The three arrived at the Cuisine Machine Test venue.
The place was packed with people, bustling with noise and excitement.
On the lavishly furnished raised platform, three judges waved enthusiastically to the audience.
Below the platform, more than a dozen brand-new iron woks were lined up neatly. A chef stood in front of each one, every one of them standing tall and brimming with confidence.
They were top chefs from all over Liyue and other nations, all there to win the Cuisine Machine Test and make a name for themselves in the culinary world.
"Wow, there are so many people." Shen Luolun was a little surprised.
He had barely seen anyone when he went for a walk that morning, but now so many people had suddenly shown up.
As expected of an important annual competition. Even after what had happened yesterday, enthusiasm for today's event hadn't waned.
"Xiangling, where's our spot?"
Xiangling took a wooden plaque from her pocket and waved it. "We're at number fifteen. Let's go."
The organizers had issued these identification plaques to the contestants in advance, with each contestant's assigned stove marked on it.
Following the numbers, they soon found stove fifteen, second from the end. Next to it was stove sixteen, the last one, where a shifty-eyed young man stood.
His eyes roamed restlessly over the pretty girls at the venue, his gaze repeatedly drifting to their thighs, chests, and other private areas.
When the young man saw Xiangling, his eyes lit up. He was just about to approach her when Master Shen, standing beside her, glared him back.
So the flower was already spoken for.
He could only retreat with an awkward smile, though his lecherous eyes kept sneaking glances at Xiangling's pale thighs.
Shen Luolun suddenly stepped in front of Xiangling.
"A-Luo, what are you doing?" She looked at him in confusion.
"Hang on, it's cold today. You should put on another layer. I'm worried you'll catch a cold, so I'll put an apron on you," he said casually, taking off his outer shirt and tying it around the girl's waist, covering her thighs above the knees.
"Huh?"
Cold?
She looked up at the bright sky. In another two or three hours, the sun would probably be blazing. Was this weather cold?
"A-Luo, I'm really not cold."
"No, you're very cold."
"..."
In the end, thanks to a certain someone's insistence, Xiangling reluctantly accepted the apron.
Seeing the lovely view blocked, the young man looked disappointed.
But when he caught the icy, murderous look in the youth's eyes from the corner of his own, he shuddered and hurriedly lowered his head.
Shen Luolun snorted.
That bastard actually dared to covet his bro.
Until he stopped being single, his good bro (bestie) absolutely couldn't find a partner!
Their bond was unbreakable!
"What are you standing around for? Help Guoba get the stove going."
"Oh, coming."
After helping Xiangling light the stove, Shen Luolun and Guoba withdrew to the audience seats.
The Cuisine Machine Test was very accommodating, allowing contestants to bring their own ingredients and even letting outsiders enter to help with preparations. But once the stove was lit, that meant the competition had begun, and all nonparticipants had to leave.
They had prepared the ingredients before coming, so now Xiangling only needed to cook at a steady pace.
But...
"But what am I supposed to do if I still can't stand that guy?" Shen Luolun stared fixedly at the shifty-eyed young man.
This guy actually wasn't focusing on his cooking.
After seeing him leave, he'd started entertaining improper thoughts.
He'd gone and greeted Xiangling.
Perhaps Xiangling had also seen that the man had bad intentions, because she merely gave him a slight nod and offered no other response.
Even so, the young man looked excited.
His head was full of fantasies.
This guy was definitely sexually frustrated!
"No, if I don't get rid of him, this venerable one's Dao heart won't be at ease!"
Shen Luolun ground his teeth.
"Lulu?"
Guoba tilted his head at him.
"Guoba, the organization has a difficult mission for you!"
Shen Luolun looked at Guoba solemnly.
"Lulu."
Guoba: ᕙ(`▿´)ᕗ (serious)
"Excellent spirit, Comrade Guoba!"
"Your mission is this: after the first round ends-see that guy? When he goes to the bathroom, split into five groups and go take care of him!"
Guoba: ???
⊙ω⊙
Split into five groups?
Could human words be put together like that?
"Lulu."
"Why not? If others can do it, why can't you? Take a good look at yourself!" Master Shen declared righteously.
He was actually pressuring a Guoba.
"Lulu."
"Oh, you want to breathe fire? Fire works! No intact corpse, a perfect crime! Comrade Guoba, your awareness is very high."
"Wahaha, wahaha!"
"Whoa-not now! Why are you breathing fire at me? Oh-ho-ho-ho-"
In the audience seats, a man and a beast were engaged in a chase.
The spectators' attention was drawn to the scene.
"What's going on?"
"What are they doing?"
"A fire-breathing... bear?"
The commotion off the stage also caught the attention of some contestants, Xiangling among them.
Seeing Shen Luolun and Guoba fooling around, Xiangling couldn't help pressing a hand to her forehead.
"What are they doing now?"
They could at least show a little restraint in public.
If her status hadn't restricted her movements, she would definitely have gone over and taught them each a lesson.
"Huh? I think I've seen them before. They came from over by number fifteen."
"Number fifteen? Is that the pretty young girl?"
Some contestants also looked over at Xiangling, happy to watch the spectacle.
Feeling their gazes, Xiangling's face grew hot. She hurriedly lowered her head and fanned the flames.
Ahhh, damn A-Luo, stinky Guoba, what are you doing?!
This is so embarrassing!
(One chapter for now, more coming today.)