Chapter 14: Delicious Bento Boxes Receive Positive Reviews

Chapter 14: Delicious Bento Boxes Receive Positive Reviews

Mei Ruoguo gently lifted the fisherman's hat from her head, revealing a face as fresh and delicate as if it were touched by morning dew. Her skin was fair and translucent, and her eyebrows and eyes were exquisite, more radiant and beautiful than the first blossoms on a spring branch. She smiled and said with surprise, "Ah!? This boxed lunch tastes so good! The diet meals I usually eat are so awful they make me question my existence!"

People around were stunned for a moment, then someone recognized her and exclaimed in a low voice:

"Mei Ruoguo?"

"It's that rising starlet!"

"She's the one who played the female lead in 'Youth Without Confusion'!"

"Oh my god, how lucky! To actually run into Mei Ruoguo in a place like this!"

Mei Ruoguo seemed oblivious to the whispers around her. She expertly squeezed to the front of the line, waved warmly to Su Yingxue who was serving the food, and smiled radiantly: "Sister Su, long time no see! Today I'd like a boxed lunch, just the vegetables, no rice~"

Su Yingxue looked up at her and saw that her attitude was natural and friendly, without any airs, so she felt relieved and replied with a smile, "Okay, Mei Ruoguo, please wait a moment."

Mei Ruoguo stood in front of the food counter, her eyes sweeping over the large plate of tempting, steaming dishes. Her eyes lit up, and her smile deepened.

Her appearance naturally caught the attention of the surrounding media and fans. Some immediately raised their cameras, while others whispered among themselves. Soon, she became the focus of the crowd. Mei Ruoguo seemed to be born for such occasions. She picked up her chopsticks and deliberately exaggerated her chewing movements, each bite as if she were savoring the finest delicacies. She exaggeratedly and vividly expressed her love for the boxed lunch, as if this was not a hastily made-up lunch, but a meticulously prepared Michelin-starred feast.

Sure enough, flashbulbs went off everywhere as reporters snapped photos of her enjoying her meal. Someone chuckled in a low voice, "This girl knows how to support her audience, both on and off screen."

When Mei Ruoguo noticed the camera, she was not intimidated at all. Instead, she became even more engrossed. Her eyebrows curved and her lips smiled. She looked like a fairy from a painting descended to earth, lively and endearing.

However, even the most elaborate performance couldn't mask her genuine hunger. Before long, she became so engrossed in her meal that she forgot all about the camera, focusing solely on enjoying the delicious food on her plate.

By this time, the people queuing to pick up their meals were already impatient. The aroma of the boxed meals was like an invisible hand, drawing in everyone's sense of smell and emotions. The steaming hot food was skillfully served onto plates by Su Yingxue and several staff members, the fragrance filling the air and causing everyone to swallow their saliva frequently.

The male reporter at the front of the line had his eyes light up as he took the tray—the Peking duck was glossy and reddish-brown, its skin as thin as a cicada's wing with an amber sheen, crispy and fragrant, yet not greasy at all; next to it were several pieces of salt and pepper duck carcass, golden and slightly charred, crunching with every bite, savory and delicious; there was also a bowl of tofu and duck carcass soup, the milky white broth clear and rich, garnished with a few bright green scallions, its aroma so enticing that it whetted the appetite just by smelling it.

He eagerly picked up a slice of roast duck and put it in his mouth. The crispy skin and tender meat exploded on his tongue at the same time, and the aroma of the oil instantly filled his mouth. His eyes widened slightly, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up, and he mumbled indistinctly, "Wow, this tastes... better than many restaurants!"

Immediately afterward, a young female fan, carrying a tray, stared intently at the braised dish—the braised duck wings glistened with oil, their color rich and deep, the meat firm yet tender; alongside them were several flavorful braised eggs and evenly chopped braised kelp knots, the aroma irresistible. She picked up a duck wing, took a small bite, and the braising sauce burst in her mouth. The rich, mellow flavor made her squint her eyes and nod repeatedly, as if she had discovered a treasure: "My God, this is so delicious! A hundred times better than what I make at home!"

