She’s a Passerby, But Can See the Protagonist’s Halo

Lakeside Paradise.

Since all the procedures had already been completed, Chu Bingbing's process of taking possession of her new home went smoothly. The property's dedicated maintenance staff promptly installed a brand-new facial recognition smart lock for the homeowner.

The community offered 24-hour dedicated butler services, with the butler personally delivering packages and takeout to residents' doors. The neighborhood also featured exclusive owner clubhouses, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, badminton courts, swimming pools, gyms, and more—all available for residents to use free of charge.

In addition, almost any service request from residents was met by professionals.

Chu Bingbing grew increasingly satisfied with the neighborhood as she took it all in. The view of the lake from her window and the gardens below made her feel at home, even though she would likely only visit on weekends, given her busy schedule at school. Still, having a place of her own in Bin City was a dream come true, especially with the spacious storage room and walk-in closet that could accommodate her shopping sprees.

Yan and Zhu Jue accompanied Chu Bingbing as they strolled through the expansive community, with a property staff member providing a guided tour. The weather was perfect, and the neighborhood was lively with residents walking their dogs or simply enjoying a leisurely stroll. Chu Bingbing was in high spirits.

"Is that... Best Actress Nie and her husband?" Chu Bingbing thought to herself, feeling a surge of excitement.

What started as a casual walk past some neighbors turned into a moment of awe when she spotted the internationally renowned actress in her natural, makeup-free state. This was an idol she had admired since childhood.

With their dedicated butler service, it was clear that they were new homeowners, just like Chu Bingbing. They belonged to the same social circle, and when their eyes met, Best Actress Nie nodded in Chu Bingbing's direction.

Chu Bingbing forced herself to stay calm and responded with a sweet smile. After taking a few steps, she quickly sent a message to Yan on her phone.

【Chu Bingbing】: OMG OMG OMG! Best Actress Nie just nodded at me! I saw my idol!

As they continued their walk, they noticed a family with a nanny and a housekeeper playing with a child. The lady of the house, with her flawless complexion and elegant demeanor, watched over the scene with a gentle smile, exuding an air of sophistication.

Chu Bingbing blinked, still reeling from the excitement of having a famous actress as her neighbor. Was this what it felt like to be surrounded by the elite?

During her school years, she had encountered classmates whose families employed drivers and housekeepers, but this was on another level. The lady before her had a young nanny for her child, a housekeeper dressed in stockings and a tailored skirt, and even a male butler accompanying her son. For a moment, Chu Bingbing felt like she had wandered onto the set of a high-society drama.

Meanwhile, Yan was busy scanning her surroundings, observing the environment with a keen eye.

The wealthy family that had caught Chu Bingbing's attention didn’t faze Yan. Instead, she was focused on something else entirely—halos.

Yes, Lakeside Paradise was Bin City's most prestigious flat complex, home to billionaires. This made Yan a little nervous, as she wondered if she might encounter another "halo" individual.

Based on her own observations, these halo individuals often appeared ordinary at first glance but possessed extraordinary talents or achievements in one or more areas of life.

Given that Lakeside Paradise was clearly a haven for the successful, it was highly likely that halo individuals resided here.

Yan remained on high alert, hoping that as long as she didn’t recognize anyone, she wouldn’t get dragged into any unusual situations.

Come to think of it, she still hadn’t checked out Zhu Jue’s roommates. Since they lived in different dormitory areas—one in the north and the other in the south—Zhu Jue had been the one coming to her dormitory to meet her lately.

Yan made a mental note to pick an auspicious day to observe Zhu Jue’s roommates, perhaps when they all gathered for a meal.

Fortunately, she hadn’t spotted any halos during her time in Lakeside Paradise, which put her mind at ease.

It seemed that even ordinary people without halos could achieve such success and live in such a luxurious community. This realization brought her a sense of comfort.

Chu Bingbing suddenly received a phone call and decided to stay back instead of returning to school. Yan and Zhu Jue politely bid her farewell.

The property butler drove them to the community entrance in the exclusive courtesy car. By then, it was already past 1 p.m. Although they had snacked on some fruit in the VIP lounge earlier, Yan’s stomach was growling with hunger.

"What should we eat?" she wondered aloud, tapping her chin. Since they were already out, there was no way she was going back to the school cafeteria.

"Barbecue, hotpot, or grilled meat? It’s a bit hot for that today, though."

