"We can chat, but let's forget about sparring. These old bones of mine can't take much of a beating. However, if one day you're looking to make a name for yourself and want this old lady to be your stepping stone, that's not out of the question."
Granny Deft Hands chuckled and shook her head, not agreeing to Dylan's challenge.
She hadn't accepted a challenge in many years. It was the kind of thing where winning was expected, and losing would make her a laughingstock. Naturally, she couldn't accept. Of course, more importantly, she couldn't see through Dylan. She had initially thought he was just a somewhat talented chef, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
A genius who could casually create luminous-grade cuisine—just how far could he grow in the future? And what was his current level?
"Is that so? What a pity."
Hearing Granny Deft Hands' firm words, a look of regret appeared on Dylan's face. Why was everyone like this? Not a single one was willing to compete with him! The more skilled they were, the more they feared losing.
The image of Master Hundred-Herbs surfaced in his mind. He seemed to have said he would only fight Dylan after Dylan broke through to Special Grade Five-Star. Did that mean he wasn't qualified enough right now?!
Honestly, why care so much about these empty reputations!
When encountering a suitable opponent, shouldn't one go directly to the arena and battle with all their might to improve their culinary skills!
"I have something to attend to now, so I'll take my leave first."
Thinking about what she needed to do next, Granny Deft Hands quickened her pace and left, leaving a few people standing there looking at each other.
Although Dylan wanting to challenge an old-timer powerhouse like Granny Deft Hands was outrageous, no one present thought he was arrogant. Instead, they felt it was just the sort of thing Dylan would do.
At the same time, the main entrance of the Dueling Kitchen slowly opened. Hearing the sound, everyone turned their gazes towards it. Several figures were waiting at the doorway.
"It's you. What are you doing here?"
Dylan looked surprised to see Lee Wanya and the others waiting at the entrance.
After all, they hadn't interacted much. He really hadn't expected them to specifically wait for him at the door, and it looked like they had been waiting for quite a while.
"Of course, we're here waiting for you! Did you... really pass the Special Grade Chef examination?"
Behind Lee Wanya, Wang Serena immediately spotted the Special Grade Chef armband on Dylan's arm. She gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief, her face filled with incredulity.
"A 19-year-old Special Grade Chef! That's incredibly rare, even in all of China! I can't believe you actually did it!"
Hearing Wang Serena's words, Lee Wanya also noticed the armband on Dylan's sleeve. A lifelike dragon was coiled on it, firmly encircling the character for 'Special'.
Without a doubt, this was the armband of a Special Grade Chef!
"He actually passed..."
Looking at the dragon-shaped armband, Hojo Miyoko's face flushed slightly, appearing quite shocked.
Although she knew Dylan might be very strong, passing the Special Grade Chef exam at 19, especially in Guangzhou, which was known as the toughest in history! Wasn't this a bit too exaggerated!
Even at Totsuki Academy, only Dojima Gin, who graduated over a decade ago with the highest score in history, Dojima-senpai, had achieved such an honor!
And Dojima-senpai was now the head chef of Totsuki Resort, a Four-Star Special Grade Chef! And he was only 35 this year, with excellent prospects for advancement!
"It was a piece of cake, alright? A mere Special Grade exam, child's play for me."
Seeing their astonished expressions, Dylan shrugged speechlessly. For him, participating in the Special Grade exam was no different from playing around.
"Braggart! You must have gone through countless trials and barely managed to pass in the end! Just passing is amazing enough; we wouldn't laugh at your effort."
Wang Serena pouted, thinking Dylan was boasting. Guangzhou was widely recognized in China as the most difficult place to pass the Special Grade Chef examination.
Even if Dylan had passed, he must have given it his all, put everything he had on the line, and moved the judges with his passion to pass. How could it be as simple as he said?
To this, Dylan just shrugged and didn't offer much explanation.
"What a majestic and imposing armband. My dad has one too, but he won't even let me touch it. He usually keeps it locked up in his study."
