Impossible, he couldn't possibly know! Reassured by this thought, his expression softened slightly, and he spoke in a deep voice:"Whether you acknowledge it or not, you've already forfeited your dignity as a chef. Do you have any idea who I am? I'm Larry Black from the neighboring city, champion of this year's October Elysia Food Festival. The fact that you don't even dare to showcase your skills in my presence speaks volumes about your lack of dignity!""That's right, you're nothing but a restaurateur without an ounce of dignity now!" one of his lackeys chimed in."As a chef, you've lost even the most basic sense of pride. How do you expect to survive in the culinary industry? What a pity!" another added.Evan paid no heed to the taunts of these minions. With a faint smile, he leaned in close to Larry Black and said in a low voice, "You know exactly what I'm referring to."In an instant, Larry Black's expression transformed from shock to ghostly pale.He knows!He knows everything!
The clamor from his underlings finally prompted Larry Black to speak. He cleared his throat, composing his thoughts, and then said in a solemn, cold voice, "Very well. Since you want a contest, I'll oblige. However, I have some conditions for today's competition!""Go on," Evan replied, his demeanor as calm as a gentle breeze, showing neither joy nor sorrow, as if the impending contest had nothing to do with him. It was as though victory was already in the bag!"My conditions are simple. I require witnesses!""For the sake of fairness, let's choose the witnesses randomly. Neither of us should have an advantage. This is a bustling area with many office buildings, and it's almost lunchtime. I'll have my men bring in a few white-collar workers from the nearby offices to taste our culinary creations!""Furthermore, I want my subordinates to livestream the entire competition process, broadcasting it to the public!"Larry Black rattled off a series of demands in one breath.Evan agreed to a
"Well, well! Weren't you full of bravado earlier? Why are you standing still now?" Larry Black sneered, retrieving beef from the refrigerator while casting a disdainful glance at Evan, who stood calmly to the side."Seeing you frozen in place, clearly at a loss, brings me such joy," he continued with a contemptuous smile. "Let me be frank - I knew all along you couldn't handle beef properly, let alone master this particular dish!"Remarkably, he had mistaken Evan's composure for hesitation!Evan remained impassive, completely unfazed. He casually waved his hand, not even deigning to acknowledge the bald man's taunts.Larry Black's attempt at provocation fell flat, leaving him slightly deflated.At that moment, one of his lackeys, following their predetermined plan, initiated a live stream that had been set up in advance. Addressing the handful of viewers, he gloated, "Ladies and gentlemen, witness the downfall of this new restaurant's chef!"The audience for the live stream was sparse
"I agree, he doesn't seem to be the songwriter. In fact, I'm not even sure he's making tea-fragrant beef at all!"This time, Larry Black refrained from observing Evan. He let out a derisive snort, muttering, "Trash!"Yet Evan remained unfazed, as if cocooned in a soundproof bubble, oblivious to his surroundings.He continued his culinary journey.After removing the fried tea leaves, he cleaned the wok, added olive oil, and heated it. He then tossed in the marinated beef slices.Following a quick stir-fry of the beef, he once again cleaned the wok, added more olive oil, and heated it. He then added chili and Sichuan peppercorns, frying them until they turned a deep brown.Once the spices were properly toasted, he added ginger and garlic slices, sautéing until fragrant.Next, he reintroduced the fried tea leaves and beef, seasoning with salt, MSG, chicken powder, sugar, and light soy sauce. He stir-fried everything until well combined, finished with a glaze of oil, and then plated the d
"I need no favors from you. Are these evasions an attempt to back out? Fine, if you're so reluctant to let the judges taste your dish, you can admit defeat right here, in front of everyone!"Following their boss's lead, his lackeys chimed in."That's right, surrender! Admit defeat to our boss!""You lack confidence in your own creation? Could it be all style and no substance?""Well, since you insist, let's have the judges sample the dishes," Evan replied with a faint smile. Ah, I had hoped to give you one last opportunity, but you're so eager to face your downfall. What can I do? I'm at a loss as well!"Judges, please step forward. We'll taste from left to right. On the right is Larry Black's dish, and on the left is the masked chef's creation," one of Larry Black's underlings called out, summoning the randomly selected white-collar judges.Simultaneously, the lackey livestreaming the event grinned at the camera, addressing the online audience with apparent pride: "Ladies and gentlem
Evan smiled gently at the group. "Certainly. Just write down your orders, and I'll prepare them. But remember to pay after you've eaten!""Of course! Your dishes may be pricey, but after tasting them, we find them worth every penny—no, they exceed their value!" The white-collar workers nodded enthusiastically, like pecking chicks.With the Super Cooking Technique at his disposal, preparing dishes for these dozen or so people was child's play. In no time, he had everything ready. The urban professionals devoured the food with gusto, their faces a picture of culinary bliss.As they were settling their bills, still savoring the lingering flavors, one of them fixated on Evan's slender, pale fingers and suddenly exclaimed, "Boss, I recognize that tattoo! Could you be the one who livestreamed songwriting recently?"His observation sparked recognition in several others, who eagerly peered at Evan's wrist. Upon confirming, they burst into simultaneous exclamations."It really is! My God, is i
Conversely, Lumina City's residents flocked to Evan's establishment in droves, leveraging their geographical advantage. A mere subway ride brought them to the epicenter of intrigue, eager to unravel the mystery and savor the legendary fare.Evan had anticipated this turn of events.He was engrossed in his culinary preparations, crafting an array of menu items for the imminent influx of local patrons.As predicted, around four in the afternoon, a throng of citizens who had seen the video descended upon his establishment. Their eyes brimmed with admiration as they watched Evan plating dishes in the dining area.Basking in their ardent gaze, Evan felt a surge of pride rather than discomfort. He offered a subtle smile and said nonchalantly, "What would you like to order? I must warn you, the prices here are rather steep, but I assure you, every dish is worth its weight in gold."At his words, the crowd's attention shifted to the menu displayed in the hall. Their eyes widened in astonishme
"Really?" Bella's suspicion lingered. "Are you sure you're not pulling our leg?""Why would I deceive you?" Evan lamented, his voice quivering with emotion. "You have no idea how exhausting it's been, managing everything alone."His display of raw emotion could easily clinch an Oscar for Best Actor."Bella, enough," Ava intervened, her face etched with concern. "Evan wouldn't lie to us. It's not even dinner rush yet; imagine how hectic it'll be later. Let's postpone our meal and help prepare some side dishes. Otherwise, he'll be overwhelmed."With that, Ava gently led Bella towards the kitchen."Wait, weren't we here to dine?" Bella protested, feeling duped. "Ava, this isn't right. You're not even married to him yet, and you're already taking his side. I'm starting to regret coming here!"As the two women disappeared into the kitchen, Evan remained in the dining area, a wolfish grin spreading across his face.While Bella and Ava busied themselves with food preparation, Evan cleared hi