Chapter 53 Barbecue Night.

Chapter 53 Barbecue Night

After dessert, their energy replenished, everyone resumed their tasks with renewed vigor.

The beef was meticulously butchered into various cuts. They kept only what they needed, generously donating the excess to the production crew, as leaving it out would only attract insects.

The crew members, who had daily witnessed the cast indulging in gourmet meals, were long tired of their diet of nutrient packs and self-heating bento boxes. Inspired by Yu Xin, they began preparing their own food during breaks, ensuring it didn't interfere with their work. While their creations couldn't match Yu Xin's in terms of color, aroma, and taste, they were a significant improvement over bland nutrient packs—a welcome occasional treat.

The remaining beef consisted of prime cuts, promising a lavish feast.

As for preparation, Yu Xin surveyed the abundant selection of meats: beef belly, chuck eye roll, tenderloin, ribeye… In the wilderness, the simplest and most fitting method for beef was, of course, grilling!

Conveniently, they had both a wire grill and a griddle, and most of their seasonings remained. The suggestion was met with unanimous approval.

The beef required marinating, with different cuts demanding specific treatments. Thicker cuts like ribeye and tenderloin were marinated for over an hour with onions, black pepper, thyme, honey, and other seasonings. Yu Xin specifically added passion fruit juice, ensuring a rich, fruity aroma once grilled.

Beef tongue was simply marinated with salt, black pepper, scallions, ginger, and lemon juice. Beef belly and chuck eye were thinly sliced to absorb the marinade quickly.

Marinating all the beef, categorized by cut, was a substantial undertaking, so everyone pitched in. Even those with less-than-stellar knife skills clumsily helped slice the beef.

To Yu Xin's surprise, Ji Yixing possessed impressive knife skills, handling the blade with effortless precision, slicing beef as thinly as Yu Xin himself. However, the way Ji Yixing wielded the knife resembled sculpting a work of art more than mere cooking.

Yu Xin didn't discard the large beef bones after trimming the meat. The marrow inside was a delicacy. In Yu Xin's original world, such tough bones required a cleaver or cutting machine. He had initially worried they lacked the necessary tools in the wild and would miss out on this treat. Yet, the blade technology of the Interstellar Age proved astonishing—even an ordinary cleaver could effortlessly cleave the beef bones in two.

The beef marrow was chopped into small segments, each filled with creamy white marrow, perfectly sized for direct grilling.

As the sun set, the preliminary preparations were nearly complete. They lit the charcoal, set up the griddle and wire grill, and arranged plates of marinated meat nearby, ready for grilling.

The greatest pleasure of grilling lies in cooking and eating simultaneously, ensuring each piece of meat is enjoyed at its perfect doneness. This time, the guests could grill their own food, freeing Yu Xin from having to personally oversee every detail. Everyone gathered around the grill, their eager faces illuminated by the warm glow of the charcoal.

A pat of butter was placed on the wire grill, melting rapidly under the high heat and evenly coating each grid. Thinly sliced beef belly and chuck eye were then laid on top. How thin were they? The moment the beef touched the grill and flames, it instantly changed color and curled. Drops of fat from the marbled beef dripped onto the charcoal below, sizzling and releasing a tantalizing, roasted aroma.

That scent alone was enough to whet anyone's appetite. Everyone present involuntarily swallowed, feeling as if they hadn't eaten in centuries.

The beef didn't require excessive grilling; the optimal moment to eat was just as it fully changed color. Shen Tong picked up a slice, dipped it into the pre-prepared sauce, and, without even blowing on it, eagerly took a bite.

"Mmm..." She closed her eyes in satisfaction, finishing the mouthful before speaking:

"Can you imagine? This beef was separated from the cow less than three hours ago. It's incredibly tender. The moment it enters your mouth, you can feel the juices bursting. The creamy butter, the smoky char of the grill, combined with black pepper and onions—this flavor experience deserves a perfect score."

[I was wrong. I knew an island would have seafood, and I thought yesterday's seafood feast was the peak. I never expected such a test awaited me.]

[Ahhhh! When will they invent devices that let us taste this? I'd spend my entire fortune to buy one!!]

[I'm on a diet!! I can't control my urge to order takeout!! This cursed show, wuwuwuwu!]

[To the friend above, I've given up. Who cares about weight or body fat? Satisfying my appetite is what matters!]

[Honestly, if anyone can successfully diet while watching this show, I'd believe they've quit drugs.]

Ruan Qing, meanwhile, fixated on a piece of beef belly. The well-marbled meat, rich in fat, sizzled and dripped oil onto the charcoal as it grilled.

She picked up a still-sizzling slice, coated it generously with a dry mix of salt, pepper, sesame, cumin, and chili powder, added a slice of garlic, and popped it all into her mouth.

"It's true—eating meat without garlic misses half the flavor. The garlic perfectly cuts through the richness of the fat," Ruan Qing declared, her mouth glistening with oil. Before she'd even finished swallowing, her chopsticks were already reaching for the next piece.

Everyone continued grilling, those who preferred crispier meat leaving it on longer until the edges curled and turned golden brown, delivering a delightful crunch.

There was also a unique way to enjoy it: spreading a layer of avocado paste on the meat before grilling. The avocado’s smooth texture and mild flavor complemented the beef, making it both refreshing and addictive.

The ribeye required a longer grilling time. The outside was seared to perfection while the inside remained tender. Yu Xin sliced it into pieces and topped them with onions and lemongrass.

Grilled until the exterior turned caramel-brown and the interior remained pink, each bite offered a substantial, satisfying texture. The sensation of teeth cutting through the grain was mesmerizing. With a few chews, rich meat juices blended with the aromas of black pepper, onions, and a hint of lemon, filling the entire mouth.

