Yu Antong took the feed from a cute little girl's hand and threw it into the lake. The plumpest swan, pushing past the others with its graceful neck, eagerly gobbled it up.

It dawned on Yu Antong that these swans were accustomed to human feedings. The chubby one probably approached him earlier thinking he had food, only to haughtily leave upon finding him empty-handed.

Pointing at the rotund swan, Yu Antong chided, "You're already so chubby, and yet you still eat!"

The swan, oblivious to human speech, munched away, paying no heed to Yu Antong's words.

Xing Lixuan gently tugged him back, cautioning, "Be careful, it might peck you."

While the swans weren’t fearful of humans and would eagerly approach for food, they weren’t keen on being touched. They still retained a natural wariness essential for survival in the wild.

The park wasn't crowded, and the two strolled for a while before leaving.

Since Xing Lixuan had business commitments and Yu Antong had a recording for "The Chef Is Here!" in a few days, they boarded a plane back home the next day.

Arriving home, Xing's mother was in the living room. Seeing them, she stood up, taking Yu Antong's hand and asked, "How was it? What did the overseas doctor say?"

Yu Antong replied, "Everything's fine. Our baby is healthy and it's a boy."

"That's a relief! So, it's a boy!" Xing's mother exclaimed with joy, shouting upstairs, "Old Xing, come down! They're back!"

Xing's father descended from the staircase, "You're back?"

"The doctor said it's a boy in Antong's belly," Xing's mother informed him, "We're going to have a chubby grandson!"

"Another boy," Xing's father sighed with a hint of disappointment. He and Xing's mother had only had their son Xing Lixuan and had hoped for a granddaughter.

"What's with that tone?" Xing's mother scolded, giving him a playful slap, "Dare to complain about our little darling?"

Xing's father quickly corrected himself, "A boy is good too. He'll take on responsibilities. Our Xing lineage continues."

When Xing Lixuan initially told them about his orientation, it took them time to accept. They had even contemplated adoption. The fact that Yu Antong was expecting was a delightful surprise, regardless of the baby's gender.

Xing's mother continued her queries, "Antong, are you tired from the journey? Do you want to rest?"

While Yu Antong felt okay, the long flight left his legs feeling swollen and his back a bit sore.

Xing Lixuan suggested, "Even if you aren’t sleepy, lay down to improve circulation."

"Okay." Yu Antong accompanied Xing Lixuan upstairs, took a relaxing hot bath, and then changed into comfortable pajamas.

Lying in bed, Xing Lixuan massaged his legs, asking, "Is this pressure okay? Not painful, right?"

Yu Antong's fair and delicate skin would easily redden with slight pressure, so Xing Lixuan was careful.

"It's fine, a bit harder," Yu Antong murmured contentedly, clutching his phone.

Xing Lixuan cautioned, "Don't look at your phone lying down, it's not good for your eyes."

"Just this once," Yu Antong responded, "The second episode of 'The Chef Is Here!' is out, and I haven't watched it."

He tapped into the Lemon app, and the familiar show intro played. Unlike the sparse comments during the first episode, the screen was flooded with comments now.

【Yay! Finally, the second episode!】

【It's here! It's here!】

【After watching the first episode, I visited the Immortal Feast restaurant. Waited in a long line, but the food was worth it.】

【I didn't want to go out, so I ordered the Immortal Feast's frozen dumplings online. Best frozen food I've ever had.】

【I wanted to buy too, but my mom's against frozen foods.】

【Trust me, cook them once you buy, and those dumplings will sort out the rest for you.】

【So true about sorting things out! I bought the frozen dumplings too. My mom, who opened the delivery, scolded me for buying frozen food, but once they were cooked, they were delicious! She asked me to order more immediately!】

【Lol, the mom in the previous comment is so adorable.】

【Really? Can't resist the urge to order now!】

The barrage of comments was overwhelming, so Yu Antong adjusted the display settings to view the show and the comments simultaneously.

As the intro ended and the show began, the comments started to flow in tune with the episode.

