102: The food is tempting

Han Fei's fast-food truck was like a magnet, gradually attracting the surrounding crowd.

Many curious students approached, wanting to see what was so special about this fried chicken cutlet that he dared to set up a stall right outside their Gourmet Academy.

Amidst the clamor, a figure slowly entered their sight, drawing all eyes to him.

He was a strikingly handsome young man with an exceptionally tall and straight physique, making him particularly noticeable in the noisy crowd.

"Long Feihe!"

The name exploded among the students like a clap of thunder, mixed with incredulous gasps and admiration.

Long Feihe was not only a prominent figure on campus but also, at a young age, had obtained a One-Star Gourmet Hunter certificate, making him an idol and goal for many students at the Gourmet Academy.

"Is that Senior Long, the one who got the One-Star Gourmet Hunter certificate?" someone whispered, their voice filled with disbelief.

"That's right, it's him!"

"Oh my god, Senior Long seems interested in this stall?"

"How is that possible? Isn't he extremely picky about ingredients and cooking?"

Questions and surprise spread through the crowd, everyone holding their breath, anticipating what was about to happen.

Long Feihe glanced at the sign, then scrutinized the busy Han Fei with a professional eye, before speaking: "1000 yuan a serving? That price isn't low."

This price point was something to consider, even for those with high demands for gourmet food.

However, despite his doubts, Long Feihe did not choose to turn and leave; instead, that hint of doubt further fueled his curiosity to investigate.

After all, just the courage to set up a stall outside the Gourmet Academy was enough to make him look at Han Fei in a new light.

Han Fei felt the sharp and expectant gaze, a confident and composed smile playing on his lips, "You get what you pay for. Trust me, you won't regret it."

As he spoke, Han Fei's hands did not stop moving.

Long Feihe's gaze was involuntarily drawn to Han Fei's focused and fluid movements.

The tongs in Han Fei's hand danced nimbly, lightly flipping the chicken cutlet in the hot oil, each immersion into the golden oil and every leap out was precisely calculated, not a single drop of oil dared to splash, disrupting this harmonious flow.

Long Feihe's lips unconsciously curved upwards, a hint of undetectable approval flickering in his eyes as he nodded slightly and said, "Give me a fried chicken cutlet."

His voice was not loud, but it clearly pierced through the surrounding clamor, reaching everyone's ears.

Whispers like a tide surged around, mixed with surprise, suspicion, and a hint of barely perceptible jealousy.

Someone whispered, "How is this possible?! Senior Long is actually interested in a chicken cutlet priced at a thousand yuan?"

Another speculated, "He must be curious, wanting to see what this guy is capable of."

Still others laughed with ill intent, "Heh heh, I can already imagine Long Feihe's mockery later."

And a student who seemed rather dismissive of the matter sneered, "Hmph, serves him right for daring to set up a stall at the Gourmet Academy. He doesn't even know what kind of place this is."

... Amidst the commotion, Han Fei maintained a calm and unhurried demeanor. Hearing Long Feihe's order, he gently looked up, "Alright, please wait a moment."

Then, Han Fei placed a carefully prepared semi-finished chicken cutlet into the perfectly preheated oil.

Instantly, a "sizzle sizzle" sound accompanied by dancing oil droplets, and a mouth-watering aroma quickly filled the air.

The aroma contained not only the savory deliciousness of chicken but also a subtle hint of special spices, tantalizing the taste buds of everyone present.

From frying to draining oil, then to cutting and plating, Han Fei did it with ease, like a craftsman sculpting a masterpiece about to be completed, every detail imbued with life and Soul.

The chicken cutlet in the oil gradually turned a tempting golden color, its skin becoming crispy and appealing, while the inside remained tender and juicy.

Han Fei carefully used tongs to lift the chicken cutlet out, placing it on clean oil-absorbing paper to allow excess oil to drain, then meticulously cut it into uniform small pieces, like handling the most precious gems, arranging them delicately in an exquisite meal box.

Finally, he lightly sprinkled a layer of his unique spice blend, adding an ineffable flavor to this fried chicken cutlet.

"Please enjoy." Han Fei handed the fried chicken cutlet to Long Feihe, a slight smile on his face.

Long Feihe steadily took the meal box, first taking a deep breath of the complex yet harmonious aroma, a blend of oil, meat, and spices.

