Wang Yu and his lackey slunk away dejectedly.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the selection. Reward: One copy of Stone Pond Village snack recipes!]

Out of gratitude, the girl wanted to treat Chen Zheng to some snacks. Having learned from his previous experience with Liu Qianqian, Chen Zheng happily agreed.

After strolling around for a while, a figure suddenly appeared in Chen Zheng's line of sight.

"Chen Xin?!" Chen Zheng called out, looking at the man not far away with some surprise.

The other man turned his head and was pleasantly surprised to see it was Chen Zheng. They were childhood best friends who had grown up together. Since they shared the same surname, they were especially close and even called each other brothers.

"What are you doing here?" Chen Zheng asked, delighted.

"I deliver food in Magic Capital. I just came over to learn how to make snacks, since I'm thinking about going back home to open a snack shop!" Chen Xin said while eating from a bag full of snacks he was holding.

Because of the chance encounter, the three of them sat down to eat together.

Chen Zheng discovered that the specialty snacks from Stone Pond Village were delicious and unlike anything he had ever seen in Yunzhou. If I could get these into the food court after it opens, business would definitely be good.

He ate slowly, tasting a little of each, like a true gourmet. Chen Xin, on the other hand, devoured everything in sight, as if he hadn't eaten in days. The girl sat opposite them with an amused look on her face, occasionally passing him a bottle of water, afraid he might choke.

The three chatted leisurely as they ate. Chen Zheng finally learned the girl's name was Cai Murong, and she was a local from Magic Capital.

"Chen Xin, you say you want to go back and open a snack shop, but looking at you, it seems like all you know how to do is eat. Can you actually cook?" Chen Zheng teased.

"Bro Zheng, don't you know me? I never go into battle unprepared. I got my advanced chef's certificate while I was delivering food!" Chen Xin proudly declared.

Chen Zheng's eyes widened in shock. This childhood friend of his was quite a legend. He'd enrolled in a mechanical engineering program at university because he loved machinery. Then, halfway through, he developed an interest in auto repair and used his spare time to get a mechanic's certificate. Now, just because he wanted to open a snack shop, he had gone and secured an advanced chef's certificate! What a talent!

Chen Zheng shrugged and asked with a smile, "Brother, I won't hide it from you. I'm preparing to open a food court. How about you join me?"

Chen Xin paused for a moment, then quickly swallowed the food in his mouth. "For real? Bro Zheng, did you strike it rich?!"

The corner of Chen Zheng's mouth lifted slightly. "Of course. I've never boasted in front of you!"

Hearing this, Chen Xin fell silent for a moment before saying, "Bro Zheng, you're not planning to give me shares, are you?"

"What's wrong with that?"

Chen Xin waved his hand. "I don't want them. You know me, I'm not one to settle down. Who knows, I might be making snacks one day and decide to do something else the next. If I took your shares, it would feel like I was locking myself in jail!"

"Let's get this straight," he said, taking a sip of water. "I have no problem working with you, but I'm not taking any shares. That way, I can leave whenever I want if I'm not feeling it anymore. Of course, I wouldn't just disappear. I'd give you a heads-up. How does that sound?"

Chen Zheng laughed helplessly. "You… can't you just settle down for once?"

Chen Xin gestured dismissively. "To each his own. I prefer to be free!"

Chen Zheng understood his lifelong friend. There were no formalities between them, so he agreed to Chen Xin's terms.

"The food court is currently under renovation in Yun City and is expected to open after the New Year. You can stay here and learn until then, or you can head straight to Yun City and find my two best buddies there!"

"However…" Chen Zheng couldn't help but smile as he continued, "you don't have to take shares, but I get to decide how you're paid. I'll give you a ten-percent bonus at the end of the year!"

Chen Xin looked down and chuckled. "Alright! I won't stand on ceremony with you, then. I'll head to Yun City tomorrow!"

The two men chatted happily, while across from them, Cai Murong was writing something in a small notebook.

Chen Xin took a curious peek and immediately laughed. "Whoa, are you making a wish list? The last one is to scatter your ashes at sea? Do you have any idea how illegal that is?!"

Hearing this, Cai Murong froze. Scattering ashes at sea is illegal?! Her face immediately turned red, and she hurriedly put her notebook away. "It's none of your business! Just keep eating!"

Chen Xin waved his hands with a laugh. "Now that I've seen it, I have to get involved, right? I can't help with the last one, but I can definitely help with the others!"

The words had barely left his mouth when the system's voice echoed in Chen Zheng's mind.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on triggering a choice!]

[Choice One: Find joy in helping others! Help Cai Murong complete her wish list. Reward: A magical eraser that can erase anything!]

[Choice Two: None of my business! Act as if you've seen nothing. Reward: Become an insentient boulder!]

Chen Zheng was speechless. Become a boulder? What the hell is that? Some kind of Sun Wukong reference?! But what's this magical eraser that can erase anything? That sounds pretty powerful!

With almost no hesitation, Chen Zheng made his choice.

Cai Murong huffed at Chen Xin, "I don't need your help! I want to do it myself!"

Chen Zheng smiled and said, "How about I help you? It's not like I have anything better to do right now."

Hearing this, both Cai Murong and Chen Xin were taken aback.

Then, Chen Xin quickly swept all the snacks from the table into his bag. "Bro Zheng, looks like you've taken a fancy to this young lady, so I'll take my leave. I'm going to go pack my things for Yun City tomorrow!"

With that, he stood up and left, moving so quickly they barely had time to react.

Only then did a shy Cai Murong process what had happened. "You… you're really going to help me?"

Chen Zheng smiled. "Of course. First, let me see your wish list, okay?"

Cai Murong looked down and laughed softly. "I'm not showing it to you. I'll just read it out loud!"

"Find someone to eat all the snacks in Stone Pond Village with!"

"Find someone to go on the Ferris wheel with!"

"Find someone to go on a cruise ship with!"

"Find someone to watch the sunset with from the highest place in Magic Capital!"

"And, well, let's just skip the last one!"

As she said this, Cai Murong stuck her tongue out playfully. "The first wish is already completed. So, should we go ride the Ferris wheel now?"

Chen Zheng shrugged. "Then let's go!"

Chen Xin had already mentioned the final wish, but Chen Zheng didn't pay it much mind. After all, some girls just liked to be a bit melancholic in the fall.

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