CFSMS -Chapter 14 Choose the Buns or Choose Your Bestie

“Boss Lu, we’ve all been waiting for you.”

Lou Xiaotian was dressed in luxurious robes. Normally, he carried himself with a cold, aloof air, waving his fan and acting like he couldn’t be bothered with anyone.

But the moment he saw Lu Wu, a bright smile immediately spread across his face.

Hidden within that smile was a trace of pride.

After all, he, Lou Xiaotian, was the Senior Brother of the Bun Sect. Aside from the Grand Elder, he ranked above everyone else in the sect.

He had fought hard to earn the privilege of welcoming Boss Lu today.

He was determined to leave a good impression on her.

“This way, Boss Lu.”

Seeing his shamelessly eager behavior, Lu Wu’s mouth twitched.

She was honestly beginning to suspect that these people had all been cursed.

Under the enthusiastic welcome of the assembled crowd, Lu Wu awkwardly made her way to the designated spot and took out her bun stall.

Storage bags couldn’t hold living creatures, but cooked food could be stored inside and remain warm when taken out.

Knowing that customers would be lining up in advance, she had steamed several baskets of buns at home and brought them along to save time.

Looking at the crowd before her, she realized she had still underestimated how popular her little stall had become.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t exactly a social butterfly. Surrounded by so many people, the smile on her face was beginning to stiffen.

The crowd buzzed endlessly.

Some praised her.

Some lamented their inability to buy buns.

Others tried persuading friends and relatives to give up their spots in line.

These cultivators were absurdly energetic.

Soft dough gradually took shape beneath her hands, and the customers were already eager to try the new flavors.

Lu Wu sighed and continued wrapping buns like a diligent laborer.

It had only been four days.

Yet she already felt as though she were drowning in the enthusiasm of her customers.

Seeing the growing pile of spirit stones, however, provided some comfort.

She only hoped that the system’s next mission would send her somewhere with fewer people so she could quietly develop in peace.

The familiar aroma conquered the taste buds of the diners once more. Many first-time visitors found themselves filled with anticipation.

Even Xu Gu, after smelling the fragrance and seeing the expressions of bliss on the customers’ faces, gradually started believing in the buns’ reputation.

Surely this many people couldn’t all be conspiring to deceive him.

Yanliu Street was known for its brothels. While there were usually a few vendors around, their numbers were small.

But because of Lu Wu’s bun stall, all kinds of opportunistic merchants had begun appearing along the street.

There were vendors selling every imaginable product.

Some had even copied Lu Wu and opened food stalls.

Pancakes, pastries, grilled chicken wings, skewers—you name it.

The mixed aromas of food overwhelmed the street’s usual scent of perfume and cosmetics. Courtesans leaned against railings above, laughing as they watched cultivators scramble and compete below.

Some people thought:

They’re all on the same street. The food should be about the same, right?

Curious, they tried the other stalls.

Then they immediately made disgusted faces and turned around to join Lu Wu’s line instead.

Bah!

The difference wasn’t even comparable.

As a result, the competing stalls enjoyed a brief rush of customers before seeing their business plummet.

The other vendors watched Lu Wu bustling with activity, tears of envy practically dripping from the corners of their mouths.

After waiting forever, it was finally yesterday’s girl’s turn.

She scanned the menu.

Then she realized there were no Pork Buns.

Upon asking, she learned that Pork Buns had been sold in previous days, but today’s menu had changed.

She had come too late.

She was a little disappointed, but not too upset.

Once someone tasted Lu Wu’s buns, they understood.

No matter the filling, if Boss Lu made it, it would be exceptional.

Thinking of yesterday’s warm, sweet red bean bun, she felt a small grievance rising in her heart.

She had learned her lesson and come early.

Who could have known there would still be so many competitors for a place in line?

She had barely managed to secure a position near the front.

Behind her stood a cute, baby-faced girl.

“Mumu, are these buns really as good as you say?”

She had given up a reservation for a Flying Fish dish personally prepared by a famous chef just to come here.

That restaurant’s waiting list stretched several months into the future.

Skipping it for a few buns felt a little wasteful.

Mumu wasn’t offended by the doubt.

