Universe Infinite Canteen-Chapter 385: Collaboration

Boss Hu was in the children’s clothing business, and he had found considerable success. However, like many reaching middle age, weight gain was inevitable.

Plus, with the various social gatherings he often attended, he seemed increasingly plump.

A recent medical check-up had revealed high levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, and under the supervision of his doctor and his wife and daughter, he had also started exercising.

He had signed up for gym and swimming memberships and had even spent tens of thousands on a weight loss tea, purportedly concocted using a secret formula handed down from imperial court physicians. After drinking it, he was always running to the bathroom. He indeed had lost some weight, but his bottom had suffered for it.

From this experience, Boss Hu made sure to locate the restroom before he started eating the Lotus Leaf Charcoal Cake, but after eating, there was surprisingly no reaction in his stomach. Explore hidden tales at novelbuddy

In fact, he didn’t feel any discomfort at all, just a satisfying fullness right after eating.

This...didn’t seem to have any effect.

Boss Hu put down his chopsticks, faintly feeling like he had been duped, and he wasn’t the only one thinking this way; everyone else who had finished eating also noticed no difference.

It wasn’t until someone weighed themselves again that they exclaimed in shock, "Wow, I lost weight! I’m down 0.78 kilograms from before!"

Hearing this, others who had tried the Lotus Leaf Charcoal Cake rushed to the body fat scales. After weighing themselves, the place erupted into excitement.

"It’s true, I’ve lost 0.69 kilograms!"

"I’m down 0.85 kilograms!!! Hahaha, all the weight I gained from a month at Universe Infinite Canteen has vanished!"

Boss Hu also stepped onto the body fat scale with a nervous heart. When he saw the numbers, he was stunned, and after a moment, he said, "I, I’m down 1 kilogram!"

After he spoke, he patted his stomach, feeling it indeed seemed a bit smaller, not sure if it was an illusion, and he felt considerably lighter.

Envious glances were cast his way.

Without a doubt, Boss Hu was the champion of this weight-loss competition.

Later, someone even bought a body fat scale from a grocery store across the street and weighed themselves again, realizing it was almost no different from the one in the shop.

So, even the last bit of skepticism disappeared, and the place completely exploded with excitement. Originally thinking that Ma Lu was preying on the gullible again at 688 per rice cake, they now only regretted not having bought earlier.

However, when they rushed over, waving their money, they were told today’s supply of Lotus Leaf Charcoal Cakes had sold out.

This left original customers like Boss Hu ready for a repurchase completely stunned.

"Sold out? But the restaurant just opened; hasn’t it reached the 300 portions limit yet?"

"Indeed, it’s sold out," Ma Lu said. "This is a grand opening promotion, different from regular dishes. There are only 20 portions available each day."

"What, only 20 portions?!"

Upon hearing this, the excitement in the crowd instantly turned to disbelief.

Boss Hu immediately said, "I can pay more, double, no, ten times... I’m willing to pay ten times the price for one Atonement Cake, no, as many as you have."

His statement shocked many with his boldness.

Ma Lu was almost tempted to agree on the spot, but alas, he had other plans for the remaining Lotus Leaf Charcoal Cakes, so he could only shake his head.

Seeing this gesture, everyone else’s hearts sank.

A limit of 20 portions per day was too few, and now that everyone knew about the miraculous effect of the Atonement Cakes, unless you camped outside the restaurant right then, chances were slim for getting them the next day.

In fact, Boss Hu had already taken out his phone to call someone, but Ma Lu’s next words made his hand pause.

"The restaurant has a fixed 20 servings every day, and the guest-rewarding event only lasts for three days."

"Ah, will the Atonement Cake be added to the menu afterward?" someone asked. "How could such a good thing be sold for only three days?"

"Yeah, three days is way too few." Other diners echoed in agreement.

Ma Lu appeared somewhat troubled, and just then, another voice chimed in, "Boss Ma, since everyone is so keen on eating the Atonement Cake, why not make some more at your esteemed restaurant?"

The speaker was a bald burly man with a broad back and bearlike waist, exuding an aura that screamed ’strangers keep out,’ looking similar to a gangster from a nineties Hong Kong movie.

As soon as he spoke, the voices of others in the restaurant noticeably quieted down.

"And you are?" Ma Lu raised an eyebrow.

"I am the producer from the Red Ridge Project Team at Hakimi Network Technology Co., Ltd., Kong Shun, but everyone usually calls me Baldy," the bald man stated as he took out a business card and pretentiously handed it over.

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Ma Lu took the business card and also pretentiously glanced at it, "A gaming company?"

"That’s right," Baldy replied, sticking to the script they had just rehearsed moments earlier.

"I am also a loyal fan of Universe Infinite Canteen, and I actually came here hoping to organize a collaboration with your esteemed restaurant.

"On the way here, I was still struggling with which dish to collaborate on. Since everyone loves the Atonement Cake so much, why not collaborate on this dish? Let’s start with 500 servings, and my company is willing to pay 10 million for the collaboration fee."

This figure, once announced, elicited a gasp from the gathered crowd in the restaurant.

Although it was already known that Universe Infinite Canteen attracted wealthy big-shots, today was an exceptional show of financial indiscretion.

Even Boss Hu was stunned upon hearing the figure – 10 million for just a collaboration seemed enough to partner with top-tier brands. Yet, here this producer nicknamed Baldy was, casually planning to give that sum to a small diner.

Although Universe Infinite Canteen was no ordinary small diner, always bustling and often causing a buzz online, especially after being tagged by Angie, drawing in significant traffic, it was still just a small diner.

However, what followed this outrageous offer was an even more outrageous response from Ma Lu.

"A collaboration? Oh, let’s not bother. What possible collaboration could there be between a restaurant owner like me and a gaming company? Not many of my diners play games anyway."

"What, don’t they play games!" Boss Hu was anxious, hurriedly adding, "I love playing games."

Reminded by this, others also came to their senses and started claiming, "Right, right, right, we’re all gaming pros, we love playing games.

"I’m Platinum Rank in Honor of Kings."

"I’m Eternal Diamond!"

"I’m the Supreme Champion... "

"I, well, I don’t play mobile games, but I am a solo gamer, my favorite games are Sekiro, Dark Souls III, and Elden Ring."

Hearing this diner’s response, Ma Lu couldn’t help but take a few more glances at him, meanwhile signaling Baldy to pay more attention to this customer.

Loving punishment games and Red Ridge are a perfect match.

Seeing everyone’s gaming passion instantly ignited, and even a septuagenarian grandfather clamoring to play games, despite doubts about whether his presbyopia could handle the game graphics, Ma Lu decided it was time to take the win.