Chapter 5: I Have to Try This Pancake!

Jiang Qing was a fashion designer, and in her line of work, pulling all-nighters was just part of the job.

Last night, she didn’t get home until nearly midnight, went to bed at one, and had no idea when she actually fell asleep. By six in the morning, she was startled awake by a nightmare. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had a proper night’s sleep.

Since she could go to the office later today, she shut her eyes, hoping to squeeze in some extra rest. Half an hour later, she was still wide awake. Frustrated, she gave up, dragged herself out of bed, and drifted out of her room like a ghost.

Irritated.

Maybe food would help. Stuffing her stomach might improve her mood. The usual steamed buns and soy milk wouldn’t cut it—she needed something stronger. A burger and coffee, something greasy and caffeinated, until she could drown out this gnawing restlessness.

As she washed up, she caught sight of her pale, puffy face in the mirror. Dark circles heavy under her eyes. Pressing her lips together, she put on a full face of makeup, dabbing extra concealer under her eyes. She never used to care much about appearances, preferring comfy, casual outfits to work. But ever since the company brought in a new boss with a hundred annoying little rules, going makeup-free meant risking a private lecture.

Once she was dressed, she grabbed her bag, took a deep breath, and headed downstairs.

“Mom, I’m heading to work. I’ll grab breakfast outside,” she called.

“Why not eat at home today?” Wang Ying, her mother, gestured at the dining table with a smile. “Tao Tao’s restaurant just opened today. He sent over some pancakes.”

Jiang Qing caught a whiff of the fragrant pancakes, and her hunger sharpened. Still, she instinctively felt that pancakes wouldn’t be enough to settle her nerves.

“You and Dad have them. I’ll eat out.”

“Just try a little,” Wang Ying coaxed. “Tao Tao’s such a sweet kid—he’s only four, but he made these himself, just for you.”

Then, she recounted how the little boy had personally delivered the pancakes that morning, along with his heartfelt message: “I often go hungry too, so I understand. But I believe you’ll get through this.”

Jiang Qing was stunned.

“A four-year-old said that?” she asked, incredulous. “Who is Tao Tao? I don’t think I’ve met him before. And what does he mean by ‘often goes hungry’?”

Wang Ying explained, “Tao Tao is Xiao He’s younger brother. You know about their family situation.”

Jiang Qing understood instantly. She had heard of Yun Fenghe—the frail but kind-hearted young man who always greeted people politely whenever they crossed paths on the street.

A simple pancake, but the thought behind it carried so much weight. For some reason, Jiang Qing felt her anxiety ease a little. She no longer craved greasy junk food.

Setting her bag down, she picked up a pancake and took a big bite.

Since a child had made it, she hadn’t expected much in terms of taste. In fact, she had mentally prepared herself for something barely edible.

She was wrong.

The pancake might have looked ordinary, but the flavor was anything but. The texture was just right—soft but not mushy, warm but not dry. The rich egg aroma blended perfectly with the crisp vegetables inside, leaving a lingering fragrance on her tongue.

Before she knew it, she had scarfed down the entire pancake.

“This is incredible,” Jiang Qing marveled. “It’s so good it practically melts in your throat! Mom, have you tried it yet?”

“Not yet,” Wang Ying laughed. “Your dad’s out picking up a flower basket for their grand opening. I was waiting for him so we could eat together.” Seeing the delight on her daughter’s face, she was both amused and worried. “It’s really that good? Just don’t overeat and upset your stomach again.”

Jiang Qing blinked and said something that completely caught Wang Ying off guard.

“Mom, I’m full.”

“…Seriously? You only ate one pancake!”

The pancakes were a decent size—enough to fill an adult—but given Jiang Qing’s usual appetite, she probably wouldn’t even finish one. Lately, though, she had been complaining about never feeling full, her portions growing larger by the day.

“I mean it. I’m really full.”

She wasn’t sure how to describe it. Recently, it felt like something was off with her body. Whenever stress piled up, her stomach became a bottomless pit, no matter how much she ate. But now, there was this warm, satisfying fullness inside her, like her stomach had finally settled. The restlessness that had been gnawing at her all morning? Gone. She actually felt… content.

Her gaze dropped to the packaging on the table. The words “Zhuyu Egg Pancake” were printed on the bag.

Zhuyu?

