Chapter 258: A Lion Goes All Out Even Against a Rabbit

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: A Lion Goes All Out Even Against a Rabbit

A storm was brewing.

Before the critical moment arrived, both Nan Zhi and Lai Liang were hard at work preparing.

However, Lai Liang was completely unaware of Nan Zhi’s arrangements.

Nan Zhi, on the other hand, had a crystal-clear picture of Lai Liang’s movements, thanks to her countless eyes and ears in the village.

Qi Pei’er slammed the binoculars down on the table, her expression cold and hard.

"Hmph. This is what it means to ’know your enemy and know yourself’!"

Nan Zhi glanced at her, amused.

"Is everything in place?"

Qi Pei’er’s serious facade shattered in an instant. She sidled up to Nan Zhi with a grin.

"Yep. I just saw them drive a car over and haul everything inside. They carried in several huge boxes of ingredients. I bet they’re all incredibly expensive, top-tier ingredients. It looks like this Miss Chang is really sparing no expense!"

Everyone could see clearly who was backing Lai Liang.

But Qi Pei’er was curious. Why was this Miss Chang so hostile toward Nan Zhi?

’Is it just because Nan Zhi is more popular than her on the show?’

Qi Pei’er racked her brain but couldn’t figure it out.

Nan Zhi, however, recalled the gentle and captivating smile Chang Mu had given Lu Shixu at the market that day, and her eyes narrowed slightly.

Just then, Qi Pei’er reminded her it was almost time.

Nan Zhi said, "Let’s go, then."

Qi Pei’er seemed even more excited than Nan Zhi!

Nan Zhi found it amusing.

"Aren’t you worried I’ll lose to him?"

"Impossible! With your skills, you’ll absolutely crush that Lai Liang guy!"

Qi Pei’er’s support for Nan Zhi was unconditional and fervent!

Hearing this, Nan Zhi’s smile grew wider.

"You’re not wrong about that..."

Beneath her gentle, calm, and composed exterior, the sharp edge of a peerless blade glinted, now on full display.

Qi Pei’er froze for a moment, then grew even more excited and skipped along behind her.

The two of them walked into the cafeteria.

By this time, the children were already seated.

Nan Zhi immediately spotted Nan Yi in the crowd.

He was staring at her with his big, bright eyes, and he gave a little wave.

The other children followed his gesture and, upon seeing Nan Zhi, caused a small commotion.

"Hey, it’s Teacher Nan! Is she here to eat?"

"Teacher Nan hasn’t come to the cafeteria for the past two days!"

"Could it be that Teacher Nan is teaching the cooking class today?"

"Probably not. I saw that Teacher Lai is already here."

"..."

The children’s attitude toward Lai Liang was no longer as hostile as it had been on the first day.

However, this friendliness was still a notch below how they treated Nan Zhi.

The live stream camera faithfully recorded everything.

[Where are all those people who said the kids didn’t miss Nan Zhi’s cooking class? Eating your words now, huh?]

[It might not be because of the cooking class. Nan Zhi’s English class is already popular. Plus, she’s pretty, which is always an advantage.]

[Oh, well, thank you for not being blind and actually noticing how beautiful our Sister Zhi is!]

[What has Nan Zhi been so busy with? She rushes out right after her classes every day, and it feels like she’s streaming for less time.]

[They’ve been filming Nan Yi, haven’t they? Is ’The School Days of Our Genius Baby Yiyi’ not entertaining enough for you?]

[It is! It’s so good, I could watch another hundred episodes!]

[Nan Yi at school absolutely kills me. The other day, I overheard his homeroom teacher quietly suggesting he should get his IQ tested for a gifted program.]

[Is he really that much of a genius? It’s not just hype, is it? I have a hard time believing a kindergartener is capable of that.]

[Whoa, whoa, weren’t we talking about the cooking class? How did this turn into a discussion about Yiyi? Aren’t you curious why Nan Zhi is even here?]

[She’s definitely not here for the cooking class. Probably just came to see what’s going on.]

...

The vast majority of the audience thought the same.

Because Lai Liang had arrived earlier and already started setting up his station, the audience never imagined Nan Zhi would be participating.

Just then, a few villagers appeared, carrying in a table to set up a new, temporary cooking station.

It looked a little plain compared to Lai Liang’s setup.

But that was no problem. Once a tablecloth was spread over it, you couldn’t see what was underneath.

The live stream chat was instantly flooded with question marks.

They could sense that something unusual was happening.

Then, Lai Liang himself announced the news!

The bullet comments immediately erupted!

[It’s actually happening! HAHAHA! I freaking love the production team for setting this up!]

[The kids are in for a real treat!]

[How did this kids’ show suddenly turn into a cooking competition?]

[Hey, now that you mention it, it really does! So, is there an audience voting portion?]

[Say no more, I’m just jealous of the kids on site. They’re so lucky!]

[I feel like Nan Zhi is at a disadvantage. Lai Liang has a pretty impressive setup. What if Nan Zhi is just making simple home-style food...]

[What’s wrong with home-style food? Isn’t that what you grew up eating? Stop being so obsessed with everything foreign!]

[Unbelievable. What does this have to do with being obsessed with foreign things? There’s high-end Chinese cuisine, too. I’m just saying Nan Zhi’s cooking might not be as fancy as Lai Liang’s. He’s a three-star Michelin chef, after all!]

...

The cooking class hadn’t even officially started, but the audience was already arguing.

This also attracted a huge number of viewers.

Their constant arguments and discussions sent the hashtag #NanZhivsLaiLiang soaring up the trending lists.

As the topic blew up on major social media platforms, more and more people flocked to the stream to see what was going on.

To avoid splitting the viewership, the production team simply merged the two live streams into one, complete with multiple camera angles to switch between!

At that moment, the viewership skyrocketed to more than double the season’s previous high!

Lai Liang wore a discreet in-ear monitor.

This was so Chang Mu, who was monitoring public opinion from backstage, could inform him of any necessary adjustments based on the live feedback.

However, Lai Liang thought this was all a bit much.

He had competed in countless cooking competitions, large and small, and was a veteran chef with over twenty years of experience.

As for Nan Zhi...

’When I first picked up a kitchen knife, she probably wasn’t even born yet!’

’How could I, Lai Liang, possibly lose to her?’

"I get it, even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Don’t worry, I’ll give it my all!"

Lai Liang proudly lifted his chin, like a rooster puffing out its chest.

Then, he personally delivered the opening remarks.

"Everyone, it is time. Today’s cooking class will be taught by myself and Miss Nan Zhi. Our goal is to allow the children to taste diverse Food from around the world. Chefs may have nationalities, but delicious food knows no borders. So, today, I would like everyone to experience authentic kaiseki cuisine!"

"Kaiseki represents the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine. It emphasizes ’captivating not with aroma, but with spiritual essence.’ It evolved from Zen Buddhist philosophy, so the dining environment is akin to meditation. The tableware is predominantly dark and simple, devoid of any superfluous, ornate decoration, representing the philosophy of returning to one’s true nature. The most authentic kaiseki also incorporates different flowers and plants from the four seasons, using them as accompaniments in the dishes..."