At the auction, while Zhu's father went to the restroom, Zhu Yucheng snapped a few photos of Xin Lixuan and Yu Antong standing closely together. Not wanting to feel envious alone, he planned to share with his friends.

Before Zhu Yucheng could send the photos to his group chat, his father returned, prompting him to put away his phone.

Zhu's father inquired, "Son, did you see anything you liked?"

Zhu Yucheng, whose mind was elsewhere, replied, "Nothing caught my eye."

Assuming his son was still sulking over not winning the Jade Guanyin, Zhu's father asked, "Still thinking about that jade statue?"

"No." Zhu Yucheng didn't want to explain further. As the auctioneer introduced a ladies' necklace, he quickly said, "Mom mentioned wanting a necklace. This one looks good; bid for it on her behalf."

Distracted by his father, Zhu Yucheng momentarily forgot about the photos. After the auction, while on his way home, he took out his phone to kill time and was met with a video notification.

"The Culinary Master Returns!" New episode, higher stakes!

Intrigued, Zhu Yucheng clicked to watch.

"Exploring the world's delicious dishes to find the real culinary master! Welcome to 'The Culinary Master Returns!'," the host began, "A special thanks to YouNeng Smart Refrigerators for their generous sponsorship of this episode."

Zhu Yucheng noticed that the host's promotional line had changed. Did they switch sponsors?

It makes sense. After all, the "Culinary Gods" show had openly feuded with Jia Sibo. It'd be more surprising if they hadn't switched sponsors. He'd expected them to get a renowned brand due to the show's popularity and exposure. Instead, they went with a brand he'd never heard of.

Many viewers also picked up on this detail, and comments rapidly scrolled across the screen.

【Sponsor change? Bye Jia Sibo! So thrilled!】

【Without Jia Sibo and Cai Yingying, it feels refreshing!】

【With Jia Sibo gone, I can finally watch at ease.】

【Who's the new sponsor? Youneng Smart Fridge? Never heard of this brand before.】

【No matter who it is, as long as it's not Jia Sibo.】

【I know this brand! We just bought this fridge. It's quite good but a bit pricey.】

Zhu Yucheng continued watching.

The contestants were divided into teams and whispered among themselves after hearing that there were limited ingredients available.

“Are they going to have us collaborate and then eliminate the worst performing teams?”

“Most likely. Otherwise, why form teams?”

“Something feels off. If so, wouldn't Zhuang Zhouyang be on his own?”

“Working with a teammate with differing views might be more challenging than cooking solo.”

Many speculated that they'd be required to work in pairs. Some hastily discussed with their partners about their culinary strengths and strategized ingredient selections.

Right after a contestant admitted her inability to prepare pig trotters, the host announced the actual competition rules.

In an instant, teammates became adversaries — the stab-in-the-back kind.

Contestants were caught off guard. Those who'd been eagerly discussing strategies, expecting to jointly choose ingredients in the next moment, were on the verge of tears.

They now eyed each other warily.

Watching their astonished reactions, Zhu Yucheng laughed heartily. The witty comments from online viewers added to the amusement.

aiyueshuxiang.com

【Question: What life lesson does this video teach us?】

【Answer: Never reveal your weaknesses to others. You never know if they might turn out to be the host's assassin.】

【Those contestants who shared strategies must feel terrible. Every word they uttered could now be used against them.】

【Pleading for mercy might be their only hope now.】

Following the host's introduction of the new judge, Xing Lixuan made only a brief two-second appearance alongside the other hosts, yet it surprised all viewers, including Zhu Yucheng.

Even though Xing Lixuan's screen time was fleeting, the netizens can always rewind and pause.

【This sponsor looks quite dashing!】

【Come on, girls, he's not just 'quite' dashing. He's incredibly handsome!】

【Ah! I'm swooning!】

【I expected a middle-aged entrepreneur, not this classic dashing CEO. Those cold eyes of his are killer!】

【LOL, what's with this "classic dashing CEO" description? But honestly, every CEO character in the stories I read now has a face.】

【Is this a culinary show or a talent hunt? Not only are the contestants good-looking, but the judges are also out of this world!】

Unlike other viewers, who were merely amazed by the new judge's striking good looks, Zhu Yucheng was utterly flabbergasted.

