C20 Conquer Foxy's Stomach

"This..."

The boss's face soured.

Having run his restaurant for twenty years, his cooking might not be exceptional, but the regular patronage of these customers was a testament to its reputation as one of the best in the area.

Yet, he couldn't guarantee satisfaction to the Miss who, with her air of nobility and suspected wealth, was a different caliber of clientele.

These rich heirs and heiresses, accustomed to the lap of luxury and the finest cuisine from five-star hotels, were beyond his culinary reach. How could he compete with their personal chefs?

"Why the silence?!"

Brother Hu barked, his hefty palm slamming down on the table, causing Miss Hu to jump. He quickly softened his demeanor, flashing a placating smile at Miss Hu, assuring her she wasn't the target of his outburst.

Lee Yun observed thoughtfully. Miss Hu clearly came from significant means.

"Boss!"

Fei, one of Brother Hu's companions, called out, "Miss Hu is a VIP guest of our Boss Zhou. We must ensure she's well taken care of. If she's not happy tonight, neither is Boss Zhou. And if Boss Zhou's unhappy, we're all unhappy! You get what I'm saying?"

The enforcers of Boss Zhou glared menacingly at the boss, demanding his best culinary performance tonight.

Lee Yun's fists tightened then released.

He'd been itching to put these thugs in their place, but the timing wasn't right.

"Yes."

The boss mopped his brow and attentively grilled several lamb skewers, serving them to Miss Hu himself.

"Let's see how it tastes."

Miss Hu's youthful, clear voice was enchantingly sweet, a delight to the ear.

Lee Yun watched as she delicately lifted a skewer with her pale, slender fingers and took a bite.

"How is it?"

The boss asked eagerly, his only wish to get through the night without incident.

Miss Hu chewed thoughtfully, her cherry lips puckering slightly before she disdainfully spat the meat back onto her plate, pouting, "So much for the famed street food. What a letdown. Grandpa's going to have words for me when I get back."

She was Hu Xiaomeng, affectionately known as Foxy to her friends. Having some free time today, she had returned to Loongyang County to visit her ailing grandfather and had slipped out to explore the small town's night market.

Foxy had been curious to sample the roadside fare she'd seen on TV, only to end up disappointed.

"Not good?" Brother Hu's face twisted into a scowl, ready to explode, but Foxy had already risen, bored, "Let's go back. This isn't worth our time."

"Yes, Miss Hu, right this way!"

Brother Hu showed her utmost respect but shot the boss a threatening look that promised trouble the following night.

The boss went ashen. What a night of trials he'd endured!

Lee Yun scoffed. He was eager to see just how bold these bullies could be.

As Hu Xiaomeng prepared to depart...

"Ding! A choice event has been triggered. Host, please select:

Option One: Use your cooking skills to assist the boss, with the reward of upgrading from intermediate to advanced cooking and gaining a measure of Hu Xiaomeng's affability.

Option Two: Do nothing, with no reward.

Option Three: Confront Brother Hu directly, with the reward of 100 points to constitution and 100 points to strength."

Initially, Lee Yun was elated, but soon after, he found himself in a quandary.

The System had presented him with a tough decision to make.

Taking on Brother Hu would yield a substantial reward.

Yet, winning over Hu Xiaomeng with his culinary prowess appeared to promise significant future benefits.

Which path should Lee Yun take?