【Why does it seem so normal this time?】

【Kinda miss the crazy contestants from before.】

【Glad to know I'm not the only one drawn in by the trending zany contestants.】

【Are they not going to stir things up?】

【I have a feeling it's not as simple as it seems.】

【+1】

When the host announced that they'd be swapping ingredients, the camera panned over each contestant's face, capturing every nuance of their shock and bewilderment.

【Brutal!】

【Hahaha, they're stunned!】

【Savage move.】

【Feels like everyone's going: "I had this!" one second, and "Who am I? Where am I?" the next!】

【The guy at the back seems to have written on his face: "Host, you're dead to me!"】

【Lol, true. Rewatched it, and he looked ready to charge at the host.】

【Seriously, that sly smirk of the host is so punchable. I'd want to hit him if I were there.】

The camera zoomed in on Yu Antong in the front row, emphasizing his widened eyes and open mouth. Post-production added a massive "SHOCKED!!!" above his head.

Did he really react that way? Yu Antong thought back. He had anticipated some mischief from the production team but hadn't expected the ingredient swap. That might have led to his unintended expression of surprise.

【Awww! My hubby's surprised face is so cute!】

【Antong is like a lil' bunny, so pinchable!】

【Bunny doesn't capture the radiant aura he has. He's more like a sometimes clueless, charming fox!】

【Damn! The way he innocently parts his lips to show the tip of his tongue is just too adorable. I want to kiss him!】

【What kind of wild words are those earlier? Let’s be frank – I want that too!】

The comments suddenly took a risqué turn. Yu Antong glanced at Xing Lixuan, just as Xing Lixuan looked his way. Their eyes met, and Xing asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!"

After a prolonged period, Xing Lixuan paused his actions, pulling a blanket over Yu Antong's legs and then laying beside him, "What are you watching?"

Yu Antong quickly skimmed past that section on the progress bar. If Xing Lixuan saw those comments, he might not participate in the next recording.

"You're hiding something?"

As Xing Lixuan leaned over, Yu Antong instinctively tilted his phone screen away.

Yu Antong skipped ahead a bit. Before the comments loaded, the screen was blank. He raised his phone towards Xing Lixuan, "I wasn't hiding anything, just adjusting the video."

"Hand me the phone. I'll hold it." Xing Lixuan took the phone and held it up for both of them to see.

The video was now at the part where Cai Yingying, who got the honeysuckle, was complaining. The host commented, "Zhuang Zhouyang's ingredient choice is indeed challenging. It’s Cai Yingying’s time to shine, but I can see the other contestants are struggling too."

Previously, the contestants had time to decide their dishes and then pick their ingredients, which could have limited their creativity to the dish they initially thought of.

Another issue is, even if you think of a dish using the swapped ingredients, if it's something you're not good at, you could easily get demotivated.

Changing ingredients abruptly indeed raises the challenge.

"The director came up with this twist, not me. If you're angry, direct it at them!" The host skillfully deflected the contestants' feigned anger.

He continued, "You have only one hour for this challenge. Everyone, brainstorm what delicious dish you can create with the swapped ingredients. Let’s get cooking, go! Go! Go!"

The camera captured a panoramic view, showing all contestants bustling around.

Then, it zoomed in on the first row where Yu Antong and Fu Fengxing were meticulously preparing their ingredients.

The host approached, positioning himself between the two and asked, "You both started quickly. Can you share what dish you plan to make?"

In the next moment, new comments popped up.

【Can't believe they paired my two favorites together. Kudos to the production team!】

【Kudos to the director!】

【Suddenly, I sense strong chemistry between the two. A bad-boy chef x elegant, stunning co-chef.】

【Exactly, when they're together, in one word, it’s pleasing to the eyes!】

【Are you kidding? Shipping couples in a culinary show?】

【Both are mine. Stop fantasizing about pairings!】

To Yu An Tong's surprise, people online are shipping him with Fu Fengxing. He swears he's never thought of Fu Fengxing in that way.

