Era: You're asked to cook a home-style dish, but you cook Wellington.

The moment the words were spoken, the lights around the stadium suddenly dimmed, and several dazzling spotlights were shone on the stadium entrance. The stirring and solemn background music instantly resounded throughout the entire stadium.

The audience's attention was instantly drawn to it, and they all stood up to look, erupting in even more enthusiastic cheers and applause than before.

Su Wanqing was dressed in a simple and neat white suit. She stood tall and had a strong presence. She walked in front with a calm and composed demeanor.

As an authoritative figure in Yuncheng's catering industry, her appearance instantly silenced the entire venue, drawing everyone's attention.

Gao Yang followed closely behind, his posture upright and his expression calm and composed, showing no stage fright whatsoever. His eyes were clear and firm, and under the spotlight, he seemed to be surrounded by a layer of light.

He walked slowly forward, his gaze sweeping across the field before finally settling on Zhao Lei's face. In his calm eyes lay an unwavering confidence in victory.

The two walked side by side into the center of the arena, where a ceremonial staff member quickly handed them a microphone. The lights slowly came on, and the entire audience erupted in thunderous applause that lasted for a long time.

Zhao Lei's expression changed drastically.

"How is this possible? How is this possible? Gao Yang didn't even make it to the finals, how can he be standing on this stage?"

Zhao Lei didn't understand, he really didn't understand. In his opinion, Gao Yang was just a chef at a small hotel who couldn't even make it to the finals. What right did he have to stand on the stage where the results were announced at the end?

His face was contorted with jealousy.

"No, no, no, it must be fake!"

He slumped into his seat, his face ashen.

If his own chef's sauce was really bad, he was still somewhat confident that he could bribe the judges and win first place.

After all, the price he paid to bribe the judges was considerable, and no one could possibly refuse.

But now it's Gao Yang and Su Wanqing!

He knew that Su Wanqing was a powerful figure with immense influence, and since he had no vested interests with her, she certainly wouldn't interfere in his affairs.

But Gao Yang was completely different; he had offended Gao Yang to the point of no return.

"It's over, it's over!"

Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

He was filled with regret. He should have known better than to mess with that alleyway hotel!

But there's no medicine for regret in this world.

Lin Xiaoyu, on the other hand, had stars in her eyes.

"Sister, sister!"

She clenched her hands into small fists and placed them on her chest, her face flushed.

Suddenly, she felt something was off. Her older sister and Gao Yang seemed to be interacting with each other, and they seemed to know each other better than she did.

The lights shone on the two of them.

The man was handsome and upright, and the woman was beautiful and radiant; they had the air of a golden couple.

Thinking of how Gao Yang had been on the phone for the past few days, his voice full of happiness, her heart clenched painfully.

"No way, it really is my older sister?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. My sister is so beautiful. If an ordinary person had a close relationship with her, they would have announced it to the world long ago."

Lin Xiaoyu shook her head, desperately trying to banish the thought from her mind.

On stage, Su Wanqing glanced at it without making a sound, and then parted her red lips slightly.

"Thank you very much to all the participating chefs and audience members for your strong support of Yuncheng cuisine. Now, I will announce the champion of this competition."

"All results in this competition were fair, just, and transparent. The contestant with the highest score from the three judges will be the champion."

"I now declare the champion of this match to be..."

Her tone was rising, full of allure, and with just a few words, she captured the attention of everyone in the room.

Everyone looked in that direction, craning their necks in anticipation, even unconsciously holding their breath.

Su Wanqing turned slightly to the side and raised her hand to signal, and all the lights in the room once again focused on the slightly disheveled plate of braised pork belly on the judges' table.

Zhao Lei's heart started pounding.

Could Su Wanqing be bribed like the other judges?

After the competition, you must pay them a proper visit!

A hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes.

"I hereby declare the champion of this competition to be Master Zhou Lian from Yanyun Pavilion!"

The spotlight suddenly shifted from the braised pork belly to another dish of braised duck.

The entire audience erupted in applause and cheers.

Even the other chefs looked on with admiration.

Indeed, Yanyun Pavilion is an old restaurant in Yuncheng with a history of over a hundred years. Zhou Lian is the head of Yanyun Pavilion, and his signature braised duck has won praise from countless people.

The light in Zhao Lei's eyes shattered, and he slumped into his chair, his heart filled with despair.

"It's over, it's all over."

Music, applause, and cheers rang out simultaneously as Zhou Lian walked onto the podium amidst the admiration of the entire audience.

…………

In the evening, after the grand competition, the organizers naturally invited everyone to stay for a dinner.

For a time, toasts and laughter filled the air.

Gao Yang led Su Wanqing into the venue.

"Gao Yang, you've arrived!"

Lin Xiaoyu looked at her sister and Gao Yang with resentment in her eyes. For a moment, she felt that her own daughter had been taken advantage of.

But my sister is beautiful, Gao Yang is handsome and capable, so who is the cabbage and who is the pig?

She was extremely agitated, suppressing the bitterness in her heart.

"Gao Yang, are you and my sister very close? Why do you never say that?"

Gao Yang was stunned. Having lived two lives, how could he not know what Lin Xiaoyu meant?

His mouth opened, as if he was about to speak.

Su Wanqing coldly replied, "What, are you going to interfere in my affairs?"

Lin Xiaoyu immediately wilted like a deflated eggplant, her head drooping, her eyes filled with unhappiness.

"You've all lied to me."

Her voice was muffled and slightly nasal.

Gao Yang could also see that she was unhappy, and was hesitating about how to comfort her when an old voice came.

"Yu girl, your sister is doing this to toughen you up. If you rely on your sister and the Su family, you'll never grow up."

Gao Yang looked up and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Old Lin."

Lin Zheng nodded slightly and raised his wine glass.

"Congratulations, Gao Yang, you've successfully completed the filming. Your video is being edited, and we'll put it on the front page as soon as it's finished."

Gao Yang raised his glass in return, saying, "Not at all, it's all thanks to Elder Lin."

Several people laughed at the same time, and even Su Wanqing smiled slightly.

Not far away, Zhao Lei overheard their conversation, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

"What! You're saying you filmed that video to get on the front page?! You didn't even pass the preliminary rounds, how could you possibly make the front page?"

Everyone stared at Zhao Lei as if he were a fool.

"This is?"

Old Lin had heard some of what had happened in Yuncheng, but seeing this fool now, he was still not entirely sure.

"The one across from the hotel in the alley, the owner of Hongyun Hotel."

"Oh, I see."

"I remember the Alley Hotel was the hotel where the Su family started, and it's in Xiao Su's hands now, isn't it?"

Lin Zheng suddenly realized and looked at Su Wanqing.

"Gao Yang is amazing. He saved the alley hotel in just over half a month."

Su Wanqing had a smile on her lips.

"Of course, how could someone I personally selected be bad?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lei felt as if the world was spinning.

What!

The Alley Hotel is the business that the Su family started with, and it is still in Su Wanqing's hands.

You have to understand, that's the Su family, a large family that spans multiple cities, and Su Wanqing is the next head of the Su family.

We're doomed, we're really doomed.

Looking back on my actions, it was practically suicidal!

He really wanted to slap himself to death.

His expression turned to terror.

"Su, Su, President Su."

He raised his glass, the wine inside trembling.

Everyone looked at him.

Gao Yang thought for a moment, then a playful smile appeared on his face.

"Zhao Lei, your Hongyun Hotel didn't win the championship either. Did you personally deliver the Hongyun Hotel to our hands?"