Those commenting didn't know about the marital relationship between Yu Antong and Xing Lixuan. He did!

He had just witnessed their affectionate interaction that evening. Hoping to soothe his wounded heart with a culinary show, he was shocked to see Xing Lixuan as a new judge.

Was this because he found the previous sponsor unreliable and feared his wife being treated unfairly, so he decided to step in himself?

Other than this reason, Zhu Yucheng couldn't think of why a busy CEO like Xing, who has numerous businesses, would personally join a show for a relatively unknown brand. The investment seemed disproportionate to the potential returns.

Anyone with common sense could deduce that Xing Lixuan was here for Yu Antong.

If this isn't couple goals, Zhu Yucheng didn’t know what is.

With a mix of envy and admiration, Zhu Yucheng continued watching.

He was particularly interested in Fu Fengxing and Yu Antong.

Fu Fengxing's appearance appealed to him. He always paid extra attention to good-looking men. Fortunately, Fu Fengxing and his teammate seemed cordial and didn't make things difficult for each other.

Turning to Yu Antong, Zhu Yucheng became somewhat irritated: "What's up with this Yu Xingmin? Pig stomach, chicken gizzards – why keep giving her these less popular offal dishes? Are those fairy hands meant to handle these smelly ingredients? That old geezer's definitely up to no good!"

And there were the carrots he despised. The ingredients allocated to Yu Antong were all foods Zhu Yucheng avoided. He felt disappointed, thinking he wouldn't get to see dishes from Yu Antong that appealed to him this episode.

Arriving home, Zhu Yucheng entered his room and continued watching, albeit with diminished enthusiasm.

Initially, he wasn't very interested in the dish Yu Antong was preparing, given his aversion to the ingredients. He doubted anything appetizing could come from them.

However, when Yu Antong admitted her uncertainty about perfecting the dish "Crispy Duo", Zhu Yucheng's curiosity piqued.

Just how challenging could it be, that even the dainty fairy struggled with it?

Soon, the dish was served. The pig stomach, scored in a decorative pattern and deep-fried, looked like blooming flowers coated with a thick, savory sauce. It was visually enticing and appetizing.

Without mention, anyone trying this dish for the first time might never guess its ingredients. As Zhu Yucheng gazed upon it, a sudden urge to taste it overcame him.

Especially after hearing the judges heap praise upon the dish, his cravings intensified.

Yu An-tong must truly be an enchantress. Using ingredients he disliked, she still managed to make his mouth water.

The first four judges shared their comments. It was now Xing Li-xuan's turn. Zhu Yucheng watched intently, not blinking.

He knew what was coming might be a bit heart-wrenching, but he was eager to see.

From the moment Yu An-tong entered, Xing Li-xuan's gaze had remained fixed on her. When his turn came to comment, after taking a bite, he softly said to Yu An-tong, "Refreshing and tender; truly delicious."

[This magnate doesn’t seem so aloof after all. Look at how tenderly he looks at Yu An-tong!]

[I hereby declare, one-sidedly, that Mr. Xing is now my husband!]

[Ahh! That shot! Even though he's looking at the contestant, can I delude myself into thinking he's smiling at me? I'm dying!]

[Am I seeing hints of doting? Or are my eyes deceiving me? Someone snap me out of it!]

[Seeing the same! Now I want to pen a story about a gorgeous contestant and a gentle CEO. The two know every detail about each other off-screen but have to pretend they don’t on the show. Yet, the affection in their eyes cannot be hidden...]

[Handing over the pen to the author. Please share your pen name!]

[Where will this author be publishing? I need to follow!]

Initially, the audience playfully commented, but as they continued watching, they sensed something was amiss.

Yu An-tong was the first contestant to have her dish judged this episode. The audience noted that Xing Li-xuan's demeanor visibly softened upon her entrance. They initially thought this new judge wasn't as aloof as they first perceived – he seemed gentle to the contestant.

But as more contestants presented their dishes, the audience noticed a change.

Why did his aura revert to that distant, cold demeanor? Furthermore, his comments were consistently brief and to the point for everyone else.

"Too salty."

"Tasteless."

"Not bad."

"Too much chili."

"It’s okay."

Although his remarks about Yu An-tong were brief, compared to his comments on the others, they seemed high in praise.

[Why do I feel there's something off about the way this new sponsor looks at Yu An-tong?]

