Spring faded into summer.
Time flew by, and soon it was June.
"Hey, hurry up, hurry up! Don't fall behind!"
"The results are finally out!"
As the dismissal bell rang, students who had been cooking in their classrooms streamed out, running in unison towards the central plaza of the teaching building.
Presently, in the central plaza, a large board stood, draped in a white cloth.
Several staff members, clad in white uniforms and red armbands, were constantly checking their watches.
The moment the time arrived, they simultaneously pulled down the white cloth.
The contents of the board now appeared in everyone's sight.
"Oh!"
"Fantastic! I made it!"
"I'm in too! I can't believe I get to participate in an event like this! I have to do my best. If I'm noticed by a leading food enterprise, I'll be set for life!"
As the white cloth was unveiled, everyone's eyes scanned the board. Those who found their names cheered excitedly, their gazes at others filled with smugness.
"The names written on the board are the participants for the Summer Selection."
Shun Ibusaki, looking at the board, explained to a somewhat bewildered Soma Yukihira standing beside him.
"Summer Selection?"
Soma Yukihira's voice was laced with confusion.
Because the accommodation training was canceled this year, the Autumn Selection was moved up by three months and became the Summer Selection. The specific procedure is the same as the Autumn Selection.
The difference was that this time, since there were fewer first-year students and all those who passed the last midterm assessment were elites, everyone's name was on the board.
Of course, this only granted qualification for the preliminaries. To officially compete in the Summer Selection, one had to rank among the top eight in their group.
"Simply put, it's a competition. The better you perform, the more likely you are to be noticed by the higher-ups. Every generation of the Elite Ten has performed exceptionally in the Summer Selection."
Dylan appeared on the scene, seemingly out of nowhere, with Alice Nakiri and other girls standing beside him. Further out were the students who had struggled during the mountain training.
"Simply put, it's a cooking competition, right?"
Soma Yukihira pinched his chin, a hint of excitement showing on his face. He yearned to compete against strong opponents, and now he finally had a legitimate opportunity!
"Yes, but this year's cooking competition is far from ordinary. Strong chefs are everywhere. If you don't take it seriously, you might be eliminated in the preliminaries."
Dylan nodded, then looked at Li Wanwan, Huang Mei, and the others approaching him, his eyes revealing a hint of anticipation.
His students, whom he had nurtured for so long, compared to these Dark Cooking Society chefs who had reached First-Grade Head Chef a year ago—who would truly come out on top?
In terms of apparent strength,
Li Wanwan and the others undoubtedly held higher chef ranks. While they couldn't compare to the veteran First-Grade Head Chefs, they were not to be underestimated; their skill placed them firmly in the mid-tier among First-Grade Head Chefs.
In contrast, Totsuki's students were more than a notch weaker. Even with his personal daily guidance, it was difficult to bridge the early gap.
Among them, the more formidable ones were Erina Nakiri, Hisako Arato, Megumi Tadokoro, and Miyoko Hojo.
Although they hadn't taken grading exams, they all possessed the skill of First-Grade Head Chefs. With careful preparation, they were not without a chance of winning.
After all, a chef's rank doesn't represent everything. More importantly, it's the chef's performance on the spot and their familiarity with the competition theme—all these are crucial factors influencing the final outcome.
"I will give my all! I absolutely won't disgrace Teacher Dylan!"
Hearing Dylan's words, Soma Yukihira hadn't said anything yet, but Miyoko Hojo, standing beside him, spoke up first, patting her ample chest as she did so.
The momentary undulation captivated all gazes.
"Little coquette,"
Alice Nakiri, who also saw the scene, muttered inwardly, though her expression remained perfectly calm.
"Brother Dylan, why isn't my name on this board?"
Alice Nakiri turned her head to look at Dylan, her expression clearly asking why.
She had been fully prepared to showcase her skills in the Summer Selection, but her name wasn't on the list...
There was no way she wasn't qualified, was there?
