Old Jack returned to the center of the stage, holding the envelope containing the final tally.
A little cream still clung to the corners of his mouth and his beard, and he could barely contain the smile on his face.
Tong Hua and Arthur stood at their respective cooking stations, waiting for Old Jack to announce the final result.
"Ahem."
Old Jack raised the megaphone and cleared his throat, his expression instantly turning serious.
"Now, I will announce the voting results."
Below the stage, the audience members who had returned from voting waited eagerly, their faces bright with excitement and anticipation. Clearly, they were still basking in the happiness the strawberry cake had brought them.
Jessica nervously tightened her grip on Rapidash's mane, silently praying that Tong Hua would win the championship.
Onstage, Arthur and Gothitelle stood straight, a trace of barely perceptible nervousness in their serious expressions.
Tong Hua took a deep breath, looked at the Pokémon around him, and gave a relaxed smile.
Old Jack opened the envelope and began to read.
"Based on the combined scores from the audience vote, the winner of this year's Spring Festival cooking showdown is..."
Old Jack deliberately drew out his words, sweeping his gaze across the crowd with a playful smile and leaving everyone's heart in their throat. Jessica held her breath, and Arthur unconsciously clenched his fists.
Tong Hua felt Minccino's little paws tighten on his clothes at his shoulder, while Smoliv squirmed restlessly in his arms.
"Tong Hua from Fairy Tale Ranch! He wins the championship by an overwhelming margin!"
Old Jack finally announced it at the top of his voice, his serious expression instantly dissolving into a brilliant smile. "Congratulations, my boy!"
"Yaaay!!!" Jessica was the first to jump up, throwing her arms tightly around Rapidash's neck. "He