163: Contest

Over the entire night, the stall's income once again reached a new high.

However, Lu Chuan's mood was difficult to describe.

He never expected that he would also have a day when he became an internet celebrity.

Tonight, Citizen Center Square was truly packed with people.

Besides the Regular Customers who queued orderly, focused solely on the delicious beggar's chicken, there were even more onlookers who came because of him, and a large group of video bloggers carrying various cameras.

If it weren't for the security guards brought by President Li and the Regular Customers holding them back, the entire flowerbed would probably have been trampled over and over again by these people, let alone setting up a stall to do business.

However, this week's stall duty was finally over... After packing up his stall, Lu Chuan deliberately waited until most of the people on the square had dispersed before rushing to the parking lot with He Jingrui and quickly driving away.

However, this time they were not going home, but checking into a hotel room prepared by the Yinhua City Culinary Association for the contestants.

In the hotel lobby, Lu Chuan met Neng Tong, who had been waiting there early.

"The competition is tomorrow, you must do your best!"

After she finished speaking, she quickly blushed and hurried away.

Lu Chuan turned around, watched the girl's retreating figure, pursed his lips, and a smile appeared in his eyes.

When he turned back, he found He Jingrui pinching his chin, looking at him meaningfully.

Just as Lu Chuan thought he was about to say something, He Jingrui, with the tone of someone who had been through it all, said:

"A Chuan, listen to your brother, cherish a good girl when you meet one, and don't waste time on a bad one!"

Hearing this, Lu Chuan couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Firstly, I don't have such thoughts; I'm not interested in that. Secondly, on what grounds are you, a lifelong bachelor who's been single since birth, saying this? You probably just scrolled through some emotional short videos and are now trying to pass it off as your own wisdom, aren't you?"

"Hehe."

He Jingrui's facade broke in an instant, and he could only cover his embarrassment with a silly laugh... The next morning.

Citizen Center Square had taken on a new look.

The outer perimeter was adorned with red flags flying high and colorful banners fluttering.

There were also conspicuous slogans and banners at intervals.

The entrance featured festive big red balloons, and an inflatable welcoming mascot nearly ten meters tall, wearing a chef's hat.

All staff members were also in place, each performing their duties according to their job responsibilities.

As soon as they had briefly familiarized themselves with their posts, the audience began to enter after having their tickets scanned.

Lu Chuan and He Jingrui walked among the audience, and it was only after watching people scan their QR codes and enter that they realized something was amiss.

Meeting the strange gaze of the ticket checker, He Jingrui looked at Lu Chuan and whispered, "A Chuan, did we take the wrong entrance?"

Lu Chuan was also embarrassed, and quickly pulled He Jingrui away, returning to the entrance.

It was then that they noticed a contestant's entrance not far from the audience entrance.

However, that passage seemed empty, with not a single person in sight.

Lu Chuan immediately had a bad feeling and quickly led He Jingrui over.

This time they didn't go wrong, but the staff member looked at Lu Chuan strangely after verifying his contestant identity.

"Why are you only just arriving now?"

Lu Chuan's heart sank.

"What do you mean? Isn't the entry time exactly 10 o'clock?"

The staff member shook his head and said, speechless:

"That's the audience entry time. You contestants should have completed your entry by 8 o'clock. 8 to 10 o'clock is preparation time, and the competition starts at 10:10."

Hearing this, Lu Chuan couldn't help but glare at He Jingrui, muttering under his breath.

"Is this how you handle logistics? You even got the entry time wrong!"

He Jingrui, knowing he was in the wrong, rolled his eyes, looked up at the sky, and started whistling.

Lu Chuan had no time to bother with him and quickly entered... In the audience at this time, Neng Cheng was already anxiously waiting.

"No, even the audience has entered, why hasn't the young boss appeared yet? He wouldn't have stood us up, would he? Or perhaps, he overslept?"

Neng Tong bit her lip, both annoyed by the questions and worried that Lu Chuan would miss the time.

"Dad, stop asking, I don't know either..."

Regarding the bet of "cleaning toilets for a year," Neng Cheng was still making his final struggle.