"You're already Special Grade, so there's no need for you to participate in this kind of selection. Wait until the finals when the first place is decided, then you can compete against them."
"Indeed."
Dylan nodded. With Alice Nakiri's strength, there truly was no need to waste time here. Only the final round would be worth watching.
"Don't be disheartened. After the finals, I'll take you to participate in the Fujian Youth Chef Championship. Going by the timeline, it should be within the next two months."
Seeing Alice Nakiri lower her head, Dylan thought she was disheartened and spoke again.
After half a year of growth, Totsuki was no longer suitable for Alice Nakiri. She needed to go to a broader stage, and the Fujian
Youth Chef Championship was the first stop.
Young chefs under twenty-five can all participate in the championship, so each time it's held, it attracts chefs from several surrounding provinces, and among them are many Special Grade chefs.
The rewards for the Youth Chef Championship are also lavish. First place can be directly promoted by two stars, second to third by one star, and the top five are directly promoted to Special Grade.
Of course, the upper limit is a Special Grade Three-Star chef.
This means that even if a Special Grade Two-Star chef wins first place, they can still only be promoted by one star.
Nevertheless, it still holds immense appeal for Special Grade chefs.
"The Fujian Youth Chef Championship, can we go too?"
Dylan spoke openly, and the surrounding girls clearly heard him. Their faces immediately lit up with eager expressions; they also wanted to go battle alongside their teacher.
"I will bring four people. The list will depend on your performance in this Summer Selection."
Looking at the crowd gazing at him with hopeful faces, Dylan fueled their ambition even further, which made Yūki Yoshino and the others even more excited.
"If we perform exceptionally well, will you take us to participate?"
Just then, Ryo Kurokiba's voice came from not far away. Dylan looked over and found him staring intently at him, clearly having listened for a while.
And there were several others like him.
All of them were now looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes.
"Not just you, but all first-year students of Totsuki, as long as they perform exceptionally well in this Summer Selection, I will take them to participate."
Looking at the eager gazes of the people around him, Dylan decided to add more fuel to the fire, and his stirring voice instantly resonated through the scene.
"Alright!"
"No one can stop me from getting first place!"
"What's all this talk of 'mine' and 'yours'?"
As Dylan's words fell, the atmosphere in the plaza was ignited once again. Everyone wanted to gain Dylan's recognition, which was an immense honor for them.
"Go back. Start your special training before the Summer Selection begins."
Glancing at the lively scene, Dylan merely offered a faint smile, then turned to look at Erina Nakiri and the others, and walked towards his home.
Seeing Dylan leave, Erina Nakiri and the others exchanged glances, then all strode quickly with long legs, following him.
"Currently, there are only a few days left until the Summer Selection, so I won't teach you anything new,"
Holding a long ruler, Dylan tapped on the table as he spoke to the girls lined up in front of him. "From today onwards, you will continue to hone your fundamentals. Fundamentals are the beginning of everything and can effectively elevate a dish's quality."
With so little time remaining, starting new lessons was meaningless; it was better to simply strengthen their fundamentals.
"Have you all understood?"
Seeing that they didn't respond, Dylan's brows furrowed slightly. He then raised his ruler and forcefully slapped the cooking counter, the loud sound jolting them back to attention.
"Understood!"
With that, the girls no longer hesitated. They jogged to their respective cooking stations and began practicing their knife skills with carrots, cabbage, and tofu.
"Knife skills, strictly speaking, are divided into straight cuts, flat cuts, oblique cuts, and mixed cutting methods.
Below that, there are basic cutting methods, such as dicing, chopping, julienning, and slicing.
Decorative knife techniques involve cutting various shapes and patterns into ingredients, such as fish cake shapes or chrysanthemum patterns, to enhance the dish's aesthetic appeal and texture.
Special knife techniques, such as carving or making spheres, are often used in preparing fillings."
