165: Jealousy made him crazy and twisted

The long-haired man's name was Zheng Xingyao. His restaurant's dishes were innovative, and their taste was top-notch, earning enthusiastic praise from every customer, thus receiving the highest Michelin three-star rating.

This also caused Zheng Xingyao's value as a head chef to continuously rise.

But Zheng Xingyao was not satisfied. He traveled to Italy, known as the "homeland of ice cream and the pinnacle of craftsmanship," multiple times for further study. By chance, he developed an exquisite and delicious ice cream as a dessert.

It was this dessert that completely solidified Zheng Xingyao's position in the culinary world.

Countless customers, with net worths exceeding hundreds of millions, actively sought to build relationships with Zheng Xingyao just to be able to taste this dessert at any time.

Just as Zheng Xingyao was deeply proud, a customer in his restaurant was chatting and laughing with his female companion, claiming that the signature dessert of the Michelin three-star restaurant was not as good as the ice cream made by a young street vendor.

Originally, this customer was only speaking quietly with his female companion, but, by a stroke of bad luck, Zheng Xingyao happened to pass by and overhear.

At that time, he didn't pay much attention, thinking the customer was just talking nonsense in front of his female companion.

But the more Zheng Xingyao listened to the customer's description, the more alarmed he became.

This was because the details sounded incredibly real, and the customer also had good eloquence.

In just a few words, Zheng Xingyao's mind clearly pictured the magnificent, torch-like ice cream.

This left him with a complex and indescribable feeling. He looked at the fully occupied restaurant and couldn't help but feel an urge to go and investigate, to see if it was truly as delicious as the customer claimed.

That day, after Zheng Xingyao inquired about the address from the customer, he quickly booked a flight and flew over, tasting the ice cream the customer had mentioned that very night.

First, there was astonishment, then disappointment, followed by an inexplicable sense of confusion.

He watched the young street vendor, affectionately called "Little Boss" by the Regular Customers, so young, and under the intense fluctuation of his emotions, he ultimately covered his face and left.

Upon returning to his restaurant, to everyone's incomprehension, Zheng Xingyao announced that he would no longer sell his signature ice cream, unless he could achieve another breakthrough in his dessert skills.

But the more he tried, the more frustrated he became. After realizing that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't surpass the Little Boss's ice cream, his annoyance gradually turned into resentment.

That's right, resentment.

Resentment towards a true genius whose talent completely crushed his own, making it impossible for him to ever catch up in his entire life.

Zheng Xingyao cried out, "If Zhou Yu was born, why was Zhuge Liang also born?" But the crucial point was that the Little Boss hadn't even heard of him, completely unaware of his pursuit.

Thinking this, Zheng Xingyao felt like a clown.

This sense of disparity made it difficult for him to continue, and his heart became increasingly twisted.

Until... at this culinary competition, he actually saw the Little Boss!

And it seemed he was in trouble, perhaps not even able to pass the preliminary round?!

Zheng Xingyao immediately became excited. He no longer hoped to surpass the Little Boss; now he hoped to see the Little Boss suffer misfortune. The more misfortune he suffered, the happier Zheng Xingyao would be!

Why!

Why could he, so young, make such delicious ice cream that many top masters couldn't!

And he, having exhausted his mind, couldn't even make an ice cream that could surpass... no, not even one of the same level!

At this point, Zheng Xingyao's gaze towards Lu Chuan became increasingly pathological and twisted.

Heh heh, aren't you very formidable?

Just use these incomplete, trash ingredients and lose to those less talented contestants!

...Many Regular Customers were seated in the audience, all having come because of the Little Boss.

At this time, after Hua Hanyao and Lin Kai's relay in the group chat, many people understood the Little Boss's predicament.

Of course, out of unconditional trust in the Little Boss, they still firmly believed that he could ultimately deliver a perfect score despite these unfavorable conditions.

But compared to the beginning, they were still inevitably affected. Although they didn't speak, their tightly furrowed brows and slightly clenched fists betrayed their inner feelings.

Little Boss, you must do your best!

The Regular Customers silently cheered on Lu Chuan in their hearts.

Neng Tong and Neng Cheng, sitting in the audience, clearly sensed the change in the aura of the surrounding spectators.