Lee Wanya gently touched the Special Grade Chef armband, her eyes filled with intense envy. This was the goal she was willing to strive for her entire life!
"Dylan, you promised earlier, can you lend me your jacket for a bit?"
Suddenly, a sweet voice sounded beside Dylan's ear, startling both Dylan and Lee Wanya.
The girl spoke in French, which only Dylan could understand on the spot. Lee Wanya, on the other hand, looked completely bewildered.
"Take it and wear it. I'm not giving you the pants, though."
Dylan said as he took off his Special Grade Chef's outer jacket and, under everyone's astonished gazes, casually tossed it to Leah, who was waiting beside him.
Leah caught the jacket and immediately put it on. Some of Dylan's body heat still lingered on it, but she didn't mind. Feeling the warmth of the Special Grade Chef uniform, an excited flush appeared on her face.
"How could you lend such an important piece of clothing to someone else? And you just let her wear it directly..."
Watching Leah, who had put on the Special Grade Chef jacket, walk around, strike poses, and continuously take pictures of her cool self with her phone, Lee Wanya tugged Dylan's arm and whispered in his ear.
"It's not anything particularly important. In the end, clothes are just decorations for a Special Grade Chef. Would I not be a Special Grade Chef if I didn't have this jacket? Unlikely, right?"
Looking at Lee Wanya's anxious expression, Dylan was somewhat puzzled. This girl seemed to place too much importance on external things, which wasn't good.
"Not important..."
Hearing Dylan's reply, Lee Wanya's expression froze, and she began to mutter to herself, a trace of bewilderment in her eyes.
"Speaking of which, I haven't asked how your exam went. Did you pass smoothly? What about Miyoko? Did you perfectly make the 18th dish this time?"
Remembering that Lee Wanya and Hojo Miyoko had also come to participate in the chef ranking examination, Dylan looked up at their faces and asked.
"No... I had no clue about that theme. The dish I made in the end deviated quite a bit from the theme, so I was eliminated."
"I passed, though! I performed quite well. The judges even said that if I hone my skills for another three years, I can start taking the First-Class Head Chef examination."
Hearing Dylan's question, Lee Wanya immediately drooped, a deeper confusion showing in her eyes. Hojo Miyoko, however, was elated and chattered on, completely oblivious to the fact that the expressions of those beside her had become somewhat bitter.
"In that case, let's have special training. It just so happens I'll be staying in Guangzhou for a while. During this time, I'll guide you as much as possible.
Guidance from a Special Grade Chef, you know, is something money can't buy out there. So, learn well during this period."
Seeing the girl's confused expression and thinking about his own upcoming business in Guangzhou, Dylan suggested, while secretly thinking about getting closer to the girls.
Prosperity nurtures beauty.
None of the girls present were unattractive; each was beautiful in her own way. If this were his previous life, they would definitely be pursued relentlessly by countless people! How could he not be moved?
Of course, more importantly, there was Lee Wanya's father. As a local bigwig in Guangzhou and a Three-Star Special Grade Chef, he might be helpful in finding what Dylan was looking for.
However... this wasn't the world of "Cooking Master Boy," after all. Whether the legendary cooking utensils existed here was actually an unknown.
At least, he had never heard any similar rumors. Even when he deliberately inquired, no one had ever heard of the legendary cooking utensils.
But, since he had come to Guangzhou, it seemed unreasonable not to search for them properly. This was the reason he decided to stay here for a while.
"You're willing to guide us? How much per hour?!"
Hearing Dylan's words, Lee Wanya's mouth fell open in surprise. She asked, quite tempted. This was a Special Grade Chef! There were less than thirty Special Grade Chefs in the entire Guangdong Province!
"Just pay me the market rate."
Dylan said casually. He hadn't intended to charge money, but since Lee Wanya brought it up, he would symbolically take a little. Otherwise, they wouldn't learn with peace of mind.
"But I don't have that much money... For a Special Grade Chef, even a little guidance costs a fortune."
"Then just pay what you can afford. I'm willing to teach you because I feel we have a connection, not for your money. Your sincerity is all that matters."
