Kitchen crisis

The next day, the guests were woken early to prepare for the day's filming.

After getting himself ready, He Gu went to the main villa to make breakfast.

After returning the night before, he had habitually taken out his Light Brain to check his Star Network homepage, only to find his inbox full of abuse from Jiang Shu's girlfriend fans, mixed with quite a few private messages from Sheng Nian's and Yan Feizhuo's fans.

Not only that, after yesterday's livestream, public opinion of him online had begun to shift. The innocent, delicate persona he had worked so hard to cultivate was starting to crumble. His manager had even given him a thorough scolding over it and ordered him to perform well today and restore his image.

So he had gotten up early, intending to make breakfast for everyone and put on a good showing.

Eager to restore his image on camera, He Gu planned to show off by making a lavish Chinese breakfast.

To that end, he had risen very early to work in the main villa's kitchen.

The staff felt there was nothing wrong with He Gu making breakfast. If a guest wanted to show what he could do, they were willing to give him the opportunity, so they let him be.

Soon, the other guests finished their hair and makeup and gathered at the villa.

Ye Heng was the first to notice He Gu busy making breakfast for everyone in the kitchen. A little embarrassed, he said, "Are you making breakfast for everyone? We can't let you do all the work alone. Let us help. It'll be faster that way."

He Gu smiled and brushed at the white flour on his face as though without thinking, making himself look even gentler and more domestic.

He spotted Sheng Nian yawning on the sofa. His gaze lowered slightly as he smiled and said, "Sure, it would be wonderful if you were willing to help. Oh, Sheng Nian, do you want to join us?"

Sheng Nian's hand paused as he wiped away the tears that sleepiness had brought to the corners of his eyes.

Why drag me into this again? Do I look like a pampered young master who knows how to cook?

Sheng Nian resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Show off all you like, but why drag me into it?

He ran through the plot the system had given him and found that the original story had included this scene too.

It was even one of the bottom protagonist's shining moments.

This display of domestic skill had earned He Gu plenty of praise as "the Omega people most wanted to marry."

Sheng Nian was speechless. He did not think "most wanted to marry" sounded like much of a compliment.

In the original plot, however, everyone had gone into the kitchen to help. Unable to stand how intimate Jiang Shu and He Gu looked as Jiang Shu helped him, like a married couple, Sheng Nian had even volunteered to help. In reality, he had gone in to cause trouble, making He Gu look so good by comparison that he gained a wave of fans and even grew closer to the top protagonist.

Ugh, I've already made myself this inconspicuous. Why won't He Gu leave me alone?

Sheng Nian pressed his lips together and entered the kitchen.

The main villa's kitchen was large. Even with He Gu, Jiang Shu, Ye Heng, and the others working inside, it did not feel crowded.

Sheng Nian looked around and discovered that He Gu seemed to be preparing a feast. Not only had he kneaded dough for noodles, he had even mixed fillings for steamed buns and wontons, not to mention the pot of oil that looked ready for frying dough sticks and the stove with congee simmering on it...

It was only breakfast, yet he seemed determined to turn it into an imperial banquet.

Sheng Nian looked at He Gu. Is something wrong with him? Making work out of nothing.

Seeing him stand still, He Gu walked over and said gently, "It's all right if you don't want to do anything. You can go sit outside."

Sheng Nian: "???"

[Seriously? Everyone else is helping, but Sheng Nian is too precious for that?]

[Exactly. So what if Sheng Nian really is a rich young master? Our boy comes from a wealthy family too, and isn't he still helping in the kitchen?]

[I really can't stand seeing Sheng Nian act like he's never had to lift a finger. It's so annoying!]

[How can he have the nerve to do nothing and just wait to eat?]

Sheng Nian could already imagine how the livestream comments would tear into him after He Gu's remark.

That would not do. At this rate, his self-salvation progress might go down instead of up.

Besides, wasn't He Gu saying this precisely because he wanted Sheng Nian to lose his temper and refuse, letting He Gu naturally improve his own image by comparison?

Not a chance! Just watch me deal with this fake innocent!

Sheng Nian clutched his chest and said in a simpering voice, "He Gu, I understand that you want to make everyone a nice breakfast, but... but we have filming tasks today. Making such a lavish meal is exhausting for everyone."

