“Host, my permissions aren’t high enough…”

Gui Gui said her permissions weren’t high enough, which meant there was definitely a problem!

But knowing her uncle’s personality, Mingmei knew the person in front of her was being played live by someone who’d logged on from who-knows-where!

The siblings exchanged a knowing, strange smile in secret.

“Really? I also think I’m very handsome~”

Mei Qiu acted like nothing had happened and shamelessly accepted his sister’s “praise.”

Then, he turned to Wang Wenfei, who was standing not far behind him, staring at them in surprise, and waved. “Don’t space out. Look, the food sold at this window is different from the others. Do you want to try it?”

Hearing her older brother "drumming up business" for her, Mingmei’s expression softened a little. Wang Wenfei also snapped out of her daze from the two's previous chat and focused on Mingmei once more.

Mingmei couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination, but Wang Wenfei’s gaze seemed a little off.

It wasn’t just now, though. Mingmei remembered that almost every time she met Wang Wenfei, her first gaze would linger for a long time, and then—

“Okay, great. I wanted to try some new food. Can I buy the boxed lunches here?”

Sure enough, as soon as Wang Wenfei finished speaking, both of their systems notified them about the Mysterious Merchant’s transaction.

Every transaction with Wang Wenfei seemed to go smoothly.

Even the comments section, which likely had people from Lu Xiaoyao’s stream, lamented—

[Hey, when will our daughter be able to buy boxed lunches so easily?]

It was clear they were long-time fans who watched Lu Xiaoyao’s streams every game.

[By the way, what’s our daughter doing now? Isn’t she coming to the cafeteria to eat?]

The viewers in the live streams were jumping back and forth between streams. Several had already arrived at the kitchen, and Lu Xiaoyao, who always called herself a foodie, wasn’t there at mealtime. It was really strange.

[She’s stuck at work because she was simping for General Mei earlier and didn’t finish her work. Her boss made her stay to finish it before she can leave.]

[…]

Over on Mingmei’s side, while Wang Wenfei was looking at the boxed lunch information, she was also checking the details.

[1. Spicy Crayfish Tails Boxed Lunch: Detects hidden insectoids after consumption, 2 academic credit points/portion; 2. Yu Xiang Rou Si Boxed Lunch (stir-fried pork with garlic sauce): Quickly replenishes consumed mental energy, 2 academic credit points/portion.]

[Gui Gui! Is my uncle crazy? The academic credit points for the boxed lunches are so high?!]

No wonder Wang Wenfei had hesitated for so long. Mingmei looked at the two boxed lunches, especially the crayfish tails one. How could it cost so many academic credit points?

It wasn't just Mingmei. Wang Wenfei was also dumbfounded. Was this boxed lunch trying to rob them?!

She looked up at Mingmei again, but couldn’t discern anything from the other woman’s face.

“Not hungry?”

Mei Qiu stared at Wang Wenfei, and seeing that she hadn’t made a move, he secretly glanced at Mingmei. Seeing that she was also staring blankly at the boxed lunch, he was about to urge her again when another voice cut in.

“Excuse me, can I get two portions of the boxed lunch first?”

Mingmei and Mei Qiu looked over and saw Mu Chen walking over.

Noticing Mei Qiu’s scrutinizing gaze, Mu Chen gave a military salute, but Mei Qiu interrupted him halfway, saying that it was break time and there was no need for formalities.

As if Mu Chen’s words had snapped her back to reality, Wang Wenfei turned to look at Mu Chen again. She had been hesitant just now, but hearing that he was taking two boxes, she also made up her mind.

“Please give me two boxes.”

In the blink of an eye, 3.6 academic credit points came in. Mingmei’s surprised but happy little expression didn’t fade until Mu Chen stood in front of her.

“There are auroras outside tonight. Do you want to go see them together?”

As soon as Mei Qiu left with Wang Wenfei, Mu Chen got straight to the point with Mingmei as he got his boxed lunches.

Mu Chen’s gaze was sincere and passionate. Mingmei couldn’t help but blush when she looked up and met his eyes.

This was just a game!

Snap out of it!

