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

The atmosphere in the courtyard became strange and subtle because of the uninvited arrival of a culinary genius.

Comrade Huang Lei's enthusiasm was not affected in the slightest by the eerie silence.

He took the roasting fork as if it were some sacred scepter, radiating an aura of self-assurance.

While clumsily turning the whole roasted lamb that Xiao Chen had almost finished serving, he began a long and rambling personal lecture.

"Dilraba, look, the essence of this roasted lamb lies in the word 'nourishment'."

His voice was just loud enough to make sure everyone in the yard was safe.

Even cameras can capture it clearly.

"You can't be impatient. You can't eat hot tofu in a hurry, let alone good mutton."

"Use a gentle heat, like you would a work of art, slowly allowing the heat to penetrate evenly."

"Look at this lamb leg, if you turn it too fast just now, the juices will be lost..."

Dilraba stood to the side, clutching the hem of her clothes in her hand, her toes unconsciously drawing circles on the ground.

She felt like she wasn't recording a TV show, but rather had returned to her high school days.

I was pulled into the office by my least favorite math teacher for private tutoring.

Those numbers and formulas have been transformed into "cooking temperature", "juice", and "rotation angle".

Her brain had automatically switched to a blocking mode; her ears were ringing, and every word Huang Lei said sounded like a lullaby, making her drowsy.

But Huang Lei seemed to have decided that she was his "good student".

"Hey, Reba, come here a bit. Let me tell you, the secret to getting a crispy crust on this lambskin is..."

Dilraba's body was as stiff as a wooden stake.

She dared not move, nor did she want to move.

Pleading eyes drifted again and again toward the leisurely figure not far away.

Xiao Chen was leaning back in a bamboo chair, holding a palm-leaf fan in his hand, fanning himself idly.

A faint smile played on his lips.

His eyes were clear.

It felt like watching an interesting silent film.

Bathed in the afternoon sunlight, his stunningly handsome face was so beautiful it seemed otherworldly, making everything around him pale in comparison.

He certainly saw Dilraba's pitiful eyes, like a kitten forgotten by its owner in the rain.

His eyes were filled with "Help, Brother Chen," "I'm so annoyed," and "How can this guy talk so much?"

Xiao Chen found it funny.

This girl, when she encounters someone she doesn't like but is too embarrassed to refuse, will only use her eyes to plead for help.

He found it amusing, but looking at the little girl's face, which was almost scrunched up, he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her.

If she continues to be "tortured" like this, she probably won't even have an appetite for dinner.

So he slowly stood up.

"Dilraba, come help me, this fish is almost done."

A single sentence, like heavenly music.

Dilraba's eyes lit up instantly, as if she had received a pardon.

She practically ran towards the grill next to Xiao Chen.

"Here he comes, Brother Xiao Chen!"

"What do you want me to do?"

She was finally free from that suffocating classroom, and even her voice was filled with joy.

Before she could even stand up straight, that familiar, know-it-all voice rang out from behind her again, like a shadow.

"Hey, wait a minute."

Huang Lei put down his roasting fork, strolled over, put his hands behind his back again, and frowned slightly, looking exactly like a supervisor inspecting a foreman.

He stared at the fish that were secured with clips on the grill.

They had been roasted by Xiao Chen until golden brown on both sides, with the skin slightly curled and emitting an enticing aroma.

"Ah Chen, you're grilling this fish... the way you're doing it is wrong."

Huang Lei stretched out a finger, pointing at the landscape.

"Fish meat is very tender and should not be cooked over high heat."

"You need to wrap it in aluminum foil first to lock in the moisture and let it cook through inside."

"Once it's almost done, open the foil, brush on the sauce, and then cook over high heat until it's caramelized and fragrant."

"If you grill it like that, the outside will become tough and all the juices will be lost. It's such a waste of such a good fish."

Dilraba listened in stunned silence, completely speechless.

Wasn't this fish just grilled by Brother Xiao Chen?

The aroma could be smelled from a great distance, so how come it was completely worthless in his mouth?

She really wanted to say something.

"Teacher Huang, Xiao Chen's cooking doesn't need your guidance."

"We all think it's the best-tasting food in the world!"

Xiao Chen didn't seem to feel anything.

Actually, people like Huang Lei are quite easy to understand.

It's simply because they feel they're similar to him.

We are all actors, we have all acted in plays, and we have all sung songs and released albums.

Even more remarkably, they all become acting professors at universities.

This "similarity" in their resumes gave Huang Lei a misconception.

He felt that he was no worse than Xiao Chen.

Even in terms of "life experience" and "life wisdom," he, as a senior, should have the upper hand.

So, when he and Xiao Chen, this now famous and radiant junior, appeared in the same space at the same time.

A strange competitive spirit arose spontaneously.

He subconsciously wanted to outdo Xiao Chen in every aspect in order to prove his own level and status.

This mentality is not uncommon in the entertainment industry.

However, he chose the wrong person.

Dilraba's lips moved, and she was already in her throat.

Just as she was about to explode, a warm, dry hand gently covered her arm.

Xiao Chen shook his head at her, his eyes filled with a reassuring smile.

He didn't look at Huang Lei, but just kept his head down fiddling with the fish grilling tongs, as if the instructions he had just given had never happened.

Then, he raised his head and looked at Huang Lei.

On that harmless face, the smile was so gentle it could melt ice and snow.

"Teacher Huang is right."

His voice was clear and pleasant, with just the right amount of sincerity.

"You're definitely the expert. We young people just lack experience and rely entirely on our intuition."

He casually handed over the fish-grilling tongs in his hand, his movements natural and fluid, without the slightest reluctance.

"How about... you do us the favor and help us finish up the rest of the work?"

This is exactly what Huang Lei was waiting for.

The slight imbalance he felt because Xiao Chen was too dazzling was greatly satisfied at this moment.

He felt he had won.

Look, even Xiao Chen himself has admitted that he "lacks experience".

"Okay, no problem!"

Huang Lei took the clips without hesitation, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Today I'll show you what real culinary skills are like."

"You all rest, leave the rest to me."

He was somewhat flattered by Xiao Chen's constant use of terms like "Teacher Huang" and "Expert."

I almost forgot what my own surname was.

He was now obsessed with showing off his skills and impressing these young people, especially Xiao Chen.

See for yourself how powerful you are.

Xiao Chen's smile deepened.