But… actually, I’m still a little hungry…”

“I would really like to eat… something else.”

As she spoke, Jiang Qingqing started feeling embarrassed.

Her voice grew softer and softer, lacking any confidence.

But since the deity could repair a house in an instant, providing some food shouldn’t be too difficult, right?

One bowl of Hundred Flower Soup wasn’t enough to fill her stomach.

Jiang Qingqing pondered for a moment, bit her lip, and finally decided to just go all in.

In a soft, pleading voice, she quickly called out to the air, “I want Dongpo Pork! And a plate of Osmanthus Shark Fin! Oh, and a bowl of soup too!”

The moment she voiced her request, she immediately shut her mouth.

Standing obediently in the middle of the room, her bright, peach blossom eyes gleamed with curiosity as she eagerly awaited the deity’s blessing.

—

Outside the screen

Fu Zhengnan had spent 1,000 RMB in the game store to exchange for a bowl of Hundred Flower Soup before heading to a private dining room to have his meal.

Tonight’s banquet, which Old Master Fu had arranged, had ended on a sour note before he even had a chance to eat.

When the waiter handed him the menu, Fu Zhengnan didn’t even glance at it and simply ordered in a calm voice, “The usual.”

He had no particular preferences when it came to food—something light was enough.

At that moment, his phone rested on the table, its screen still illuminated.

On it, Jiang Qingqing’s hamster-like appearance—nibbling away at the food in small bites—was clearly displayed.

She was obviously delighted by the soup.

So obedient, so delicate.

Fu Zhengnan’s lips curved into a rare smile.

This game’s experience wasn’t bad.

At the very least, it made him feel like his money was well spent.

The waiter, who had just witnessed this scene, was utterly dumbfounded.

After confirming whether Fu Zhengnan had any other requests, he hurriedly clutched the menu and dashed out of the private dining room.

He had a huge piece of gossip to share with his colleagues.

President Fu is watching a female streamer’s mukbang?!

And he even smiled affectionately?!

This restaurant was part of the Fu Group, but Fu Zhengnan rarely dined here. Even when he did, he always ordered the same few dishes.

Tonight, however, both the manager and the supervisor were away for training. As a mere intern, this was his first opportunity to interact with the legendary President Fu—whose appearance was as stunning as a male model.

And now, he had uncovered an explosive secret.

A simple-minded intern, witnessing drama unfold in real-time, was completely unbothered by the potential consequences of gossiping about his boss.

“Hey, guess what? I just saw President Fu watching a female streamer’s mukbang!”

“No way, seriously?”

“Would I lie to you? That streamer is drop-dead gorgeous. No wonder President Fu has such high standards!”

The moment he stepped out of the private room, the entire restaurant staff knew about their boss watching a mukbang, and the rumors spread like wildfire.

Even Chen Xiaoyue, who was fixing her makeup in the restroom, heard about it from the cleaning staff.

Judging by how detailed the gossip was, it couldn’t be fake.

Chen Xiaoyue’s grip on her lipstick tightened slightly.

“Heh…”

She let out a cold chuckle.

She had always thought that Fu Zhengnan, the heir of the Fu family, was a rare gem in high society—one who kept himself away from worldly temptations.

Turns out, he was just as shallow as the rest.

Did her status as a wealthy heiress mean less than some random female streamer?

One of those women who seduced men for money?

Men were all the same. No matter how cheap the goods were outside, they still found them tempting.

And to think—she had actually felt self-conscious earlier because of his indifference toward her.

Her expression darkened. She tossed her broken lipstick into the trash, grabbed her bag, and strutted out of the restroom with an air of arrogance.

As she passed the corridor, she happened to walk by Fu Zhengnan’s private room.

The door was slightly ajar, and a waiter was setting the table inside. It seemed like Fu Zhengnan was still watching the livestream.

Because she distinctly heard the voice of the female streamer from inside—

“I want Dongpo Pork! And a plate of Osmanthus Shark Fin! Oh, and a bowl of soup too!”

Hearing that, Chen Xiaoyue sneered even colder.

She was definitely going to find out which female streamer had the audacity to pull this off.

Even during a meal, she was making demands from a man.

【Great Liang Kingdom】

At this moment, Jiang Qingqing had been standing in the center of the room for a long time, looking around expectantly, yet no divine gift had appeared.

She began to feel uncertain.

Did deities really exist?

Or perhaps the dishes she ordered were too complicated for the deity to prepare?

Jiang Qingqing pouted.

She tried to negotiate, “Can you make osmanthus pastries? Dried fruit would work too.”

As long as it was sweet and indulgent, she would love it.

“I won’t take your food for free. I can trade this golden chain for some treats. How about that?”

After speaking, Jiang Qingqing lifted the hem of her dress, revealing her slender, fair legs.

She gently kicked off her shoes and removed her socks.

Around her delicate ankle was a thin golden chain, adorned with intricately carved golden gourd-shaped pendants. Despite its small size, it exuded elegance and refinement. From its craftsmanship, it was evident that it was a rare treasure, likely a tribute from a foreign kingdom.

Bending down, Jiang Qingqing unfastened the anklet, cupped it carefully in both hands, and placed it beside the porcelain bowl.

Then, she quietly stood aside, waiting for the osmanthus pastries to appear.

After a short while, the golden anklet suddenly vanished.

“Eh?”

Jiang Qingqing’s eyes lit up with excitement as she watched it disappear.

Did this mean that the deity had accepted her trade?

That was wonderful!

She waited a little longer, but although the anklet had been taken, the porcelain bowl remained empty.

Jiang Qingqing felt a bit disappointed.

Did the deity not think her anklet was valuable enough?

But it was the only valuable possession she had left.

“I don’t have anything else…”

“It’s fine. Even if I don’t get to eat, I still want to thank you for the Hundred Flower Soup.”

At least she had survived another day.

The deity had already helped her so much today—she understood the importance of not being greedy.

Jiang Qingqing comforted herself with this thought, drooping slightly as she turned toward the wooden bed behind her.

But as soon as she looked up, she was so startled that she gasped!

A mix of shock and delight filled her heart.

What was happening?!

The hard wooden plank bed had been transformed into a pure white, cushioned mattress—so thick it reached her knees. When she sat on it, it gently bounced back, providing a plush softness that far surpassed the luxurious golden nanmu wood bed in her palace chamber.

Matching pillows and blankets were neatly arranged, and beside them were a few plush dolls.

She had never seen anything like this before.

Jiang Qingqing curiously hugged one of the dolls to her chest—so soft, so cute!

At the same time, her curiosity toward the deity grew.

Drowsiness crept over her.

Clutching the plush doll, she curled up on the bed and softly murmured a thank you to the empty air.

If not for the deity’s intervention, she might not have survived the night.