The Top Star Fell for Me at First Sight After I Transmigrated as a Dog-Like Streamer - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Long Live the Meal

Bai Xun followed Yu Congyue into the elevator. He froze for a few seconds when he saw the small sign next to the button for the 60th floor. He recalled scrolling through a post on “Little Sweet Potato” a few days ago about the city’s highest-end restaurants. If he remembered correctly, this place was ranked #1.

Adam’s apple bobbed as he struggled to hide the excitement in his eyes. He felt a sudden wave of relief that his outfit today wasn’t “disgusting.”

A waiter quickly led them to a corner booth by a floor-to-ceiling window. Perhaps this was the nature of high-end establishments—there were very few tables occupied. As soon as they sat down, menus were presented.

Bai Xun stared at the menu, mesmerized. Yu Congyue didn’t rush him, casually flipping through the wine list instead.

“Brother Yu, I can’t choose. Why don’t you do it?”

Faced with a list where everything looked delicious, he sighed and looked at Yu Congyue with wide, pleading eyes, seeking help. Yu Congyue, clearly enjoying this, closed his wine list and thought for a moment.

“Their beef quality is excellent. How about the T-bone? You get to taste two different cuts that way.”

“Whatever you say.”

Yu Congyue summoned the waiter and ordered with practiced ease. “For starters, we’ll have the steak tartare and the seared scallops—swap the yam puree for pumpkin puree. A Caesar salad, and for the main, a T-bone steak, about 1400 grams. Grey salt and mint sauce on the side, medium-rare. For sides, roasted mushrooms and gratin broccoli. We’ll do dessert after the meal—raspberry soufflé and sea salt pudding.”

“And to drink, gentlemen?” the waiter asked, scribbling quickly.

“Can you drink?” Yu Congyue asked Bai Xun, whose tail was currently propped up in curiosity. “I’m driving, so I can’t, but don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get home safely.”

Bai Xun nodded decisively. The candlelight made his eyes sparkle, and Yu Congyue felt his heart melting.

“An alcohol-free Gin and Tonic for me, and a glass of Pinot Noir for him.”

…

The Bliss and the Blowback

As the dishes arrived one by one, Yu Congyue’s status in Bai Xun’s mind rose to that of a deity. To a man who hadn’t eaten a proper meal in days, this was heaven. Yu Congyue barely ate, spending most of the time quietly adding meat to Bai Xun’s plate.

Between the sweetness of the tartare and the melt-in-your-mouth steak, combined with the slight buzz from the wine, Bai Xun’s eyes nearly welled up. What kind of miserable life was I living before this? He mentally noted the restaurant’s name; his determination to make money was now unshakable.

Yu Congyue noticed the shift. Seeing the tears threatening to fall, he hurriedly handed over a tissue. “What’s wrong? Is it not to your taste?”

Bai Xun took a deep breath and wiped his eyes, whispering awkwardly, “It’s just too delicious. Don’t laugh at me, Brother Yu. I’ve never had anything this good in my life.”

Yu Congyue felt a pang of sympathy. He found the young man’s pure, unpretentious nature incredibly refreshing. “Then eat more. I’ll take you to try other places when we have time.”

The dinner ended harmoniously. Bai Xun decided that “Big Brother” was a keeper—anyone who fed him this well was a saint. Yu Congyue was already planning the next excuse to ask him out.

…

The Scandal

Bai Xun went home with a doggy bag of leftover steak. He sent a quick thank-you text before crashing into a deep sleep.

He woke up the next morning to 99+ notifications. Everyone was telling him to check the headlines.

[BREAKING: Top Star Yu Congyue Suspected of Bullying Rookie Streamer? Harmony is Just a Facade?]

What? Bullying? Who?

The “leak” was incredibly detailed. It featured a photo of Yu Congyue handing him the tissue, but the angle made it look like he was slapping Bai Xun, who was “crying from fear.”

Bai Xun marched into his kitchen, pulled open the fridge, and started recording a video.

“Do these classless media outlets have any ethics? I’m just a country bumpkin who hasn’t eaten luxury food. Brother Yu was kind enough to take me to dinner—can’t I be a little moved? Who ‘bullies’ someone and then packs them this much food to go?”

His voice trembled with anger as he showed the fridge full of “ugly” vegetables contrasted with the beautifully packed steak bowl. “And don’t say I’m acting. Look at my fridge full of scraps! This beef bowl is perfectly packed with butter and salt on the side. It even has heating instructions! He clearly put thought into this.”

He turned the camera toward his face, showing it from every angle. “And what ‘slap’? I’m speechless. If you guys scare Brother Yu away and he stops taking me to dinner, I’m going to come for you!”

Terrified of losing his “long-term meal ticket,” he posted the video immediately.

…

The Video Call

While chewing on the leftover steak, which still tasted heavenly, his phone rang. It was a video call from Yu Congyue.

“Brother Yu, I really didn’t expect things to turn out like this…” Bai Xun sighed, his tail drooping.

Yu Congyue laughed. He didn’t seem bothered. “Don’t blame yourself. It’s just a tactic to generate ‘black heat.’ Some media or rival fans just want to stir the waters. They don’t care about the truth.” He paused. “I saw your video. Eat in peace. I’ll handle it.”

“But I don’t understand,” Bai Xun muttered, picking at his meat. “You’re so nice. You shouldn’t have to deal with these baseless accusations.”

“Xiao Bai,” Yu Congyue leaned back, smiling through the screen. “In this world, people think I shouldn’t be famous, or shouldn’t make money. There are ‘anti-fans’ who think I’m ugly and only look like this because of surgery. You just have to have a thick skin.”

Bai Xun nodded, though his expression was full of pity. Yu Congyue found it adorable.

“Anyway, stop dwelling on it. If you’re up late tonight, come by this location. We’re filming a variety show outdoors. If you catch the end of it, I can buy you breakfast.” Yu Congyue teased, “Your Brother Yu isn’t so stingy that he’d stop feeding you over a little rumor.”

…

Long Live the Meal

After the call, Bai Xun checked the “anti-fan” sites out of curiosity. He was horrified by the distorted photos and malice. However, he didn’t dare act impulsively again.

He focused on editing his next video. As the sun set, he checked his “rebuttal” video’s stats. It was exploding. Interestingly, the top comments weren’t about the scandal anymore.

[Does anyone else think the host is way more handsome than in his livystreams? The filters were too heavy before!]

[The way he looks at food… he definitely hasn’t eaten well in a long time.]

[I suggest he shows his face more! This new style is so innovative!]

Suddenly, a new hashtag began trending: #XiaoBaiLongLiveTheMeal

Amidst the joy, some critics accused him of riding Yu Congyue’s coattails. Bai Xun tried to ignore them, but a heated argument broke out in his comments. He sent a private apology to one of the critics and deleted the comment, only to find he’d been blocked seconds later.

Well, he thought, that’s social media for you.

He packed his camera. It was time to go out and finish his next masterpiece.