"What are you doing? Just watch the show." Yu Antong playfully punched Xing Lixuan, calling him a jealous jar.

[I rewound it to check after seeing the comments. Awesome!]

[Rewatched +1]

[I unilaterally declare that I'm in love!]

[I declare she's my wife!]

[Dare to vie for my love? Come on, let's duel!]

Although Yu Antong's segment was over, many bullet comments still mentioned him.

Xing Lixuan frowned as he watched, "Turn off the bullet comments." People these days, calling out any name they like. It's disgraceful.

Yu An Tong playfully reassured him, "I already have a son; they stand no chance."

"Don't fret over such things," Yu An Tong continued, "This is the online culture nowadays. They playfully address good-looking individuals as 'husband' or 'wife'. It's all in jest."

Who knows how many do it behind the scenes? Just like how he secretly commented on movie star Gu Xingyan's promotional photo on Weibo, praising how handsome 'his husband' looked.

Xing Li Xuan must never find out about this.

"The group that made the beef noodles earlier, many were calling the chef 'husband' too, weren't they?"

In the group from Shancheng, the head chef was a young man named Fu Fengxing. Sporting a buzz-cut, with sharp features, dressed in a black chef's uniform, he exuded a cool and handsome aura. There were numerous comments swooning over him, saying they'd eat his beef noodles even without the beef!

As Yu An Tong continued watching, he confidently and playfully remarked, "It would be strange if someone as good-looking as me wasn't called 'husband'. Xing Li Xuan, marrying me is the fortune you've accumulated over eight lifetimes. You've hit the jackpot."

Xing Li Xuan gave a kiss on his upturned cheek, chuckling, "No one praises themselves like you do."

Marrying Yu An Tong was indeed the best decision he ever made.

"What do you mean by praising oneself?" Yu An Tong said with a smirk. If he had a tail, it would be wagging to the skies right now. "I'm just stating the obvious."

"Huh?" Yu An Tong noticed the brief introduction of a contestant that flashed by. "Bai Fang Zhai?"

Yu An Tong rewound the video a few seconds and paused on the contestant's introduction. He was right; it stated that this middle-aged man was the head chef of Bai Fang Zhai, Yu Xingmin.

Yu An Tong mused, "Isn't Bai Fang Zhai owned by my uncle, Yu Qingnian? I didn't expect them to send a representative to this show. It seems I've stolen their spotlight."

Yu Xingmin prepared a dish that was rather complex, seemingly aiming to impress just as they were.

"This dish is among the most renowned in Huaiyang cuisine: Tender Eel." Yu Xingmin confidently stated, "I guarantee its unparalleled taste will satisfy our esteemed judges."

Qing Ning took a whiff before tasting, "There's no trace of fishiness. It's well-prepared with a firm yet tender texture. I really like it."

Sun Ming commented, "The sauce perfectly complements the eel. The only drawback is that the thickening was a bit too heavy, causing a jelly-like appearance, which affects the dish's presentation."

"I'll take note for the future," Yu Xingmin responded with a pursed lip, nodding in acknowledgment. The thickening was handled by the assistant appointed by Yu Qingnian, and indeed, it was slightly amiss.

"As you mentioned, it truly is succulent." After tasting, Jiang Liushen nodded in agreement and elaborated, "This eel, colloquially known as 'pen-sized green', is chosen for its particular size and length, ensuring the dish highlights its tender and melt-in-the-mouth characteristics."

A culinary tip was added in post-production: If eel is too large, its muscle fibers age, diminishing the taste. If too small, yield is low and the flesh can easily disintegrate.

Shen Yuexing questioned, "Is this also an eel? I'm a bit apprehensive about trying it."

The comment section exploded because of her remark.

[Come on, if you're hosting a culinary show, at least be professional.]

[Exactly, you didn't taste Bai Shuzhen's braised eel earlier because it wasn't up to the mark, but you can't skip this one when the chef has done such a stellar job.]

[Yuexing is scared of elongated creatures. Stop criticizing her.]

[Speaking of which, I'm also hesitant to eat eel.]

【Isn't this a bit dramatic? It's one of our Huaiyang signature dishes. What's there to be afraid of?】

【When eel is well-cooked, it's delicious. If not, it can be quite fishy. It's a dish that really tests a chef's skill.】

After taking a bite, Jia Sibo reassured Shen Yuehing, "It's truly delightful. Just one bite and you'll want more."

Although initially hesitant, Shen Yuehing eventually tried the dish after being encouraged by the other judges and then gave her honest feedback.

