Chapter 32: How Are They a Good Match?

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: How Are They a Good Match?

After being stunned by the sheer freshness of the last dish, Fu Chao thought no other dish could possibly wow him again.

But after a bite of the braised fish tail, his senses were overcome with pleasure. He was captivated by the tender texture of the fish, and its rich aroma was so intoxicating he felt completely disoriented.

Then there were the hot candied apples. He picked up a piece with his chopsticks while it was still hot and quickly dipped it into cold water, causing the molten sugar threads to cool, crisp up, and snap.

He popped it into his mouth and took a bite. The sugar coating was crisp and fragrant, while the apple was crunchy on the outside and soft within. The combination of sugar and oil delivered a unique delight that wasn’t the least bit cloying. In fact, it was utterly mesmerizing, making him want to eat one piece after another.

However, Fu Chao remembered there weren’t many pieces of the hot candied apple, and the kids loved them, so he reluctantly put down his chopsticks.

And continued to happily devour the other dishes.

[Oh my god, that looks so delicious!]

[Haven’t you seen that Fu Chao is speechless? The two Cubs practically have their heads buried in their bowls!]

[Speaking as a professional chef, Nan Zhi’s knife skills are absolutely masterful. She could totally own me! I’ve been studying for six years and still can’t debone a fish as effortlessly as she does!]

[Is deboning a fish that hard? My dad’s an amateur and even he can do it.]

[Deboning isn’t the hard part. What’s hard is keeping the fish’s body perfectly intact without damaging the grain of the flesh! That’s where a top chef’s excellence lies—in the details. You get it?]

[So you’re saying Nan Zhi is really a professional-grade chef? I heard a rumor that her family descended from Imperial Chefs. I thought it was absurd, but now it seems like it might actually be true!]

[Is it true? Nan Zhi is really the descendant of an Imperial Chef?]

—A case study in the speed of modern rumors.

...

Nan Yi had been eating Nan Zhi’s cooking for several days now, so he had built up a slight resistance and didn’t completely lose his composure over the gourmet food.

Fu Chao and Qing Xi were different. It was their first time tasting Nan Zhi’s cooking, and their minds were filled with only the four words "out of this world." Their willpower completely crumbled!

Fu Chao began to reflect on his error, thinking with unshakable conviction—’Someone who can create such heavenly cuisine can’t possibly be a cruel person.’

Qing Xi was even purring like a little kitten. He lifted his small face, sticky with sugar threads, and beamed at Nan Zhi, showering her with one compliment after another. They were a string of surprisingly witty remarks; it was a mystery where he’d learned them.

Nan Yi, slightly displeased, slowed his chopsticks.

He shot a subtle glare at Qing Xi before quickly glancing over at Nan Zhi.

Nan Zhi was, of course, happy to hear such sincere praise from the Cub.

But she was also humble and said regretfully,

"It’s a pity, it’s lacking a little something."

"Lacking?"

Fu Chao almost thought he had misheard.

Nan Zhi nodded.

"Everything is about the right combination. A key essence of this thick fish head soup is shredded Jinhua ham. You could say it’s the soul of the flavor, the finishing touch that brings it to life. Unfortunately, it’s too expensive, and besides, you can’t even buy it here."

Fu Chao swallowed a mouthful of soup with a GULP. He couldn’t even begin to imagine how delicious the perfect version Nan Zhi described must be.

But he still made sure to praise her:

"It’s already delicious as it is! I’ve eaten at several famous Gourmet Record restaurants, and none of them were as good as this!"

Nan Zhi gave a pleased smile, making no effort to be modest this time.

When it came to the art of cooking, she had her pride.

When the meal was over, Fu Chao had wiped the plates clean, mixing even the last drops of sauce with his rice.

Afterward, Fu Chao took the initiative to wash the dishes, and he even cleaned every nook and cranny of the kitchen until it was spotless.

Then, he and a very reluctant-looking Qing Xi stood up to say their goodbyes. Fu Chao gave a respectful bow.

"Thank you so much for today."

"It was nothing."

Nan Zhi waved it off. She wanted to talk about something else.

"By the way, since you don’t have a job, do you want to come work for me?"

"Huh?"

Nan Zhi’s sudden offer left Fu Chao stunned, and he wasn’t the only one—the audience was just as baffled.

A guest working for another guest... was that even allowed?

But as they listened to Nan Zhi explain the details, they had a change of heart and realized it was actually a great arrangement!

From the production team’s perspective, it even added to the show’s entertainment value. There was no reason to reject it!

Fu Chao was a little hesitant at first.

However, when he thought back to the meal he’d just had, that hesitation vanished without a trace.

"I think that could work!"

[My guess is Fu Chao totally caved for the food!]

[LMAO, you think that’s a guess? It’s written all over his face.]

[Fu Chao’s solo stans: He’s such a disappointment.]

[Guess why all the people who were just trash-talking are suddenly quiet? Haha!]

[Hey, you know what, those two actually have some chemistry. They’re even good-looking in a similar way! I ship it!]

[If the fans want to yell, let them yell at me! I am the one who has decreed this ship! It has nothing to do with either of them!]

...

「A quiet courtyard amidst the bustle.」

The wind rustled through the bamboo grove in the courtyard, a sound both serene and poetic.

Too bad Tao An couldn’t appreciate it at all. His heart was sinking, and he was so nervous he felt it might stop beating altogether.

CLACK.

It was the crisp sound of Sandalwood Beads clacking together.

Tao An glanced nervously at Lu Shixu’s profile and explained in a hushed voice,

"Mr. Lu, this is an unscripted reality show. Even as investors, we have no authority to dictate the cast members’ actions. The most we can do is offer suggestions..."

Lu Shixu slowly lifted his gaze and shot Tao An a look.

Tao An immediately fell silent.

’As Lu Shixu’s personal assistant for the past two years, Tao An had gotten a good read on his temperament—’

’His exterior was cold, but his heart was colder still.’

’He was practically a deity on a pedestal, beyond joy or sorrow, want or desire.’

’And yet, this time, for some unknown reason, he’d been drawn to this celebrity named Nan Zhi.’

’First, he’d taken notice of her. Then, he’d ordered him to investigate her past.’

’And now, he was suddenly watching her reality show livestream and getting jealous for no reason at all!’

’That’s right!’

’Jealousy!’

’As someone who’d had three girlfriends in college and possessed a wealth of romantic experience, Tao An knew exactly what to call Mr. Lu’s baseless displeasure: jealousy.’

’But the problem was—’

’Mr. Lu had clearly never even met Miss Nan Zhi!’

’So where was this jealousy coming from?’

Tao An couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Despite his fear of Lu Shixu, he couldn’t suppress his innate human love for gossip and started imagining all sorts of secret, dramatic backstories...

"What is that?"

Lu Shixu extended a well-defined finger, pointing in the air toward a large, colorful special effect drifting across the tablet screen.

Tao An said, "Oh, those are livestream gifts. The more valuable the gift, the more extravagant the special effect!"

’Wait!’

’Mr. Lu isn’t thinking of...?’

"How do you buy them?"

’Tao An suddenly felt as if Lu Shixu was willingly stepping down from his heavenly perch, somehow becoming touched by the mortal world.’

’What do I do? I kind of want to laugh.’

On the surface, however, Tao An maintained his professionalism, nodding with perfect composure.

"Of course, sir. I’ll take care of it."

Tao An quickly configured the payment method and purchased the gift.

A moment later, a dense and brilliant display of fireworks exploded across the screen, set against the backdrop of a vast, magnificent, rotating galaxy.

A line of glittering golden text floated before the eyes of every viewer—

[In what way are they a match?]