The system’s notifications only showed the names of people Su Chen recognized.

Everyone else was listed as [Unknown Diner].

Su Chen stared at the experience points in his mind and felt it was completely absurd.

’Have these people never eaten a single delicious thing in their entire lives?’

[Deliciousness Value from Unknown Diner +999]

[Deliciousness Value from Unknown Diner +999]

[...]

If it were the usual ten or twenty points, he could completely ignore it.

But a casual meal was now generating nearly a thousand points, with occasional small critical hits. The experience bar was growing in leaps and bounds. It felt as if a low-Level player had enabled cheats and barged into a high-Level dungeon.

With every monster slain, the experience points would just go: BING! BING! BING!~

It was utterly addicting!

Outside, the assistant stared in astonishment at Ling Shuyu across the table.

’Didn’t you say you weren’t going to eat...?’

’Didn’t you say you haven’t made a habit of eating dinner for years...?’

’Didn’t you say... No, wait, Sister Ling, how can you be such a liar?’

’What was that regretful look you gave me just now? Did you mean you wanted more?’

"Sister Ling, should I go ask for another portion of eggplant?" the assistant asked tentatively.

Ling Shuyu started, snapping out of the ’delicious shock’ she’d just been in.

’The empty plate... the assistant didn’t finish it. I’m the one who ate it all?’

’Damn it!’

’This owner is a bit of a crook. Why is one portion of garlic eggplant so small? It makes me look like such a glutton!’

"There’s no need," Ling Shuyu said, feigning composure. "I probably just didn’t eat lunch. I guess I really was a little hungry."

The assistant opened her mouth to say something, but then shut it again.

’But we clearly had self-heating hot pot together for lunch...’

"Well then, Sister Ling, have some of this pickled fish. Theirs comes with enoki mushrooms and sweet potato noodles. It seems pretty good."

Being girls, they weren’t particularly fast eaters. Some people at the two round tables had already finished and were now stealing glances at their small, square table.

It was as if they were studying whether the dinner budget could be raised a bit.

Ling Shuyu didn’t notice her colleagues’ gazes. Her delicate nostrils flared slightly as the scent of pickled greens tickled her nose.

"Forget it. I’m not a big fan of pickled greens. You go ahead and eat," Ling Shuyu said, once again refusing her assistant.

’Oh.’ Even though Sister Ling had refused her, the most important quality for an assistant was being thoughtful!

The assistant ladled a bowl of fish soup and passed it across the table. "Sister Ling, even if you don’t eat the meal, at least have some soup. You’ve seemed a bit drained these past few days, and living on coffee isn’t good for you."

"Fine..." Ling Shuyu put her phone away again, wearing an expression that clearly said, ’It’s not that I want to eat, I just can’t do anything about you.’

She picked up a small, jade-white spoon, ladled some soup, and first inspected it with her eyes.

The surface was a shimmering golden yellow, while the broth itself was a mix of pale yellow and milky white. Visually alone, it promised a rich flavor.

Very elegantly, Ling Shuyu brushed her long hair back with one hand, leaned forward, and brought the spoon to her lips, tilting it slightly.

’Ah...’

She didn’t say a word, but in that instant, Ling Shuyu felt goosebumps erupt all over her body!

’What is this heavenly flavor?’

It was slightly spicy at first, but the heat was subtle. A fleeting, salty fragrance disappeared before she could even begin to savor it, leaving only a mellow, rich umami in her mouth!

This umami was different from the kind you get from a soup made with freshly caught fish; it was a savoriness that transcended the ingredients themselves.

That sip of savory soup sent a wave of comfort through Ling Shuyu. A warmth spread from her mouth to her stomach, an indescribable pleasure. Even her perpetually cold hands and feet began to feel a hint of heat.

’Just one more sip...’

SLURP~~

’One sip after another!’

The bowl of soup was empty in a flash. The perceptive assistant immediately ladled another, this time adding some of the sweet potato noodles, enoki mushrooms, and a few slices of fish.