“Tiantian, trust me. I won’t make promises about anything else, but when it comes to buns, nobody in the Qingyuan World can compare to Boss Lu.”

“I guarantee it with all my future foodie happiness.”

Seeing the seriousness of this devoted foodie, Tiantian couldn’t help but believe her.

“What fillings would you two like?”

Lu Wu had overheard their conversation and asked with a smile.

The fact that people were now traveling great distances just for her buns was the highest form of recognition.

“I’ll take one Crab Roe Bun and one Chive-and-Egg Bun.”

Just from the names alone, she had to see what they tasted like.

Standing so close to the steaming baskets, Mumu felt as though the plump white buns were openly seducing her.

So soft.

So smooth.

So full.

She desperately wanted to touch them herself.

Cultivators usually possessed excellent self-control.

But in front of these buns, Mumu felt as though she had been struck by a high-level charm spell.

She simply couldn’t look away.

“Oh, right, Tiantian. Remember to buy different flavors from mine. There’s a two-bun limit per person.”

Mumu whispered the reminder.

If possible, she would have loved to buy out Boss Lu’s entire inventory.

But she knew that even if Lu Wu agreed, the surrounding cultivators glaring hungrily at the stall certainly wouldn’t.

“Got it.”

Tiantian nodded and selected two other flavors.

“Thank you, Boss Lu.”

Mumu thanked her sweetly before dragging Tiantian away to share their spoils.

Each bun was split in half so both of them could sample every flavor.

When the Crab Roe Bun was torn open, a little juice seeped out.

The aroma trapped beneath the wrapper immediately escaped.

The melted crab roe had soaked into the dough, creating a rich golden filling that made mouths water.

Excited, Mumu accidentally squeezed a little too hard.

The bun skin compressed, and some of the crab roe nearly spilled onto her hand.

Not daring to waste a second, she stuffed half the bun into her mouth.

“Mm—!”

Her eyes widened instantly.

The moment it touched her tongue, an overwhelming freshness consumed all her senses.

The flavor lingering on her taste buds made swallowing feel almost unbearable.

The crab roe had a slightly grainy texture, perfectly complemented by the savory meat filling.

As the flavors collided, Mumu completely lost the ability to speak.

She turned to her friend and tried conveying everything through her eyes.

Seeing Mumu looking as though she was about to ascend to immortality from deliciousness alone, Tiantian laughed and took a bite of the Red Bean Bun.

She preferred sweet foods.

She had eaten plenty of red bean buns before.

Although she trusted Mumu’s judgment, her expectations weren’t particularly high.

Those thoughts vanished the moment the red bean filling slowly melted inside her mouth.

Tiantian froze.

She stared blankly at the bun in her hand.

Tiny teeth marks remained on the white surface.

The glossy red bean paste was piping hot, but the sweet, silky texture made her completely forget the heat as she continued eating.

She chewed carefully, savoring every moment until the sweetness slowly slid down her throat.

Her nose tingled.

It was so delicious she wanted to cry.

She immediately declared it the number one dessert in her personal rankings.

Compared to this red bean bun, every other dessert was garbage.

Unfortunately, half a bun only lasted a few bites, no matter how slowly she ate.

Tiantian regretted finishing it so quickly.

As someone who loved sweets, she now felt restless and unsatisfied.

Her gaze landed on the remaining half of the bun.

Then she slowly turned toward her best friend.

She suddenly felt that her friendship with Mumu was undergoing a severe trial.

Mumu instantly understood that look.

She puffed up her cheeks and guiltily looked away.

To be honest, she was having the exact same thought.

Fortunately, sisterhood ultimately triumphed over appetite.

“You should try the other flavors too. They’re all amazing,” Mumu said quickly as she shoved the remaining half of the red bean bun into her mouth.

If she waited any longer, she was afraid the two of them might actually fall out for a while.

At this point, Mumu no longer needed to recommend anything.

Having fully accepted Lu Wu’s culinary genius, Tiantian began conquering the remaining flavors.

“So good!”

Traveling thousands of miles for a few buns?

Absolutely worth it.

The two friends exchanged smiles.

They had never felt happier.