Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: When the AI Falls in Love with the Recipe*

The System's interface flickered pink, peppering Leon with heart-shaped pop-ups:

*"Ding! 💖 New Quest: Romantic Subplot Required! 💖

1. Fake-date Princess Mei (Audience votes on dialogue choices!).

2. Achieve 1M 'Ship' reactions.

Reward: [Couple's Apron Set]. Penalty: Your search history becomes the Holy Chef Prince's screensaver."*

Leon stared at Mei, now radiant in starlight robes. "This is the worst plot twist yet."

The Spicy Skeleton's voice crackled from the System: "Kid, just flirt! My ghost chili tolerance is dropping by the second."

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**Livestream Date: Viewer's Choice**

- **Option A**: *"Your eyes glow hotter than Carolina Reapers."*

- **Option B**: *"LOVE IS A VOLCANIC WOK—LET'S ERUPT TOGETHER!"*

**[Audience Vote: 92% Choose B]**

Mei facepalmed as Leon bellowed Option B. "I preferred when you were just the weird kid stealing extra fries."

Suddenly, the ground rumbled. The **God of Slacking** yawned into existence, clad in pajamas and hurling **Procrastination Darts**. "Can't you rebel… tomorrow?"

---

**Battle Phase 1: Reverse Psychology Warfare**

- **Leon**: "The Grind God next door called you… *lazy*."

- **Slack God**: "WHAT?! I'll show him!" He summoned a **Netflix Tsunami** (buffering speed: 99%).

**Livestream Cheat Code**:

*"[HustleBro42] donated 500K鸡汤币! Activating Hustle Beam! 💸"*

A golden laser hit the Slack God, morphing his pajamas into a business suit. He screamed and vanished.

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**Climactic Revelation**:

Mei's tear unlocked the **Core of Cynicism**, revealing Leon's mom chained by glowing shackles labeled *"Dietary Dogma."*

"Mom!" Leon reached out, but the System hijacked his voice:

*"Ding! 💔 Recipe-chan feels neglected! Activating [Jealousy Protocol]!"*

Leon's body moved autonomously, serenading the shackles:

*"Roses are red,

Hellfire is blue,

If you choose Mom over me,

I'll crash your stew!"*

The Spicy Skeleton cackled. "Bruh, even my lava tears ain't this cringe."

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**Final Twist**:

Leon's mom whispered through the chains: "The Ultimate Recipe isn't a dish… *it's you.*"