"I have over a million in savings right now. If you're willing to teach me, I can give it all to you! As my apprenticeship fee!"
Hearing Dylan's words, Lee Wanya didn't hesitate at all. This was money she had saved since she was little. Because her family was quite strict, she had only managed to save this much.
"That's enough. And arrange a place for me that's not too far, preferably with a large kitchen. Otherwise, it's not easy to work."
Dylan nodded and then made a new request. He had already passed the Special Grade exam, so continuing to stay in a hotel was somewhat wasteful.
Besides, the hotel room didn't have a kitchen, and it wouldn't be possible for Lee Wanya and the others to come over. He didn't want to spend a lot of time commuting every day.
"Leave this to me! I bought a villa near Wanya's house, over a thousand square meters. The kitchen alone is a hundred square meters. Wanya often has her special training there!"
Hearing Dylan needed a house, Wang Serena immediately perked up as if a keyword had been triggered. She trotted forward and, like a magician, pulled out a large bunch of keys from her waist, finding the villa key among them.
"Take it. You can use it for free. Just remember to be good to Wanya."
Generously tossing the keys to Dylan, Wang Serena acted exceptionally magnanimous.
"Thanks, but how many houses do you own? That's a huge keychain."
"This is just one-tenth of what my family owns. I'm not exactly sure how many there are in total.
This was an 18th birthday gift from my parents. They said it was to let me get used to the life of a landlord early. There are always one or two very busy days each month. Sometimes I really want to just quit."
Hearing Dylan's curious inquiry, Wang Serena picked up the keys and shook them, producing a crisp clinking sound. There looked to be roughly a hundred keys.
And this was merely one-tenth...
Dylan's mouth twitched. For the first time, he understood what "obscenely wealthy" meant.
"Dylan, here you go."
On the other side, Leah, having changed her clothes and taken suitable photos, had folded the jacket neatly and returned it, holding it with both hands as she approached Dylan.
"Alright. By the way, what are your plans next? Are you preparing to return to France?"
Looking at the young girl before him, Dylan asked with mild curiosity.
"No, my brother and I are going to hone our skills further in this land. Our next destination is Shanghai. I heard there's a youth chef competition being held there, and my brother and I are planning to check it out."
Leah said with considerable energy. Guangzhou, Shanghai, Sichuan—all were famous culinary cities. Traveling there would surely lead to learning something new.
Plus, with a competition being held there, the first prize being the status of a Special Grade Chef, they wanted to try their luck. Maybe they'd succeed!
"Alright then, I wish you a smooth journey and good results in the competition."
"Mm, I wish you culinary progress too."
Hearing Dylan's blessing, Leah stood there thinking for a moment, then smiled brightly at him. After finishing, she suddenly took a step forward, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him on the cheek.
"See you again if fate allows."
After saying this, Leah grabbed her brother's arm and trotted away.
Dylan was left stunned, touching his cheek, feeling the lingering moisture, and couldn't help but savor the sensation from a moment ago.
"Teacher Dylan! They're already far away, stop looking! A kiss on the cheek is just French etiquette; it expresses friendship, not romantic feelings!"
Seeing Dylan somewhat lost in thought, Sonoka Kinokuni, who had run up at some point, chided him a little jealously from the side.
After spending this time together, she had developed strong feelings for Dylan. Seeing him mesmerized by another girl naturally made her unhappy.
"I know. I was just thinking about something, planning your future teaching schedule."
Seeing Sonoka Kinokuni suddenly approach and unabashedly display a swath of fairness before his eyes, Dylan instantly sobered up and said nonchalantly.
Leah's actions just now were too sudden. Although he could have dodged, why not enjoy it? Beautiful girls are popular everywhere. Even Dylan, at such a moment, was just an ordinary man.
"Planning 'your' future teaching schedule? Can Kakuzaki-senpai and I also stay by your side from now on?!"
