Culinary God in Wilderness

Chapter 405: Chapter 252: So, Not a Landing Strip, Right?

He couldn’t believe such a heavy topic was being brought up just for a meal.

With all the connections she’d made as a forest guide, not to mention her status as the princess of the Michelle Hotel, if she really wanted authentic Daxia Cuisine, she could easily go to a famous local restaurant. Their food would definitely be better than his.

’Is it because of that drowning incident? Is this her way of apologizing?’

’No, that’s not right either. Last time, she specifically said she’d reveal the secret after the competition was over.’

In an instant, countless possibilities flashed through Lin Chen’s mind.

And he was sure a topic like this couldn’t be explained away in just a few sentences. There had to be more pitfalls—and more money involved—hidden behind it. It was just that they were filming a show right now and couldn’t be away from the cameras for too long, so she couldn’t elaborate.

"My motive...?"

Erica blinked her big eyes, staring right at him.

"I just don’t want you to take risks, whether it’s hunting crocodiles or in your real life afterward."

"After all, you’re my idol. Isn’t it normal for a fan to worry about their idol’s safety? An idol is a kind of emotional support, too."

"I still don’t get it. What is it about me that you find so attractive? I’m just an ordinary cook."

"Because I see a shadow of my dad in you. Your personality, your actions, even the way you talk... you’re a lot like him."

Off-camera, Erica finally revealed her secret.

"My dad raised me all by himself. I know how hard it was for him. He’s my idol, too. After seeing you, I just felt like you two were the same kind of person. I developed a fondness for you out of nowhere."

"After observing and interacting with you for so long, I can see you’re really different from other men. You have a rare quality about you. Of course, I don’t really have any other friends from Great Xia, so I can’t be sure if this quality is unique to you or if all Da Xia People are like this."

"But that doesn’t matter. Other people have nothing to do with me."

Lin Chen froze. He never would have guessed that there was this hidden meaning behind the word "idol" she was always using.

’I’m like her dad?’

’Like what? A simple, salt-of-the-earth, working-class man?’

"So that’s how it is. I get it now."

Now that he knew the girl had a bit of a father complex, her overly familiar and intimate behavior suddenly made perfect sense. She was projecting her father’s image onto him, which was why she felt that sense of closeness.

The fact that she could confide in him like this was proof of her sincerity. She was genuinely trying to be his friend.

"Thank you for the advice and the warning. When you come over for a meal, I absolutely won’t charge you."

It may have only been a few simple sentences, but for him, they could save him millions of US dollars in expenses.

An amount that huge couldn’t be repaid even if he gave her free meals for life.

Besides, it was hard to say how long he’d even be able to stay in North America. Unless he could get a green card, he wouldn’t have long-term residency.

But he was definitely going back to his country in the end. The safest place in the world could only be Great Xia. His main goals here were to broaden his horizons and make money.

Being a chef was a decidedly low-status job back home, but it was a respected profession abroad. Add in the five-to-six-fold difference in the exchange rate, and earning money here to spend back home was the best option.

"You said it! I’m not going to be polite, you know. Watch out, or I’ll eat you out of house and home and you’ll end up a homeless man!"

"Wow, are you a pig? How could you possibly eat millions of dollars worth of food?"

"Hmph, who are you looking down on? I have a *very* big appetite~"

The two of them bantered for a bit before Lin Chen glanced at the time and pointed toward the bamboo hut.

"I should probably head back. Your voice was definitely picked up by the mics, and it wouldn’t look good if I was gone for too long."

With that, he started walking back.

"Wait!"

Erica suddenly called out to him.

"What else is there...?"

Lin Chen had just stopped and was about to turn his head. Before he could finish his sentence, he heard the sound of rapid footsteps behind him.

An instant later, he felt a warm, soft body hugging him tightly from behind.

He froze completely. He looked down at Erica’s hands wrapped around his waist, momentarily unsure how to react.

’All the previous jokes were one thing, since there was no physical contact, but this was different.’

’What does this mean?’

He swallowed hard, standing frozen in place, afraid to even move. He could feel two points of astonishing softness pressing against his back.

"It doesn’t matter if you don’t win first place. Second place is great, too. If you fail to hunt the crocodile, don’t force it. Your safety is the most important thing."

"I understand."

He gently patted Erica’s hand, and she slowly let go.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming a little charged, Erica said out of the blue,

"So? Not flat as a board, right?"

"..."

Lin Chen rolled his eyes, speechless, but he also breathed a silent sigh of relief.

The atmosphere just a moment ago had left him completely at a loss, but her one sentence instantly dissolved the tension.

"Right, right, right. It’s a real shame you’re not a model with a figure like that. Can we please not get hung up on this? I apologize again. I’m leaving!"

Without another word, he hurried toward the bamboo hut without looking back, terrified that if he did, he’d fall for another one of the girl’s tricks.

Watching his retreating figure, the corners of Erica’s mouth curved up slightly. She felt a great weight lift from her heart, as if she had just taken care of a major life event.

"Hey!"

"What now? Can’t you just say everything you need to say at once?"