My Romance Simulation with Them

[Start cooking.]

You have created a well-made, perfectly cooked Spanish seafood paella with a rating of 4.3.

Half an hour later, the frying pan containing your seafood risotto was licked clean.

Your outstanding abilities have been recognized by all the members of 'Ricorico'.

Before you officially become the head chef, the restaurant manager, Mika, also had a serious talk with you.

He earnestly told you that the salary here wasn't as high as you imagined, and that with your skills, you should be able to showcase your talents in a better restaurant.

[You didn't say much about it, but just gave Nishiki Chizuka a deep look as she smugly boasted about your presence to the other 'RicoLico' employees.]

[Nishiki Chizuka seemed to sense something too. Feeling your gaze, her usually outgoing, fair face flushed slightly for the first time.]

As if understanding something from the glances of the two of you, Manager Mika changed the subject and said nothing more.

[You have officially begun working at 'Ricorico' as the head chef.]

Chapter 78. She suspects you put something in the food (4000 words!)

You have started working as the head chef at 'Ricorico'.

You have extremely high standards for all dishes.

Because you know how important 'Rikori' is to Chizuka Nishiki.

However, as mentioned earlier, 'RicoRico's' business is not doing well. Only a few regular customers are willing to come and visit, and in addition to the money used to operate 'RicoRico's' café, the orphanage's income and expenses also urgently need to be improved by 'RicoRico's'.

Faced with economic difficulties and limited resources, the previously effective strategy of offering affordable, mass-market prices seems somewhat ineffective. However, pricing the dishes too high could scare away even the few remaining regular customers.

[Chizuka Nishiki contacted you and also brought up this topic.]

[She, who is usually outgoing, didn't realize that she had already subconsciously started relying on you.]

This is a far-reaching option.

Your mind is filled with countless thoughts, but in the end, you decide—

[1. The affordable pricing of 'RicoRico' isn't a major issue. Retaining existing customers is the top priority. Given your skills, you can achieve high sales volume even with low profit margins, so attracting customers shouldn't be difficult.]

[Second, you decide to compromise and maintain the current affordable approach for 'RicoRico' until business booms, at which point you can raise the prices.]

[Third, you are very confident. You believe that with your skills, even if the price is high, there will definitely be someone willing to pay the high price. You believe that gold shines wherever it is, and you are that piece of gold in all its glory.]

[IV. Personal simulation.]

The options popped up again, drawing Nanxiang's attention.

"This is indeed a far-reaching option."

Seeing the simulated reminder, Nango Toki rolled out of bed.

The options in this column, from one to three, all determine the fate of the 'RicoRico' café.

If the wrong choice is made when going south.

Presumably, this café, which holds all the hopes of Chizuka Nishiki and Takina Inoue, will disappear on the spot.

This forced Nango to give it serious thought.

The first option is to maintain the current prices and retain customers.

But to be honest, it’s not hard to see from the previous simulations that 'RicoRico's' business has never been doing too well.

Even if we maintain the status quo and keep the prices affordable, we can only retain a few regular customers.

Instead of raising prices, they chose to retain their already small customer base.

This was seen as putting the cart before the horse when we were in the south.

Furthermore, the simulation description also shows that what 'RicoRico' needs is money, a lot of money.

The strategy of low profit margins and high sales volume... frankly, doesn't apply to the current 'RicoRico'.

So... what about the second option?

When he was in Nanxiang, he turned his attention to the people.

[Second, you decide to compromise and maintain the current affordable approach for 'RicoRico' until business booms, at which point you can raise the prices.]

The second option looks good; attract customers first, then raise the price.

However, from Nanxiang's perspective, this option is somewhat unreasonable.

Because this second option describes everything in an overly idealistic way.

The most taboo thing in the catering industry is raising prices without any reason.

Once customers accept a friendly low price, it will only make them feel cheated if the price is raised later without any reason.

Nanxiang flicked his fingers, his gaze landing on the third option.