She thought for a moment before remembering—Zhuyu was a plant mentioned in Classic of Mountains and Seas, said to keep hunger at bay. Was that why they named the leek-and-egg pancake this way? Because it was so filling? That was actually pretty clever.

Just then, her father walked in, carrying a handmade flower basket for the opening. Wang Ying waved him over to try the pancakes, and the two of them took a bite. The next second, their expressions shifted to pure surprise.

How was this pancake this good?

Even more bizarre—Jiang Qing’s dad had a huge appetite. He was at that stage in life where his belly had started to round out, and usually, one pancake wouldn’t even make a dent in his hunger. But today, after finishing just one, he waved his hand and said, “I’m full.”

Wang Ying ate one too—and she was full.

“This pancake isn’t just delicious, it’s almost magical!” she exclaimed.

Jiang Qing thought for a moment before saying, “Mom, you’re taking the flower basket over, right? I’ll come with you. I want to buy a few more pancakes to bring to the office.”

Her parents were big on gardening. Every summer, their courtyard overflowed with hydrangeas and roses, and Wang Ying often cut a few to share with the neighbors. Not only had Jiang Qing’s dad made a flower basket for the grand opening, but he had also put together a fruit basket—after all, their family ran a fruit shop. If there was one thing they had plenty of, it was fresh fruits.

With baskets in hand, the three of them made their way to No. 12, Shanhai Street.

They didn’t pass by this area often, but today, they immediately noticed the changes. The dust-covered, faded yellow sign had been taken down. The grimy glass doors had been cleaned, and the old, peeling stickers had been scraped off. The courtyard was free of weeds, the moss between the bricks had been cleared away, and a brand-new illuminated sign now hung above the entrance.

Taotie Delicacies.

At the entrance, a small pancake stand had been set up. Next to it stood a simple menu board:

Zhuyu Egg Pancake – 10 yuan
Freshly Ground Soy Milk – 3 yuan

If this had been any ordinary leek-and-egg pancake, the Jiang family might’ve thought the price was a little steep. But after tasting it, they felt like it was worth every cent. Honestly, the price could probably be even higher.

Behind the stand, Yun Tao stood wearing an apron, busy cracking eggs at a small, low table set up just for him.

He was tiny, and so were his hands. He could barely hold an egg properly with one hand, making the Jiang family nervous just watching him. Any second now, the egg would slip and splatter all over his clothes—

But it didn’t.

Despite his awkward grip, he cracked the egg cleanly into the bowl. Not only that, but he even used a spoon to scrape out the last bit of egg white from the shell before tossing it neatly into the trash.

As he looked up, the soft morning sunlight caught in his amber eyes, making them glimmer like polished gemstones. His lips curled into a sweet smile as he greeted them politely.

“Auntie Ying, Uncle, Big Sister—good morning!”

So cute!

So. Freaking. Cute.

The urge to pinch those cheeks is unbearable!

The moment Jiang Qing and her dad laid eyes on Yun Tao, they were instantly won over by his sweet smile.

“You must be Tao Tao, right? Thanks for the pancakes—they were amazing! I feel so much better now!” Jiang Qing lifted the flower basket in her hands, her voice eight shades softer than usual. “Happy grand opening! Want me to hang this under the sign for you?”

Yun Tao nodded eagerly. “Yes, please! Thank you, Big Sister! The basket is so pretty.”

Jiang Qing’s dad quickly jumped in to take credit. “Sweetheart, your uncle made that basket himself!”

Yun Tao played along, giving him a big thumbs-up. “Uncle is amazing!”

“Uncle also brought you a fruit basket!”

“Waaah~”

Wang Ying could tell Yun Tao was deliberately hyping them up, and she couldn’t stop smiling.

Meanwhile, Tai Sui and Yun Fenghe, who had been working hard on the sidelines: …

Completely ignored. In the presence of cuteness, good looks meant absolutely nothing.

Jiang Qing carefully hung the flower basket under the shop sign. The hydrangeas were elegant, the roses vibrant, and the hand-lettered calligraphy card from her dad added a festive touch to the new restaurant.

“How’s business so far?” Wang Ying asked.

Yun Tao answered honestly, “Haven’t had any customers yet.”

He had given away pancakes to the neighbors on Shanhai Street yesterday to thank them for their help, and there weren’t any outside customers this early in the morning.

Jiang Qing grinned. “Then I’ll be your first customer! Give me five egg pancakes.”

