Chapter 20 Truly Delicious.

Chapter 20: A Taste of Heaven.

The honey-glazed roasted rabbit was crispy and glistening, its skin scored to reveal layers of incredibly tender and succulent meat. The marinade and honey had fully permeated the flesh, staining it a rich, savory hue.

The skin boasted a delicate caramel color, with a thin layer of honey solidified on top. Yu Xin had also discovered a plant whose seeds, both in appearance and taste, remarkably resembled white sesame. He sprinkled these over the rabbit, much like adding the final highlights to a painting, instantly elevating its appeal.

With a swift, practiced hand, Yu Xin used a short knife to carve the rabbit into uniform pieces, arranging them on broad, verdant leaves. The mere sight was enough to make mouths water.

"Go on, try some, but be careful—it’s just out of the fire and still quite hot," Yu Xin cautioned, placing the platter in the center for everyone.

Ruan Qing could no longer contain herself. She immediately picked up a piece, bringing it to her mouth with an almost reverent air.

The moment her teeth broke through the crispy skin and the juices burst forth, she felt as if she heard celestial music, and saw pure white angel feathers gently drifting down before her eyes.

*What divine flavor is this?!*

Ignoring the heat, Ruan Qing eagerly grabbed another piece, blowing on it with a soft "hiss" to cool it. "It’s so delicious, oh my! I can’t even begin to describe it. No exaggeration, the moment that rabbit touched my tongue, I felt my life, Ruan Qing’s life, was truly fulfilled."

Sheng Xingyao selected a piece from the leg, a part known for its active muscle, making the meat particularly resilient and flavorful. As his teeth pierced the outer skin, he even heard a satisfying *crunch*.

The sweetness of the honey perfectly complemented the rabbit, maximizing the meat’s natural umami while introducing a novel taste sensation—so exquisite he felt he could swallow his own tongue.

And the pomelo leaves Yu Xin had thoughtfully added to the campfire? They were truly inspired. A subtle, refreshing bitterness, reminiscent of pine, was distinctly present in the rabbit, beautifully cutting through the inherent richness of roasted meat. A closer taste even revealed a faint, elusive fruitiness.

Sheng Xingyao exclaimed excitedly, "The pomelo leaves really make a difference! I’ve had several pieces and still don't feel the least bit heavy! I just want to keep eating."

As a celebrity, he maintained a strict, light diet to preserve his camera-ready physique. Over time, his palate had adapted, and he often found rich, greasy foods difficult to stomach after just a few bites. Yet, with the rabbit roasted with pomelo leaves, he experienced none of that.

"This is incredible. This roast rabbit is absolutely phenomenal."

"Xiao Yu, I’m not exaggerating—even the chefs at the top restaurants on Imperial Star can’t hold a candle to your skill. This is truly amazing."

"We all have hands, so how is it that I can’t even boil an egg without drying out the water, while your cooking is this delicious?"

"After this meal, all the day’s hard work feels completely worth it. I wouldn’t even mind climbing another ten kilometers of mountain road now!"

As they ate, the group showered Yu Xin with spontaneous and heartfelt praise, every compliment flowing effortlessly.

Yu Xin merely smiled. He didn’t truly believe his skills surpassed those of top restaurant chefs; he figured everyone was simply ravenously hungry, making anything taste incredible. Still, receiving such high praise for his cooking brought him considerable joy.

Shen Tong sat somewhat apart, watching them devour the roast rabbit with longing eyes. Qin Shizhen, noticing her lack of participation, asked, "Xiao Shen, aren’t you eating?"

Shen Tong couldn’t bring herself to tell the truth. After a long pause, she could only stammer that she didn’t care for rabbit meat.

"Really?" Qin Shizhen said, surprised. "But Yu Xin’s roast rabbit is truly delicious. You’ll really regret missing out."

*As if she couldn't tell!*

Shen Tong was, in fact, kicking herself with regret. Heaven knew what she’d been thinking earlier, declaring in front of so many cameras and people that she wouldn’t eat rabbit. Now, she was relegated to watching others feast.

There were plenty of cute little rabbits in the world, but a delicious one like *this* was a rare find!

*Ugh, I regret it so much! I want to eat it so badly!!*

But she stubbornly maintained her facade, surreptitiously swallowing her drool, convinced no one noticed. Miss Shen would never back down—never in her life.

Ruan Qing, unable to bear her stiff-lipped, "dead for three days" demeanor, kindly offered, "If you don’t eat soon, we’ll finish it all. There wasn’t much meat on one rabbit to begin with, anyway."