Noticing the key part of Dylan's words, Sonoka Kinokuni's body trembled slightly. Her fists clenched lightly in front of her chest as she looked at him excitedly and asked.
And this tremor once again drew Dylan's gaze. It was impossible not to look in this situation!
What an outrageously charming girl!
"If you're not in a hurry to return to Japan and are willing to stay here with me a bit longer."
Dylan didn't deliberately avert his gaze, looking openly. And Sonoka Kinokuni, as if she hadn't noticed, excitedly hugged his neck.
"That's great! I thought you were going to tutor them exclusively and ignore us!"
The brief period of guidance had caused Sonoka Kinokuni's culinary skills to improve by leaps and bounds, which also made her realize Dylan's level.
Naturally, she didn't want to give up such an amazing teacher, but she didn't have any money...
Therefore, when Lee Wanya was speaking earlier, she had kept her head down, not daring to make a sound. She couldn't let Dylan suffer a loss for her own selfish reasons.
And now, Dylan had proactively said he would take them along. How could this not make her ecstatic!
"Anyway, let's head back first. This isn't the place to talk. Let's find a dim sum restaurant and get something to eat. Does that Granny Deft Hands have any disciples? I want to check out her disciple's restaurant."
Thinking that even Master Hundred-Herbs had taken disciples, Granny Deft Hands surely had some too. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Before challenging Granny Deft Hands in the future, he decided to first learn about her disciples.
"Granny Deft Hands' disciple? Granny Deft Hands was in charge of the assessment this time! She's extremely strict. It's said that it takes four or five years for a Special Grade Chef to emerge under her."
Hearing Dylan's words, Lee Wanya was immediately surprised. Then she looked towards Lanyu Jin, who was packing her things and preparing to leave not far away.
Granny Deft Hands' assessment was notoriously difficult to pass. For two people to pass at once this year was truly incredible!
"We'll meet again if fate decrees, little brother Dylan."
"Yeah, bye-bye."
Seeing Lee Wanya and Dylan look over, Lanyu Jin smiled and greeted Dylan before shouldering her bag and leaving the scene.
"Granny Deft Hands' disciple... In that case, let's go to the Orchid Pavilion. It's run by her youngest disciple, Lady Xiangfeng. Lady Xiangfeng is a Three-Star Special Grade Chef, and her dim sum skills are said to be unparalleled!"
Closing her eyes and thinking for a moment, Wang Serena suddenly clapped her hands and suggested.
Granny Deft Hands had only taken two disciples in her entire life. The older one wasn't in Guangzhou, so they could only go to the younger disciple's restaurant.
"Then let's set off."
Dylan nodded, and then the group disappeared from the Dueling Kitchen.
The Dueling Kitchen returned to tranquility.
•
"Do you like that boy?"
In the car heading to the airport, Aiden asked Leah, who seemed to be in a good mood, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"I have a bit of a good impression. After all, he's quite handsome, my type, and he's kind-hearted, which fits my criteria for a partner very well.
If we can meet again next time, I might consider taking things further with him. That aunty was right; we have too little social experience, and I'm at the age where I should be dating."
Leah didn't hide her favorable impression of Dylan at all, because he was outstanding in every aspect and very gentle with her.
There was no reason not to like such a boy.
"Then it seems your trip to Guangzhou wasn't in vain. At least you found your destined one!
That Dylan is indeed a very capable person. I observed him while he was cooking; his skills are not inferior to even a Special Grade Five-Star expert."
Seeing Leah's lovestruck appearance, Aiden couldn't help but tease her. That Dylan was indeed a good man; he wasn't unworthy of his sister!
"His strength and all that don't really matter. That's just a small bonus.
The key is that I really like this person. It's been a long time since I met such an interesting young man. Being with him would definitely be a lot of fun!"
"Then you didn't even ask for his contact information. China is so vast; who knows when you'll see each other again."
"If we're fated, we'll naturally meet again. If not, then it's better not to be together. I have a hunch we'll meet again soon!"
The vehicle gradually drove away, carrying laughter and the thoughts of a young girl in love.
______________
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