Setting aside everything else, this aroma alone was already comparable to, and even surpassed, many delicacies he had experienced in countless high-end restaurants.

Long Feihe gently raised the bamboo skewer, from which hung a golden-brown, crispy-skinned chicken cutlet, fragrant and alluring.

He carefully brought the chicken cutlet to his lips, as if it were a rare work of art, parted his lips, and slowly took a bite.

As his teeth pierced through the thin, resilient crust, juices burst in his mouth, full of tender and rich meaty flavor.

At that moment, Long Feihe's eyes seemed to light up; his previously relaxed and leisurely expression was replaced by one of focused solemnity.

He closed his eyes and savored it, each chew seemingly drawing a detailed map of the chicken cutlet's flavor layers in his mind, from the spicy crispness of the skin to the deliciousness of the chicken meat inside, each detail stirring ripples within him.

The surrounding students held their breath, deeply captivated by this scene. Their heartbeats seemed to rise and fall with the rhythm of Long Feihe's tasting, and the anticipation and tension in the air almost solidified.

"This taste... it's surprisingly wonderful!" Long Feihe slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but it echoed in everyone's ears.

As his words fell, everyone saw him calmly swallow the delicious bite, his gaze becoming more resolute than ever as he turned to Han Fei, stating with firm words: "Your skill is absolutely no less than any One-Star Gourmet Hunter I have ever seen!"

At these words, a wave of astonished murmurs immediately erupted around them.

"How is that possible?! Senior Long actually said something like that?!"

"No way? Senior Long is always so critical; how could he praise street food so highly?!"

"Could this person selling fried chicken cutlets really possess such superb culinary skills?"

Just as everyone was discussing, a student from the Gourmet Academy, with a look of disbelief on his face, slowly approached.

He first looked at Han Fei suspiciously, then turned his gaze to Long Feihe, asking half-believing, half-doubting, "Senior Long, is your evaluation true?"

Long Feihe merely nodded slightly, his tone conveying an undeniable certainty: "Even I might not be able to make such delicious chicken cutlets."

The student's face was full of doubt, but driven by strong curiosity, he couldn't resist ordering a fried chicken cutlet.

When the first bite of chicken blossomed in his mouth, that ultimate pleasure spreading from his tongue to his entire oral cavity made his brows involuntarily relax, and an undisguised exclamation escaped his lips: "Oh my god, this texture, this taste, it's absolutely marvelous!"

At these words, more students were drawn in.

They gathered with anticipation, and the queue gradually extended, forming a winding human Dragon.

"I want one too!"

"Give me two!"

"Hurry up and make more, everyone's waiting!"

Han Fei was bustling, but he still maintained a meticulous attitude in his preparation, each fried chicken cutlet carefully processed and seasoned by him.

Students poured in from all directions, surrounding Han Fei's seemingly inconspicuous but alluringly fragrant small stall, making it impenetrable.

Just then, a tall girl in an exquisite uniform slowly approached, her steps light, her demeanor revealing an elegance beyond her years.

Beside her, several other students, similarly neatly dressed and with extraordinary temperaments, followed closely, their eyes filled with respect and loyalty for the tall girl.

"Is he the person father spoke of?" Cen Fei asked the tall, thin boy beside her.

The tall, thin boy, named Wang Ye, nodded slightly, his gaze holding a mix of certainty and reverence: "That's right, he's the one the Dean mentioned."

Upon hearing this, Cen Fei's delicate brows slightly raised, her bright eyes seeming to perceive everything as she carefully observed the busy figure not far away.

At this moment, he was sweating profusely, his nimble fingers flitting among the ingredients, every movement exuding an indescribable focus and confidence.

"He's only at the One-Star Gourmet Hunter level. Why would he set up a stall outside our Academy?" Cen Fei's tone unconsciously carried a hint of doubt.

Seeing this, Wang Ye quickly lowered his voice to remind her: "Young Miss, please be careful with your words. The other party's identity is not simple."

"I know."

Cen Fei nodded slightly, a flicker of imperceptible annoyance in her eyes.

"I really don't understand what father is thinking, why he insists I look after him."

Thinking of her father's sudden phone call not long ago, and the undeniable request in that call, an indescribable irritation welled up in Cen Fei's heart.

She was usually so busy; where would she find the time for such things?

"After all, the other party's identity is not simple. The Dean is worried about any accidents, so he could only ask Young Miss to look after him." Wang Ye added at the opportune moment, trying to ease the atmosphere.

