The story begins in Food Wars, when Alice took him home.

Aiden and Leah, the French blonde twins, exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes. Mame's words had indeed touched on a blind spot in their knowledge.

"It seems you really don't know, which is why one of you brought out Diana Steak made with tenderloin."

Looking at the two Diana steaks in front of her, Ma Mei suddenly recalled a not-so-pleasant memory, also about her boyfriend.

"If I remember correctly, the best cut of meat for cooking Diana steak is ribeye. The sirloin is a new version derived from the scarcity of ribeye. Is there another story behind this?"

The portly old man was also somewhat puzzled. Although he had been cooking French cuisine for over 20 years and knew the stories behind the dishes, he only had a basic understanding and was not an expert.

"While sirloin can be used to make Diana steak, it is slightly inferior in both texture and taste, and the price is also lower."

Therefore, in the streets and markets of France, there's a saying: "Eat ribeye with your loved one, and tenderloin with someone you don't love as much."

Ma Mei's voice was deep and somber. This was a conversation she had with a friend when she was about to return to China, recounting her romantic experience in France. A French friend had told her this story.

He also said that this is something every French person who has ever been in a relationship knows.

Offering you a Diana steak with ribeye means you're truly in love; offering you a Diana steak with tenderloin means you just want to develop a blush-inducing and exciting relationship with you.

She was struck dumb, feeling as if her sincere feelings had been cruelly trampled on. No wonder the man broke up with her without any hesitation.

"Just because of some rumors circulating among the public?"

Lia frowned slightly, seemingly understanding what Ma Mei wanted to say, and spoke first, saying that she didn't want her brother to be eliminated so easily.

"It's not just a rumor. Because this matter is of great interest to me, I specifically looked up the history of Diana Steak."

This dish was originally developed by three-star chef Ram Toth.

His wife loved steak, but because she ate it every day, she quickly got used to all kinds of steak on the market. Since he loved his wife very much, he specially developed dozens of steak dishes for her.

Among them, Diana steak is popular in France because of its tender meat, juicy texture, rich sauce and unique flavor.

As a result, he became exceptionally busy, and the restaurant's revenue soared. However, just as he was enjoying success in both his family and career...

He discovered that the paper recipe for Diana Steak was missing! A hidden camera revealed that his wife had stolen it.

He then hired a private investigator and discovered that she was getting close to a young man in his twenties, and even took photos of the two entering the same hotel.

Without a doubt, this is a case of being cuckolded.

Upon learning of this, Ram Toth was heartbroken, closed his restaurant, and wallowed in despair for a long time.

However, Ram Toth quickly rallied, gathered enough evidence to sue his wife, leaving her with nothing, and applied for a patent for Diana Steak.

This meant that even though the secret formula was stolen, the couple couldn't use it openly.

Finally, the young man came up with a solution: he replaced the ribeye steak with tenderloin and adjusted the proportions of the ingredients in the recipe, naming it Diana Steak.

However, because the two dishes tasted and had similar names, later chefs passed them down, and it eventually became Diana Steak, another derivative version, causing people to forget the original story.

Ma Mei revealed the results of her investigation: France, known for its romance, is ironically one of the countries with the highest infidelity rates.

"So, this Diana steak made from sirloin isn't a symbol of eternal love, but rather a thief in love!"

Ma Mei said firmly, "Since we're using the backstory of our dishes to participate in the assessment, we must be prepared to be attacked at any time!"

"The Diana Steak, made from tenderloin, is actually a bootleg creation by a cheater?!"

Aiden's mouth dropped open, seemingly in disbelief, but this was information that could be easily found online; the other party wouldn't lie to him.

In other words, he made a major mistake!

And it was this mistake that made it absolutely impossible for him to pass this top-level assessment themed around vows of eternal love!

"Boom!"

"French chef Lia, qualified."

"French chef Aiden is out. Please come back next year!"

Ma Mei personally sentenced Aiden to death: without conducting market research before preparing dishes, and relying on hearsay, such a person cannot become a master chef!

"I was really surprised to find out there was such a story behind Diana Steak! Sister, it's all up to you now."

Aiden quickly accepted his defeat and looked at Leah with a hearty smile.

"Don't worry, brother, I'll become a top chef in Guangzhou! I'll lend you the dragon armband then!"

"I've been waiting for this day."

Lia looked at Aiden earnestly and then looked at Mame not far away, bowing very politely as a way of thanking her for her evaluation and explanation.

As a pair of otaku siblings who have been immersed in cooking since childhood and know nothing about the outside world, they naturally wouldn't bother to learn about the history of a dish.

After all, Diana Steak doesn't have any special meaning for them; it's just a dish they've practiced a lot.

Upon hearing the theme of this assessment, I felt it was a topic I could directly apply, so I used it.

But unexpectedly, this led them to fall into an abyss...

The siblings' win and loss further highlighted the high value of this top-level assessment.

The same dish can produce completely different results depending on the main ingredient!

Over the next two hours, people continued to serve dishes, but no one got through smoothly until the mature woman arrived.

"Cantonese Beef Stew".

A beef stew made using Cantonese soup-making techniques combines the best of both Cantonese and Hunan cuisine, instantly winning over the palates of Ma Mei and the portly old man!