Mingmei felt that Mu Chen was being too blatant in front of her second brother, but when Mu Chen mentioned that the auroras here were a shade of light purple that she’d never seen before, Mingmei suddenly felt like, maybe, it wouldn’t hurt to go see the auroras?

Mingmei: Yeah, I’m just going to see the auroras!

Before, everyone could only peep and ship the couple through Lu Xiaoyao’s stream.

But this time!

Wow!

Witnessing Mu Chen’s invitation to the Mysterious Merchant up close caused the entire live stream to explode.

[I’m a sinner! I clearly wanted to see the truth about the Sigma Military Base incident, but here I am shipping a couple?!]

[Wuwuwu, so it’s so easy to ship real people and NPCs? Next time I play a game, I’m going to find a handsome NPC to build rapport with! Just in case?]

[The Merchant Girl is blushing! Ahhh, so cute! Her face is turning red. She looks like a strawberry smoothie! I want to kiss her!]

[Damn! Can you even say that about food?]

[Ahahahaha, guess what I saw? Go to that Secretary Wenfei’s stream. Ahahahaha, General Mei is jealous! He’s jealous!]

A sentence on the comments section suddenly attracted the attention of many people. Switching streams, the viewers saw Mei Qiu sitting with his back to Mu Chen, his hands having twisted the metal cutlery into a pretzel.

“Vice General?”

Wang Wenfei was a little confused, not knowing why Mei Qiu suddenly seemed angry.

“It’s nothing, I’m fine, I’m not angry~”

Wang Wenfei: “…”

She hadn’t even asked anything. Was this an admission without being questioned?

Perhaps Wang Wenfei’s gaze was too obvious, so Mei Qiu said to her earnestly, “In the future, don’t just casually agree when boys ask you out. Girls have to be reserved, even if they’re good-looking.”

Wang Wenfei: “…”

Why did Mei Qiu seem like her dad at this moment?

“Even if you like each other, it’s still not okay! Hmph! You have to set obstacles and tests for the other person. Only when the whole family approves in the end will it be okay!”

Wang Wenfei: “…”

The comments section flooded with […].

[What happened to the dashing and unrestrained General Mei Qiu? Why does he look like an old fogey here?]

[Um… General Mei Qiu isn’t implying that Mu Chen is bad, is he?]

[Pfft~ I was shipping a rare pair for a second, but… ah, is General Mei playing the role of the old father?]

[Damn! The person in front of you is shipping something so outrageous?]

[If they look good, why can’t they be a couple?!]

……

Over on Mingmei’s side, Mei Qiu, who had agreed to Mu Chen's proposal, naturally saw what his older brother was saying to Wang Wenfei through the stream. For a moment, he didn’t know how to describe it.

[Gui Gui, does my brother… know that I can watch the live stream?]

[Host, I don’t know either~ I don’t have that permission.]

Mingmei: …

On the other side, Wang Wenfei planned to end the topic with Mei Qiu and start eating seriously. But as soon as she opened the spicy crayfish tail boxed lunch, Wang Wenfei’s expression instantly changed.

“This… this is crayfish?”

Wang Wenfei almost threw the spoon in her hand.

Although it didn’t have a head, the hard shell and tail looked like a miniature version of some kind of insectoid, didn’t it?!

[!!! WTF! What is this boxed lunch!! Is this some kind of insectoid larvae?!]

[I can’t do this anymore, I’m going to throw up!]

[Damn! This boxed lunch!!!]

[Hey, hey, hey! You guys, is that necessary? Wasn’t the development and utilization of insectoid corpses proposed a long time ago?]

[Yeah, didn’t someone at the research institute suggest the edibility of insectoids?]

[The proposal is far from complete application, right? Although I’ve heard about eating insectoid meat, but… but who can stand eating meat and seeing this dense, shelled thing!]

Hearing what the comments section said, Mingmei also lowered her head and opened the spicy crayfish tail boxed lunch, carefully observing it. The tip of her nose was filled with the spicy and savory aroma of the crayfish and spices.

“It looks quite appetizing… it’s not that disgusting, is it?”