Chapter 60

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Chapter 60: Title

10:00 AM the next day.

All contestants were present punctually on the livestream.

The director addressed them: "Before the draw ceremony, let me explain the final theme of the points competition."

"As announced yesterday, this two-day challenge requires each team to operate a restaurant. You’ll have today to familiarize yourselves with operations before opening for business tomorrow morning. The team with the highest revenue will win more advancement slots."

"Any questions about the rules?"

Shen Xi raised a hand. "If I understand correctly, we’ll manage different establishments. Could pre-existing advantages affect fairness?"

"Valid concern," the director nodded. "However, the program group selected restaurants with nearly identical sizes, locations, and last month’s average revenue to eliminate inherent advantages."

"I have a question," Liu Tian interjected. "Are we the only staff? Will there be any assistance?"

The director said, "Yes, the staff consists only of yourselves. However, the program group has prepared a beginner’s guide for everyone. You’ll understand when you arrive at the restaurant."

Gu Feng asked, "What’s the starting fund?"

The director replied, "Here’s the situation: both restaurants were fully stocked and ready for immediate operation. Theoretically, they wouldn’t need additional starting funds. However, our program group was feeling generous, so they provided each team with an extra 1,000 yuan in funding."

After answering questions, the director clapped his hands, signaling staff members to bring forward a lottery box.

The director gestured at the container, saying, "Let the lottery ceremony for the final theme of the points competition commence! May the wheel of fortune spin!"

Staff members shook the box thoroughly before circulating it among the contestants. The male contestants had gathered on the hall’s left side while the female contestants stood opposite, as if by prior arrangement.

Once everyone had retrieved a ball, the director announced, "Please open your spheres and display the slips inside to the cameras!"

Song Yutian cracked open her small orb to reveal a blue slip marked with the number "2." Nearby, Wei Yao extracted her own slip.

"We’re not on the same team, Yutian," Wei Yao lamented, disappointment coloring her voice as she saw Song Yutian’s slip.

Almost simultaneously, Su Moying chirped, "Yutian! We’re together again!"

Before Song Yutian could respond, Wei Yao and Su Moying exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

"Fine, fine," Wei Yao said theatrically. "You’ve both deserted me. At least I still have Sister Xi."

On the male contestants’ side, all had revealed their slips. Gu Feng’s peripheral vision caught two identically colored slips to his left. His expression cooled momentarily before he casually glanced sideways, a slow smile curving his lips.

Liu Tian chose that moment to exclaim, "Brother Gu Feng, Brother Yueli! I’ll be counting on your guidance!"

The two named men locked eyes, mutual animosity flashing between them. Liu Tian shivered suddenly, standing between them.

The live broadcast switched to split-screen mode, displaying all contestants’ slips to viewers.

[Blue Team’s lineup looked spicy! Drama incoming!]

[Liu Tian finally teamed with Sister Song! Took long enough!]

[Good: My ship’s sailing. Bad: Rival ship’s afloat too.]

[Front-row anon, I think we stan the same pair!]

The director clapped for attention. "Now that teams were decided, let’s proceed to the restaurants!"

The ten contestants divided into two groups, boarding separate vehicles.

"Sister Yutian! After all this time, we’re finally teammates!" Liu Tian twisted in his seat to address Song Yutian behind him.

She responded with a polite smile. Compared to Gong Yu and Qin Yuanzhuo, Liu Tian was tolerable.

Liu Tian turned to Su Moying in the adjacent seat. "Moying! First time partnering! Looking forward to working with you!"

Su Moying nodded amiably. The trio maintained surface-level cordiality.

Meanwhile, two other passengers radiated tension from the vehicle’s opposite end. Even Liu Tian’s usual banter was ineffective against their stony silence. Both men sat rigidly upright, prompting livestream comments:

[Gu Feng vs. Zhong Yueli? Since when were they mortal enemies?]

[Weren’t they roommates? Last collab wasn’t this icy!]

[Major beef alert! What’s their deal?]

[LMAO, why are they cosplaying statues?]

After deliberation, Liu Tian ventured, "Brother Gu Feng, Brother Yueli? Should we brainstorm together?"

Zhong Yueli’s delayed "Agreed." met Gu Feng’s slight nod.

Liu Tian exhaled. "Yutian, Moying? Group discussion?"

Following general assent, Liu Tian proposed, "Since we’re running a shop, maybe vote for a team leader? Not me, obviously. Thoughts?"

After a beat of silence, Gu Feng spoke. "I suggest…"

As the sole businessman among four entertainers, all anticipated his self-nomination.

"Song Yutian should lead."

The unexpected declaration startled everyone, including Song Yutian herself.

