Chapter 1013: Chapter 420: Shen Jiayue: If I eat anything tonight, I’m a cat! 10 PM: Meow meow meow!

"Why did they suddenly change the executive chef?"

"Sounds like there’s some drama, just not sure if anyone big will spill the beans."

"Lin sure knows, but he might not spill."

"We should go urge him in the comments section later."

After the opening, there’s a quick flash of the banquet hall, and there’s a grand master’s chair on the stage—probably for the apprenticeship ceremony.

Soon, the taste-testing began.

Little Jia’s voice echoed in the video:

"Mr. Xie, is there a difference in this braised beef compared to last time?"

Next comes Xie Baomin’s response.

As they tasted and chatted, the topic turned to Lin Xu.

When Xie Baomin mentioned that Lin Xu was the director of the Yanjing Hotel Dining Department, the screen was flooded with question marks.

"Whoa! No wonder Chef Cheng could be the executive chef at Yanjing Hotel; turns out Lin is the director!"

"Is it appropriate for someone so young to be the director?"

"Here’s a trivia: Lin just recently became the supervisor of the Fishing Platform Dining Department."

"Jeez, what kind of winner-in-life storyline is this?"

"There’s another new role to be announced. During the car purchase live stream last time, some company called Maserati wanted Lin to be their brand ambassador."

"Jealousy is making me fall apart!"

"Wow, Xie the executive chef isn’t critiquing Yanjing Hotel anymore. My life is fulfilled!"

Someone posted in the comments:

"Just heard from an insider friend about the events in the banquet hall — I was shocked out of my wits. All I can say is, Lin is incredible, Fishing Platform is impressive, and Xie the executive chef is even more so!"

This vague comment left everyone dumbfounded.

It felt like something huge happened earlier in the day.

Everyone was asking for more details, but the person said it was too impactful to reveal specifics, brushing it off with some vague, "if you know, you know" kind of remark.

While netizens were struggling to learn what happened, an account named "Yifan Cooking His Heart Out" posted a link in the comments:

"I had the fortune to witness the banquet hall ceremony at noon and sat at the same table as Lin Xu. Let me tell you what happened, to give you an idea of the culinary philosophy disputes within the industry."

Soon, netizens flocked over.

This account, "Yifan Cooking His Heart Out," was naturally Huo Yifan.

Currently, Joyful Media has dedicated managers to help new chefs like him find suitable ways to increase their fanbase.

Since Huo Yifan had a good relationship with Lin Xu and participated in the noon banquet, the company arranged for him to gain more fans through this event.

Quickly, his follower count surged by thousands.

Fans paid with coins, liked, shared, and left comments, astonished by this event.

This boosted Huo Yifan into the limelight.

During the last cooking contest, his superb culinary skills already won him many fans.

Now with inside stories and photos with Lin Xu, fans were swarming in.

Such things are indeed rare for ordinary folks, yet it’s not exactly a secret.

It’s a good opportunity to tell it, for all chefs to take heed.

Also, it serves as a reminder to executive chefs at various hotels not to blindly trust their own people; many issues start with insiders.

Relying on an insider’s "self-awareness" is not as effective as establishing various rules and systems.

Through rules, one can best ensure smooth operations in the kitchen.

Netizens didn’t expect such a significant event to have occurred within Yanjing Hotel, nor did they expect young Lin to have taken down a criminal gang with such ease.

"As expected from the dude I stan!"

"Recently, none of Lin’s videos hinted at such things; he’s so composed. If I managed something like this, I’d make sure even astronauts in the space station knew about it."

"To hear thunder in silence, impressive!"

"Feels like every major restaurant’s kitchen in Beijing will self-inspect soon."

"Chef Xie is critical about the dishes, and Lin about management. The two brothers-in-arms are going to offend all the chefs."

"Haha, really hope there are more chefs like them, or else Chinese cuisine is doomed."

"..."

At eight in the evening, Lin Xu finished up his work, carrying ingredients and a few live bullfrogs from the kitchen, holding Dundun, and leaving work with Shen Baobao to go home.

