AGN -Chapter 188 This Is the Kind of Plot That Only Happens in My Dreams

In the evening, after Qin Huai finished making desserts for Qin Luo, he didn’t stay at Yunzhong Canteen to wait for her to return from school. Instead, he directly took the freshly made pastries and went to Luo Jun’s house to hold a tea gathering.

Qin Huai wanted to announce the good news that Qu Jing’s condition had changed.

When Qin Huai arrived, Zhang Shumei was no longer at home. Chen Huihong was still in the kitchen selecting fruit. Seeing Qin Huai, she called out loudly:

“Xiao Qin, Zhang Shumei bought a lot of navel oranges. They look pretty good—probably very tasty. Want me to pick some for you?”

“Sure.” Qin Huai nodded, then asked, “Why are the navel oranges kept in the fridge?”

Luo Jun, who was sitting at the dining table drinking chenpi tea, slowly raised his head and looked at Qin Huai expressionlessly, saying three words: “None of your business.”

Qin Huai sat down.

“If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Why are you and Chen Huihong the same—coming to my house for tea gatherings all the time? Treating my place like a fruit wholesale market? You come empty-handed and leave with bags full. I might as well renovate my kitchen and install two fruit racks so you can just pick whatever you want when you come.” Luo Jun said irritably.

Qin Huai replied seriously, “Don’t say that—your fruit actually came in very handy.”

Luo Jun: ?

Qin Huai then explained in detail the shocking discovery from the afternoon. Chen Huihong listened with delight, not even bothering to close the fridge door. Holding an orange in her hand, she leaned out of the kitchen to join the discussion.

“Really? Her condition actually changed? That’s great news—Xiao Qu has hope now!”

“I’ll quickly pick a few more oranges and bring a bag to her later!”

Luo Jun opened his mouth as if he had a lot to say, glanced at Chen Huihong’s back, thought for a moment, then closed his mouth and continued drinking his chenpi tea.

“Now that Qu Jing’s condition has turned into ‘on the verge of awakening,’ does that mean she might be able to awaken successfully without my help, like Gong Liang?” Qin Huai asked.

Luo Jun didn’t respond.

Chen Huihong poked her head out again with two oranges in hand: “You can’t put it that way. ‘On the verge of awakening’ just means she hasn’t awakened yet—it only increases the probability.”

“If her previous chance of awakening was one in a hundred thousand, now it might be one in a thousand.”

“For a spirit creature burdened with deep final-life attachments, this level of progress is already very encouraging—especially with my help and care.” Chen Huihong said proudly. “If Xiao Qu successfully undergoes her tribulation, I’m definitely going to write a book when I get back. The title will be ‘10 Tips for Helping Spirit Creatures Awaken’.”

Luo Jun said, “That book already exists.”

Qin Huai & Chen Huihong: ?

“I’ve read it. It’s useless.”

A simple sentence, but it carried a bitter journey.

“However, what Chen Huihong is doing is already the limit of what an ordinary spirit creature can do to help its peers,” Luo Jun added.

“Are there non-ordinary spirit creatures?” Qin Huai asked curiously.

“Yes. Spirit creatures come in all kinds. Even Chen Huihong and I don’t know every species or ability. Some are very powerful but not helpful for awakening—for example, Bifang. Some are weak but actually quite practical, like me.”

Chen Huihong subtly flattered herself and continued, “There are also those whose abilities are completely useless, like Tuluo—his ability is to eat humans. I’ve never seen one, nor heard how Tuluo undergoes tribulation. Sometimes when I see violent killers or cannibals, I even wonder if they’re Tuluo.”

Qin Huai: …Such a niche type of spirit creature.

“As expected, with such diverse abilities, there are bound to be some very special ones,” Chen Huihong continued carefully. “For example… for example… there are…”

“Luan birds?” Qin Huai interjected.

Chen Huihong thought for a moment. “Luan birds are indeed special. They’re noble divine birds but have no self-defense capability. However, their blessings are extremely powerful. In theory, as long as a Luan bird is willing to pay the price, it can fulfill any wish in the world without limitation.”

Qin Huai didn’t respond.