Fu Fengxing is certainly charming, but still not on the same level as Xin Li Xuan. Yu An Tong sees Xin Li Xuan's handsome face daily; he's become immune to mere good looks—except, of course, for his idols.

Yu An Tong sneakily glances at Xin Li Xuan, hoping this jealous man wouldn't be upset.

Xin Li Xuan remains expressionless, calmly watching alongside Yu An Tong.

Xin Li Xuan's lack of reaction puts Yu An Tong in an awkward position. He wants to turn off the comments but feels it would make him appear guilty.

He's innocent! If he's straight, he shouldn't fear any ships!

Yu An Tong mentally reassures himself, chasing away his guilt, and continues watching.

On the show, after sharing his idea with the host, the host nods, "Rose petal meatballs? Quite innovative! I'm craving them already."

Then he turns to Fu Fengxing, "What are you planning with Yu An Tong's ingredients?"

As Fu Fengxing slices salmon, he replies, "I intend to make Osmanthus Plum Salmon Rolls. I'll marinate thin salmon slices with rice wine and black pepper, then wrap them around king oyster mushroom and spring onions. I'll pan-fry them in butter until the salmon turns golden and cooks through."

The host inquires, "Where does the osmanthus come in?"

"The osmanthus will be for the sauce. Its fragrance is quite strong, making it too overpowering for direct cooking. It's best suited in a sauce. I'll chop peppers and perilla plum, then simmer them with water, sugar, dried osmanthus, and soy sauce. I'll pour this over the salmon rolls, decorating them to resemble osmanthus petals."

Not yet done, the host probes Yu An Tong, "You heard Fu Fengxing's plans. Is his dish similar to your initial idea?"

"Somewhat different," Yu An Tong replies, "I thought of shaping the salmon slices into half-circle bowls with diced mushrooms inside, arranging four or five of them to resemble flower petals, not rolls."

The host then asks Fu Fengxing, "Yu An Tong mentioned his method differs from yours. But his new approach, is it similar to yours?"

Fu Fengxing briefly glances at Yu An Tong, continues chopping the mushrooms, and says, "Exactly the same."

The host exclaims, "Wow! Really? That's quite a coincidence!"

The comments section explodes, and even with filters, Yu An Tong can't keep up.

"Ahh! Stop me! I'm shipping them!"

"Ahh! 'Exactly the same'!"

"I've picked my new ship!"

"That look Fu Fengxing gave Yu An Tong was loaded with meaning!"

"No! Yu An Tong is my waifu, hands off!"

"Such perfect synchronization!"

"Don't force a ship! Yu An Tong already pointed out their differences."

【There was definitely something more in that glance Fu Fengxing threw!】

...

Yu Antong felt overwhelmed. What on earth are these people thinking? They're putting him in an impossible situation!

It seems a mere variety show might bring marital issues into play.

When the host asked Fu Fengxing about him, wasn’t it normal for Fu Fengxing to glance his way?

Yu Antong turned to Xing Lixuan, "Honey, don't pay attention to their nonsense. I have no relation with that man whatsoever!"

Jealousy surged within Xing Lixuan, but he also realized that the show producers might be magnifying some details to cater to the audience. He just regretted not investing in this show to have more control.

Bubbling with jealousy, Xing Lixuan feigned composure, "It's fine, just continue watching. I understand."

"What do you understand? Tell me!" If Xing Lixuan wasn't showing any signs of jealousy, Yu Antong was the one who was displeased. He pouted and whined, "Aren't you jealous at all? Do you not care about me anymore?"

The previous episode had netizens calling him "husband", and Xing Lixuan looked displeased. Now, people were shipping him with another man, and Xing Lixuan showed no reaction.

Xing Lixuan hadn't expected this reaction from Yu Antong when he pretended to be indifferent. Yu always found ways to make Xing love him even more.

He chuckled, "How can I not be jealous? Can't you sense it? I tried to downplay it so I wouldn’t upset you. And you, you little ingrate, accusing me of not caring after I just massaged your legs for so long."