“Big Sister, are you sure you want that many?” Yun Tao looked a little worried. Could it be that Zhuyu pancakes didn’t work on her? Was she still hungry?

“Of course! I’m bringing breakfast for my coworkers so they can try these amazing pancakes too.”

Hearing that, Yun Tao finally nodded and pointed to Tai Sui. “Big Sister, this is my first official disciple. I’ve already taught him how to make pancakes—can he make yours?”

Jiang Qing turned her head and finally noticed the young man manning the stand.

Tall. Bright red hair. Killer looks. A ring of flame tattoos wrapped around his wrist. He looked like he had stepped right out of a manga—the rebellious, bad-boy heartthrob type who could make his debut in an instant. How had she managed to ignore this absolute stunner until now?!

Then the stunner opened his mouth, and out came a deep, velvety voice.

“Can I?”

The tone wasn’t exactly a question—it was more like, I’m making you pancakes. You don’t get a say.

And then, right on cue, Yun Tao smacked him on the knee.

“…”

Yun Tao hadn’t expected to only reach his knee and was momentarily frustrated. “Brother Suisui, fix your attitude.”

Stop acting like a domineering CEO!

Tai Sui, amused to see Yun Tao struggling for once, couldn’t stop the smirk tugging at his lips. He let out a low hum in acknowledgment, but he didn’t laugh—laughing out loud would probably get him smacked again by his little boss.

Jiang Qing was also doing her best to hold back her laughter. This bad-boy heartthrob’s name is… Suisui?!

“I can take a few pictures for you guys if you want?” Jiang Qing raised her phone and winked at Yun Tao. “Might help with business.”

Yun Tao turned to Yun Fenghe. “Brother, is that okay?”

Yun Fenghe nodded easily. “No problem.”

Yun Tao immediately beamed at Jiang Qing. “Go ahead, Big Sister! Take as many as you want.”

Meanwhile, Tai ‘lowest in the food chain’ Sui: Guess my opinion doesn’t matter, huh?

Jiang Qing grabbed a bag of Zhuyu Egg Pancakes, packed with generous fillings, and rushed to catch the subway. Not long after, two more young neighbors stopped by Taotie Delicacies for pancakes—one buying breakfast for his girlfriend, the other for his university basketball team.

The shop’s payment system was powered by Shanhai System, linked directly to the entrepreneur’s wallet. In just the first hour, Yun Tao had sold 12 pancakes and 12 cups of soy milk, bringing in 156 yuan. Business was off to a good start. Hitting the 1,000 yuan target in two days didn’t seem impossible.

But then, an entire hour passed with zero sales.

By the time Jiang Qing arrived at work, it was just past 8 AM. Maybe it was because she’d had such a good breakfast, but sitting at her workstation, surrounded by fabric samples and prototype garments, she didn’t feel the usual irritation. Since there was still time before clocking in, she laid her head down on the desk and dozed off, sleeping peacefully.

She woke up half an hour later, feeling completely refreshed. By then, her teammates had also arrived. Stretching lazily, she pulled out the pancakes and soy milk and shared them around.

“These are the amazing pancakes I was telling you about! They’ve gone a little cold, so heat them up before eating.”

Since Jiang Qing had already mentioned in the group chat that she’d be bringing breakfast, most of her teammates had skipped eating at home. Now, with the mouthwatering scent of pancakes filling the air, a few stomachs rumbled in response.

Pan Da grinned. “Cold pancakes are fine! I actually prefer them that way—hot ones can be too greasy.”

Li Yunyun weakly raised her hand. “I’ll warm mine up. Anyone else want theirs heated?”

Jiang Qing and Li Yunyun were polar opposites when it came to stress eating. When overwhelmed, Jiang Qing tended to binge, while Li Yunyun lost her appetite completely. If Jiang Qing hadn’t brought breakfast today, Li Yunyun probably wouldn’t have eaten at all—she would’ve put it off as long as possible.

With four pancakes in hand, Li Yunyun headed to the break room.

Just as she left, Pan Da let out an exaggerated gasp of delight. “Oh my god! These are heavenly! Boss, where did you even find these legendary pancakes?!”

Li Yunyun wasn’t moved. Pan Da was a foodie—he praised everything he ate.

Chive and egg pancakes? You could buy those anywhere. It’s not like she hadn’t had them before. How special could they be?

She placed the pancakes in the microwave. Moments later, the warm, rich aroma intensified tenfold.

