Who knows how much time passed before Nian Yan finally snapped back to reality. Seeing that it was almost time for breakfast, she realized she'd only made a few steamed buns. Thank goodness those two men were actually reliable. Once they got down to business, the first batch of steamed buns was out of the steamer in no time at all.
Thick, hot steam billowed into the air. The rich aroma of fresh dough and savory meat hit everyone right in the face. The smart terminals could transmit the scent, but there was no way for the viewers to actually taste them. They could only drool as they watched Nian Yan hand one to Leon and hand-feed Lu Zan and Leon each a bun.
Seeing them eat with such huge appetites made the little female incredibly happy, too. Then she looked at the stream interface and gave a sweet smile.
"I actually started today's stream just to thank you all. I'm going to randomly draw a hundred viewers and send each of you a portion of these steamed buns."
Instantly, the stream's giveaway system crashed from the massive traffic.
Meanwhile, at the military headquarters, Felix had also entered the giveaway. Unfortunately, he didn't win.
He thought he must be losing his mind to actually feel disappointed over such a trivial, insignificant little thing. He decided to drop it right then and there. He wouldn't pay any more attention to this little female.
But who would have thought? Not even two seconds later, his terminal suddenly pinged with a notification.
Nian Yan has requested to add you as a friend.
Without a single ounce of hesitation, he accepted the request at light speed. When he found out Nian Yan wanted to mail him a portion of the steamed buns, he immediately told her he was at the military headquarters.
At exactly nine o'clock, the atmosphere in the headquarters was dead serious. Everyone was strictly focused on their work. Suddenly, the marshal strode right toward the main entrance.
Everyone went as quiet as frightened quails. Secretly stealing glances, they noticed the marshal seemed to sign for a package. Then, holding the item carefully against his chest with both hands, he carried it straight back to his office.
Somebody managed to catch a glimpse of what the marshal had received. It was actually steamed buns.
After a brief, stunned silence, the whole room erupted in bewildered disbelief. They simply couldn't believe it. So they sent a brave representative to do some scouting. When the man came back, he completely lost it, venting to his colleagues.
"The marshal is totally rigging things behind the scenes. He claimed Nian Yan sent the buns exclusively to him."
Everyone immediately started guessing that it was because the marshal was Major General Leon's uncle. There was absolutely no way he had some kind of private relationship with Nian Yan.
Leon thought the exact same thing. But still, he couldn't hold back from firing off a message to Felix to boldly declare his territory. He repeatedly emphasized that Nian Yan only saw him as a respectable elder, and that sending him buns was just her way of showing care for her uncle on Leon's behalf. He even praised the little female to the high heavens just to rub it in, and added that a profit-driven uncle like him didn't deserve her at all.
Felix chuckled softly, shaking his head without replying. He had to admit that Leon was right. Only the purest, most sincere, and most passionate love could ever be worthy of a sweet little female like Nian Yan.
After spending decades as a cold-blooded animal in the eyes of everyone else, having a little bunny suddenly throw herself at him, warming him with her own body heat, gave him the thrilling sensation of an old, dry house suddenly catching fire.
Felix sent Nian Yan a text to say thank you. Seeing her call him uncle in every single message, he couldn't help but find it pretty funny. He playfully pointed out that he was only forty-seven, which really wasn't that old. He told her she didn't need to call him uncle, and mentioned that he had prepared a gift for her. It would be delivered by noon tomorrow at the latest.
After finishing her chat with Felix, Nian Yan noticed a black snake avatar blinking in her friend requests. It looked exactly like the young male who had completely lost control on the street. She accepted the request and confirmed it was indeed that same boy.
His name was Xia Jili, and he wanted to return her clothes to her. He also wanted to get her a gift.
Nian Yan remembered that he looked like a young student and was probably pretty tight on cash. There was no need for him to waste his money on her, so she politely told him she didn't need anything. Then she packed up a fresh box of steamed buns and secretly shipped them off to him.
Half an hour later, at an underground fighting arena near the central star, Xia Jili sat in the shadows beneath the ring, quietly scrolling through his chat history with Nian Yan.
Suddenly, a man marched over and tossed a clear, insulated container right into his lap. "Hey, Black Mamba. Someone sent you a package."
Xia Jili blankly caught the container. When he saw what was inside, he shot up in his seat, absolutely thrilled. A bright, lively spark instantly returned to his dark, gloomy eyes. He popped open the lid and gently pulled out a piping hot steamed bun.
Right before it was his turn to fight, Xia Jili wolfed down every single one of them. He carefully tucked the empty container away for safekeeping, and only then did he stand up to step into the ring.
In this match, he fought with ferocious speed, crushing his opponent. But just like always, he spared the guy's life, which meant he only took home half the prize money.
Clutching his empty food container, Xia Jili drifted out of the underground arena like a ghost. A small jewelry boutique had just opened for the day. He walked right up and carefully picked out a beautiful blue iris necklace.
Twelve thousand star coins. That was enough to cover four months of his living expenses. But he didn't even hesitate and paid for it on the spot.
Nervously, he sent a text to Nian Yan, telling her that he had bought her a gift, and that it would arrive by tomorrow at the latest.
The very next day, the moment Nian Yan woke up, she found two packages waiting for her. She carefully tore them open. The first box held a stunning necklace, and the second box contained a pair of cute bunny-ear hair clips.
The playful hair clips obviously didn't match Felix's mature vibe, so she naturally assumed that Xia Jili had sent them. She sent them each a sweet text to say thank you, then neatly tucked both gifts away.
On top of that, she also received an elegant invitation to a royal ball. The grand event was scheduled for next month at the royal estate on the central star.