But at this moment, they had no time to concern themselves with that.

Both of them were chefs, so they naturally knew the importance of ingredients to a chef.

Therefore, they quickly realized how thorny the trouble Lu Chuan was currently facing was.

Neng Tong watched Lu Chuan standing in front of the iron rack, picking and choosing among the tattered ingredients, so nervous that she didn't know where to put her hands.

And Neng Cheng, at this moment, was ashen-faced, having completely given up hope... On the judging panel sat the Association Chairmen of various cities in Guangdong Province.

They looked at their own contestants' excellent performance on the field, their faces full of smiles, occasionally commenting.

However, Chairman Neng Xing's brows were tightly furrowed at this moment, especially after hearing the seemingly complimentary but actually boastful remarks from those around him, which made him feel even more unpleasant.

Just then, an Association President sitting next to him suddenly shifted the topic to Lu Chuan, feigning surprise and saying:

"Oh, this late contestant seems to be in trouble. Hmm, I remember, he seems to be from your side, Chairman Neng, isn't he?"

Hearing this, Chairman Neng Xing clearly felt many Association Chairmen's teasing glances cast upon him.

Chairman Neng Xing originally didn't want to respond, but he heard the other party continue:

"Oh dear, those ingredients have been ruined by the previous contestants. If he has to compete with these ingredients, just the appearance score alone might put him in last place, right? What a pity!"

Hearing this, Chairman Neng Xing's forehead veins throbbed, and he couldn't help but retort:

"Chairman Luo, you seem to be quite talkative today. Instead of worrying about other people's contestants, why not worry more about your own? Don't let them fail to even make it past the preliminary round this year."

Chairman Luo, however, smiled smugly.

"That will certainly not happen, heh heh. But if your contestant ends up with the worst score of the entire competition, then you, Chairman Neng, will be greatly embarrassed~"

The city where Chairman Luo was located and Yinhua City, where Chairman Neng Xing was located, were neighbors. Regardless of economic strength or cultural heritage, they were evenly matched, and by all accounts, they were 'brothers in distress'.

But for some reason, these two cities always competed in inexplicable ways, both wanting to surpass the other.

This competition was reflected in all aspects, naturally including the fundamental level of the public's diet.

Chairman Neng Xing knew that Chairman Luo had found a good chef this year and intended to make a big splash at this National Chef Competition.

And now, seeing Lu Chuan in trouble, he immediately became smug and couldn't resist mocking him.

"Hmph!"

Chairman Neng Xing snorted coldly, no longer bothering with Chairman Luo.

The other Association Chairmen around them, watching the two's tit-for-tat, showed no expression on their faces, but were secretly delighted.

They also knew that the seemingly very young contestant Chairman Neng Xing had recommended this year seemed unlikely to get past the preliminary round.

Although they weren't afraid, eliminating a competitor in advance was also excellent.

Many thought with schadenfreude... Meanwhile, Lu Chuan, who had unknowingly become the center of attention, was not as anxious as everyone thought.

He stood in front of the iron rack, looking at the pitifully few and ruined ingredients, and couldn't help but shake his head, muttering:

"These people don't respect ingredients; they will suffer retribution."

Saying this, he began to conceive in his mind what dish to make.

If this competition had a limited theme, it might have caused Lu Chuan some trouble.

But fortunately, there was no limited theme, so Lu Chuan could exercise his creativity freely.

Ever since he received the "Advanced Culinary Arts" reward, his understanding of the Eight Great Cuisines had reached its peak.

According to the system's evaluation, Lu Chuan's culinary skills at this moment were difficult for an ordinary advanced technician to match!

Coupled with the blessing of the "Mind Bug" ability, Lu Chuan was confident that he was currently the most top-tier chef globally!

A mere preliminary round was a difficulty of "instant refinement."

These shapeless ingredients in front of him might be very tricky for other chefs, but for him, they posed no problem at all.

So, in the eyes of outsiders, Lu Chuan, standing in front of the iron rack with a furrowed brow and a worried expression, was merely considering what dish to make.

After much thought, Lu Chuan still couldn't make up his mind.

He could only ask He Jingrui, who was gnawing on half a cucumber beside him.

"What do you want to eat?"