Upon reaching home, he placed the bullfrogs in a fish tank, covering it with a mesh cover full of holes.

This prevents Dundun from jumping up or the bullfrogs from hopping out.

After changing into home clothes, he went to his study to play some games, while Shen Jiayue, dressed in dinosaur pajamas, sat at the piano, diligently practicing Liszt’s "La Campanella."

They had full soundproofing done in the house, with an extra soundproof mat under the piano, so there’s no worry about disturbing the neighbors.

As she practiced, Dundun jumped onto the music stand above the piano, quietly listening to the music. Occasionally, when Jiayue hit a wrong note, the little critter would chirp, as if dissatisfied, like a teacher in a piano lesson.

"I’m really starting to suspect Liszt was an octopus monster. Otherwise, how could he compose such a complex piano piece? Damn it, I must bring out the texture in this piece!"

These challenging pieces require a lot of effort.

After an hour of playing, Shen Baobao felt her hands were sore, so she decided to stop for the day.

She set up a tripod beside the piano.

Then, still in her pajamas, she started playing a relatively simpler piano piece, "Exodus."

Hearing this piece, Dundun, who was lazily lying on the piano checking Jiayue’s work, immediately got up. With the rhythm of the piano, it strut briskly across the piano top, with its little head held high, exuding an air of superiority.

Downstairs, as Lin Xu sipped his water, he watched in awe at the scene by the staircase.

If he remembered correctly, "Exodus" depicts Jehovah leaving Egypt as instructed to become a slave.

Is Dundun seeing itself as Jehovah, given how it strides with its head held high?

Thankfully, no one in the house is religious, or this would certainly be spread as a divine miracle.

After finishing his drink, the piano piece concluded too.

Dundun jumped off the piano and continued to strut with its head high, getting scooped up by Lin Xu:

"You little critter, really think you’re Jesus’s dad? Just tell me when you’re hungry, and I’ll make you bullfrog."

After spending some time playing with Jehovah-Dundun, Lin Xu returned to his study to continue gaming.

Some levels in the new "Call of Duty" version are pretty tough, like the solo survival level; first time playing, all Lin Xu could think was:

"Since getting into this game, I haven’t fought such a poor battle."

As he scavenged all over, breaking locks, prying doors, even taking laundry detergent, Shen Baobao’s pretty face suddenly popped in:

"Xu, it’s nearly ten o’clock."

Lin Xu was surprised how fast time had flown.

He removed his headphones and curiously asked:

"What’s up? Getting ready to wash up and sleep?"

Shen Baobao shook her head, leaned in, and softly mimicked a cat’s meow:

"Meow meow meow~ I’m hungry!"

Lin Xu: "..."

The vow you made at dinner was just to prep for some cat imitations later?

No wonder she didn’t say food is for dogs earlier.

This little scheme...

At that moment, the game just reached a save point, so he opted to exit, then shut the computer down, ready to go downstairs and cook. But a message from Xie Baomin came through WeChat:

"Junior, tomorrow I’m making Master’s Clear Soup Noodles at Building No. 2; make sure you come. Every executive chef and Elder Guo will be there, so don’t be too late."

Clear Soup Noodles?

Finally, they’re going to make the noodles that are said to astonish everyone?

Lin Xu sent a reply:

"Sure thing, Senior. I’ll head over after breakfast tomorrow."

He left his study and went downstairs.

Lin Xu took out a roast chicken he packed from work, placed it on a plate, and put it in the steamer.

Then he took out two packs of noodles to cook, intending to stir-fry them with mutton – making a plate of fried noodles.

Fried noodles with roast chicken should be enough.

Once set, he rolled up his sleeves, just about to prep the bullfrogs for something for Dundun, when Chen Yan suddenly called:

"Yueyue, open up, let me see what you’re sneaking to eat at home?"

Shen Jiayue: "!!!!!!!!!"

Yan Bao, did you secretly install cameras in my house?

——————

Have to clean my cat’s ears tonight, so only two Chapters today. If there’s time tomorrow, there’ll be three updates—don’t worry, folks. This Chapter has 5700 words; calling for monthly tickets, brothers!