We All Underestimated You

At seven o'clock, almost everyone had gathered in the kitchen.

In terms of aroma, the Stir-Fried Chicken with Chili was definitely a standout.

Vegetable oil was added to the pot first, followed by lard. Once the lard melted, chicken pieces were added and stir-fried to render out their own fat.

With three kinds of oil mixed in the pot and high heat, the entire first floor was filled with fragrance, which was why everyone had gathered around.

Once the chicken meat was firm and most of the moisture had been stir-fried out, ginger slices, garlic, pickled chilies, and Sichuan peppercorns were immediately added. This dish emphasized color, aroma, and taste, but no bean paste or red oil was used; the color was meant to be clear and bright.

The heat was turned up to maximum, and cooking wine was added. The wok's heat instantly transformed into flames, stunning everyone.

After stir-frying, seasoning began, and finally, short pieces of green and red peppers were added, care being taken not to overcook them.

A bright and clear-looking Stir-Fried Chicken with Chili was ready.

The green and red peppers were cooked just enough to release their fragrance, complementing the meat's aroma.

Tang Zhi Chu seemed to hear several people swallow.

"Um. I think that professionals should do professional things. Zhi Chu, why don't you handle the rest? We'll take care of the other tasks!" Jiang Lan felt her taste buds secreting saliva as she spoke.

"I thought you'd be good, but I didn't expect you to be this good," Zhou Yun chimed in.

Although Yang Jia Xing wasn't particularly fond of Tang Zhi Chu, he knew how to read the room and even took the lead in hyping him up, calling him "Chef, Chef!"

Chen Si Yang didn't praise him overtly, but when she met Tang Zhi Chu's gaze, she gave him two thumbs up.

"Alright, my dish is done. Sister Lan, it's your turn," Tang Zhi Chu said, thanking them before yielding the stove to Jiang Lan.

Jiang Lan gave a wry smile, "How dare I step up now?"

Despite saying she wouldn't, she rubbed her hands together and approached the stove.

Huang Ze Jun opened his mouth, intending to offer his guidance.

However, Jiang Lan's previous coldness made him hesitate. He later returned to his room and spent at least half an hour reviewing the situation.

He realized his own rhythm was off and suppressed the urge to intervene.

Tang Zhi Chu then looked at Chen Si Yang and asked, "Want to learn?"

Chen Si Yang nodded and moved closer to Tang Zhi Chu.

Tang Zhi Chu then said, "Sister Lan, whether it's sweet and sour or blanched, we need to prepare the sauce first. Let's make the sauce."

Tang Zhi Chu was teaching both Jiang Lan and Chen Si Yang, but he genuinely didn't lift a finger himself.

The side dishes were already prepared, and making the sauce wasn't difficult.

The key to the sweet and sour sauce was the ratio of vinegar to sugar, with the vinegar's aroma being dominant. Sugar was crucial for a complex flavor but shouldn't overpower.

Blanching was simpler, focusing on color matching. It required minced garlic, chopped white parts of scallions, and shredded green and red peppers, with hot oil used to bring out the fragrance.

Jiang Lan learned quickly, faster than Chen Si Yang, and was the primary person doing the work.

However, Chen Si Yang had a foundation in cooking, and the two of them discussed the process.

"Is half a spoonful of salt enough?" Jiang Lan asked Tang Zhi Chu.

Tang Zhi Chu nodded, "It's enough for the sweet and sour sauce. For the blanched sauce, a little less. Don't use too much salt when cooking; it's not good for your heart and blood vessels. Blanching is very simple, similar to a cold salad. Add oil to the water to help maintain the lettuce's color, then add a little salt for a base flavor. That's why I said less salt for the blanched sauce."

Tang Zhi Chu explained in detail, covering both dishes. After he finished, he went to the restroom, leaving the stove area to Jiang Lan and Chen Si Yang.

Chen Si Yang watched Tang Zhi Chu's retreating back and said, "He he's leaving just like that?"

Jiang Lan looked a little troubled, mainly because the two dishes had completely different methods and were a bit complex. However, she remained relatively calm, "Don't panic. Let's summarize the Master's key points first."

Hearing Jiang Lan call Tang Zhi Chu "Master," Chen Si Yang let out a chuckle, "Go, Sister Lan! I'll help you!"

"Okay, let's make the blanched lettuce first. Add water to the pot, then add oil," Jiang Lan mentally reviewed the steps.

