CHAPTER 691: CHAPTER 690: PROFESSIONAL NEGATIVE REVIEWER (PART 1)

Xia Yu returned to the teaching area from the rear mountain farm, hearing numerous discussions along the way.

"The leading seat has failed!"

"Indeed, satisfying the appetite of a Lin Chef is extremely difficult. He was outstanding enough at Far Moon, but to serve a guest of this caliber, the gap is still too wide!"

In the High Platform Area, a pair of passersby discussed this as they brushed past.

Heading against the flow of people to the white castle.

The castle appeared grand, but the dining space inside was very cramped, with only three tables.

After passing through archways filled with Roman flair at the Corridor Area, she reached the restaurant.

By that time, the bustling scene had already dispersed.

The leading seat, clad in a crisp white chef’s uniform, the "Table White Knight," was petrified behind a layer of transparent glass in the kitchen.

"Do you have a reservation?"

A female waitress in uniform, with hands crossed in front of her, bowed and asked.

Xia Yu waved her hand, removed her mask, and ignoring the waitress’s shift from respectful to shocked expression, pushed directly into the kitchen.

Click!

Hearing the sound, the silver-haired young chef, set off by the gray-white background, finally turned around, his pupils dilating slightly with a hint of vitality.

"Instructor Xia..."

"Did you fail?"

"Yes."

While responding, the leading seat clenched his fists on the counter, "I’m not resigned to this!"

In front of him lay nine plates of varying styles, each with some leftover food, each looking as though spoons had scooped one or two spoonfuls from them.

It was clear that the taster had little appetite.

"Actually, for a guest not driven by a sheer love of food, there is really no need to mind," Xia Yu said. "Lei Zhe, he’s not a true guest at all!"

"No—"

Si Yingshi covered his head with both hands, his face ashen.

"It’s my fault, my dishes couldn’t drag him into a culinary fantasy, to drown in my ocean of flavors. Yes, it’s my fault, I couldn’t satisfy the guest, he couldn’t find an appetite for my dishes!"

His expression darkened further as he spoke.

"What should I do! How can I satisfy a Lin Chef!"

Xia Yu wisely kept her mouth shut.

Si Yingshi’s viewpoint was precisely the culinary value system of this world—

A chef who cannot satisfy his guests shouldn’t exist.

Thinking about the mindset that gave rise to such an ideal, it wasn’t hard for Xia Yu to understand, given the chefs here wield unbelievable powers to drug, make their dishes luminous, summon fantastical ingredients, and construct dreamlike recipes.

In a sense, failing to use cuisine to dissolve a guest’s ill will, letting them immerse unconsciously, eagerly longing for a "delicious" verdict, amounted to a colossal failure.

Understanding is one thing, but Xia Yu absolutely refused to accept it!

Seeing Si Yingshi wholly desolate, the blow was quite heavy for him; he would need time to recover.

In such a state, the chef’s demeanor would inevitably impact his restaurant!

"Damn it!"

If Lei Zhe were to wander the High Platform Area, Central Area, and Corridor Area freely, what would happen next? A bunch of chefs with bad reviews and poor states, how would they face the explosive influx of customers in the following days of the "Academy Festival"?

Who would want to receive an unfavorable, substandard review from a Lin Giant!

For Far Moon culinary students aspiring in the culinary field, such criticism is much more terrifying than the "Divine Tongue" deeming someone talentless—a true cataclysm in life!

"I must stop this!"

Xia Yu looked grim.

Lei Zhe wreaking havoc in Far Moon was a provocation. If ignored, that would be equivalent to being slapped in one’s own territory.

Moreover, with the task of handling a million attendees at the "Academy Festival" ahead, losing the 10 Talent Points reward to Lei Zhe’s antics would spell disaster for his culinary advancement!

No time left to console Si Yingshi, Xia Yu turned on her heel and left.

...

But in the High Platform Area, a group of student chefs gathered.

"Has he left?"

"Yes, it seems he went to the Central Area!"

"Why! It’s the first time we have a Lin grade guest at the Festival, isn’t it? Why would such a high-level chef come to Far Moon? It’s practically Disaster Day, ahhh!"

Compared to the composed Elite Ten, other upperclassmen who operated high-end restaurants in the High Platform Area were filled with fear and unease.

They definitely didn’t want to be stamped with the "bad taste" mark by Lin Chef before they graduated!

That would be a lifelong blemish on their records!

"Bang!"

Saito Sohmei, the fifth seat, his wooden cleaver fell to the ground, scattering several stones with a clatter.

"We must not let fear spread!" the usually silent Saito said sternly.

Kishikubo Momo, hugging a stuffed bear and looking petite and cute, nodded and said, "I certainly don’t want to run into the worst ’Festival’ ever before I graduate next year!"

This Elite Ten member specialized in desserts, and her skills were on par with those of a formal top-class chef, as evidenced by her second-place sales in the High Platform Area from the first day.

"Then, let’s unite!"

said Nakamuki Fuyosuke. He ranked third in sales on the first day in the High Platform Area.

Rui Shan Zhi Jin Ye, who hadn’t set up a restaurant at the Festival, also arrived after hearing the news. He was about to say something when his pupils dilated sharply, noticing someone swiftly leaving the High Platform Area.

"Instructor Xia!"

he shouted.

The Elite Ten and other students also spotted Xia Yu.

Thunderous footsteps.

A group of people chased after him, a scene captured by a tourist’s camera, looking like a pack of animals finding their leader, fierce and formidable.

Nearby, Chen Yang, who was disguised as a reporter and wearing a baseball cap today, put down his SLR camera.

"Lin, let’s go too!"

Chen Yang stepped forward. "Although I don’t know what Lei Zhe’s intentions are, one thing is certain... he has already declared war on Far Moon!"

"Declared war on Far Moon?"

The blonde-haired lady was confused: "Full-scale war between the Gourmet Society and Far Moon?"

"Hah, full-scale war? It’s just a small friction right now, but it’s interesting!"

The two hastened toward the Central Area.

At that moment,

the Central Area felt overwhelmed by the crowd.

Xingping Chuangzhen, full of ambition and ready to attract more customers the next day, watched as his pushcart stall was swamped by patrons with no space even to squeeze in, looking utterly bewildered.

These customers weren’t there for his food but to spectate and stir up excitement.

Lei Zhe came down from the High Platform Area and went straight to Kogama Restaurant, which had the highest sales in the Central Area.

Inside the restaurant,

many tables and chairs were vacant, leaving only one customer sitting cross-legged.

Koga Shoji, sweating profusely, cooked a dish of Kogama-style Mapo Tofu, then held his breath as he watched Lei Zhe tasting it.

Lei Zhe spooned up the spicy tofu chunks, and this time his appetite was good; he took a few more spoonfuls before setting down his spoon, pulling out a napkin to wipe his mouth, and then looking up with a trace of scorn at the crestfallen Koga Shoji, he said, "Your Mapo Tofu is passable, but its flavor can’t pry open the vault of my taste buds... So, it’s too bland, tasteless!"

Just two days ago, Koga Shoji, who had made a breakthrough and seized his Ultimate Key, could not accept such a bland evaluation.

In the past, his culinary philosophy was to use oppressive spiciness to overwhelm the taste buds.

And after his transformation, it was to captivate with spiciness!

"Please, try again, my Mapo Tofu will captivate your taste buds!" Koga Shoji trembled.

"No need!"

Lei Zhe was cold and dismissive.