Not far away, a young reporter wearing black-rimmed glasses was initially just going through the motions of queuing, not having much expectation for the hastily prepared boxed lunch. However, when he scooped a spoonful of water spinach into his mouth, his eyes suddenly lit up. The water spinach was stir-fried to perfection, retaining the unique crispness and tenderness of the vegetables while being coated with the pungent aroma of minced garlic, full of wok hei (the smoky flavor imparted by a hot wok). With one bite, he seemed to taste the fusion of sunshine and the warmth of home cooking. He looked up at the plate in surprise, then quickly shoveled down a mouthful of rice, chewing and muttering, "Chef Su Yingxue's cooking skills are amazing! I never expected that a hastily prepared boxed lunch could be so delicious!"

Not far away, a female reporter was carefully picking meat off the duck carcass, taking photos of her plate with her phone as she ate, preparing to post them on social media. She scooped a spoonful of tofu and duck carcass soup, gently blew on it to cool it, and then put it in her mouth. The tender tofu melted in her mouth, and the broth was rich and flavorful with a lingering aftertaste. She couldn't help but smile and say to her colleague beside her, "This soup is so delicious! I want another bowl after finishing one!"

The entire food pick-up area was bustling with activity, filled with exclamations of praise.

"The skin of this roast duck is so crispy, it melts in your mouth!"

"This braised food is absolutely delicious, the flavor is incredible!"

"The water spinach was stir-fried just right, with a wonderful wok hei (wok aroma), it smells amazing!"

"This meal smells amazing! It's better than many restaurants. I really want to take one home!"

The media professionals and fans, who were initially tired from their work, gradually lost their weariness as they faced the steaming, fragrant food, their faces replaced by smiles of satisfaction and happiness. Some sipped their food with gusto, while others laughed and ate with gusto. The hard work and pressure of the past few days seemed to dissipate quietly with this meal, enveloped in the simple yet heartwarming warmth of everyday life.

When Ye Lu and his group arrived, this was the scene they saw. Ye Lu was also hungry, so he quickly got a boxed lunch and started eating, nodding as he ate.

Last time there were fewer guests, so we had to serve them one by one. Now there are more guests, but they are all very informal. Some are eating while leaning against the trees. Some are sitting on small stools, and some are simply squatting in the shade.

They usually come to interview them with an air of arrogance. Last time I contacted several reporters, they all said it was too far, too far, and they wouldn't come. Now they're squatting down eating boxed lunches, but even while eating boxed lunches, this group of people is in high spirits.

Just last month, when Ye Lu invited Mei Ruoguo to make a cameo appearance, she made all sorts of excuses. Now that he's come all this way, he even has to promote it. Ye Lu felt increasingly smug. He thought Su Yingxue was practically his lucky star.

Right after the interview, the investor called him, saying that because of the unprecedented surge in popularity, they wanted to increase their investment. Ye Luchang thought to himself, "Haha, my mouth is practically watering my lunchbox."

"Director! Director!" Su Yingxue saw Director Ye staring blankly at the white rice, having finished all the food. Thinking there wasn't enough food, she quickly called out to Ye Lu several times.

"Hey!" Ye Lu snapped out of his daze.

"There's still some food left, would you like some soup too?"

"No, no, I need to review the script again. I'll have another meeting with the main cast and crew later!" Ye Lu was a man of action. The morning's interviews were almost over, and the production schedule couldn't be delayed. He needed to work even harder! Promotion and wealth were just around the corner.

"Director, don't go! Tell me again how you found Su Yingxue to be the cook."

"Su Yingxue, why did you give up your acting career to make boxed lunches?"

"Su Yingxue, you need to add more meat to our brother's diet. He's gotten so thin from hunger."

“My older sister needs to eat less. Her agency says she’s gained weight from eating too much.”