Chapter 13 Our Show is Going to Be a Hit.

Chapter 13: Our Show Is About to Go Viral

The salt-and-pepper grilled shrimp, skewered on bamboo, rested on vibrant green leaves, beside steaming bamboo tubes filled with garlic shrimp. The two distinct aromas were equally irresistible—it was impossible to choose which was more enticing.

Everyone washed their hands and sat down. Sheng Xingyao eagerly grabbed a skewer of salt-and-pepper grilled shrimp and took a bite. Instantly captivated by its crisp, crunchy texture, he mumbled through a mouthful: “These shrimp are cooked to perfection! You *have* to try them—they’re incredible!”

“The shells are perfectly crisp, thoroughly infused with salt and pepper, while the shrimp meat inside remains firm and springy. Savor it slowly, and you’ll detect a delicate sweetness.”

Even the shrimp heads—which he normally never ate—were too delicious to discard. The heads of these giant freshwater prawns were far larger than those of ordinary shrimp, nearly lobster-sized, and packed with generous amounts of rich shrimp roe. All undesirable parts had been meticulously cleaned away, leaving only plump, luscious roe. Melting instantly on the tip of the tongue, its flavor rivaled the finest hairy crab roe.

With a deft flick of his tongue, Sheng Xingyao sucked and hooked—rolling the intact shrimp roe straight into his mouth. He savored it with unbridled delight: “And this shrimp roe—absolutely mind-blowing! How can it be *this* fragrant?!”

[Ahhhh, Sheng Xingyao—shut up!]

[Seriously, someone gag him! I can’t stop drooling!]

[Wuwuwu—I’m ordering delivery *right now*: ten skewers of grilled shrimp!]

[I’m *dying* for this! I’ve lived decades—and never imagined shrimp could taste *this* good!]

Ruan Qing, meanwhile, reached first for the garlic shrimp. She picked up the still-hot bamboo tube, inhaled deeply—and was instantly enveloped by the rich, aromatic blend of spices.

Inside the tube, finely chopped green and red chilies, golden ginger shreds, vivid green scallions, and minced garlic sizzled in hot oil, coating pristine white shrimp steeped in a glossy, savory broth.

She gently lifted a shrimp. The meat of the giant freshwater prawn was exceptionally plump and firm—thanks to its active life. As her teeth pierced the tender flesh, the bold garlic flavor flooded her palate, harmonizing flawlessly with the shrimp.

A sip of the broth sent every seasoning dancing across her tongue—so delicious it nearly drew a sigh.

Today’s dishes were bolder and more intense than yesterday’s steamed fish—especially the garlic shrimp, loaded with mountain peppers and wild garlic, delivering fiery heat and pungent aroma. That heat was utterly addictive. Though Ruan Qing usually avoided spicy food to protect her voice as a singer, she couldn’t stop herself—shrimp after shrimp vanished from her plate.

Her lips glowed crimson from the spice, and guilt tugged at her—her manager would surely scold her later. But the dopamine rush from the chilies overpowered everything else. To hell with her manager—today, Ruan Qing was indulging, full stop.

Compared to the shrimp, Shen Tong actually preferred the sweet potato chunks beneath.

The sweet potato pieces had soaked up the broth and stewed to a soft, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness—crumbling at the lightest touch of chopsticks. Naturally sweet, they somehow blended *perfectly* with the savory, spicy seasonings, further elevated by the shrimp’s briny freshness—creating a flavor entirely distinct from the shrimp itself.

In short—it was *unbelievably* delicious!

Yu Xin, however, wasn’t fully satisfied with the garlic shrimp and set down his chopsticks after just a few bites.

It wasn’t about taste—the dish lacked one essential element: vermicelli.

Back home on Blue Star China, garlic seafood and vermicelli formed an unbeatable golden duo at night markets—indivisible, irreplaceable.

Unfortunately, Yu Xin sighed—the conditions here were limited. No matter how skilled he was, he couldn’t conjure vermicelli from scratch in the wilderness with bare hands.

[Did Yu Xin just put it down *without finishing*? I can’t believe he resisted!]

[Can I have the leftovers? Seriously—I don’t mind! (sobbing)]

[I saw him sigh—help! Is he *still* not satisfied?!]

[What did he grow up eating?! If *this* isn’t good enough, does he need dragon liver and phoenix marrow? Honestly—I can’t even imagine elite household life.]

[Wait—isn’t it even *stranger* that a young master from a wealthy family knows how to cook?!]

If some had previously doubted whether Yu Xin’s shrimp-catching was staged, witnessing his entire cooking process erased all doubt.

Catching shrimp *could* have been assisted by the production team—but anyone with eyes could see his cooking skills were genuine. He never left camera range; every move was under public scrutiny. If this were staged, would the production team really hire a Yu Xin lookalike?

Moreover, judging by the guests’ reactions—the food clearly tasted *excellent*. No one could honestly claim otherwise.

