The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

”Hey! Yaoyao, I’ve noticed you’ve changed a lot recently. Have all your pimples... vanished from your face?”

”Whoa! What brand of skincare products are you using? They’re amazingly effective!”

”Yaoyao, how did you do it? Tell us!”

”Yeah, Yaoyao, tell me. I’m constantly getting pimples on my nose, and I’m really worried it’ll turn into a strawberry nose in the future. How did you treat yours?”

...

It was break time.

Three or four female classmates sitting to the left and right of Zhang Xueyao crowded around her, chatting away.

The female classmates examined the changes on Zhang Xueyao’s face while secretly marveling, very interested in finding out how she treated her skin.

At their age, they were going through puberty; with oily skin and a heavy study load, their rest was quite inadequate, with long nights up and high stress. Even the best skin couldn’t withstand such mistreatment.

Pimples, blackheads, oily skin...

These were unavoidable issues.

Originally among classmates, everyone was in the same boat—you had dark circles, I had acne, and everyone looked a bit worn out, so it became normal.

But suddenly, a classmate who originally had the worst acne on their face transformed, all her acne disappeared, with fair and supple skin, naturally attracting attention from those around her.

A bunch of people had already been curiously watching her new transformation. If it weren’t for Zhang Xueyao’s ugly, acne-ridden face, her poor family background, and mismatched attire that made her stick out like a sore thumb in class, no one would have approached her before.

Everyone was very curious about Zhang Xueyao’s change.

She used to look ordinary and out of place, yet suddenly, as if going through a metamorphosis, she became an entirely different person.

It was truly amazing!

Especially now, with Zhang Xueyao sitting among the crowd, her delicate face, eyes full of life, high nose bridge, rosy lips, and fair, translucent skin.

If you look closely, you can still see the acne scars that haven’t completely faded, but they’re so light now that as long as they’re not exposed to sunlight, they’re not very noticeable.

This made everyone increasingly curious about how Zhang Xueyao cured her acne.

Surrounded by classmates eager to ask questions, Zhang Xueyao was very happy, with a sense of indescribable pride in her heart.

After all, she used to be very low-key in class due to her poor family and acne-ridden face, feeling very inferior among her classmates.

But now, she brushed up and looked carefully in the mirror every morning after waking up.

To be honest, even she felt it was like a dream to see herself in the mirror with improving complexion and better skin every day.

Now that she finally became beautiful and began interacting with classmates, watching the curious female classmates around her, Zhang Xueyao felt increasingly grateful towards Zhang Zhen and Fu Yu.

She felt an increasing urge to repay these benefactors.

This eager emotion transformed entirely into her motivation for studying.

Zhang Xueyao was already very studious before, but now she studied even harder.

Several female classmates, with their arms pressing down on practice books, curiously asked about the skincare methods.

As they were in the middle of an animated discussion, the homeroom teacher walked in.

The first-year students had long finished their final exams and gone on vacation.

However, the second and third-year students hadn’t gone on vacation yet, as school teachers taught voluntarily to better prepare all students for the upcoming college entrance exam.

After entering, the homeroom teacher stood directly at the podium and announced, ”Everyone, return to your seats; I have something to discuss with you.”

The students quickly returned to their places, listening carefully to what the teacher had to say.

The homeroom teacher, who usually wore a stern face, rarely showed a bit of a smile: ”Don’t worry, it’s not about a weekly test, nor about assigning homework.”

The expressions on the students’ faces visibly relaxed, and they began joking around below.

The homeroom teacher pressed his hands down, waiting for the students to quiet down before continuing: ”It’s good news. This year’s Spring Festival Gala event, our school has received an invitation from the TV station, and we’re preparing to send a choir from the second-year student cohort to participate in the rehearsal for the city TV’s Spring Festival Gala. If chosen, there’s also a chance to participate in the recording for the provincial TV’s Lantern Festival show.”

As soon as these words came out, the students, who were previously looking forward to it, immediately looked disappointed.

Some mischievous male students heckled below, ”Just this!!!”

After all, every year, whenever there’s a city TV event, they invite cooperation from their school.

It’s either choir or poetry recitation.

When the TV program is aired, the family eagerly gathers in front of the screen to watch, only to find it’s usually a distant shot that quickly pans across.

After searching for ages, sometimes, in the blink of an eye, they miss spotting themselves on screen.

There’s really nothing much to look forward to.

As for participating in the provincial TV’s Spring Festival Gala?

That’s even more far-fetched!

Year after year, it’s promoted, yet no program has ever been selected; it’s always the provincial TV station arranging its own cast.

Honestly, it’s just a gimmick to coax students into actively participating in activities.

Who really thinks anyone can casually get on the provincial TV’s Spring Festival Gala?

The homeroom teacher gave the interrupting male student a stern look and clapped his hands, ”Alright, everyone says less. The music teacher will come over later to select people. Whoever gets selected will join the rehearsal.”

All things said.

Honestly, the students in their hearts were still looking forward to the event.

After all, with the daily heavy study workload, any activity providing a break is welcome.

Plus, being on TV, even if your part isn’t visible, is enough to boast about to elders at home.

Especially for those who can join the choir, they need to have an outstanding appearance and have promising qualities in appearance and demeanor.

Being selected indicates good looks, which, for teenagers in their emotional development stage, is validation of their self-image and fulfills a bit of vanity.

So although they all acted as if they didn’t care about the choir tryouts, in reality, they secretly prepared, fixing their attire in fear of not being selected.

Zhang Xueyao, too, was very expectant in her heart.

Since she entered high school, she hadn’t participated in any such group activities.

Partly because her image wasn’t good; previously, due to her bad skin, she always hunched, never dared to look people in the eye, leaving an overall timid and very inferior impression.

Another reason was her good academic performance; teachers, afraid of affecting her studies, never included her in activity rosters.

But this time, Zhang Xueyao was somewhat tempted.

It was a chance to be on a TV program.

Fu Yu had appeared on television before when participating in a cooking competition.

Zhang Xueyao had even borrowed Zhang Zhen’s phone to watch the related video clips.