Sheng Xingyao deliberately added, "Don’t bother persuading Shen Tong. If she doesn’t want any, that just means more for the rest of us."

"Who said I wasn’t eating?!"

Shen Tong panicked, her pride crumbling. She quickly seized a piece of meat and popped it into her mouth.

With one bite, her eyes narrowed in pure bliss, and her entire being radiated happiness.

*So, so delicious, oh my!*

How could there be such incredibly tasty roast rabbit in the world?!

【Wake up, Miss Shen! You’ve been proven wrong again, hey!】

【LOL, the young lady talks big but can’t resist. That turnaround was way too fast.】

【Shen Tong: How can anyone eat such cute little bunnies?

Also Shen Tong: Extra honey, please—*slurp*.】

【I ask you, who could possibly resist Yu Xin’s roast rabbit? Certainly not me.】

【Same here. Being proven wrong is a small price to pay for this rabbit. I’d take a swollen face gladly.】

"After all that meat, it’s time for some soup," Yu Xin reminded everyone, not forgetting the soup he’d been simmering.

No matter how delicious, too much rabbit could still be overwhelming. A light, flavorful soup was just the thing to cut through the richness.

The bamboo tube of bamboo shoot and pigeon soup was ready. Yu Xin pulled out the stopper, and a delicate yet incredibly savory aroma wafted out.

Everyone’s attention immediately shifted. Yu Xin tilted the bamboo tube, pouring the soup along with bamboo shoots and pigeon meat into prepared bowls.

The soup was clear and a pale, milky-white, with a few tiny droplets of oil floating on top. Tender white bamboo shoots and pigeon meat were steeped in the broth—just the sight of it hinted at its deliciousness.

Qin Shizhen eagerly ladled a bowl and took a small sip, his eyes lighting up. "Such incredibly fresh soup!"

"Just look at the ingredients—how could it *not* be fresh?"

The freshest ingredients truly required the simplest cooking methods to fully showcase their natural flavors. The bamboo shoots were crisp and tender, the pigeon meat so soft it practically fell off the bone, all its savor infused into the soup. One sip, and it felt like every pore in the body relaxed in comfort.

What’s more, the soup had been simmered in a bamboo tube, so it carried not only freshness but also the distinct, clean fragrance of bamboo, leaving a lingering aroma on the palate after each sip.

The others each took a bowl as well. Pairing a bite of rabbit with a sip of hot soup was a perfect match. Even Shen Tong, who usually avoided soup, couldn’t stop sipping, quickly finishing her bowl.

Indeed, only a hot soup could truly soothe the weariness of a long day. With each warm sip, a comforting warmth spread throughout the body.

【What a heavenly level of enjoyment, oh my!】

【Roast meat with fresh soup—so beautiful, so beautiful. How do they manage to eat so well?】

【This really *is* a gourmet show!!】

【Thinking about the previous seasons’ guests, the difference is like night and day.】

【This season is all thanks to Yu Xin, alright? Without him, they’d likely have it worse than the previous seasons.】

【Right, let’s not forget the looks on the guests’ faces when they first heard this season’s rules—they practically wanted to turn around and hop on the shuttle back home. Now, I bet they’ve forgotten all about leaving.】

They had indeed forgotten all about leaving.

By now, night had fallen, with the moon hung high in the sky. The surroundings were pitch black, with only their campsite illuminated.

The jungle nights were much cooler than the daytime, and the gentle night breeze brushed against their faces. From the bushes came the steady chirping of unseen insects, making the night feel exceptionally serene.

The guests sat around the warm campfire, enjoying the evening breeze as they sipped hot soup and chatted and laughed. The comfort was almost beyond words.

Qin Shizhen couldn't help but sigh, "This is what life is all about!"

Before, while working across various planets, he'd made good money, but it had been so long since he experienced such simplicity—worrying about what to eat for the day and feeling completely satisfied just by filling his stomach.

After eating his fill, chatting with friends around the campfire, and letting go of all thoughts of fame, fortune, and extravagance, he felt like he'd dropped a heavy burden he'd been carrying. He had never felt so light and free.

He was half-tempted to never go back to his old life.

The others felt the same.

Though physically exhausting, this way of life brought such mental ease and freedom. They had almost forgotten they were still working—all their camera-ready worries and baggage were cast aside. Not to mention, Yu Xin whipped up all kinds of amazing dishes for them every day.

With a life like this, who could ask for anything more?

Unfortunately, much as they hated to see it end, more than half of the five-day journey had passed, and the first episode of *Wilderness Adventure* was drawing to a close.

Author's Note:

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The jungle arc is coming to an end!