Chapter 5: The Launch

The morning sun spilled through the curtains, bathing Li Wei and Xu Lian's apartment in a warm glow. Li Wei lay in bed, his mind racing with thoughts of the day ahead. Today was the day he would officially launch his meal delivery service, and while excitement coursed through him, so did the nagging remnants of doubt.

"Are you ready?" Xu Lian's soft voice broke through his thoughts, and he turned to see her propped up on one elbow, a playful smile on her face.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Li Wei replied, trying to muster confidence. He had spent countless hours refining his recipes, setting up his website, and preparing for this moment. The culmination of his dreams was finally here.

"Don't forget, you have the tasting feedback from our neighbors. Use it to your advantage," Xu Lian encouraged. "You've worked hard, and I know you'll do great."

Li Wei smiled back at her, grateful for her unwavering support. "Thanks, Lian. That means a lot."

They quickly got ready and headed to the kitchen. Li Wei set to work, meticulously preparing a selection of meals for the day. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables, the sizzling of meat in the pan—it all felt second nature now. With every stir and taste, he felt more confident in his abilities.

As he plated the dishes, his phone buzzed with notifications. He glanced down to see orders rolling in from his newly created social media pages. The excitement bubbled inside him; he hadn't anticipated such a warm response from the community.

"Look at this!" he exclaimed, showing Xu Lian the screen filled with messages and orders. "People are really interested in my service!"

Xu Lian beamed. "This is amazing, Wei! You're going to do great."

By midday, he had completed the first batch of meals. With the help of the system, he had managed to streamline the process and keep everything organized. Now, it was time for the first round of deliveries. Li Wei took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Xu Lian asked, concern etched on her face.

"I've got this," he reassured her, "but I'll text you updates, okay? I want to show you how well this goes."

With a final glance at the deliciously arranged meals, he loaded them into a thermal bag and headed out the door. The bustling streets felt alive with energy, and as he walked toward his first delivery, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of making a family happy with his cooking.

As he approached the first address, a cozy apartment complex filled with vibrant flowers, he felt his nerves begin to rise again. He knocked on the door, and a moment later, a young mother appeared, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the meal bags.

"Li Wei, right?" she said, a friendly smile breaking across her face. "I've heard wonderful things about you! I can't wait to try these."

"Thank you! I hope you enjoy them," he replied, handing her the bags.

She opened one of the containers and inhaled deeply. "Oh, this smells incredible! My kids are going to love this."

As they chatted briefly, Li Wei felt his confidence swell. If he could make one family happy, surely he could do it for many others. He left the apartment, energized and eager to continue.

The rest of the day was a blur of deliveries, smiles, and satisfied customers. Each meal he delivered brought a new sense of accomplishment. People expressed their appreciation, and many even offered to spread the word about his service. By the time he returned home, he felt like he was floating.

"Lian! You won't believe how well it went!" he called as he entered their apartment.

Xu Lian rushed to meet him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Did you sell out?"

"Almost! I had a few extras left over, but I received so much positive feedback. Everyone was thrilled!" Li Wei couldn't contain his joy as he shared the details of the day.

"That's fantastic! We should celebrate!" Xu Lian suggested, her enthusiasm infectious. "How about a family dinner?"

"Sounds perfect. I'll cook!" he declared, eager to keep the momentum going.

As he prepared dinner for their small family, he felt a warmth spread through him. Li Mei was giggling and playing in her room, and the thought of their little family brought him a sense of purpose. They were building something special together.

Later that evening, they sat down to eat, and Li Mei's laughter filled the room. "Daddy, your food is the best!" she exclaimed, shoveling noodles into her mouth.

"Thank you, sweetie! I'm glad you like it," Li Wei said, his heart swelling with pride.

Xu Lian watched them with a smile, her eyes glimmering with happiness. "You've done an amazing job today, Wei. I'm so proud of you."

Li Wei felt a rush of gratitude as he looked between the two most important people in his life. "I couldn't have done it without your support, Lian. You believed in me from the start."

As they continued their meal, the atmosphere was light and filled with laughter. Yet, a subtle tension still lingered in the background, reminders of Xu Chen's words from earlier. Li Wei tried to push those thoughts aside, focusing on the joy of the moment.

But his peaceful evening was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Li Wei exchanged a worried glance with Xu Lian. "Who could that be at this hour?"

"Maybe it's a neighbor," she suggested, but Li Wei felt a knot forming in his stomach.

He opened the door, and his heart dropped as he saw Xu Chen standing there again, flanked by two friends, their faces twisted into mischievous grins.

"Good evening, Li Wei. I hope we're not interrupting," Xu Chen said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"What do you want?" Li Wei replied, annoyance flooding his senses.

"Just thought we'd drop by to see how your little venture is going," Xu Chen sneered, glancing into their apartment as if assessing its worth.

"Everything's going well, thank you," Li Wei said, trying to remain composed.

"Is that so?" Xu Chen stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips. "I hope you don't think you can make a real business out of this. You might want to reconsider before you embarrass yourself further."

Li Wei's patience wore thin. "I'm doing this for my family, Xu Chen. It's more than just a business to me."

Xu Chen chuckled, his friends joining in with mocking laughter. "Family? Come on, you're just a poor cook playing house. Do you think that can compete with real wealth and status?"

"Leave," Xu Lian said firmly, stepping forward. "You're not welcome here. We don't need your negativity in our lives."

Xu Chen's expression darkened, but he quickly masked it with feigned amusement. "I just thought it'd be fun to see how the 'other half' lives. But I guess you're not ready for the spotlight, are you?"

"Get out," Li Wei said, his voice low but resolute.

With a dramatic sigh, Xu Chen raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you to your little charade. Just remember, the real world is waiting for you, Li Wei."

As they turned to leave, Li Wei felt a rush of relief wash over him, but it was short-lived as Xu Chen called back one last taunt. "Don't say I didn't warn you when this all falls apart!"

Li Wei slammed the door behind them, frustration bubbling within him. He felt Xu Lian's hand on his shoulder, grounding him.

"Don't let him get to you," she said softly. "He's just trying to get under your skin."

"I know," Li Wei replied, exhaling sharply. "But it's hard to shake off what he said. What if he's right?"

Xu Lian turned him to face her. "You are not defined by what others say. You're creating something meaningful, and it's already making a difference. Remember that."

He took a deep breath, the warmth of her support washing over him. "You're right. I can't let him dictate how I feel about my life and my family."

As the evening continued, they shared more laughter and stories, Li Wei feeling the weight of Xu Chen's words slowly dissipate. He was building something incredible, and he wouldn't allow anyone to diminish that.

The next morning, he woke up early, fueled by determination. He planned to improve his menu based on feedback from the tasting event and ensure he stood out in a competitive market.

After breakfast, he set to work, refining his recipes and brainstorming marketing strategies. He reached out to local influencers to promote his meals on social media, hoping to spread the word further.

As the day wore on, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. The challenges would come, but he was ready to face them head-on, driven by his love for Xu Lian and Li Mei. The Ultimate Family System had equipped him with the tools he needed, but it was his heart that would guide him through the journey.

The road ahead would not be easy, but Li Wei was determined to make it a beautiful one—one meal at a time.