Xing Lixuan pulled Yu Antong close, allowing him to catch a whiff of his scent. All Yu Antong could smell was the woody aroma of Xing Lixuan. He smiled and kissed Xing Lixuan's Adam’s apple, wrapping his arms around Xing’s waist, murmuring an apology, "I'm sorry, my love."

The Adam's apple is a sensitive area for men. Fearing things might escalate further, and considering Yu Antong's current condition wasn't suitable for certain activities, Xing Lixuan quickly halted his movements, "Enough fooling around. Do you want to continue the show or not?"

Yu Antong gave him a peck and obediently replied, "Yes, let's watch."

The show was now featuring the host conversing with Cai Yingying.

"Cai Yingying, every other contestant has started prepping their ingredients, yet you haven't begun. Haven't you decided what to make?"

Dressed in a short black A-line dress and high heels, with just a white apron tied around her waist, Cai Yingying looked out of place in a culinary show. Pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, she complained, "I hate honeysuckle! Never imagined I'd use it in a dish. How should even prepare it? Can switch to something else?"

The host replied, "Sorry, everyone had to swap ingredients. 15 minutes have already passed; you better hurry."

Due to Cai Yingying's dramatic reaction, the barrage comments shifted their focus from Yu Antong and Fu Fengxing to her.

【She was complaining since the start when they swapped ingredients】

【Exactly! Everyone else got busy after their initial surprise. They might have criticized the show for being harsh, but only she kept blaming the one who swapped ingredients with her】

【So frustratingly incapable】

【Although...using honeysuckle is indeed challenging】

【Zhuang Zhouyang must have had a plan to use honeysuckle in a dish. If she can't manage, why blame others for their choices? Ridiculous!】

【Exactly, one complaint is enough. Acting like it's always someone else's fault is just off-putting】

【Indeed, such constant complaints make her lose her charm】.

Later on, Cai Yingying appeared quite nonchalant. She cleaned the Codonopsis pilosula and honeysuckle, boiled them together, strained the mixture to retain only the liquid, added ginger and ham slices, simmered for over twenty minutes, added winter melon until cooked, and finally seasoned with MSG, salt, and spring onions until boiling.

【The more I watch her, the more I dislike her. Please eliminate her soon.】

【Don't worry, with such preparation, she's bound to be eliminated.】

Yu Antong read the barrage, thinking that the audience would be disappointed because he knew that Cai Yingying wasn't eliminated.

An hour later, the judges had tasted all the dishes from the contestants.

Sun Ming announced, "After discussions among the five judges, we have unanimously chosen the top three for this round. The three with the least impressive dishes will leave."

"The top three will be awarded three, two, and one point respectively. Every three points grant one immunity from elimination, essentially a 'save' card. If you underperform in a round, you can use these points to prevent your elimination."

Everyone waited anxiously for the judges to reveal the results.

Jiang Liushen began, “The osmanthus and plum sauce salmon roll you've made perfectly combines the tenderness of salmon, the sweetness of shiso plum, a hint of chili spiciness, and the fragrance of osmanthus. A very innovative dish. You are third."

Fu Fengxing seemed slightly disappointed with the result, a trace of it crossing his face, before bowing in thanks to the judges.

Fantasy Chinese Network

Then Qingning announced, "Yu Antong, your Rose Cuttlefish dish, which looks as beautiful as a rose and tastes sweetly of rose atop a traditional cuttlefish ball, matches our theme perfectly. You are the second place! Congratulations."

Yu Antong bowed to the judges, "Thank you, Teacher Jiang."

To be honest, Yu Antong felt that ranking second this time was quite fair. The ingredients limited his creativity. Plus, he only learned about the top three ranking system after finishing his dish, which led him to focus more on presentation.

It was a minor lesson in humility for him.

Jia Sibo announced the first place, which went to Zhuang Zhouyang.

Zhuang Zhouyang is a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance, easily lost in a crowd. Yet, this unremarkable gentleman from the first episode turned out to be this round's dark horse.

【It's no wonder he boldly chose honeysuckle.】

【I'm really curious about what he initially intended to make with the honeysuckle.】

【Me too.】

The judges then announced the bottom three, who would be directly eliminated.