Frowning, Yan opened a review app to search for nearby restaurants. "I wonder if the places around here are expensive."

"Omakase Japanese cuisine? Hmm, not in the mood. It’s 2,000 per person—way out of my budget," she muttered, quickly scrolling past.

"Michelin one-star vegetarian restaurant? That requires a reservation," Zhu Jue chimed in, also browsing.

Their visit to Lakeside Paradise had been unexpected, but it was no surprise that a neighborhood filled with billionaires had restaurants where a single meal could cost an average person a month’s living expenses.

"Lakeside Dock, a fusion restaurant where you can dine on a boat. 800 per person? Nah, forget it."

"Hey, there’s a small place here."

After scrolling past a string of restaurants with three- and four-digit price tags, Yan stumbled upon a modest-looking eatery with no advertisements and a price of 288 per person. It felt like hitting the jackpot.

"Chu’s Little Eatery. It looks simple, but with a price like that, it’s probably a hidden gem with high-quality ingredients, right?"

The humble name and the relatively high price didn’t quite match, and the restaurant had only a handful of reviews. There were no set menus or recommended dishes, making it seem like a place frequented by regulars. It was likely run by an older owner who didn’t bother with promotional deals.

"Fried rice is the best! Absolute perfection! I’d eat the owner’s fried rice for the rest of my life!"

"Small place, brought here by a friend. Exceeded expectations. Limited menu, but every dish is top-notch. Only open on weekends, with limited ingredients—first come, first served."

Reading these reviews, Yan felt confident. This was definitely a hidden gem for foodies. She made up her mind: this was the place.

Zhu Jue checked the distance—only 800 meters away, with plenty of shade along the way. They didn’t even need an umbrella. Hand in hand, they followed the navigation to the restaurant.

"Chu is a pretty rare surname, isn’t it? Jue, don’t you have a roommate with that last name?" Yan suddenly remembered.

Zhu Jue nodded. "Chu Shen. His family is from Bin City. He leaves every Friday after class."

Lin Fan, Ye Ping’an, Xiao Qingnang, Yuan Ye, and Chu Shen—Zhu Jue’s five roommates had names that were easy to remember.

Each of them had their own distinct personalities, and there was an air of mystery about them.

Unlike typical college dormitories where young men quickly became close, calling each other "bro" or joking around, Zhu Jue’s roommates seemed more mature and world-weary.

For example, Xiao Qingnang addressed him as "Brother Zhu," while Lin Fan’s meticulously folded bedding and aloof demeanor set him apart. In contrast, Ye Ping’an, who loved live-streaming gear, and Yuan Ye, who hid Lolita dresses and Hanfu in his closet, seemed more eccentric. Compared to them, the reserved Chu Shen and Zhu Jue himself felt like the most normal people in the group.

They arrived at Chu’s Little Eatery, which wasn’t located on the main road. After walking 800 meters and navigating through a few alleys, they found themselves in front of a narrow, old-fashioned house. Despite its proximity to the luxurious Lakeside Paradise, the restaurant looked like it had been untouched by time.

How had this place escaped demolition?

The sign for Chu’s Little Eatery gave Yan a nostalgic feeling, as if she had stepped back into the 1980s or 1990s. Peering inside, the place seemed dimly lit.

"Is this the right place?" Yan wondered.

It was still lunchtime, so she mustered her courage and stepped inside, only to find the small restaurant packed with people.

The ground floor was modest in size, with only six four-person tables, all fully occupied. Men, women, young, and old were seated together, clearly sharing tables.

"Everyone’s eating fried rice," Zhu Jue observed. Every diner had a plate of fried rice in front of them. Some were devouring it at an astonishing speed, while others, like an elderly man, savored each bite as if it were a delicacy.

Yan’s eyes landed on a small blackboard hanging on the wall, displaying the day’s date and menu.

【Today’s Special: Fried Rice, 288 per serving】

【One serving per person. Self-serve water.】

A small restaurant that only serves fried rice with eggs, and a plate of fried rice costs 288 yuan? No wonder the review app shows an average cost of 288 yuan per person!

But the state of the people eating in this restaurant seems a bit off, doesn’t it? They look like they’re on drugs. Is eating a meal really supposed to make you act like that?