What was Gu Feng’s game? After last night’s rejection, was this his peace offering?

Song Yutian didn’t consider herself particularly vain, but Gu Feng’s words were so uncharacteristic of him that she couldn’t help but connect them to last night’s incident.

Just as Liu Tian, who had proposed selecting a store manager, was about to speak, Zhong Yueli declared, "I have no objections to Sister Yutian."

Then Su Moying added, "I’m willing to follow Sister Yutian’s lead too."

Liu Tian suddenly experienced an odd sensation.

He’d originally planned to reinforce his established persona as Song Yutian’s devoted admirer during their collaboration. The benefits were already evident—as the show aired, Song Yutian’s popularity surged as anticipated, and his own fanbase grew through their interactions. With proper handling, he could leverage the trending appeal of older-younger romances through CP fan support…

But why was everyone suddenly stealing his script?

Zhong Yueli already enjoyed high popularity with his hit drama—shouldn’t he be capitalizing on that by promoting with his co-star instead of clinging to Song Yutian? As for Gu Feng, wasn’t he here for Su Moying?

Baffled but compliant, Liu Tian chimed in, "I also agree that Sister Yutian should be manager!"

The unanimous decision was made. Song Yutian said, "Very well, let me outline my initial plans…"

Half an hour later, both teams arrived at their respective restaurants.

In Song Yutian’s group, a middle-aged woman greeted them upon arrival, offering to give them a tour of the establishment—presumably the director’s promised "newbie guidance."

After showing the layout, explaining current operations, and providing inventory lists (the program group had selected this compact venue with four indoor and four outdoor tables for their five-member team), the woman concluded, "My task is complete. The rest is up to you—good luck!"

Examining the inventory, Song Yutian proposed, "With two kitchen stoves, we’ll need two main cooks and one assistant. Thoughts?"

"Agreed!" Liu Tian instantly responded, followed by unanimous approval.

"Then let’s confirm kitchen assignments," Song Yutian continued, recalling their earlier culinary assessment during transit. The results had been disheartening—as the only competent cook among them, she volunteered: "I’ll take one spot. We need two more."

Liu Tian wavered between seeking proximity to Song Yutian and his disastrous cooking skills, but before he could decide, two voices overlapped:

"I can manage."

"I’ll do it."

The speakers exchanged glances before looking away.

Song Yutian eyed them suspiciously**—**both had acted oddly since last night. "Are you certain?" she asked before turning to Su Moying. "Moying? Kitchen or front?"

"I’m not skilled in cooking," Su Moying replied. "Since Brother Gu Feng and Brother Yueli are volunteering, I’ll abstain."

"Same here," Liu Tian added. "I’m a kitchen disaster**—**better not interfere."

"Then let’s finalize the menu," Song Yutian concluded.

Meanwhile, the other group debated roles:

Shen Xi inquired, "Any suggestions?"

Liu Mengyuan offered, "My cooking’s decent. I’ll handle kitchen duties."

Nodding, Shen Xi turned to Wei Yao. "Yao Yao?"

Before she could respond, Zhang Chenyang interjected, "Obviously, Yao Yao stays front-of-house!"

Shen Xi frowned but kept silent, maintaining eye contact with Wei Yao.

Caught off-guard, Wei Yao hesitated**.**

Zhang Chenyang continued with a matter-of-fact expression, "Our Yao Yao is so popular**—**it’s a waste for her to hide in the kitchen."

Due to the popularity of the drama co-starring Zhong Yueli, Wei Yao’s public attention had been continuously rising lately, with her name appearing on the trending charts for several consecutive days.

Though Zhang Chenyang’s words made Wei Yao somewhat uncomfortable, since he appeared to be complimenting her on the surface, she couldn’t immediately find a way to refute him.

The viewers couldn’t bear watching this scene unfold.

[What does Yao Yao’s choice have to do with him? This guy is so irritating.]

[What’s with Zhang Chenyang inserting comments everywhere?]

[Disaster**—**Sister Song’s not here, our voice is gone.]

[Who’s going to put this Zhang Chenyang in his place?]

Pei Hao suddenly interjected, "Chenyang, following your logic, you must be insisting on working in the kitchen then?"

Zhang Chenyang froze, catching the implied meaning in Pei Hao’s words.

Wei Yao shot Pei Hao a grateful glance.

Shen Xi chose this moment to speak, "Alright, Yao Yao, don’t mind the irrelevant comments. What do you want to do yourself?"

After a brief consideration, Wei Yao replied, "I can cook basic dishes, though not particularly well. I’ll follow whatever arrangements you make."

Shen Xi nodded. "What about the rest of you?"

Pei Hao said, "I’m flexible, like Yao Yao."

