Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 869 - 432: Reflection (Part 2)

"Right." Qin Huai nodded, realizing he himself had forgotten, quickly opened the game panel and checked again, "It's Old Shi's side quest, to make egg tarts for him."

"How long have you had this task? Still haven't made a simple egg tart, Qin Huai, what's wrong with you? You're so slow with everything, is making an egg tart that hard? Did you make the egg tart?"

"My days here are numbered, yet you're all lounging around as if I can live another 10 or 8 years. That lousy drama I was following was the same, dragging on like molasses, 12 episodes to catch the culprit, 6 more to clear up a misunderstanding. Do I have the time to keep hearing them explain their misunderstandings?"

"And that novel I've been following, that wretched author, can write or scram if he can't, dragging out a pee-sized plot point for months without any clarity. What are each and every one of them doing?"

Luo Jun got more agitated as he ranted, as if he were about to breathe fire onto everyone on the screen: "And there's Chen Huihong, asking her to find a good grave for me and she still hasn't. Is it that hard to find a grave? Haven't people died in her previous lives? Not even a bit of experience in this?"

"Chen Gong, stop pretending to be dead here. Sneaking into the group chat without a word, are you? Know you're an assistant, don't know might think you're a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate's president, in dramas, even CEOs have time for romance amidst their busy schedule, yet as an assistant, you claim you're too busy to take a few days off to Shan City?"

"Qu Jing, you're the same, you… can't even handle a patient disturbance at work without having me help you. Might as well quit this crappy job."

"Oh, and I almost forgot about that Shi Dadan next to Qin Huai. Dang Kang is so great, huh? Succeeding at tribulation crossing is amazing? Auspicious beast is amazing? How long have you been out with Qin Huai? Has Qin Huai completed a single task?"

"When Qin Huai was on our side, he completed tasks quickly. Ever since he went out with you, he's triggered plenty of tasks, but completed none. Shouldn't you reflect on that? Eating all day, so proud of your appetite, aren't you? And you have two tasks yourself, maybe you should figure something out!"

Shi Dadan: ...

Shi Dadan silently put down the banana, took the phone from Qin Huai and faced the camera: "How about... I go hungry for two days and then eat the egg tart?"

Luo Jun said nothing. Those who knew him well understood that Luo Jun had finished venting. When he rants, no explanation is needed; he just wants to vent.

Everyone knew the veteran's temper had been bad lately.

After venting, Luo Jun felt refreshed, left the chat, and continued watching TV.

Chen Gong finally spoke up, stating he would make an effort to handle his work properly and soon clear his schedule to take a long vacation to Shan City to meet up with everyone, ending the group video call.

Qin Huai opened his task panel and checked each task.

Luo Jun wasn't wrong. Qin Huai had accumulated many uncompleted tasks.

The main quest was about An Youyou, requiring three A+-level buffs-triggering snacks, all done independently by Qin Huai. As of now, Qin Huai hadn't managed to make a single one, clearly a long-term task.

All three side quests were triggered by Shi Dadan: Four Happiness Rolls, egg tarts, and uncovering the truth behind Xu Nuo's death.

Normally, such side quests involving open communication with the spirit were the easiest, almost like having cheat codes. Luo Jun's side quest used to be difficult and cryptic, leaving Qin Huai just to ask Luo Jun for clarity.

But with Shi Dadan, Qin Huai could ask, but Shi Dadan couldn't provide answers.

The truth behind Xu Nuo's death was something Shi Dadan wanted to know. Four Happiness Rolls Qin Huai made but didn't satisfy Shi Dadan, leaving the task incomplete, yet the egg tarts...

After being scolded by Luo Jun, Qin Huai suddenly realized, indeed, ever since the egg tart task was issued, he hadn't made any egg tarts.

He seemed to have gotten a bit tangled in recent tasks, finding them all increasingly difficult. Each new task triggered made Qin Huai assume it was extremely hard, needing to complete the previous one first before considering the new one.

So, when triggered by the egg tart side quest, Qin Huai focused more on Zhao Cheng'an being a spirit instead of realizing the task was really about making an egg tart.