Watching the girls get to work, Dylan paced around the area, tirelessly teaching them the fundamentals. His gaze swept back and forth, and whenever he saw someone with an incorrect knife grip, he would step close to guide them.
Physical contact was inevitable during this process. Fortunately, no one resisted; everything was normal, save for their accelerated heartbeats.
These days continued for a week.
It was early morning, the sun shining brightly.
"Quick, look at this! Look!"
In the courtyard, Dylan was teaching Ikumi Mito the "Mighty Bull Green Dragon Slash," and everyone else was watching intently.
Yūki Yoshino's voice came from not far away, accompanied by the sound of footsteps.
"It's here! Sent from the Summer Selection Affairs Bureau."
Holding an unopened letter, Yūki Yoshino's face was beaming with excitement.
The crowd in the courtyard, who had been marveling at the incredible "Mighty Bull Green Dragon Slash," all looked over upon hearing the sound, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Then quickly open it."
Miyoko Hojo said anxiously, reaching Yūki Yoshino in a few quick strides, her eyes fixed on the letter in her hand.
"Alright."
Without hesitation, Yūki Yoshino nodded as she tore open the letter. The people around her also gathered closer, their gazes all focused on her hands.
"Lamb... dish?"
As the letter was opened, the paper was pulled out. Neatly inscribed in the very center of the page were the bold characters:
"Lamb Dish."
"Making lamb dishes in summer, seriously?!"
Hisako Arato murmured, her face filled with disbelief. A theme like lamb was clearly more suited for winter.
"While lamb is more suitable for winter, it doesn't mean it can't be enjoyed in other seasons."
"Since you already know the theme, for the remaining few days, you should focus your research around it, relying on your own abilities."
Having also seen the theme on the letter, Dylan's voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, making their hearts skip a beat.
"For this Summer Selection, show me what you've learned during this period. During this process,
I will not offer you any assistance."
Looking at the assembled group, Dylan's voice rang out again. This was something he had planned from the beginning, considering it a small assessment.
"Rely on our own strength… does that mean we can't come anymore…?"
Noticing the implication in Dylan's words, Ikumi Mito spoke nervously, glancing at the others as if hoping they would intercede.
"I didn't say you can't come here," Dylan interrupted Yūki Yoshino, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness. "It's just that from now on, I won't be providing you with any more assistance. Everything will depend on your own efforts."
Women's imaginations were truly rich; he had never said he was going to drive them away.
"That's good then! You've already helped us enough. The rest is up to us!"
Megumi Tadokoro spoke up at that moment. After learning she wouldn't have to leave, her tense heart immediately relaxed, and the others also exhaled in relief.
Although Dylan said he wouldn't be guiding them anymore, just seeing him on a daily basis was an effective morale booster that would double their efficiency.
Looking at the motivated crowd, Dylan smiled, but in his heart, he was contemplating whether he should hype up the atmosphere during the Summer Selection.
After all, when he watched Food Wars! back then, he always identified with the protagonist—that dazzling existence on stage, admired by everyone.
Instead of being a hidden big shot, retreating behind the scenes as he was now. Although his status was higher than the former, it completely lacked the thrill.
His only joy came from being close to beautiful girls. When he held them in his arms, there was an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.
He was a very pure person.
First, he loved cooking; second, he adored beauties.
However, if he were forced to choose between cooking and beauties, he would undoubtedly choose beauties without hesitation.
"It's decided! I'm participating in the Fujian Youth Chef Championship too!"
Back in his room, Dylan rubbed his forehead.
He was, in essence, an extremely competitive individual. These past six months had left him itching for a challenge, but his opponents were simply too weak, making it impossible to genuinely feel like competing.
Last year, Eishi Tsukasa did give him a surprise. However, a child who hadn't fully matured yet, even if they used all their skills, couldn't possibly surmount a great mountain.
"Dylan-ge, are you planning to make a move?"
"How do you know…?"
Hearing Alice Nakiri's voice from behind him, Dylan was a bit surprised. He shouldn't have said it out loud just now, had she gained mind-reading abilities…?"