“For ordinary spirit creatures like me, the most we can do is lend a hand at critical moments so our peers don’t sink further. If you really want to help someone awaken, you need someone like you… a system-novel protagonist.”

Qin Huai: Enough, stop talking. This “system-novel protagonist” still hasn’t figured out where to start that damn side quest.

“This trip to Gusu for business should be an opportunity for Qu Jing,” Luo Jun said calmly. “She prefers Jiangnan-style desserts. Suzhou-style pastries should suit her taste.”

“If Qu Jing can awaken successfully in Gusu, then Chen Huihong deserves most of the credit.”

“If she hadn’t been constantly bringing fruit from my house to deliver to her, with Qu Jing’s previous personality she would have refused even a hospital transfer to study at the Gusu branch.”

Qin Huai nodded in agreement.

Indeed, Qu Jing used to reject social interaction, reject going out, and reject sunlight.

Aside from studying abroad during school, she had hardly ever left Shan City. Her life revolved around three points: hospital, home, and welfare center. She wouldn’t even go to supermarkets, ordering everything via delivery and avoiding contact with delivery personnel. There was no way she would accept a work transfer to another city.

Chen Huihong proudly raised her head and picked oranges with even more enthusiasm.

Luo Jun glanced at the oranges she had picked, his pupils shaking dramatically. His tone rose:

“Chen Huihong, leave some for me!”

“I really want to eat these!!”

That evening, Qin Huai and Chen Huihong left with several large bags of fruit.

Qin Huai contacted Gong Liang to help rent a place for Qu Jing, while Chen Huihong went to Qu Jing’s home to deliver fruit and help her pack.

Gong Liang agreed readily, saying his assistant would handle it. It would be arranged by the next day so Qu Jing could move in immediately upon arriving in Gusu.

Gong Liang himself and his wife and children were not in Gusu. With Qin Huai away from Huang Ji, Zheng Da skipping work, Huang Shengli not interested in random appearances, and even Huang Jia unwilling to cook staff meals, Gong Liang, lacking good food, simply started eating his way through restaurants listed in Zhi Wei, beginning from the first issue. He was currently enjoying himself in Beijing.

After arranging the rental, Qin Huai also checked the address of the hospital where Qu Jing would be working in Gusu. It was far from Huang Ji.

Huang Ji was in the old district, while the hospital was in a newly developed CBD area. There was no direct subway, and driving would take at least 40 minutes under smooth conditions.

Qin Huai figured Qu Jing probably wouldn’t be able to come to Huang Ji for desserts on weekdays; weekends would have to suffice.

The next day, Qin Huai continued selling San Ding Bao as usual.

With the previous day’s explosive sales as a foundation, both customers and Yunzhong Canteen staff had already adapted to the surge in business.

With Qin Huai in the kitchen and Huang Xi in charge of the front hall, operations ran smoothly. Even as queues grew longer, Huang Xi managed them well, even opening a dedicated queue for baozi purchases to avoid disrupting normal dining.

On the third day, San Ding Bao continued to sell extremely well.

The staff had grown numb from the workload. Pei Xing and Li Hua nearly forgot they were no longer apprentices but independent pastry chefs.

Every day, they began by chopping ingredients and preparing fillings. Upon seeing Qin Huai, their first reaction was to greet him respectfully: “Chef Qin, you’re here.”

Their attitude was extremely respectful, their work extremely efficient. Anyone would praise them for their professionalism—true graduates from a culinary school, trained under Zhi Wei Ju.

December 22 marked the final day of San Ding Bao’s booming sales at Yunzhong Canteen.

Because on the 23rd, Qin Huai would return to Gusu.

There was no choice—this vacation only lasted six days.

When Huang Xi announced that Qin Huai would return to Gusu on the 23rd, the various customer groups and nearby community chats were filled with despair. Everyone who had tasted the San Ding Bao felt like the sky had fallen.

Each of them wanted to grab Qin Huai by the neck, shaking him while screaming:

“Xiao Qin, you have no heart!”

“How could you do this to us?!”

“How can you sell San Ding Bao for just a few days, giving us hope, only to leave right when we’ve just gotten a taste for it?”

