The star network felt exceptionally lonely due to Lu Mingming's rest, but Lu Mingming herself was unaware of this as she prepared for today's live stream.
She planned to make beef rice, selecting the finest sirloin for her ingredients.
Lu Mingming lowered her head to lift the beef from the water, and in the moment she looked up again, over a thousand people had entered the live stream room.
[Jasmine: Did Mingming move to a new home? The layout is very different from before. And what are you making today?]
"Yes, I just moved," Lu Mingming replied.
Spotted by a sharp-eyed regular, Lu Mingming didn't hesitate to get straight to the point: "Today I'm making beef rice. The best part of beef is the sirloin, it's very tender, so I chose sirloin today. Everyone, don't forget to soak it once to remove the blood before cooking."
[Anonymous Account 95: Ah... I don't really like beef, it has a strange smell like lamb, and it's tough to chew. My teeth almost break every time.]
[Everyone Loves Little Rabbit: The user above, trust the streamer! The first meat dish the streamer made was delicious, that egg-coated chicken was amazing! I can't talk anymore! I'm craving it again!]
"The meat you eat has a strange smell because the chef's skills are not good, it has nothing to do with the meat itself," Lu Mingming said truthfully, glancing at the bullet comments.
[Mr. Zombie: This streamer is too arrogant. I hate people who brag falsely the most. Not to mention that pure-blood humans are the lowest of the low, do you think this remote galaxy you're in can become popular through traffic? A loser laughing his head off.]
After this "Mr. Zombie" finished, he was detected by the vigilant moderators as inciting conflict and arguing, and was immediately kicked out of Lu Mingming's live stream, receiving a ban and a gift package. However, his parting words were like a grenade thrown into a calm lake, stirring up several accounts that intended to cause trouble. Naturally, the viewers who liked Lu Mingming became unhappy.
[Everyone Loves Little Rabbit: If it weren't for the remote galaxies supplying energy to those few main planets year after year, do you believe the main planets wouldn't stop functioning and break down in less than a day? Get lost, don't look for trouble.]
[Jasmine: ... That's really bold. Don't they know the officials are conducting strict checks these days? Enforcement officers could arrive at any moment to inspect the live stream room.]
[Sesame Tangyuan: Ah? Is something major happening recently? Why aren't there any news reports.]
The little white tiger guiltily shifted its gaze from the screen and watched Lu Mingming continue cooking.
Lu Mingming didn't pay them any more attention, instead throwing the beef into the pot to braise with the vegetables and carrots.
While this was happening, she poured sesame seeds into a pan and stir-fried them vigorously. The white sesame seeds gradually shed their outer layer, releasing a rich aroma.
[sam: What is this? It smells so good.]
[Sheep Don't Like Grass: I smell it too.]
Some netizens in the live stream room smelled the sesame and involuntarily leaned forward a few steps, sniffing deeply, devouring the aroma to satisfy their cravings. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"This is called sesame," Lu Mingming said. Seeing the low transaction rates for "seasonings" on the star network, she knew very few people would know about it. "Sesame is very fragrant after stir-frying and can add flavor to food. If you have picky eaters at home, you can try it."
During the stir-frying of the sesame seeds, the braising pot gurgled with boiling white bubbles. Lu Mingming estimated that the time was about right, so she scooped out the blood foam, set the beef aside, and then, holding two knives, began to process the cooked carrots. The rhythmic thudding of the cleavers hitting the cutting board was incessant.
Lu Mingming didn't forget to instruct, "Everyone, remember to bring the beef to a boil over high heat when cooking, and remove that dirty layer from the surface."
Some viewers' eyelids twitched violently, as if they had become the carrots on the cutting board.
[Sheep Don't Like Grass: Oh my, I'm a little scared. It reminds me of a story my grandmother told me when I was little. If children didn't sleep obediently, the shepherd would come and catch them.]
[Handsome Enough to Be Chopped: What's the point of mashing it into a paste? Carrots are still not tasty.]
"I'll add some seasonings later. Mashing it into a paste is for better flavor and to reduce the taste of the carrots," Lu Mingming said slowly. "Even if it's not tasty, when you're eating homemade food, you must ensure you get enough nutrition in every meal."
[Anonymous Account 95: Pure passerby. Why is the streamer adding so many messy things to the meat? I can imagine how bad it will taste.]
[Happy Orange Cat: Don't talk nonsense, the streamer's cooking always tastes super delicious! Never failed!]
"It seems there are quite a few new viewers watching the live stream today. Everyone can look forward to the beef rice."
There were very few troublemakers today, and Lu Mingming was barely affected by any malicious words, fully immersed in the world of cooking. The viewers were also unconsciously drawn into this atmosphere, watching Lu Mingming cook with fascination. Everyone watched Lu Mingming cook with relish, and the little white tiger also tried its best to crane its neck and observe.
Lu Mingming's heart immediately felt soft and utterly defenseless, and she became even more diligent in preparing the ingredients. With the help of the two cleavers, the minced beef and mashed carrots were quickly prepared. Lu Mingming then lit the heat under the wok and poured in a small amount of peanut oil.
"Everyone, don't add too much salt and seasonings, as it will put a great burden on your kidneys. Be sensible," Lu Mingming advised.
[Long Live Felines: Haha, actually, even if the streamer didn't say it, we rarely eat meat, and most of the well-prepared meat has to be sought at star-rated restaurants.]
[Sheep Don't Like Grass: Speaking of which, does everyone remember that person who said if they won the bet, they would gift the streamer a spaceship? They haven't shown up yet. I feel like they were just bragging and didn't have that much money, and perhaps ran off at the last minute...]