Zhang Chenyang volunteered, "I’ll assist in the kitchen."

Shen Xi pondered before deciding, "Then Mengyuan, myself, and Chenyang will handle the kitchen. Yao Yao and Pei Hao, you’ll manage the dining area. Agreed?"

Meanwhile, Song Yutian had finalized the menu.

Based on the current kitchen inventory, she provisionally selected six main courses supplemented by pre-prepared cold dishes.

Menu preparation duties were assigned to Su Moying and Liu Tian.

Given the restaurant’s ample supplies, Song Yutian allocated part of the program group’s funds for promotional flyers.

Su Moying enthusiastically claimed responsibility for designing the promotional materials.

The immediate priority, however, was test-cooking all menu items to ensure smooth operations tomorrow.

Entering the kitchen, Song Yutian surveyed the two men before her. "Aside from me, which of you wants to be head chef?"

The men exchanged silent glances.

Song Yutian sighed internally. The program group truly excelled at creating scenarios**—**assembling a restaurant team full of cooking amateurs.

"Here’s the plan," she finally said. "I’ll test-cook the dishes I am responsible for. You two assist."

Zhong Yueli responded, "Understood."

Gu Feng grunted in acknowledgment, "Fine."

Consulting the menu, Song Yutian ordered, "First step: slice the fish fillets."

No movement.

She frowned. "Why are you both staring at me?"

Gu Feng and Zhong Yueli finally sprang into action.

What followed became a peculiar routine: Song Yutian stating requirements, the men scrambling to fulfill them.

"Water."

Gu Feng, who was near the sink, instantly procured a bowl.

"Ginger."

Zhong Yueli swiftly produced a knob.

"Garlic," Song Yutian demanded.

Simultaneously, two garlic bulbs materialized before her.

The men stood glaring at each other, cloves in hand, creating an absurd tableau.

Rolling her eyes, Song Yutian broke the standoff. "Gentlemen? Would you mind peeling those?"

The live chat erupted:

[OMG, what’s with this bizarre rivalry??]

[Two grown men clutching garlic**—comedy gold!]

[Confirmed: Only Sister Song actually cooks here.]

[This isn’t kitchen prep—**it’s culinary combat!]

[Petition to rename this ‘Sister Song & Her Clueless Duo.’]

Outside, Su Moying and Liu Tian worked diligently.

Liu Tian watched in awe as Su Moying’s pencil transformed blank paper into menu artwork. "Moying, I never knew you were an artist!"

Su Moying smiled and said, "Could you please help me get a ruler?"

"Oh, sure!" Liu Tian paused for a moment before immediately running to fetch it.

[Wow, suddenly it feels like our Moying has grown up and can handle things independently!]

[I’ve discovered this group’s characteristic**—**the male participants all serve as assistants.]

[I really adore Moying’s focused demeanor. She’s had too few opportunities to showcase her abilities before.]

[Whenever Moying is grouped with Yutian, she truly shines.]

With Zhong Yueli and Gu Feng’s "assistance," Song Yutian swiftly completed the dishes under her responsibility and had everyone sample them. The flavors were decent.

However, if she alone were responsible for cooking in the kitchen tomorrow, it would be impossible to keep up. Another person needed to take charge of stir-frying.

Song Yutian had Zhong Yueli and Gu Feng each attempt to cook a dish. Their culinary skills proved equally matched**—**both merely producing edible results that wouldn’t poison anyone.

Considering neither stood out, Song Yutian declared, "Decide between yourselves who will be head chef and who will assist."

After an awkward silence, Gu Feng volunteered, "I’ll assist."

Thus, Song Yutian and Zhong Yueli became the designated cooks.

Fortunately, Zhong Yueli possessed exceptional memorization skills. After hearing Song Yutian’s instructions once, he could retain nearly every step.

Recognizing this advantage, Song Yutian began to break down procedures into precise numerical guidelines: "Pan-fry in oil for twenty-five seconds," "Add seasonings and stir-fry for one minute," "Simmer covered for three minutes before plating."

Surprisingly, this method yielded consistently satisfactory dishes.

After working through the day, the group finally completed all main courses.

They still needed to prepare cold dishes in advance and organize ingredients for tomorrow’s efficient meal service.

The five collaborators labored until 10 PM before finishing all preparations.

Returning to their room, Su Moying first removed her makeup and completed her nighttime routine.

Song Yutian subsequently took her shower.

Emerging from the bathroom, Song Yutian found Su Moying sitting on the bed, scowling at her phone.

"Moying, what’s wrong?" Song Yutian inquired.

Su Moying lifted her gaze, revealing an angry expression that Song Yutian had never witnessed before.

"Yutian, they’ve crossed the line!"