"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
The crescendo of excitement forced Evan to intervene, gesturing for calm with a wry smile. "Ladies and gentlemen, please remember this is a restaurant. If the noise persists, I fear the authorities might shut us down for disturbing the peace. Let's enjoy our meals in a more subdued manner, shall we?"His plea fell on deaf ears. Though slightly muted, the buzz of excitement remained palpable, spilling onto the street outside."Very well, let them revel," Evan mused, recalling that the neighboring establishments were still under renovation from his earlier Elite Soldier encounter. "At least we won't be disturbing anyone else."With a resigned glance at the crowd, he turned to Emma and Sailor, his voice laced with gratitude. "I apologize for the imposition today. Your assistance won't be forgotten, and I assure you, I'll find a way to repay your kindness in the future.""Mr. Smith, you're too kind!" they responded in unison, their cheeks flushed. "Your generosity far outweighs this small
As the ladies resumed their work, Evan finally tore his gaze from the sun. He strolled casually towards Emma and Sailor, his demeanor nonchalant. "We're expecting at least eight hundred more guests shortly. I apologize for the impending workload.""Eight hundred?" Emma's bright eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Smith, you've been observing the sun without contacting anyone. How could you possibly know?""It's merely an educated guess," Evan replied calmly. "My predictions rarely miss the mark. Starting tonight, we'll witness successive waves of patrons, potentially peaking at tens of thousands.""Tens of thousands?" Emma and Sailor exchanged incredulous glances, eyeing the seven-story establishment that could accommodate eight hundred at most."Don't worry, they'll queue patiently," Evan assured them, his gaze distant and knowing."Mr. Smith, if I may ask..." Sailor began hesitantly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Are Ava and Bella in the kitchen your friends? I've heard rumors t