Lin Feng finally sat up straight.
He lifted the teacup, gently blew away the steam, and took his time. His gaze swept across the room, calmly taking in every face that was practically screaming tell us something shocking.
Bi Ji held her breath.
Qian Daoliu stretched his neck.
Bibi Dong and Hu Liena even forgot to sip their pearl milk tea.
Finally.
Under the collective anticipation, Lin Feng spoke.
"Because…"
His voice carried just the right rasp, the kind storytellers used before dropping a truth that could rewrite fate.
Bi Ji's heart jumped to her throat.
It's coming.
The answer that decides the future of the Soul Beast Clan.
"I felt like it."
"Pfft—!"
Hu Liena sprayed a mouthful of milk tea straight back out, three black pearls narrowly escaping a tabletop disaster as she slapped a hand over her mouth.
Qian Daoliu staggered, his forehead smacking the doorframe with a solid thud.
Bi Ji froze.
Completely.
Her mind went blank, as if those three light words had smashed her thoughts into powder.
…What?
I felt like it?
That's it?
The Soul Beast Clan risked a top-secret investigation, crossed species boundaries, swallowed humiliation—
For I felt like it?
Bi Ji wiped nonexistent cold sweat from her forehead, forcing out a stiff smile as her lips twitched dangerously.
"Lord Deity… you truly live as you please."
Lin Feng set the teacup down, clearly satisfied with the reactions.
He rested his chin in one hand, gaze drifting from Bi Ji to Bibi Dong, then to Hu Liena.
For a brief moment, that look carried an unexpected softness.
"I'm just a cook," he said casually.
"I opened a small restaurant."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it filled the room.
"The God Realm? Too boring."
"A bunch of people with a bit of power acting superior, scowling at all living things—what's the fun in that?"
His eyes settled on Bibi Dong. Her face flushed slightly under his gaze, and the smile at his lips deepened.
"I'd rather stay here."
"Watch interesting people eat the food I make, show happy expressions, and slowly grow stronger."
"That's not bad either."
The effect was immediate.
Bibi Dong.
Hu Liena.
Zhu Zhuyun.
Zhu Zhuqing.
All four flushed crimson at the same time, heads lowering unconsciously as their hearts began to race.
So… he's been watching us.
Every smile.
Every breakthrough.
Every moment of growth.
In that instant, Lin Feng's image in their hearts expanded infinitely—no longer just unfathomable, but gentle, a silent guardian enjoying their progress from the sidelines.
Then—
An untimely electronic voice echoed in Lin Feng's mind.
System:Host, if I hadn't recorded everything, I almost would've believed your nonsense.
Watching them grow stronger? You're clearly watching your gourmet points go up.
Gentle? Who was it that left someone unable to straighten her back this morning?
Lin Feng's smile didn't change.
But internally, he exploded.
Shut up! What do you know?! This is image-building! Emotional investment!
System:Tsk. With your acting? Image?
Be honest. You want her body—and her wallet, while you're at it.
"..."
Lin Feng decided the system didn't deserve a response.
Meanwhile, Bi Ji finally clawed her way out of that dangerous tenderness and noticed a glaring blind spot.
A very uncomfortable one.
"W-Wait," she blurted, voice rising despite herself. "C-Cook? Restaurant?"
Lin Feng glanced at her, expression clearly asking if her reaction speed was a bit slow.
He spread his hands.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Obvious?!
Bi Ji nearly choked.
What kind of cook turns Beast God Di Tian into a pig head?
What kind of restaurant has two super Douluo guarding the door?
She seriously suspected this deity thought Soul Beasts were collectively dim-witted and was just messing with her.
Then—
She saw it.
From the back kitchen, another man walked out.
Same face as Lin Feng. Same calm demeanor. Wearing an apron.
That Lin Feng carried a tray stacked with more than a dozen bowls of steaming, golden fried rice piled like small mountains.
"Employee meals are ready!"
Hu Liena's eyes lit up instantly. She dashed over, grabbed the tray, and set the bowls onto an empty table near the door.
Then she turned and shouted cheerfully,
"High Priest! Grand Priest! And—uh—Hippo Douluo? Come eat first!"
"Coming, coming!"
The words had barely landed.
Qian Daoliu.
Bo Saixi.
Sea Horse Douluo.
All three blurred.
In the next second, they were seated properly, bowls larger than their faces in hand, chopsticks flying as they shoveled rice into their mouths without regard for heat.
Urgent. Desperate. As if hesitation meant extinction.
Sea Horse Douluo corrected her mid-bite.
"Little girl, I'm Sea Horse, not Hippo."
Qian Daoliu rolled his eyes, mouth full, scolding indistinctly,
"Hu Liena is Senior's official employee. You're just an unregistered trainee security guard. Eat!"
Bo Saixi said nothing.
She simply ate faster.
Bi Ji: "..."
Her worldview cracked.
Then shattered again.
And it wasn't over.
Almost immediately—
Rumble.
Footsteps thundered from the street outside.
Bi Ji turned instinctively.
Her breath caught.
Dozens of figures sprinted toward the restaurant at full speed.
At the front—over a dozen Titled Douluo.
Among them, two super Douluo.
They rushed inside, didn't even pause to breathe, and skillfully found seats in small groups.
Then, in perfect unison, the hall rang with energetic voices.
"Boss! Order!"