Who Would Have Thought We Were the Last Hope?

"Our task for noon is to make a delicious meal for the elderly residents of the nursing home." The director announced their next task and had someone lead them into the nursing home's kitchen.

None of the men there were very good at cooking, so everyone turned to the only two women, their eyes full of anticipation.

Lu Xingluo smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, I can only cook instant noodles."

Qiao Qianqian chuckled and held up four fingers. "I can only make four dishes."

Everyone's eyes lit up.

Su Xia immediately said, "Four dishes is plenty. Which four can you make?"

Qiao Qianqian folded her fingers down one by one. "Tomatoes stir-fried with eggs, eggs stir-fried with tomatoes, eggs stir-fried with eggs, and tomatoes stir-fried with tomatoes."

Cheng Qing burst out laughing. "Isn't that just one dish?"

Remembering his skill at making cat food for Sheriff, Li Yi confidently raised his hand. "I can make a dish too. Let me give it a try."

Su Xia clapped happily. "Great, great, that's two dishes. We just need a few more, and we can make lunch."

Shi Yan drawled, "Then I'll make one too."

Su Xia looked at Cheng Qing. "Cheng Qing, that makes three dishes. How about we put one together?"

Cheng Qing nodded. "Sure, I guess."

They got straight to work, bustling around the kitchen.

Su Xia, Cheng Qing, and Lu Xingluo were the sort who looked busy without anyone knowing what they were doing. They picked through the various vegetables and fruits, discussing things in low voices, but still hadn't reached a decision after ages.

Li Yi looked very practiced as he diced all the vegetables. He was now cutting chicken breast, and it was impossible to guess what dish he planned to make.

The only ones there doing anything normal were Qiao Qianqian and Shi Yan.

Qiao Qianqian was preparing to make stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, while Shi Yan seemed to be planning a pumpkin soup.

[Li Yi looks so practiced prepping those ingredients. He probably used to cook a lot.]

[Diced carrots, diced tomatoes, corn kernels, chicken breast, eggs. Vitamins, protein, fat, carbs. Wow, that's pretty nutritious. You could eat it as a fat-loss meal.]

[Shi Yan's knife skills are so good. He's slicing the pumpkin so thin.]

[This is my first time seeing pumpkin sliced that thin. Pumpkin softens easily. There's no need to cut it that thin, is there?]

[I'm dying. Su Xia and Cheng Qing bustling around look just like me at work. What are they even busy doing?]

The kitchen had three huge woks. It was everyone's first time cooking with woks this large, and they couldn't judge the quantities at all.

Qiao Qianqian poured in half a bucket of oil in one go.

Su Xia rushed over with a yelp and helped her scoop two-thirds of it back out.

When the eggs went in, oil splattered everywhere. Qiao Qianqian threw down her spatula and ran around in fright.

Holding a wok lid over himself, Li Yi charged over and helped her cook the eggs, then tossed in the tomatoes and turned away with a flourish.

"Wow! Impressive!" Everyone voiced their admiration.

Qiao Qianqian emerged from behind the vegetable rack, joining in the wows and applause, then went back to check her dish.

The eggs had already burned, and the tomatoes weren't cooked yet.

The first dish was a bust!

Everyone turned their attention to Li Yi.

Seeing how expertly he prepped his ingredients, they all thought this dish was a sure thing!

Li Yi tossed the prepared chicken breast into water to boil.

Everyone nodded. Yep, boiled chicken breast. Nothing wrong with that.

Li Yi tossed the prepared diced vegetables into water to boil.

Everyone kept nodding. Vegetables need blanching. No problem.

Li Yi tossed the prepared eggs into water to boil, then took them out once cooked and peeled them.

Everyone paused in mid-nod. Hard-boiled eggs. That's all right too.

Li Yi tipped all the cooked ingredients into a large basin, added seasonings, and mixed everything together.

Everyone: ...It was over. This dish was ruined too!

