Chapter 20: A Taste of Victory

Lin Ziyao glanced at the clock in the recording studio. It was precisely lunchtime.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you to eat!” Qin Yu took her hand. Lin Ziyao’s small palm felt soft, and she found herself unconsciously holding on as they walked out of the recording studio.

The cafeteria was on the floor directly above the recording studio. Qin Yu, too lazy to wait for the elevator, led Lin Ziyao up the stairs.

“This cafeteria is huge!” Lin Ziyao exclaimed, startled by the sight before her as they pushed open the door.

The cafeteria within the building rivaled some university dining halls in scale. Eight open windows stretched into view, displaying an array of dishes. From casual fast food to delicate stir-fries, and even Western cuisine and ramen, everything imaginable was available.

“Just take whatever you like!” Qin Yu said, handing her a tray and letting her choose for herself.

Despite her desire to eat her fill, she knew she couldn’t consume too much. Therefore, she selected a steak, a dish she rarely had the chance to enjoy, accompanied by some vegetable salad.

Though she had received a portion of the advanced program fees from Director Chen, she had deposited most of it into her grandmother’s hospitalization fund. Even so, Director Chen’s payment had significantly eased Lin Ziyao’s financial burdens.

Once the two songs she co-produced with Qin Yu were released, her grandmother’s surgery fees would also be covered.

Until then, this steak would serve as a well-deserved treat for herself!

As Lin Ziyao picked her food, Qin Yu was also choosing her lunch from an array of salads. As an idol, beyond her stage performances, she maintained strict self-discipline behind the scenes, much like Dai Wen, the model. This included drinking plenty of water while avoiding sugary drinks to protect her voice, and carefully portioning her meals to control her weight and figure.

She opted for an avocado salad with cooked salmon, a choice that offered a balanced and nutritious combination of meat and vegetables.

Having selected their lunches, the two women found a secluded corner in the cafeteria to sit. Many had already noticed Qin Yu, yet no one ventured to approach her.

The constant gazes made Lin Ziyao uncomfortable with being under public scrutiny. Once they settled into their secluded spot, the lingering stares suddenly diminished significantly.

“I didn’t realize you were so popular.” That was her first remark to Qin Yu after setting down her tray, her tone laced with playful teasing.

Facing the teasing, Qin Yu remained remarkably calm. “They aren’t usually like this,” she mused. “Perhaps it’s because you’re with me.”

With that, she raised a hand to smooth her loose hair. Her gaze then flickered towards a few people who were about to pull out their phones to take pictures. Caught by Qin Yu’s eyes, they chuckled awkwardly and quickly put their devices away.

Unaware of this interaction, Lin Ziyao continued, “How could that be? You’re a huge star, and I’m just a nobody!”

“A ‘nobody’ who can get several guests to sing their self-composed ‘Most Dazzling Ethnic Style’?” Qin Yu’s words were incisive, leaving Lin Ziyao momentarily speechless.

“Eat! Let’s eat!” Faced with Qin Yu’s pointed question, she could only change the subject, focusing her attention on her meal.

However.

[Host, please complete a feeding within ten minutes. The mission reward is a certain amount of Action Points.]

[Points will be awarded based on the Host’s completion performance.]

Just as she hoped to enjoy her meal in peace, a new system mission refreshed!

This mission was unlike any before. Its reward was “points,” a currency that had never appeared previously.

Lin Ziyao then opened her system panel, discovering a new “Shop” option in a previously inaccessible section. This option hadn’t been present before she completed the previous mission.

No wonder the last mission had offered no reward; its true recompense was the unlocking of new system functionalities. Lin Ziyao now fully understood the system’s evolution.

She clicked on the Shop, revealing shelves filled with a dazzling array of songs. The currency for these transactions was Action Points.

However, this was no time to ponder the points themselves. Time was pressing, and she needed to complete this mission to acquire them.

Given that the task was “feeding,” and considering the system’s usual patterns, it could mean either she fed someone else, or someone fed her.

A method to complete the mission flashed rapidly through Lin Ziyao’s mind. She turned her gaze to Qin Yu across from her and spoke, “Qin Yu, I’d like to try your salad.”

Qin Yu, who had been about to begin her meal, paused at the sound of Lin Ziyao’s voice. With a slightly surprised sigh, she asked, “Aren’t our salads the same?”

Only then did Lin Ziyao truly look at the salad on her own tray, realizing it was identical to Qin Yu’s: avocado paired with cooked salmon.

She had been so focused on grabbing the steak that she’d simply picked a salad without checking its contents. Seeing her first plan fail, Lin Ziyao felt a pang of vexation.

Now, only eight minutes remained on the system’s timer.

She quickly regained her composure and activated her backup plan. Cutting a piece of steak from her own plate, she prepared it.

“Qin Yu, try this piece of steak.” With that, she raised her fork, intending to deliver it to Qin Yu’s mouth.

As Lin Ziyao’s fork drew nearer, a rare flicker of panic crossed Qin Yu’s usually serene eyes.

Even though they were seated in a relatively secluded part of the cafeteria, many eyes were still discreetly watching their movements. Qin Yu wanted to stop the approaching fork but couldn’t find a single suitable excuse.

As the fork drew closer to Qin Yu’s lips, Lin Ziyao felt the mission’s completion was within reach, and a smile threatened to break through her composure.

Splat!

The steak slipped from the fork, falling directly onto Qin Yu’s plate. This unexpected turn of events caused Qin Yu to inwardly sigh with relief, a fleeting blush coloring her cheeks that even Lin Ziyao had never witnessed.

She calmly speared the fallen steak, brought it to her mouth, and offered her assessment: “Delicious.”

Lin Ziyao, however, hadn’t registered Qin Yu’s compliment. Her barely suppressed smile instantly crumbled. With two consecutive plans having failed, the mission’s countdown now showed less than five minutes.

She haphazardly dismembered the steak on her plate with her knife and fork. The sudden mission had thoroughly disrupted her desire to savor her meal. Qin Yu, oblivious to Lin Ziyao’s distress, continued to leisurely chew her salad, two more minutes ticking off the mission timer.

“Want some?” Qin Yu asked softly.

When Lin Ziyao looked up, Qin Yu gestured to her plate. “Salad,” she clarified.

Qin Yu then placed the last piece of cooked salmon from her own plate onto her fork and offered it to Lin Ziyao.

Just when she thought the mission was doomed to fail, the situation took a dramatic turn. She eagerly bit onto the fork, a muffled sound escaping her lips: “Yes!”

The rich, succulent fat of the salmon melted in her mouth, mingled with the tangy-sweet salad dressing, tantalizing her taste buds. After she swallowed, a look of pure bliss spread across her face.

Moreover, there was a subtle hint of sweetness, a flavor absent from her own salad.

[Mission complete. Reward: One hundred Action Points.]