Longtime Yu Xin supporters now felt vindicated, flooding the live chat with biting sarcasm:

[Where are those who insisted the production team was whitewashing Yu Xin *at all costs*? Don’t make me laugh—*with skills like his*, does he even *need* whitewashing?]

[Exactly! Accusing Yu Xin of faking it? Try faking *this* level of mastery yourself!]

[Calling Yu Xin ‘trash’? If *he’s* trash—what does that make *you*, hiding behind your screen typing comments? A cockroach?]

[Hahahahaha—I’m *finally* vindicated! I’ve tolerated those snarky comments for *way* too long—this clapback is *so* satisfying!]

[Nothing more to say—Yu Xin is just *awesome*.]

[Wuwuwu—I was one of those who didn’t believe in Yu Xin at first. Rumors are *so* damaging! I truly thought he was a useless pretty boy—I had *no idea* he was this talented!! From today onward, I, X某某, am switching from hater to fan!!]

"Wuwuwu—I was once among those who doubted Yu Xin. Gossip can be *so* destructive! I genuinely believed he was just another talentless pretty face—I had *no clue* he possessed such brilliance!! Starting today, I, X某某, am officially converting from critic to devoted fan!!"

Other viewers who’d hoped to expose the production team’s alleged whitewashing efforts now felt their faces burn. Who could’ve guessed the rumored “useless fake young master” was actually a wilderness survival expert *and* culinary genius?

Their metaphorical slaps stung—but they had zero intention of turning off the stream. Most were utterly captivated—not just by the show, but by Yu Xin himself. They might still talk tough—but their actions spoke louder: they subscribed to the livestream.

After all—who could resist the parade of mouthwatering dishes Yu Xin kept producing? Even without tasting them, *watching* was enough to satisfy some cravings!

…

The livestream rolled on. Guests devoured their meals with ravenous enthusiasm—heads bent low, mouths full, punctuated only by delighted exclamations. They ate as if starved for days, forgetting all about table manners—getting food into their mouths was the *only* priority.

These A-list idols, film emperors, chart-topping singers, and glamorous actresses had completely shed their polished idol personas—eating with the unrestrained gusto of piglets at a trough.

Qin Shizhen remarked between bites: “If only we had some alcohol to go with this—even an immortal wouldn’t trade this life for anything!”

Yu Xin wholeheartedly agreed. Paired with Tsingtao beer, the grilled shrimp and garlic shrimp would be the ultimate summer delight—they could easily polish off another ten pounds.

As they feasted, the audience—watching but unable to eat—was nearing meltdown:

[Is this *really* Wilderness Adventure?? I came to watch the guests struggle—but they’re living *better* than me!]

[Exactly! I feel like a clown drooling in front of my screen. I’m *dying* of envy—someone *do something*!]

[Where’s the production team? Someone give an explanation?!]

[Scam!! The most deceptive variety show of the year—no contest!]

[Why even call it *Wilderness Adventure*? Just rename it *‘To Die For Deliciousness’*!]

The production team was flabbergasted. Their original plan—to replicate past seasons by highlighting celebrities’ awkward moments for entertainment—had derailed from the very start.

Worse, the crew themselves were salivating over the food footage captured by the cameras.

Heaven knows—on outdoor shoots, they lacked cooking facilities and relied on convenient nutritional drinks, just like in previous seasons. It had never been an issue before.

But this season, seeing the guests create such mouthwatering dishes, their nutritional drinks suddenly tasted bland and utterly unappetizing. *(crying)*

They were craving it too! They *wanted* to eat it!!

And the only wild card this season, the "culprit" who disrupted all their plans from the very beginning, was the young man in the frame who had already put down his bowl and chopsticks and looked somewhat disgusted by how the others were eating—Yu Xin.

They had fought tooth and nail to invite Yu Xin, but never in their wildest dreams did they imagine he would steer the show down a completely unexpected path.

The show's assistant director felt a growing unease, a sense that things were slipping out of control, and couldn't help but tug at the director beside him: "Director, do you really think our decision to invite Yu Xin was the right one?"

The director, eyes fixed on the soaring popularity of the show reflected in the platform's feedback, spared a moment to glare at him and said, "Are you kidding me?"

"For us in variety shows, popularity is everything. As long as the ratings go up, no matter what weird stunts Yu Xin pulls, it doesn’t matter. Whether it's Yu Xin, Wang Xin, or Li Xin, I wouldn't bat an eye if he turns this wilderness survival show into The Sims. And haven’t you noticed?"

The director, a veteran who had weathered countless storms, spoke with a slight tremble in his voice, his hand shaking as he held a cigarette: "Look at these numbers. In my decades in the industry, I’ve never seen such a terrifying surge. Do you know what this means? Our show is about to blow up big time!"

Their decision to invite Yu Xin wasn’t just correct—it was like winning the lottery and being showered with 50 million credits, with their ancestors' graves practically smoking with luck!

Author's Note:

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Happy Dragon Boat Festival!