Chapter 23: A Simple "Heh" Hurts the Most

Koukou: @Northern Sauce, the first batch of Northern Sauce meme merchandise has already been made. Please take a look.

Yun Xuan opened the images attached to the official account and paused in surprise.

The body pillows and posters were exquisitely crafted, as well as T-shirts, delicate pendants, and figurines.

It had only been a few days, yet the project had reached such a level—far exceeding Yun Xuan’s expectations.

Northern Sauce: @Koukou, that’s amazing, I really like them. It would be even better if you could give me one in advance. (laughs)

...

At Koukou Company, Ding Dang looked at Northern Sauce’s reply and, thinking of Yun Xuan, couldn’t help but be impressed.

If it were any other teenager, they would have already posted photos, eager to attract countless fans.

But Yun Xuan hadn’t done any of that—he’d always kept a low profile.

“Sister Ding Dang, what does this Teacher Northern actually look like?” asked the girl in charge of producing the Northern Sauce meme merchandise, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

“He’s a handsome young man. By the way, get me a hundred posters ready; I’m going to Fangyu City soon,” Ding Dang suddenly remembered her assignment from the higher-ups.

“Posters? Do you want Teacher Northern’s autograph? Sister Ding Dang, can you take me with you?” the girl pleaded coquettishly.

“Next time, for now too many people can’t know about Teacher Northern. I’m afraid you’ll end up sharing selfies with him again, just like last time,” Ding Dang shook her head with a wry smile.

...

Yun Xuan exited the official account. Before he could shut down his computer, a message from Ding Dang popped up.

Ding Dang: Teacher Northern, we think autographed posters would be even better. I plan to bring a hundred copies for you to sign. When will you be available?

Northern Sauce: Probably on the 14th. I’ll be traveling soon.

Ding Dang: All right, I’ll come to Fangyu City on the 14th.

Northern Sauce: When will the merchandise go on sale?

Ding Dang: It will coincide with the release of the second batch of your memes.

Yun Xuan smiled at this reply. When the second batch of memes dropped, there would be another frenzy. Promoting at that time would surely create even more excitement than now.

After chatting with Ding Dang a bit more, Yun Xuan learned that she had become the chief coordinator for the Northern Sauce merchandise production team—a role he found impressive.

He turned off his computer and went straight to sleep.

...

The popularity of the Northern Sauce memes was not embraced by everyone—for instance, Blackfire Studio.

In just a week, the Northern Sauce meme pack had shot to the top of the download charts!

Blackfire Studio also produced memes, based on their own cute original character, yet their packs only saw lukewarm success. Seeing the simple line-drawn Northern Sauce memes explode in popularity left the Blackfire team feeling indignant.

When they noticed even merchandise was being released, they immediately reposted and published a message.

Blackfire Studio: @Northern Sauce, such simple lines, yet you’ve managed to hype this up with paid bots—did you ever recoup your costs? Must be nice to have such a wealthy studio.

As soon as this message went out, Northern Sauce’s fans responded in force. Within minutes, Blackfire’s post had garnered over a thousand replies, all remarkably uniform.

Windy Qixi: Heh.

Pure Little Dragon: Heh +1

Starlit Night: Heh +1

Nangong Xiaoxiao: Heh +1

Unrivaled Elegance: Heh +1

...

As expected, when Yun Xuan woke up the next morning and saw the post, he, too, replied with just two characters: Heh.

Blackfire Studio’s post went viral, but what spread were those two mocking syllables. The reposts had people in stitches—this was hailed as the year’s best satire.

Blackfire’s meme download count did rise, but every review simply said, “Heh.” Frustration mounted within the studio.

Less than ten hours later, Blackfire Studio finally caved under pressure, feeling like the butt of a cosmic joke, and hurriedly released another statement.

Blackfire Studio: @Northern Sauce, Teacher Northern, last night was just a staff member’s joke. Please don’t take it to heart.

Pure Little Dragon: Heh

Windy Qixi: Heh +1

Northern Sauce’s Fans: Heh +1

Yun Qianxuan: Heh +1

Tom: Heh +1

...

At the gates of the Culinary Academy in the island nation.

“Pfft—hahaha!” Nangong Xiaoxiao, phone in hand, burst out laughing, all pretense of ladylike composure forgotten as she read the comments under Blackfire’s new message.

“Miss Nangong, what’s so amusing?” The purple-haired girl beside her, dressed in the academy’s signature violet sailor uniform, frowned slightly.

“It’s something from Huaxia—really funny. Scarlet Moon, want to visit Huaxia with me?” Nangong Xiaoxiao grinned.

“No thanks. I want to win the title of Spirit of Cuisine this time, so I need to focus. Once I do, I’ll apply for graduation, head to Huaxia, defeat all their chefs, and become the God of Food,” the purple-haired girl replied with solemn determination.

“Then I wish you luck. But it won’t be so easy this time. From what I’ve heard, she might personally preside over the Spirit War—the annoying three-time champion,” Nangong Xiaoxiao said softly.

“She’s hosting the Spirit War?” The purple-haired girl’s face turned pale, her fists clenched.

That legendary woman—a three-time Spirit of Cuisine champion, hailed as the God of Food—had shattered her painstakingly crafted dish with nothing more than a plate of egg fried rice a year ago.

If not for her overwhelming fame, which made both the academy and Huaxia’s culinary world cry foul, she would likely have won a fourth consecutive title this year.

...

At Yun Xuan’s house, nine in the morning.

“So you two are Xiao Xuan’s classmates? Welcome, and thank you for joining us,” Yun Xuan’s mother, Yun Xuner, warmly greeted Qin Yue and Nangong Xiaomeng.

“Thank you,” Nangong Xiaomeng replied quietly, shy under Yun Xuner’s gaze.

Qin Yue said nothing; she was already content just being with Yun Xuan.

“Xuan, I’m ready,” Lin Qingyu entered, lugging a large suitcase.

“Then let’s go,” Yun Xuan glanced at the time.

The six of them left the house and, in a pre-booked car, headed for the airport.

It was Yun Xuan’s first time flying—though, as for “crashing the plane,” he had plenty of experience.

Seated by the window, he couldn’t help but wonder if the plane would fall out of the sky...

But his worries proved unfounded. Not only did every seat come with a parachute, but the plane itself, even in a crash, could guarantee a shock-free landing.

This plane was built with the latest technology, equipped with anti-gravity landing capabilities. Yun Xuan didn’t know the specifics; he only knew that there had never been a plane crash reported in this world.

As the plane soared through the clouds, Yun Xuan gazed out the window, his mind wandering elsewhere.

He wondered what delicacies awaited at the Culinary Academy...

The thought of the Spirit Duels reminded him of “Food Wars” and all sorts of earthly delights.

“Ding-dong...” The system notification chimed.

PS: Heh, hahahahahaha. Please send me your recommendations.