【I don't get why they invited a celebrity for a gourmet show!】

【Exactly, can't she just stick to acting?】

【Maybe her acting isn't up to par, that's why she's on a variety show, joking!】

【Come on, she did taste it in the end.】

【Everyone has their fears. There's no need to attack someone over it.】

【If she agreed to be a food judge, she should at least be professional.】

【What's so special about Huaiyang dishes? It doesn't even look appetizing.】

【I'm from Huaiyang, and to be honest, I'm also hesitant about this dish.】

Due to his connection with Yu Antong, Xing Lixuan paid attention to Yu Qingnian. He commented, “The business at Baifangzhai has been declining. It seems Yu Qingnian is trying to leverage this show to turn things around and attract customers.”

Yu Antong pondered, “The chef certainly has skills. But they took the wrong approach with their dish.”

While the eel dish is indeed tasty, its appearance might deter many, like Shen Yuehing, who are wary of elongated soft-bodied creatures, making it less appealing to viewers.

Yu Xingmin only focused on impressing the judges with taste, forgetting that despite being a food show, it's still entertainment. The primary thing viewers perceive isn't the flavor, but the appearance.

The appearance of food is what makes the most lasting impression on viewers. They can easily imagine a dish being delicious just by its look.

In short, they missed a crucial strategy and are slightly behind Yu Antong.

“With the tasting of the dish from our final contestant this round, 24 out of the 36 groups have successfully won the approval of the judges and will advance to our next culinary competition,” the host announced with enthusiasm.

The host continued passionately, “To all successful contestants, don't get complacent! Even tougher challenges await you!”

After watching the episode, Yu Antong roughly estimated that among the 36 groups, about ten seemed competent. However, his judgment might not be accurate since he's basing it on an edited show without witnessing the actual cooking.

Yu Antong texted Han Lele.

【Yu Antong: I finished the episode. It was indeed good. I laughed all the way through. Very entertaining.】

Han Lele replied after a short while.

【Han Lele: Told you the show's planning was worth it.】

【Han Lele: You might want to check Weibo. The show bought a trending topic.】

【Han Lele: However, I heard from the company staff that the feedback far exceeded their expectations.】

Han Lele's company's publicity department paid for a trending search to advertise the show, attracting some viewers. But it's the inherent quality of the show that matters; otherwise, no matter how many trending topics you buy, it would be counterproductive and they'd get backlash.

【Yu Antong: I'll take a look, talk later.】

Yu Antong opened the Weibo search page and saw the first trending topic: "Funniest Food Variety Show".

Following that was a 【Trending】sign. He clicked on it, seeing multiple popular food bloggers with millions of followers recommending "The Chef Is Here!".

lingdiankanshu.com

Food Lover v: A rare domestic food variety show, cherish it while you can.

Foodie Feasts v: A hardcore food show, constantly surprising me. More entertaining than watching dramas. Check it out.

Some even shared pictures of the handsome chefs from the show.

Cooking King v: Came for the food, stayed for the good looks. Here are the pictures【Pictures】x9

Gugu Fish: Died laughing at this show, go watch it.

Pineapple Honey: At first, I thought it was a top-tier show, but then I wavered. When I settled on it being average, the top-tier content appeared. In short, it's a magical variety show.

Candied Pear: There are several hunks in there. Go watch, girls. Totally worth it!

Fairy Water: What kind of divine looks are these? For the second guy in the pictures, I'm definitely watching!

Meat Lover Zhao: Stumbled upon it last night, stayed for one chef's good looks and couldn’t stop watching, even got food envy and cried!

Little Yu: Sister, high five, too cried with food envy. Late at night, and no food delivery available, had to cook instant noodles.

Lemon Tea: Absolutely amazing, the only flaw is that there’s not enough of it! Eagerly waiting for the next episode of "The Chef Is Here!".

Pork Cutlet Fan: cries While watching the show, my pork cutlet suddenly felt less appetizing.

Hamster Eats Seeds: Bookmarking! A new binge-watch.

Braised Pig's Feet: Thank you, show, for guiding my lunch choices.

Clay Pot Stewed Goose: For those undecided about what to eat, try the Fairy Feast! Guarantee each dish is delicious.

Fish Flavored Pork: Already in the queue for the Fairy Feast, darn it! It was always busy, but since the show aired, the line has grown exponentially【Picture】

Furious Gugu: Fairy Feast, why the fuss? If you're that great, appear on the show or open more branches!

Fish Flavored Eggplant: I’m in the same queue as you, judging from the picture. Phoenix Street branch? It's fate; our IDs are even similar. How about a meal together? I'm the only one in purple, easy to spot.

