It's just cooking a dish, how did it become the main character in a game?

Nan Xu, a professional player in the virtual reality game "Chef's Soul," was unable to reach the pinnacle of the game due to a disability in both hands in real life. One day, he wakes up to find himself carrying the memories of a level 90 culinary master from a future life, transported back to six months before the game's launch, becoming an NPC with a player panel. In this high-fashion world where culinary skills determine everything, food is power, and chefs are the most respected profession. Looking at his intact hands, Nan Xu realizes that this is a second chance given to him by fate. In this life, he will trample all the geniuses under his feet, conquer the palates of renowned figures with his meticulously prepared dishes, hunt down powerful mythical beasts as ingredients, make up for all the regrets of his previous life, and reach the pinnacle of culinary skill! To achieve his goal quickly, Nan Xu decides… to give the players more benefits after they arrive in this world. …Player A: Hey everyone, does anyone understand why this NPC's food tastes so much better than everyone else's? And the visual effects are super cool, it even glows! Player B: Eating his food gives you tons of powerful buffs! Player C: The most crucial thing is, he lets us try out his dishes every day! He's so good to us! All players: Case closed, he's the protagonist of the game! Nan Xu closed the forum, looked at the large amount of experience points on his panel, and shrugged. He was just cooking and reaping some experience, how did he become the game's protagonist?