Li Yunyun swallowed instinctively.

For the first time in a while, she actually felt hungry.

Then, she took a bite—and finally understood.

Pan Da hadn’t been exaggerating at all.

Back at her desk, Pan Da sniffed the air and immediately regretted his decision.

“Damn, the hot ones smell even better!”

Jiang Qing chuckled. “Too late! One pancake per person—no seconds. I’ll bring more tomorrow.” Then, she tilted her head. “Pan Da, did you notice something?”

“Huh? Notice what?”

“You only ate one pancake and drank one cup of soy milk… but you didn’t reach for any snacks.”

Pan Da froze. Jiang Qing was right.

His appetite was huge—normally, if he went hungry, he couldn’t even think straight. That’s why he always had a snack box at his desk. Usually, after finishing a pancake and soy milk, he’d instinctively grab something else to eat.

But today?

He felt full.

Pan Da patted his stomach in surprise. “Huh… I actually am full.”

Then, he noticed something even more shocking.

“Wait—Yunyun actually finished hers?!”

The whole team turned to look.

Li Yunyun sat at her desk, holding an empty paper bag. Not a single crumb remained—not even the flaky, crispy bits that usually fell off the pancake.

Her lips, usually pale, had taken on a healthy pink flush.

She looked noticeably more refreshed.

“It’s really good,” Li Yunyun said. “I haven’t felt this kind of satisfaction from food in a long time. Thanks, boss. Where’s this place? I think I’ll be a regular.”

The other teammates, who generally had good appetites and healthy eating habits, didn’t feel quite as deeply as Yunyun did, but they had to admit—the pancakes were delicious. One by one, they started asking for the shop’s address.

Jiang Qing answered, “It’s near my place, 12 Shanhai Street.”

“That’s kinda far from both my house and the office. Do they do delivery?”

“They just opened today, so probably not yet. But if you ever want some, I can pick them up for you.” Jiang Qing was all in on promoting her adorable pancake shop owner. “Right now, they’re only selling egg pancakes, but once they add more dishes, I’ll let you know!”

Then, she pulled out her phone and opened her photo gallery. “Here, check this out—this is the little boss of Tāotiè Delicacies. Super cute!”

Her teammates crowded around to look at the photos.

In the center stood a curly-haired kid, wearing an apron, looking like a living doll—complete with two tiny tiger teeth peeking out from his smile. The two guys beside him, one bending down and the other crouching to match his height, were equally eye-catching, each with their kind of charm.

Jiang Qing’s team was sold.

“That curly-haired kid is adorable! Look at those lashes!”

“Are those his brothers? Their family genes are insane.”

“Okay, now I HAVE to try this pancake.”

Jiang Qing grinned, picked a few of her best shots, and posted them on Xiaohongshu.

She usually shared beauty and fashion content on her personal account, which had just under 20,000 followers. But today, for the first time, she posted about food.

Title: I HAVE to try this pancake!

The satisfying fullness from the egg pancake lasted until noon, but more importantly, the sense of contentment lingered even longer.

By mid-afternoon—when energy typically crashed—Jiang Qing’s stingy department head arrived, right on cue, to mooch off their afternoon snacks.

But today, something was off.

No one had ordered coffee, pastries, or milk tea.

He hesitated before casually hinting, “It’s that time of day… Aren’t you guys gonna grab something to wake up?”

Jiang Qing spun her chair around and flashed a perfectly polite smile. “We had a great breakfast, so we’re feeling super refreshed right now. Buuut… if Director Chen is feeling generous…”

Before she could even finish, Director Chen bolted with some half-baked excuse.

As they watched his hasty escape, the whole team burst into laughter.

Pan Da took a sip of plain water and sighed. “So… turns out we don’t need an afternoon pick-me-up after all. And we’re saving money too!”

The rest of the team nodded in agreement.

They’d never actually wanted to order afternoon snacks—they just couldn’t say no when their boss invited himself. But now that they were firmly resisting, even he couldn’t freeload anymore.

“I think it’s all thanks to that pancake,” Li Yunyun mused. “Because our stomachs feel satisfied, our emotions are more stable, and our sugar cravings are gone.” She smiled. “Honestly, the name Zhuyu Pancake is perfect—it really lives up to its name.”

Jiang Qing, completely focused on work, had no idea that the post she made earlier was rapidly going viral.