Yan and Zhu Jue instinctively took a step back. They decided to discreetly take out their phones and call the police. Something felt seriously wrong—it was as if the food in this restaurant had been laced with something dangerous.

At that moment, a young man wearing a headscarf and a chef’s uniform walked out of the small restaurant, carrying two plates of fried rice with eggs.

From a distance, he noticed the two figures at the door and casually called out, “Sorry, we’re full right now. You’ll have to wait a bit. Today, we’re only serving fried rice with eggs, which might not suit everyone’s taste. You might want to try somewhere else.”

Yan: !

Oh my god, a new halo has appeared.

**[Chef God System]**

These four characters stood out brightly in the dimly lit little restaurant.

Yan’s earlier suspicion that she had stumbled into a drug den immediately vanished.

Listen to that! The owner is so confident, completely indifferent to customers. His words might as well be a dismissal.

While Yan was still stunned by the **[Chef God System]** halo, Zhu Jue, who was standing beside her, took a step forward and let out a puzzled sound.

“Chu Shen?”

“Huh?” The man who was called by his name froze for a moment. He narrowed his eyes, walked closer, and upon recognizing the two, his face showed clear surprise.

Chu Shen’s gaze lingered on Zhu Jue and his girlfriend, and he sighed inwardly. What a coincidence—how did his roommate find him here?

“Brother Jue, how did you two end up here? Come on in.” The young man with the headscarf and a handsome face gestured for them to enter.

Yan and Zhu Jue exchanged a glance, silently communicating without words.

However, there were no available seats in the small restaurant. Just as Chu Shen, the possessor of the Chef God halo, was about to look around, someone immediately stood up.

“Friends of Boss Chu? Come sit here. I’ve just finished eating.”

The speaker was a chubby man with narrow eyes, who was smiling as he and his thin friend quickly got up. Yan noticed that their plates were still half-full, but the two of them simply picked up their plates and went outside to finish their meal.

Yan’s eyes widened in surprise. She felt a bit awkward. “Is this really okay?”

Chu Shen waved it off. “It’s fine. They’re used to it.”

He glanced at the two regular customers and added, “Next time you come, I’ll give you a free side dish.”

As soon as he said this, almost every customer in the restaurant stood up in unison.

Yan and Zhu Jue were immediately pulled in different directions.

“Miss, sir, come sit here!”

“Take my seat, hurry up and sit down. Don’t tire yourselves out.”

In an instant, the two of them became the center of attention in the restaurant. Over twenty pairs of eyes were fixed on them. A girl grabbed Yan’s arm, while an elderly man tugged at Zhu Jue.

For a moment, Yan felt as if she had become a celebrity, surrounded by adoring fans.

And all of this was thanks to the Chef God standing before them.

These customers were going crazy just for the chance of a free side dish! It was terrifying!

Just as Chu Shen’s earlier words had caused a stir, he now took control of the chaotic scene with a single sentence.

“Alright, they’ll take those seats. If you keep causing a fuss, I’ll cut your portions in half next time.”

In an instant, all the customers turned into well-behaved schoolchildren, quietly continuing to eat their meals.

Yan was still in a daze. She almost thought she had entered some kind of illusion.

“Don’t worry, you two can sit down,” Chu Shen said to Zhu Jue and Yan.

After all, this was the first time his roommate and girlfriend had come to visit. He couldn’t let them feel unwelcome.

Especially since the system had just alerted him to a new task.

**[Special Task: Unexpected Guests]**

**[Task Description: Life is full of unexpected surprises. Your roommate and his girlfriend have suddenly arrived. Show them the power of your fried rice with eggs!]**

**[Task Requirements: Earn a four-star or higher rating and a high level of favorability from the two special guests.]**

**[Task Reward: ???]**

Meanwhile, Yan was cautiously asking a nearby customer, “How do we pay?”

Even though Chu Shen was Zhu Jue’s roommate, they had only known each other for half a month. Based on Yan’s past experiences, accepting favors without reason could lead to trouble.

Yan and Zhu Jue walked over to the counter. While Zhu Jue poured himself a glass of water, Yan quickly paid for the two plates of fried rice—576 yuan in total. She had never spent so much on a meal before, but considering the halo above Chu Shen’s head, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation.

This was the first time she had encountered a halo character with such a practical skill. To think that all these customers were fighting over a free side dish—just how delicious was this food?

