The other judges also tasted Sun i's custard buns, one by one, showing expressions of surprise.
Was it inspiration exhaustion? Or a decline in performance due to fatigue?
In any case, compared to her previous dishes, this coconut-flavored custard bun was not outstanding.
Just... so-so.
At this mont, Ma Lu leaned over, "Can I have one?"
"Ah?" Rocky Chen was slightly stunned.
"Considering the ti spent on interim reviews and scoring, the competition has been going on for three and a half hours. I've been working from morning till noon and my stomach is also hungry; these custard buns look quite delicious," said Ma Lu.
"Um, okay, I guess, since there are a lot on the plate and we can't finish them anyway," responded Rocky Chen.
Ma Lu then picked up a small rabbit-shaped one, took a bite, and felt the soft, cloud-like dough and the hot, flowing heart inside lt in his mouth.
"Delicious," Ma Lu sincerely praised, "It has the taste of ho from my childhood, completely different from the frozen ones sold in supermarkets."
Upon hearing this, Rocky Chen felt a stir in his heart; he picked up another one and tasted it again.
"Indeed, if you were to ask what the most significant characteristic of this custard bun is, it would be its everyday nature. There's nothing particularly outstanding, but it's very comforting to eat. At first, I thought it was slightly lacking in sweetness.
"But given that we've eaten a lot of strong flavors today, this flavor is actually just right."
"Um, now that you ntion it, I feel it too," said Gaggan Anand, "I've eaten two without even realizing it, even though I've already tasted quite a few dishes and wasn't hungry."
"These little animal-shaped buns are also very cute," comnted Yoshikazu Yoda, "They remind of the wooden toys my father made for when I was a child. I quite like this dish and can feel the sincere and unpretentious sentint in it."
"I have a different opinion," said Violet Yupil, "I think it's just a very ordinary ho-cooked dish.
"I don't see the creativity that Chef Sun i demonstrated before in this dish. I don't deny the emotions contained within this dish, but as a competition piece, it's clearly not up to par."
"Mmm, Editor-in-Chief Yupil, you also have a point," agreed Rocky Chen.
"Everyone has expressed their opinions fully; does Chef Sun i have anything to say?" asked Gaggan Anand.
"Nothing more," Sun i shook her head.
"Alright then, let's start scoring."
The four judges wrote down their scores on slips of paper and dropped them into the box labeled with Sun i's na.
Seeing the staff start to count the votes, Qiu Lele's heart couldn't help but hang in suspense.
At this mont, Sun He next to her stood up.
"Mr. Sun, where are you going? Aren't you going to wait for the results?"
"No need to see the results; the champion is Chef Ma Lu. Let's get ready, we still have to present the awards later."
"Oh, okay," Qiu Lele quickly stood up as well and followed Sun He towards the podium, while still craning her neck to glance at the stage.
By the ti the two of them reached below the stage, the results were already out, with Ma Lu scoring a perfect 5 points once again.
Sun i, however, received only 3.25 points, the lowest in six rounds.
The female host then announced, "Let's congratulate the champion of the God of Cooking Competition, Asian Region—from Universe Infinite Canteen, Chef Ma Lu!"
Scattered applause rose from the audience.
Ma Lu perford exceptionally well in the six rounds of the competition, showing much stronger capabilities than the other contestants.
But his behavior was also audacious, cooking with one hand and wandering around chatting during the match.
This did not conform to the modest and humble image of a master as perceived by mainstream society.
Moreover, compared to the story of seeing the Demon King dominate the competition, most of the audience preferred the classic narrative of the underdog overcoming the strong and making a coback.
Unfortunately, reality is not a hot-blooded manga from Shonen Jump.
Even if Old Wang only perford at eighty percent of his capability, it was far beyond Sun i, Chuan Ye Zhengming, and the others—no matter how they struggled or erupted, it could not change this fact.
After announcing the champion, the hostess imdiately revealed the second and third places and invited Luo Junkang onto the stage as well.
As the president, Sun He personally presented trophies and prize money to the three of them.
When it was Sun i's turn, Sun He's expression was a bit complex, but in the end, he shook hands with her, just as he did with the other contestants.
"Congratulations, Chef Sun i, for your outstanding performance and securing the second place in the Asian Region of the God of Cooking Competition.
"In addition to the trophy and the prize money, according to the rules, you will also automatically qualify to participate in the God of Cooking Competition's World Contest. We look forward to seeing your excellent performance in the upcoming world competition."
"I lost," said Sun i.
"Hm?"
"Our agreent, I lost it."
Sun He glanced around at the caras and said, "Let's talk about it when we get back."
"It's nothing, just a few words that can be said anywhere," said Sun i, "You were right, I do not hate cooking, so I will continue down this path."
A flash of surprise appeared in Sun He's eyes.
But then he heard Sun i continue, "But I won't take over Songxiang Inn as you expect to; at most that would make beco another version of you. I want to keep honing my skills, to go a step further."
"What are your plans for going further?" Sun He asked, frowning.
"I've decided to go work in the kitchen of Universe Infinite Canteen for Chef Ma Lu."
Ma Lu, who had been joyfully asking the staff for champagne, almost dropped the bottle when he heard this.
"Ah?"
Sun He's expression also changed, and forgetting they were still live on air, he blurted out, "No, that kid is not a good person."
He paused and then added, "His culinary skills are fine, but as a person, I'm a bit worried."
Ma Lu, not pleased by these remarks, thought to himself, "Good job, old Sun, playing two-faced. You praised so highly back then, luring to help teach your rebellious granddaughter a lesson.
"Now that the lesson is over, you flip your stance imdiately and revert to personal attacks. That's really impolite."
Sun He also realized that his words were a bit improper, but he was genuinely worried.
He only had one granddaughter, and even though they'd been estranged over the years and their relationship wasn't very smooth, his care for her had never changed.
In a mont of urgency, he blurted out what he truly thought.
But even so, Sun i just shook her head, "Grandpa, my mind is made up, and I won't change it. Besides, I'm only going to Universe Infinite Canteen to learn, not to fall in love with Chef Ma Lu."
"At the risk of interrupting this tender mont between you and your granddaughter," Ma Lu finally found an opportunity to speak up, "my restaurant already has enough staff."
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