As soon as he finished, he saw the gentle smile freeze on He Gu's face.

He did not stop there, continuing in that cloyingly sweet voice, "Jiang Shu has hardly ever done this kind of work before. It really hurts me to see it. I'd be fine with just a sandwich. Can we please not make Jiang Shu cook breakfast?"

"Besides, the breakfast from the estate's kitchen would have been perfectly good. It's not very nice to make everyone help just for one meal. What if they don't like it but feel too embarrassed to say anything?"

Watching He Gu's expression sour, Sheng Nian casually delivered his final line. "He Gu, I'm a straightforward person, so my words might not sound very nice, but I mean well. You won't hold it against me, will you?"

[I've wanted to say this for ages. If you want to show off, don't drag other people in to make yourself look better, okay? What are the other guests supposed to do? They'll get criticized if they don't help, but if they do, they won't get any of the credit.]

[Isn't this just making the other guests suffer in silence without being able to complain? Tsk, tsk, how calculating...]

[Exactly. Our boy is a rich young master too. Why should he have to help you make breakfast? This isn't even a Production Team task!]

He Gu stared at the simpering Sheng Nian before him as though meeting him for the first time.

Was this really the same brainless, bad-tempered young master Sheng Nian from before?

[Ding~ Congratulations, host. You have gained 0.2% Male Supporting Character Self-Salvation Progress and 20 System Coins. Current progress: 6%. Please keep up the good work.]

The little Sheng Nian in the transparent bubble was already humming as though he had won a battle. Yan Feizhuo, who had been about to step forward and help, could not help smiling at the sight. The young master was quite capable.

However, he glanced at He Gu, then raised a hand to summon the butler and said a few words to him.

Soon, the uniformed butler stepped forward and said with a smile, "Good morning, honored guests. Breakfast is ready."

Sheng Nian blinked. "Uncle Butler, has the estate prepared breakfast?"

"Yes. Please proceed to the dining room. Breakfast is served buffet-style, with dishes from across the interstellar regions, all prepared by specially hired star chefs. You may choose whatever you like."

After saying that, the butler added, "The kitchen has specially prepared the shrimp dumplings and crab roe buns Young Master Sheng mentioned wanting yesterday. Sir instructed us to prepare them yesterday."

"Oh~ So the estate has already made breakfast."

Sheng Nian heavily emphasized "already made" and gave He Gu a meaningful look.

[I'm speechless. The estate already made breakfast, so what is He Gu doing? Does he think those star chefs aren't as good as him?]

[What else? Showing off!]

[This is so annoying. The guests already have a heavy filming schedule. Why waste their time like this?]

[I'm cheering for the butler, hahahaha! He's sneakily scoring points for Mr. Yan!]

Looking at He Gu's increasingly ugly expression, Sheng Nian could barely keep himself from laughing.

[Ding~ Congratulations, host. You have gained 3% Male Supporting Character Self-Salvation Progress and 300 System Coins. Current progress: 9%. Please keep up the good work.]

Hearing the system announcement, Sheng Nian felt his happiness practically overflow.

He Gu's face had gone pale in the time it took the butler to say those words.

Tears immediately welled in his eyes, and he looked as though he might crumble at any moment. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I only wanted to make everyone a meal..."

As he spoke, tears fell at just the right moment, as though he had been terribly bullied.

Sheng Nian really wanted to roll his eyes, but this act worked very well on Jiang Shu and Ye Heng.

Ye Heng stepped forward. "Sheng Nian, don't push your luck. He Gu meant well."

"How was I..."

Sheng Nian was about to argue when Jiang Shu spoke. "Enough, Sheng Nian."

Sheng Nian was utterly speechless, but he could not act out of character, so he could only pretend to be deeply hurt. "Jiang Shu, you're snapping at me? You're horrible! I'm not talking to you anymore!"

With that, he turned and walked out, looking thoroughly infuriated by Jiang Shu's favoritism.

Yan Feizhuo glanced at them, then turned to follow Sheng Nian.

The other guests had witnessed quite a show first thing in the morning and did not know what to say. Only the ever-amiable Mo Yuanyuan and Best Actor Mu offered a few perfunctory pleasantries.

In the end, the other guests all headed to the dining room for breakfast, leaving Jiang Shu and Ye Heng in the kitchen to comfort He Gu.