This Master Has a Bit of a Mischievous Side

As soon as the competition began, the contestants started working on their creations while the judges discussed among themselves in their seats.

"The level of participants these years is getting higher and higher," Chef Chen Mingyuan observed, nodding slightly as he watched the busy contestants.

"The equipment is certainly becoming more sophisticated," Hu Jing remarked indifferently, his gaze sweeping over the expensive cookware, "but it remains to be seen whether they can truly produce a good dish."

Wang Shufang chimed in with a smile, "The concern is that some might lose sight of what's truly important, focusing too much on these flashy gadgets." She pointed at a contestant who was fiddling with molecular gastronomy equipment, "Such things are merely a gimmick."

"The younger generation these days," Dean Li Deming shook his head, "always thinks that the more complex, the more advanced. But cooking is all about being true to the basics. Mastering the fundamentals is the greatest innovation."

"You're right," Chef Leung agreed, "I find that young man over there quite interesting." He pointed in the direction of Liu Yang, "He came to the competition with nothing but his wits, which is quite intriguing."

The judges all turned their attention to Liu Yang's workstation. They were all curious about what kind of dish this unique young man would present.

Hu Jing watched Liu Yang's movements with particular interest, thinking: This kid, could he be planning to serve up "dark cuisine" in such a setting?

Liu Yang casually picked up a pack of dried bamboo shoots at his station, still smiling, his demeanor giving off an air of nonchalance that bordered on irreverence.

"This young man..." Dean Li Deming furrowed his brows, "He doesn't seem to be taking the competition seriously at all."

"Observe his movements," Chef Chen Mingyuan suddenly sat up straight, his eyes fixed intently on Liu Yang, "He's not playing around."

Due to the other contestants blocking the view, the judges couldn't see Liu Yang's actions. But his seemingly casual attitude made them feel that this contestant was not putting in the effort.

"This young man is too casual," Wang Shufang commented, her brows slightly knit as she observed Liu Yang's nonchalant demeanor.

"He just grabbed some dried bamboo shoots; it's unclear what he intends to do with them," Chef Chen Mingyuan shook his head, "Such an attitude could lead to a significant setback."

From a distance, the judges could only see Liu Yang's relaxed silhouette. His demeanor, as if he were casually preparing a meal in his kitchen, caused the judges to shake their heads in disapproval.

"To treat such a competition so casually?" Dean Li Deming was somewhat irritated, "Are today's young people all so disrespectful of the rules?"

Chef Leung also remarked, "It seems some contestants are not taking this seriously. With so many spectators watching, such an attitude is..."

Only Hu Jing was pensive, staring in the direction of Liu Yang. Although he couldn't discern the specific actions, that leisurely silhouette gave him an indescribable feeling.

"Could it be..." he was about to say something when he noticed that the contestants on either side of Liu Yang had stopped their work, staring intently at Liu Yang's station.

This detail caught his attention: "This is getting interesting..."

Just as the judges had shifted their focus from Liu Yang to other contestants, the end bell for Liu Yang's station rang out.

The first bell startled the entire competition venue.

"So soon?" Wang Shufang was about to turn her head to observe other contestants when the bell caused her to drop the pen she was holding.

The moment the bell rang abruptly, the entire venue seemed to be put on pause.

Knives stopped mid-chop, spatulas hung suspended over pots, and hands adjusting seasonings froze at the bottle's mouth. Even contestants who were fiddling with expensive instruments remained in a half-crouched position, motionless.

At the judges' table, Wang Shufang's fountain pen left an ink blot on the scoring sheet; Chef Chen Mingyuan's hand, reaching for a teacup, was arrested mid-air; Dean Li Deming's pen hovered above the paper as he had been about to write something down.

Everyone's gaze was searching for the source of the bell, like programmed robots, their heads swiveled in unison towards the direction of the sound.

"This sound is..."

"No way..."

"It's only been this long..."

Whispers rose and fell but quickly dissipated into the air. The atmosphere in the venue was terrifyingly still, so much so that the sound of a seasoning bottle falling to the ground was crystal clear.

It wasn't until all eyes were on Liu Yang's workstation that the eerie silence was broken—some people gasped, others unconsciously swallowed, and a few dropped their spatulas with a "clatter" on the ground.