"SMACK! SMACK!"

Ling Shuyu was now completely immersed in the deliciousness. Tiny beads of sweat dotted the tip of her delicate nose, and she couldn’t even be bothered to tuck away the strands of hair that occasionally fell into her face.

’The enoki mushrooms are so good!’

’The sweet potato noodles are delicious too!’

’And the fish fillets are so savory and tender!’

’Why have I never had pickled fish this good before?!’

Her assistant hardly ate a bite. Every time she saw President Ling about to finish her bowl, she would quickly fill another one and pass it over.

This repeated several times. Ten minutes later.

Ling Shuyu reflexively reached for the bowl, only to find it empty.

’Huh? My assistant sure can eat. She’s finished another bowl already!’

"Are you full?" Ling Shuyu asked, her expression unreadable as she wiped her mouth with a tissue.

"I’m... wait, no, Sister Ling, that..." The assistant was flustered.

’You’re asking me if *I’m* full?’

’Weren’t you the one eating this whole time?’

’Sister Ling, you’ve changed...’

"Oh, you’re not full? Then let’s order another serving," Ling Shuyu said with magnanimous ease, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

With that, she stood up.

At this, the whispering crowd fell silent, all eyes turning toward her.

’Is our wonderful dinner over just like that?’

Ling Shuyu cleared her throat. "If anyone isn’t full, just let Xiaozhang know and order more. I’ll cover the extra cost. I’m heading back now. Finish up and get back to work."

With that, Ling Shuyu turned and, with a CLICK-CLACK of her small heels, left the cafeteria.

Only when the elevator doors slid shut did a frown finally crease the face that had been as cold as ice all day.

’Damn it! How did I eat so much today!’

’But that pickled fish was so good, and the garlic eggplant was amazing too...’

Ling Shuyu fiddled with her phone, hesitating. By the time the elevator descended from the 19th floor to the 1st, she had finally sent a message.

"Alright, settle down, everyone! So nobody’s had enough, right? Then we’ll get another pickled fish and eggplant combo for everyone!"

Assistant Xiaozhang stood up to quiet the crowd, then glanced down at her phone.

[Sister Ling: We’ll probably be working late tonight. Pack an extra order to go, so you won’t get hungry later.]

Xiaozhang scratched her head.

[Zhang Li: Oh, thanks for your concern, Sister Ling!]

’Wait... why do I feel like something isn’t quite right here?’

’I’ll ignore it for now.’

Assistant Zhang Li scanned the QR code on the door.

[WeChat Payment Received: 1,620 yuan]

One serving of pickled fish was 48 yuan, a half-portion of garlic eggplant was 10 yuan, and rice was counted per head at 1 yuan each.

Service fee: 6 yuan per person.

After paying the bill for all twenty-five people, Zhang Li knocked on the frosted glass of the kitchen door. "Excuse me, is it possible to order again?"

"Hah!" Bai Xiaobo exclaimed, scratching his head in frustration. "The boss really is the boss, always one step ahead. Looks like we’re not getting dinner again tonight!"

Liu Shengnan was ecstatic. "One thousand six hundred! WAHHH... This is so awesome! Our total income for today is over three thousand!"

"The company’s revival is just around the corner!" He Shuting declared, full of fighting spirit.

Su Chen snapped out of his daze. Finally, the EXP piñata had stopped gushing. He looked up at everyone. "Don’t just stand there gawking. Get to it. You don’t need me to tell you what to do, do you?"

Of course they didn’t!

Bai Xiaobo and Xiaobin quickly began portioning out the pickled fish from the large pot.

Liu Shengnan and He Shuting were in charge of plating the garlic eggplant.

They hadn’t eaten much of the staple food, so there was no need to make more.

Aunt Fang just shook her head with a grin as she washed the pots and cleaned up the kitchen.

Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

Watching all this, Su Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

’Bringing the company back from the brink... It seems... it might actually be possible!’