"How did you get here so fast?"
Xu Yanxia looked up with a smile at Lu Jingming, who seemed to have dropped out of the sky, and said, "You didn't even tell me."
After all, even though today was Friday, factoring in the travel time from Rong City to Jingbei, he must have set off around noon.
"Weren't you in the middle of a competition? I didn't tell you because I was afraid of distracting you."
Lu Jingming also smiled, looking down at her. "How did the competition go? No problems, right?"
"Of course not!"
Xu Yanxia immediately nodded and said, "Not only were there no problems, but it was a complete crushing victory. Every single dish was made better than theirs!"
"I knew my baby was the best!"
Lu Jingming lowered his head to kiss her, then asked, "How come you came out by yourself? You didn't leave with the others?"
Xu Yanxia said, "I want to go see Grandpa and Grandma. I haven't seen them all day."
"Then let's go together,"
Lu Jingming immediately took her hand and said, "It just so happens I haven't eaten yet. Let's go mooch a meal off Grandpa and Grandma."
Saying that, the two walked out together.
Although they hit the evening rush hour and the roads were a bit congested, fortunately, Xu Yanxia had called her aunt in advance. By the time they arrived at the clubhouse, Grandpa and Grandma were specifically waiting to have dinner with them.
It was Grandma's handmade, chewy, and hot noodles with gravy, paired with Grandpa's appetizing home-style dishes. The young couple ate with great relish.
Xu Yanxia took the opportunity to report to Grandpa about today's competition. During this, she inevitably mentioned how Decui Restaurant had thrown money around that morning to parachute in and even planned to change the judges—
"It's a good thing we're in Jingbei. I quickly told Aunt Xiaohua to secure the judges first. Otherwise, if they had gotten their way, it really might not have been me who won today."
After hearing this, Grandpa sighed and said, "For a restaurant, the most important thing is the food. Thinking about these crooked paths all day long... even if they can trick people into coming, they can't fool the customers' taste buds."
"If they really keep doing this, they won't just ruin their own business; I'm afraid they'll ruin the reputation of our entire culinary sect."
"Grandpa makes a lot of sense."
Grandson-in-law Lu Jingming, who was holding his noodle bowl and eating obediently, immediately nodded and said, "So this time, no matter what, we cannot let them succeed."
"Exactly,"
Xu Yanxia also said to Grandpa, "Don't worry, I've already put your name out there today. For the upcoming matches, we will be competing under the names of you and Master Lyu. I will definitely win back the reputation of our sect."
"By the way, Grandpa,"
She asked with a smile, "For the finals, I plan to ask my brother to cook with me. This way, we can promote our own restaurant. Would you like to come up and show off your skills then?"
"Better not count this old man in,"
Grandpa waved his hand and chuckled, "A person has to accept getting old. My eyesight and mind can't compare to you young folks anymore. Going on stage would only drag you down."
"Yes,"
Grandma chimed in from the side, "The future world ultimately belongs to you young people. It's better for you to do it."
"Alright then,"
Xu Yanxia nodded. "Then we'll invite you over to be our family cheering squad and guide us."
Beside her, Lu Jingming gave a thumbs-up and said, "Look at the broad-mindedness of Grandpa and Grandma. This is the true model of a master."
This immediately coaxed Grandpa Xu and Grandma Xu into hearty laughter.
Seeing him finish a bowl of noodles, Grandma hurriedly asked him, "Xiaoming, there are still noodles in the pot. Let me ask your aunt to scoop another bowl for you."
"No, no."
Lu Jingming quickly smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Grandma's noodles are incredibly delicious, but I couldn't help but stuff myself. If I eat myself into a fatty, Xiao Xia will despise me."
"That won't happen,"
Grandma immediately laughed and said, "Xiao Xia has always been very loyal since she was a child. Besides, if she really dares to despise you, just come to us, and we'll teach her a lesson."
...
After finishing the warm and satisfying dinner, the sky outside had grown another shade darker.
Xu Yanxia had to get up early for the competition tomorrow. After saying goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma, she took Lu Jingming and headed toward the hotel provided by the production team.
The roads were no longer as congested, and the clubhouse driver drove them.
The cold night scenery of Jingbei flashed past the car window. Xu Yanxia rested her head on Lu Jingming's shoulder, tilting her head to look at the view outside.
"Is it pretty?"
Lu Jingming reached out and stroked the top of her head, asking, "Have you adjusted to being here these past two days? Is it a bit too cold?"
"Not at all,"
Xu Yanxia smiled and said, "I grew up in the north. Winters have always been this cold since I was little."
She added, "I quite like Jingbei. It gives me a familiar feeling."
—After all, she was from here in her previous life.
Although time had brought great changes to the world, the climate was still the familiar climate, and the stars and moon in the night sky should still be the same stars and moon from the past.
Saying this, she asked him again, "Are you rushing back on Sunday?"
"No need,"
Catching the underlying meaning in his wife's words, Lu Jingming immediately said, "I rushed through a lot of work over the past few days, so I can take a good break for a few days. After the finals on Sunday, I'll accompany you wherever you want to go play."
He deliberately added, "Just consider it a honeymoon."
Then he gently pinched her earlobe.
Xu Yanxia's face immediately flushed red.
He secretly tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her closer against his body.
Xu Yanxia's face grew even redder.
A few minutes later, seeing the car finally arrive at the hotel entrance, the two got out and walked all the way to their room.
As soon as the door closed, before Xu Yanxia even had time to insert the room card, she fell into Lu Jingming's embrace again.
What followed closely was his passionate kiss.
In the dark room, he entangled her wantonly, almost leaving her breathless.
"I missed you so much, baby."
He whispered in her ear, and immediately after, he wanted to lead her to the bed.
"I haven't showered yet,"
With a burning face, she reminded him, "I haven't even taken off my makeup from today's filming."
"I'll keep you company,"
He said, kissing her again and holding her even tighter.
Xu Yanxia could hardly stand, so she could only wrap her arms around his shoulders and cater to him.
However, right after that, her phone suddenly started vibrating.
"Someone is calling me,"
Barely regaining her senses, she struggled to remind him, "I have to answer it..."
"Let me insert the room card first..."
Actually, she had been holding her phone and room card when they entered, but because of his sudden embrace, they had fallen to the floor along with her bag.
Lu Jingming refused to let her go, only saying, "Ignore it for now. We'll deal with it later."
Xu Yanxia, "..."
Later?
...Who knows how long later would be.
She had to try hard to break free from his confinement, struggling in the dark to fish out her phone and insert the room card into the power slot.
The lights came on.
She then noticed that the call was from the director of One City, One Flavor.
She tapped to answer, and the director's smiling voice immediately came through the receiver, "Director Xu, I'm sorry to bother you so late at night. It's mainly about tomorrow's show; there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Xu Yanxia cleared her throat. "Please go ahead."
"I mainly just wanted to ask, you aren't planning to make the exact same dish as Chef Zhao again tomorrow, are you?"
On the other end of the line, the director spoke with cautious hesitation. "To be honest, at this stage in the competition, both of your skills are obvious to everyone. You are both practically guaranteed a spot in the finals, so there is really no need to insist on making the same dishes for tomorrow's match."
"Please don't misunderstand, of course. We are mainly thinking about the show's entertainment value. You are both top-tier chefs, so the greater the variety of dishes you showcase, the more exciting the show will be to watch, and the audience's response will definitely be much better..."
