The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 307: Chapter 306: Totally Unexpected

Upon hearing Dai Jinghe’s words, Liu Yunong couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Fu Yu on the stage.

This time, she nodded without hesitation.

Fu Yu is indeed quite good.

With a solid foundation in culinary skills and good looks, taking on an apprentice who is pleasing to the eye and talented is not a bad idea.

It’s just that her schedule has been a bit tight lately!

If she takes this apprentice, she can’t just do it without any gesture.

But...

Since she’s already planning to open a branch here in Bei’an, she might as well schedule the second half of the year here.

Being the boss has its perks.

Wherever she is, that place is the company headquarters.

Having made up her mind, Liu Yunong began to critique all the contestants.

Dai Jinghe had been very detailed, so there was no need for her to repeat everything.

She picked up on the issues she noticed, offering two suggestions, and then straightforwardly announced, ”Fu Yu’s Wenshi Tofu, while having some minor shortcomings, showed his dedication and solid basic skills. So, I’ve decided to take him as my apprentice.”

The next second, Fu Yu heard a digital notification in his ear:

[Ding! NPC Reviewer Liu Yunong’s task: Achieve the top position in the Wenshi Tofu contest with outstanding performance, reach Liu Yunong’s apprenticeship standards, and successfully become an apprentice. Task completed. Reward: An option to acquire any of Liu Yunong’s personal advanced skills.]

Fu Yu was stunned...

No way!

He had achieved the top position in the contest with outstanding performance and completed the task.

How could she keep saying that his Wenshi Tofu had minor shortcomings?

Could it be that there’s an even more impressive way to make Wenshi Tofu?

Thinking this, Fu Yu quickly checked his task reward.

An option to acquire any of Liu Yunong’s personal advanced skills.

This meant he could now check out Liu Yunong’s personal information.

While Liu Yunong spoke, Fu Yu quietly browsed through her profile.

[A chef with sixteen years of experience. Status: Ambitious and progressive. Affinity: 5][Attribute Details]

Since he got the reward to choose any of Liu Yunong’s personal skills, even with only 5 points of affinity, Fu Yu could access Liu Yunong’s attribute details.

[Name: Liu Yunong]

[Occupation: Chef]

[Level: lv43: 535/1000 (Advanced Technician)]

[Professional Skills:

Chopping: Advanced: 500/500

Pasta: Advanced: 246/500

Frying: Advanced: 500/500

...]

Fu Yu: ”!”

Seeing all the advanced skills left Fu Yu dumbfounded.

He never expected this!

Liu Yunong is not even forty but has been in the field for sixteen years, which means she started working at the stove at twenty?

And her level is higher than Zhao Meng’s!

Incredible!

But, determining which skill to exchange will require careful consideration.

Fu Yu now realized that any personal skill related to cooking is extremely important.

After all the reviewers finished their critiques, the host repeated a scripted segment, giving time for the reviewers to score.

Then came the final awards ceremony, where the reviewers took the stage along with hostesses to present trophies and commemorative prizes to the winners.

Since today was just a rehearsal, both the scoring and awarding were just for show.

At the end of the event, everyone returned to the stage at the chief planner’s direction for a few group and solo promotional photos.

The official rehearsal concluded successfully.

Fu Yu was called over by Liu Yunong.

Liu Yunong now looked at Fu Yu entirely like a master at her apprentice, growing more satisfied with each glance.

She kindly said, ”I have some things to attend to the next two days, so I’ll contact you after I’m done. Oh, give me your contact information, phone and WeChat, so you can reach me directly if needed.”

Fu Yu, somewhat surprised, still cooperated in exchanging contact information with Liu Yunong.

On the cab ride back, the more Fu Yu thought about it, the more he felt Liu Yunong’s behavior today was a bit unusual.

Wasn’t it agreed that this apprenticeship was just a staged performance?

But now they’ve exchanged contact information, and she even told him to reach out directly if needed.

The implication in those words felt like she intended to look out for him in the future.

He couldn’t figure it out.

Forget it.

Fu Yu happily delved again into Liu Yunong’s personal skills.

He found that Liu Yunong’s culinary skills were a bit like Gu Yunwu’s, both being especially proficient in skills related to steaming, boiling, and braising.

Coincidentally, these are the areas he’s not very good at.

Choosing any one of these skills could be greatly beneficial.

In a good mood, Fu Yu returned to Qianlima.

Upon arriving at the kitchen, Fu Yu jubilantly shared the good news with Zhao Meng.

”Chef Zhao, I’ve become an apprentice to Liu Yunong...”

Fu Yu beamed as he recounted the day’s events to Zhao Meng.

Zhao Meng listened happily, seriously praising without joking about Fu Yu having another apprenticeship, ”That’s great news! You’ve really made a mark! And I’ve heard from Chef Yao that Liu Yunong’s quite a big deal. Even though it’s nominal, connecting with her through this opportunity is something you must seize.”

”More friends mean more pathways, more connections, and you never know when they might come in handy!”

Fu Yu chuckled, ”Don’t worry, I know!”

Zhao Meng, seeing him so pleased, teased, ”Just look at you, getting so excited like this? You’ve been in the industry for over a year now, and still showing all your emotions!”

Despite being in the industry for over a year, it was evident that Fu Yu was still not fully mature, like a big kid.

He excitedly shared with Zhao Meng how he was the first to complete the dish and how he nearly perfected it, impressing everyone present.

As Fu Yu spoke, fearing others might hear, he leaned close to Zhao Meng, the two conversing in hushed tones.

When he finished, Fu Yu suddenly reached to wipe Zhao Meng’s right lip corner, ”What’s this? A dried soup stain? Hmm? Can’t wipe it off?”

Zhao Meng curiously touched it himself, ”What’s the matter? Did I get something on me? I don’t feel anything!”

Zhao Meng rubbed it with his hand too but felt nothing.

Fu Yu, noticing a small, faint bruise at Zhao Meng’s lip corner, said, ”Not sure what it is, looks like a bruise. Chef Zhao, did you bump into something?”

Zhao Meng was about to speak when something came to mind, and he coughed, ”Cough... uh, well, I seem to have accidentally bumped into something without noticing... um, it’s nothing.”

Zhao Meng couldn’t help but cover his mouth with his hand, showing a bit of a trying-to-hide reaction.

Zhao Meng said it was nothing, and Fu Yu felt at ease, as long as it didn’t hurt.

His happiness blinded him to how Zhao Meng’s face turned beet-red from their conversation.

Maybe it was because Zhao Meng was naturally somewhat dark-skinned, making his blush less noticeable.