"Don't thank me yet. Eat the steak first and save your life. This is top-grade Wagyu, marbled like snowflakes, and it costs money."
Zhao Bai did his best to keep his voice deep and calm. The girl was on the verge of collapse; any tiny movement could push her one step further toward the cliff of despair. Then even the gods would be unable to save her.
The sliced beef was just the right size for the woman's cherry-red lips. Zhao Bai sprinkled the last bits of rosemary over it. As the aroma suddenly burst forth, he swiftly grabbed a piece of beef and placed it in her mouth.
Food above all else; Honkai, begone.
The pale violet crystals melted away, and the naked girl fell to the ground. She felt no shame. Instead, her eyes lit up as she grabbed another piece of beef.
The second bite pulled her back from the state of corruption.
By the third bite, her body had completely returned to normal.
By the fourth and final bite, the girl's tolerance for Honkai energy was already comparable to that of a Valkyrie of Destiny.
Zhao Bai remained calm as he helped the stunned girl up. He extended his right hand, fingers spread, earning a bewildered look from her.
"What are you standing there for? Pay up."
Zhao Bai's tone was arrogant. After all, he had just saved her life, so it was only reasonable for him to ask for payment.
The top-grade Wagyu ribs went without saying. Heavenly Fire Judgment, which he had used for grilling, and the Lightning Cutter used for slicing meat were both rare and precious kitchen tools. Ordinary people would never use them to cook.
"The ribs are 1,068 yuan, plus a 50-yuan delivery fee. Please settle the bill as soon as possible."
Zhao Bai pressed his palms together and spoke sincerely.
The girl got dressed and, face flushed red, took out her money. Snapping out of the delicious aroma, she suddenly realized that she had been completely naked with a male deliveryman standing right in front of her.
No matter how she looked at it, the situation was awful.
Zhao Bai calmly accepted the money and counted it carefully. Once he confirmed that it was correct, he nodded at her.
"Miss Chen, thank you for your patronage."
"I-It's nothing."
Miss Chen had been studying away from home alone. Lately, for some reason, her mood had always been low, and misfortunes kept piling up. Her negative emotions had eventually reached their threshold, triggering this horrifying scene.
Girls were emotional, and indeed, they were prey Honkai loved to hunt. Fortunately, Zhao Bai had arrived in time. Otherwise, it would have been handed over to the Cleanup Crew.
Miss Chen would have been erased without a trace.
She let out a sigh, finished the last bite of beef, then gently sat down and sighed at Zhao Bai.
"Until just now, I thought I was alone and helpless in this world, about to die in loneliness. It wasn't until you came that I realized there were still so many beautiful things in this world."
"My classmates excluded me, my coworkers isolated me, and even my parents didn't understand me. But it doesn't seem that important anymore."
"Right now... I'm very happy."
Zhao Bai frowned, unsure how to respond. He had never been good with words, and after racking his brains, he finally came up with a comforting line.
"In this world, only food and love must never be let down."
Miss Chen was somewhat stunned. It really did sound like something a chef would say—striking, yet carrying the warm, earthy feeling of everyday life. It even made her want to apply to culinary school.
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