Shouldn't-be-in-the-car: Hahaha, turning a meal into a fan meetup?

Fish-Flavored Pork Strips: Indeed, our first in-person meeting was a success. That familiar look in the eyes – I've met the right person!

Fish-Flavored Eggplant: The young lady is stunning. It's hard to compliment face-to-face in the real world, so here's an online shout-out to Fish-Flavored Pork Strips.

Five Meatballs in One Bite: Oh my! I'm so envious. How is it that some of you always bump into the right person just by dining out?

Udon Noodles: Heard about the new queue feature at the Celestial Feast? It's like online dating and matchmaking combined.

Yu Antong was stunned. He hadn't imagined such possibilities. However, expanding Celestial Feast should indeed be prioritized.

The auntie, after preparing corn rib soup, approached Yu Antong and asked, "The rib soup is ready. Would you like some now?"

"I'll have it now," replied Yu Antong, nudging Xing Lixuan with ease and familiarity, "Bring it over for me."

The auntie responded, "I've got it."

After serving Yu Antong a bowl, he sipped occasionally, lost in calculating his current financial situation.

Hmm...

After some time, Yu Antong had to face the harsh reality: all his earnings had been reinvested, leaving no funds for expansion.

Every day, Xing Lixuan reminded Yu Antong to have his nutritious soup, "What's on your mind? Finish the meat."

Clatter!

The moment Xing Lixuan finished speaking, Yu Antong's spoon slipped from his hand, landing on the carpet.

"Oops! Dropped it," Yu Antong exclaimed, looking up innocently at Xing Lixuan.

Xing Lixuan pinched Yu Antong's cheek, teasingly asking, "Are you three years old? Even toddlers handle spoons better."

Defensively, Yu Antong replied, "I was lost in thought!"

Xing Lixuan let go, picking up the spoon and taking it to the kitchen to clean.

Watching Xing Lixuan, a realization dawned on Yu Antong: he has a wealthy husband!

He was indeed married into affluence and had nearly forgotten this fact.

"Honey~" Yu Antong knelt on the sofa, and as Xing Lixuan emerged from the kitchen, he smiled at him with an overly sweet and ingratiating expression.

"Unsolicited favor usually means deceit or theft," Xing Lixuan said coolly, not swayed by the charming smile, "What are you up to, little thief?"

Yu Antong's grin disappeared instantly, and he pouted, "Meanie! Can't I just smile at you?"

Xing Lixuan ventured a guess, "You want to expand, but you're short on funds, right?"

In disbelief, Yu Antong exclaimed, "How did you guess so accurately? You're truly remarkable!"

It wasn't a tough guess. Ever since Yu Antong decided to participate in the show, Xing Lixuan had anticipated that he would face this issue. With the increased popularity of Celestial Feast, the next step was, of course, expansion.

Xing Lixuan relished the admiring gaze of Yu Antong: "Silly boy."

He said directly, "How much do you need? I'll invest in it."

"So straightforward?" Yu Antong queried, "Do you remember how you refused me without hesitation when I first asked you for a loan? So cold and heartless!"

Caught off guard by the sudden reminiscence, Xing Lixuan touched his nose, "Darling, let's not dwell on the past."

Yu Antong wasn't one to hold grudges. He was merely teasing Xing Lixuan, after all, from Xing's perspective, casually lending tens of millions to an acquaintance was indeed unreasonable.

Yu Antong added, "I once boasted that if you lent me the money, I'd repay both the principal and interest within six months. Looking back now, I'm glad you didn't. Otherwise, I might have ended up owing you everything I have."

Xing Lixuan responded, "That's not necessarily true."

Yu Antong: "Hmm?"

Xing Lixuan: "I don't need your repayment. Having you is enough."

Hearing this, Yu Antong, ever the jokester, quickly formulated a dramatic tale, "Powerful CEO manipulates an innocent college student into compromising situations, all for the dream of entrepreneurship. Such a tragedy!"

A note from the author:

CEO Xing: "My wife is such a drama queen every day."

Thanks to the lovely readers who gave me special tokens or nutrient solutions between January 30, 2020 22:32:34 and January 31, 2020 23:36:03!

Special thanks to the angels who dropped landmines: Xiyu, Modao Girl, and 29827507, 1 each.

And for the nutrient solutions: Modao Girl with 28 bottles; Zhu Zi Loves Meat with 20 bottles; Joy, Qian., and "The Authors I Follow Never Update" with 10 bottles each; 33573730 with 8 bottles; and many others, thank you all!

I'm truly grateful for your support! I'll keep giving my best!

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