“What’s so good about Gusu? Do Gusu’s diners treat you better than us? Why must you go?”

“What can you even learn in Gusu???”

“Wait—you’re saying your skills improved after going to Gusu, and that’s why the San Ding Bao became so good?”

“I don’t care—you can’t leave! I haven’t eaten enough!”

“How are we supposed to live without your San Ding Bao?!”

No matter how customers wailed internally, Qin Huai still had to return to Gusu.

He needed to practice his skills.

More importantly, he had promised Zheng Siyuan that he would stay in Gusu until the end of the year, until Huang Shengli’s back had fully recovered and he could officially return to the kitchen. For Qin Huai, a promise was a promise—once made, it would not be broken.

For example, he had already arranged a tutor for Qin Luo, waiting for her to start supplementary classes in Gusu after the semester ended.

Of course, Qin Luo knew nothing about this.

Even though Qin Huai had reminded her many times, she didn’t take winter break tutoring seriously at all.

At the airport, she clung to her brother’s arm, tearfully saying that frozen pastries only last about a week in the freezer before losing their flavor.

“Brother, can’t you stay a few more days? I feel like I’ve barely eaten anything before you’re leaving again. Do you know how much everyone will miss you? Yesterday, Grandma Ding queued from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. just to buy extra San Ding Bao.”

“Weren’t you in class yesterday? How do you know that? Also, yesterday’s San Ding Bao sold out by 1 p.m.—the rest of the time I was making other desserts for you. How could she queue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.?” Qin Huai didn’t buy it.

Qin Luo paused: “I made it up.”

“It’s a rhetorical exaggeration, brother—you wouldn’t understand.”

Qin Huai thought that with Qin Luo’s failing Chinese exam score, she shouldn’t be lecturing him about rhetorical devices.

“Alright, stop acting. Your semester is about to end anyway, and you won’t get to eat dad’s buns for many days. You even insisted on taking time off this morning to send me off. Now that you’ve seen me off, hurry back to class.” Qin Huai patted her shoulder.

Qin Luo pouted, dropped her act, and silently walked away.

Qin Huai smiled at Chen Huihong, who had come to see him off as well: “Sister Hong, thanks for making the trip. I’ll trouble you to send Luo Luo back to school later.”

Chen Huihong smiled warmly: “No trouble at all. But once you leave, our good days are gone again—we’ll have to go back to eating desserts shipped from Gusu. Sigh.”

Qin Huai truly didn’t understand the world of people who casually ordered interprovincial deliveries.

“By the way…” Chen Huihong hesitated, then stopped herself. “Remember to message when you land. When Huihui’s winter break starts, I’ll bring her to Gusu for a while so we can all get together and enjoy desserts.”

Qin Huai nodded. “If you come to Gusu, let me know. I’ll arrange a private room at Huang Ji for you—that’ll make things more convenient.”

With that, Qin Huai waved and passed through security.

Qin Luo watched him leave, then asked Chen Huihong, “Aunt Chen, why didn’t you tell my brother that Brother Yang resigned and bought tickets for Gusu this afternoon?”

“Ou Yang asked me not to tell Qin Huai—he wants to give him a surprise,” Chen Huihong replied. “The only thing I’m worried about is his plan to start a business opening a hand-squeezed lemon tea shop.”

“However, the investment in a milk tea shop is small—this time he definitely won’t lose 6.6 million.”

“Let’s go, Luo Luo. I’ll take you back to school.” Chen Huihong led her away.

Meanwhile, before Qin Luo returned to school and while Qin Huai’s flight had not yet landed, a very expensive-looking car stopped in front of Yunzhong Canteen.

A middle-aged man with a refined demeanor stepped out, holding a phone. He compared the image on his phone with the canteen’s sign, looked around with some confusion, then walked inside.

Inside, the elderly regulars led by Old Man Wang were sitting and sighing in disappointment.

Old Man Wang glanced at the man.

Wealthy.

Even without visible logos, his clothing was clearly bespoke. As a retired, affluent accountant, Old Man Wang could tell at a glance that the man’s assets were at least an order of magnitude higher than his own.

He didn’t care—even if it were two orders of magnitude more.