[Jasmine: Don't worry about him. As long as he's not causing trouble, that's good. He signed a contract anyway, and he'll have to deliver it eventually, so he can't escape.]
[Anonymous Account 95: If others want to gift, they gift. If not, they don't!]
Lu Mingming glanced at the bullet comments and didn't pay them much mind. Her original goal was just to win the bet; the so-called gift was just icing on the cake.
Lu Mingming then spoke up, interrupting the increasingly off-topic discussion: "After watching my live stream, everyone can try making it at home. It's actually very simple."
[Handsome Enough to Be Chopped: The streamer thinks too highly of me!! I usually just order takeout, hehe.]
[Everyone Loves Little Rabbit: Hahaha, yes, food is too troublesome. I'll just satisfy my taste buds by watching the live stream.]
Lu Mingming pursed her lips and smiled, not saying much more.
Under the gentle heat of the oil, the minced beef quickly turned golden and appealing, enveloped in peanut oil, emitting a rich aroma from within. Lu Mingming then seized the opportunity to add the mashed carrots and stir-fry them slowly.
[sam: Oh my, I feel so hungry. Why is this happening? I just drank a bottle of nutrient solution!]
[Sesame Tangyuan: The food in my hand suddenly doesn't smell as good. So, will there be a lucky draw today?]
[Taotao Likes to Eat: Ahhh, it has to be me this time! Otherwise, I'm going to your house to freeload!]
"My home might not be able to accommodate that many people," Lu Mingming said, her eyes unconsciously curving as she read the comments.
"There might not be a lucky draw today. I just moved, and I'm mainly making dinner for Tangyuan."
The clean plates were ready. Lu Mingming carefully scooped out the minced beef mixed with mashed carrots using a spatula. The beef was pan-fried to a tempting golden hue, glistening with oil and emitting steam, while the mashed carrots mixed within also gave off a unique fragrant scent.
Just one last step remained.
Lu Mingming rubbed her fingertips and slowly sprinkled a layer of the previously stir-fried sesame seeds over the beef rice as a garnish—it was done!
[Happy Orange Cat: Ahhhh, the streamer's cooking never disappoints!]
[Jasmine: Little Tangyuan, try it quickly! I'm hungry!!]
[Long Live Felines: Save me, it smells so good my skin is stretching!]
The little white tiger was already sitting obediently on the chair, waiting. It seemed it had waited too long, letting out a soft yawn that melted a wave of viewers.
Lu Mingming placed the beef rice on the wooden table and took out a bib with a printed yellow cartoon chick on it. She gently tied it around the little guy's furry neck, saying, "Be careful, it's hot."
The little white tiger raised its chin high, accustomed to receiving service, and waited for Lu Mingming to feed it bite by bite.
The beef was cooked to perfection, firm and not dry. With each bite, the sweet carrot mash mingled with the beef in her mouth, becoming more fragrant the more she chewed, utterly satisfying.
[Sesame Tangyuan: It's a bit hot, but it's so delicious! I don't want to spit it out at all!]
[Long Live Felines: It's so delicious! I actually hate eating beef because I always feel it's too tough to chew and gets stuck between my teeth, but this beef has a great texture. Honestly, this is the best dish I've seen made in so many live streams.]
The beef rice was, as expected, a huge hit, and the screen was flooded with a wave of gifts.
— Jasmine sent you a fireworks display.
— Silver Shaded Cat is the Cutest sent you five sports cars.
...
— 143 sent you a spaceship.
A small mechanical behemoth was instantly simulated in the pale blue space, eclipsing all other gift effects. Its tail trails carried brilliant flowing light as it circled Lu Mingming once before returning to the screen. Simultaneously, a golden broadcast, even more magnificent and eye-catching than a "hot air balloon," popped up at the top: "Streamer Mingming Doesn't Wake Up received a spaceship from the distinguished SVIP 143. A lottery of ten thousand star coins is currently underway in the live stream room. Click the link for details..."
[Sheep Don't Like Grass: Wow, they really sent it! A big shot has arrived! I apologize for my previous remarks!]
[Anonymous Account 95: Why? It doesn't feel as impressive as Nine-tailed Fox!]
[Another Tired Day: You're new, you wouldn't know. Mingming won it yesterday in a contract bet.]
Watching the viewers' answers on the screen, Nine-tailed Fox clenched her fists tightly in front of the screen. The pain of her fingernails digging into her palm couldn't match the anger in her heart. She remembered that the person who had replied to her was a regular in her own live stream. Why... why did the dirty pure-blood human have to take everything from her and proceed so smoothly!
Nine-tailed Fox exited the live stream with a gloomy expression and switched her account to the streamer backstage to view the data. Lu Mingming's live stream had already climbed to first place on the new streamer collection list. The traffic equivalent to the collection list was also counted towards the activity competition. The system automatically ranked streamers during their live streams based on viewer count, popularity, and viewer collection rate. As a new streamer, Lu Mingming's collection rate had reached 89%! The previous record was 72%, which she had far surpassed!
Nine-tailed Fox gnashed her teeth in anger, but she couldn't find any way to deal with her.
Got it! An idea suddenly flashed through her mind. Lu Mingming's data was truly astonishing, unprecedented even. Doesn't that just mean there's plenty of room for manipulation? Nine-tailed Fox mustered her strength again and quickly called her agent: "Help me out. Buy a trending search about Mingming Doesn't Wake Up using paid water armies to inflate her collection numbers. Here's how we'll do it..."