Chu Shen was busy at the stove, flipping the wok with practiced ease. Steam rose as golden egg liquid coated each grain of rice. The motion, which he had repeated thousands of times, now carried a fluid beauty. After sprinkling chopped green onions, he plated the fried rice and personally brought the two plates to the table.

After graduating from high school, Chu Shen had planned to close down his grandfather’s small restaurant. But while cooking one day, he accidentally cut his hand, and a drop of blood fell onto an ancient cookbook, activating the Chef God System.

From then on, the Chu family restaurant continued to operate. Every night, Chu Shen practiced his basic cooking skills thousands of times in the Chef God’s space. It wasn’t until July that he officially opened for business. The system had set the price of a plate of fried rice with eggs at 288 yuan, which Chu Shen found absurd but had no choice but to accept.

The locals, thinking he was short on money, came to support him by ordering a plate. But after trying it, they couldn’t stop coming back.

When Bin University started, Chu Shen had intended to close the restaurant to focus on his studies. But the regular customers he had accumulated went crazy. “We’ll die if we can’t eat your fried rice!” an eighty-year-old man tearfully exclaimed. So Chu Shen had no choice but to open the restaurant on weekends.

At the moment, Chu Shen had only unlocked a few recipes. The fried rice with eggs was a beginner’s bonus, and later, an elderly man with a special identity helped him unlock a side dish—vinegar-marinated celery.

This was only the third time Chu Shen had encountered a special task, and it was brought about by his roommate and girlfriend.

Normally, his tasks were simple, like reaching a certain amount of revenue or earning a certain number of five-star reviews from customers. But this special task was different.

For all the customers currently in his restaurant, Chu Shen could see that their satisfaction levels were already at five stars. But this task only required a four-star rating from his roommate and girlfriend. Were they particularly hard to please?

What surprised him even more was that the task reward was a question mark.

The combination of special guests, a low rating requirement, and the need to gain favorability made Chu Shen sense something unusual.

Could it be that the unknown reward was tied to the level of favorability and rating he received?

But this wasn’t something he could control. Chu Shen placed the plates of fried rice in front of Yan and Zhu Jue. “Take your time. If it’s not enough, I can make more.”

His words immediately drew envious looks from the other customers.

“Is this really the same Boss Chu who only serves one plate per person?”

“Chef Chu, I’m your friend too. Can you make me another plate?”

The plates and spoons used for the fried rice were simple white porcelain. Despite Chu Shen’s obvious special treatment, Yan and Zhu Jue assumed it was just his way of being polite to a visiting roommate.

After thanking him politely, the two began to eat. Yan picked up a spoonful of fried rice. She was genuinely hungry.

She took a moment to examine the dish. The golden eggs and chopped green onions coated the rice. There wasn’t even any ham—just the simplest, most basic fried rice.

She took a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up. It was delicious!

Despite the ordinary ingredients, the taste was incredible. Each grain of rice carried the aroma of eggs, yet the natural fragrance of the rice itself was still present. The flavors of the egg and rice blended perfectly, yet each ingredient’s unique taste could still be discerned. It was impossible to stop eating.

As expected of a dish made by a Chef God.

With her expectations already high, Yan couldn’t help but feel that the delicious fried rice lived up to the hype.

Yan and Zhu Jue ate at a leisurely pace, savoring each bite as they finished their plates of fried rice cleanly.

A single serving of fried rice is the standard portion for an adult, and though they instinctively wanted more, they refrained, knowing that eating until 70-80% full is healthier.

By now, the restaurant had emptied of other diners, who had finished their meals earlier. Chu Shen seemed to have hung up the "closed" sign, and the remaining customers, noticing the unusual behavior of the two young people, tactfully left to avoid inconveniencing the boss and risking smaller portions next time.

Zhu Jue took the initiative to return the plates, and as he did, his roommate Chu Shen, now without his floral headscarf, looked at them and asked, "How was the food?"

Yan gave a thumbs-up. "This is the first time I've had fried rice this delicious."

Zhu Jue chimed in, "It was really good. I didn’t know you were such a skilled cook."

Chu Shen smiled at them. "That's great. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Whenever he asked for feedback, the customers' comments would appear in his system. He glanced at the "Customer Management" section of his Chef God system.

Under the two "Special Customers," there was a four-star rating.

Compared to the long list of five-star reviews from other customers, these two four-star ratings were the only ones he had received since opening.