Upon hearing that water was to be added, Chen Si Yang immediately took the pot to fill it.

Yang Jia Xing and Huang Ze Jun also chimed in with suggestions, as if joining in the fun.

Yang Jia Xing was focused on Chen Si Yang, still believing he had a chance or at least owed himself an explanation.

Huang Ze Jun suddenly felt that his rhythm was off because he was too impatient. Tang Zhi Chu teaching Jiang Lan made him uncomfortable, but then he had also called Chen Si Yang over.

Huang Ze Jun finally found his rhythm again. What was the rush? he thought.

Tang Zhi Chu had Chen Si Yang. There was no need to worry about that. The one who should be worried was Yang Jia Xing.

Even if this didn't work out in the end, they couldn't let the audience laugh at them.

After reviewing, Huang Ze Jun calmed down.

Only Zhou Yun leaned against the refrigerator, lost in thought. She glanced in the direction of the restroom.

Was this intentional?

Chen Si Yang was also introverted, and her usual style was somewhat cool. Think about it: wearing her bucket hat every day gave off a distant vibe, didn't it?

Zhou Yun had seized on this point, which made her feel that challenging Chen Si Yang to a PK was a reliable strategy.

Because she had no allies. The three men were indeed interested in her, but you couldn't expect three men to fawn over you until the end of the show, could you?

This was why Zhou Yun clung to Jiang Lan at every opportunity.

It was like this when assigning dorm rooms, most of the time when everyone gathered, Zhou Yun would sit next to Jiang Lan, acting intimately.

This is called divide and conquer. After getting close to Jiang Lan, he'll pull Yang Jia Xing over. Brother Jun is already starting to get interested in Sister Lan, it's only a matter of time.

In the end, Chen Si Yang and Tang Zhi Chu will be beautiful on their own. You two play by yourselves.

However, Tang Zhi Chu seemed to be taking the bait again.

He was cooking with Jiang Lan, but he called Chen Si Yang over.

He taught Jiang Lan and specifically let Chen Si Yang learn along too. Wasn't that just letting Chen Si Yang integrate with everyone?

Seeing Huang Ze Jun and Yang Jia Xing surrounding Jiang Lan and Chen Si Yang, Zhou Yun gritted her teeth.

Tang Zhi Chu, oh Tang Zhi Chu, we've all underestimated you.

This was already the second time.

Zhou Yun, as she walked along, considered herself quite intelligent. It was the first time she felt like everything was being seen through.

Moreover, he handled things without revealing his hand, naturally resolving them.

Tang Zhi Chu, who had just come out of the restroom, had somehow brought a cup of water. He didn't go near the stove but instead sat at the dining table, smiling as he watched the scene.

Tang Zhi Chu's posture made Zhou Yun even more certain of her suspicions.

To the point where Zhou Yun began to doubt if he was really just a small restaurant owner.

"Is it ready?" Jiang Lan looked at Chen Si Yang.

The water in the pot had already boiled, and they had put in the lettuce, but they didn't know when it would be ready to be taken out.

Chen Si Yang also looked confused: "It should be ready?"

She knew how to cook, but she hadn't cooked this dish before, so she really didn't know about the heat.

Jiang Lan gritted her teeth: "Okay, let's take it out. The head chef said it's fine as long as it changes color, and it should have changed color by now."

Huang Ze Jun leaned over to take a look: "I think it's ready too."

This time, Jiang Lan glanced at Huang Ze Jun: "Alright, take it out."

After taking out the lettuce, Jiang Lan said to Chen Si Yang again: "Yang Yang, you plate it. I'll drain the water and prepare to stir-fry the cabbage."

"Okay!"

Tang Zhi Chu was watching the stove with great interest. Two beautiful women busy together was truly a pleasing sight.

Suddenly, he felt a sound beside him. Turning his head, he saw Zhou Yun sitting across from him at the long table, facing him directly.

Zhou Yun didn't speak. The restaurant had the most surveillance cameras, and everyone was wearing hidden listening devices, so it wasn't convenient to say anything.

However, Zhou Yun felt that Tang Zhi Chu could understand.

Originally, they had no conflict, and Zhou Yun felt that she was fine with Tang Zhi Chu.

Regardless of what everyone else thought of Tang Zhi Chu, she had always approached him with a desire to be friendly.