AGN -Chapter 228 Rice Cake Soup

Qin Huai stood in the bathroom stall, unable to speak for a long time.

This was the longest memory he had ever witnessed. Within it, he saw the entire process of how Qu Jing met the hunter, four years of warmth, the cruel twists of fate, and finally, their life-and-death separation.

Only after watching Qu Jing’s first life did Qin Huai truly understand why Chen Huihong said there was no standard answer to a tribulation. Before facing it, no spirit knows what they will encounter, nor can any spirit clearly define what success in a tribulation actually means.

Chen Huihong failed her tribulation because of selfishness and indifference. She loved the splendor and liveliness of the human world and didn’t want to reveal herself, choosing to watch Huiniang die rather than save her. By the time she realized and regretted it, her tribulation had already failed.

Chen Huihui failed because of her own kindness and inability to accept the evil of the world. As a benevolent Luan bird, she endured too much human cruelty. She couldn’t suppress her hatred, injustice, and resentment, and ultimately failed in anger.

Luo Jun failed due to arrogance. As a powerful Bifang, he disregarded worldly rules and acted freely. His pride made him treat the tribulation like a game—he didn’t even realize his beloved had died, and in regret, he failed.

Qu Jing was different from all of them. Her failure came from receiving too much love. From the moment the hunter found her, everything she received was kindness.

The hunter treasured her. The village chief and his wife treated her like family. The doctor pitied her strange illness. The cart driver shared his precious food with her. Other spirits helped her when they saw her struggling. Her teacher valued her and encouraged her to continue her studies. The village children didn’t bully her, and even Gou Dan swore he would protect her if anyone bullied her in town.

Qu Jing was a child surrounded by love, and because of that, she couldn’t accept forgetting or separation.

When the hunter first found her, she pretended to be mute, but once she confirmed his kindness, she directly asked if he would eat her.

Later, when he began to forget her, she cut flesh from her own body as medicine—just to preserve the family bond she cherished.

Love is the hardest thing to let go of.

Qin Huai thought about her story and felt that her tribulation was the hardest to resolve.

Arrogance can be corrected. Selfishness can turn into warmth. Hatred can be dissolved by love.

But what can resolve love itself?

He thought that if he were in her place, he might have made the same choice—willingly, even knowing it would lead to failure.

Qin Huai opened the game interface. Qu Jing’s entry had been updated.

Name: Qu Jing
Species: Quju Bird
Status: Awakening
Dream: 1/1
Recipes: Rice Cake Soup, Glutinous Rice Cake (click to view details)
Gift: None

Qin Huai clicked on the recipes.

[Rice Cake Soup – E Rank]

Creator: Qu Shan
Description: A hunter who wasn’t good at cooking learned to make rice cakes. Since his rice cakes were always too hard to eat, he had no choice but to boil them into soup. To Qu Jing, the rice cakes he made weren’t tasty—neither sweet nor soft. Yet this poorly made dish became an unforgettable flavor in her life—the taste of her grandfather’s love. After consuming this dish, there is a chance the eater will recall warm memories with family. Higher quality increases the probability.

(Note: Letting Qu Jing eat this dish may produce unexpected effects.)

Daily limit: (0/555)

[Glutinous Rice Cake – A Rank]

Creator: ?

Description: A kind spirit encountered Qu Jing during her first tribulation and, seeing her struggling, decided to treat her to something good. After tasting the rice cake, Qu Jing realized having a skill would help her survive better. She secretly practiced making rice cakes but failed, eventually giving up to focus on studying. In fact, if the glutinous rice used had been more suitable, the dish would have ranked even higher. After consuming this dish, it boosts motivation and improves efficiency in study, work, or even slacking off.

Daily limit: (0/120)

Qin Huai: …

After reading, he had many questions. The biggest one was—

What does “?” mean?

There are spirits named “?”?

Game system, you’re really being lazy here.

At least writing “unknown” would’ve been better.

Still, the spirit from Qin Ji Pastry Shop that Qu Jing encountered must have been incredibly skilled. Making an A-rank rice cake with unsuitable glutinous rice—such skill would dominate anywhere.

No wonder Qin Ji Pastry Shop became a nationwide chain.

An A-rank rice cake was beyond Qin Huai’s current ability.

He had a clear understanding of his skill level—he couldn’t produce A-rank traditional pastries yet.

But E-rank rice cake soup? That was no problem.

The only challenge was that the dish’s level was too low—E rank. He might accidentally make it too well.

The hint was obvious: give Qu Jing an authentic, original rice cake soup, and she would awaken.

If he was going to replicate it, he had to do so perfectly—from level to taste.

E rank meant E rank. Not even E+.

Qin Huai was an action-oriented person when it came to cooking.

Since he was still in the bathroom stall, he pulled up the tutorial video for rice cake soup.

The process was simple—and painfully flawed.

The stirring force was wrong. The steaming time was wrong. The heat was wrong. The consistency was wrong. Everything was wrong.

The E-rank rating was absolutely justified.

Qin Huai watched carefully.

Every mistake might be essential. If he accidentally corrected any of them, the dish might fail its purpose.

To be safe, he watched it twice.

He didn’t dare watch a third time—he might actually remember it properly.

With all the “wrong” steps in mind, Qin Huai returned to the kitchen, his expression serious.

So serious it startled the chefs at Zhiwei Residence.

“Chef Qin… should we cook your noodles now?” one asked.

“Sure.” Qin Huai nodded. “Yu Yang, please get me some glutinous rice—round grains, not long.”

“Right away!”

Hearing this, Zheng Siyuan—who was about to leave—grew curious.

“Are you making siu mai? Or trying a new pastry again?”

Qin Huai shook his head. “Rice cakes.”

Zheng Siyuan: ?

Using round glutinous rice for rice cakes—what kind of method is that?

He decided to stay and watch.

Tan Weian also came over, equally intrigued.

Under their watchful eyes, Qin Huai began.

Wash the rice. Soak it.

Wait—only 20 minutes?

That’s not enough… right?

Ah, must be intentional.

Steam it over high heat.

Hmm… that heat seems off.

Still… must be intentional.

When Qin Huai steamed rice that normally takes an hour for only 45 minutes, people started getting suspicious.

Then came pouring boiling water and stirring.

Zheng Siyuan frowned deeply.

This technique… this awkward motion…

Who are you? Get out of Qin Huai’s body!

He shut his eyes in pain.

Every step after that was unbearable to watch.

Even the worst apprentice here wouldn’t make rice cakes this badly.

It looked like a complete beginner blindly following a flawed recipe.

What happened to Qin Huai?

Did someone knock him unconscious in the bathroom?

Finally, Qin Huai finished and covered the rice cakes with a damp cloth.

Tan Weian didn’t dare watch anymore.

Zheng Siyuan stared at the obviously bad rice cakes and asked sincerely:

“Did someone offend you?”

“Not really,” Qin Huai smiled. “I’ve just been making the same pastries lately. I wanted to try something completely new—make something bad to relieve stress. Don’t worry, it won’t go to waste. Someone will eat it.”

Zheng Siyuan relaxed.

Ah, stress relief.

Makes sense.

“I get it,” he said. “When I’m stressed, I also make pastries.”

“Just… not like this.”

“If it’s too much, let us know. My dad can still work.”

Qin Huai: …

Impressive.