One must know, Cen Fei possessed D-Rank strength, absolutely the top expert at the Gourmet Academy.

If it weren't for her dedication to cooking, she would probably have been invited away by the Special Guard Team long ago.

Cen Fei was very famous in the Gourmet Academy, and even throughout the entire Third Hunter University.

As soon as she appeared, the surrounding gazes were involuntarily drawn to her. Students whispered to each other, both openly and discreetly, their discussions rising and falling.

A student whispered in surprise: "Isn't that Cen Fei, the Chairman of the Student Council?"

"The D-Rank Expert?!"

"Why is she here? Is she also here to eat chicken cutlets?"

... Cen Fei scanned the crowd, feeling a little curious.

"Is that guy's chicken cutlet really that good? So many students from the Academy are queuing?"

Lost in thought, she subtly gave Wang Ye a look.

Wang Ye understood, his agile figure weaving through the crowd, and soon he reached the front of the line, saying to the busy Han Fei: "Give me two fried chicken cutlets too."

Han Fei nodded, his hands still working, "Alright, please wait a moment."

Watching Han Fei's movements, Wang Ye couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"It looks pretty ordinary. Why are so many people queuing?"

As Cen Fei's attendant, Wang Ye had naturally eaten countless delicacies.

Han Fei's chicken cutlet, in his eyes, was indeed very ordinary.

However, when the golden, alluring, steaming hot chicken cutlet truly entered his mouth, all doubts instantly vanished.

The crispness of the outer skin lightly touched his teeth, without any excess greasiness, like the light mist in the summer morning sun.

And the chicken meat inside was unprecedentedly tender and juicy, perfectly locking in the ingredient's original flavor.

Even more astonishing was the secret seasoning; it was not merely a taste sensation, but more like opening a door to a new world, allowing one to experience a layered yet profound and complex journey of flavors.

"This... this taste is simply a stroke of genius, almost rivaling the Peak creations lovingly crafted by Three-Star Gourmet Hunters!"

Wang Ye could not hide his excitement, his heartfelt praise piercing through the noisy crowd, drawing glances from the surrounding students.

Seeing this, Cen Fei's delicate brows raised slightly, a hint of imperceptible interest flashing in her eyes.

"How is it?" she asked softly.

Wang Ye's face radiated a childlike innocence and joy, as he unreservedly replied: "The taste of this chicken cutlet has completely subverted my understanding of deliciousness; it's an absolutely unprecedented experience!"

Cen Fei was half-believing, half-doubting, "Is it really that good?"

She took the chicken cutlet, her fingertips gently touching it, feeling the lingering warmth and subtle texture.

Carefully examining this seemingly ordinary delicacy, a conflicting emotion of doubt and anticipation surged within Cen Fei.

The surface of the chicken cutlet was golden and crispy, glistening with tempting oil, and the wisps of light smoke coiling around it carried an irresistible aroma, seemingly silently narrating its unique flavor story.

Finally, Cen Fei cautiously took the first bite.

At that instant, all doubts were shattered by the sudden impact of deliciousness, vanishing into thin air.

The tenderness of the chicken and the crispness of the outer skin combined perfectly, orchestrating a magnificent feast for her taste buds in her mouth.

Every trace of aroma, every hint of flavor tantalized her senses, making her feel as if she were in a dreamlike world belonging only to gourmet food, forgetting all worldly troubles and constraints.

Just in this intoxicating and wonderful moment, Cen Fei suddenly felt that the invisible Bottleneck that had long constrained the evolution of her superpower showed unprecedented signs of loosening!

One must know, the reason Cen Fei was able to rank among D-Rank Experts was precisely due to her superpower, which was closely linked to gourmet food.

Every bite of delicious cuisine she tasted was a nourishment and catalyst for her ability, allowing her to advance a step further on the Dao of experts.

However, as time passed, the gourmet dishes that once easily made her abilities soar became increasingly rare, and her taste buds gradually became incredibly picky; that kind of deliciousness that could evoke a strong resonance seemed to have become a distant memory.

At this moment, this unexpectedly encountered chicken cutlet, like a catalyst, quietly awakened the dormant power within her.

At the same time, Han Fei quietly glanced in Cen Fei's direction.

A subtle smile played on his lips, "What an interesting ability."