I became a movie star at the age of three; Dilraba and I are childhood sweethearts.

A living, breathing myth that walks among humans.

Deng Chao said somewhat nervously.

"I just don't know if Xiao Chen himself is easy to get along with."

"With his status...wouldn't he be very aloof?"

Huang Xiaoming thought for a moment.

"Probably not."

"I heard Sister Hua mention that he's a really nice person in private, but he's not very talkative."

"But his mother, Ms. Ye Huimei, is so gentle, he probably won't be too bad either."

Over the years, Xiao Chen has not given many interviews, but as a member of Xiao Chen's family...

Yeh Hui-mei, however, has given many interviews.

As the two were discussing, the car slowly came to a stop.

"Teacher Deng, Teacher Huang, we've reached the village entrance. The car can't go any further, so you'll have to walk through yourself."

A staff member opened the car door with a... very strange expression on his face.

Deng Chao and Huang Xiaoming exchanged a glance, both feeling that there was something in those expressions...

It seems... there's a hint of sympathy in it?

"Oh, okay, thank you."

The two didn't think much of it, assuming the staff were just tired.

They excitedly took their suitcases from the trunk and, following the directions given by the staff, headed deeper into the village.

Deng Chao dragged his suitcase and muttered to himself.

"That's strange, why do I feel like they're looking at us weirdly?"

As he walked down the street, Deng Chaocai felt increasingly uneasy.

What kind of staff member would look at him like that?

Huang Xiaoming shook his head.

"Really? I didn't notice."

"They probably just think we're laughing like idiots."

"Stop thinking about it, let's go! Maybe they've already prepared dinner and are waiting for us!"

That makes sense.

Deng Chao put the random thoughts in his mind out of his head.

……

Inside the Mushroom House, the aroma of food filled the air.

Everyone has already witnessed Xiao Chen's culinary skills in the past two days.

This is not just talent, but also the experience he has accumulated from his two lifetimes.

At this moment, he is standing in front of the large iron pot, in control of the entire situation.

The sauce for the braised chicken has thickened and reduced, giving it a glossy, appealing red color.

The beer-braised duck simmered in the casserole, releasing a rich aroma of beer and meat that permeated everyone's nostrils.

The steamed fish is already in the pot, just waiting for the final step of pouring hot oil over it.

The entire courtyard was filled with a fragrance that made one feel dizzy with happiness.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the courtyard gate.

Several village women walked in, one after another, with Aunt Li, who was leading the way, carrying two heavy earthenware jars.

"Xiao Chen! Xiao Chen!"

As soon as Aunt Li entered the courtyard, she shouted at the top of her lungs, her face beaming with joy.

Ever since Xiao Chen taught them a trendy square dance yesterday, these aunties have been looking at Xiao Chen like they're looking at their own most successful son.

I like him no matter how I look at him; he's handsome no matter how I look at him.

Xiao Chen put down the spatula and greeted him with a smile.

"Aunt Li? What brings you here?"

Aunt Li placed the wine jar on the stone table and said generously.

"We heard you're having a big meal tonight, so we brought you two jars of my homemade rice wine!"

"It goes perfectly with hearty dishes!"

"Oh dear, ma'am, I can't accept this..."

Another aunt chimed in.

"What's there to be embarrassed about! We don't know how many more years we'll be doing this square dancing!"

"Take it, or you'll be looking down on us!"

Unable to refuse such hospitality, Xiao Chen could only accept it with a smile.

"Okay, then thank you all, aunties."

"If I have time later, I'll definitely come over and teach you the new song!"

After seeing off the enthusiastic aunties, Xiao Chen looked at the rice wine on the table and the large bowl of crayfish brought by the production team, and a brilliant idea flashed in his mind.

"There's wine, there's shrimp..."

His eyes lit up, and he said to Dilraba, who was helping to set the table.

"Dilraba, bring two cans of beer over too."

Dilraba was completely baffled.

"Huh? Brother Xiao Chen, what else are you going to do?"

A confident smile appeared on Xiao Chen's lips.

"Let me add an extra dish for you."

"Spicy crayfish, enhanced with beer, I guarantee you'll want more after you try it."

Dilraba cheered excitedly.

"Wow! That's awesome!"

Just as the Mushroom House was filled with jubilation, and the crayfish in the pot began to sizzle, a brand new aroma of spicy and savory flavors rose into the air—

With a creak.

The half-closed wooden door to the courtyard was pushed open from the outside.

Deng Chao and Huang Xiaoming, dragging their heavy suitcases, finally arrived at their destination.

Their foreheads were covered in sweat, and their clothes were wrinkled, making them look quite disheveled.

However, when that extremely rich aroma, a blend of meat, wine, and spicy flavors, hits you...

All their fatigue vanished in an instant.

They stood at the doorway, greedily sniffing the air, a look of ecstasy on their faces.

God!

This tastes divine!

Following the aroma, they saw a cozy little courtyard where several legendary figures were busy around the stove.

The one standing in the center was tall and straight, wearing a simple white T-shirt and apron.

A young man whose mere profile is enough to make one's heart skip a beat.

If it's not Xiao Chen, whom they've been longing for, then who is it?

Deng Chao and Huang Xiaoming's gazes were drawn to the boy who was facing away from them but still radiated a dazzling light.

That composure, that confidence—even just a glimpse of him was enough to take your breath away.

The name Xiao Chen echoed repeatedly in their minds at this moment.

Besides Xiao Chen, what attracted them most was the fragrance wafting in the air.

The aroma, as if alive, swept away all their fatigue and dishevelment.

The two unconsciously took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the delicious flavors of this world.

My stomach was protesting, a roar of hunger.

They exchanged a glance and saw the same amazement and longing in each other's eyes.

In the kitchen, Dilraba was excitedly circling around Xiao Chen.

"Wow! That's awesome!"

"Brother Xiao Chen, why does the food you cooked today taste even better than yesterday's?"

Dilraba's voice is full of girlish innocence and vitality.

In the pot, the crayfish were sizzling enticingly, and the spicy aroma mixed with the scent of alcohol soared into the sky.

Xiao Chen was both amused and exasperated.

They had been working hard all afternoon, and their stomachs were probably growling with hunger.

How could it not smell good?

On the other side, at the entrance to the courtyard.

A rich aroma filled the air.

The fatigue in Deng Chao and Huang Xiaoming's bodies was instantly dispelled.

This smell is so overpowering; it penetrates directly into your lungs and stomach, and a deafening drumbeat immediately resounds in your stomach.

"Gurgle..."

Deng Chao's stomach growled loudly, and Huang Xiaoming followed suit.

The two felt momentarily awkward and instinctively wanted to back away and find a place to process this sudden embarrassment.

Hearing the sound, everyone in the courtyard turned around.