Who knew Boss Shen was like this!

"There's nothing worth praising. I hear this stuff every day, the same lines over and over. I've heard it so much my ears are growing calluses."

Shen Chuan kept methodically rolling out the dough without even lifting his eyes. He waved a casual hand, looking utterly fed up with the endless stream of praise.

[Ding, Show-off Points +50!]

[Ding, Show-off Points +48!]

[Ding...]

As the system's notifications of incoming points sounded one after another in his ears, Shen Chuan was secretly pleased. New customers really were thin-skinned; it was so easy to get the numbers up.

The flattery Wen Yang had just prepared stuck in his throat, and he could not get a single word out. The lively chorus of praise around them abruptly fell silent, and things instantly became awkward.

Seeing this, Jiang Wenyan silently handed over the packaged scallion pancakes, understanding perfectly.

These newcomers had yet to figure out Boss Shen's way of doing things.

He, for one, was already used to the way Boss Shen spoke and could now ignore it completely.

Wen Yang quickly recovered and hurried to smooth things over. "The fact that everyone says the same thing proves that everyone feels the same way! It's genuine recognition of your cooking skills, Boss Shen!"

Cui Xiaobo's fans nodded along in agreement, smiles plastered on their faces, but inwardly they were all stunned.

Who knew Boss Shen was like this!

The university students had all arrived fairly late today. Since Jiang Wenyan had not managed to pick Shen Chuan up, they had not set out. Only after Jiang Wenyan picked him up and messaged them did they leave. When they arrived, they all ended up near the back of the line, and only now were their turns gradually coming around.

Really, the best way to eat these was to take them back to the dorm and enjoy them in a nice, cool, air-conditioned room.

Or take them home-either way was fine. Anything was better than being hot and crowded here.

But they simply could not hold back.

Waiting so long made them hungry, and there were people eating scallion pancakes right beside them. Not only was the aroma multiplied several times over, but every last one of them was putting on an impromptu mukbang.

It left everyone craving the food desperately, their mouths watering, and this state continued to affect them all.

So after buying their pancakes, they did not return to campus. Instead, they crowded into the open spaces around the stall to eat. The crisp crusts crunched as they bit into them, and when they reached the filling, the rich aroma of scallions drifted everywhere again.

The flower bed was the most popular spot. The students sat all around it, not minding the heat or the crowding. Each held a pancake and ate with their head down, and hardly anyone even spoke.

They were truly hungry and craving food today, and queuing had been exhausting. Everyone was determined only to dig in, with no interest in chatting. Only after finishing a pancake and getting something into their stomachs did a few people finally start talking.

"Every time I eat these scallion pancakes, I feel like I've come back to life. Two words: so good."

"People post scallion pancakes on Moments every day. I thought they'd just never had good food before. Turns out I was the one who'd never had good food!"

Once everyone got excited, they could not stop chatting, and the place became lively.

"They're delicious, sure, but my living allowance can't take it. Fifteen each, and I need five to fill up. I've eaten them three days straight, and my allowance is already screaming. But I still can't help it. I just want more."

At a time like this, any subject was fine except money. The moment he brought it up, the students all fell silent, quietly calculating their remaining allowances.

They were all still living on money from their families. Few of them had much to spare, and with only so much allowance each month, they had to budget carefully every single month.

Over these past few days of eating scallion pancakes, the self-control they prided themselves on as adults had vanished. Watching their allowances dwindle, they kept buying pancakes even as they panicked.

The food was delicious. One was not enough, two would not fill them up, and three was the bare minimum.

Three scallion pancakes cost forty-five yuan, a hefty sum for university students.

"No wonder eating comes first in 'eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling.' There's a reason it ranks alongside whoring and gambling as a way to squander money. I've eaten three scallion pancakes for forty-five yuan three days straight, but I hesitated over a forty-five-yuan T-shirt for a whole week and still didn't buy it."

"I wear socks that cost five yuan for fifteen pairs, shirts that cost 9.9 yuan each, and sandals that cost twenty yuan a pair, but don't I still come here for scallion pancakes every day? Now that I do the math, I eat an entire outfit's worth in one meal."

A student trying them for the first time licked the corner of his mouth, his eyes bright. "They really are delicious. No wonder the campus forum has been talking about scallion pancakes these past two days, the noticeboard is all scallion pancakes, and even our classmates' casual conversations are about scallion pancakes. Even the stolen takeout posts have been pushed off the noticeboard."

Hearing this, the classmate beside him finally smiled, his previously serious expression softening. He said solemnly, "Now you believe I wasn't trying to drag you down with me after getting scammed, right? So many classmates said they were good, but you just wouldn't believe it. Good thing you got to taste one, or I'd never have cleared my name."

He gave an embarrassed laugh. This classmate was far too rigid and took everything terribly seriously. All he had done was grumble, "What's so good about scallion pancakes?" when this classmate said the ones on the food street were especially delicious.

But his classmate had insisted on proving just how delicious the scallion pancakes were and dragged him over to queue.

Who would have thought that once he took a bite...

He finally understood why all those fellow students who had eaten the scallion pancakes lately had gone so crazy over them, wanting to come back every day.

So he apologized sincerely.

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have said you were lying. I apologize."

"I was ignorant. I'd never had scallion pancakes this delicious, yet I said, 'What's so good about scallion pancakes?'"

"What a terrible sin. My punishment should be eating three every day from now on!"

His serious classmate nodded in satisfaction at first, but his eyes widened at the last sentence.

Well, someone was dreaming big!

"The students at our university only get to eat these every time because of Jiang! We've got to remind him to cling tightly to Boss Shen's thigh!"

"Exactly! If he needs anything, just say the word. Whatever we can handle, we'll help him sort it out!"

Shen Chuan and Jiang Wenyan both heard these conversations. Jiang Wenyan was not the least bit embarrassed about his classmates saying he was clinging to someone's thigh. Instead, he proudly puffed out his chest.

It was all thanks to his keen eye for talent!

And luck, too, which had brought Boss Shen to set up a stall beside his.

"Boss Shen, tired? Thirsty? I'll get you a cup of lemonade to quench your thirst."

Shen Chuan: ...

With his stall right beside Shen Chuan's and so many customers around, Jiang Wenyan's lemonade business was still dismal. Had he never wondered why?

"No need. I just like drinking mineral water!"

"Then I'll add some ice cubes to your chilled water to make it even cooler!"

Jiang Wenyan bustled back and forth attentively, giving the other customers no chance to fawn over Shen Chuan, terrified that someone might steal his powerful backer.

The classmates still in line were very pleased with his attitude and gave him thumbs-ups.

Jiang Wenyan shot them a look that said, "Keep it low-key," and continued hovering around Shen Chuan.

"Boss Shen, what else do you need me to do?"

Shen Chuan glanced at the line, which had barely changed in length, then at the ingredients, which were almost used up.

"Once we finish this batch, we can close up for the day."