[I feel the same way. His gaze is different when he looks at her compared to the other contestants.]

[I hope we aren't seeing another Jia Si-bo scenario.]

【There's quite a stark contrast in his attitude towards the other contestants. I suspect there's something more.】

【Could this sponsor be taking a liking to Yu AnTong? Among all contestants, he's my favorite. I hope nothing untoward happens.】

Zhu YuCheng never anticipated this twist. Doesn't anyone know about the relationship between Yu AnTong and Xing LiXuan?

Then again, while they invited many to their wedding, it was mostly business magnates and close friends. It's understandable if netizens are clueless. But Zhu believes someone will uncover the truth soon.

After the show, he captured several shots where both Yu AnTong and Xing LiXuan were in the frame during the dish evaluation. In one, the tenderness in Xing LiXuan's eyes was evident.

He posted these images along with others he sneakily took at an auction on his personal Weibo account.

He often shares product reviews and beauty tutorials on Weibo and has tens of thousands of followers.

A Sweet Little Orange v: Another day weeping over someone else's sweet romance. I wish I had a husband who adored me this much.【Images】x9

After posting, he remembered he hadn't told his group of friends about this. Quickly, he shared the photos from the auction in the group chat.

A Sweet Little Orange: 【Image】

Despite it being late, the group members were still active. Responses quickly flooded in.

City's Top Beauty: ?

I Want One: Wait, isn't that Xing LiXuan?!

Big Bro, Look At Me: Damn! It's Xing LiXuan with Yu AnTong!

Pure Innocent Waiting: Impossible. I can't believe they are this affectionate!

City's Top Beauty: Where's Orange? Explain the photos! Is that truly Xing LiXuan? When were these taken?

System Alert: [A Sweet Little Orange] changed nickname to [A Slightly Sour Lemon].

A Slightly Sour Lemon: Just changed my nickname.

After updating his nickname, Zhu YuCheng returned to the chat to find a series of messages. He quickly replied.

A Slightly Sour Lemon: Took these photos at a charity auction I attended with my father yesterday. It's indeed Xing LiXuan and Yu AnTong. I sat right behind them, had a clear view of their intimacy—arms around each other, whispering closely...

A Slightly Sour Lemon: I was on the brink of jealousy overload! Now you know why I changed my nickname.

Pure Innocent Waiting: Oh my! I'm so envious. Why does this happen!【CryingMeme.jpg】

City's Top Beauty: Weren't there rumors about their strained relationship? Xing LiXuan never brought him to events since their wedding. This is quite unexpected.

Big Bro, Look At Me: I just read a beautiful love story about falling in love after marriage. Today, I see it in real life. When will I experience such a sweet romance? When will my dream guy come for me on a rainbow cloud?

I Want One: I'm considering accepting a blind date with my mom's colleague's aunt's nephew. Maybe we can also fall in love after getting married.

BroLookAtMe: Calm down, girls! Where's IWantOne?

LittleSourLemon: You all would be even more envious if you watched "Culinary Genius Arrives!"

PureInnocenceWaiting: Huh? What's that?

City'sTopBeauty: think it's a cooking show. What does it have to do with Mr. Xing and Yu An Tong?

LittleSourLemon: Ah, it's getting late. I'm off to bed. Just watch it and you'll understand. Start from episode three.

After chatting with his friends for a while, he checked his Weibo before sleeping and realized he might've caused some unintended commotion.

Author's Note:

Netizen: Who is this, having ill intentions towards my beloved An Tong?

Mr. Xing: These netizens aren’t up to par.

I'll have our Wikipedia page updated to show "Married" status soon. Wife: Yu An Tong, son... we'll discuss that later.

Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or gifted me nutrients between 2020-02-11 23:45:46 and 2020-02-12 23:27:16!

Thanks to the little angels who sent the 'landmines': Mo Zhu Xiu Ran and Yi Yi Hao Nan.

And the angels who gifted nutrients: Bai Yun, Wu You, DeeplyLovingLemon, Mo Zhu Xiu Ran (10 bottles), Qing Mei Wan Yue (5 bottles), 36781540 (4 bottles), Xiao Ke Ai (2 bottles), and SleepyOwO (1 bottle).

Thank you all for your support! I'll keep up the hard work.

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