Lin Feng had suddenly added that last sentence because he was worried Hu Liena and the others might misunderstand him.
After all, if word got out that he prioritized big customers and ignored small ones, his reputation would suffer!
Customers at Chrysanthemum Douluo's level—Title Douluos—certainly got him excited, but there were countless little leeks out there, too. They were an income source he couldn't afford to overlook.
Besides, those little leeks wouldn't stay little leeks forever. If they spent money at his shop, their growth would be as fast as riding a rocket!
Soon, they'd grow into big leeks at the Soul Emperor and Soul Saint levels, unlocking higher-tier menus. Their spending power would increase dramatically, and then the real money would start pouring in!
So this seemingly fair but actually shrewd declaration both protected the shop's image and put all his customers at ease. Lin Feng silently gave himself a pat on the back for his business savvy. That move had been perfect!
Clattering pots and pans sounded from the kitchen, and the tempting aroma grew stronger by the minute.
Hu Liena and the others weren't the only ones swallowing hard. Even Chrysanthemum Douluo couldn't help gulping when he caught the scent.
He quickly shook his head, trying to clear the thought from his mind.
This had to be an illusion! It was definitely an illusion!
As a Title Douluo, he couldn't let himself be fooled by such a petty trick.
But for all his talk, the aroma was simply too tempting. Even knowing it was an illusion, the smell made his mouth water.
Chrysanthemum Douluo clenched his teeth and forced himself to ignore the scent.
Before long, Lin Feng came out carrying a huge tray, piled high with all the dishes Chrysanthemum Douluo had ordered.
The Cloud Marsh Thousand-Silk Silver Thread Noodles were translucent, their strands as fine as hair yet surprisingly resilient.
The Glazed Heart Fruit Salad was a riot of color, each fruit gleaming like a jewel.
The Grilled Thunder Rhino Ribs had a caramel-colored crust that shone enticingly, and their meaty aroma filled the air.
The Starlight Mottled Pheasant was especially beautifully presented, like a work of art one could hardly bear to eat.
Seeing Lin Feng finish all the dishes so quickly, Chrysanthemum Douluo paused in surprise.
"So fast?"
Even the finest food-type chefs in Spirit Hall would need quite some time to prepare all these dishes, wouldn't they?
And this guy had finished everything in just a few minutes?
Lin Feng ignored his question, set down each dish one by one, and said coolly, "Enjoy."
Then he returned to the rocking chair behind the counter and closed his eyes again.
But in his heart, he couldn't help thinking with a touch of mockery: With the Gourmet System, wasn't cooking "a little faster" perfectly reasonable?
The system supplied the ingredients directly and could speed up the cooking process. If he still couldn't make the food quickly, then he'd be a pretty useless transmigrator.
Good thing Chrysanthemum Douluo wasn't from the modern world. Otherwise, he'd definitely suspect the food was ready-made.
Chrysanthemum Douluo stared at the spread before him, frowning deeply.
Just from their appearance, the dishes were exquisite to the extreme. Every one of them could be called a work of art.
But the more impressive they looked, the more suspicious he became.
First, he picked up the jade-green wine flask on the table and uncorked it.
In an instant, the rich fragrance of wine filled the entire restaurant.
It wasn't like ordinary wine. It carried an indescribable freshness and sweetness, as if mountain spring water had been perfectly blended with the essence of a hundred flowers.
The moment the three young Soul Masters caught the aroma, their mouths flooded with saliva. Yan couldn't help licking his lips, his eyes wide. "What kind of wine is this? Just smelling it is enough to make me drunk!"
Xie Yue and Hu Liena were the same. Without realizing it, they edged closer to the flask, eager to savor the fragrance more closely.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes lit up, and he completely forgot why he'd come. He'd been planning to find fault with the place, but now the aroma had utterly conquered him.
He didn't even bother pouring the wine into a cup, much less maintaining the dignity of a Title Douluo. He simply put the flask to his mouth and took a long gulp.
"Glug, glug—"
The clear sound of swallowing stood out in the quiet restaurant.
Chrysanthemum Douluo set down the flask and let out a long breath. "Ah~ Now that's good wine!"
Then Chrysanthemum Douluo picked up a mouthful of silver-thread noodles. The strands glimmered like pearls in the lamplight, and the instant he tasted them, an unprecedented range of flavors burst across his tongue.
The first mouthful was light and sweet, as pure as mountain spring water. The second was rich with the taste of meat, like the essence of bone broth simmered for days. The third turned into a delicate floral fragrance, as if he were standing in a spring garden.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes widened. What was going on with these noodles? Every mouthful tasted completely different, yet all the flavors blended in harmony, like a symphony for the senses.
He went on to taste the other dishes one by one, and every one of them amazed him.
The Glazed Heart Fruit Salad melted in his mouth,
the Grilled Thunder Rhino Ribs were crisp outside and tender within,
and the Starlight Mottled Pheasant was so delicious that even a well-traveled Title Douluo like him couldn't help nodding in approval again and again.
The three young Soul Masters watched from the side, their eyes fixed on the food as they swallowed repeatedly.
Yan stared at the Thunder Rhino Ribs before Chrysanthemum Douluo, looking so pitifully eager to pounce on them and snatch a bite.
Hu Liena even licked her lips without thinking and muttered, "Grandpa Ju's really enjoying that..."
Xie Yue kept swallowing, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. He wished he could have a taste, too.
Unfortunately, Chrysanthemum Douluo was so immersed in the food that he had no time to notice them.
By the time Chrysanthemum Douluo felt he'd eaten enough, he'd only finished about a third of the food on the table.
"How could this be?" Chrysanthemum Douluo frowned at the mountain of food still left.
Soul Masters weren't like ordinary people. They needed to take in large amounts of energy to draw Soul Power from within their bodies.
Generally speaking, the stronger a Soul Master was, the bigger his appetite should be. As a Title Douluo, he ought to be able to eat twice this much, let alone a few dishes.
Could what that kid said really be true?
Just as Chrysanthemum Douluo was puzzling over it, Lin Feng's voice reached his ears.
"Are you full?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo was still thinking and didn't register the question. He nodded almost instinctively.
"That comes to sixty-one thousand Gold Soul Coins. Thank you for your patronage."
Hearing the price, Chrysanthemum Douluo raised his brows slightly, then laughed outright.
"Sixty-one thousand Gold Soul Coins?"
His voice rang with obvious scorn. "Kid, do you really think I'm some gullible fool with money to burn?"
He had to admit that Lin Feng's cooking was the most delicious food he'd ever eaten in his life. The complex flavors and aromas truly left him wanting more.
But that price was highway robbery!
"It tastes good, I admit."
Chrysanthemum Douluo dabbed his mouth elegantly, then brushed his cheek with a delicate orchid-fingered hand. "But you think I'll pay sixty thousand Gold Soul Coins for a few lousy dishes? Dream on!"
Hu Liena and the others watched with growing dread, groaning inwardly.
It was over. Grandpa Ju was going to eat and run!
Yan was close to tears. Elder Ju, you're cutting off every way back for yourself!
Seeing Chrysanthemum Douluo's utterly self-assured smile, Lin Feng propped his chin on one hand, his eyes as still as a dead pool. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a dangerous edge.
"So, you're planning to eat and run?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo was just about to say, "That's right. I'm not paying," when, in the next instant, a suffocating pressure slammed down on him!