Treat Me to Beef Buns

Qin Fen closed his eyes excitedly, but his surging emotions kept him tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

It was a sleepless night. He was not the only one excited; the Food God standing in the kitchen was also flushed and invigorated, as if he could see a broad road stretching before him.

As a low-ranking immortal of the Heavenly Court, the Food God was generally cautious in everything he did, treading on thin ice. But as a commoner who had ascended from the mortal realm, he had a typical ancient man's flaw: he knew how to endure. Yet endurance was endurance, and perseverance was perseverance—he also possessed the classic trait of anyone at the pinnacle of their profession: scholars acknowledged no first, while warriors acknowledged no second.

Anyone who challenged his craft would make even Buddha angry.

The Food God was making preparations in the kitchen. He first set his sights on today's finale, ordering strongmen to keep preparing ducks. As an immortal, he could simply ignore such things as ovens.

Several fairies entered carrying baskets. The moment they stepped inside, a rich fragrance filled the palace-like kitchen.

Following the scent, the Food God saw several of the Seven Fairies. A few small peaches lay in their baskets. These must have been the ones that ripened once every three thousand years.

"What brings you ladies to the kitchen?"

The leading fairy glanced at him. "Her Majesty has ordered you to the main hall. The banquet has begun, and all the immortals have gathered. You cannot be absent."

"I'll go at once. Thank you for the trouble, ladies." After saying that, the Food God arranged for his servants to follow behind them and left the palace. From the corner by the turn, the Kitchen God emerged, stroked his handlebar mustache, and smiled as he watched him leave.

"These Peaches of Immortality won't be so easy to claim this time."

No one could predict how things would change in Heaven, but the mortal world had welcomed another new day.

After putting on his uniform, Qin Fen left home. He had just entered the guardroom and set down his things when, before he could cross the street to buy a few buns, he spotted a cold figure sitting beside the tables and chairs.

Seeing Manager Wang's slightly plump build, protruding belly, and round face, Qin Fen's heart skipped a beat. Everyone knew what Fatty Wang was like: lecherous, petty, and exceptionally vindictive.

Quite a few coworkers had suffered at his hands. Once this guy started targeting someone, the petty punishments came in wave after wave, like he was wholesaling them.

"Qin Fen, do you know what you did wrong?" Fatty Wang said coldly, narrowing his little eyes.

This was bad. He was clearly looking for trouble. Qin Fen kept his expression unchanged and took a breath. "Please enlighten me, sir."

Manager Wang's lips curled into a smile. Little slickster, now he knew how to show the right attitude? Too late. "What were you doing yesterday?"

"Nothing. I stayed at my post all day until the end of my shift."

"Is that so?" Fatty Wang's tone changed. "You left work after five yesterday. You left early. One hundred yuan deducted."

Damn it. Plenty of people left around that time, but he had singled me out? Exactly one hundred yuan—did he know Sun Yating gave me a hundred yuan for running errands?

"You have a problem with that?" Fatty Wang tilted his head and looked at Qin Fen.

"No. I'll obey the organization's arrangements," Qin Fen immediately replied. At a time like this, he was not about to confront him head-on. Qin Fen had never been the type to meekly accept mistreatment, but he had decided to wait for now. At the very least, he needed to find out what the hell that recharge was about. As he spoke, he quietly clenched his fists.

Qin Fen was clever enough to understand that Fatty Wang was using this as an excuse to make trouble for him, and the root of it was Sun Yating.

If this place wouldn't keep me, another would. If nowhere would keep me, I'd drive bus number eight myself. But for now, he had no way out. Qin Fen was no fool. Once he found another path, even if you got on your knees and begged, I'd spit in your face.

Heh, kid, not bad. Seeing that he could not find anything else to pick at, Fatty Wang stood up and walked out.

The moment he left, the coworkers nearby immediately gave Qin Fen a thumbs-up. "You scheming bitch!"

"Get lost. Give me a cigarette. Didn't you see I got fined? Spare me some ammunition," Qin Fen said with a grin, holding out his hand.

"You animal. Even the landlord's household doesn't have much surplus grain left."

Qin Fen smiled as he walked out of the guardroom. On his way out, he snagged a coworker's beef bun. He had barely taken one bite when a car horn blared behind him.

Turning around, Qin Fen's first impression was simple: nice car. It was a red Mercedes convertible. He did not recognize the model, but he understood one thing—it was expensive, at least far beyond what he could afford.

A head wearing sunglasses poked out and glanced at him. "Qin Fen, you're up pretty early."

Seeing the owner greet him, Qin Fen steadied himself. Sun Yating, dressed in a white, black-striped bodycon mini dress without straps, was smiling at him.

Qin Fen walked over and looked down at her. Damn, from this angle... he could see the valley.

"How could I not be? I rushed over here to get criticized and fined. Exactly one hundred yuan, no more, no less," Qin Fen said sarcastically.

"That Fatty Wang came after you?" Sun Yating's expression turned odd. How could she not know that Fatty Wang had always been after her?

"Didn't you just see it?" Qin Fen shot her a glance. What a pointless question.

"It's fine. I'll make it up to you next time."

"Thanks a lot." Qin Fen glared at her fiercely. The glance at her chest had been incidental, of course. Well, fine, big was the main point. Beautiful women really were troublemakers. If not for her, Fatty Wang would not have set his sights on him.

"Haha, I'll treat you to a meal sometime. Hmm, you really like buns?" Sun Yating gave him an odd look.

Holding the bun in his hand, Qin Fen took Sun Yating's access card and swiped it at the gate. Hearing her question, he nodded. "Yeah. They have meat, and they fill you up."

After opening the gate, Qin Fen walked back with the card. Sun Yating thrust out her chest. "I've got buns too. Lots of meat, delicious and juicy, and much bigger than that one. Want some?"

Qin Fen nodded instinctively. "One is enough. I don't eat much in the morning."

"How could that do? You're a man. You have to push carts sometimes, don't you? And you ride that little scooter all the time. Being a security guard is tiring work—how can you not have enough stamina?" The corners of Sun Yating's lips curved upward.

"Yeah, I get it. But mornings are tight, so I didn't have time to buy any," Qin Fen said, nodding.

Sun Yating took back the card Qin Fen handed her and slipped it into her purse. She adjusted her sunglasses, pushed up her top, gave it a sharp bounce, then tugged at the fabric around her waist.

"It's fine. Consider it compensation. I'll treat you next time. I'll give you two."

Qin Fen gave her an inadvertent glance, and his heart jolted. Enchantress. What the hell was she doing so early in the morning?

"If they're too big, I'm afraid I won't be able to finish them in one go. Thanks a lot. If I get caught, the manager will chew me out," Qin Fen said through gritted teeth. Just keep tormenting me, why don't you.

"The grease is about to drip down." Like a weasel that had stolen a chicken, Sun Yating laughed so hard her chest heaved. This kid was really interesting. More importantly, he had no bad intentions. He was proper and serious in his work as well. That was the conclusion she had reached after watching him for a long time.

"I'm leaving first. There's another car behind me. I'll treat you next time." With a wave of her hand, she drove out through the gate.

Enchantress!