America: Starting from collecting corpses, leveling up to godhood

When he makes fried rice, he usually just adds a little more shortening and flavoring...

Chen Ming initially felt somewhat sorry for the diners, but now, compared to his American restaurant colleagues, he felt like a great philanthropist, so conservative that he was practically the conscience of the industry.

"And what's that green bottle?" Chen Ming pointed to a bottle of spray that emitted a fluorescent green light next to Julian.

"Oh, food-grade titanium dioxide mixed with sodium copper chlorophyll," Heck said while chopping onions.

"Spray it on yellowed, overnight cabbage, and it will instantly turn back into the vibrant green of freshly picked farm green. Hollywood actresses love this original color of life."

"..."

Chen Ming watched in awe as they crammed a bunch of preservatives, thickeners, and even cheap artificial colorings with carcinogenic risks into a "premium vegan platter" that cost several hundred dollars.

Finally, his gaze fell on the top shelf of the spice rack.

Hidden conspicuously among the black pepper and sea salt was a transparent, sealed bag containing a small half-bag of suspicious white powder and a few broken blue pills.

"What are these? The new broth powder?" Chen Ming raised his chin.

Heck followed the gaze and his expression immediately changed.

"That's... meant to keep the kitchen staff awake while they're working long hours, and sometimes it's added to the main dishes of picky customers to enhance the flavor." Heck coughed awkwardly.

"You should know what that is, but saying it out loud would be a bit awkward and impolite."

"No wonder this place won the Los Angeles Best Restaurant of the Year award last month," Chen Ming remarked.

So it was a spiritual sublimation in a physiological sense?

"Stop talking, get moving!" Chef Julian banged on the stainless steel stove.

"That vegetarian goddess with millions of followers has already taken her seat in the private room with her fiancé!"

"The waiters in the front of house are too busy. Chen, could you go and help carry these two 'Gifts from Mother Earth' dishes into the VIP room?"

Julian slammed the two sizzling plates of "vegan steak" onto the serving table.

"Remember to tell them when you serve the dish that it was inspired by the chef's morning meditation and is entirely handmade!"

"No problem." Chen Ming picked up the tray and, taking advantage of the moment he turned around, secretly snapped a high-definition close-up of the vegetarian steak soaking in synthetic caramel coloring and butter.

Pushing open the oak door of the private room, a blonde female internet celebrity, dressed in a limited-edition yoga outfit and so thin she could practically keep goldfish in her collarbone, was blowing kisses to her phone camera while holding a fill light. Next to her sat a white man in a fleece vest.

"Family members... this Michelin-recommended vegan restaurant is absolutely the pride of Los Angeles. Their dishes contain absolutely no disgusting animal fat, and every bite is clean, natural energy..."

The female internet celebrity kept talking incessantly into the live stream camera.

Chen Ming stepped forward, smiling as he placed the plate down.

"Madam, this is a special new dish made by our chef after his morning meditation... It's full of natural energy."

"Thank you... Darling, smell this, it's the real scent of plant essence!" The female internet celebrity took a deep breath and excitedly grabbed her fiancé's hand.

"I felt my soul instantly transcend!"

Of course it can be enhanced; it contains prescription stimulants...

Chen Ming sneered inwardly, but his hands were not idle.

He pretended to adjust his apron, but quickly pressed the volume button on his phone while pointing the camera at the table.

The female internet celebrity's face, with her eyes closed in deep rapture as she gazes at the tech-inspired steak, is perfectly captured in a still image.

After leaving the private room, Chen Ming immediately turned into a corner of the staff passage and sent all the evidence he had taken that day, along with photos of the female internet celebrity, to Michelle.

Chen Ming: "Exclusive scoop! This vegetarian goddess was so moved by a dish made with beef tallow, carcinogenic coloring, and banned drugs that she almost cried. She even said that her soul was elevated."

Michelle: "What luck... This guy is one of the top five vegan lifestyle advocates in the US. I can't imagine what the internet will be like if his millions of extreme vegan fans find out that he spends thousands of dollars eating chemicals and animal organs! It'll be so exciting."

Chen Ming: "Remember to prepare my final payment."

Michelle: "Absolutely no problem. I'm already preparing the press release. We'll close the deal on Monday once we get the purchase order!"

Chen Ming: "Okay."

After sending the message, Chen Ming put away his phone, leaned against the wall, and couldn't help but hum softly.

He was really looking forward to seeing what kind of interesting expression this vegetarian influencer who praised the dishes would have when the truth was revealed.

This job is actually quite fun.

"Stop slacking off there! We need to add two more vegetable salads to the private room. Come on, spray some green pigment on them!" Heck's raspy voice came from the end of the corridor.

"They're here."

Chen Ming tugged at his apron and walked briskly toward the kitchen.

Back in the kitchen, he took the fluorescent green spray from Heck and sprayed it evenly over the wilted endive and kale.

"Spray more!" Chef Julian shouted without looking up.

"Someone in the private room just gave the waiter a $100 tip, demanding that the salad have the taste of California sunshine."

"What's that smell?" Chen Ming asked, a question mark appearing on his forehead.

"Just add the industrial citric acid mixed with citrus flavoring," Heck said, expertly handing over a small plastic bottle.

"Pour two drops, and they'll feel like they're running in the wind on Malibu Beach."

Just then, a front desk waiter suddenly burst through the door, covered in sweat.

"The actress at the seventh table said she was severely allergic to anything containing gluten and couldn't even stand the smell of flour dust in the air, but she specifically asked for creamy mushroom pasta."

"Then let her die!" Julian cursed.

"But you told her we used konjac noodles and fermented cashew paste air-shipped from Peru!"

After saying that, Julian waved to Chen Ming again.

"Chen, go and cook the wheat pasta that's about to expire in the corner of the cold storage. Remember to add two extra spoonfuls of thickener and non-dairy creamer."

"Won't she have an allergic reaction and end up in the emergency room after eating it?" Chen Ming raised an eyebrow.

"Half of the female celebrities in Los Angeles claim to be gluten-sensitive, but that's just an excuse for dieting and purging," Heck mocked as he poured handfuls of cheese powder into the pot.

"Believe me, after she finishes eating, she'll just post a message thanking God for giving her delicious food that won't make her gain weight."

"OK."

Chen Ming plated the bright green salad and handed it to Emily.

"Hold on tight, don't spill the essence of life."

Over the next few hours, Chen Ming witnessed firsthand the bizarre and varied nature of Los Angeles celebrities.

The athlete who demanded "zero calories but must have soul" received a plate of synthetic vegetable puree with excessive amounts of artificial sweeteners.

The race car driver, who was required to exude vitality and powerful energy, was served a soup with added protein powder and a pre-workout supplement.

For the actor who wanted to "evoke memories of a past life through food," Julian simply crushed half a blue pill into his vegetarian curry and added it...

The fire in the kitchen was finally turned off at 2 p.m.