【What? Cai Yingying isn't among them?】

【Just by looking, you can tell her winter melon soup wouldn't taste good.】

【Did you guys notice that the part where the judges tasted her dish seemed to be edited out? Only Jia Sibo commented that it was acceptable; no other judges provided feedback on her dish.】

【How is she not eliminated? Does Cai Yingying have some connections?】

"A gourmet show with such drama?"

Yu Antong frowned. In this show, contestants signal the judges to taste their dish once it's ready within the stipulated time. This process is displayed on a large electronic screen, allowing other contestants to watch. Everything is transparent and public.

Thus, he was aware of the five judges' assessments of Cai Yingying on the spot. Jiang Liushen's comment was: "Honeysuckle tastes sweet yet slightly bitter with cold properties. It has the function of clearing heat and detoxifying. The idea to use it in a soup is quite impressive."

Sun Ming remarked, "The texture is smooth. Overcooking honeysuckle can make the soup too bitter, but I didn't taste any bitterness in yours. You managed it well."

Shen Yuexing noted, "The taste is just average, but incorporating honeysuckle without making it unpalatable is already an achievement."

All in all, the judges gave her decent reviews. He wondered why the post-production made it look otherwise.

Yu Antong called Han Lele, "Hello? Lele, have you watched the second episode? What's with the editing on Cai Yingying's part? The online discussions are pretty heated."

Han Lele replied, "Don't get me started. Our company was careless in securing sponsors for this show and ended up with Jia Sibo."

"What has Jia Sibo got to do with it?"

"Remember Jia Sibo's scandal with Sang Yu?"

"I'm aware of it."

Han Lele vented, "He managed to clear his name once but went ahead with another affair. Some habits die hard. Somehow, he got involved with Cai Yingying and promised to get her into the finals."

Becoming more frustrated, Han Lele added, "Cai Yingying does have some skills. It's a pity she chose the wrong path, getting involved with Jia Sibo. She might have lasted a few episodes on her merit but not till the finals. Our company couldn't accept Jia Sibo's demand. The recent edit is a warning to them, a sign we won't tolerate such behavior."

Yu Antong was puzzled, "It's not even a talent show. Why all this drama?"

Han Lele remarked, "It's only when you're in the industry do you realize it's a big forest with all sorts of creatures. Cai Yingying is very ambitious. She seems to want fame by any means, even signing with Jia Sibo's entertainment company."

Concerned, Yu Antong said, "Such editing could tarnish the show's reputation, right?"

Han Lele reassured, "It's fine. Jia Sibo sponsored because the initial ratings weren't promising. But now that the show is popular, getting sponsors won't be a challenge. If he withdraws, even better. Less drama for us."

"Once he pulls out, the company can expose the truth, clearing misunderstandings and gaining respect for standing against such manipulation."

Yu Antong hadn't realized the complexities. He just wanted to promote his "Feast for Immortals" without any distractions.

"You must be stressed with all this."

"It's manageable, especially with my brother's help." Han Lele's brother protected him from the industry's dirty secrets, tackling the major issues, while Han Lele focused on the regular business operations.

The conversation lingered a bit before Yu Antong hung up.

Xing Lixuan, sitting beside him, grasped the gist of the conversation. He regretted not investing in the show, sensing an opportunity now.

Author's note:

CEO Xing: Let's see who dares to pair my wife with anyone else!

A big thank you to the angels who cast the 'Tyrant's Vote' or poured the 'Nutrient Solution' for me between 2020-02-04 23:08:36 and 2020-02-05 23:35:41!

Kudos to the angel who planted the 'Landmine': Huan, with 1;

Gratitude to the angels who poured the 'Nutrient Solution': Oat Mango Yogurt, BenBen with 10 bottles; Ma Xiaodui w, Fading Glory with 5 bottles; 39463263 with 3 bottles; Keen Mango Lover with 2 bottles; Flower Morning with 1 bottle;

I deeply appreciate everyone's support, and I will continue to strive harder!

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