But as a true Jingzhou native, the noodles had to be eaten last for it to feel right.

"I’ll bring the dish!" He Shuting volunteered, carrying the huge basin. The others scrambled to follow right behind her as everyone sat down at the large round table in the dining area.

The large round table could seat ten people, so with only six, it still seemed a bit empty. A single basin of stir-fried chicken sat in the middle of the large table, which made the spread look even more meager.

"I suggest we serve this in individual bowls. Let’s not all just dig into the same basin," Su Chen said.

Liu Shengnan also nodded. "I agree."

"Makes sense."

Everyone agreed. Aunt Fang brought over a stack of small bowls and a large ladle, filling each person’s bowl to the brim with the dish.

As the boss, Su Chen was naturally the first to receive his.

Chopsticks in hand, Su Chen didn’t hesitate for a second, picking up a piece of potato and stuffing it into his mouth!

The potato, which had been simmering for nearly twenty minutes, was so soft it only needed a gentle press of the tongue. Sss!

It instantly melted into a creamy mash!

This creamy texture was infused with the flavor of chicken, accompanied by a faint, almost imperceptible hint of fresh vegetables.

’This is amazing!’

He didn’t know if Aunt Fang had done it on purpose, but after finishing a piece of potato, Su Chen discovered two chicken mid-wings in his bowl.

A chicken only has two wings!

While no one was looking, Su Chen quickly shoved a chicken wing into his mouth.

After being slow-cooked and then stir-fried over a low flame, all the fat had been rendered from the chicken skin, giving it a slightly firm texture. But all it took was a gentle bite.

Mmm!

The meat inside, along with the rich, savory juices, gushed out, carrying with it an intense heat!

Su Chen started hissing and sucking in sharp breaths of air, a sight that made everyone burst into laughter.

「Ten seconds later.」

"Hiss! Hiss! Whoo..."

"So hot, so hot!"

"Ouch, ouch, it’s delicious, but it’s burning my mouth!"

When Ling Shuyu received her bowl, she first lowered her head to take a sniff.

’It smells wonderful, and it’s just to my liking!’

Having witnessed the embarrassing sight of the others burning their mouths, Ling Shuyu very elegantly took a small bite of a piece of chicken, then picked up half a piece of potato.

Unconsciously, her eyes narrowed in bliss from the delicious flavor.

yuan?

’That’s not expensive at all!’

’Getting stir-fried chicken like this for 88 yuan is an absolute steal!’

’Elegance, Ling Shuyu, you must maintain your elegance!’

Just as Ling Shuyu was elegantly picking up her second piece of chicken...

Hm?

’What’s Boss Su... Why is he standing up?’

’Holy crap! How is Boss Su eating so fast?’

Ling Shuyu was only on her second piece of chicken, but Su Chen had already finished his entire bowl, stood up, and was now ladling himself a second helping.

’Burning my mouth?’

’Heh heh, not getting a second bowl would be the real burn. What do these mortals know?’

After Su Chen helped himself to a second bowl, everyone else realized what was happening.

This wasn’t a simple meal. This was a war—a war where if you didn’t eat, someone else would!

Although He Shuting was pretty, she completely forgot her image once she started eating. She’d occasionally throw her head back, mouth wide open, to let out the heat, but that still didn’t stop her from stuffing more chicken into her mouth.

Liu Shengnan was more strategic. She adopted the tactic of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao"—first finishing all the potatoes in her bowl before saying nonchalantly, "The potatoes are pretty good. I’ll just get some more."

Inwardly, she was snickering.

’You have to spit out bones when you eat chicken. I’ll eat more potatoes first, otherwise, I might not get anything later.’

Yes, a finance professional who knew how to cut her losses. Very fitting.

Xiaobin, being a high school student, seemed completely unfazed by the heat and was the third to get another bowl.

Next was Aunt Fang.

By the time Ling Shuyu finally managed to finish everything in her bowl and was about to stand up, she froze, staring in a daze at the basin, which was empty except for the broth at the bottom.

"Boss, employees can place orders too, right?"

It was the only solution she could think of.

Su Chen nodded. "Not only can you, but you also get a discount."

Only then did Ling Shuyu reluctantly sit back down, dipping her chopsticks into the residual potato mash in her bowl and licking them clean several times.

"Ah, that hit the spot," Su Chen said after finishing his two bowls. "Aunt Fang, you can cook the noodles now. Boil for four minutes, then rinse in cold water for twenty seconds. Let’s just make three portions!"

"You got it!"

Hearing that noodles were coming, everyone’s still-unsatisfied expressions vanished, replaced once again with anticipation.

It was noodles, after all!

...

While all the employees at Delicious were waiting for the noodles, Xinghui Company’s second departing employee of the day appeared.

"Assistant Zhang, why don’t you have lunch with everyone before you go?" Wang Rui said with regret.

Who would have thought that two people would resign in a single day!

The head of the design department and her assistant... it was truly heartbreaking!

Zhang Li grinned as she handed her work badge to Wang Rui. "Who wants to eat with you? I’m starting my new job at Delicious this afternoon. President Ling said if I go over now, I can still catch lunch. They’re having stir-fried chicken today, look at this video!"

In her chat window with Ling Shuyu was a short video.

It was taken while Su Chen was cooking—the stir-fried chicken was glistening with oil and steaming hot. Wang Rui swallowed hard as he watched. "Do they sell this stir-fried chicken? It looks incredible!"

Zhang Li grew even more smug. "This is a taste-test for internal staff. It’s not something you can get just because you want it. Anyway, I’m done talking to you. I have to hurry over so I don’t hold them up from eating."

Wang Rui watched with envy as Zhang Li’s carefree figure disappeared.

’If only I could be as free-spirited as her!’

Zhang Li hummed a little tune, walking with a spring in her step toward Building 19 across the street. She didn’t forget to reply to her dear President Ling on WeChat.

[Zhang Li: On my way~ If it’s ready, go ahead and eat without me. I’m not that hungry, I’ll just have a bite or two.]

Yes, since she was just starting, a certain amount of politeness with her new colleagues was necessary.

DING-DONG~

Ling Shuyu’s phone chimed, but she had no time to look at the message right now.

Three large portions of noodles were poured into the basin, almost filling it to the brim!

Aunt Fang used a pair of long serving chopsticks to vigorously mix the noodles. With every stir, more and more noodles were coated in the sauce from the bottom of the basin.

Su Chen watched this unfold.

’The decision to set aside some of the sauce beforehand was definitely the right one. For Jingzhou People, the soul of this stir-fried chicken dish isn’t the potatoes or the chicken—it’s these noodles!’

’So whether it’s a full or half portion of the chicken doesn’t really matter. The key is... you have to be able to eat the noodles to your heart’s content!’

"Alright, the noodles are ready," Aunt Fang announced, once again shouldering the important task of serving them.

Unsurprisingly, Su Chen was first again.

Well... he was the boss, after all. He was entitled to that small privilege.

The noodles, lifted by his chopsticks, were coated in the rich, thick broth from the stir-fried chicken, and the aroma instantly washed over him.

Su Chen aggressively stuffed a large mouthful into his mouth.

Then he took a bite of a raw garlic clove.

’Holy shit, this feeling... I’m about to ascend to godhood!!!’