"How about you give him a call? Dad will pretend he didn't see it, and won't tell Mom..."

Hearing this, Neng Tong's small face immediately flushed, but then quickly deflated.

"No phone, no phone, I didn't ask for his, and he didn't give it to me, not even WeChat... I didn't add him..."

The more she spoke, the lower her overall mood became, until finally, she seemed to fade away.

Hearing this and seeing his daughter's appearance, Neng Cheng blinked, just about to say something.

At this moment, a bell suddenly rang.

Then a host in a suit and leather shoes, with a cheerful smile, walked to the center of the venue.

What followed was a suffocatingly long opening speech.

"Welcome to the preliminary round of the 'National Chef Competition'—a stage where culinary skills ignite dreams! We thank our exclusive title sponsor [Jiadobao] for injecting infinite energy into culinary dreams! We also give special thanks to our chief strategic partner [Evil Gardenia], official designated beverage [Tiandiyi Healthy Drinks], celebrity vehicle sponsor [Dami Smart Car], music technology support [Wangyi Cloud Audio Technology], and all partners who support excellent food producers! Here, every contestant will conquer the world with their culinary skills, and every dish will become a legend! Let us witness together—the voice of culinary art, blooming at this moment! Scan the code to join the interaction, choose your strongest Chef God, and cheer for your dreams!"

As the audience below was swept up by the rhythm, almost unable to breathe, the host smiled smugly and continued:

"Alright, no more nonsense! The competition is about to begin, and we can see that all our contestants are ready!"

"So..."

However, before he could finish, Neng Cheng could no longer sit still and immediately shouted out anxiously.

"Wait, there's still a contestant who hasn't arrived!"

His words interrupted, the host was quite displeased, but his good professional conduct kept his expression unchanged.

He merely gestured for the camera to focus on an empty workstation in the corner, then said:

"Although it's regrettable, any contestant who has not entered within the stipulated competition time will be considered to have automatically forfeited. This is also for the fairness and impartiality of the competition."

After speaking, he no longer paid attention to Neng Cheng, but instead gestured for the camera to focus on his watch, his tone once again becoming impassioned.

"Alright, we can see that the time has reached ten o'clock, nine minutes, and fifty seconds. There are only ten seconds left until the official start of the competition. I'm sure everyone is eager, so let's count down together and welcome the start of the competition!"

"Ten..."

"Nine..."

"Eight..."

"Seven..."

"Six..."

"Five..."

"Four..."

As the number four was called out, Neng Tong and Neng Cheng's faces had already turned ashen.

"Three..."

At this moment, Chairman Neng Xing, sitting in the judges' seats, also unconsciously clenched his fists.

"Two..."

"One!"

"Alright, the competition has be..."

Just then, a voice suddenly interjected, interrupting the host's voice once again.

"I'm here!"

The next moment, before the host could react, two figures had already rushed into the competition venue like the wind.

The host looked at Lu Chuan and He Jingrui, his brows furrowed.

Being interrupted repeatedly, the displeasure in his heart instantly turned into anger.

He was about to find fault and announce Lu Chuan's disqualification on the spot, but then he noticed the packed audience suddenly stirring.

Then, overwhelming shouts filled the venue, mixed with various discussions.

"It's the young boss! I can't believe the young boss is also competing!"

"Haha, this time we really came to the right place!"

"I filmed a short video last night with the young boss in it, and the views easily reached tens of thousands! Looks like I have more material today! Hooray!"

"I heard before that the young boss would participate, and after waiting so long, I finally saw him!"

As the shouts of "young boss" echoed throughout the venue, the young man before them was already waving back, responding to the audience's enthusiasm.

And upon receiving the young man's response, the audience's cheers grew even more fervent.

Seeing this scene, the host was a little stunned, then inwardly exclaimed how lucky he was, almost playing with fire.

He hadn't expected the young man's popularity to be so high. If he had really announced the disqualification of the contestant, it would have truly turned into a hosting disaster.

And that would leave an indelible stain on his hosting career.

Thinking of this, the host couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, then said with a wide smile:

"Alright, since all the contestants are here, let's start the competition!"