Huh? Isn't This A Galgame?

Little Jiji stood in the center of the room, raised his hands high, spun around, and looked at Wen Nan with pride on his face, "Look at the dishes in this room, each one is my hard work, each one is my treasure. So, Mr. Ye, don't you think they're great? Would you like to choose one to taste?"

Wen Nan glanced around and asked, "Can I only choose one?"

Little Jiji paused for a moment upon hearing this, then burst out laughing, "Of course not! If you like, you can choose one, two, three, whatever you want."

Saying this, she walked to the corner, picked a dish from a row of dishes, and introduced it, "This is the 2.0 upgrade version of the all-vegetarian set, still under development. If you chose the vegetarian set at the table before, I think Xiao Huang would serve you this dish to taste. After all, it's her favorite."

Saying this, she moved to the side and picked up another dish,

"This, the upgraded version of the all-meat set, is Azi's favorite.

"Oh, and this is the hidden dish that Susu would take guests to taste.

"But since you're here with me, things are different. Pick whichever you like."

Wen Nan understood.

This is simply a bonus quest. The three upgraded set meals that Little Jiji mentioned are the key items from three other side tasks.

Besides, it seems every dish in this room has a chance to drop equipment.

Thinking of this, Wen Nan rolled up his sleeves, "Then, shall we taste each one, one by one?"

First, he opened the 2.0 edition of the all-vegetarian set that Little Jiji offered, and without changing his expression, he gulped down a couple of mouthfuls, nodding, "It's worthy of an upgraded version, the taste is more authentic. It must have been at least three years since its original version was discovered."

Little Jiji's eyes brightened upon hearing this, clapping excitedly, "Amazing, amazing, truly someone who understands!"

9527: [Congratulations! Side plot progress has been updated to 23%!]

9527: [Congratulations, player! You have obtained the key item reward for the side plot 'Xiao Huang's Favor'—Little Y.'s Yarn Ball.]

9527: [Little Y.'s Yarn Ball: Little Y. has a natural hostility towards all strangers visiting this villa. When getting close to Little Y.'s range of activity, the hostility will continue to increase.

However, guests need not worry; throwing this yarn ball in front of Little Y. can immediately turn some of the hostility into friendly emotions. The longer Little Y. interacts with the yarn ball, the higher the conversion rate will be.

The yarn ball is an instance-specific item that cannot be taken outside the instance, transferred to other players, or sold in the mall, please be aware.]

Little Y.'s Yarn Ball? Who is Little Y.?

Wen Nan had just placed the item into his equipment standby slot when another plate was handed over beside him.

Seeing the edges of the plate covered in blood and the wriggling antennae of insects that the lid couldn't restrain, Wen Nan guessed without opening the lid that this was the 2.0 edition of the all-meat set.

Sure enough, the moment Little Jiji opened the lid, a moth with tattered wings flew onto his sleeve.

Wen Nan pinched the moth, dipped it in blood, swallowed it, then took the plate, tasting it while giving high praise.

9527: [Congratulations! Side plot progress has been updated to 31%!]

9527: [Congratulations, player! You have obtained the key item reward for the side plot 'Azi's Favor'—Little P.'s Meat Bone.]

9527: [Little P.'s Meat Bone: Although Little P. is warm and hospitable, showing guests a friendly side during their first visit, if guests cannot handle Little P.'s enthusiasm, Little P. will quickly develop hostility.

If guests wish to avoid this, throwing this meat bone to Little P. can prevent hostility from arising, and there's a certain probability to generate friendly emotions. The longer Little P. interacts with the meat bone, the higher the chance of friendly emotions developing.

The meat bone is an instance-specific item that cannot be taken outside the instance, transferred to other players, or sold in the mall, please be aware.]

Placing the meat bone into his equipment standby slot, Wen Nan looked at the third dish eagerly presented by Little Jiji.

It seems this too will drop some emotion-converting item.

Sure enough, after Wen Nan gobbled down an entire plate of "harmful ingredients", a similar system notification echoed in his mind—

9527: [Congratulations! Side plot progress has been updated to 39%!]

9527: [Congratulations, player! You have obtained the key item reward for the side plot 'Susu's Favor'—Little W.'s Gnawing Stick.]

Like the previous two items, this gnawing stick was also designed for character emotion values.

Having tasted three "gourmet meals" in a row, collecting key items from other side tasks, Wen Nan felt like he was getting marinated.

But Little Jiji next to him was overjoyed, with the corners of her mouth almost reaching her ears, giggling, "Meeting a kindred spirit like Mr. Ye is truly a delightful surprise!"

Wen Nan, smiling, entered a mode of mutual flattery, responding with a polite remark, "I'm like a boar eating fine grains; it's mainly Master Little Jiji's culinary skills that are extraordinary!"

Little Jiji, hearing this, appeared slightly displeased, elongating the end of her sentence with an "eh", then raised her arm, stood on tiptoes, put an arm around Wen Nan's shoulder, and gestured him to come closer.

This gesture left greasy dirt from the other's sleeve on Wen Nan's clothes, but he didn't mind much, bending slightly to lend an ear.

Little Jiji then said, "We hit it off right from the start. I'm determined to be your friend. From now on, let's not be so formal with each other, don't always call me Master.

"Starting now, how about I call you Little Jiujiu, and you call me Little Jiji?"

Wen Nan froze for a moment, then looked at the person before him with significance, "Isn't that a bit... improper?"

Calling him Little Jiujiu wasn't a problem, but for a girl, being called such a name...

"What's so bad about it? It's settled then." Little Jiji unilaterally decided, then straightened up and turned to the kitchen counter beside her, "Come, see what you want to try next?"

Wen Nan didn't hold back, picked up the utensils, and tried each dish one by one.

All the while, Little Jiji's increasingly joyful cheers filled the air, while system notifications kept echoing in Wen Nan's mind—

9527: [Congratulations! Side plot progress has been updated to 43%!]

9527: [Congratulations, player! You have obtained this side plot's key item reward—a Random Emotion Card.]

9527: [Congratulations! Side plot progress has been updated to 46%!]

9527: [Congratulations, player! You have obtained this side plot's key item reward—Random Emotion Card x2.]

9527: [Congratulations! Side plot progress has been updated to 49%!]

...

After Wen Nan had tasted every dish in this small research room, he successfully obtained 24 random emotion cards, while the side plot progress was updated to 69%.

Having tasted everything, it was only 69%. Where does the remaining 31% progress lie?

Could it be that he still has to go to another room like this and eat another round? Even if his tongue and esophagus could endure, his stomach capacity couldn't.

As he was pondering, Little Jiji gave Wen Nan's shoulder a strong pat, "Little Jiujiu, I'm so happy today! When one meets a kindred spirit, even a thousand cups aren't enough! I've decided, today I'm going to present to you the last thing I've kept hidden at the bottom of my box!"

Saying so, Little Jiji moved aside another small door, leading Wen Nan inside.

This research room even has another more secret room inside?

Is it really going to be another round of eating?

"Burp."

Wen Nan felt the food he'd just eaten swirling at his throat and if he took one more bite, it would spill over.

Just as Wen Nan was contemplating whether he should politely decline the invitation, Little Jiji took him to an offering table.

Seeing the items placed on that table, Wen Nan froze.