But his expression was composed and his movements orderly, making them feel that perhaps he had his reasons for doing it this way.

It was Shi Yan's turn. Calm and unhurried, he rolled up his sleeves.

Seeing his effortless knife skills and his handsome face that looked so strong and dependable, Su Xia was filled with hope again. Surely this dish wouldn't go wrong too.

Shi Yan added oil.

No problem. Standard procedure.

Shi Yan added water.

Was he stir-frying air?

Shi Yan tossed in the pumpkin.

Now it seemed right again.

Once it was cooked, he scooped it out, then realized he had forgotten the seasonings and poured it back in to add them.

Great!

Another dish successfully ruined.

Cheng Qing slapped his forehead, his voice heavy. "Who would have thought we were the last hope?"

Su Xia looked at the cold tomato salad in front of him.

It certainly looked fresh and juicy.

[Hahaha... a total wipeout!]

[I'm almost won over by your acting. Every one of you looked like you knew what you were doing, but each turned out more hopeless than the last!]

[When Li Yi was prepping ingredients, I thought he was a chef. When Shi Yan was chopping vegetables, I thought he was a chef. And this is what you two came up with???]

[The shippers are eating well. The Number Couple, kitchen killers. Is oil really that useless to you? One doesn't use it at all, and the other stir-fries air. Hahaha.]

[I can already picture the grandparents' dark expressions. Who could stomach this stuff?]

[The stir-fried tomatoes and eggs are burned, the boiled vegetables look unappetizing, and nobody dares touch the pumpkin soup. The only edible thing is actually the cold tomato salad?]

The production team braced themselves and invited a few representatives of the elderly residents to taste the dishes the guests had made.

Hearing that Li Yi had cooked too, the grandparents took their seats expectantly.

Then they saw the two hot dishes, one soup, and one cold dish before them.

Grandma Yun Ruoyi elegantly took out a handkerchief and dabbed the corner of her mouth. "I'm full. I'll be off."

Grandpa Pei Ling stood up after her. "Honey, I'll come with you."

Grandpa Zhang Jin frowned and picked up a piece of tomato to inspect it. Afraid it might be poisonous, he put it down anyway, then took out his phone and started ordering takeout. Whoever else suffered, he wasn't going to let himself suffer.

Hunan cuisine, Cantonese cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Jiangsu cuisine, Zhejiang cuisine, Fujian cuisine, Anhui cuisine-he ordered from all eight major cuisines in turn.

Grandpa Wang Song muttered incantations over the dishes, then finally leaned over to join Grandpa Zhang Jin in ordering takeout. "Order me a big marrow bone. I need some calcium. Those dishes just gave me a fright."

Under Li Yi's expectant gaze, Grandma Wang Lin picked up a diced piece of carrot with her chopsticks, swallowed it hastily, and praised it against her conscience. "Not bad."

Grandpa Xu Hong looked shocked. "Isn't this cat food? You can actually stomach it?

"I'm telling you, sometimes you really shouldn't spoil children too much."

Grandma Wang Lin shot him a glare. "Mind your own business. Go watch your gate!"

Then she elegantly leaned over beside Grandpa Zhang Jin. "Old man, order me a strawberry cake."

"Sure thing, honey. What size do you want?"

"There are so many people eating. Get a big one, and buy a few more."

"All right!"

The mission was declared a failure!

Apart from one reluctantly eaten bite of Li Yi's dish, no one dared touch the rest.

The live chat was in fits of laughter, then overcome with cravings.

Because an hour later, takeout had surrounded the dining hall.

The eight major cuisines occupied eight tables, while cakes and milk tea took up two more. Everyone carried their own plates around to help themselves, just like at a buffet.

Lunch might have been late, but the wait was worth it!

The guests got to tag along for a meal.

Only the production crew ate instant noodles, with the aroma of the dishes to accompany them.

Holding a tub of pickled mustard greens instant noodles, Director Sen squatted by the door, feeling sourer with every bite.