"Because every time you desire a battle, your body slightly trembles. It's always like this, without exception, looking extremely excited."
Her slender, pale jade fingers rested on Dylan's shoulder. Alice Nakiri's eyes were filled with emotion; this guy was really too easy to read.
"Trying to guess your master's thoughts isn't something a disciple should do."
"Then I'm not doing it as your disciple," Alice retorted smoothly. "I'm doing it as your wife."
Watching Dylan turn around and pinch her cheek, Alice Nakiri opened her arms and embraced him, then whispered in his ear, "Do whatever you want to do. I'll always support you."
Meanwhile.
"The theme is out—it's lamb."
"The Leader said that those who perform exceptionally well in this Summer Selection will be personally taken by him to participate in the Fujian Youth Chef
Championship. Everyone, strive for it; it's a rare opportunity to go out and see the world with the Leader."
Ning Feng walked into the villa with the letter. Seeing Liu Yu and Wang Jing casually watching TV on the sofa, he couldn't help but grumble,
"Don't you two have any sense of urgency?"
"What's there to be afraid of? There are only a few strong ones in this school's current grade. Only those few taught by the Leader are somewhat capable, but that's all they are—just capable."
Wang Jing shrugged indifferently.
When she first arrived, she had thought that since the Leader chose to teach at this school, it must be extraordinary, which was why she had acted so docilely.
But facts proved that the Leader just wanted to find a place to unwind, and the students' skill level here was truly mediocre.
"Better safe than sorry," Ning Feng countered. "You yourself said those few students taught by the Leader are quite skilled. If you encounter them,
you might accidentally crash and burn."
"You're right, I'll pay attention,"
Liu Yu said dismissively. "But didn't you also say this is just a preliminary round? It's not too late to be careful during the official competition."
If it were the official competition, she would be more careful, but for a mere preliminary round, normal performance would be enough to pass; there was simply no need for advance preparation.
Strategically holding back her full potential might yield surprising results in later rounds.
"So that's your plan," Ning Feng remarked. "While the preliminary round indeed doesn't require too much effort, don't completely let your guard down. Crashing out would be a joke."
Hearing Liu Yu's words, Ning Feng grumbled a retort, then proceeded to lecture her.
He probably understood their line of thinking; it was fine to hold back, but not preparing at all was asking for trouble. If they accidentally crashed out, it would truly be a joke.
"Feng, you seem to have forgotten," Wang Jing cut in, raising her gaze, her voice filled with coldness and disdain. "Both of us are official members of the Dark Cooking Society. You're only a probationary member; you don't have the right to lecture us."
Did this guy really think that just because they'd lived together for a few days, he could adopt an elder's demeanor?
"You've crossed the line, Ning Feng."
Liu Yu also spoke up.
For a moment, Ning Feng felt his toes curl in embarrassment. He wanted to retort but found he had no room to argue, so he could only forcefully swallow his retort.
"Then I wish you both good luck in getting champion and runner-up."
Forcing a smirk, Ning Feng spoke to Liu Yu and Wang Jing. How much sincerity was in that, only heaven knew.
"You don't need to trouble yourself with that," Liu Yu scoffed.
Liu Yu and Wang Jing turned their attention back to the TV. The moment they looked away, Ning Feng's face darkened, and he strode back to his room.
He had finally understood: in the Dark Cooking Society, only one's own affairs truly mattered. There was no need to care about anyone else.
If they wanted to slack off, then he'd make sure they fell to the very bottom. As for the title of champion, he, Ning Feng, would claim it!
"As long as I take first place, the Leader will definitely look at me with new eyes."
Inside his room, Ning Feng looked at himself in the mirror, clenching his fists. He was clearly not as calm as he had appeared outside, fuming with anger.
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Unfortunately, two of our stories were removed... so I created a new account to post them: MikuDayo.
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I'm counting on your support <3 the director was very sad and scared by what happened...
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