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

Gao Yang took the spoon; his fingertips were slightly cool.

His gaze fell on the rose and lychee soufflé in front of him, and his expression had shed its previous agitation, leaving only a professional scrutiny.

From its appearance, this soufflé is different from the traditional one. It is not colored with egg yolks, and its appearance is off-white with specks of purple Damask roses on it. The top is covered with snow-white fine powder, which is very eye-catching.

He didn't rush to take a bite; his wrist dipped slightly, and the spoon gently dipped downwards.

The texture is soft yet firm. With a slight pressure on the spoon, you can feel the dense elasticity of the meringue inside. There are no lumps of batter or any excessive heaviness. This feel alone far surpasses all his previous attempts.

The apprentices and Old Zhou around him all held their breath, their eyes fixed on Gao Yang's movements. Even Qian Miao stood aside, waiting for the outcome.

Wu Zhou, chin held high, eyes brimming with confidence, certain that his work was impeccable.

Gao Yang slowly scooped up a spoonful, along with the powdered sugar on the surface, the fluffy cake, and the lychee pieces hidden inside, and put them all into his mouth.

The first sensation on the tongue is a delicate, sweet rose fragrance, clear and pure. Then, the soufflé melts in the mouth like a cloud, without any astringency of flour or the fishy smell of egg yolk. It is extremely light, yet has the perfect warmth of lychee sauce.

The sweet fruity aroma is wrapped in a rich milky fragrance, with a lingering, elegant rose scent in the finish. It is sweet but not cloying, refreshing and sweet, melts in your mouth, and leaves a faint floral and fruity fragrance on your lips and teeth after eating, with a long-lasting aftertaste.

Without complicated ingredient stacking or abrupt texture clashes, it perfectly balances the lightness of a soufflé with a rich and layered taste experience, offering a mellow and smooth flavor. As the grand finale dessert of a banquet, it is just right, leaving a lasting impression with just one bite.

Gao Yang slowly swallowed, put down the spoon, and his eyes suddenly brightened. The bottleneck that had been blocking his mind for many days completely disappeared.

He nodded, his eyes and heart filled with agreement.

"Good job, you can start work now."

Gao Yang stood up and patted Wu Zhou on the shoulder with a happy expression.

"Go to work? What work? I didn't agree to let you go to work!"

"Hey, don't go! I'm here to challenge them, not to work."

Wu Zhou was completely stunned. He stared wide-eyed at Gao Yang's hand on his shoulder, his confident and certain expression instantly crumbling, replaced by utter astonishment.

He clearly came here to challenge and win, to deflate Gao Yang's arrogance, so how did he end up having to work here?

"I don't!"

Wu Zhou suddenly took a step back, slapped Gao Yang's hand away, his cheeks flushed red, both anxious and angry, his previous arrogance completely gone.

"I already told you, I'm here to compete with you, not to apply for a job! My Wu family has everything; I don't want to work in your kitchen!"

What a joke! He's the young master of the Wu family. Why would he give up his comfortable life at home to come to the Su family's island as a chef? If word gets out, people will laugh their heads off!

Gao Yang seemed not to hear his refusal, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Wu Zhou as if she were looking at a rare treasure.

Wu Zhou's talent for desserts is truly rare. At such a young age, he already possesses such skills, especially his understanding of Western desserts, which far surpasses that of his peers. Sujia Island is in dire need of such a professional dessert chef.

With him there, the dessert line in the kitchen can be established immediately, and tomorrow's trial opening will be even more powerful.

"You won the contest, which means your skills are excellent and you are worthy of the Su Family Island."

"Besides, you can get the most training from me."

"You're still a bit behind me, so keep practicing."

Gao Yang smiled like a shrewd businessman, left a couple of words, and silently walked away.

I was desperately trying to come up with dessert ideas, but now that Wu Zhou is here, I don't have to worry about that anymore.

Time to go home and sleep.

Qian Liu watched all this with a blank expression, but inside he was laughing hysterically.

Unexpectedly, even the arrogant and confrontational young master of the Wu family stumbled with Gao Yang.

Gao Yang had already gone far away, leaving only Wu Zhou with a red face, stomping her feet angrily.

…………

The next day, Su Family Island began its second trial operation.

"Mr. Li, you're here."

"Mr. Zhao, please come in."

Su Wanqing stood at the entrance, dressed in a well-tailored beige suit skirt. Her makeup was exquisite but not ostentatious, and she exuded the composure and competence of a person in a superior position.

She personally greeted the guests, her every move displaying both the grace of a well-bred lady and the ruthlessness and composure she had gained from being instructed by Master Cai.

"Mr. Su, today's customer traffic is more than double that of the last soft opening!"

The assistant jogged over, his voice rising slightly with excitement.

"Old Cai's move was brilliant. With his intervention, we not only completely suppressed Su Zhenhai's group, but the news has spread throughout Yuncheng's elite circles. Everyone's saying the island has a new owner and we need to reinstate it."

Su Wanqing nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the endless stream of customers, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Old Cai's methods are always swift, accurate, and ruthless. However, having many people is also a challenge. How's it going in the kitchen?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Su!"

The assistant held the board, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Chef Gao's side is completely sorted out. I heard he even managed to win over that young master of the Wu family last night, and the dessert department is now up and running!"

"Right now, in the kitchen, the head chef is in charge of the main dishes, Wu Zhou is in charge of the desserts, and even Lao Zhou and his apprentices practiced all night, just in case we can't handle all the customers today."

Su Wanqing was finally relieved and turned to greet the guests who were walking towards her. Her voice was gentle but carried an undeniable authority.

"Please come in, everyone. Today is the official opening day of our island's second trial operation. We look forward to your guidance and support."

As the first group of guests took their seats, Su Family Island became bustling with activity.

The front hall was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and melodious music, a stark contrast to the tension in the kitchen the previous night.

Inside the kitchen, the stove was burning brightly, and the range hood was humming softly, continuously sending out the rich aroma of meat and seafood.

Gao Yang stood in the center of the stove, his white chef's uniform clean and crisp, the cuffs neatly rolled up, as he focused intently on preparing a fresh grouper.

The blade flashed in his hand, fish scales fell like shattered jade, his movements were so fast they were dazzling, yet so precise that every strike was just right.

He took on the task of customizing meals because these customers were special individuals with discerning tastes, and he had to personally prepare them to ensure everything went perfectly.

"Chef Gao, the first batch of customers who ordered the meals have already taken their seats. They were all introduced by Mr. Cai. What do you think we should do?"

The apprentice trotted in, his voice filled with nervousness.

"understood."

Gao Yang didn't even look up, his hands continuing their work.

"First, serve the guests the appetizers as usual. The first appetizer is expected to be served in five minutes."

"Old Zhao, the sauce can be prepared now."

"Wu Zhou, remember to keep the heat precise for your lychee soufflé. With more customers, don't let the desserts drag us down."

"yes!"

The crowd answered in unison.

…………

In the front hall, an elderly man with gray hair sat in the main seat, with appetizers prepared by Gao Yang himself in front of him.

He was a former subordinate of Master Cai and held a distinguished position. He came here not only to try something new but also to show Master Cai the abilities of the new master of the Su family's island.