After a routine inquiry, she was made the fourth qualified candidate.

Now, only five chefs remain on site.

Knowing she couldn't pass, Kikuchi Sonoka didn't serve the dish to the judges after finishing it. Instead, she went directly to Shirobuchi and asked him for his evaluation and advice.

Because she bent very low when asking for advice, her ample cleavage caught Bai Yuan's eye, and he subconsciously nodded in agreement.

So the two of them found a corner and used the kitchen counter there to discuss their conversation. Ma Mei saw all of this but did not stop them.

After all, Kikuchi Sonoka had already voluntarily given up the assessment and was only borrowing the cooking station in the examination room. There was no need for her to offend Shirabuchi, a rising star in the culinary world, over such a trivial matter.

So they turned a blind eye.

Just then, Kakuzaki Taki finished cooking and brought a small clay pot to Mame and the fat old man.

"Please enjoy this Spanish-style beef paella!"

He placed the casserole on the table in front of the judges, looked at them with a determined gaze, and spoke earnestly, word by word.

As soon as she finished speaking, she opened the clay pot in front of her, and white steam immediately billowed out, accompanied by a rich aroma.

"Black rice? Is it black rice? No, it's round-grain rice that absorbs water very well. Could the black color be squid ink?"

Looking at the rice in front of her, Ma Mei thought for a moment before speaking, a hint of surprise on her face, clearly not expecting anyone to pair squid ink with rice.

This is truly a novel combination!

"In short, let's try it first."

Although black rice may look like a culinary disaster, the aroma in the air is incredibly appetizing.

"After being slow-cooked for a long time, the beef becomes tender and juicy, and you can feel the freshness of the beef fibers and the richness of the soup in every bite."

Meanwhile, the sweet and sour flavors of the tomatoes, the mild spiciness of the paprika, and the sweet aroma of the onions and garlic slowly blend together in the casserole, creating a multi-layered taste.

Ma Mei scooped up a spoonful of beef-stuffed risotto and put it in her mouth. She closed her eyes and savored the taste, analyzing the flavor of the dish.

"The addition of seafood adds a more savory element to this dish, creating a striking contrast with the richness of the beef, and making the overall flavor of the dish more complex."

The plump old man nodded in agreement. The combination of seafood and beef was not common, but because the proportions were well controlled, the taste was better than expected.

"The round-grain rice slowly absorbs the broth in the clay pot, becoming soft, sticky, and chewy. It retains the texture of the rice grains while fully absorbing the essence of the broth, truly a model of risotto!"

"The addition of green peas at the end also adds a refreshing taste and color to this dish, making the overall flavor more diverse."

Ma Mei and the portly old man exchanged pleasantries, expressing their high approval of the dish. Then, they both turned to Kakuzaki Taki and asked him a question.

"So, where exactly does your dish embody the vow of eternal love?!"

"The firm texture and rich nutrition of beef symbolize the steadfastness and enduring nature of love. The addition of squid ink gives the dish a deep black color, as unfathomable as the real ocean."

To bring the two together, a lot of time is needed for slow simmering.

Just like lovers, only through enduring trials and tribulations can our bond grow stronger and deeper—this is my vow of eternal love!

As she said this, Kakuzaki Taki looked at Shirobuchi not far away. Since both of them were making dishes that took a long time to prepare, she simply quoted his words.

I have to say, using formulas to solve problems is really fast!

When Bai Yuan heard her answer, he simply smiled faintly, lowered his head, and said nothing, because all he could see was a pure white expanse.

Because of the height difference, when Kikuchi Sonoka stood in front of him, she was completely exposed, and he finally understood why Kakuzaki Taki called her a "big-breasted monster".

"Boom."

"Japanese chef Kakuzaki Taki, you've passed!"

With the sound of a gong, the fifth qualified candidate appeared.

"Great!"

Upon hearing that he had passed, Kakuzaki Taki jumped up excitedly, then jogged over to Shirabuchi and Kikuchi Sonoka, his smile obvious.

"Not bad, it seems he has potential."

Bai Yuan nodded. Although Kakuzaki Taki's attitude towards the assessment was not good, he was able to correct his mistakes, which was a great virtue. He finally passed the preliminary test.

"The remaining contestants can stop cooking now, you are eliminated!"

The fat old man's powerful voice rang out in the hall, causing the chefs, who were still struggling, to pause in their actions and look at Kakuzaki Taki with resentment on their faces.

Some even collapsed, clearly unable to withstand the blow.

"At least try our food first! Maybe we're even better than hers!"

Someone stepped forward with a resentful look, wanting to argue with the fat old man.

"Being better than her is not acceptable. It was made very clear at the beginning that the assessment would end after five qualified candidates were selected, and the rest can go back!"

The fat old man's authoritative voice rang out, and the few remaining chefs sighed, then took their tools and left the assessment site.

"The preliminary tests for master chefs have now concluded. The formal tests will begin immediately!"

Stepping to the large iron gate at the far end of the room, the fat old man looked down at the qualified candidates, his imposing aura at its peak.

"The five qualified candidates have performed the theme of 'a vow of eternal love' very well."