In the end, the New Year’s Eve dinner went viral.

At the start of the new year, 5356, the hottest topic on the Star Network wasn’t the New Year’s Eve ball or the mecha performance, but streamer Jiang Qiuqiu’s New Year’s Eve dinner.

Just as Qian Xingxing had predicted, countless people took photos and recorded videos after entering the virtual restaurant, then posted them on their social media.

First, the food itself drew in a huge wave of interest. There were eighteen different dishes, arranged together in a rainbow of colors. Just looking at them was a feast for the eyes.

Of course, what truly caught the attention of all interstellar people wasn’t this routine news. The video that really pushed the "New Year’s Eve Dinner" to the top came from a private room assembled by a professor from Federation University.

Gossip Corner.

[SHOCKING! A CLASH OF TITANS LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN!]

[ANY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE COULD MAKE YOU KNEEL AND CALL THEM DADDY]

[I WAS THERE, AND I DIDN’T DARE EAT ANYTHING BUT THE WHITE RICE, BECAUSE I WASN’T WORTHY!] 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

——So here’s what happened. I got a ticket to a big-shot streamer’s New Year’s Eve party (seriously, I’m not trying to brag). I went by myself and sold the other two spots on my ticket to buy a full-dive pod. Since I’m a lone wolf, I was assigned to a private room with a group of nine other people.

——At first, I thought it was just an ordinary, unremarkable private room. Everyone was wearing glasses and looked very scholarly and cultured. They also seemed a bit on the older side, but I didn’t think much of it.

——Then, these distinguished-looking older gentlemen insisted I serve myself first from all the dishes! They even called a virtual waiter to bring me a small plate so I could pick and choose what I wanted. Honestly (at the time, I thought it was because I was pretty, or had a cheerful vibe, or was just really likable), I was over the moon.

——Then I noticed that after I finished getting my food, everyone put down their chopsticks. (Quick side note: virtual food doesn’t get cold.) I thought they were about to put on a performance, but instead, they started a BATTLE!!!

The post was followed by a video from the OP, who clearly had a healthy sense of self-preservation.

(All videos were posted with the consent of the big shots present. Don’t come at me, no privacy was invaded.)

In the video, a circle of people stood up. Person A would pose a question. Whoever answered correctly could take a serving of a dish. If someone failed to answer, not only could Person A take their own serving, but they could also claim the portion of the person who failed.

The rules were simple and brutal. An ordinary person would probably ask a silly question like "How big is the universe?" But the people in the video...

"During the Mecha manufacturing process, if the light-weight wings are insufficient to provide lift, what modifications can be made to maximize the Mecha’s flight capability without adding to its overall weight?"

"How can the P-23 Mecha’s defensive capabilities be improved without compromising its offensive power?"

"..."

——After hearing these questions where I understood every word individually but had no idea what they meant when put together, it hit me! These people were definitely not ordinary. So I did a search on the Star Network! Holy crap!

——[Federation University Mecha Department Professor], [Mecha Department Professor], [Retired Mecha Department Professor], [Retired Mecha Department Professor], [Research Academy Professor]. Mommy, are you seeing this? In my lifetime, your daughter is actually surrounded by a bunch of professors! If we’re rounding up, that basically makes me half a professor too!

After the OP revealed the professors’ identities, students immediately started showing up to claim their advisors.

[Piggybacking on this post, but damn! My advisor always acts like such a big shot in front of us students. I never thought I’d see him acting like a total rookie in front of the real titans.]

Unusual videos were always the most popular.