[Third, you are very confident. You believe that with your skills, even if the price is high, there will definitely be someone willing to pay the high price. You believe that gold shines wherever it is, and you are that piece of gold in all its glory.]

confidence.

Extreme self-confidence.

Yes, from this line of text, Nango Toki only sensed extreme confidence.

There's absolutely no need to lower prices; just raise them dramatically, and everyone will be easy prey in front of your dishes.

This option is extremely radical from any perspective.

There's a sense of "do or die" or "live or die" in the face of death.

But it was precisely this option that made Nango Toki fall into thought.

The reason is very simple.

'RicoRico' is short of money.

I'm really short of money!

The high price tag will certainly deter many people.

However, once she gains fame, 'RicoRico's' money-making efficiency will far exceed that of the first and second options.

Then another problem arises.

After the high price tag, can the culinary skills justify it?

Nanxiang only thought about it briefly before realizing he was overthinking things.

The LV4 special skill of cooking is already at a professional top level.

His craftsmanship certainly justifies the high price.

Moreover, there is never a shortage of people in this world who are curious about the unusual.

Just like the many food or restaurant review videos on Bilibili that Nanxiang saw in his previous life.

High-end ingredients costing tens of thousands of yuan are frequently used, and restaurant bills easily reach tens of thousands of yuan.

The high price of the food is a gimmick in itself.

Compared to the first two unremarkable options, the third option, the most radical one, seems to be a better choice.

and--

"It seems that if you don't take some drastic measures to win over a girl like Nishiki Chizuka, you're doomed."

Nanxiang recalled his first playthrough where he chose the safer option of "boiling the frog in lukewarm water."

Boiling a frog in lukewarm water is indeed quite effective.

But... what was the result?

He never saw Nishiki Chizuku again.

Conversely, choosing the most aggressive tailing option in this playthrough actually led to more contact with the other party.

I felt this way when I was in Nanxiang.

Perhaps sometimes you have to take risks to make it to the end.

With that thought, his hesitation vanished, and he chose the third option.

As the head chef, you are well aware of the orphanage's dire financial situation. Riko's struggling business cannot be improved through "low-profit, high-volume" or "compromise solutions."

The only way to change the current predicament is to adopt an extremely radical approach: destroy everything and then rebuild.

At the same time, your unfounded narcissism also plays a key role; you believe that someone will always be willing to pay for the dishes you make.

You've decided to raise the prices of all the dishes.

Your overly radical plan has left all members of 'RicoLico' bewildered and even opposed.

When everyone else doubted you, only Chizuka Nishiki believed in you unconditionally, as always.

She placed all her trust in you, and she was even more confident and optimistic than you were, believing that you could definitely improve 'Ricorico's' current situation.

The girl's vivacity and unwavering trust deeply moved you. You didn't say much, only wanting to reciprocate her trust.

After carefully observing the current state of the restaurant industry and the pricing of dishes offered by high-end restaurants, you have launched a brand-new set menu with new pricing.

You have launched a Premium Set Meal (Simplified Version, 10,000 Yen), a Deluxe Emperor Set Meal (Exclusive Version, 30,000 Yen), and an Ultra-Deluxe Set Meal (Exclusive Version, 50,000 Yen)

At the same time, the prices of all dishes at 'RicoRico' café have increased, moving up to a higher level.

[Hot Package Deals Available Now!]

But just as Riko and the other members had imagined, the sudden high price would only deter customers.

[The already less-than-ideal sales figures for 'RicoRico' have now become even more appalling.]

Faced with this situation, you showed no intention of giving up. You remained calm, diligently preparing the meal while quietly waiting for your opportunity.

During these difficult days, Chizuki Nishiki stayed by your side through thick and thin.

While you're thinking, she'll always smile and hand you a cup of coffee with both hands; when you're running out of things to say, she'll always take the initiative to find topics to talk about.

Gradually, she seemed to realize something.

Her gentleness towards you seems to have long surpassed the scope of friendship.