With Xiao Qin gone to Gusu, this dull life was all too predictable.

Missing Xiao Qin on day one.

Old Man Wang only glanced at the man before looking away and continuing to sigh.

The middle-aged man, upon entering, was clearly taken aback by the somber atmosphere. Slightly flustered, he paused, instinctively stepped back half a step, then quickly walked to the ordering window and asked:

“Excuse me, do you have San Ding Bao?”

The nearby elders immediately understood—another visitor who had come in hopes and would leave disappointed.

Before the staff could respond, a kindly old man nearby spoke up:

“You’re too late. Xiao Qin has already gone to Gusu. You’ll have to wait until after the New Year.”

“Gusu?” the middle-aged man asked in surprise. “Xiao Qin… is he the pastry chef who makes San Ding Bao?”

“He went to Gusu to… what was it, study and exchange at some restaurant,” the old man sighed.

The man asked again: “Is it Huang Ji Restaurant in Gusu?”

“Yes.” Huang Xi stepped forward. “Our canteen only has one person who makes San Ding Bao—Chef Qin Huai. You must be from out of town. If you had come yesterday, you could have caught him. At this time, he should still be on the plane.”

“What a pity—you made a wasted trip.”

“So Huang Ji even sends chefs for exchange visits—interesting,” the middle-aged man murmured. Then he turned to the old man and asked, “How is the San Ding Bao made by Xiao Qin?”

At that question, the old man nearly slammed the table:

“Good! Of course it’s good—no words can describe how good it is!”

“You came today and missed it. If you had come yesterday, not only would you not get inside, the queue would have stretched all the way to the street corner!”

“Xiao Qin arrives at 8 a.m., and people start queuing at 6 a.m. Those guys—like Xu Tuqiang—queued from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and even managed to buy four rounds in a single day!”

“Can they even finish that many buns? Sorry, I digressed. Let me tell you, Xiao Qin’s craftsmanship is absolutely top-tier. He’s been making San Ding Bao exclusively these past few days since returning from Gusu. You’re from out of town, so you don’t know—he makes many kinds of pastries. Even chenpi silver ear soup… no, chenpi tea—that’s hard to come by!”

“They limit it to about 1,000 cups a day, and you have to fight for it. Every day I come early just to get a cup.”

“If you have time after the New Year, you must try his San Ding Bao, Five Ding Bao, rice wine buns, flower buns, glutinous rice cakes, crab shell pastries…”

The old man went on listing dishes, leaving the middle-aged man stunned. He took note of many names and then left.

The old man watched him go, satisfied with himself.

Although the visiting customer couldn’t taste Xiao Qin’s food due to bad timing, he had helped maintain Xiao Qin’s reputation and retained a wealthy fan.

The old man didn’t notice that while he had been enthusiastically praising, the two pastry chefs in the back kitchen had frozen in place.

They had stopped working, standing motionless at their stations, staring blankly at the man outside.

After he left, Pei Xing finally spoke, disbelief written all over his face:

“That person just now… wasn’t he…”

“Wasn’t he Xu Cheng, the founder of Zhi Wei?!”

“Seems like it,” Li Hua was still stunned.

“Xu Cheng personally came here just to try Chef Qin’s pastries!” Pei Xing’s voice nearly cracked. “This is the kind of plot you only see in dreams!”

“Is our canteen going to be featured in Zhi Wei?!”

“Is our status about to rise dramatically?!”

Li Hua wanted to tell Pei Xing to wake up—what does Qin Huai being featured in Zhi Wei have to do with them?

“Should we inform Chef Qin about this?” Pei Xing asked.

After thinking for a moment, Li Hua shook his head.

“Didn’t Huang Xi already say Chef Qin went to Gusu for exchange? If Xu Cheng is truly interested, he’ll go to Gusu himself.”

“An encounter where Xu Cheng walks in, smiles, and says he’s come to taste your signature dishes—this kind of situation is better experienced by Chef Qin himself, unprepared.”

Li Hua glanced at Pei Xing, realizing he was already imagining himself as Qin Huai.

In his heart, Li Hua silently thought:

This is also the kind of plot that only exists in dreams.

Truly…

Too enviable.