The "Delicious Egg Tart" side quest triggered after Shi Dadan ate an egg tart made by Qin Huai and Master Zhou, but since then, Shi Dadan hadn't eaten another made by Qin Huai.

Shi Dadan reflected to himself: "Luo Jun's scolding seems not incorrect. Recently, only I've been beside Xiao Qin, and I haven't provided much help, just focused on eating without thinking about helping complete my task."

"Going hungry for a few days sounds like a good idea. I've been eating too well, gained over ten pounds. While in Guangdong Province, occasionally eating well at Gui Xiang's house wasn't often. Gui Xiang is old now, doesn't have much energy for cooking, and I eat a lot. She makes me a meal, and it's tiring for her which I understand, usually, I just have a little something at random."

"Plus, I'm a bit fat, and my wife is strict at home not letting me eat out much, usually eating at home."

"Our cook at home... my wife prefers lighter-tasting food."

"Thinking about it, it's indeed my problem, I focused on myself too much, didn't consider your task at all, Xiao Qin."

"Yup, that's it, from now on I'm not eating! Starve for two days! No, two days might not be enough, make it three!"

"After three days, I'll eat Xiao Qin's egg tarts and Four Happiness Rolls, maybe the task will be completed." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Old Shi, it's not your problem, it's mine." Qin Huai looked directly at Shi Dadan seriously and said, "You've already helped as much as you could. It's my lack of ability to make satisfactory Four Happiness Rolls; naturally, you wouldn't be satisfied."

"And you don't need to starve yourself to eat; I don't want to complete side quests by harming your body. That you're willing to help pleases me already, it's my task not yours, you have no obligation to help."

"Besides, I haven't helped you with anything. You awoke by your own abilities, and you've been awake since I knew you."

"Actually, I reflected just now. Truly, it's my problem. Since I got the egg tart side quest, I haven't even made you any egg tarts."

"Would you still eat?" Qin Huai asked.

Shi Dadan nodded firmly: "I can eat up to five egg tarts, no problem, more than that can't guarantee."

"That's enough, I just made some snacks this morning so I'm not tired. It's still early, a bit past 7, enough time to make puff pastry."

"But I don't know if the temperature is right, the home kitchen isn't a cold room; oh well, I'll lower the air conditioner."

"Old Shi, what kind of egg tarts do you like? Normal, simple ones or ones with extras like caramel, durian, mango, blueberry, corn?" Qin Huai counted the fancy egg tart types he knew on his fingers.

"Anything's fine." Shi Dadan gave the standard answer people give when asked what they like to eat.

"Truly, anything's fine." Shi Dadan chuckled heartily, even his tone was seemingly simple and honest, "As long as it's made by Xiao Qin, I'll like it."

"Even if you made iced Americano flavored egg tarts, surely it has your reasoning!"

Qin Huai: ...

No need for such blind trust.

Iced Americano egg tart, what kind of hellish dish is that? Sounds like something Ouyang might like.

Qin Huai wasn't slandering Ouyang because Ouyang actually did similar things. Last week, Xiao Ou Handmade Lemon Tea Store launched a new product, the Iced Americano Peach Peach Bubble Handmade Lemon Tea, just the name alone made one's eyes glaze over.

In a week, only one cup was sold, which according to insiders was ordered by Luo Jun through delivery.

Luo Jun, using a small account, left a 1619 word negative review, garnering over 300 likes, all from merchants previously scolded by Luo Jun, which led to Ouyang temporarily shutting down his delivery service and being in an emotional slump for three days.

As for how Qin Huai knew Ouyang was in a funk for three days...

Qin Huai followed Ouyang's small account on Weibo, where for three consecutive days, Ouyang posted: "Is the Iced Americano Peach Peach Bubble Handmade Lemon Tea really so unacceptable to the world? Such a creative drink, why doesn't anyone appreciate it???"

Luo Jun has also done a service to the local community.

"Don't worry, I won't." Qin Huai said, "Then today I'll make the regular type of egg tarts like last time."

"Old Shi, could you grab me a coat from the room, 16 degrees on the air conditioner is just too cold."