At the center of it all, Liu Yang seemed detached, calmly tidying up his station.

All eyes instantly focused on Liu Yang's workstation. There he was, leisurely untying his apron, his movements as graceful as if he were performing a waltz, showing no signs of the tension or excitement one would expect after completing a competition dish.

"How much time has passed?" Chef Chen Mingyuan quickly checked his watch, "A little over five minutes? This..." His voice was filled with disbelief.

The venue was utterly quiet, with even breathing sounds becoming audible. Some people still had their spatulas suspended in mid-air, while others stood stock-still, holding onto bags of expensive ingredients.

"This kid..." Hu Jing narrowed his eyes, observing Liu Yang's nonchalant appearance, "He's interesting."

Xiao Li stood by, watching the dumbfounded contestants and judges.

Liu Yang, however, maintained his indifferent demeanor, as if what he had just completed was not a competition entry but a common everyday meal. His composure made this calmness stand out even more.

"Contestant from D-12, the first dish is completed," the host's voice echoed throughout the venue through the loudspeaker.

The large screen instantly switched to the "D-12" display, the numbers twinkling under the crystal chandeliers.

Two waitresses in cheongsams walked gracefully towards Liu Yang's workstation. Their professional smiles visibly froze when they caught a whiff of the aroma, their eyes flickering with surprise.

"Please—" Liu Yang slightly turned his body, gesturing with a "please" motion. His calm demeanor caused the two waitresses to pause for a moment.

They carefully lifted the dish of dried bamboo shoots with cola pork, being extra cautious not to spill a drop of the sauce. As they walked towards the judges' table, their steps unconsciously slowed, the aroma trailing behind them and spreading throughout the venue.

The golden dish moved slowly in the hands of the waitresses, causing a minor stir wherever it passed.

"This looks too beautiful..." one contestant couldn't help but whisper in amazement, quickly realizing the slip and pretending to focus on their spatula again.

A chef wearing a famous watch glanced over, a disdainful smile appearing on his lips, but his eyes couldn't help but follow the dish, and his actions slowed down.

"It's just dried bamboo shoots stir-fried with meat..." someone feigned indifference, but their voice trembled slightly as they spoke.

A contestant who was adjusting molecular gastronomy equipment pretended to look away casually, only to be completely captivated, nearly dropping the expensive instrument in their hand.

"Ha, it's just stir-fried bamboo shoots and meat..." someone grumbled, but their eyes remained fixed on the dish, not wanting to miss any detail.

The more experienced chefs tried to appear calm, but their slightly shaking spatulas and occasional furtive glances betrayed their inner shock. In contrast, the younger apprentices did not attempt to hide their astonishment, watching the dish move towards the judges' table with wide-open mouths.

And the aroma continued to spread quietly throughout the venue, causing everyone who smelled it to take in deep breaths involuntarily.

The expressions of the five judges changed subtly. Hu Jing put down his pen and leaned forward slightly; Wang Shufang instinctively took a deep breath; Chef Chen Mingyuan couldn't help but rub his nose as if to confirm the reality of the aroma.

All eyes followed the dish, and even the contestants who were still busy couldn't help but stop their actions, craning their necks to get a better look.

Finally, the seemingly ordinary dish was gently placed in the center of the judges' table, the golden sauce glistening under the spotlight.

The atmosphere in the venue became even more tense instantly, as everyone awaited the judges' reactions.

Hu Jing was the first to pick up his chopsticks; with decades of experience, he had never seen cola used in cooking. He picked up a slice of pork belly coated with the golden sauce, brought it close to his nose, and inhaled. The distinct layers of aroma caused his eyebrows to lift slightly.

The moment the slice of meat entered his mouth, his expression froze. The texture was tender yet still had a bit of chewiness; the sweet fragrance of cola was perfectly integrated without overpowering the dish.

Wang Shufang, as a food critic, chose a piece of bamboo shoot to taste. She had been concerned that the bamboo shoots might be too tough, but the moment she took a bite, her eyes widened instantly—the bamboo shoots were cooked to perfection, maintaining their unique texture while fully absorbing the flavors.