Chu Shen: "..."

He quickly asked, "Is there anything you think could be improved about the fried rice? Feel free to be honest. I really need feedback."

He remembered that Zhu Jue usually ate ordinary cafeteria food in the dorm and wasn’t the type to nitpick, so why only four stars?

Why did you two deduct that one star?

Yan thought for a moment. "Not really. The texture, ingredients, and overall taste were all perfect."

Zhu Jue nodded. "Absolutely perfect."

Chu Shen checked the ratings again. Still four stars, unchanged. Were they just being polite?

The Chef God system's ratings were based on the customers' satisfaction with the food, so Chu Shen didn’t think it was due to pricing or the environment.

He then checked their favorability levels. Turning away, his eyes widened in shock.

It made sense that Zhu Jue's girlfriend, whom he didn’t know, had a favorability of 0.

But Zhu Jue had been his roommate for over half a month! Why was his favorability still 0?

Are you two just emotionally closed off or something?

Normally, after eating his fried rice, even customers with a base favorability of 0 would jump to at least 30. Some even went straight to 50, and regulars were almost at the maximum favorability level.

Because both of them had a favorability of 0, this seemingly simple special task of earning two four-star reviews couldn’t be completed.

Chu Shen felt utterly frustrated. Special tasks always had hidden complexities, but what was going on with his seemingly ordinary roommate and his girlfriend?

"System, can you explain why this is happening? Are you sure the system isn’t malfunctioning? How can someone eat my fried rice and not gain any favorability?" he couldn’t help but ask in his mind.

"The system is functioning normally. No errors detected. The two special customers' favorability toward the Chef God successor remains at zero."

"Please work harder to win over the special customers; otherwise, the task cannot be completed."

The system's response made Chu Shen even more exhausted. Of all people, why did it have to be his roommate and his girlfriend? They really were a perfect match, even in their pickiness.

Chu Shen thought for a moment. The four-star rating meant his fried rice didn’t meet their five-star standard.

In other words, they might have tasted even better fried rice elsewhere?

As for the low favorability, that reflected their feelings toward him as a chef.

Ordinary people wouldn’t hold any ill will toward a chef, and eating delicious food would naturally boost their favorability due to the happiness it brought. The only time Chu Shen had encountered such low favorability was with other chefs who came to inspect his work—after all, there’s always rivalry among peers.

If they were famous chefs who had tasted better fried rice, it would make sense for them to rate his lower. And their hostility toward a fellow chef would explain the zero favorability.

Was this the "special" aspect of the special customers?

But his roommate and her girlfriend were top students at Bin University, studying medicine. How could they possibly be chefs?

Chu Shen shook his head, dismissing the idea.

They were probably just picky eaters. Or maybe he had done something in the dorm that annoyed Zhu Jue, making him dislike him personally?

After the meal, when Chu Shen asked for feedback, Yan took it as the chef’s dedication to his craft. After praising the fried rice, she bid farewell to Zhu Jue.

But the way the Chef God bearer looked at them grew increasingly strange, giving Yan a bad feeling. She quickly grabbed Zhu Jue and made a hasty exit.

They immediately boarded the subway back to Bin University. Yan was terrified of repeating yesterday’s events—one of Zhu Jue’s roommates already had a halo.

And ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌‍as everyone knows, when you spot one extraordinary thing, there’s usually a whole group of them lurking around.

Since childhood, Yan had noticed that people with halos couldn’t be identified through photos or videos; they could only be seen in person with the naked eye.

She needed to quickly check on Zhu Jue’s other four roommates. Yan felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, unable to relax.

Her life was already tumultuous enough; she couldn’t handle any more upheaval.

What Yan and Zhu Jue didn’t know as they rode the subway was that after they left, Chu Shen closed the doors of his small restaurant.

He cautiously asked the system, "System, can I give up on this special task? There will be other special customers in the future, right?"

Though he really wanted more recipes, this pair was clearly too difficult to handle.

"If the special task cannot be completed, the system will not provide ordinary tasks," the system responded coldly.

Chu Shen wiped his face and sat down, pulling out his phone to search, "How to increase a friend’s favorability?"

If he couldn’t win over these two, when would he ever complete his special task?

Damn it, why did Zhu Jue’s girlfriend’s favorability just drop again? It’s now -5!

Oh, great. Please, just tell me what I did wrong!