No matter how delicious, eating only meat could become monotonous. Yu Xin, ever prepared, presented a platter of freshly cut fruits.

Pineapple, sliced into two-centimeter-thick pieces, was placed directly on the beef. The grilled pineapple juices were fully absorbed by the meat, infusing it with a sweet, fruity aroma.

While raw pineapple can be slightly tart, grilled pineapple is different. Brushed with butter and drizzled with honey on the grill, it softens slightly while remaining juicy and crisp inside—and incredibly sweet.

Those trying it for the first time felt like they'd discovered a whole new world.

Sheng Xingyao alternated between bites of meat and grilled pineapple, juice dripping from his mouth: "I was afraid this would be some weird combination, but it's surprisingly delicious!"

There was also grilled jackfruit. The fruit was skewered on bamboo sticks and grilled until slightly charred. Already sweet and fragrant, the high heat intensified its aroma, giving it a hint of sweetness like wine. Once cooled, the flesh took on a soft, sweet potato-like texture, offering a unique twist compared to eating it raw.

It could also be shredded into thin slices and grilled until all moisture evaporated, resulting in crispy chips perfect as a snack.

Before everyone had their fill of barbecuing, they were already won over by Yu Xin’s grilled fruits. The sweet and slightly tangy flavors further stimulated their appetites, and the prepared meat and fruits were quickly devoured.

After the show gained popularity for its food, the director had the foresight to urgently hire a photographer specially skilled in food photography. Since then, viewers noticed the food on the show looked twice as tempting!

High-definition cameras buzzed around, faithfully capturing every detail—the sizzling meat, the soft and sweet grilled fruits, and the transformation of beef as high heat seared it, releasing its oils—all projected vividly for the audience.

The specially hired food photographer was thrilled, excitedly directing the flying cameras to capture every angle. What was supposed to be a survival show took on the quality of a gourmet documentary.

At this moment, the popularity of Wilderness Adventure reached its peak since airing. Viewers were going wild, with comments flooding the screen—endless strings of "Ahhhhhhh" and "!!!!!!"—raising concerns about their mental state.

Not content to suffer alone, they dragged others into their torment. Soon, social media and short-video platforms were flooded with posts tagged #WildernessAdventure. Without any text, just simple videos of meat sizzling and crisping on the grill, countless people were lured in.

Unsurprisingly, Wilderness Adventure trended on the Star Network again.

The headline was eye-catching: #WildernessAdventureTheDietAssassin#

Netizens were already accustomed to this pseudo-survival, real-food variety show routinely topping trending lists. They clicked in out of habit, curious about what new creations they’d concocted this time.

The page featured a simple yet impactful grid of nine GIFs and videos. With almost no text, it was irresistibly compelling. Viewers found themselves watching all the videos, then swallowing hard as they scrolled to the comments.

[You guys again. Isn’t it enough? Do you have to trick me into watching the show?]

[!! What show is this? I need all the info within ten minutes.]

[This is that survival variety that’s always trending. It’s called Wilderness Adventure.]

[? Don’t lie to me—I may not be well-read, but this looks like a food show. Where’s the survival part? Shouldn’t survival shows be about struggling for basic sustenance? They’re eating better than I do!]

[I can confirm it really is a survival show. It’s just that their style has always been like this. You get used to it (wry smile).]

[Oh, I remember! A colleague mentioned it a while ago. It was pretty popular, right? I wasn’t interested in variety shows, so I didn’t watch, but now it’s caught my attention!!]

[Wuwuwu, as a victim of Wilderness Adventure, I advise caution. It’s torture to see but not taste.]

[And if you’re on a diet, don’t watch!! This show will ruin all your efforts—spoken from experience (wiping tears).]

[I refuse to believe it. Just wait—I’m a fitness enthusiast. I’ll challenge myself to watch it.]

[Me too! I’ve controlled my sugar and carb intake for six months. My heart is cold as stone, unshakeable. I doubt anything can tempt me.]

Netizens, ever eager for drama, tagged fitness influencers they followed. Several became genuinely interested, and an inexplicable challenge quickly spread among creators: going live to watch Wilderness Adventure to see how long they could resist the urge to eat.

One by one, fitness bloggers joined the challenge, tuning into the show just as the guests were grilling meat.

At first, the bloggers managed to maintain their composure effortlessly, but grilled meat has a certain magic—the more you watch, the hungrier and more tempted you become. By the time Yu Xin started grilling beef tongue, many bloggers were starting to crack, their eyes glued to the screen, their words dwindling, and their swallowing pace noticeably quickening.

Amused viewers hopped around between various live streams to enjoy the spectacle, occasionally commentating on the action.

[Update!! Cat Bro seems to be on the verge of giving in—no idea how many times he's swallowed his saliva, hahaha!]

[Someone has already caved! I watched as they gave up and ordered grilled meat delivery!]

[Hahahaha, drop the stream link! I want to check out the chaos!]

[No one can resist grilled meat, especially Yu Xin's grilled meat. No one!!]

[Hey there, on a diet? Come check out Wilderness Adventure (evil whisper).]

The small blogger who failed the challenge broke their two-month streak of diet meals, ordering grilled meat delivery to their home. Through mouthfuls of meat, they tearfully lamented, "Wilderness Adventure is killing me!! Ugh, it's so damn delicious!!"

The chat exploded with hahas, making the stream feel super fun.

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Author's Note: I!! Today, I took my Category 2 driving test in heavy rain and passed with a perfect score!! All those early mornings and late nights practicing paid off!! Hahaha!!

There's more to come today—this content machine never stops!! (wiping tears)

Thank you all so much for your support. I will keep working hard!